CHAPTER 129………………………………………..
“I haven’t lost!”
“Then why have you been stuck in the underworld for five years?”
“I wasn’t stuck—I was just resting—”
“Oh my, then why come all the way to this shabby place instead of just continuing your rest?”
“You were the one who called me!”
“You could’ve refused, couldn’t you?”
“……”
Not just spirits, but even demons had the right to refuse their contractor’s call. He knew everything, yet still tried to lecture me.
“Enough. Scram.”
“Wh-what?”
“I said go back to the underworld. Go rest comfortably. Forever.”
“…Don’t you need me?”
“I did call you to ask a few things, but seeing how you are, forget it. I’m just curious, that’s all.”
The Demon King seemed momentarily flustered, as if he hadn’t expected me to respond this way.
“…F-fine. Ask then.”
“I said it’s fine.”
“Even if I ask? You said you’d tell me!”
I shook my head with a bored expression.
“How can I trust a race among supernatural beings that’s the only one capable of lying? If you’re going to trick me, I’d rather not hear anything.”
“I will speak only the truth!”
“Words without an oath…”
“For your benefit! I swear it!”
“You promised? Break it, and you vanish.”
The Demon King grinned, then immediately shut his eyes, realizing the trap.
“Damn, I fell for your cunning trick again…”
The reason we were able to capture the Demon King after just one year was his simple, hotheaded personality.
“Then shall we start with the part where Adrian made the contract? Let’s make it quick, we’re busy.”
The Demon King, who had glared at me as if to kill, finally spoke.
“Adrian summoned me to heal his malformed heart. It was a trivial task, so I accepted gladly.”
“I expected as much.”
“He asked for half of my lifespan in exchange, and I refused.”
I would’ve refused too.
“Adrian didn’t give up. He summoned me daily, pestering me to find a way. Then I recalled a matter from long ago. About two thousand years ago, I taught the sixth contractor the Soul Transfer Technique.”
“That demon… was you?”
“Yes.”
The very one who plunged the world into chaos two thousand years ago—him.
“And?”
“I taught Adrian the Soul Transfer Technique and the vessel suited for her.”
“The price?”
“Enough blood to fill a river.”
“Impossible. Even squeezing humans dry wouldn’t yield that much blood…”
A memory suddenly surfaced.
“The things you did five years ago… that was the price Adrian paid you?”
“Exactly.”
So the countless deaths five years ago were all due to one person’s greed?
No wonder he’s the true final villain. I couldn’t even bring myself to laugh—it was too hollow.
‘Insane. Who makes a childcare story’s villain this terrifying?’
Alright, I understand that much.
I understand now that I possessed a woman who had lost her mind.
‘Then what about the prophecy?’
The prophecy said evil forces would engulf the world.
‘By what power?’
Maybe if I were emperor… but I’m just a duke. Fragile enough to catch a cold in lukewarm water.
Sure, I’m the Demon King’s contractor, but I have no intention of borrowing his power. What use is that?
“Why are you hesitating? Beg for me to perform the Soul Transfer Technique.”
“I won’t take a child’s life just to save myself. I’d rather die.”
“You talk a good game. Then why did you gather the grimoire and the vessel?”
“…I don’t understand what you mean.”
The Demon King snorted and extended his hand.
“What is this?”
Unbelievably, the forbidden book floated above his hand. I had hidden it in my room.
“How…?”
“I made this grimoire myself. If I have the will, I can seize it anytime.”
“Then Adrian wouldn’t have needed to find the grimoire! Don’t lie!”
“It was in the temple. The only place my will couldn’t reach.”
“….”
“I also know the vessel is in your home. How could I not know? That child’s holy energy is enough to give a headache.”
When I had planned to steal the grimoire from the temple, this was why the Doomscribbler remained silent.
‘Once again… I was played by the Doomscribbler.’
I felt utterly powerless, like a colossal wave was about to crush me.
Now I couldn’t even tell where my free will ended and the Doomscribbler’s intent began.
The Demon King continued.
“If you think of performing the Soul Transfer Technique alone, give up. You can only succeed with my help.”
“What do you mean?”
“Soul Transfer requires three things: first, the grimoire; second, a suitable vessel; third, a drop of my blood.”
“I thought all I needed was the vessel?”
“If that were true, all dark sorcerers in the world could perform it. My sixth contractor didn’t want that.”
“Adrian knows too? That your blood is required for the Soul Transfer?”
“Of course. Once the materials were ready, I had agreed to perform it.”
“The price?”
“….”
“You swore only to tell the truth.”
The Demon King clicked his tongue irritably.
“Blood.”
“How much?”
“Enough to cover the world.”
Finally, the ending of this cursed childcare story came into focus.
As the final villain, I had to take Piace’s body.
Once the Soul Transfer succeeded, the Demon King would again cover the world in blood.
In the end, Piace would save the world by choosing death with me.
‘The prophecy was right.’
I had hoped that meeting the Demon King would provide answers, but all I felt was frustration.
What did the Spirit King expect from me? I was just a helpless puppet.
“Midnight is near. I’ll move the vessel here.”
“What… you mean bring Piace here? Why?”
“You need the vessel to perform the Soul Transfer, didn’t you?”
“Y-you’re crazy! I won’t!”
“Now you speak with righteous indignation, but when it’s your life on the line, you’ll beg. Every human I’ve seen has.”
“I’m not refusing—I can’t! I’m physically unable, no matter my will!”
“Contracts are sacred. No one, not even a god, can interfere.”
“Well, I said I won’t! And technically, Adrian made the contract with you, not me!”
“Only the dead can separate soul and body.”
“Wow…”
By now, I was starting to resent the Spirit King.
Why summon such an impossible being?
I was already overwhelmed, and now I had to persuade the Demon King too.
“What if you die before attempting the Soul Transfer? What if that’s the will of the god?”
“I will save you.”
“Save me…?”
“Yes.”
“You want to revive me, whom you trapped in the underworld, just to kill humans? Because it’s your fate?”
“The fate of demons is not to kill humans.”
“Then?”
“To go against the will of the god.”
“…!”
A shiver ran down my spine.
“Don’t you know? All beings live according to their destiny. Beasts follow their beastly fate, demons their demonic fate. I, as Spirit King, must maintain balance until my end.”
If going against the god’s will is required, the Demon King will do it.
Like the Spirit King, fate is absolute for him.
Finally, in the pitch-black maze, I saw an escape.
“Let me be clear. You can attempt the Soul Transfer, but it will never succeed.”
“Impossible.”
“Then shall we make a bet? I’ll bet on failure. You bet on success.”
“….”
“If you lack confidence, give up.”
“Propose the reward for victory.”
The demon wouldn’t refuse a bet. I smiled inwardly.
“The loser grants a wish to the winner. Deal?”
“Specify the conditions clearly.”
“Where’s the fun in revealing it beforehand? I’ll tell you when the Soul Transfer becomes necessary.”
“…Until then, I’ll watch you. You might deceive me. Do you accept?”
“Fine.”
“The deal is sealed.”
A little later, shortly after midnight, two crows flew out of the lab together.
