The angel calmly turned to the next page of his book and drew out another sword.
This time, it was a slender rapier.
Clang! Clang! Screeeech—!
The angel wielded the blade with the elegance of a fencer.
The demon defended fiercely with his razor-sharp claws before lunging straight into the angel's guard.
[All you ever do is prattle on about your pathetic hypocrisy!]
[Even hypocrisy can be a form of virtue.]
[Listen to you, acting all noble and righteous!]
[Says the vulgar creature who wouldn't recognize dignity if it struck him.]
As the two inhuman beings exchanged blows and insults, the room fell deeper into ruin.
Every window had already been shattered.
The floor looked as though it would need to be ripped out and replaced entirely.
At this rate, the whole mansion is going to be destroyed!
I'd chosen the wrong place for the summoning.
If I'd known this would happen, I would have done it in a corner of the garden—or deep in the forest.
"Wait!"
I threw myself between the angel and the demon, who were glaring at each other while hurling attacks and curses without restraint.
I had no plan.
I wasn't thinking ahead.
It was reckless, foolish, and idiotic, and I knew it.
But what else was I supposed to do?
I'd already cast everything aside.
"Stop!"
[Idir!]
[Hey, you—!]
Both the angel and the demon looked visibly startled at my sudden intrusion.
The angel, who had been about to drive his sword through the demon's chest, hastily let go of his weapon.
The demon, on the other hand, couldn't slow down in time.
He barreled into me, sweeping me off my feet, and we rolled across the floor together.
"Ugh!"
My body scraped against the ground.
The world spun upside down.
Yet strangely, no pain came.
"...?"
When I regained my bearings and looked up, I found the demon wrapped tightly around me, shielding me with his own body while snarling irritably.
[Trying to die, are you? What kind of human jumps into a fight like that?!]
I stared up at him blankly.
"Did you just protect me?"
[What, did it look like I tackled you on purpose?]
The demon snapped.
At that moment, the angel approached and casually nudged the demon's shoulder with the tip of his foot.
[Get away from the human, filth.]
The angel pulled me upright from beneath the demon's half-crushed body and placed me beside him.
Then he waved a hand through the air.
A massive circle of light appeared around us.
[Hey, you son of a—■■■!]
The demon shouted something from outside the barrier, but I couldn't hear a thing.
Some angelic ability—or perhaps magic.
Without thinking, I reached out toward the light radiating from the circle.
The angel immediately caught my hand.
[Don't touch it, Idir. It's dangerous.]
He turned me so that I was facing him directly.
The gaze looking down at me was rather cold.
[That was foolish.]
Yet his voice held gentle concern.
The angel, Sariel, let out a faint sigh.
"Since I summoned a demon... am I going to die and be punished?"
[Did you not hear what I said earlier?]
At my question, the furrow between Sariel's brows eased slightly.
His friendliness still felt unfamiliar.
[I came to give you one more chance before you commit a true sin.]
"And what exactly counts as a 'sin' by your standards?"
[Making a contract with a demon, taking what you desire, and offering your soul in exchange.]
"If I said I wanted to make a contract with a demon... would that happen to me too?"
I pointed toward Deyan, who was still nailed to the wall.
[Idir. You can afford to be reckless because you know nothing of true Hell.]
Sariel sighed quietly, sounding somewhat weary.
[Your prayers have been heard. Every soul that has committed wrongdoing will eventually pay for its deeds. Release your anger and return to your life.]
The same old answer.
With my hands politely clasped as if in prayer, I smiled sweetly.
"I want them punished while they're still alive."
Sariel fell silent.
A brief stillness settled between us.
Then solemnity entered his eyes.
[That is a foolish desire.]
"You're right. It is."
[Idir.]
"Then will you help me, Lord Sariel? Punishing sinners is part of an angel's duty, isn't it?"
[...]
Perhaps he was about to add insolence to my list of crimes and condemn me on the spot.
But what choice did I have?
I was standing at the edge of a cliff.
Either I bit the beast approaching me—
Or I fell.
"Well?"
[Help you? My ass.]
Dark smoke suddenly flooded the room.
