Chapter 12 - The Demon and the Witch (3)

“A condition?”

“Yes, a condition.”

“We each give the other what they want. That is all this deal entails. What more is there?”

The contract they were about to make favored neither side. It was a fair exchange in every sense. Yet she wanted a condition? Yohan found that hard to accept.

“It’s simple. I want to change what I receive. That’s my condition.”

“You want something other than the key to the Abyss?”

“That’s right.”

“What do you want?”

Ilea smiled sweetly.

“Release my father’s soul.”

Yohan frowned without answering.

“Don’t misunderstand. I’m not being unreasonable like before. I’m simply changing the terms.”

Earlier, Ilea had demanded a show of goodwill if he wished to trade with her. She had wanted Gaf’s soul released. That was an outrageous demand he could hardly accept.

This was different. She wanted her father’s freedom instead of the key to the Abyss.

“Can you do that?”

Yohan tapped his index finger against the round table. After a moment’s thought, he spoke.

“No.”

A curious smile formed on Ilea’s lips.

“You seem to be afraid of me.”

“There is no harm in being cautious.”

The moment he freed Gaf’s soul, he would lose the leash that kept Ilea in check. What might the witch do once she was free?

She might torture Yohan to learn the forbidden library’s location. She could also force him into her service.

He had prepared a countermeasure, but using it would come at a steep cost. He would have to open the jewel box he had brought from the forbidden library.

Great Witch Rahel’s jewel casket. Opening it would allow him to bind Ilea at once. Of course, that would destroy their relationship, making them irreconcilable enemies.

It was not a wise choice.

“I agree. Your life is at stake, after all.”

“You know that perfectly well, yet you keep making unreasonable demands.”

“I can’t help it. This matters a great deal to me, too.”

Yohan frowned in apparent irritation.

“I have no intention of letting Gaf go. Even if this deal falls through.”

“You’re quite firm on that. Very well. Let’s find a compromise.”

Ilea pretended to ponder, then gave a soft clap.

“What if I took my father’s place?”

“What do you mean?”

“The contract obliges my father to protect you. I would take over that duty.”

At the unexpected proposal, the corners of Yohan’s mouth rose with interest.

“You would protect me?”

“That’s right. I would become a Demon contractor.”

“It makes no difference to me.”

No, this was even better. The girl before him would one day be among the strongest beings in this world. He would have someone like her protecting him, while keeping her shackled by a contract.

Yohan had absolutely no reason to refuse her offer.

“But I am suspicious. I don’t understand why you would go this far.”

“As his daughter, I ought to put my father first. You may call it hypocrisy from an unfilial child.”

She had come to the lord’s castle of her own accord under the guise of being abducted, plunging a father who lived only for his daughter into despair. Ultimately, Ilea was also the reason Gaf had made a contract with a Demon.

Did the witch feel guilty about that? It was difficult to discern her true intentions.

“That is decidedly unwitchlike behavior.”

“You seem to know witches well.”

“They pursue their own interests above all else. I see none of that in you now.”

“Who knows? This might serve my interests, too.”

She paused briefly, then added,

“Now it’s your turn to answer, Yohan. Will you accept my offer?”

Yohan fell silent in thought.

‘Something doesn’t sit right.’

What scheme was she hiding behind that innocent smile? Having read the original novel, he found it hard to lower his guard.

“Very well.”

Still, this was an opportunity. Uneasy as he was, he could not simply throw away the windfall that had landed in his lap.

Yohan boldly decided to take the dangerous shortcut.

“I will terminate my contract with Gaf.”

Ilea’s lips curved in satisfaction.

“That makes me your protector now.”

“Come closer.”

Yohan beckoned with his index finger. Ilea rose from her seat and moved close against him.

Blue eyes met a glowing red gaze. Each searched keenly for the other’s hidden intentions, though on the surface both remained calm and composed.

“I will terminate my contract with Gaf. From this moment on, you will protect me and provide the mana and sacrifice for the Unhallowed Array. Our souls will serve as collateral. Do you agree?”

“Before that, let’s make one thing clear. When will my father’s soul be released?”

Terminating a contract required mutual consent. He would have to meet Gaf to settle it.

“A week will suffice.”

“Very well. Let’s make the contract.”

At those words, black smoke rose from Yohan’s body. The haze rippled through the air before seeping into Ilea’s airways.

Both felt something foreign settle inside their chests. Should they fail to fulfill their promises, the demonic energy lodged in their hearts would claim their lives.

“We’re in the same boat now.”

Ilea offered her hand.

“So it would seem.”

Yohan clasped her pale hand.

“When can I expect to see Betra on the Unhallowed Array? The sooner, the better.”

Activating the Unhallowed Array was directly tied to Yohan’s growth. He wanted to hurry her off to get to work.

“I’ll have her there within a day.”

That was an answer he liked. Looking pleased, Yohan said,

“Then I will have the key to the Abyss ready tomorrow as well.”

“You’re giving it to me for free?”

Puzzlement flickered across Ilea’s face.

She had chosen the release of Gaf’s soul over the key to the Abyss. Though she had become Yohan’s protector in the process, that was merely a preliminary step necessary to change what she would receive.

The key to the Abyss, the original item of exchange, had been struck from the contract.

“Nothing in this world is free. The key to the Abyss will be payment for a new deal.”

