Chapter 12
The Demon and the Witch (3)
“A condition?”
“Yes, a condition.”
“We each exchange what the other wants. That is all there is to this deal, so why must another condition be attached?”
The contract they were about to make favored neither party. It was quite literally an equal exchange. Yet she wanted to impose another condition. Johan found it difficult to understand.
“It’s simple. I want to change what I receive in return. That is my condition.”
“You want something other than the Key to the Abyss?”
“That’s right.”
“What do you want?”
Ilea smiled brightly.
“Release my father’s soul.”
Johan frowned without answering.
“Don’t misunderstand. This isn’t another unreasonable demand like the one I made earlier. I merely wish to amend the terms.”
A moment ago, Ilea had demanded a show of sincerity if he wanted to do business with her. She had asked him to release Gaf’s soul.
That had been an unacceptable and unreasonable demand.
This time was different. She was asking for her father’s freedom in place of the Key to the Abyss.
“Is that possible?”
Johan tapped the round table with his index finger. After losing himself in thought, he spoke.
“Impossible.”
A peculiar smile appeared on Ilea’s face.
“You must be afraid of me.”
“There is nothing wrong with being cautious.”
The moment he released Gaf’s soul, the leash restraining Ilea would disappear as well.
What might the liberated witch do then?
She might torture Johan to discover the location of the forbidden archive. She could also force him to submit to her.
He had prepared a way to deal with that possibility, but using it would come at a considerable cost.
He would have to open the jewel box he had brought from the forbidden archive.
It was the Great Witch Rahel’s jewel casket. The moment he opened it, he could bind Ilea. Of course, doing so would utterly destroy their relationship and turn them into irreconcilable enemies.
It would not be a wise choice.
“I agree. Your life is at stake, after all.”
“You understand that perfectly well, yet you continue making unreasonable demands.”
“It can’t be helped. This is extremely important to me as well.”
Johan frowned irritably.
“I have no intention of releasing Gaf, even if it means this deal falls apart.”
“You’re quite determined. Very well. Let’s find a compromise.”
Ilea pretended to think before lightly clapping her hands.
“What if I take over my father’s role?”
“What do you mean?”
“Under his contract, my father has no choice but to protect you. I’ll assume that obligation in his place.”
The unexpected proposal made Johan’s lips curl with interest.
“You will protect me?”
“That’s right. I’ll become the demon’s contractor.”
“I have no objection.”
If anything, it was preferable. The girl before him would eventually become one of the most powerful beings in the world. He would receive her protection while simultaneously binding her with the shackles of a contract.
Johan had absolutely no reason to reject her offer.
“There is one thing I find suspicious. I don’t understand why you would go this far.”
“As his daughter, my father should be my highest priority. You may consider it the hypocrisy of an unfilial daughter if you wish.”
She had entered the lord’s castle of her own accord while disguising it as an abduction. In doing so, she had plunged the father who lived only for his daughter into despair.
Ultimately, Gaf had made his contract with a demon because of Ilea.
Did the witch feel guilty about that?
It was difficult to determine her true intentions.
“That is hardly behavior befitting a witch.”
“You seem to know a great deal about witches.”
“Your kind pursues personal gain above all else. Yet I see none of that in your current behavior.”
“Who knows? Perhaps what I’m doing now will prove beneficial to me as well.”
She paused briefly before adding,
“Now it’s your turn to answer, Johan. Will you accept my proposal?”
Johan fell into thought without replying.
Something feels off.
What scheme was she concealing behind that innocent smile? Having read the original story, he found it difficult to lower his guard.
“Very well.”
Nevertheless, this was an opportunity. It felt suspicious, but he could not kick away a windfall that had rolled directly into his lap.
Johan boldly decided to take the dangerous shortcut.
“I will terminate my contract with Gaf.”
Ilea’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.
“From now on, I’m Johan’s guardian.”
“Come closer.”
Johan beckoned with his index finger. Ilea rose from her seat and moved close to him.
Blue eyes and crimson eyes stared into one another. Each gaze flashed as though trying to peer into the other’s innermost thoughts, yet both appeared calm and composed on the surface.
“I will terminate my contract with Gaf. From this moment onward, you will protect me and provide the mana and sacrifice required for the unholy formation. Your soul will serve as collateral. Do you agree?”
“Before that, let’s make one thing clear. When will my father’s soul be released?”
Terminating the contract would require mutual consent. Johan would have to meet Gaf in person to finalize it.
“One week will be sufficient.”
“Very well. Let’s make the contract.”
At that moment, black smoke rose from Johan’s body. The haze undulated through the air before seeping into Ilea through her breath.
A foreign sensation settled inside both their chests.
If either of them failed to honor the agreement, the demonic energy lodged in their heart would claim their life.
“We’re in the same boat now.”
Ilea extended her hand.
“I suppose we are.”
Johan clasped her pale hand.
“When can I expect to see Betra lying on the unholy formation? The sooner, the better.”
Activating the unholy formation was directly connected to Johan’s growth. If he had his way, he would have ordered Ilea to hurry up and get to work immediately.
“I’ll bring her here within a day.”
It was an answer he liked.
Johan spoke with a satisfied expression.
“Then I will have the Key to the Abyss ready by tomorrow as well.”
“You’re giving it to me for free?”
A trace of puzzlement crossed Ilea’s face.
She had chosen Gaf’s freedom instead of the Key to the Abyss. Although she had become Johan’s guardian during the contracting process, that had merely been a prerequisite for changing what she would receive in return.
The Key to the Abyss, which had originally been part of their exchange, had been removed from the contract.
“Nothing in this world is free. The Key to the Abyss will be payment for a new deal.”
