Chapter 17

After dinner, I took Lucian to the training ground and returned to the dorm.

Not much time had passed, but I felt strangely accustomed to Academy life. Or maybe I had become a little numb after almost dying once.

Well, my heart still pounded when a student came within 1m, but it wasn’t to the point where I would tremble.

“Well then, before Baal comes back, I should check my stats.”

To be honest, if Baal wanted to make a contract with me, it was safe to say there was no way for me to avoid it. Even though he wore the body of a lizard, he was the king of demons and an ancient demon.

However, this was a kind of opportunity. An opportunity to use the demon as bait and control it.

When I turned on the system, the familiar sound of tiring! rang in my head.

+++

<LapidemyBunnyPrincess> Lv. 6 (+3)

-Class: Writer (Unique)

-Title: Possessor, One Who Faced the Demon King (new!)

-HP: 80

-Mana: 11(+1)

-Strength: 8(+5)

-Agility: 7(+5)

-Physical Resistance: 5(+5)

-Magic Resistance: 5(+5)

-Intelligence: 40

-Luck: -99~99

+++

Oh, along with a new title, my strength, agility, and resistance stats had all gone up.

+++

▷Title: One Who Faced the Demon King

You are one of the few beings who have faced the Demon King Baal and survived.

That is an achievement worthy of being called a feat.

※Effect: Strength, Agility, Resistance +5

+++

Feeling like I had received an unexpected gift, the corners of my mouth naturally went up.

I held a certain hope that if I continued to raise my stats little by little, I could somehow avoid death.

《It didn’t take me long to return, did it?》

At the sudden voice, I turned my head, and a wild lizard appeared!

“I think you came back too quickly, actually.”

Not even a full day had passed. Was the position of Demon King something that could be given up so easily?

《I passed it on to a suitable fellow.》

“Is he stronger than you?”

《There is no demon stronger than me.》

At his confident words, a chuckle escaped me. If I were to ask him how such a guy was so helplessly pushed back by my father, he’d probably get annoyed, right?

“Hey, demon.”

《I have a proper name, Baal. Did you not bind me with that name?》

But isn’t it a bit much to call a lizard by a demon’s name out in the open? It’s not like I’m going around advertising that this lizard is a special lizard.

Baal… But, since he’s a pure white fellow.

“From now on, I’ll call you Albedo.”

《Not a bad name.》

“Alright, let’s make a contract. But there are conditions.”

《Say whatever you wish.》

“Do not lie to me.”

《A lie… what a vague term.》

At Albedo’s answer, a scoff escaped me, finding it absurd.

“No matter how much it’s a demon’s job to deceive humans, you should speak properly.”

I looked straight at the pure white lizard, Albedo, and pointed out the most important thing.

“Hiding the truth is also a clear lie.”

《Do you desire even the ancient truths that cannot be revealed to humans?》

“That would be excessive greed.”

If I were to demand something so absurd, no matter how interested he was in me, he wouldn’t accept. Rather, wouldn’t his interest drop and he’d try to kill me?

“I don’t need anything grandiose like the truth of the world. I’m just saying that if I request necessary information, and it’s information that can be provided to a contractor, you should tell me without hiding anything.”

《If it’s to that extent… it won’t be difficult.》

“Well, I don’t want to make things difficult either.”

If we were to remain enemies, it would be a different story, but if we really make a contract, we won’t be enemies anymore.

“In return, I’ll also make a promise. I’ll show you a lot of very interesting things. So please hold back on killing me right away just because you’ve lost interest.”

《Do I seem like such a fickle being to you?》

“Yeah, f*cking much.”

When I answered firmly, the lizard made a dumbfounded expression. Hmm, so lizards can make expressions like that.

《…I will add a clause to the contract that no harm can be done even if the contract is terminated.》

“Including my acquaintances.”

《Yes, including your acquaintances.》

It was best to take what I could get.

Albedo took out a paper made of mana. It seemed to be made of a material similar to the parchment that appeared when I used my skill.

After slowly writing down the contents of the contract, the contract I received was written to be completely advantageous to me.

“Is it okay for it to be this unfair?”

《In the end, it’s a contract where I’m the one in need.》

After reading the contents carefully one more time, I wrote the name ‘Theo Lisitoel’ in the signature line.

A pattern made of pure mana appeared on the back of my hand, only to disappear without a trace.

《With this, the contract is established.》

“Yeah, looks like it.”

A system window just appeared saying I had obtained a new title. I guessed I had probably obtained a title related to the contract with the demon.

I needlessly fiddled with the back of my hand where the pattern had appeared and then disappeared.

“I’ll tell Cian I happened to find it on a walk and decided to raise it.”

