Chapter 142 - Application

Maphel’tan raised the fell spear Turabak. A savage killing intent bore down on Gawain.

“Gawain, I’m afraid we cannot work together.”

The fell spear descended toward Gawain’s head. Just before its blade pierced him, he spoke.

“The Apostle Beris.”

Turabak stopped short in midair. Maphel’tan’s expression twisted, his red eyes wavering faintly.

“... What did you say?”

Gawain grinned.

“How unlike you to be rattled.”

Beris’s name, coming from Gawain’s mouth. Maphel’tan had never anticipated that. He withdrew the fell spear and pondered for a moment.

‘... The Apostle Beris.’

The Apostle Beris was the Archdemon who had fallen into Yohan’s scheme some time ago. Shaperia, awakened as an angel, had torn away a tenth of his soul. He could no longer intervene in the mortal realm, making contact with Gawain difficult.

Yet Gawain had unmistakably mentioned Beris. Some connection had formed between them without Maphel’tan’s knowledge. Another unforeseen variable.

Breaking his silence, Maphel’tan murmured, “Could it be the contract spell inscribed on the worldline?”

Gawain gave an admiring exclamation. “Oho, correct. You are quick on the uptake.”

Beris had once left a contract spell on the worldline. Its terms were simple: to grant Yohan an end far more horrific than death.

Any vow he uttered would come to pass, one way or another. As the Archdemon who presided over contracts, Beris’s words carried enough weight to inscribe an inviolable law upon the world.

The consequences had now manifested. To bring Yohan to that horrific end, the world had chosen Gawain. Endowed with an ability similar to Beris’s power, Gawain was hunting Yohan’s life.

Maphel’tan spoke. “Now I have some idea how you acquired the power to break contracts.”

In this world, only the Apostle Beris could interfere with every kind of contract. That had changed. The Mind-Piercing Eye had confirmed that Gawain, too, could unilaterally break contracts.

He would have entered a contract of subjugation with Maphel’tan, then broken it and turned on him the moment he regained his freedom. Maphel’tan would surely have met a horrific end. Both Gawain and Beris would have obtained the outcome they desired.

Maphel’tan let out a disbelieving chuckle.

‘I nearly bit the dust.’

Gawain spoke, looking perfectly at ease. “You seem to have understood everything without my having to explain.”

“There is one thing I would like to know.”

“Ask freely. I shall answer faithfully.”

He was remarkably confident. Even with his entire plan exposed, Gawain showed no sign of being daunted. Maphel’tan found that a little puzzling, but chose not to comment on his attitude.

“Did you make direct contact with Beris?”

Beris had yet to be completely annihilated. His remaining nine souls were still intact.

Gawain shook his head, making the shackle around his neck creak. “Rather, Lord Beris’s lingering will seeped into me.”

Maphel’tan nodded slowly. “That clears things up. I nearly landed myself in quite a predicament.”

Without Serena, things would have become very difficult indeed. The Mind-Piercing Eye was a useful power, just as he had thought.

Gawain gave a little smirk. “That woman saved your life.”

“Well, I suppose she did. You must be disappointed.”

“I don’t particularly care. I never expected it to work so easily in the first place.”

Gawain was utterly unperturbed. His plan had been exposed and he was about to die, yet he remained relaxed.

Maphel’tan frowned. “You seem remarkably at ease, considering you could die this very moment.”

Gawain grinned. “Can you kill me, Maphel’tan?”

Maphel’tan swallowed a groan. Now that Beris was involved, disposing of Gawain immediately was no simple matter. If Gawain died, there was a chance Beris’s lingering will would pass to someone else.

Someone who bore Yohan a grudge would become another Gawain. Count Staviana, King Roderick, Grian Miyatro, Serena, Gaf, Shaperia... There were quite a few candidates.

Maphel’tan would have to keep watching his back. It would be utterly exhausting in all sorts of ways.

“Congratulations, Gawain. You got me.”

For Maphel’tan, it was better to leave Beris’s lingering will within Gawain. Gawain was completely restrained at present. In short, he was a thug Maphel’tan could control.

Gawain smiled slyly. “Let us call it a draw. You did see through my plan, after all.”

A disbelieving chuckle escaped Maphel’tan. Gawain showed considerable talent as a Demon. He knew how to exploit his circumstances and other people’s psychology. He could go far.

“However I look at it, you’re too valuable a card to discard. I would like to put you beneath my heel and work you hard.”

Gawain smirked. “Shall we make a contract? Take a chance and trust me.”

He was making a pointless joke.

“Don’t get above yourself. Whatever happens, I hold your life in my hands.”

That fact would not change.

Gawain answered with an easy expression. “You are not wrong. I am simply waiting for you to make a wise choice.”

Maphel’tan clicked his tongue and turned away. “Let us both take some time to think. When we meet again, I hope your desire for revenge against me will have faded, if only a little.”

In truth, Yohan’s wish would never come true. Demons were creatures driven by malice. Revenge was what drove Gawain the Demon. Without it, he would be nothing but a corpse.

Maphel’tan intended to make use of that desire for revenge. He would have to start looking for a way.

He started walking. Gawain’s voice sounded behind him.

