Chapter 13
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[Humans don’t just commit a single sin, you know.]
“That sounds like you’re saying there are sins that can be redeemed and sins that cannot.”
[…….]
Sariel did not answer further. He merely cast a glance at Holdin, who was looking resentful after being forced into a contract with Beval.
[Do not forget.]
He turned his gaze back to me and said, his voice devoid of inflection.
[God is always watching over everything.]
“But He doesn’t intervene, does He?”
*Smile.*
I gave him a quiet, gentle smile.
Sariel did not add another word and vanished silently. It was a quiet exit, like mist dissipating into the air.
“…….”
I lowered my head and examined the burn mark that had vanished without a trace.
‘Beneficial in more ways than one.’
I had been prepared to lose a hand, after all.
In the corner, Beval was busy retching, and Holdin, looking thoroughly aggrieved, was making a racket.
[The contract you wanted is finished, Idir. As an aside, feel free to call me whenever you need me. It would be even better if it were in a bedroom where it’s just the two of us.]
“This is unfair! I completed the contract, so where did the angel go? Huh? How are you going to resolve our Grand Duke’s curse!”
Ignoring them, I opened the door to see Giselle waiting in the hallway.
“My Lady. Are you alright?”
I noticed a red nail scratch on her pale cheek.
“Are you hurt?”
“I apologize. That man’s resistance was more violent than I anticipated.”
“Even so, on your face.”
*Tsk.*
I clicked my tongue and turned to glare at Holdin.
‘Should I scratch him back the same way?’
To think he dared to leave a mark on my maid—it was utterly inexcusable. Especially when I had even spared his life, despite intending to kill him.
“Why, why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m debating whether or not to scratch your face in the exact same way, so keep your mouth shut, Sir Holdin.”
“Hup……!”
“Giselle. First, have the unconscious Count Nemanich moved to the annex. Once he wakes up, report to…….”
No, a report won’t be necessary.
I approached Deyan, whose brow was twitching.
“Sir Deyan.”
“Ugh!”
As soon as I poked his shoulder with my index finger, the man’s eyes flew open and he jolted.
“Are you awake? It’s broad daylight.”
“Take your hand off.”
As I greeted him nonchalantly while he wheezed in pain, Deyan roughly grabbed my hand. His wandering gaze immediately sought out his adjutant.
“Take him away.”
I gave a slight nod to Giselle.
I didn’t intend to keep the two of them together just yet. They might plot something unnecessary.
“No, wait! Let me have a word with him! We’ve already made a contract, surely that much is fine……! Mmph!”
“I shall take my leave now.”
Giselle stuffed a piece of cloth of unknown origin into Holdin’s mouth and dragged him away by the scruff of his neck without a hint of mercy. His eyes, filled with terror, swept over Giselle’s sword, then me, and finally Deyan in a desperate plea.
“Just make sure he stays alive.”
Just before the door closed, I added that request with a bright smile.
Giselle nodded, and though a muffled scream leaked from deep within Holdin’s throat, it was silenced as the door shut.
“……If you’re planning to torture him, don’t worry. He’s the type who hates pain, so he’ll spill everything on his own.”
“You aren’t going to ask?”
“Would you answer if I did?”
“Depends on the situation?”
When I replied lightly, the creases in Deyan’s brow deepened.
I looked at his eyes, which had not yet turned red, with interest and knelt before him. I rested my elbows on my upright knees and propped my chin in my hands, staring him straight in the face until Deyan slowly averted his gaze.
“What is it?”
“Don’t you feel like killing me or something like that?”
“……Yes.”
“Even though you’re hurt?”
“…….”
I tried to poke his wound once more.
But Deyan’s defense was faster. He grabbed my hand, tossed it aside, and straightened his spine. He winced at every movement, as if the pain were quite real, but he seemed capable of walking on his own.
“Hoo.”
Having finally managed to sit upright, he glared at me with his dark eyes.
“As long as there is no bleeding, I am generally fine.”
“Aha.”
“I have answered one, so now you answer, My Lady. Are you satisfied now?”
A laugh escaped me at his question, which was brimming with hostility. It wasn’t the relaxed, practiced smile I usually wore, but a genuine laugh at Deyan’s clumsy demeanor.
