Chapter 65
Chapter 65
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Hell's Circumstances
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Once, after the order of Hell, ruled by Satan and Lucifer, had crumbled, countless lords rose and fell, and the eternal war that seemed to last forever came to an end. New lords of Hell declared complete victory.
Beelzebub, former legion commander under Lucifer.
The Lord of Fair Contracts, Mephistopheles.
Asmodeus, the debauched librarian of Heaven.
These three built castles at the highest points of their territories, imprisoned the defeated lords or took them as subordinates, and reigned as the supreme rulers of Hell.
Among them, Mephistopheles was a particularly special demon. She, originally just one of the countless mid-tier demons, had become Hell's greatest demon thanks to her "contracts" with humans.
Under the blessing of the Throne of Contracts, Solomon, she had made pacts with countless humans to grow her power. In Hell, she was the symbol of self-made success, selected as the Hell lord most worthy of emulation in modern Hell society—a great demon.
Almiraz, one of the twelve vassals who served her, having taken up her father's role in serving Mephistopheles, was now overcome with immense betrayal as she hopped furiously down the corridor toward the audience chamber.
"This can't be happening! I've been waiting for the moment of my first contract for so long! There must be some mistake!"
From childhood, Almiraz had been expected by all to grow into a powerful demon worthy of succeeding her father, Genie—the second greatest contract demon after Mephistopheles—thanks to her innately immense magical power.
However, the being—whether god or demon—who bestowed power upon Almiraz had given her only magical power surpassing that of an upper demon. No matter how much mana one has, if it can't be used properly, it's just a tantalizing picture of a rice cake.
While her peers, called geniuses in the same era, surged ahead, Almiraz had to endure the miserable feeling of falling behind.
But Almiraz never gave up. Her mentor, Mephistopheles, had grown strong despite being one of the countless demons.
If she could just make contracts, sucking humans dry of their worth and deceiving them, she too could become the right hand of the great Lord of Contracts. That was what she had believed until today.
"What is the matter, Lady Almiraz?"
Before she knew it, she had reached the doors of the audience chamber, but the massive upper demons guarding it blocked her path.
"Step aside! I must see Mephistopheles!"
"Her Ladyship is currently receiving an important report. We cannot let you pass."
"How dare you! Do you know who I am—one of the twelve vassals—and still speak such insolence?!"
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
As Almiraz began stomping the ground hard with her hind legs, channeling her mana in protest, the two guard demons couldn't help but flinch.
To these demons, so huge and powerful that even an ogre would look like a child, the tiny rabbit's stomping was just too adorable.
"A-hem! No matter how frustrated you are, rules are rules! We cannot let you through!"
The demons blocked her path, trying to deflect with coughs, but Almiraz knew their tone was akin to scolding a child.
What humiliation. She, a great demon who should terrify those fooled by her cute appearance, was treated like a mere adorable mascot in Mephistopheles's court.
In that situation, feeling utterly pathetic after being deceived by Mephistopheles into a fake contract, Almiraz finally couldn't bear the shame and slowly turned her body away.
⚙ HELL'S CONTRACT ⚙ [Let the rabbit in.] At that moment, Mephistopheles's voice echoed through the court's corridor.
"Y-Yes? B-But Lady Mephistopheles..."
[I will not say it twice.]
As the guard demon tried to speak, the two trembled at Mephistopheles's icy tone and hurriedly pulled open the ornate, massive doors of the audience chamber.
"The twelve retainers of the Lord of Contracts, Lady Mephistopheles, Lady Almiraz enters!!"
As the firmly shut doors swung open, Almiraz shook off her frustration. She then hopped proudly past the guards, looking up at them defiantly.
'See that? That's the position of one of the twelve retainers!'
Unaware that even that gesture was cute, the pitiful Almiraz stepped into the audience chamber.
"There you are, my cute little rabbit. Why are you in such a foul mood?"
...As one of the twelve retainers, she had often stood beside Mephistopheles, glaring at visitors from the side. But stepping as a guest onto the central carpet of the audience chamber was a foreign sensation.