“You want quite a lot from me. So, what must I give you this time?”

“We’ll discuss that tomorrow. Betra comes first.”

“Understood. I’ll take my leave for today, then.”

Ilea stepped back and smiled gently.

“I’ve found myself a good trading partner. Let’s continue to get along.”

“Well, let’s.”

Yohan looked indifferent.

“It seems I’ll be seeing you often as well, young master. I hope we’ll get along.”

Raguel started, then replied,

“Y-yes. I was rude before. Please forget about it.”

When he had insulted Ilea by calling her a witch a few days earlier, her response had been terribly cold. That icy voice remained lodged in Raguel’s mind like a thorn.

“Don’t worry. I haven’t taken it to heart.”

“B-but still...”

Yohan clicked his tongue.

“A boy shouldn’t cower like that. You’ve said enough. Hold your head up.”

Then he turned to Ilea.

“You may go now.”

“Very well. See you tomorrow.”

She bowed her head slightly and turned away. One by one, the floating flames vanished, leaving the library shrouded in darkness once more. Her light footsteps faded into the distance.

Just as Yohan was about to resume reading Kazan’s biography aloud, Raguel spoke.

“... Um, Yohan.”

“What?”

“L-let me say first that I’m not telling you this because I’m worried about you. If something happens to you, I won’t get my sight back. So...”

“Stop stalling and say it.”

Raguel cleared his throat.

“About you and Ilea. It may seem that everything’s settled, but I think a little differently. Don’t let your guard down too much.”

Having spent his whole life watching others’ moods to avoid displeasing them, Raguel was good at reading people’s feelings and the atmosphere around him.

That ability had just given him a warning. He had sensed some hidden purpose in Ilea’s calm voice.

“The witch is scheming something?”

“W-well, it’s not quite...”

“You probably aren’t far off.”

Ilea would put her own life on the line for Gaf? Anyone who had read the original novel could only scoff. She must have another objective.

Several theories came to Yohan’s mind, but he set them all aside. It was too early to draw any conclusions. For now, he would simply remain on his guard.

“I’m glad you seem to know. You have to stay safe until you’ve kept your promise to me.”

Yohan chuckled.

“Stop worrying over nothing and be quiet. This is where it gets interesting.”

He began reading Kazan’s biography again. The Demon’s narration settled over the dark library.

* * *

On the spiral staircase connecting the library to the ground floor, the crone spirit’s laughter echoed eerily.

“Mistress, what a truly splendid scheme. That stupid imp walked straight into your trap. He’ll never escape.”

She kept prattling, even whistling as she went.

“Now all you need do is go to Gaf and tell him not to terminate his contract with the imp.”

Ilea spoke without expression.

“Why would you think that?”

“Why, is the condition of your contract with the imp not ‘the release of Gaf’s soul’? If Gaf refuses to terminate the contract, the imp will naturally pay for failing to fulfill his agreement with his life. Ha ha!”

Ilea gave a small sigh.

“Age must have shriveled your brain as well. Or perhaps you were always stupid.”

“M-mistress, have I misunderstood something?”

“Everything, from beginning to end. I have no plans to kill Yohan, and even if I did decide to kill him, I wouldn’t use such an illogical method. What would happen to my father and me if Yohan died because of my scheme?”

“W-well...”

“We would pay the price for failing to ‘protect’ Yohan, as stipulated in the contract. Are you telling me to kill myself?”

However Yohan died, Ilea would have to bear responsibility. Their fates were now bound together.

The crone spirit sounded genuinely bewildered.

“Then you have shackled your own feet, Mistress. Why would you do such a thing? Surely you didn’t mean it when you said this was for Gaf’s sake?”

The Ilea the crone spirit knew was not someone swayed by affection or filial devotion. Only self-interest and efficiency moved her.

Now she seemed a little different.

“For my father’s sake... I wish I could afford such sentiment.”

“Emotion is nothing but a weakness for a witch. You know that well, so why...”

Ilea’s expression settled into calm.

“The Mother of All Evil. Yohan seems a suitable candidate for the vessel.”

The crone spirit let out a shriek of apparent horror.

“Th-the Mother of All Evil! How could a newborn imp possibly qualify?”

“Did Yohan look ordinary to you?”

A whelp who looked less than a month old already had a pure-white horn. He was bold and clever far beyond his age. And that was not all. He knew precisely where the forbidden library was and what Ilea wanted.

Anyone could see that he was a strange being.

“I-I admit he is efficient, but...”

“Efficient? Is that the best word you can find for him? Your brain is bad enough, but your judgment is even worse.”

Cowed, the crone spirit spoke in a barely audible voice.

“Then you intend to protect him until he grows into the vessel?”

“I intend to watch him. As long as he continues to meet my expectations, I will gladly remain his protector.”

“He may disappoint you, Mistress.”

“Then I’ll have to exploit a loophole in ‘protection.’ There is no such thing as a perfect contract.”

Ilea smiled and added,

“Of course, right now it’s my turn to meet his expectations.”

She intended to fulfill Yohan’s demands to the letter. The sacrifice for the Unhallowed Array. She would capture the prostitute Betra and place her on the altar.

“Enough chitchat. Shall we go see Mother?”

Ilea headed straight for Betra’s quarters.