The Shepherds Are Dense – Chapter 318

Chapter 319
The Shadow Demon’s True Name

Initially, Lily was somewhat perplexed.
Why did the Shadow Demon Miss act as if she didn’t recognize him?
But he was very sure that this was indeed the Shadow Demon Miss…
Eivass had, through the Shepherd’s Method, transferred a part of the Shadow Demon’s power to him, akin to transplanting an organ for sensing shadows into Lily. Due to the proportion, the Shadow Demon might not have any special feelings for Lily, but Lily could clearly sense the “moth er body”.
Even if he encountered other Shadow Demons due to his Level 3 Shadow Affinity, he could easily distinguish whether it was the one contracted by Eivass.
Fortunately, Lily’s subconscious reply made the Shadow Demon Miss appear somewhat hesitant. It followed Lily’s words but directly revealed its identity.
“When did you arrive here?” sounded sufficiently ambiguous, implying recognition of the person Lily mentioned while also maintaining an appearance of ignorance.
The ability to come up with such a response in an instant and remain composed was enough to prove the Shadow Demon Miss’s intelligence.
—But it was still not good at lying.
Because this sentence had already exposed its identity.
It was impossible for the Shadow Demon to not know how they arrived, as it had been clinging to Eivass during the ritual and even in the waiting hall. Lily had deliberately said, “We were captured,” but the Shadow Demon did not immediately deny or mock it. This indicated that it truly did not know this was an Ascension Ritual.
Then its identity was self-evident.
It was indeed the Shadow Demon contracted by Eivass—but this was during an era before it had met Eivass.
Compared to the indifference, arrogance, and killing intent of the centuries-later Shadow Demon’s monstrous nature, the Shadow Demon of this era still possessed human personality. When mentioning those Children of the Moon, its teeth would clench, filled with hatred, yet it also seemed to be reminiscing and felt sadness.
Its emotions were so rich and complete. It was less like a demon and more like a human who had just become a demon.
—If the powerful, indifferent, and aggressive Shadow Demon of the future is considered the mature form, then the one currently residing in his shadow is the Shadow Demon in its infancy.
Thus, Lily’s thoughts raced, and she immediately took the initiative to question the other party’s identity:
“Are you really the Shadow Demon Miss? Why do I feel your emotions are so intense?”
Lily’s goal was to guide the Shadow Demon’s thoughts.
To make it believe that Lily had a companion—who also harbored a Shadow Demon. To achieve this, she couldn’t simply state it; if the other party was slightly suspicious, they would remain doubtful. Therefore, she directly adopted a more aggressive approach, attempting to gain the initiative.
Having been with Eivass for so long, she had also gradually learned to lie.
Her spider silk was a creation of the Grey Heavenly Envoy, who governed lies; the more solid the lie, the stronger it became.
“I don’t know if he told you,” the Shadow Demon replied slowly, “I have an irreconcilable feud with them.”
“Betrayal?” Lily replied softly.
“…He told you even that?”
The Shadow Demon’s tone was clearly somewhat astonished.
—At that moment, the Shadow Demon must have begun to doubt if it truly had a master.
“A high-ranking individual who fell from grace, or an upright person framed and betrayed. Branded with the mark of Wrath by a Fallen Heavenly Envoy due to resentment, they sought revenge at the price of becoming a Shadow Demon, forever unable to see the sun…”
Lily said slowly, “Shadow Demons are all like this, aren’t they?”
“…So that’s how it is.”
The Shadow Demon was silent for a moment, then suddenly felt relaxed and murmured, “It’s all like this…”
“You’re indeed not the Young Master’s Shadow Demon.”
Lily gently guided, no longer emphasizing “Shadow Demon Miss”: “You approached me because my Shadow Affinity was high enough. And in fact, this is the power bestowed upon me by that Shadow Demon.”
The Shadow Demon remained noncommittal, merely silent.
But when Lily questioned its identity, silence was a tacit acknowledgment. It acted this way because the other party displayed an extraordinary ability to recognize Shadow Demons, suddenly making it lose the confidence to hide its identity.
