Chapter 9
I opened the door at the end of the hallway. It was the room where I had drawn the spare magic circle.
I immediately locked the door and leaned my back against it.
My breath was coming in short gasps, and my heart felt like it was going to burst. I couldn't even tell if it was from nerves or excitement.
‘There’s no time to hesitate.’
I threw the entire candle into the magic circle I had prepared.
Fire spread across the circle in an instant.
“Hoo….”
I sat down in front of the blazing flames and opened my clenched fist.
“It’s okay.”
This is what I wanted.
I squeezed my eyes shut and thrust my hand into the fire.
The intense heat swallowed my hand, and the dried blood of Deyan that had been smeared on it was instantly consumed by the flames.
“Argh…!”
I rubbed my blood-soaked palm against the magic circle.
I pulled my hand away in a hurry once the task was done, but I couldn't avoid the burns.
My hand still felt as hot and stinging as if it were trapped in the fire.
‘It doesn’t hurt at all.’
I hypnotized myself and waited for the magic circle to change.
Having accepted and consumed the proper sacrifice, the magic circle began to ripple.
“You who wish to take my soul, answer my plea.”
Tear my flesh, pull out my soul, fulfill my most intense desire, and consume me.
I recited the summoning incantation I had repeated until I was sick of it.
The magenta light that had swallowed the flames slowly rose and shimmered. Soon after, mysterious smoke began to leak from the magic circle.
The smoke spread like black ink dropped into water.
It filled the room slowly, like the mist on a lakeside at dawn.
‘…The scent of flowers?’
The black smoke carried a sweet floral scent I had never smelled before. It was so sweet that I felt as if I were being drawn into it against my will….
It was nothing like what I had imagined.
‘What is happening?’
The smoke, which had been nothing more than mist, turned into thick, dark clouds, and those clouds slowly coalesced into a single form.
“Step back!”
Deyan, who had been persistently chasing me, burst through the door.
Even as he wheezed with boiling murderous intent, he pushed me behind him and struggled to erase the magic circle on the floor.
“No!”
I grabbed his clothes and held on.
“Don’t interfere!”
“Don’t do something so stupid, Grand Duchess!”
He grabbed my hand and barked at me.
“You don’t know because you’ve never experienced it. You aren’t afraid because you don’t know what kind of price you have to pay!”
“What do you know!”
I shouted back, overcome with emotion.
My wrist, held in his grip, felt like it was going to break, but the throbbing pain in my heart hurt even more.
“What do you know to be spouting off like that, you who have always been on the side of the strong!”
There is no price for me to pay.
No, I have already paid it.
I realized it after chewing over that day again and again. The fact that everything precious to me remained only as a shell.
Refilling the inside was my share of the burden.
“What price is left for me to pay here!”
I had lost everything I could lose, so I had nothing left to fear.
There was only the work I could do and the work I had to do left.
If I couldn't get back what was stolen, wouldn't I feel less resentful if I at least paid them back?
“So don’t get in my way.”
“…….”
My eyes had been stinging for a while now. It seemed the emotions I had forcibly suppressed were leaking out.
Deyan’s eyes flickered briefly when he saw that.
Taking advantage of the moment his grip loosened, I pushed him aside and stood before the magic circle.
The black smoke was now taking the shape of a person.
The part that was presumably the demon’s face looked at me.
[…What is your name?]
“Idir Hubert.”
[What do you desire?]
“Revenge.”
The moment I answered, the demon’s mouth curled into a grin.
The crescent-moon smile, as if stained with bright red blood, was full of amusement.
[Is that so?]
The smoke wavered.
Just as the thick form seemed to be dispersing back into mist, someone stepped out from within it.
[I am Beval.]
The demon, with long legs, sleek, clinging muscles, and a slender silhouette, possessed a beautiful appearance.
The swaying pink hair was like peach blossoms in full bloom in late spring, and the magenta eyes beneath them resembled the color of fresh fruit.
There were no hideous, sharp fangs visible on those thin lips.
If not for the low voice, the appearance was so alluring that one couldn't even distinguish the gender.
