Chapter 40: Whispers of the Demon
EthmcqYuren’s head, which Zed had cut off.MIBE
YLHCNAvBefore it even touched the ground, Perda fired a magic arrow and made it explode.CgJGW
cb5uSyCrack!yyitLPX
cCQjDlFragments of the shattered head flew in all directions.oLH0
LKt3Nf“Ahh!”xHQ8TtZ
nR2Zed covered his face by reflex.ORGU
2uYLDa2Spitting just in case something had gotten into his mouth, he shouted at Perda.bBO9KUw
43R“Hey! Why did his head suddenly explode like that?!”5fKX6
AknACPerda wiped the blood from his cheek with his thumb and answered calmly.mR4
HlUHG“You have to make sure.”Us3I7X8
1Kwya“But if you separate the head from the body, he is already dead! Was it really necessary to finish him off like that?”Yxk
Qje4W“The problem is not the demon. At least it is better if they say that the regent suddenly handled a sword and cut off his head, do you not think?”S1Oqt
iL6lotv“Ah… well, that is true.”bmtcp6E
TRbRNZed looked at Yuren’s corpse that he had cut.BE8
vp3yLlThe mark of a thrust followed by a clean cut in a single strike was evident.G1OBH
Ey11uFor a fight involving a third-circle mage, it was too physical.aklXaN
rNYE7BZed decided to destroy the cut area so it would look like a death by explosion.MRDU
OFO6“Then…”4KlTkP4
ZwwRAfter finishing the preparations, Zed looked at Perda resentfully.vYoT
BAX“Did you not say you only needed the eyes?”1Yz
nLZ“And did you bring only the eyes?”FjMl
Yiw4X1Zed let out an incredulous laugh.QAzOlCg
U5N20HO“Do you really think I am crazy enough to believe that?”n8hMEty
CUBTVHe definitely has the makings of a great thief.r2hgAC
qfM1BEven with vague instructions, his execution is flawless.VEkPGx
9f4e“By the way, you took longer than expected.”1R094
SrxK“A lot of things happened. Avoiding people, moving around and I had bad luck, I almost got discovered…”mCtn2wp
gnEeRemembering that moment, Zed smirked.eOXzd8
90L“But well, I ran into that guy and was able to finish everything more safely and without consequences.”VJrM
H8E6“Who did you run into?”Ys9Hqt
56eml“A guy named Karl from the Extermination Squad. The man you drew in, regent.”8m1Zq
pk1nUpon hearing that name, Perda let out an automatic “ah.”aZ0bh
va2Karl. The man to whom Perda had put a dog collar.D6RR8y7
tZUg“Thanks to him it was easier. Right now I came in as a substitute for the warehouse guardian.”mP6BJ9
2OoQ“I see.”4Um
HLM4OCt“More importantly, is your leg alright?”UpW2NyO
JVp17oZed pointed at Perda’s leg.Xiu8b
kG0myyPThe blood was flowing more slowly, but it was still bleeding.3OH
xd3oRWithout waiting for a response, Zed bent toward his leg.0irCeQ9
vBgI“First we have to stop the bleeding. Even if it is with a pressure bandage.”JRgS
r3PB“I have a handkerchief. I will take care of it.”Clr
ZXtgEverything had to be done precisely.OoaBZEU
zFvLEC4Perda bandaged his leg himself.QxoSN
6cMDcY7But when tying the knot, it came out loose.OcJ1RIu
lmBwAlready weakened, and in a state of anemia, he could not tighten it properly.AY7UWjz
Rr6B9“Let me.”fBqBTK
XIVZed moved his hand aside and firmly secured the wound with the handkerchief.GCBpsxD
xm2D“Let us say you stopped the bleeding with all your strength when you are about to die, you can do anything, right?”1AU
l9qmUq7“Yes, that does not sound bad.”JmWNv2
mqHO4H“Then, what do we do? Do I carry you and we leave? But that would imply an additional charge for carrying.”dv0CU
P9sMDPerda shook his head.075
ZLH4Hyb“Do what we agreed. Do you see that book with the black cover and silver chain?”0JS
rqQjoxNWhere Perda pointed, there was a book.IXuYn
sFye4q4“Yes, I see it. Should I take it?”lRv
z5KmBaC“There will be a golden cloth used to transport the necromancy of Gamigin. Wrap it with that and carry it safely to the carriage we came in.”DqUrCi
MQC8Zed wrapped the Shadow Art of Barbatos with the cloth.YigEQa
FeKo9But he did not take his eyes off Perda’s leg.Wds
LGH“Will you really be alright? Should we not call someone?”1gapn
6dS9y“There is no need to worry.”3HUtx
FJqY“No, it is just with so much blood… it is concerning.”jZjCg
wqQB“People do not die from this.”9sX85xA
