“So, in other words…”
The demon I had summoned could not use his power right now.
However, if the one responsible for his current condition was eliminated, he would regain that power.
In exchange for my cooperation in helping him remove that culprit, the demon would assist me in my revenge.
And since I had already decided not to sell my soul, there was no risk of ending up in Hell.
...This isn't bad.
Of course, any contract required caution.
The offer was far too sweet to accept without question. There had to be a trap somewhere.
“How do you intend to find this demon you need to deal with?”
[I'll find the human who made a contract with it and beat the answer out of them.]
“…The contracted human?”
My head turned instinctively.
Deyan was still hanging from the wall, unconscious.
“…You said there aren't any demons capable of crossing into the human world, didn't you?”
[Not quite. I'm the exception now.]
Beval puffed out his chest proudly.
[You summoned me, remember?]
“That's true.”
[I even made the summoning requirements easier on purpose because I wanted to come to the human world. But those idiots never bothered calling for me.]
“Ah.”
A heart and thirteen drops of blood.
Now I finally understood how such a discrepancy had come about.
This demon had desperately wanted to enter the human world.
Beside me, Beval continued chattering away.
[Then you happened to summon me.]
“If I refuse to make a contract with you, what happens to you?”
I asked while keeping my eyes fixed on Deyan.
The angel answered before Beval could.
[The purpose of the summoning would disappear. He would soon lose his power and either return to Hell or cease to exist altogether. A wise thought, Idir.]
[No! Think it over again, Idir! It's true I can't use my powers right now, but that only applies to most of my demonic abilities. I'm still stronger than any human.]
“If Beval remains in the human world, then Lady Sariel...?”
[I'll remain as well. Watching him to ensure he doesn't attempt anything foolish is also part of our duty.]
Oh?
My eyes moved between the delighted angel and the flustered demon.
So that means I'm the one holding all the cards.
The angel wanted me to reject the contract.
The demon desperately needed me.
I had already prepared myself for the possibility of Hell, but if I could avoid it, why wouldn't I?
The situation was rapidly turning in my favor.
And it was all thanks to Deyan Boislav Nemanic's blood.
Beval asked whose blood it was right after being summoned.
The answer was simple.
It had been Deyan's blood.
Why had he reacted to it?
Because the demon who granted Deyan his immortality was the very demon Beval was searching for.
“Fufu.”
I tried to hold it in.
I really did.
But I couldn't.
Covering my lips with my fingertips, I began to shake with laughter.
“Fufu. Fufufufufu...”
The angel and demon both froze at the sight of my sudden laughter.
[…I-Idir...?]
“Ufufu.”
[Idir? Why—why are you laughing?]
“Hahaha!”
I couldn't help it.
The knight from the enemy nation dangling helplessly from a glowing nail embedded in the wall was simply too adorable.
You were the key to everything all along.
I gently cupped Deyan's cheeks with both hands.
As soon as he felt my warmth, his brow furrowed.
“Ugh…”
“Sir Nemanic. Try to wake up.”
“Ghk…”
“Does it hurt? You can understand what I'm saying, can't you?”
Like a devoted lover caring for her beloved, I stroked his cheek and the back of his neck, coaxing him back to consciousness.
At last, Deyan slowly opened his eyes.
I waited patiently for his blurred gaze to focus on me.
“…Your Grace?”
“Feeling better?”
“What in the world...? No, what happened here?”
“Who knows? More importantly, there's something I need to tell you.”
“Pardon? In a situation like this, what could possibly—”
I leaned close and whispered into his ear.
“You haven't forgotten that you promised to help me with my revenge, have you?”
“...”
“Then make a deal with me.”
I will help lift your curse.
And you will help me take my revenge.
“I just had a wonderful idea.”
I flashed a smile at the still-dazed Deyan before walking over to the angel and kneeling before her.
“Lady Sariel.”
[Idir. You've made the right choice.]
Apparently misunderstanding something entirely, Sariel smiled gently and stroked my hair.
[That's right. You must never join hands with a demon so casually.]
“No, that's not it.”
[Such a wise choi— ...Hm?]