Including the proxy from her family who had taken her place, all the representatives of Mephistopheles's twelve retainers stared solely at her. For the faint of heart, the pressure alone could stop their hearts.
But compared to the presence of the demon in the form of a young girl lounging sideways on the high throne, clutching a wine glass and looking down—that made the twelve retainers seem like nothing.
Like a giant gazing at an insect, simply sharing the same space made the power gap feel vast. In that moment, Almiraz felt like a criminal.
Should she turn back now? With belated regret, Almiraz realized it was too late. Resolving that if she died here, she would do so proudly as one of the twelve retainers' heirs, she opened her mouth.
"Mephistopheles, I have sworn true loyalty to you. Then how could you cast me out so heartlessly?!"
Almiraz's bolder-than-expected shout made Mephistopheles's twelve retainers, lined up on either side, flinch in shock.
'To act so insolently just because she's loved for her cuteness!'
'She still doesn't understand that it's Mephistopheles's will that forced that unfair contract on her with a human!'
Mephistopheles's twelve retainers were upper demons, nobles second only to the lords in Hell. Yet even they dared not utter a word of displeasure to Mephistopheles.
No matter how strong a goblin is, it can't defeat a dragon.
And the gap between them and Mephistopheles was exactly that vast. Moreover, the main reason the successor to the previous contract demon Genie—a tiny rabbit demon—was chosen was solely because her cute appearance won Mephistopheles's favor; her talent was less than that of their own aides, mere vermin.
Thus, everyone predicted that the next moment, the small, cute yellow rabbit would burn to death. Perhaps even Almiraz herself thought so.
"Cast you out? How have I cast you out, my dear? I personally entrusted you with an important contract. I'm a bit hurt, my cute little rabbit."
But the girl on the throne showed no rage at all; instead, she wore an expression of genuine bewilderment and hurt.
Seeing that, Almiraz briefly felt relief at not dying, but soon anger surged. How could she so shamelessly deny it after Almiraz had shouted with such desperation?
"An important contract? Isn't it just babysitting some no-name witch?! And this contract doesn't even take anything from the human—instead, I have to use all my power to help her!"
Almiraz flashed her black horns, and the contract appeared in midair—the very one Mephistopheles had personally bestowed, which she had signed without reading a single line in her excitement.
📜 HELL'S CONTRACT 📜 This contract is an absolutely unbreakable pact under the authority of the Throne of Contracts, Solomon, and witnessed by Hell's great Lord of Contracts, Mephistopheles. Demon Almiraz (hereinafter referred to as "Party A") and witch Violet Purplecrow (hereinafter referred to as "Party B") hereby enter into a summoning contract and pledge to fulfill it faithfully as follows. Article 1 [Contract Period] The term of this contract shall continue until mutual agreement to terminate, or until "Party B" meets physical death in the mortal world, or "Party A" meets eternal death in Hell. Article 2 [Scope of Duties] Upon summoning by "Party B," "Party A" must expend mana equivalent to 50 times the mana used by "Party B" for the summoning, or remain until granted permission for reverse summoning. "Party A" must faithfully carry out "Party B"'s orders, and "Party B" must provide for "Party A"'s food, clothing, and shelter. In cases where "Party B" requires it or in emergencies, "Party A" must fulfill duties even by deploying her guarantor demon. "Party A" must respond to any summoning by "Party B," regardless of the offering, at any time. Article 3 [Relationship Between Parties] "Party A" must not inflict physical or mental pain on "Party B" intentionally. "Party A" must address "Party B" as "Mistress." However, the form of address may be changed at "Party B"'s later command. Violation of the above clauses shall result in "Party A" pledging her mana as collateral to Mephistopheles. This contract may be amended upon mutual agreement. It called her "Party A," but it was a contract so demonic that even calling it a slave contract felt too generous. In rage, Almiraz began stomping the floor with her hind legs.
"I trusted you without doubt, Lady Mephistopheles! How could you make me sign such a contract?! What do I even gain from this?!"
