Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Interrogation (3)
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While the demon blinked in a dazed expression, Carlyle continued calmly.
"Even if we can't have a cooperative relationship, I think a deal might be possible."
"—A deal?"
The demon let out a hollow laugh of disbelief.
"Oppa, a deal only works if you have something I can't get. Right?"
"Yes."
"Do you think there's anything in the world I can't obtain?"
The words flowed out flatly.
Well, it wasn't something anyone could disagree with.
She was an Archdemon. Practically a demigod. What in the world could such a being fail to seize? Everyone would hold a skeptical view.
Yes. Everyone except one.
"I know about you, Asmodeus."
Not just knowing about her, but knowing exactly what she 'wanted.'
"You want to live. Even if the world ends."
"......"
"Even if everyone else dies, you want to survive to the very end. No matter the cost."
This demon's obsession with her own survival went beyond mere instinct.
It was closer to a paranoid desire.
The behavioral pattern of Carlyle's mother across regressions—consistent in every scenario—stemmed from that.
'......Though I never got the chance to learn why.'
He didn't know how such a desire had formed.
Her casual question about whether he knew the 'future' also arose from a desire for absolute assurance of her survival.
And.
"I'm the only one who can give you what you want."
Carlyle himself was someone who truly knew that future.
More precisely, not just knew it, but had attempted countless controls over its variables to achieve the desired outcome.
Soon.
"I have value to offer."
"......Is that how you negotiate with a demon? What if I use you up, take all the benefits, and discard you?"
If an Archdemon set her mind to corrupting a single human, there would be no way to resist.
Especially if exploiting others defined her very existence.
But.
"I said it from the start. If you try any tricks even once more, I'll just die."
"......"
Yeah, death would end it.
If he couldn't resist anyway, he'd die before she could pull any tricks. Then Asmodeus would never get what she wanted.
If she had no choice but to give him what he desired, he could simply flip the board entirely.
And the effect of those words was immediate.
"......You're really looking like you'd hang yourself, Oppa."
Asmodeus said with a weary laugh.
"I've done it before."
Well, in truly hopeless loops, he'd died a few times to reset quickly.
It wasn't pleasant, but he had the experience.
"......"
Asmodeus's lips twisted slightly.
"You're not just unafraid of death—"
......You want to die.
You want to die and finally rest.
Even if you just die, you lose nothing.
That aura was unmistakable.
That's why the absurd threat of dying if she tricked him held weight.
This human would actually do it if things went wrong.
"Oppa, what the hell have you been through? What happened with the Hero?"
"It's not the Hero's fault."
"Really?"
Asmodeus let out a disbelieving chuckle.
The words carried doubt about whether he truly believed that, but Carlyle just shrugged indifferently.
"......Tears upon tears, so touching. Does the Hero know you protect her like this?"
"Enough pointless talk. I still haven't heard your answer."
"......"
"What will you do? The deal."
The word "deal" implied Carlyle wanted something from her too.
Asmodeus tilted her head and replied.
"What do you want, Oppa?"
"Who's behind the Duke of Flies' summoning?"
"......Ah."
"Just give me the name. I'll handle the rest."
Everything scheming for the Archdemons' resurrection would be under his control.
That meant he'd outsourced the tasks enabling the Duke of Flies—whose name kept surfacing—to emerge into the material realm.
"You're telling me to betray Hell?"
The incredulous retort spilled out.
"Listen, Oppa. Are you saying you can take on Hell alone? That's what it'd take to make me betray them."
"I'm not telling you how to do it. Just test it out."
"What?"
"Simply telling me the name isn't much help, honestly. It'd only shave off a few weeks at best. You know that. It's not some grand betrayal."
Truthfully, from his position where he could actively utilize a continental power like Felix.
Uncovering just a name was something he could do with enough time. As he said, a matter of weeks. Hearing it now offered only that much advantage.
"As you said, the Duke of Flies manifesting in the material realm as is would be a catastrophe. Not a half-baked manifestation like yours, but in his true form...... Even if we block it with all our might, the damage would be devastating."
The odds of even blocking it were slim, and even if they did, there'd be no strength left for the other Archdemons that followed.
That was the norm.
Soon, gaining a few weeks in such a scenario offered no critical edge.
But.
"......So, what's your point?"
Time, time, time.
It was always the most crucial element for Carlyle.
Seemingly impossible adversities were his daily routine. He'd already faced a situation where all Archdemons had revived.
And ultimately, he'd broken through them all.
The achievements from rolling through hellish loops—where death felt like rest—formed the core of Carlyle Bellfast. "How" was never the issue. "How long" was.
A few hours to stop an incident. A few days to avert a disaster.
But weeks?
"Would you like to see for yourself what difference those few weeks can make?"
That was enough to create miracles from nothing.
"......"
"Test if I'm a 'deal partner' worthy of facing you as an equal."
After all, revealing a name carried no risk for her.
At those implying words, Asmodeus gazed at him quietly.
Soon, she laughed—pahaha—and brushed back her hair.
"Oppa, you really won't be mine? The more I see, the more I want you."
"I refuse. I've said it a million times, but I'm taken."
"Ten Glyph Society."
At the sudden name, Carlyle blinked calmly.
As he stared at her, Asmodeus winked.
Like saying she'd answered, so handle the rest.
Realizing that, Carlyle rummaged through his mind quietly.
Ten Glyph Society. Ten Glyph Society......
"—The far eastern group."
A name etched in memory.
......Panhima's eastern associates.
Moreover.
To the Sword Saint, they were blood enemies.
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"......"
Gray Chasefield blinked quietly.
"I'll be expecting great things then?"
"......"
Asmodeus and Carlyle, who had been silent for a few seconds, exchanged those words in a concluding atmosphere.
As if they'd shared a long conversation out of sight.
Felix, dazedly murmuring, wasn't the only one feeling that way.
"......What. What was that."
"Oppa squeezed info out of me~"
As Asmodeus whined and rubbed her eyes, Carlyle brushed back his hair with a weary look.
"We...... talked in our heads. I got some information."
"Information?"
"Please investigate the Ten Glyph Society's movements. Actually, could we relocate for a bit? Things are about to get busy."
"That's not hard, but...... what did you two talk about?"
"At least for now, you can ignore Asmodeus here. More importantly, let's move quickly."
"What? Hey, wait, explain—"
Carlyle grabbed Felix's chin and swiftly pulled her out of the room as she tried to protest.
It truly felt like not a single moment could be wasted right now.
"......"
And.
Toward Gray, who stared blankly in confusion, Asmodeus lightly opened her mouth.
"Hey, Hero."
"......?"
"Be good to Oppa."
Gray froze.
Looking at Asmodeus, the demon's red eyes gleamed ominously.
"What?"
"If you don't want big trouble, be good."
"......What?"
"In my eyes, it could get dangerous."
"What the hell are you—"
"Curious? Find out yourself."
"......"
The demon grinned mischievously at the still Gray.
"It'll be fun. Wonder what face you'll make then."
Somehow.
From Gray's perspective, it was all incomprehensible.
......But it felt like an ice pick stabbing down her spine.
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