Chapter 151

Chapter 151

Now that we couldn’t rely on Deb, I decided to use the Information Guild for the first time.

Thanks to the access pass, getting in and out wasn’t all that difficult. However, I couldn’t help but wonder what hardships Deb had to endure.

I wasn’t joking, I was 100% honest. Experiencing the information so raw and unfiltered was truly eye-opening.

“What rude people. They have no manners whatsoever.”

“Haha...”

Well, I mean, even in the game, any character associated with the Information Guild was often pretty rude.

There were some differences, depending on the city, but they all typically overcharged or deceived the player, albeit still within acceptable bounds.

However, it wasn’t just that they did in this place...

“At least we got something out of them, didn’t we?”

“Are you referring... to the fact that they have no significant new information? Or that the source of their vegetables is unclear?”

Hah. Let’s not even talk about it. The only certain thing was that our meat dumpling was truly divine.

“Sometimes, the absence of information is already information enough, even if our path is not yet clear.”

“I guess you’re right...”

“Don’t be impatient. The Magic Tower’s investigation team, sent to obtain samples from the beasts that can consume Divine Power, just arrived in Camborough. Our search will likely progress much faster from here on.”

“...Yes!”

“More than that, I’m curious if he’s feeling any better now...”

The Archmage, who was at the front of our group, opened the door to our lodging. Creak. Through the open door, we could see Bers and Deb sitting at the table.

Deb was even wrapped in blankets and sipping some soup.

“You’re back?”

I was momentarily speechless at the sight. Was I complaining about him eating and apparently regaining some energy? Of course not.

A glance at Bers’ stern face and crossed arms, as if she was keeping watch, suggested that Deb was eating half-willingly and half-involuntarily.

What truly left me speechless was something else, though.

“Good timing, priest. Could you take care of this injury?”

“Huh? Again... Y-Your neck?!”

It was because of the fresh marks on his neck, even after the bruise on his cheek had barely healed.

“Could it be another attack...?”

“I-It’s nothing like that.”

Deb, forced by Bers to show us the wound on his neck, averted his gaze while sipping his soup.

Those visible red marks indicated that he’d been strangled quite forcefully. The way he winced every time he swallowed was also quite telling.

“Enough, just stay still.”

“It doesn’t need treatment...”

“Let yourself be treated, hunter.”

“I’ll treat it.”

In the end, the Inquisitor put aside Deb’s soup bowl before placing a hand on Deb’s neck, who had been mumbling something under his breath. Perhaps because his neck was a body part that rarely came into contact with others, Deb flinched slightly.

Whoosh.

A warm, reddish light filled the room, then quickly dissipated.

“Who did this?”

“I told you, it’s nothing.”

“We need to know who so we can respond accordingly.”

The Archmage immediately started interrogating him.

Well, one might argue that ‘interrogating’ was the wrong word since Deb hadn’t done anything wrong, but that didn’t change the fact that he shouldn’t be telling us nothing was wrong.

“It really was nothi—”

“He choked himself. While he was sleeping.”

“M-Miss!”

Fortunately, we had Bers, our loyal watchdog.

The three of us were shocked while Deb looked at Bers as if his lover had betrayed him.

Naturally, she only picked her ears in response.

“What did you just say?”

“He choked himself in his sleep. Berserk barely managed to wake him up in time.”

“I-I-It’s not like that! It’s just...”

There’s no way Bers would lie about something like that, so it had to be the truth.

What kind of crazy person would choke themselves in their sleep? How severe was his depression? No, could this even be explained away by depression?

“Alright, yes! I did it. But people can sometimes do that in their sleep...!”

As Deb tried to defend himself, the Inquisitor, who had been trembling behind him, suddenly stepped forward.

She immediately cut off Deb’s weak excuses by grabbing him by the collar.

“You idiot!”

“...?!”

The two were of similar height, so maybe that’s why their foreheads collided as she forcefully yanked Deb toward her.

