Chapter 67

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 67

Chapter Title: Rice Farming with the Devil! #2

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"...Can't you let me join your party?"

"Nimble, weren't you trying to head home?"

"I never expected Ether to roll in like this!"

Our party was raking in Ether pretty well.

On lucky days, we'd pocket a few million Ether each as our daily take.

Not hunting dangerous boss monsters, but taking down relatively safe trash mobs and looting treasure chests for Ether—that was a huge advantage too.

"What do you do with the Ether you earn?"

I eyed Nimble suspiciously.

In this barrier, it was best to be wary of women.

Nimble clicked her tongue in annoyance.

Was she getting fed up with my constant questions?

It felt like her favor toward me had dropped, but there was no helping it.

I had to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠do what needed doing.

"To convince Hammer, we need a story that makes sense."

I glanced at Hammer.

The quick-witted Hammer jumped into our conversation.

"Whatever it is, convincing us is key!"

"We can't take on anyone suspicious as a comrade."

Clink.

Felix rested his hand on the sword sheath at his waist.

The tense atmosphere made Nimble back down.

"It's because of the soul contract."

"What's that got to do with it?"

"Breaking a deal with a devil takes a shit ton of Ether."

"Breaking a devil contract? Gah! That's a real headache!"

Hammer shook his head with a drawn-out groan.

"These devils give blessings way stronger than idols. But they're infamous for their harsh prices!"

"Harsh how?"

Devils offering blessings more powerful than idols.

I was dying to know what the catch was.

"Idols, see, they aren't just born that way. They're beings who piled up great feats worthy of worship and ascended."

Damn, a lecture all of a sudden?

I was already getting sleepy and dizzy.

But I gritted my teeth and listened. Hammer caught my eye and kept going.

"Point is, idols used to be mortals like us! So most of them get how mortals think. That's why their contracts are pretty lenient."

"Ah, got it completely."

I'd haggled plenty with idols in all sorts of ways.

With Sabrannik, deals never went through without some bargaining.

"But devils? They're evil from birth. No mercy."

Clank.

Hammer crossed his arms.

"Nimble, what contract did your clan make with the devil? Depending on the details, it could put the party at risk, so we gotta hear it."

"We boosted our Ether gains."

"By how much?"

"Normally, we get Ether once for every two we hunt. If we're lucky, it drops every time."

What kind of half-assed effect was that?

My high expectations crashed into major disappointment.

But Hammer was seriously impressed.

"That's one hell of a powerful blessing."

"Really?"

"You usually gotta kill three or four trash mobs for one Ether drop."

Simple math: Ether acquisition up by 50%.

Shit, looking at it that way, it really was insane.

"A blessing that strong must come with a heavy price, right?"

Hammer asked.

Nimble ground her teeth.

"Every ten years, we offer a virgin from the clan to the devil Valder. This year's the tenth year. Otherwise, it'll be me or Daisy sacrificed."

"Ah—. So that's why that water king Yan-Mitt tried marrying you off to strangers like Felix and Yor."

What the hell was that about?

I furrowed my brow, and Hammer clued me in.

"As long as you're not a virgin, you don't have to be the sacrifice!"

Aha!

Anyway, I got why Nimble wanted to break the devil contract.

"Alright, Nimble. You've convinced me."

Hammer extended his hand to her.

Nimble stared blankly at it.

Hammer let out a massive sigh.

"Ugh—. Looks like I've got another one to teach Empire common sense to!"

"Wait, this dirt pile looks suspicious."

Nimble pawed at the dirt with her hands.

She looked just like a dog playing in the mud.

From the dug-up earth, she pulled out some weird root.

"This is a night root!"

Nimble beamed with joy.

Hammer was thrilled too.

"The kind old geezers line up to buy!"

Looked like ginseng or something to me.

To my eyes, it was just some common weed.

'Herbalist techniques are hard to learn, and they don't share 'em easily.'

In this world, knowledge and info were money in themselves.

No one gave away what they'd struggled to learn.

We made about five million Ether that way.

A whopping 1.25 million per person daily!

Even Felix grinned ear to ear.

"...At this rate, Hermit might not have a spot when she gets back."

Parties maxed out at four.

If Nimble ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠became a permanent member like Felix said, someone had to go.

That thought suddenly terrified me.

'...I'm not the one getting cut, right?'

Scary.

With that uneasy feeling, I returned!

Whoosh.

The scenery shifted, and suddenly I was in some fancy palace-like place.

A spot I'd never seen before.

If I had to compare, it was like the Cheperi mansion.

But this one, with marble and red carpet everywhere, was even grander and more luxurious.

'Which idol's come to see me this time?'

I tensed up.

