ocean-life Chapter 14 : Chapter 14
Chapter 14 : Chapter 14
Chapter 14《It seems you have finally noticed.》
“You’d be an idiot not to notice!!”
I screamed and struggled, but my weak body couldn’t even win against a lizard small enough to fit in my palm.
All sorts of harsh curses rolled around in my mouth.
《Stop, I did not come here to kill you.》
“Then did you come to kill Lucian, you goddamn demon bastard!!”
Even if it means I die, I won’t betray Lucian!
I wouldn't shout it like that, but still, I have no intention of standing by and watching Lucian fall prey to this demon.
《I came because I grew interested in your power. Because your power is special.》
“Was your purpose an experiment?!”
Even for a demon… he was trash beyond imagination, wasn't he?
As I looked down with contemptuous eyes, Baal hurriedly shouted.
《I will help you control your power!》
…He’ll help me?
For a moment, I was tempted and looked at Baal, but the thought that it was definitely not a good idea came first. A demon who tried to kill me will help me? You’ve got to be kidding me!
“Get lost!!”
I confidently raised my middle finger at the demon.
However, as if he had expected such a reaction, Baal still did not let go of me and flapped his glib mouth.
《You intend to receive help from humans? Humans are wary of and ostracize powers outside the norm, especially if it’s a power they can’t explain with their own knowledge. And your power… I can assure you, it will be in the realm of ostracism.》
The demon’s words hit the nail on the head painfully.
In this world, many miracles were permitted under the name of mana.
However, there was a history of spirit summoners being persecuted as witches who made contracts with demons to defile nature, and heretic inquisitors still existed.
《Do you believe that humans will accept a unique and heterogeneous power that even I, an ancient demon and the king of demons, have seen for the first time.》
“…They can keep it a secret.”
At least Lucian and senior Laurel did.
I clenched my fist and looked at the demon in the form of a lizard.
In the first place, this game had a setting where the moment you contracted with a demon, your mana was tainted. The mana would turn black, making it impossible to hide even if you wanted to.
《If you contract with me, your mana will not be tainted by darkness.》
“…Is something like that possible?”
《Unlike other demons, ancient demons are not fallen beings.》
…That was a setting I had never heard of before.
He’s not lying, is he?
The lizard did have a guilty look on its face, but it didn't seem to be lying.
Did he tell me a secret he wasn't supposed to reveal? If so, why on earth is he so obsessed with making a contract with me? Is he really doing this just out of interest?
My heart wavered for a moment, but I quickly regained my composure.
“Still, getting help from the Demon King is a bit much.”
I have no choice but to find a way to use my skills without vomiting blood on my own. Anyway, if I keep using the skills, won't I figure out a way to solve it?
《I promise I will not cause you any harm whatsoever.》
“It can’t be limited to just me. Include other people, especially Lucian.”
《As long as I am in the position of the Demon King, the hero is my nemesis, and confronting him is fate.》
“Yep, then I’m out too.”
Even if I don’t get caught by the heretic inquisitors, there’s another problem.
An NPC who contracted with the demon that almost killed the protagonist? Wow, anyone can see that’s mid-boss material.
My life is already in danger of ending at any moment, and you want me to make a contract with the Demon King on top of that?
Yep, I absolutely hate it. I won't do it even if I die. No, I won't do it because I'm afraid I'll die. I don't want to become a newbie-crusher mid-boss!!
《If I ever clash with the hero, I will terminate the contract with you.》
“That’s the problem!”
The fact that you are the ‘destiny’ of the Demon King and the hero, who will eventually have to fight Lucian!
《Are you not concerned about being caught in the conflict between the hero and myself. I will do well to ensure that does not happen.》
“Don't talk nonsense for a lizard.”
You’re talking about dodging flags while tap-dancing!
《…You really hate it that much?》
“Of course!”
Right now, I was the protagonist’s friend.
Now, think about it. The protagonist who will be active as the future hero. The friend who looks at the protagonist with envious eyes due to his weak body.
In the end, he reaches for the forbidden power—a contract with a demon—and the protagonist sheds tears as he vanquishes his friend!
This is a total cliché that writers go crazy for! I'd bet my wrist that a few writers are already drooling over it!!
《The battle between the Demon King and the hero is a great, irreversible flow of destiny. Even I cannot escape that destiny.》
“Then it won’t work. Now, leave quietly. Return to the embrace of nature, lizard!”
《…Then I suppose I just have to quit being the Demon King.》
“Huh??”
You’d go that far to make a contract with me? Flustered, I stared blankly down at the lizard.
“Is there really a need to go that far?”
What, is he a dopamine addict or something? I felt a little creeped out.
《The position of Demon King was bothersome in the first place, so it wouldn’t matter if I stepped down. If I am no longer the Demon King, would you be willing to contract with me.hat, why didn’t I know~
No, this is something I'm doing even though I know full well. I should just quietly press X to pay respects to my future self.