“People do that in their sleep? Nonsense! That’s it, I’ve had enough. If you’re only going to make such excuses, you'd be better off just keeping your mouth shut!”

“...B-But I tried to keep my mouth shut. You guys were pressing me to...”

“Stop making excuses! You troublemaker!”

Startled by the close distance between them, Deb pulled back his head.

However, the Inquisitor followed him and narrowed the gap again. Their noses were almost touching.

“I’m not the most perceptive, but even I won’t fall for such obvious fibs!”

“F-Fibs...”

“Inquisitor, that word...”

“Are they going to kiss?”

“Consideration has its limits! I don’t know what you’re hiding, but enough is enough!”

“I-I...”

As the Inquisitor let go, Deb stumbled back a few steps, barely managing to keep his balance. His shadowed eyes were filled with a mix of emotions, heavily weighing him down.

“If you’re not going to speak up, then do something. But stop moping around! Nothing changes if you keep everything hidden!”

However, those pent-up emotions soon turned into just one. Anger, or perhaps...

“You think I don’t know that nothing will change?!”

“...?!”

“What do you know—!”

“I don’t! That’s why I’m asking you to say something!”

“Damn it, if I tell you, you’ll only despise me more!”

“...!”

“Like how you despise me now despite not knowing anything. Thinking I'm some kind of criminal! No, probably even worse than that!”

Deb was shouting, his face bright red. The Inquisitor’s expression immediately paled. It was a truth she couldn’t deny, that this was clearly her fault.

Deathbringer lowered his head and gazed at his shadow, which was completely obscured by the shade.

“And in return, I’ll become your lapdog, right?”

> [I don’t treat my contractors carelessly. To me, a contractor is like a comrade.]

“Hah, you really are a Demon.”

> [Of course, did you think I was a mortal?]

Riiip.

There was a sound of something tearing apart.

> [Think carefully. Your companions will never be able to understand you like I do. They can’t truly empathize with you.]

“...Why not? Why do you think they can’t?”

> [Are you really asking me that? Do you think that priest, who was born a Hero, or that archmage, who naturally rose to an esteemed class through innate talent, can truly understand you?]

“...”

> [Even if they tried, how much could they truly understand? They’d probably start by saying, ‘I understand your desire for revenge,’ and end it with, ‘But that wasn’t the right thing to do.’ After all, how many things could threaten them? And if anything did, they have the power and authority to crush their enemies legally.]

Yet, that silver tongue in a white shell kept on going.

> [Oh, of course, the fighter who doesn’t care about anyone’s opinion wouldn’t say anything about what you did. She might even praise you. But... you know, don’t you? Your position is so much lower than hers.]

It was as if poison coated its tongue instead of saliva.

> [Just barely scraping by, crawling in the mud, you managed to kill one person. And after your revenge, you could do nothing but run just to survive, without even a moment of respite... Do you think that strong fighter can understand you? Can you truly accept her understanding?]

Those formless words etched themselves into his soul.

> [And the Demon Knight? There’s no question there. He’s the most similar to you, the most alike... but he still managed to acquire power. Despite struggling just as much, he can achieve far more than you, exact a deeper revenge.]

A poison that nothing in this world could cure.

> [In the end, even the two people who might understand you aren’t your equals. They have power. They have the luxury to act as they please without needing to barely scrape by at the bottom like you.]

“...”

> [Because they have the strength to do so.]

Deathbringer tightly shut his eyes.

“...How ridiculous. Aren’t you also stronger than me?”

> [Haha, that’s right. I’m stronger than you. In fact, I’m stronger than most. I, too, am an entity far superior to you.]

“Then stop spouting all that nonsense and—”

> [But aren’t I also the only one who can give you power?]

“...!”

> [Though rare, there are some who could take revenge on your behalf, grant you authority, or shower you with enough wealth to dominate everything. But that’s not what you want, is it?]

The being released his chin and retrieved the snake, stepping back one or two steps.

