Chapter 11 - The Demon and the Witch (2)

The library remained dim. Even the flames blooming in the darkness failed to illuminate it fully. The underground chamber was too vast, and the light only cast fresh shadows.

Each flicker of flame sent shadows wavering. Beneath the shifting darkness, a crimson gleam flashed.

Those would be the Demon's eyes. Buried in the shadow of a bookcase, they fixed the visitor with a baleful stare.

Most would have been frightened, but the visitor remained composed. If anything, she sounded intrigued.

"... A single horn."

She was looking above his red eyes at a gleaming white horn. It was the mark of a formidable Demon—far more than an imp deserved.

The old woman cackled inside her head.

"What a windfall. Isn't that a wild spirit? How could a horned spirit have been born in a place like this...?"

"Indeed. It's quite puzzling."

"Leave him to me. Devouring him would be far more efficient than taking him into your service."

That was true. The more formidable the bloodline, the slower its growth. Even destroying an entire city would not provide enough souls or emotions to raise a wild spirit from an imp to adulthood. Such great potential demanded an equally great investment.

The crone spirit was different. She would grow stronger the moment she consumed the imp. For an immediate gain, sacrificing the imp was the right choice.

"... Hmm."

Ilea studied Yohan in silence.

The Demon frowned, apparently displeased by her scrutiny.

"What are you weighing up? I told you to come and sit."

At that moment, black smoke surged from Ilea's skin. Demonic energy reached into the air, writhing ominously as it converged on a single point.

Yohan leaned back and watched as though admiring a spectacle. He was comparing it to the description in the original novel.

The current that had separated from the witch's body would soon take the shape of a Demon. Probably the crone spirit. How hideous would she look? He was intensely curious.

It was because of how the novel had portrayed her. Several humans went into cardiac arrest the instant they saw her. With looks like that, how could Yohan, a horror fan, not be excited?

'Let's have a look.'

The condensed demonic energy began to take shape. It was a monstrosity shrouded in a pitch-black hood, too far away for him to make out its face.

Just as Yohan narrowed his eyes, a piercing scream echoed through the chamber, threatening to split his eardrums. The creature launched herself forward. In an instant, she was face-to-face with him.

Thick pus seeped from empty eye sockets. Sludge worms crawled over dark gray skin in place of wrinkles. Clumps of sebum embedded in her cheekbones glistened.

Her mouth hung open, exposing a heavily coated tongue. A horrific stench overwhelmed his sense of smell.

With the crone spirit pressed so close, Yohan felt disgust rather than fear.

"Utterly revolting."

Raguel, meanwhile, was trembling violently. The smell and sound seemed to frighten him; how would he react if he saw that face? He might die of cardiac arrest.

Yohan gave a small laugh.

"You're better off staying blind."

The imp wasn't paying attention to her. He would need to be taught a lesson. The crone spirit muttered ominously,

"Mistress, give the order. A single word will suffice."

Then she ran her filthy tongue up Yohan's horn.

Yohan's face twisted.

"You are going to die the most miserable death imaginable."

The crone cackled.

"Am I, now? My mistress has no time to raise you."

Yohan pinched the very edge of her hood between his thumb and forefinger and pulled it aside. It was disgusting to touch, but he had no choice.

Only then did the hideous woman disappear from his view, with Ilea taking her place.

Yohan spoke.

"A slave presumes to know her master's mind. Have you failed to train her?"

The girl approached slowly and stopped before the round table.

Yohan inwardly marveled. Her doll-like face was exactly as described. Calling a girl of ten or so a beautiful woman felt a little off, but her features were already perfectly formed.

She answered with a composed smile.

"I wanted a less restrictive relationship, but this is my first time. I'm still learning. Perhaps I'll do better with the next one."

Yohan chuckled.

"Any Demon you take into your service will be blessed."

"Would you care to join me?"

The crone spirit whipped around to face Ilea.

"Wh-what!"

"You're being noisy."

"But..."

"Open your mouth again, and you'll be punished."

Her voice was gentle, but the crone spirit flinched in fear.

Ilea sighed softly and took out a handkerchief.

"If you don't mind, may I wipe off that saliva?"

Sticky slime coated Yohan's white horn. It would be the crone spirit's saliva.

"If you're trying to recruit me, don't bother. I won't serve you."

Ilea shook her head.

"I have no ulterior motive. I'm simply cleaning up after my dog, as any owner should."

She brought the handkerchief to Yohan's horn and began gently wiping it clean.

Yohan watched her closely. There was no particular emotion in the witch's subdued gaze. A mage or witch should have been desperate to get their hands on a Demon's horn, yet she showed no sign of greed.

She really was as good at playing innocent as the novel had described.

"All done. Nice and clean now."

The girl smiled in apparent satisfaction. Yohan couldn't see it as simply an endearing gesture.

'Sly snake.'

He spoke.

"You went to some trouble, but it was wasted."

"As I said, I have no ulterior motive."

After a brief pause, she added,

"But I don't understand. If you don't wish to serve me, why did you summon me?"

"I'd like to do business."

"Just as you beguiled my father and the young master?"

"Those were equitable contracts."

Ilea smiled faintly.

"Deals with Demons always end in ruin."