A vicious voice echoed right beside my ear.
Then someone wrapped an arm around my waist.
[Those pigeon-brained bastards can't interfere in human affairs because of their precious rules.]
The demon had somehow broken through the angel's barrier.
With one arm around my waist, he rested his chin on my shoulder.
[In other words, they're a bunch of useless idiots who look impressive and nothing more.]
His voice was sweet enough to make me dizzy.
Like a lover caressing someone dear to them, his fingers brushed lightly along my side and the back of my neck.
[So, Idir... beg me.]
Within the black mist, the demon's magenta eyes gleamed.
The sensation was both terrifying and intoxicating.
I felt as though he might sink his teeth into my throat at any moment, yet his allure was enough to make me forget reality itself.
[I'll grant your revenge. In exchange—]
[Your boasting knows no bounds, Beval.]
Fwoooosh!
A violent gust swept through the room, dispersing the black mist instantly.
[Tch.]
Clicking his tongue, the demon glared toward the obvious culprit.
The angel stood there, blue eyes burning with quiet fury.
[Idir.]
Sariel fixed his gaze on me.
[That thing is lying.]
[Lying? What nonsense! You think I can't manage something as simple as revenge?]
[You can't.]
A smug smile curled at the angel's lips.
[Demons have lost their power, remember?]
My eyes widened.
What?
I turned sharply toward Beval.
The demon bit his lip and glared murderously at the angel.
No way.
A terrible feeling settled in my chest.
Was everything I've done pointless? No. That's impossible. Tell me he's lying.
Tell me he's wrong, you damn demon.
Perhaps sensing my stare, the slit pupil in Beval's eye shifted toward me.
[H-He... he's bluffing.]
"..."
[Really. It's not like I've lost all my power.]
"So you've lost some."
[Just hear me out.]
The demon immediately began making excuses.
A powerless demon.
I had absolutely no use for that.
Without hesitation, I hurried over to Sariel, dropped to my knees, and clasped my hands.
"Lord Sariel."
[...]
"Please forgive my foolishness. I repent."
[...What a two-faced child you are, Idir.]
"I'm simply practical."
[Hey! At least listen to me before you go crawling back to him! I'm not finished talking yet!]
The demon shouted from behind me, but I ignored him.
"I won't listen to the whispers of demons anymore."
I had nearly made a disastrous mistake.
Forget revenge—I'd end up stripped of my soul and nailed to a wall.
No thank you.
Even while pleading for Sariel's forgiveness, my mind raced.
Earlier, Sir Nemanich said he'd help me get revenge, didn't he?
Maybe I should test whether that offer was genuine.
I could ask him to solve the nailing problem and put him in my debt.
Or perhaps take Holdin hostage again—
No. Giselle has probably dealt with him already.
There went that plan.
As I busily reorganized my thoughts, the demon suddenly grabbed my shoulders.
[Damn it! Once order is restored in Hell, revenge will be the easiest thing in the world!]
I was forced to look at him again.
[I could blow this entire continent off the map if I wanted to!]
"That would be inconvenient. We're currently standing on this continent."
And besides, I wanted revenge now.
I couldn't care less about Hell's political situation.
The demon bared his teeth and growled.
[Some bastard disrupted the balance. Who knows who helped him? He absorbed a massive number of souls and fled straight into the human world.]
"If the order can be shaken that easily, was it really worth much in the first place?"
[Don't nitpick.]
The demon irritably pointed that out.
[Because of that bastard, we couldn't cross into the human realm. Then you happened to summon us.]
As if reading my thoughts, he made a new proposal.
[Help me catch that son of a bitch, and afterward I'll do anything you want. Revenge, whatever. I won't even take your soul.]
Hmm.
Is the demon actually the one begging me now?
I rose to my feet and glanced toward the angel.
[I beat the hell out of that bastard, and you get your revenge. Everybody wins.]
[Idir. Do not listen.]
[Divine punishment only comes if you sell your soul to a demon. If I don't take your soul, there won't be any problem.]
[You must not agree, Idir. Did you not just repent moments ago?]
Sariel shook his head at me, his expression dark with concern.