Chapter 40: The Devil’s Whisper
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 40: The Devil’s Whisper
Yuren’s head, severed by Jed’s blade, hadn't even hit the floor before Ferda’s magic arrow detonated it.
Crack!
Fragments of the shattered skull sprayed in every direction.
“Gah!”
Jed instinctively shielded his face. He spat repeatedly, terrified that some stray bit of gore might have flown into his mouth, and rounded on Ferda.
“Hey! What was the point of blowing his head to bits?!”
Ferda calmly wiped a streak of blood from his cheek with his thumb. “I had to be sure.”
“I mean, people usually stay dead once their heads are off. Was the overkill really necessary?”
“The demon isn't the problem. It’s better than people wondering how a Regent suddenly became a master swordsman capable of a clean decapitation, don’t you think?”
“Ah… well, you’ve got a point there.”
Jed looked down at Yuren’s corpse. The marks where he had been stabbed once, followed by a single, decisive slash, were vivid. For a battle supposedly involving a 3rd Tier Mage, the scene looked far too physical. Jed quickly set to work marring the neck wound, making it look like the messy result of an explosion.
“So…” Having finished the preliminary cleanup, Jed looked at Ferda with resentful eyes. “You said you only needed the two eyes?”
“And did you bring only the two eyes?”
Jed let out an incredulous laugh. “Do I look crazy enough to believe that?”
Truly, the man had the makings of a master thief. His ability to grasp the intent behind vague instructions was impeccable.
“By the way, you’re later than I expected.”
“A lot happened. I was trying to stay out of sight, but I had a bit of bad luck and got spotted…” Jed recalled the moment. His expression soured for a second before a smirk broke through. “Well, meeting that guy actually made things safer. I was able to finish the job without any loose ends.”
“Who did you meet?”
“A man named Karl from the Purge Squad. The one you lured in, Regent.”
The moment Ferda heard the name, an involuntary “Ah” escaped his lips. Karl—the man Ferda had personally placed a dog collar on.
“Thanks to him, things went much smoother. I’ve entered the premises as a substitute warehouse keeper for now.”
“I see.”
“More importantly, is your leg okay?” Jed gestured toward Ferda’s leg. The flow of blood had slowed, but he was still hemorrhaging. Without waiting for an answer, Jed leaned toward the wound. “Let’s stop the bleeding first. We need to apply pressure.”
“I have a handkerchief. I’ll handle it.”
Everything had to be meticulous from start to finish. Ferda wrapped the cloth around his leg, trying to secure a knot, but his grip was weak. Even for him, tying a tight knot while suffering from blood loss and sheer exhaustion was a struggle.
“Give it here.” Unable to watch any longer, Jed brushed Ferda’s hands aside and firmly secured the bandage. “Let’s just say… you used every ounce of your strength to stop the bleeding. A dying man can do anything, right?”
“Yes, that sounds plausible.”
“So, what now? Do I carry you out of here? There’ll be an extra charge for the additional cargo.”
Ferda shook his head. “I’d prefer you stick to the request. Do you see that black cover with the silver chains over there?” He pointed toward a book lying on the floor.
“Yeah, I see it. I just take that?”
“There should be some golden silk used for transporting Gamigin’s Necromancy. Wrap the book in that and take it safely to the carriage we arrived in.”
Jed wrapped Barbatos’ Shadow Arts in the provided cloth, though his eyes never left Ferda’s leg. “Are you really going to be okay? Should I call someone?”
“There’s no need to worry.”
“No, you’ve lost a lot of blood. Of course I’m worried.”
“People don’t die that easily from this much.”
Jed scratched his head, torn. Ferda kept insisting he was fine, but the injury was too severe to simply walk away from.
“So, did you find the information?”
“Not yet. I heard the commotion down here first and came to handle it.”
“Then don’t waste time. Go find it, quickly.”
“Is that really what’s important right now? The Regent is about to die…”
“Isn’t that the information you were willing to stake your life for?”
The reason Jed had wagged his tail at foul women and cheated at gambling to extort money from nobles was because he had a clear goal. Jed had nothing left. The Red Eye Tribe had been massacred, and he was the only survivor. His last memory was of his younger sister being dragged away by a mysterious assailant. For a man with no family left, that hope was everything.