The shimmering silk, like fish scales, parted to reveal a wondrous sight.

> [Strength. The most primal, savage essence of ‘Power’ in this world. Isn’t that what you want?]

Buoooh. He could hear a giant whale cry behind that being.

> [God may have turned their back on you, but I’m looking straight at you.]

Honestly, it was a sight that he couldn’t help but be tempted by.

> [So, make a pact with me. Choose me. Abandon those fools who can’t understand you.]

Ah, perhaps even this was evidence of how weak he was.

“...Before making a contract, I have a few... questions. May I ask them?”

> [Mortals are always so full of doubt. Sure. Ask them. I will answer if I can.]

“First... who are you exactly? I know you’re a Demon, but I want to know exactly who you are. I need to know for certain which Demon I’m about to make a contract with.”

> [Ah, did I not mention it?]

Deathbringer cautiously inquired after that being’s identity. It responded in a dry but casual tone.

> [The world knows me as Moby Dick. The position bestowed upon me by the King is Envy. I am one of the Seven Great Demons whom you so fear and revere.]

As expected, it was indeed a Great Demon.

Instinctively, Deathbringer swallowed hard.

“Then, next... Why doesn’t someone as powerful as you just possess my body by force? Like with the Demon Knight, wouldn’t it be easier if you just seized control entirely? And honestly, I’m far too weak to be of much use as your contractor.”

> [How naive. From my perspective, you aren’t much different from any other mortal. And do you truly think someone powerful enough to matter would bother making a contract with Demons?]

“...I guess... that’s true. So, you’re not possessing my body because I’m too weak.”

> [Exactly. There’s no advantage to possessing a fragile, mortal body. That’s something lesser Demons might do if they have no proper form or have lost their physical bodies.]

“So, Demons can lose their bodies, huh? If I make a contract with you, could I also survive if I lose my body?”

> [You have big dreams. But yes, it isn’t impossible. Using great power, you can bind your soul to the earthly realm and breathe it into a new body. One might even call this resurrection.]

“Then can I include that as a condition in the contract...?”

> [You can’t.]

“Ah, so it can’t be done.”

Deathbringer clicked his tongue in disappointment. Meanwhile, the being before him raised its hand as if believing it had answered enough.

A sheet of paper appeared in its hand, with an after-effect that resembled gathering water droplets. The paper seemed especially high quality.

> [Write your name in blood on this contract, and the deal shall be sealed. If you can’t write, just tell me your name. I shall teach you the letters you need.]

“...Do I really have to tell you my name?”

> [That is the start of every contract.]

The Demon extended its hand, offering the paper. However, Deathbringer couldn’t just readily accept this.

“J-Just a little more... give me a little more time to think.”

> [Hmm... I thought I’d already given you plenty of time, though.]

“J-Just a little more, please.”

> [...Fine. I’m very generous, so I’ll allow it. But don’t think you can trick me.]

Then, a slithering snake flew toward him.

> [While knowing your name doesn’t allow me to force the contract, I can at least make a provisional one.]

Bite. The snake's fangs broke through the skin of his neck.

> [While I call it a provisional contract, it’s more of a curse.]

At the same time, a bitterly cold chill, like flowing ice, spread through his veins and permeated his entire body.

> [I will strengthen your body a little. In exchange, you must not tell anyone about our meeting or the contents of our conversation. You also must not call my name before others. Those are the conditions.]

The sensation was excruciatingly painful, as if he was being simultaneously burned and frozen.

> [And just so you know, you aren’t even allowed to leave a written note with the intention of dying behind, either. You’re not the first crafty human I’ve encountered.]

Ah, damn it.

> [Well, not that those Temple guys will treat you kindly when they discover you’ve made a provisional contract with me.]

He had tried to sneakily gather some information.

> [So, do your best. Call me sooner rather than later.]

It seemed he really wasn’t any good.

Deathbringer’s eyelids fell shut.

____