Chapter 40 - The Demon's Whisper

Yuren's head, which Zed had sliced off.

Before it could even hit the ground, Ferda shot a magic arrow and blew it up.

CRUNCH!

The fragments of the shattered head splattered everywhere.

"Ack!"

Zed reflexively covered his face.

He spat repeatedly, wondering if anything had gotten into his mouth, and shouted at Ferda.

"Hey! Why did you suddenly blow up his head?!"

Ferda wiped the blood off his cheek with his thumb and answered calmly.

"I had to be sure."

"No, separating the head and the torso is enough to kill him, so did you really need to confirm the kill like that?"

"Demons aren't the issue. Isn't this at least better than having them think the Regent suddenly became good enough with a sword to cut off a head?"

"Ah, that's true."

Zed looked at Yuren's corpse, which he had cut down.

The marks of stabbing once and slicing in a single strike remained clear.

It was far too physical for a messy fight involving a 3rd-tier mage.

Zed decided to ruin the severed surface to disguise it as a death by explosion.

"So..."

Having finished the groundwork, Zed looked at Ferda with resentful eyes.

"Didn't you say you only needed the two eyes?"

"So, did you only bring the two eyes?"

Zed laughed in disbelief as he answered.

"Do you think I'm crazy enough to believe that?"

As expected of someone with the makings of a Great Thief.

It was reassuring how perfectly he did the job even when instructed vaguely.

"Anyway, you were later than I expected."

"It's been an eventful time. I was moving while avoiding people's eyes, and unluckily got caught for a bit, but..."

Zed recalled that moment.

He seemed troubled for a moment, but then grinned.

"Well, meeting that guy made it so I could finish things more safely, without any repercussions."

"Who did you meet?"

"The man called Karl from the Purge Squad. That guy you roped in, Regent."

Upon hearing that name, a sound of 'Ah' reflexively escaped Ferda's mouth.

Karl.

The man who had a dog collar placed on him by Ferda's hand.

"Thanks to that man, it became much easier. Right now, I entered as a substitute warehouse keeper."

"I see."

"More importantly, is your leg okay?"

Zed asked, gesturing to Ferda's leg with his chin.

The bleeding had slowed down, but he was still bleeding.

Without waiting for an answer, Zed leaned toward his leg.

"Let's stop the bleeding first. We need to at least apply pressure with a bandage or something."

"I have a handkerchief, so I'll take care of it."

He had to be meticulous from start to finish.

Thinking that, Ferda wrapped the bandage around his own leg.

He just needed to tie a knot to secure it, but the knot was flimsy.

Ferda, who was already physically weak, found it hard to tie it tightly while suffering from anemia.

"Give it here."

Unable to just watch, Zed moved his hands away and firmly secured the injured area with the handkerchief.

"Let's say... you stopped the bleeding with all your might. What can't someone do when they're on the brink of death?"

"Right, that wouldn't be bad."

"So what do we do? Do I carry you on my back and get out of here? There will be an extra charge for additional cargo, though."

Ferda shook his head.

"I want you to do as requested. Do you see the black cover and silver chains over there?"

There was a book resting where Ferda pointed his finger.

"Yes, I see it. Do I just take that?"

"There should be the golden silk that was used when escorting Gamigin's Necromancy. Wrap the book with it and safely deliver it to the carriage we rode here in."

Zed wrapped Barbatos's Shadow Art with the cloth he brought.

His eyes did not leave Ferda's leg.

"Are you really going to be okay? You don't need me to call anyone?"

"There is no need to worry."

"No, it's just that I'm worried because you've shed this much blood."

"People don't die from this much."

Zed scratched his head in dilemma.

Ferda said he was fine multiple times, but his injury was too severe to just leave him like this.

"So, did you find the information?"

"Not yet. I heard a crashing sound down here first, so I came to take care of that."

"Then don't waste time and go find it quickly."

"Is that what's important right now? Huh? You look like you're about to die, Regent..."

"Isn't that the information you wanted even if it cost you your life?"

The reason he flirted with ugly women and extorted money from nobles through fraudulent gambling was because he had a clear goal.

Zed had nothing left.

The Red-Eye Clan was exterminated, and the only one to survive on that spot was his young self.

His last memory was of his little sister being dragged away by thugs.

To him, who had no family left, that hope was everything.

"A contract is a contract. You executing my task well was done on the condition that you get what you want."

"..."

Zed made a displeased face.

But on the other hand, it felt like he had to respond to that fierce determination.

Rising from his spot, Zed earnestly pleaded with Ferda.

