Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Demon Order (5)

Screech!

The moment the formula activated, my vision blurred and a maddening headache tore through my mind.

A bizarre sensation, as if worms were writhing inside my head.

My face twisted instinctively, but this was merely a minor side effect of forming a contract with a demon.

In less than ten seconds, the pain completely subsided.

“Phew…….”

I exhaled slowly, calming my body that had become overly sensitive from the pain.

The formula that had been radiating brilliant light vanished without a trace.

That meant the Formal Contract with Valak had been completed.

“You made it so I can use the basic authority, right?”

I opened one hand and ignited blue mana.

The moment I thought, I will use the demon’s power, the mana slipped out of my control and began to move on its own, as if it were alive.

The heart was the source of mana, the fuel of magic.

The brain was the source of computation that constructed magic.

And by interfering with the contractor’s mind, allowing abilities different from magic to manifest—that was the power of a demon.

Fwoooosh…….

The blue mana turned violet.

From within it, a small snake made of violet energy sprang out, coiled once around my wrist, and then seeped into my skin.

Valak’s authority—Reptile Ignorance.

It was the most basic authority granted by Valak to his contractor, an ability that reduced the cognitive awareness of beings belonging to the reptilian category.

Since it was a low-tier authority, no cost was required to use it after forming a Formal Contract.

Moreover, since this authority also worked against the security formulas used by Levia, it was more than worth it.

“Not bad.”

If I had not formed a Formal Contract, I would have had to pay a price every single time I used even this basic authority.

Compared to the forced unfair contract I had in my previous life, this was a massive improvement.

“You are quite capable. I did not expect you to use my authority so quickly.”

“Now that the Formal Contract is done… I will help you eliminate the defectors. I also need your authority if I want to stay hidden in Saengterminum.”

Levia already knew my identity, but to change the future, forming a Formal Contract with Valak was essential.

And to maintain that contract, I had to fulfill its conditions.

“When do we start taking care of the defectors?”

“From tomorrow. Ask Lucia over there for the details.”

Tap… tap…….

Turning my head, I saw Lucia lifting her upper body after her Full-Body Demonic Armament had been released.

However, her gaze remained fixed on me and Valak, unable to look away.

As a beastfolk with excellent physical ability, she must have heard everything we said.

“Get along well. It would be awkward if you two were stiff while killing defectors together, would it not?”

“A demon worrying about human relationships?”

I glanced at Lucia and the believers standing beneath the altar, then shot Valak a look.

“By the way… Valak, do you have any intention of reducing the number of believers?”

“Hm?”

“From the way you talk, it sounds like there are quite a lot of defectors.”

Defectors.

Demon worshippers who, despite forming contracts with demons, had completely succumbed to madness and acted on their own without control.

Normally, Lucia, as the Demon Cult Leader, should suppress their madness.

“But if there are many defectors despite having a Demon Cult Leader… that means there are so many believers that even the Cult Leader cannot handle them all, right?”

“So you are telling me to reduce their numbers?”

Valak smirked.

“Why should I care about something like that?”

His immediate, emotionless response made my expression stiffen slightly.

I had asked just in case, but as expected.

“You should know this well too, Aron Bayonel, since you are from one of the Four Great Houses. Not all demons are the same. The ranks your Dark Empire assigned to us—that is exactly what they represent. Someone like me would probably be classified as a High-Rank Demon.”

The Dark Empire classified demons based on the strength of their power.

Once assigned, a demon’s rank usually did not change.

However, there were ways for demons to grow stronger.

The most representative method was consuming offerings presented by humans.

Those offerings were not limited to material things.

Human emotions and thoughts also served as offerings.

That was why contractors who formed unfair contracts with demons gradually fell into madness.

Because their emotions, memories, and reason were devoured as the price of the contract.

“So you plan to keep increasing the number of believers… and grow stronger by consuming offerings?”

“See? You understand well.”

“And what do you plan to do after becoming stronger? Being a High-Rank Demon should already be enough, should it not?”

“There are far more powerful beings in hell than you think. Only when you reach the level of a Top-Rank Demon can you truly say it is livable there.”

“…I see.”

My tone sharpened without me realizing it.

This was exactly why I hated demons.

I had heard that hell was a realm governed purely by the law of strength.

But why did they have to come to another world and wreak havoc like this?

They were truly incomprehensible creatures.

Well… that was precisely why they were called demons.

“Time is up.”

As I grumbled inwardly, the color and form of Valak’s body began to fade, his form gradually turning red before collapsing downward.

The time limit for maintaining his avatar had ended.

With only his face remaining above the collapsing body, Valak looked at me.

“Let us meet again, Aron Bayonel…….”

Soon, even his face crumbled completely, returning to ordinary chunks of corpse.

I also put the pendant back on and returned to Damon’s appearance.

“I was completely fooled…….”

Lucia, who had already recovered, approached me.

As expected, but still impressive. 

Despite the backlash of Demonic Armament and being hit with a curse, she had already recovered. 

Even a zombie would not recover that quickly.

“…To think you were Aron, a direct descendant of one of the Four Great Houses.”