As the contract's contents were revealed, the surrounding demons gasped and clicked their tongues.
"Even for a demon, how could she make such a horrific contract..."
"This seems like the lord's will to outright exile Almiraz."
"Her mana quantity is useful, so she's just taking it and discarding her, right?"
The growing mocking whispers. Almiraz stomped more irritably, glaring at her lord.
Yet Mephistopheles was still smiling.
"You've misunderstood, my cute little rabbit. I have never deceived you."
"Then what is this contract?! Not only do I have to use all my power, but a guarantor demon too?! Where am I supposed to find a demon to guarantee this?!"
"Right before your eyes, isn't she?"
At those words, Almiraz blinked and looked around.
Not just her—all the retainers averted their eyes. Even her uncle, standing in her stead among the twelve, avoided her gaze, making tears well up.
"Everyone's avoiding my eyes! Who is the demon guaranteeing me?!"
Now snarling in fury, Almiraz's irreverence drew tsks from all, but the lady lord laughed and answered.
"Foolish but cute rabbit of mine, I myself guarantee you. I am your guarantor demon."
"...Pardon?"
Silence fell briefly.
Everyone had to rack their brains to grasp the meaning behind what they had just heard.
"That means...?"
"If you fail to protect your contractor, I will personally step into the human world and wield my power to aid your contract. As I said, this contract is very important to me."
I will look after Almiraz. I am Almiraz's guardian. Mephistopheles's words were no different. Hell's great lady lord had declared she would personally raise one of the twelve retainers.
"If you're lacking, I can make you strong. But I want to see you grow strong on your own. So, devote yourself to the contract from now on."
With those words, a great uproar erupted around them. What they thought was demotion was actually unprecedented favor.
"My lady! How can you favor such a lowly rabbit so much?! If so, choose this Lava Warlord Azgudan instead!!!"
As Azgudan, the most powerful among the twelve retainers, shouted, the others began appealing competitively like a market of lowly things. Displeased by the noisy audience chamber, Mephistopheles waved her hand.
Boom!!!!
Azgudan's form melted like literal lava, silencing all who witnessed it.
"Do you have any more questions, my cute little rabbit? If not, withdraw. I want a nap."
With that, Mephistopheles issued a dismissal to everyone present. Seeing her allow no objections to this irrationality, a single doubt arose in all minds.
"...I-I have a question. Why do you value the contract with that witch so highly?"
Mephistopheles, who had closed her eyes to sleep, opened them thinly and looked at the trembling yellow rabbit. Yet she showed no anger.
Instead, she smiled delightedly at the question, her face taking on a girlish expression as if reminiscing a happy past.
"It's not the witch herself that's important. She has talent but is a fool who couldn't fulfill my request."
"Th-Then...?"
"However, that witch is precious to my friend. Though I ignored her for trying to contract with me directly without knowing her place, I can't abandon the only path to help my friend."
Mephistopheles's friend. Those words carried heavy weight.
Beelzebub? Asmodeus? They were her enemies, not friends.
The witch Valbur who contracted with a Hell noble? A nobody witch barely contracted with an upper demon couldn't stand equal to Mephistopheles.
Mephistopheles had built her power deceiving and being deceived her whole life. Who could see her as an equal and still trust her?
"Th-Then, my lady, who is this friend of yours?"
"Ah, good question. You mustn't be rude to my friend."
Blink. When Almiraz opened her eyes, she realized she was suddenly cradled in the lady lord's arms, being stroked. But the touch wasn't frightening. It carried a warmth from the great lady lord she had never seen before.
"My precious, one and only friend is a human. A red-haired, bold boy. But one who made me very happy."
Like a woman awakened from a long dream whispering her lover's name, Mephistopheles whispered softly to Almiraz with a slightly trembling voice.
"Arthin Ludwig. Remember that child's name well."
As all bowed their heads, unable to dare lift them, only Almiraz could behold the greatest demon's expression.
Despite knowing it was irreverent, Almiraz couldn't shake the thought.
This expression was surely that of a woman in love.