"Please don't die."

Zed moved.

Even though he was running at full speed, not a single footstep could be heard.

'As expected, he truly has the makings of greatness.'

Feeling such admiration, Ferda leaned against the wall.

Ferda caught his breath while leaning against a display cabinet.

His mana was completely depleted, and due to his anemia, his mind was driven to the absolute limit.

The fact that Yuren had entered the sealed warehouse was recorded, and if he did not come out on time, there would be an emergency dispatch.

'Time-wise... is it about 20 minutes?'

It was far too long of a time right now, when even one minute felt pressing.

Let alone 20 minutes in a space like this.

Ferda had weakened, and a weakened prey was the ultimate feast for predators.

And the unsettling energy of the cursed grimoire tried to encroach upon Ferda.

- Want to play with me?

- How about making a contract with me? I'll give you the power to shatter the world.

- Come here. I shall personally take you in.

From childish tones to solemn ones, they groped Ferda's entire body, trying to creepily slither their way in.

If you just listened to them, they sounded like entities possessing truly strong or bizarre powers.

But Ferda knew very well.

These were miscellaneous demons whose names weren't even known.

Their prices and conditions were terrible, and even the power they granted was terrible.

'Do I have to listen to the words of such trivial things?'

Was that why?

Even in such a tension-filled situation, a yawn escaped him.

The malice they harbored was woefully insufficient to dig into Ferda's vulnerabilities.

A moment later, those voices stopped all at once.

It wasn't because they retreated from Ferda's ironclad mental fortitude.

Something of a higher status than them was approaching.

'It's here.'

A moment later, the darkness in Ferda's vision deepened.

The moment he felt a physiological sense of foreboding, a chilling cold wrapped around Ferda.

Soon, someone revealed themselves in front of Ferda.

- You damn mortal.

An old man with blue skin and a long white beard.

He was staring at Ferda with white eyes, as if clouded by cataracts.

It was the Great Demon who had made a contract with Yuren, Marbas.

- How dare you touch my property when we just formed a contract? Do you know what it means to incur a demon's grudge?

Ferda looked at him and asked.

"What does it mean?"

- You will pay dearly for thoroughly humiliating me, Marbas! You must pay the price over a million years by suffering the agony of your flesh blistering and your blood vessels freezing in the lowest depths of the freezing hell!

Marbas roared aggressively.

Then, Marbas tapped the floor with the cane he was leaning on.

Hell's frost scattered across the floor.

- I will give you a chance to make up for it. Make a contract with me. You take the empty spot of my new contractor. How about it?

A contract with Ferda.

That was the reason he had come here and threatened him.

"I refuse."

- Are you saying you will accept my deep-seated grudge? No one angers a Great Demon and makes it out alive.

"As if you're angry."

Ferda already knew his ulterior motives.

"Aren't you just pretending to form a grudge by contracting with that trash because you wanted to make an excuse?"

It was one of the bullshit tricks used to tempt people into a demon's snare.

It was an attempt to tempt the main contractor while simultaneously testing their capabilities.

Marbas, who had been scowling fiercely, let out a chuckle instead of shouting.

- Kehehe... You're no ordinary guy. So, you have no intention of making a contract? I'll make the price specially cheap for you.

'He's speaking like he's holding a warehouse clearance sale.'

"Of course not."

- That's a shame. It would bring me great joy if an exceptional soul like yours became mine. You'll have to pay a much steeper price on the day you end up needing me.

He made a cool exit, unbefitting of someone harboring a grudge.

His vision was still narrow, and there were no chattering voices.

Something lurking in the darkness squirmed and approached this place.

- The power you showed was truly astonishing, Sir Ferda Valdrova.

A squelching and sticky voice.

What came through the darkness was a toad wearing a suit.

- My name is Morax. How about coming and making a contract with me? I will hand you power and authority. I will lend you everything you need to create a great Grand Duchy's territory.

The toad's large mouth curled into a fishy smile.

- Though you will pay the price for it someday, of course.

One of the seven Great Demons, the demon of contracts and prices, Morax.

As the demon who granted the most power among demons, he was a truly attractive entity.

He could turn a feeble person into a Sword Master, and instantly turn those with no talent in magic into a Great Mage.

But their ends always lead to a gruesome tragedy.

'That is Morax's curse.'

Ferda had already witnessed those tragedies countless times.

So, all that remained on his lips was a smile of ridicule.

"I know exactly what you bastards do. It's not funny, so piss off."

- Hehehe... I will step back for now, but the day will come when you call the name of this Morax. I shall wait for that time.

