CHAPTER 128…………………………………………
The Spirit King sat cross-legged in front of me, spinning slightly with a grin.
“What are you doing all alone? Looking so pitiful.”
The Spirit King wore a multicolored hood over his head and long, flowing clothes like a gypsy.
He was covered in ornaments. Long earrings dangled from his ears, multiple necklaces layered over each other, and his hands were ringed with more than ten rings.
There was no trace of the majesty one might expect from a Spirit King, and it made me laugh through my tears.
“You’re… really flashy today.”
“There’s a country in the East I often visit. It’s festival season there, so I wanted to have a little fun.”
“Then why come here? Why not enjoy the festival?”
“I would’ve, but the kids kept whining that I should come see you. What could I do?”
“Darn,” he muttered to himself, clearly annoyed, and took out a long smoking pipe.
“Tough day?”
It was like he knew everything—probably heard it from the spirits.
I quickly wiped away the tears threatening to rise.
“Go on ahead. I’ll summon the kids again later.”
“Want me to tell you?”
“Eh? Tell me what?”
“The truth behind what you’re going through.”
“…No, it won’t change anything, so why bother?”
“Why’s the kid so down? You weren’t like this before.”
“I’m just… tired today.”
I brushed my dry face with my hands. Honestly, I wanted to just sleep for days on end.
“So, will you give up?”
“I… don’t really know.”
“Well, living in accordance with fate isn’t bad. Honestly, it’s easier that way.”
The Spirit King puffed on his pipe, flicking the ash into the air. White specks floated like snow before disappearing.
“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.”
“……”
“The only beings who can break this rule are humans. Humans can follow the fate given by gods, or kick it aside if they don’t like it.”
I felt strange.
Was the “god” the Spirit King mentioned a real god—or was it the Doomscribbler who created this world?
“That’s why beings like me can’t help but love humans. Your free will is pitiful yet brilliant, unique to you alone.”
“…Humans don’t reject fate easily either.”
It felt like defying instructions came with unavoidable penalties.
“Do you think going against the will of the god is easy? That guy’s narrow-minded, you know.”
He shook his head and met my gaze.
The Spirit King’s eyes had lost all playfulness; they were terrifyingly deep and calm.
“Enduring trials is difficult. Even if you give up, no one can blame you. But if you want to defy fate, if you want to live according to your brilliant free will, go to the place where you buried your secrets.”
“The place where I buried my secrets?”
Suddenly, a location popped into my mind.
“You mean the lab? There’s nothing there.”
“There’s a summoning circle, isn’t there?”
The Spirit King winked playfully with one eye. Wait—why would a demon appear here all of a sudden?
“You mean summon a demon?”
“I don’t know if it’ll help you, but try persuading it well.”
“But… the dark sorcerer isn’t me, it’s Adrian. I don’t even know how to summon one.”
“That’s something I can teach you. Drop a single drop of blood on the summoning circle and call the demon’s true name three times. Simple, right?”
“What’s the true name?”
“Crow.”
Crow?
I felt like I had heard it somewhere before… but when?
While trying to recall, the Spirit King tapped the crown of my head.
“The kids say sorry for hiding it. They didn’t do it on purpose, so forgive them. Once they start whining, they’re a headache.”
I didn’t understand. What had the spirits hidden from me?
“Understood. Let’s go.”
“Wait a minute!”
“What is it? Hurry, we’ve got dancing to do.”
“Why are you helping me? You’re supposed to be a being that maintains balance.”
“That’s what I’m doing now. Did you think I came just because the kids whined?”
“…So you’re saying I’m at a disadvantage.”
“You thought so too. Let’s go.”
The Spirit King exhaled a puff of smoke and disappeared.
I sat there for a long time. His words wouldn’t leave my head.
“Free will…”
A little later, I opened the window to let out the smoke and called the butler.
“Prepare the carriage. We’re going to the lab.”
“At this hour?”
“Hurry.”
“Yes, sir.”
I stared at the red-brick building and got out of the carriage.
“Go back first.”
The driver, startled by the eerie atmosphere, asked nervously.
“Eh? And you, sir?”
“I’ll stay in the lab all night.”
“Oh, that’s fine. I’ll wait here then.”
“Do I need to say it twice for you to understand?”
“No, sir! I’ll go back immediately!”
I watched the carriage leave before entering the building.
Inside, it was still gloomy. Outside was autumn, but it felt like early winter here.
I swung my arms and stepped into the lab.
I turned on all the lights and rolled back the carpet on the floor.
As the summoning circle was revealed, I let out a long sigh.
“Ugh…”
The demon probably knows my identity, just like the spirits.
In Part 1, demons were my enemies.
The moment they saw me, they didn’t negotiate—they just swung their swords.
Of course, demons bared their teeth at me too.
Would they cooperate after showering me with curses until the moment they were recalled to the underworld? I wasn’t sure.
“Ugh… I should have been a bit kinder, maybe.”
There was no choice. I could only hope this one hadn’t died by my hand.
I pricked my fingertip with a pocket knife and extended my hand over the summoning circle.
Drip, drip, drip.
Blood fell onto the circle.
“Crow… Crow… Crow.”
As I called the third time, a thick, sinister magic began to seep from the circle.
“Ugh! What kind of magic is this…”
It was overwhelming. Goosebumps rose all over me, and my stomach churned.
“Hmm? This energy… feels familiar.”
There was no mistaking it. Only one being possessed such a potent magic.
In an instant, the spreading mist-like magic vanished.
I stared in disbelief at the figure lying on the circle, looking as if it were in my room.
“Heh heh heh, what a face. Pale with fright. Waiting in the underworld for today was worth it.”
The Demon King already knew my identity.
“Never seen that expression before. Well, you should be scared. You’re not Adela Helsington now.”
The Demon King smirked, and I couldn’t move a muscle.
‘Adrian’s contracted demon… was the Demon King?!’
The Spirit King’s words echoed in my empty mind.
“The kids say sorry for hiding it. They didn’t do it on purpose, so forgive them. Once they start whining, they’re a headache.”
These fools… they should’ve told me! I could have prepared myself!
Of all the demons I’ve summoned and killed, the most vicious one appeared.
And with that smug grin… it seemed to know why I summoned it.
‘Damn, this is bad.’
But I couldn’t give up. The Spirit King said to try persuading it.
I changed my expression to a gentle smile.
“Long time no see, Demon King. How have you been?”
The Demon King snorted.
“Not well.”
“Oh my, why?”
“My heart hurts.”
“Could it be… because you missed me?”
“Because of your last strike! That damned sword pierced my heart, and it still hasn’t regenerated!”
Rururuuru!
Ruru, hanging from my waist, fluttered and cried, ready to leap at the Demon King.
‘Ruru, hold on a bit.’
I tapped her sheath to calm her.
“Sorry about back then. Let’s forget the past and start fresh.”
“When you escaped my hands, you called on me. Do you know how much I wanted to drag you to the underworld?”
“Oh, I see. I wanted to play with you there too, but things turned out differently.”
“Cut the excuses!”
“Really, I didn’t possess this body willingly.”
“Hmph! If you need my help, crawl like a dog! If I like the look of it, I might consider it.”
Pushing the limits already.
That’s why demons can’t be trusted. Give them a little, and they think they own everything.
I wiped the smile off my face.
“You lost to me and yet talk big? Do you know why I’m trapped in this body? It’s you who should be crawling like a dog, not me!”