“You seem to want quite a lot from me. So what must I give you this time?”
“We’ll discuss that tomorrow. Betra comes first.”
“Understood. Then I’ll take my leave for today.”
Ilea stepped back and smiled gently.
“It seems I’ve found myself a valuable business partner. Let’s continue getting along.”
“Very well.”
Johan looked indifferent.
“I suppose I’ll be seeing you often as well, Young Master. I look forward to getting along with you.”
Raguel flinched before responding.
“R-Right. I was rude to you before. Please forget about it.”
A few days earlier, when Raguel had insulted Ilea by calling her a witch, her reaction had been chillingly cold.
Her icy voice remained lodged in Raguel’s mind like a thorn.
“Please don’t concern yourself with it. I haven’t taken it to heart.”
“E-Even so…”
Johan clicked his tongue.
“You’re a man, so stop cowering. That’s enough apologizing. Straighten your back.”
He then looked at Ilea.
“And you should get going.”
“All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She inclined her head slightly before turning around.
The flames floating in the air disappeared one after another.
The study was engulfed in darkness once more.
Her light footsteps gradually receded into the distance.
Just as Johan was about to resume reading Kazan’s life story aloud, Raguel spoke.
“…Um, Johan.”
“What?”
I-I’m telling you this in advance, but I’m not saying this because I’m worried about you. If something happens to you, I won’t be able to get my eyes back. So…”
“Stop stalling and say it.”
Raguel cleared his throat.
“It’s about your relationship with Ilea. Everything seems to have been settled, but I see it a little differently. Don’t lower your guard too much.”
Having spent his entire life cautiously reading the moods of those around him, Raguel was adept at discerning other people’s feelings and the surrounding atmosphere.
That ability had just sent him a warning. He had sensed some hidden intention within Ilea’s tranquil voice.
“You think the witch is plotting something?”
“N-Not exactly…”
“Well, your suspicion is probably not far from the truth.”
Ilea had wagered her life for Gaf’s sake? Anyone who had read the original story would have scoffed at the idea.
She must have had another objective.
Several hypotheses came to Johan’s mind, but he set them all aside. It was still too early to settle on any conclusion.
For now, he intended only to remain vigilant.
“I’m relieved that you seem to understand. Until you fulfill your promise to me, you must stay safe.”
Johan chuckled.
“Stop worrying unnecessarily and be quiet. This is where the story starts getting interesting.”
Johan resumed reading Kazan’s life story aloud.
The demon’s narration settled over the darkened study.
***
The Old Hag Spirit’s sinister laughter echoed through the spiral staircase connecting the study to the first floor.
“Master, what a truly magnificent scheme! That foolish imp walked straight into your trap. He’ll never be able to escape it.”
She even began whistling as she continued chattering.
“All we need to do now is go to Gaf and tell him not to terminate his contract with the imp. Then it will all be over.”
Ilea spoke expressionlessly.
“Why would you think that?”
“Why, the condition of the contract between you and the imp was the ‘release of Gaf’s soul,’ was it not? Therefore, if Gaf refuses to terminate the contract, the imp will naturally lose his life as the price for failing to honor your agreement. Ha-ha!”
Ilea let out a quiet sigh.
“Perhaps your brain shrank with age. Or maybe you were simply an idiot from the beginning.”
“M-Master, have I misunderstood something?”
“Everything, from beginning to end. I have no intention of killing Johan. Even if I did decide to kill him, I would never use such an irrational method. If Johan dies because of my scheme, what do you think will happen to my father and me?”
“W-Well…”
“Under the terms of the contract, we would pay the price for failing to ‘protect’ Johan. Are you telling me to kill myself?”
Regardless of how Johan died, Ilea would inevitably be held responsible. Their fates were now bound together.
The Old Hag Spirit spoke as though she truly could not understand.
“Then you have placed shackles upon your own feet, Master. Why would you do such a thing? Surely you were not sincere when you said it was for Gaf’s sake?”
The Ilea whom the Old Hag Spirit knew was not someone who would be swayed by affection or filial devotion. Only profit and efficiency could move her.
Yet she seemed slightly different now.
“For my father’s sake… It would be nice if even I were permitted such romantic sentiments.”
“Emotions are nothing but weaknesses to a witch. You know that better than anyone, so why…”
Ilea’s expression grew calm and composed.
“The Mother of All Evil. Johan appears suitable as a candidate for its vessel.”
The Old Hag Spirit let out a shriek of astonishment.
“Th-The Mother of All Evil?! What about that newborn imp makes you think he could become its vessel?”
“Did Johan appear ordinary to you?”
The infant looked less than a month old, yet he possessed a single pure-white horn. Despite his youth, he was remarkably bold and intelligent. And that was not all. He had accurately discerned both the location of the forbidden archive and Ilea’s objective.
No matter how one looked at him, he was an extraordinary existence.
“I-I admit that he is remarkably capable, but…”
“Capable? To evaluate him with such a paltry word… Your brain is a problem, but your discernment is even worse.”
The intimidated Old Hag Spirit spoke in a shrinking voice.
“Then you intend to protect him until he grows and becomes a suitable vessel?”
“I intend to observe him. If he continues to meet my expectations, I will gladly remain his guardian indefinitely.”
“He may disappoint you, Master.”
“If that happens, I’ll exploit a loophole in the meaning of ‘protection.’ There is no such thing as a perfect contract.”
Ilea smiled as she added,
“Of course, for now, it is my turn to meet his expectations.”
She intended to fulfill Johan’s request perfectly.
A sacrifice for the unholy formation.
She would capture Betra the harlot and place her upon the altar.
“Enough idle chatter. Shall we go and see Mother now?”
Ilea headed directly toward Betra’s chambers.