"Their lives had already hit rock bottom. It's hard to imagine a worse hell."

A father who had lost his child and a boy trapped in darkness. Their lives were already in ruins.

Ilea gave a contrived murmur of admiration.

"Then you've lifted them out of their misery. How kind. You saved my father."

Yohan shrugged.

"Indeed I did. You ought to bow to me."

"You took his soul as collateral, didn't you? If you release him, I could certainly do that."

"You mean Gaf's soul?"

Ilea nodded.

"I don't know the terms of your bargain, but I'm sure his soul was the collateral."

Yohan asked, sounding puzzled,

"Why do you care?"

Ilea's expression darkened slightly.

"What do you mean?"

A child would naturally worry about a parent. But Ilea was different. In the original novel, she had let Gaf die when he came to rescue her.

Yohan said,

"Gaf's life means little to you, doesn't it? You aren't even related by blood."

Ilea stared at him in silence. She was still smiling, but something about her had grown subtly colder. The air around them cooled with her.

Raguel tugged lightly at Yohan's elbow.

"Y-Yohan. How could you say something so rude?"

Ilea spoke.

"I'd like to hear what grounds you have for saying that."

Because he'd read it in the original novel.

"None."

"... Is that so?"

"If I've offended you, I apologize."

An uncomfortable silence followed.

Ilea smiled gently again.

"You said you wanted to make a deal."

"That's why I summoned you."

"Release my father's soul."

"Is that your condition?"

Ilea shook her head.

"No. Releasing him will be your gesture of goodwill."

Yohan let out an incredulous laugh. Ilea smiled too.

"Accept it if you want to do business."

Yohan had never dreamed that Ilea would care so much about Gaf's life. He actually considered it an advantage. It gave him another leash with which to control her.

He answered,

"Impossible."

Gaf was also his most basic lifeline. An imp was too frail to stand alone.

"What a shame."

Ilea sighed as though genuinely disappointed. A shadow crossed her face, then quickly vanished.

She took a step closer, her lips curving again.

"Tell me, is there even one reason I should keep you alive?"

The atmosphere turned icy. Raguel hiccupped. The crone spirit began to cackle.

Yohan answered expressionlessly.

"So many that listing them all would be difficult."

"For example?"

"The instant you kill me, Gaf falls into hell."

To think he would end up using Gaf as a bargaining chip against Ilea.

"So protection was his side of the bargain."

"Precisely."

"What a thorough Demon. Unlike this one, you're very capable."

The crone spirit stifled a groan.

Yohan spoke.

"So what will you do? You can't kill me, and you can't take me into your service."

"Unfortunately, you're right. It's rather stifling."

It would be an unfamiliar experience for Ilea.

"At least get something out of this. Make a deal with me, and you can have what you want most."

"And what is that?"

Yohan's lips curled upward.

"The key to the Abyss."

Ilea's expression did not change at all. But she must have been shaken.

One look at the crone spirit's face was enough to tell. The petty spirit had spasmed at the word "key."

Yohan continued.

"It's why you came to the lord's castle of your own accord, isn't it? The Gorge of Death. Aren't you eager to visit?"

The moment he finished, blue light flashed from Ilea's body. Mana. She tilted her head.

"It's not a mental ability... What could it be?"

The Demon hadn't read her memories or her mind. Had he worked it out through deduction alone? Perhaps.

Yohan said,

"I can't answer that. Let's not waste our energy. We can simply give each other what we want."

Ilea thought for a moment before speaking.

"If you have it, show me some proof."

Yohan pointed toward a distant, dark corner of the library. One of the hovering flames flew over to it.

An Unhallowed Array drawn in black blood. Atop the sinister spell array lay a holy relic: Kazan's ring.

"I brought it from the forbidden library. That should answer your question."

Ilea murmured in admiration.

"... You really are capable."

"Are you willing to deal now?"

"Before that, let me ask one last time."

Her smile faded, and she spoke quite seriously.

"Won't you join me?"

Yohan frowned.

"You're persistent."

Ilea nodded as though giving up.

"So be it."

Then she sat down.

"What do I need to give you, then?"

"Mana and a sacrifice. Those two will suffice."

Ilea glanced at the Unhallowed Array and nodded in understanding.

"The mana is taken care of. As for the sacrifice..."

She trailed off, staring at Raguel.

"The young master?"

Raguel started in alarm.

"Y-Yohan...!"

"So our Demon's name is Yohan."

It hardly suited a Demon.

Yohan said,

"I'd gladly use this incessant chatterbox, but I can't. I need another human."

"Do you have someone in mind?"

"Your Mother."

Ilea frowned slightly.

"... Betra?"

"Yes."

"That could be a little risky."

Betra might be a toothless tiger, but she was still one of the castle's overseers. Her disappearance could cause trouble.

"Wouldn't one of the tribute girls be better?"

No one would even notice if one went missing.

Yohan shook his head.

"I want Betra."

Did he have some particular reason? Ilea couldn't tell.

"... All right, then."

"You'll make the deal?"

Ilea gave a wry laugh.

"You've made sure I will."

Yohan's mouth spread into a wide smile.

"Bring Betra here alive and put her on the Unhallowed Array."

"But I have one condition."