Right then, a pitch-black crow flew in.

—Caw!

Fwoosh.

The crow burst into huge flames.

Soon, a man appeared with bat-like wings and glowing red eyes, offering me a wine glass.

"A glass of wine?"

He was dressed like a refined gentleman.

A pair of horns on his forehead stood out.

He spoke.

"Baldurk, Valder—always tangled up with my idiot kin, aren't you? Yor, you won't live your life right at this rate."

Devil Lord Baldurk.

Mountain Devil Valder.

That name told me exactly what the man before me was.

"A devil!"

"Please, call me Samael."

Devil Samael.

I maxed out my guard.

Samael waved a hand at me.

Swish.

A book flew through the air toward me.

Text floated up.

Holy shit!?

A book that lets you learn magic!

With this, even I could learn magic?

'Only one spell, but still! Hell yes!'

The romance I'd always dreamed of was right here—.

Which made me super suspicious.

"What's the price?"

"None."

No price?

For free?

Getting stronger for free? What kinda fairy tale bullshit is this!?

'Shit, what do I do? This has scam written all over it!'

That's when it happened.

Cackle cackle—loud laughter rang out.

I turned to see a dwarf clutching a severed head, laughing his ass off.

【Idiot, moron!】 【Nothing in this world comes free!】

Ashibar!

The suave gentleman Samael openly scowled.

"—This withered ghost, how dare you barge into my palace uninvited?"

【I'm a night guest!】 【That's what thieves do!】

Fair point.

Thieves crash places without invites.

Ashibar spat on the 'Magic Phantom Thief's Book'.

The book shook off dust—whoosh—and changed.

Son of a bitch!

A book that costs skills for one spell!?

All my skills were precious; losing any would hurt bad!

"Peddling fakes, you con artist!"

I ducked behind Ashibar and pointed furiously.

"Tch."

Poof!

Samael turned back into a crow and flew off somewhere.

Next instant, the scenery shifted—whoosh.

A temple full of headless statues appeared.

Ashibar's domain.

"Ashibar! You saved my ass!"

【Samael's a big shot.】 【Getting familiar ain't bad.】 【Something good'll come of it someday!】

Ashibar, who saved me from the devil's trick.

Surprisingly, he spoke highly of Samael.

But after nearly losing skills to a blatant scam, I hated devils even more.

"I'm never dealing with devils!"

【Who's saying deal?】 【Devil houses are packed with treasure.】 【Steal it like a thief!】

Oh, ooh—?

Made sense when he put it like that.

Samael's palace earlier was fit for a king.

'Must be loaded with valuables.'

I'd been too overwhelmed to think straight, but next time, I'd give it a shot.

【I was gonna show you a devil house if you gave me the soul contract.】 【But they came to you first—no need now!】 【Cackle cackle—!】

Ashibar laughed raucously.

Looking at him, I suddenly got curious.

"Ashibar, were you a goblin or something?"

【……….】

Ashibar stopped laughing.

First time the always-noisy Ashibar went quiet—freaked me out.

'Scary!'

Did I ask something dumb?

But I was curious.

Idols were huge deals, right?

Sabrannik's old skin alone could stand up to Devil Lord Baldurk.

"...How'd a petty thief goblin like you become such a great idol?"

Maybe Ashibar was an even greater thief than I thought.

Could learn a thing or two, so I asked.

Ashibar burst into loud cackles again.

【One way for a thief to get great!】 【I stole what no one could!】

Hiss hiss—that snake sound.

I turned to see Sabrannik slithering over.

【—My blessed one, ignore the ghost's lies—.】 【—Give me stones instead—.】

Of course the stone-eating snake sniffed out rocks like a pro.

I dumped all sorts of gems and ores on Sabrannik—wada dada.

Ashibar mocked the sight.

【The Three Evils who toppled countless kingdoms, now reduced to begging stones!】 【—Begone, ghost—.】

Whip!

Sabrannik lashed his tail, and Ashibar scattered like mist.

Sabrannik hissed contentedly.

【—Blessed one, receive your reward for service—.】

Text floated before my eyes.

Holy shit!

Too many good blessings—my head's gonna explode!

But I didn't agonize long.

Fang and Tongue?

Fang—dunno if it's useful.

Can't I just smear blood on my dagger and stab?

Tongue... looks good, but risk's too high.

Pass.

Eye, though?

Pure profit, simple.

Crush foes with a glare?

How do I resist?

"Serpent's Eye it is!"

Clink.

Sabrannik dropped a single tear into my hand.

As it touched my forehead—.

—Villainous serpent Palabraddica!

—Fire arrows!

Unfamiliar scenes began unfolding before my eyes.