PN3NsZed scratched his head, doubtful.GAQh
rbksvzSEven though Perda insisted he was fine, the wound was serious to leave it like that.br0u
Al8hm“And did you find the information?”PoBqd
WuJdQDO“Not yet. I heard noise downstairs, so I came first to deal with that.”3TB
xKXO“Then do not waste time and go look for it.”aWAkC
sK24EF“Is that what matters right now?! Hey?! You are about to die!”uyTu1
znhDex“That is what you wanted, even if you had to risk your life, right?”X06
DMQ1The fact that he scammed nobles and seduced women had a clear purpose.MnH
DHRnZed had nothing.v4V6zq
u85BnkThe red-eyed race had been exterminated, and he was the only survivor as a child.85B
cY7mxOThe last thing he remembered was his sister being dragged away by someone.OC78Dpd
YU47JWith no family, that was his only goal.QwspJ
32AZ“A contract is a contract. Fulfilling my part means you will get what you want.”tOGc1BZ
CXpcd5B“….”qSGI
jJYrLP9Zed grimaced, but he knew he could not ignore it.Xw24q
c0J5gHe stood up and said seriously to Perda.S4reWgR
SeX“Do not die.”diVboA
HskY8bvZed moved.vKG
BdrEven though he ran at full speed, not a single step could be heard.xKSZ52
2tX‘He is definitely talented from the start.’DdSetm
KWPKAFThinking that, Perda leaned against the wall.8xp
l6ETlK3Resting against the furniture, he regulated his breathing.QiVYD
XtZwQHe had run out of mana, was anemic, and mentally at his limit.Grxh
5L1gsgYuren’s entry into the sealed warehouse had been recorded, and if he did not leave in time, an emergency mobilization would be triggered.Hwkfjz
7TJCIU“In terms of time… about 20 minutes?”GSWHF
Rb1g1In the current situation, where even a minute was urgent, it was too long.QIam1h
Y9VS3vEspecially in a place like this, 20 minutes did not even need explanation.6A2
GXZPerda had weakened, and weakened prey is the perfect target for predators.kh6
oNlTlAnd the unsettling energy of the cursed grimoires tried to invade him.OW06PM
fER7q— Do you not want to play with me?PUAt
UF0— How about making a contract with me? I will give you the power to destroy the world.9lig9q
Bk61y6— Come here. I will personally take you in.I4V5t
MoIRkFrom childish tones to solemn voices, those presences crawled, trying to infiltrate every part of Perda’s body.NcD
3W0JSIf one only listened, they seemed like entities with enormous or strange power.6m0oT
BinrgkDBut Perda knew them well.5vX
e7ncOThey were insignificant demons whose names were not even known.ch6
PI8OpTheir prices and conditions were mediocre, and the power they offered was as well.L5axf
Y3Mo‘Do I really have to listen to this trash?’xkETa
MwR3Perhaps because of that, even in this tense situation, he let out a yawn.gxqxOoE
aoApThe malice they emitted was not enough to penetrate Perda’s firm mind.XXM2dz7
A0xShortly after, all those voices stopped at the same time.DKHg
nrogKrpIt was not because they retreated before Perda’s unbreakable will.U55U3z
ZqttxfSomething of a higher level than them was approaching.Xy8kcV
eYR3‘It has arrived.’jrQTtF
Rqk19nAMoments later, the darkness in his field of vision grew denser.0Nw
KoJLSAs soon as he felt that instinctive chill, an unsettling cold enveloped Perda.whpREAH
JfGAnd soon, someone appeared before him.eNH3
cUto— Damned mortal.871CTW5
s6q31An old man with blue skin, with a long white beard.Nqno
gIQHis whitish eyes, as if affected by cataracts, stared at him.ngXV3
2tCRQIt was Marbas, the great demon with whom Yuren had made a contract.6XP
ZOlGpEJ— You dare touch something that has just become my property? Do you know what it means to earn the resentment of a demon?uJK7Q
PZGPerda looked at him and asked.iwWTUcY
kvVQ“What does it mean?”MhyeHRy
oOBZFkZ— You will pay the price for humiliating this Marbas! In the lowest level of the frozen hell, your skin will crack and your blood will freeze for a million years!rRUi6T
3biFRnMarbas roared, then struck the ground with his staff.QLwEJ
AHlAvGInfernal frost spread across the ground.zb27
TD9k— I will give you a chance for redemption. Make a contract with me. Take the place of my new contractor. What do you say?fLosQ
hmKaA contract with Perda.dUEu4KZ