《Do as you please.》

Alright, then now, can I ask about a way to help myself?

At that moment, the door burst open.

“Theo.”

“Ah, Cian.”

Wow… you scared me. My heart almost dropped.

I was so startled that I pressed my palm against my pounding heart.

I’m not a five-year-old kid caught doing something naughty, so why do I feel so guilty? Ah… I did do it, something naughty.

“Is training all done?”

“Yeah.”

He feels strangely different from usual.

Normally, he would have continued talking about this and that, but since he was keeping his mouth shut, it was strangely awkward.

Strike while the iron is hot. I hurriedly placed the lizard on my palm and showed it to Lucian.

“I’m going to raise this from now on!”

“It’s a lizard?”

“I found it on a walk. It’s cute and unusual, so I was thinking of raising it in the room, is that okay?”

Lucian looked at Albedo carefully, really carefully.

Did I get caught? Alright, if I’m caught, the contract is immediately void.

“You don’t need to ask for permission.”

“Still, we’re friends sharing the same room, so your opinion is important too.”

“…Don’t mind me.”

The silence before his answer bothers me. I was more worried because he wasn’t the type to say no if he disliked it.

For now, I wasn’t in a position to refuse even a half-hearted permission.

“Thanks, Cian.”

I placed Albedo on the pillow.

“I have morning classes tomorrow, so I’m going to sleep first.”

“Yeah, get some rest.”

I immediately lay down on the bed.

I wondered if I would be able to sleep with Lucian on my mind, but my worries were unfounded as sleep came pouring in.

* * *

As Theo’s even breathing could be heard, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep, Lucian snatched the pure white lizard lying on the pillow.

Lucian, who had been staring intently at the lizard that blinked its eyes as if surprised by the sudden assault, asked.

“You’re that demon from back then, aren’t you.”

The moment he grabbed the lizard, the back of his right hand, where the stigma was engraved, hurt as if it were on fire.

As if the holy sword, in which the spirit of light dwelled, born to hunt demons, was trying to inform its master of the appearance of an ominous being.

Yes, just like when he first faced Baal in the dungeon.

《…….》

“If you pretend you’re not, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll tell Theo tomorrow that I left the door open because it was hot and it ran away.”

The stigma engraved on his right hand emitted a sacred light, and soon the holy sword was in his grasp. Lucian’s aura was menacing, as if he would kill the lizard in his hand at any moment.

《Stop.》

There was no way he would obey the demon’s words. Rather, Lucian’s aura only grew more menacing.

Baal raised his head and looked at Lucian intently.

The hero’s gaze, looking at the ancient demon, was incomparably cold and sharp compared to when he looked at his friend.

“What is your business with Theo?”

《I have made a contract with him.》

“A contract…?”

Albedo was willing to explain as much as Lucian wanted.

However, Lucian himself immediately loosened his grip and let the demon go.

The holy sword vibrated with a hum, as if asking why, but Lucian soon let go of the holy sword as well.

“If Theo did it, there must be a reason.”

《You’re accepting it just like that?》

It was Baal who was flustered by Lucian’s reaction. Was it normal to react this way when a close friend had made a contract?

《What if your friend, coveting the hero’s power, borrowed the demon’s power to plan your death.》

“Don’t try to drive a wedge between us, demon.”

Lucian’s voice was clearer than ever.

“I trust Theo.”

If Theo really intended to kill Lucian and steal the hero’s power. He could have just pushed him and run away in the dungeon that day.

In the first place, when things went wrong, Lucian had prepared to be left alone in that dungeon.

When the demon appeared and he knew its purpose was to kill him, he had also prepared for death.

Theo didn’t need to use magic to the point of bleeding, he could have just used Lucian as a shield and run away.

But he didn’t.

Rather, he was busy protecting him. Even when blood was flowing from every orifice in his body, to the point where he couldn’t even properly scream in pain.

“If by any chance Theo intends to kill me….”

There must be a reason. A reason that even Lucian would have no choice but to understand.

Lucian would rightfully place the holy sword in Theo’s hand and not resist at all.

Yes, because they are friends─

“Listen well, demon.”

It was impossible to tell whether what shone in his clear green eyes was madness or conviction.

The demon had seen countless madnesses and convictions, but in this moment, he could not judge easily.

No, he shouldn’t judge. That was something that could be either conviction or madness.

“Theo’s safety must not be endangered by your contract.”

If that moment came, Lucian would kill Theo’s lizard, Albedo, without hesitation.

One thing was certain, what dwelled in those eyes was also killing intent. However, the killing intent quickly dissipated as if it had never been there.

“Understand?”

The soft whisper echoed in the quiet dorm room along with the chirping of crickets.

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