“A contract is a contract. My part of the deal is only fulfilled if you get what you want.”
“…”
Jed looked displeased, but he felt he had to honor the cold determination in Ferda’s eyes. Standing up, he made a solemn request.
“Don’t die.”
Then, Jed moved. Even though he was running at full speed, not a single footfall echoed through the chamber.
Truly, a genius from the start.
Admiring the thief’s skill, Ferda leaned back against a display case. He caught his breath, his mana depleted and his mind pushed to the brink by anemia.
The fact that Yuren had entered the Sealed Warehouse was recorded. If he didn't come out on time, an emergency response team would be dispatched.
Based on the time… about twenty minutes left?
In his current state, where every second felt like an eternity, twenty minutes was far too long—especially in a place like this. Ferda was weakened, and a weakened prey was nothing but a feast for predators.
The sinister energy of the cursed grimoires began to encroach upon his consciousness.
— Won’t you play with me?
— How about a contract? I’ll give you the power to shatter the world.
— Come here. I shall personally take you under my wing.
From childish whimpers to solemn commands, the voices crawled over Ferda’s body, trying to seep inside. To an ordinary listener, they might have sounded powerful or mysterious.
But Ferda knew better. These were mere petty demons whose names weren't even worth remembering. Their prices were steep, their conditions pathetic, and the power they offered was mediocre at best.
To think I have to listen to the likes of these.
Perhaps that was why, even in this high-stakes situation, he felt a yawn coming on. The malice they harbored was insufficient to pierce the gaps in his mental fortress.
A moment later, the voices ceased all at once. It wasn't because they had retreated in the face of Ferda’s iron will; it was because something of a much higher caliber was approaching.
Here it comes.
The darkness in Ferda’s vision deepened. Before he could even process the physiological dread, a bone-chilling cold enveloped him. A figure manifested from the frost.
— You damned mortal.
An old man with blue skin and a long white beard stared at Ferda with eyes clouded by cataracts. It was the Great Demon Marbas, the one who had contracted with Yuren.
— You dare lay a hand on my property right after the contract was signed? Do you have any idea what it means to earn the resentment of a demon?
Ferda looked at him flatly. “What does it mean?”
— You shall pay dearly for humiliating Marbas! You will suffer for a million years in the lowest depths of the Frigid Hell, where your skin blisters and your veins freeze!
Marbas bellowed, tapping his staff against the floor and scattering the frost of hell across the ground.
— I will give you a chance to make amends. Contract with me. Take the place of my lost contractor. Well?
A contract with Ferda. That was the real reason he had come here to threaten him.
“I refuse.”
— You choose to face my icy wrath? No one who angers a Great Demon returns alive.
“Anger, my foot.” Ferda already saw through the scheme. “You’re just looking for an excuse, aren't you? You contracted with that lowlife just so you could pretend to have a grudge.”
It was one of the classic tricks demons used to ensnare people—testing a mortal's mettle while trying to seduce them into a formal contract.
Marbas, who had been wearing a ferocious expression, let out a chuckle instead of a roar.
— Heh heh heh… You’re no ordinary fellow. So, you truly have no intention of contracting? I’ll even give you a special discount on the price.
He sounded like he was running a clearance sale.
“Of course not.”
— A pity. It would have been a delight to own a soul as exceptional as yours. The day you find yourself needing me, the price will be much higher.
Despite his supposed resentment, the demon made a cool exit.
Ferda’s vision remained narrow, but the chattering voices did not return. Instead, something hiding in the darkness squirmed as it approached.
— The power you displayed was truly marvelous, Lord Ferda Valdrova.
A thick, oily voice. Emerging from the shadows was a toad wearing a formal suit.
— My name is Morax. Why not come and strike a deal? I shall grant you power and authority. I will lend you everything you need to build a magnificent Archduchy.
The toad’s wide mouth curved into a fishy smile.
— Though, of course, the price must be paid eventually.
One of the seven Great Demons, the Demon of Contracts and Prices—Morax. Among demons, he was the one who granted the most tangible power, making him incredibly alluring. He could turn a weakling into a Swordmaster and a talentless fool into an Archmage in an instant.
But his deals always ended in horrific tragedy. That was the Curse of Morax. Ferda had witnessed those tragedies countless times.