At the same time, it did not feel any malice or hostility from Lily. This made it willing to linger in Lily’s shadow and listen to her continue.
“You must be a Shadow Demon who hasn’t completed your revenge yet,” Lily said softly.
“Yes.”
The Shadow Demon’s voice was filled with hatred: “I just crawled back from hell…”
“A newborn Shadow Demon.”
Lily chuckled, imitating Eivass’s mannerisms, and elegantly raised a glass of wine from her side.
She raised her glass towards the distant lamplight.
“Then this glass is for you.”
Lily said nonchalantly, “To sweet and intoxicating revenge, I wish you success.”
“To revenge.”
The Shadow Demon also responded in unison, “And to you and your Master, Mr.”
“Speaking of which, we haven’t exchanged identities yet?”
Lily replied, “My name is Alain.”
“…I don’t know what I should be called.”
The Shadow Demon hesitated for a moment, “My past name should be discarded, and I haven’t thought of a new one yet.”
“Why must it be discarded?”
Lily gently guided.
The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and leaning against the stone pillar behind her, she raised her head, holding the wine glass at her chest.
Her posture and speech were exactly like a “fox”.
Solid lies and unpredictable persuasion flowed gently from her mouth, entering the still confused heart of the nascent Shadow Demon, “Why can’t it be used? You truly became a demon, but is that your fault?
“Rather than picking up that name, it’s like snatching—snatching what rightfully belongs to you.”
Lily said, and took another sip of strong liquor.
Feeling the fluffy sensation of intoxication expanding in her mind, she felt as if the world had become brighter.
She felt as if she had merged with Eivass, and involuntarily displayed a confident smile similar to his, “Now tell me, Shadow Demon Miss… or perhaps Sir. Do you have the courage to reclaim your ‘past’?”
“…You are truly a very persuasive person, Sir.”
The Shadow Demon sighed, its deep, hoarse voice like that of a lion rumbling low, “I don’t know what kind of person can have a servant like you. Or rather, I think it’s a waste for you to be just a servant.”
“My Master is far more capable than I am. I’m just imitating his every word.”
Lily replied calmly.
“…When did the Empire have someone like this?”
The Shadow Demon hesitated, “I mean… your Master isn’t Prince Stuart, is he?”
“Stop guessing, Shadow Demon Miss.”
Lily had inadvertently locked onto the Shadow Demon’s gendering—although Shadow Demons themselves had no gender, the humans they were before becoming Shadow Demons did. And from her words and phrases, she had sensed that the other party was female.
She was likely not very old and full of confidence, someone who was high and mighty yet had a gentle personality. She was probably somewhat tired on a daily basis; this was not likely some noble lady, but a truly powerful woman.
Thus, Lily directly stated her guess and pressed further, “Are you really not going to reclaim your past?”
“…You’ve guessed who I am, haven’t you?”
The Shadow Demon sighed again, its tone becoming somewhat low.
I don’t know much about that.
Lily thought.
Of course, if the Young Master were here, perhaps he would know… but Lily’s knowledge of Imperial history wasn’t that good. Even having narrowed it down this far, she still didn’t know the Shadow Demon Miss’s former identity.
But then again, having reached this point, it wouldn’t be difficult to extract her true identity.
So Lily intensified her seduction, “We are on the same side now, Shadow Demon Miss. I can serve as the foundation for your power, and my Master can help you complete your revenge—you are both Shadow Demons, surely you can understand each other.
“Therefore, whether or not we have guessed it… we need sincerity. A sincerity that allows you to be recognized by us, and also the courage for you to face the past upright.
“—Speak, Shadow Demon Miss. Who were you in the past?”
“…Bayard.”
After a long silence, the Shadow Demon finally uttered that name, “Viness Emil Zola Bayard of the Bayard Group.
“The Bayard who is still active today is merely a fake. A Vampire who stole my corpse, my name, my assets, and all my relationships.
“I can discard this name myself, but I cannot tolerate someone stealing it.
“So, I returned from hell—just to kill her.
“To make ‘me’ die again.”