“I suddenly remembered something I wish to pray for.”
It was said that true prayers should be offered not for oneself, but for others.
“Please grant salvation to that pitiful and foolish knight from the enemy nation. Give him a chance to save his soul.”
Tears shimmered in my eyes as I gazed up at Sariel with the innocent expression of a child.
The hand stroking my head stopped abruptly.
“Did you hear my prayer?”
[...]
[...What is she talking about?]
Beval's bewildered voice sounded from behind me.
At that exact moment, a shrill scream tore through the corridor.
“AAAAAH! Your Grace! Please save me!”
I turned immediately, delighted.
Still alive, I see.
Through the shattered doorway Deyan Boislav Nemanic had demolished earlier, the “horse” came galloping in.
“You crazy woman!”
Holdin, sprawled miserably across the floor, scrambled backward on his rear.
Behind him appeared Giselle, holding a sword glowing with blue light.
“My apologies, Your Grace. I'll deal with this man immediately.”
“Don't kill me, Your Grace! If you look closely, I'm sure I can still be useful!”
“Really?”
“Yes! Earlier I merely lost my senses for a moment—”
As Holdin desperately begged for his life, his eyes slowly widened.
“…Who are they?”
Only now had he noticed the angel and demon.
I allowed him a moment to process the situation before speaking.
“Giselle. That's enough. Wait outside the corridor. This man still has a use.”
Then I walked over and firmly placed a hand on Holdin's shoulder.
“Choose, Sir Holdin. Would you rather stand by and watch your superior receive divine punishment from an angel? Or would you rather do exactly as I say? Prove your usefulness.”
“What? Punishment? What are you talking about? And what angel?”
His gaze, twisted with confusion, finally landed on Deyan hanging from the wall.
His jaw dropped.
“Y-Your Grace...!”
I stepped in front of him before he could run over.
“Make your choice first.”
“Damn it! What choice are you even talking about?”
“You will make a contract with the demon.”
I pointed at Beval, whose eyes sparkled with interest.
“In my place.”
Holdin doubted his own ears.
For a moment, he even wondered whether the immediate threat to his life had finally driven him insane.
“I'm sorry, what did you just say...?”
“Of course, you don't really have a choice.”
Fortunately, he wasn't the one who had gone mad.
“Ghk!”
“Because the moment you refuse, you'll die.”
The truly insane person was Princess Idir Hubert.
Holdin grabbed at the delicate hand wrapped around his throat, trying desperately to pry it away.
Yet the harder he resisted, the stronger her grip became.
How is a woman this strong?!
People said humans could display superhuman strength when cornered.
The lunatic princess before him was living proof.
She had suddenly charged at him, knocked him flat on his back, climbed on top of him, and immediately started strangling him.
The wound she'd cut into him with a sword earlier hadn't even healed yet, and now she was targeting his neck again.
Does my neck owe her money or something?!
Holdin struggled desperately against Idir's grip, her clear green eyes shining brilliantly as she throttled him.
His crushed throat throbbed painfully.
His airway narrowed.
Dark spots clouded his vision.
“You'll make a contract with the demon. Ask him to help you find the person who murdered my mother so I can take my revenge. In return, you'll offer him time to remain in the human world.”
“C-Cough...!”
“Then I'll pray to the angel over there. I'll ask her to lift Sir Nemanic's curse.”
Smile.
Idir's coral-colored lips curved upward beautifully.
A breathtakingly beautiful princess smiling sweetly while speaking utter nonsense and strangling a man at the same time.
She's insane. Completely insane!
“You understand me, don't you?”
Idir asked pleasantly.
At the edge of his fading vision, Holdin saw Deyan hanging from the wall.
The pure white nail piercing his shoulder emitted a mysterious glow.
No human could have done something like that.
And there were two clearly supernatural beings watching the entire scene unfold.
The demon, in particular, looked thoroughly entertained.
There's no way out.
Desperately trying to get oxygen to his brain, Holdin nodded frantically.
“I-I understa—”
I understand, you crazy woman!
Now let go of my neck!
At this rate, he was going to die before he even had the chance to make a contract with a demon.