The toad gentleman tipped his hat and returned to his domain.

Soon, someone else revealed themselves to Ferda.

- Hello there, darling?

A wet and obscene voice whispered in his ear as she revealed herself.

Blonde hair, blue eyes, and large breasts.

It was the exact image of Olivia Arken.

But it was not Olivia Arken.

Because the lower half was not a human's, but a snake's.

- What you showed today was very cool. I didn't expect you to land such a blow on Marbas's contractor.

The demon of lust and hallucinations, Sitri.

"I see."

- Why do you have such a bored expression? You have the greatest beauty of the Empire in front of you. Am I not to your liking?

She flashed a sly smile, twirling her hair with her slender fingers.

Her alluring appearance was enough to tantalize any man.

But not to Ferda.

Despite looking at a pale naked body at an age overflowing with vigor, only tranquility surrounded him.

Compared to Morax and Marbas, the power she offered was the most pathetic.

- I guess you really don't like it. You said you married a dragon, right?

"Yeah."

- If you like that dragon so much, how would you like it if you could embrace both?

Ferda thought for a moment before looking at Sitri and speaking.

"Go on."

- Why do you think I can take the form of this Olivia Arken? For a demon like me, something like this is a piece of cake.

She smiled deeply and whispered.

- Darling... do you want to see Valdrova's form?

Ferda's desires stirred.

Due to that wavering, he ultimately fell for Sitri's ploy.

"Take Valdrova's form."

- Fufu, what a cute man. Understood.

Sitri covered her face with both hands. Following her hands, everything changed.

Blonde turned to red hair, two pairs of horns appeared on her head, and two golden sanpaku eyes were revealed.

- How is it? This beautiful appearance of mine?

Sitri, who had replicated the form of Valdrova that he had so desperately dreamed of.

Ferda, who stared intently at that figure,

"That's not it."

Only disappointment washed over his face.

- What?

"My fiancée doesn't look that sharp. The corners of her eyes need to be lowered a bit more."

- Hmm, really? Like this?

Sitri adjusted her face according to Ferda's words.

Staring blankly at that face, Ferda shook his head again.

"That's not it, her eyes are more gentle. And her lips aren't that thick either."

- Wait just a moment. Like this?

"Why can't you understand what I mean? Did I ask for something difficult?"

- Like this?

Like that, they squabbled for a long time while constantly changing the face of the Great Demon Sitri.

After trying for a long while, Sitri sprang up abruptly.

Deep disgust settled in her eyes.

- Crazy bastard.

"What's wrong? I'll make a contract if you want! You just have to perfectly replicate everything exactly as I want. It's not difficult."

- Piss off! Getting tangled up with a pervert like you will only make my future miserable!

Even the Great Demon of lust, Sitri, disappeared with a *poof*, wearing an utterly fed-up expression.

'It seems she can't replace Valdrova.'

Honestly speaking, Ferda was slightly bewitched, and he had subtly fallen for that bewitchment.

He had thought that if he missed her, it wouldn't be bad to look at a substitute.

But she was a woman for whom even such a substitute was impossible.

'I shouldn't have done that.'

Because of Sitri's poor disguise skills, Valdrova's figure only flickered more vividly before his eyes for no reason.

He missed her so deeply, and feeling so lonely, he even became depressed.

'Ah, my ruler.'

Ferda called out to her affectionately in his mind.

'You love the world this much, yet the world tries to use you.'

The reason Yuren attacked Ferda was to incur Valdrova's wrath.

That plan, which could potentially overthrow the Empire, could not possibly have been born out of Yuren's personal grudge.

'But do not worry.'

Ferda already knew who was behind it.

And Ferda's sorrow made him even more vicious.

'I will definitely hold them accountable for all of this.'

Hiding the Empire's Dark Mage rats in the underground aqueduct,

Instigating Yuren to murder the Regent,

Causing the declining Empire to helplessly collapse,

Praying only for all her blood-related family members to die,

A single beautiful flower that bloomed from the seed of disaster.

'Olivia Arken.'

It was then.

Ferda's vision cleared completely, and his narrowed senses returned to normal.

He heard someone hurriedly rushing down the stairs.

It had to be the knights and mages dispatched for the emergency.

"Goddamn Altes, what is going on!?"

"Isn't that... the Regent of Valdrova?!"

"Is he still breathing?"

"Yes, he's breathing!"

"Hurry and bring a priest! It's an emergency!"

"Regent! Can you hear my voice?"

He could hear it very well.

So, he figured he should get some sleep now.