“Well, that is how it turned out. Let us get along from now on.”

She gave a small nod and walked toward the stairs beneath the altar.

“For now, let us change clothes. Neither of us can go outside in this state…….”

“Excuse me, Senior.”

I extended my arm and blocked her path.

“Is that all you have to say? Before we go after defectors, I think there is something we should discuss first.”

“…Are you worried I might reveal your identity? I am not that tactless.”

“That is a given. And I have no intention of spreading the fact that you are from one of the Four Great Houses either.”

“Then is it about the Demon of Pride? I have no intention of talking about that either. You worry too much.”

Of course.

Lucia knew my identity, and I knew her origins.

Since we both held each other’s secrets, it was only natural for her to act cooperatively.

Though she dismissed my words, she hesitated slightly and moved her lips.

“Well… I really did not expect it. A demon that uses Holy Power… I never thought such a demon existed. No wonder the Dark Empire issued a Wanted Order to capture you.”

I did not bother correcting her misunderstanding.

It was because of my Sacred Mark, not a demon, but for now, it was more convenient if she believed that.

But that was not the only reason I stopped her.

“Do you think I would stop you just to ask something that obvious?”

“Then what is it?”

“I want to know what you received from Valak as your price.”

At my pointed question, her expression hardened slightly.

“…Do you really need to know that?”

“It does not sit right with me to just let it pass.”

I pointed at the believers standing densely below the altar.

“If there are already defectors, that means the number of believers has grown beyond what you can control, right? What are you thinking, pushing yourself this far to increase their numbers?”

“So you do not understand.”

“Of course I do not. What kind of contract did you make with Valak to go this far?”

A Formal Contract with a demon was like a chain binding both sides.

The contractor offered a price, and the demon granted power based on that price.

That was the fundamental principle.

But what a demon could grant was not limited to power alone.

Of course, I already knew what she was trying to obtain from Valak.

But I could not say it out loud myself.

“I suppose I should know what you are receiving from Valak.”

“You are not going to let this go, are you?”

That was why I guided her into revealing it herself.

“…Let us change clothes and talk above.”

Lucia responded exactly as I intended.

“Even if you are the Mad Dog, you will understand once you see it for yourself…….”

***

Thirty minutes later.

After confirming that no one was around, I pushed open the manhole cover above me.

“Oh…….”

The sight of Saengterminum’s campus right before my eyes made me let out a small exclamation.

It was impressive no matter how many times I saw it.

To think they had built the Order’s headquarters deep within the underground sewer system of Saengterminum.

Moreover, a barrier had been set up around the headquarters using Valak’s authority, making it nearly impossible for ordinary people to detect it.

On top of that, thanks to Valak’s authority—Reptile Ignorance—I would not trigger the defensive formulas Levia had installed throughout the sewers.

Having also changed into clothes provided by the believers, there was virtually no risk of being discovered.

“I wonder how you came up with the idea of building a base in the sewers. That is quite impressive.”

“Well, I have lived in Saengterminum for five years…….”

After closing the manhole, Lucia walked ahead of me.

“Follow me. It is not far from here.”

After about ten minutes of walking, Lucia entered a nearby mountainside and extended one hand into the air.

Violet mana rose from her hand as she stepped forward again.

“From here on, keep your eyes on my back. If you lose me, you will end up somewhere else…….”

Saaaa…….

As we walked further, my vision blurred, and a dense violet fog began to fill the surroundings.

This was not a temporary barrier formed using the believers’ Demonic Aura.

This was a barrier Lucia had painstakingly created using Valak’s authority through Descent Type Black Magic.

Even skilled mages would struggle to detect it unless they deliberately focused on searching for it.

Snap!

In an instant, the fog cleared, and my vision opened up.

What stood before me was a modest wooden house with a yard.

At a glance, it was clear that it had been maintained regularly.

If judged only by appearance, it might seem like a peaceful place to rest.

…Unfortunately, I had absolutely no desire to step inside and relax.

Hummm…….

The ground was dark—no, sticky.

Black Demonic Aura continuously seeped up from the soil.

Though the house itself was neat, the grass had withered completely, and the surrounding trees were twisted into grotesque shapes.

The environment had been corrupted by prolonged exposure to Demonic Aura.

Lucia had contained the spread of the corruption with a barrier.

Creeeak.

The door of the house opened, and two adults—a man and a woman—walked toward us.

No… could they even be called human?

Creeeeeak…….

Thick Demonic Aura continuously leaked from their bodies as they approached.

“Grrrk… urrk… grrk…….”

“Urk… grrk… kehk…….”

Instead of speech, only guttural noises escaped their mouths.

Their clothes were torn, and their skin was fused with a dark red Demonic Armament, forming a horrifying appearance.

They were the very source of the Demonic Aura filling this barrier.

Their teeth and claws had become sharp and crimson, and their tails revealed that they had once been beastfolk.

“I told you, did I not? My family made a contract with a demon.”

“…Ha.”

Even though I already knew, seeing it with my own eyes made me let out a hollow breath.

Because—

“That cannot be….”

“Yeah. They are my parents.”