kwLOThat was the true reason he had appeared.sEf
T6CJ“I refuse.”ikkY
XOipR— You will accept my resentment? No one who enrages a great demon survives.lGb5I
PYSr0HT“Resentment?”vcJzx
QcUPqPerda had already seen through him.hl6
UWRh“You just want to create a pretext. You made a contract with that useless one to pretend there is resentment, did you not?”VSrQxF
JArREIt was one of the typical tricks demons use to tempt someone.H6dl
00P9VJmThey took advantage of it to measure his potential while trying to seduce him into a real contract.CpBGjz
ZbB6gsFMarbas’s fierce face relaxed, and instead of shouting, he let out a laugh.qdrstIB
lxM— Hehehe you are not an ordinary type. So you have no intention of making a contract? I will make an exception and ask for a low price.zLgBEl
Uw1cYLHe said it as if he were liquidating merchandise.Ef5yJ
TD6Qi“Of course not.”JvW
XLXz8— What a shame. A soul as exceptional as yours would have brought me great joy. When the day comes that you need me, the price will be much higher.PMUw
vBNTHe withdrew with surprising calm for someone who supposedly held a grudge.86nB
hoZThe darkness continued to close in, and there were no longer trivial voices.HIeAx
NwmRSomething hidden in the shadow stirred and approached.boxfH
uTDRLE— The power you have shown has been truly impressive, Lord Perda Valdrova.x4c2Vw
ENXpzKA viscous, sticky voice.UE5Bg
QQQcUipWhat emerged from the darkness was a toad dressed in a suit.rta
sxOtmZ— My name is Morax. What do you think about making a contract with me? I will grant you power and authority. I will grant you everything so that you can build a great ducal domain.DSMRpfR
qXkYThe toad’s enormous mouth curled into a repulsive smile.x00
Y3MLs1P— Of course, the price will be paid someday.nIwxCQh
TWHDOne of the seven great demons, Morax, the demon of contracts and price.lSy56
rH9CAmong demons, he was the one who granted the greatest power.Mlt
1rjyou9A weak man could become a Swordmaster, and someone without magical talent could become an Archmage in an instant.SuU4Y
IGsgBut the result was always absolute tragedy.2dkTFR
YxPUrWx‘That is Morax’s damned price.’9geE0
P9EQPerda had already seen that fate countless times.IjQzJz
fvKThat is why the only thing left on his face was a mocking smile.gehzs
ng4Tw“I know perfectly well what you do. It is boring. Get lost.”BXGth
5bAfWt— Hehe for now I will withdraw. But the day will come when you will speak the name of this Morax. I will wait for that moment.jcb
fA7wCG7The toad knight tipped his hat and returned to his domain.j0rgor
l0M4bShortly after, another figure appeared before Perda.nFFrS3J
dvI8— Hello, darling.PdHlBk
OUhfUDJA moist and lustful voice whispered in his ear.yeMZ
8JZlBlonde hair, blue eyes, and a voluptuous chest.29F
J6qIt was exactly the appearance of Olivia Arken.6NeC9Kg
t5vSYe4But it was not Olivia Arken.OjJif0
J0cl0LBecause her lower half was not human, but that of a serpent.kbo5QG
NTCVd— What you showed today was incredible. I did not expect you to strike Marbas’s contractor like that.qkj
SQDThe demon of desire and illusion, Sitri.WOTu5eP
BWtfiZ“I see.”S3qLQo2
rTq— Why that indifferent face? You have before you the most beautiful woman in the empire. Do you not like it?Fjx9
hNRPlaying with her hair with slender fingers, she smiled seductively.371Vayc
HFmLvHer appearance was enough to disarm any man.NmgxA8
099wl2oBut not Perda.A0qupj
VLuu1gtEven seeing that naked and perfect body in full youth, the only thing he felt was calm.Kgt9
BYNI2OfCompared to Morax or Marbas, the power she offered was the most insignificant.tdRQoQ
cz8R4hd— It seems you do not like it. You said you were going to marry a dragon, right?9xyMm
PV61HQu“Yes.”nfXgqW1
48ZMVB— If you like that dragon so much how about if you could have two?xSH
b4zPerda thought about it for a moment and then looked at her.kFJHY
UodybJ“Speak.”AIx6Y
gJsf0— Do you know why I could take the appearance of Olivia Arken? For a demon like me, something like that is child’s play.2lFvk62
hcx9JShe smiled deeply and whispered.atMP
Caiy6— Darling do you want to see Valdrova’s appearance?DLLorq