“I shall do my best. Maphel’tan, I eagerly await the day we meet again.”

Maphel’tan left the forbidden library without delay.

* * *

All manner of thoughts filled Maphel’tan’s mind. For the first time in quite a while, he was spending the night in the underground study.

Before he had gone to the royal capital, this study had been his sole refuge. Whenever something troubled him, he would always lose himself in thought here. As he agonized over his problems and muttered to himself, a solution invariably came.

Tonight was no different.

Zal’karin, who had been listening to his murmurs, ventured to call out, “G-great End! Might this lowly fiend offer a word?”

Everyone turned to look at Zal’karin. Raguel sighed.

“Idiot. Learn when to keep your mouth shut.”

Hakain the Sword Fiend tapped the ash from his short pipe. “Here we go again.”

Zal’karin had a habit of spouting nonsense. Ilea, surprisingly, showed interest.

“Let’s hear him out. Even dog turds have their medicinal uses, they say.”

Zal’karin’s face flushed and darkened with anger. “Wh-what?! How dare you speak so to the Hellfire of the Abyss!”

Maphel’tan raised a hand to stop him. “Enough. You’re being noisy.”

Zal’karin hung his head. “I-I have disgraced myself.”

“Never mind that. Speak. You have a suggestion?”

Zal’karin looked at Maphel’tan, his gaze trembling. “W-well...”

“Stop stalling.”

Maphel’tan had little patience for such dithering. Zal’karin knew his temperament well. He cleared his throat and cried out,

“I shall get straight to the point! If we put down Beris, the Apostle of the End, would not every problem troubling you resolve itself?!”

The moment Zal’karin finished, silence fell over the underground study. Maphel’tan’s expression went rigid. Raguel’s eyes widened.

Hakain gave a languid exclamation. “... Oho. Well, now.”

Ilea smiled faintly, intrigued. “Interesting.”

Zal’karin glanced around at their reactions, then bowed his head to Maphel’tan. “G-great End. It is but a fool’s nonsense. Pray let it go in one ear and out the other.”

His voice was dwindling to a whisper.

Maphel’tan let out a chuckle. It grew steadily louder, until peals of laughter echoed through the room.

“A truly definitive solution. Why did I not think of it? Zal’karin, for the first time in your life, you have proved useful. You’ve helped me.”

If Beris were completely annihilated, his lingering will would naturally vanish too. The contract-breaking power Gawain had borrowed from him would disappear along with it. Gawain would no longer be able to break a contract of subjugation.

Without that power, Maphel’tan could easily make Gawain his slave.

A broad grin spread across Maphel’tan’s face. He was thoroughly pleased.

Ilea’s eyes curved in a smile. “A change in perspective. Very well done, Zal’karin.”

Hakain nodded. “You struck precisely at the blind spot.”

After studying their reactions, Zal’karin declared at the top of his voice, “Haha! Behold the Hellfire of the Abyss, strategist to the thirteenth end!”

Raguel looked deeply uneasy. “K-kill an Apostle? How could we possibly...”

Ilea answered with a gentle smile. “Beris is not at full strength. With the connections and power Maphel’tan now possesses, defeating him is well within reach.”

Maphel’tan—or rather, Yohan—was a powerful figure who had seized control of the royal capital. His influence was more than enough to bring the kingdom’s might to bear.

Moreover, Yohan had connections to several monsters: the prodigious knight Shaperia, Wolfgang Eisenfeld, guardian of the North, the archmage Lumina, the witch Ilea, and others. They would undoubtedly lend him considerable strength.

Defeating an Apostle was no mere dream. All the more so when that Apostle was not whole.

Maphel’tan spoke. “Then we know what must be done.”

Ilea asked, “Shall I send word to Shaperia?”

She was currently patrolling the Miyatro domain as Yohan’s knight. Just how much stronger had she grown? A prodigy who had awakened her aura in a single day, she must have been improving daily. She would surely be a great help in this endeavor.

Maphel’tan shook his head. “I shall fetch Shaperia myself. You go and meet Count Staviana.”

Ilea asked, “Are you planning to make use of Wolfgang?”

Wolfgang was the Count’s father-in-law. He would surely not refuse a request from the Count. Indeed, since they were going to hunt down an Apostle, there was a good chance Wolfgang would volunteer.

Maphel’tan only needed to arrange the proper justification and circumstances. He was confident he could orchestrate the whole affair flawlessly.

Maphel’tan said, “I intend to employ the kingdom’s military strength, Wolfgang included.”

“Then Beris’s annihilation is inevitable.”

“Perhaps so, but we must not grow complacent.”

Ilea’s eyes curved in a smile. “Of course. I’ll leave at once.”

They could now travel instantaneously between the royal capital and the south through the mirrors. Matters progressed far more quickly. Maphel’tan found much to be pleased with.

He spread his enormous wings to either side. “I shall see you in the royal capital. I’m going to Shaperia.”

His one concern, in fact, was Shaperia. Even Maphel’tan could not predict how someone as rigid as her would take the mirror magic and the fact that Yohan was a half-demon.

‘I’ll think about it on the way.’

For now, Maphel’tan took flight. He headed straight for the outskirts of the Miyatro domain.