“I know exactly what you’re up to. You’re boring, so get lost.”
— Heh heh heh… I shall withdraw for now, but the day will come when you call upon the name of Morax. I shall look forward to it.
The toad gentleman tipped his hat and retreated back into the shadows. Immediately, another figure appeared.
— Hello, darling.
A sultry, decadent voice whispered in his ear. Blonde hair, blue eyes, and a generous bust—she looked exactly like Olivia Arken. But it wasn't her. The figure's lower half was not human, but that of a massive serpent.
The Demon of Lust and Illusions, Sitri.
“Is that so?”
— Why such a bored face? You have the Empire’s greatest beauty right in front of you. Not to your liking?
She twirled a strand of hair with a slender finger, a seductive smile playing on her lips. Her alluring form was enough to make any man’s heart race. But not Ferda’s. Even at an age of peak vitality, looking at her pale, naked form brought him nothing but tranquility. Compared to Morax and Marbas, the power she offered was the most pathetic.
— I guess you really don’t like it. You said you’re married to a dragon, right?
“Yes.”
— If you love that dragon so much, how would you feel if you could hold two of them?
Ferda thought for a moment, then looked at Sitri. “Go on.”
— How do you think I’m able to take the form of Olivia Arken? For a demon like me, this is child’s play. She whispered with a deep smile. Does my darling… want to see the form of Valdrova?
Ferda’s desire flickered. That momentary waver finally gave Sitri an opening.
“Show me Valdrova.”
— Hehe, what a cute man. Fine.
Sitri covered her face with both hands. Following the movement of her fingers, everything changed. Her blonde hair turned red, two pairs of horns sprouted from her head, and her eyes shifted into golden, slitted pupils.
— How is it? My beautiful appearance?
Sitri had perfectly replicated the form of Valdrova, the woman Ferda dreamed of. Ferda stared intently at the figure, but then his expression soured.
“That’s not it.”
— What?
“My fiancée doesn't look that sharp. The corners of her eyes should be tilted down more.”
— Hmm, is that so? Like this?
Sitri adjusted her face. Ferda stared again and shook his head.
“No, her eyes are gentler. And her lips aren't that thick.”
— Wait a moment. Like this?
“Why can’t you understand what I’m saying? Am I asking for something difficult?”
— Like this?!
They spent a considerable amount of time bickering as the Great Demon Sitri repeatedly altered her features. After numerous attempts, Sitri stood up abruptly, her eyes filled with deep disgust.
— You lunatic.
“What’s wrong? I’ll contract with you if you want! You just have to manifest exactly what I want. It’s not hard.”
— Get lost! Getting involved with a pervert like you would only ruin my reputation!
Even Sitri, the Great Demon of Lust, vanished with a look of utter exhaustion.
I suppose she can’t replace Valdrova.
To be honest, Ferda had been slightly tempted. He thought it might not be bad to see her likeness when he missed her so much. But she was a woman who could not be replaced, even by a magical substitute.
I shouldn't have bothered.
Because of Sitri’s poor disguise, the image of Valdrova only flickered more vividly before his eyes. He missed her achingly, and the loneliness made him feel somber.
Ah, my King.
Ferda called out to her desperately in his heart.
You love the world so much, yet the world only seeks to use you.
The reason Yuren had attacked Ferda was to incite Valdrova’s wrath. A plan that could potentially overthrow the Empire could never have been born from Yuren’s petty grudge alone.
But do not worry.
Ferda already knew who was behind it. And his sorrow only served to harden his resolve.
I will hold them accountable for everything.
The one who hid the Empire’s black magic rats in the underground sewers; the one who instigated the Regent’s death through Yuren; the one who plotted to bring the tilting Empire crashing down; the one who prayed for the death of all her blood relatives—
A single beautiful flower bloomed from the seed of calamity.
Olivia Arken.
It was then that Ferda’s vision cleared completely, and his dulled senses returned to normal. He heard someone rushing down the stairs—undoubtedly the knights and mages responding to the emergency.
“By the holy Alte, what happened here?!”
“Is that… Regent Valdrova?!”
“Is he still breathing?!”
“Yes, he’s alive!”
“Bring a priest immediately! This is an emergency!”
“Regent! Can you hear me?!”
He could hear them perfectly. Which meant it was finally time to sleep.