“No. Not yet. I haven’t achieved anything yet.”
“Didn’t you summon a demon? And it seems you’ve even managed to bind it through a contract as you wished.”
[Binding? Who, me? Who on earth could possibly bind me?]
“You heard him, didn’t you?”
Beval, who had stepped up behind me, gave Deyan’s calf a sharp kick with the toe of his shoe.
[Hey. Human. Call out the true name of the demon bastard who contracted with you.]
“I don’t know.”
[Don’t bullshit me.]
“I don’t know.”
[Spit it out—what it looks like, where it is, what it’s doing. There are plenty of ways to torture a human without drawing a single drop of blood.]
“Go ahead.”
Deyan, who had retorted indifferently, even closed his eyes. Knowing a little bit about his circumstances, his words didn’t seem like a lie.
‘For now, I should think about what to do next.’
I needed time to contemplate how to best leverage the cards in my hand.
“Does Sir Holdin know nothing about the demon you contracted with, either?”
“If he knew anything, he would have solved my problem long ago.”
Deyan opened his eyes slowly and looked between me and Beval.
“Perhaps that demon knows better than anyone.”
“I see. For now, you should get some rest. We’ll discuss what’s necessary later.”
[What? That’s it? Shouldn’t you be interrogating him, stabbing him, or hanging him upside down?]
“Usually, allies don’t interrogate each other.”
[I never made an alliance with him!]
“But I did. Sir Deyan, can you stand? Shall I help you up?”
I brushed his forehead, which was damp with cold sweat, with a voice full of feigned concern. As he struggled to rise, his tired, clouded eyes forcing themselves open, I quickly grabbed his arm to support him.
“Lean on me.”
I offered my hand, but my body swayed under Deyan’s weight.
‘He’s ridiculously heavy.’
I don’t know how one man’s arm can be this heavy.
I grumbled internally while pretending to help him with all my heart.
“That is enough.”
However, perhaps sensing my pretense, Deyan refused my help and stood firmly on his own two feet.
‘Well, I suppose his shoulder is pierced, not his legs.’
Fine, walk on your own then.
I quickened my pace, glancing sideways at the man who was stubbornly trying to walk by himself despite breaking into a cold sweat.
“I’ll show you to your room.”
Since I, in person, am guiding you, you can figure out the rest yourself.
Leaving the staggering Deyan behind, Beval stuck close to my side with ease.
[Idir. Are you really not going to interrogate him? I’m really good at that sort of thing.]
“You said it yourself, Beval. You asked if I was ‘not’ doing it.”
[Ah. Are you going to do it tomorrow?]
“…….”
I didn’t answer, merely offering a bright, sweet smile.
At that, Beval seemed to think something to himself, his cheeks flushing bright red as he twisted his broad shoulders.
[Eeeing. You look at me like that, and I get shy. You cute little human.]
‘Ugh.’
What is wrong with him?
I quickened my pace to put some distance between us. However, the demon easily matched my speed using his long legs, and eventually, I was the only one scurrying along to keep up.
[Oh? Idir. That human is gone.]
“Hm? Oh my.”
As Beval said, Deyan had fallen far behind and was nowhere to be seen. I quickly retraced my steps. Turning the corner of the hallway, I saw Deyan slumped against the wall, half-collapsed.
‘And he looks so sturdy.’
Ugh.
How disappointing.
The injury is in his shoulder, not his legs, so why is he staggering like that?
‘Come to think of it……. Did he say he hadn’t eaten?’
Is he like that because he’s hungry?
“Sir Deyan.”
[Honestly, humans are all so weak.]
*Tsk!* Beval, who had been trailing behind me, clicked his tongue loudly.
I looked at him and smiled brightly again.
“Then, could you help him, sturdy Beval?”
[What? No. I don’t want to touch a dark, gloomy man.]
“Oh. Are you perhaps weak when it comes to using your strength?”
[I could lift a guy like that with one finger!]
Beval shouted, strode over, and snatched Deyan by the scruff of his neck with his index finger.
“Wow.”
I smiled and clapped my hands for him.
And so, Deyan was carried to his room, dangling like a piece of wet laundry.
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