RXBtE0Perda’s desire stirred.Fwgk
33O0P0And before that slight hesitation, he ended up giving in to Sitri.BITKOw
Cdj“Take the appearance of Valdrova.”21iCO
hoGhaww— Heh, what an adorable man. Alright.a7P0184
99u2JOmSitri covered her face with both hands.Fv2BiFt
vlAFollowing the movement of her hands, everything began to change.3jTiUL
njZB7The blonde hair turned red, two pairs of horns appeared on her head, and her eyes transformed into golden eyes with exposed sclera.i7GPu5
fYEvnL— Well? Is not this my beautiful appearance?MaIHD
hxvSQmSitri had recreated the figure of Valdrova, the one he longed for so much.4Psy2
WBpmLPerda stared at her and then said,1YM3Z5K
KHhH“That is not it.”pGGHsal
BLqhqPkOn his face there was only disappointment.bCLuHIp
nKrg9— What?GYTzn8A
qtdyBf“My fiancée does not have such a sharp appearance. Her eyes should droop a bit more.”dmODa
7KQ— Hm, like this?4Rcxd
YDQP39Sitri modified her face according to the instructions.Yul
8hp5Perda looked at her again and shook his head.BfFWNdi
5mL“That is not it. She has a softer gaze. And her lips are not that thick.”XhpC
S6K— Wait a moment. Like this?4ODiea
BeDp2xa“Why do you not understand what I am saying? Did I ask for something difficult?”q5eZw
1j9— Like this?YPNAr
f9MAnd so, they spent quite some time arguing while Sitri repeatedly changed her face.EjfGBP
hLpIyAfter several attempts, Sitri stood up abruptly.rkb
HVsbejIn her eyes there was deep contempt.ywityk
6yDfWH— You are insane.aCMM
RTDM6Z“What is it? If you want, I will make a contract with you. You just have to recreate exactly what I want. It is not difficult.”hD2eCwR
dgHN— Get lost! If I get involved with a pervert like you, my future will only be miserable!cvQ7F
AVNEven Sitri, the great demon of desire, disappeared with an expression of exasperation.BYdhI
jjUX‘It seems no one can replace Valdrova.’oMrB
S6iFdn6To be honest, Perda had felt slightly tempted and had given in a little to that temptation.Lbida8
wRXhdHe thought that, if he missed her, it would not be so bad to see her even in that form.jMuQ
O7tBut not even a substitute was possible for her.2y4Kw
RZWRlwn‘I should not have done it.’f6GA
OQdDcIBecause of Sitri’s clumsy disguise, the image of Valdrova only became more persistent in his mind.oQv9
UVaislHe missed her deeply, and loneliness began to invade him.P5tGVbn
l7c‘Ah… my queen.’SbD6
dkGAqRwPerda called out to her inwardly with longing.ytD1
roxNDF‘You love this world so much, but the world tries to take advantage of you.’EWmJU
d28tcPThe reason Yuren attacked Perda was to provoke Valdrova’s anger.0S13tc
iWKF5eA plan capable of shaking the empire could not have come solely from Yuren’s resentment.hMChM
aHCDYUF‘But do not worry.’gTR
rkESg7Perda already knew who was behind everything.lhkok3y
0TegYBAnd his sadness only made him more ruthless.ViPT
re0‘I will make them pay for all of this.’GYCwo
8djHiding black magic practitioners like rats in the empire’s sewers, instigating Yuren to assassinate the regent, bringing down a decaying empire, and desiring the death of all those bound by blood.Mlu
L7X7A beautiful flower born from the seed of calamity.Cnh
pIC9jj‘Olivia Arken.’5PKEE
1ZihAt that moment, Perda’s vision cleared completely and his senses, which had been dulled, returned to normal.uFHbctJ
VQHSomeone was rapidly descending the stairs.6DtRC
KZvThey were undoubtedly knights and mages mobilized by the emergency.XieM2a
fmpD9“Damn it, Altes! What is happening here?”oMpXK
rSF“That… is that not Regent Valdrova?!”OYSSZ
ZIsIyVF“Is he still alive?”LdaUfLJ
RmS8vZ“Yes, he is still breathing!”givqF5H
MPQ97U“Bring a priest immediately! This is an emergency!”s7p8uQp
YLnq“Lord Regent! Can you hear my voice?”TwwAyw1
7yeqepOHe could hear it.kvTp
yCKZSo now he could sleep.B4AmQzj
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationOhh they finally arrived.
Haimiya_cutie.
Body IntegrationHe is chatting with demons like demons are his friends and that women demon was funny.
Kevotrix
Mortalolivia is the one behind everything holy shit i absolutely didn’t expect this