The demon tapped my chin with his index finger and brought his face close.
There was no body heat in his black fingers.
[I am the demon you summoned.]
We were close enough for our breath to touch, yet I felt no breath from the demon.
Perhaps my own breath had stopped as well.
From the moment I touched the demon, my body had frozen and all my thoughts had ceased.
[Idir, let me ask you one thing.]
“…….”
[Who is the owner of the blood you offered me as a sacrifice?]
The demon’s eyes curved slyly.
My breath hitched, and I couldn't speak.
Like a lamb witnessing a great threat, all I could do was hold my breath and keep my gaze fixed on him.
‘This is… a demon….’
The demon was more beautiful than I had thought, and also more dangerous.
[Answer me.]
No, that’s what it looked like.
[Answer what.]
Until this irritable voice cut in. I hurriedly lowered my head.
Suddenly, a burst of light erupted from near my chest.
[What…!]
The source of the light was the Angel Statue necklace I was wearing.
It was shaking violently, hovering halfway in the air.
[Get away from the human woman, you filthy demon.]
[Argh!]
The demon recoiled, covering his eyes with both hands as if in pain.
[You, this…!]
Gritting his teeth, the demon glared at me as if he wanted to tear me to shreds.
[How can you carry that while summoning a demon!]
[What do you mean, how?]
The Angel Statue continued.
[It’s faith.]
…That’s not it.
I almost reflexively contradicted the Angel Statue.
Think about it. There’s no way someone trying to summon a demon would have faith.
[Bullshit!]
The demon pointed out the same fact.
[You sought me out because you have zero faith!]
[Hmph! What are you talking about? I brought you here because I am overflowing with faith.]
The Angel Statue, which had openly scoffed at the demon’s words, floated even higher.
[I wanted you to be purged by me.]
[Are your ears plugged? Didn't you hear her making a wish to me?]
A demon fighting with an Angel Statue. Even though I was the one who created this situation, I was left speechless by the absurdity.
The Angel Statue, which had been nothing more than a mere trinket, was stretching out in all directions, busily taking on a human form.
[Humans are weak and foolish. It is the nature of humans to occasionally make such mistakes.]
[And it’s your role to drag such people down to hell.]
[No. Our purpose is to give them one chance before that.]
The angel’s long, shimmering hair flowed like silver threads in the air.
Beneath that dazzling light, eyes as blue as a clear sky solemnly scanned the surroundings.
[I am Sariel. The one who saves humans falling into the path of sin.]
His brow furrowed as he confirmed Deyan’s presence.
His masculine features became even more pronounced, giving off an atmosphere similar to a strict high judge.
He waved his fingers elegantly, as if conducting.
Then, with a sharp *crack*, a sound like something tearing echoed through the room.
“Ugh!”
Before he could even react, Deyan was thrown against the wall.
Giant nails were embedded in both of his shoulders.
I just stood there, mouth agape like a fool at the unexpected situation.
“What is… this….”
[Let’s talk later, Idir. For now, first….]
The angel stood face-to-face with the demon.
He opened the book he had been carrying at his side and pulled out a greatsword of immense length.
[Let’s deal with that trash first.]
At the scathing insult, the demon extended his middle finger.
[Doing ■■■, you ■■-like ■■■■. Anyway, you angel bastards don't have a single likable trait.]
Destructive profanities I had never heard in my life poured out without a hitch.
They said angels and demons were polar opposites, but I didn't know they were this vulgar.
[Last warning, pigeon. Get lost. If you don't want to die.]
The demon spat out, cracking his knuckles.
[Do it if you can. When have you demons ever defeated our Heavenly Host?]
[Hey, you…! That’s only because you guys cheated and swarmed us!]
[You are no match for me alone.]
[Oh yeah? Let’s see. If you die, go whine to your high-and-mighty father or whatever.]
The demon, spitting out words filled with murderous intent, vanished in a flash.
At the same time, the angel raised his sword above his head.
*Kwad-d-d-d-d!*
The demon, who had pounced on the angel in an instant, shattered the massive sword like it was candy.
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