CHAPTER 105……………………………….
“No one in this war-torn situation would have fifty million won in cash. It’s a certified check, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
When Esther looked at Larksar, he gave a small nod.
He must have detected any falsehood through minute changes in heartbeat, expression, or aura.
“Fine.”
Esther slipped the check into her inner pocket.
‘Well, unless I actually go to the bank, the money isn’t leaving my hands yet anyway….’
The priest probably thought there was little risk of loss — since there was a high chance he’d die and never return.
Even so, sending her like this… might have been to gain public support and keep Kaelos in check.
‘Not that I have any intention of dying.’
Esther took the scroll the priest offered her, and lightly tore it.
Just as she thought she was being wrapped in light, her vision inverted.
Before her stretched pitch-black darkness.
Poisonous air and demonic energy filled every direction.
The stench of blood was revolting, and visibility was poor.
For Esther, Larksar, and Ross, the demonic miasma was familiar.
“Ugh…”
But clearly, not for Shiphon.
“Shiphon?”
Her knees buckled. Esther’s expression hardened.
“Shiphon!”
“M-my lady… huff…”
“…We were careless. A human body can’t endure such thick demonic energy and poison.”
Larksar muttered softly, pressing a finger — glimmering with red magic — to Shiphon’s forehead.
Her painful breathing gradually eased.
“I’ve blocked a few of her energy channels. She’ll be more comfortable for a while. It’s only temporary, though.”
“…Wait. Maybe we should send her back now—”
“Teleportation magic doesn’t work here. The fog disrupts the flow of mana. And she’s already been poisoned — even if she returns, she’ll die soon.”
Esther’s eyes widened.
She hadn’t realized. To her, demonic energy was so ordinary that she hadn’t thought of its effect.
She had forgotten Shiphon was human.
“What do we do?”
“…There are some humans who can withstand demonic energy.”
At Larksar’s cryptic words, Esther’s eyes widened again.
There was a way for a human to adapt to demonic energy.
“A contract…!”
When a human forms a pact with a demon, the human gains resistance to demonic energy.
But Esther already had a contract — even though the partner was dead, the bond still bound her body.
And demonic contracts are strictly one-to-one.
The Demon King is an exception, but Esther hadn’t attained that level of power yet.
Larksar stood over Shiphon, arms crossed, a frown forming between his brows.
Then Shiphon, her fingertips turning purple, reached out and lightly brushed Esther’s cheek.
“I’m all right, my lady.”
“…You’re not. You’ll die.”
“If you think about it… if it weren’t for you, I would’ve died long ago anyway. I’d have ended up a prostitute, or sold cheap to some perverted noble, or died stealing, or died with my family.”
Esther’s eyes widened at her words.
“I don’t let my people die. I can’t be bothered without you, Shiphon.”
Shiphon gave a faint smile. The hand that had touched Esther’s cheek dropped limply to the floor.
Her skin turned purple, then slowly bluish. Her eyelids fluttered as she struggled to stay conscious, and Esther began to draw on her magic in desperation.
“Lady Esther.”
“What?”
“Would you allow me a moment to speak with her alone?”
Larksar, who had been quietly watching, knelt on one knee.
“…You have a way?”
“Well, if both parties agree, it may be possible.”
“I’ve got nothing to say.”
Even gasping for breath, Shiphon gave a small, mocking laugh.
She knew too well that Larksar rarely spoke plainly.
He’d dangle a sliver of hope, only to snatch it away.
She had no intention of dancing in his palm.
Larksar narrowed his eyes and lifted Shiphon into his arms.
“Put me down!”
“Be quiet.”
They moved a little distance from Esther. Larksar held her close and whispered something softly.
Shiphon’s eyes widened, then flushed red with tears.
Just as she was about to strike him in anger, Larksar caught her wrist gently.
He gazed at her face for a moment, said something else, and though Shiphon clenched her fist, she slowly relaxed.
Larksar gave a faint smile, asked another question, and after a pause, Shiphon answered quietly — then finally, after a long silence, she nodded.
“What are they doing?”
“No idea!”
Ross raised his hand enthusiastically like a model student.
“I didn’t expect you to know anyway. But why are you in human form again?”
“Because it’s cuter this way, isn’t it?!”
Like master, like servant — they were alike in tone.
Esther shot him a cold glare, then looked away.
Not that she could deny it — he was kind of cute.
‘Still, I’m cuter.’
Just as she thought that and turned back toward Shiphon—
Larksar lowered his head and pressed his lips to Shiphon’s.
It was so light — like a feather settling briefly before drifting away.
In that instant, a pitch-black sigil appeared on Shiphon’s forehead, then sank into her skin.
“He actually did it?”
Esther’s eyes went wide.
She hadn’t expected Larksar to really form a contract with a human.
Though he seemed civil toward humans, he despised them.
If not for Esther living among them, he’d never have associated with one.
‘He did seem to want to make a pact with her, but still….’
It was odd, now that she thought about it.
At that very moment, the sigil of the contract engraved itself into him—
Krrrrr!
The ground began to quake violently. A black vapor surged from Larksar’s body.
Then his form split in two — into Denver, and Larksar.
“…Ah.”
So that’s why he made the contract?
Larksar’s true body was returning.
When a demon and human make a proper contract, both gain the ability to cross between worlds.
The separated Denver collapsed forward.
“Ha… finally…”
Larksar had regained his original body.
His hair was jet-black, his golden eyes gleamed like those of a divine beast.
He now looked like a young man in his twenties, with striking features and pale skin.
Smiling faintly, he snapped his fingers, and Denver vanished within a magic circle.
He then gently lifted Shiphon’s limp body.
Holding her in his arms, he gazed down impassively, then turned to Esther with a radiant smile.
“At last, I’ve regained my true form, Lady Esther.”
“Congratulations. What about Denver?”
“Oh, I sent him back where he belongs.”
He smiled lightly.
Esther could barely sense his presence anymore — proof enough of his immense power.
“And as for Shiphon — fortunately, her situation is resolved as well, Lady Esther.”
“A contract, huh… are you sure that’s okay?”
“Ah, it’s been a while. I’d forgotten what it felt like to be bound by something.”
A contract could never be formed one-sidedly — both parties must exchange something they each deem fair.
“But it’s fine. She’s someone you cherish, after all.”
“Well, yes, but…”
“Your happiness is my happiness, Lady Esther. Whatever you desire…”
He knelt on one knee, still holding Shiphon in his arms.
His loyalty was absolute — suffocatingly so.
‘…I really don’t understand why he’s this devoted.’
Even if he bore the seed of the Demon King, such blind loyalty made little sense.
“Besides,” he added, “I did have some interest in her. I’ve received something satisfying in return, so it wasn’t a loss.”
“What did you get?”
At Esther’s question, Larksar simply looked at her, then smiled faintly.
“I do revere you, Lady Esther, and serve you from the depths of my being — but revealing contract terms would break one of the most basic rules.”
Correction — that wasn’t loyalty.
That was just Larksar being sly.
