Hell's Maniac Summoning Contract (2)
In the back alley of the academy's shopping district, I closely examined the purple cloth in my hand. It was my first time seeing it in person, but I definitely remembered it from the original story.
Pandemic's insignia. One that even low-level members could possess. Executives avoided carrying such markers around, as they could easily give them away.
"What the hell is this."
This was too... weird. I glanced downward. Even for a low-level member, this was ridiculous.
"Ugh, u-ugh...."
For this loser to have a Pandemic insignia? Anyone would think Pandemic was just some neighborhood thug gang. I nudged the man's side with my foot.
"Hey. Where'd you get this?" I waved the purple cloth in front of his eyes.
"S-sorry. I'm sorry... Kghghgh-."
Still traumatized from the beating, he wasn't listening. With no choice, I sent a weak current through his body, finally stopping his repetitive apologies.
"Where'd you get this? If you don't talk, I'll really kill you."
"I-I don't know! Some guy gave it to me yesterday... The local gangs just trembled at the sight of it, so I carried it around!"
"So who were those guys? You're so damn frustrating." I gathered mana in my hand, igniting it into visible flames even to a normal person.
"I don't know! I don't know! He just told me to find a Hell Summoning Contract on the black market... I don't know anything! I just used it to extort money. That's all. Really. If I'd known what it was... Khuhhk."
"Hell Summoning Contract from the black market...?"
Why was Pandemic looking for a Hell Summoning Contract? Hell's Summoning Contract... Could it be the Hell's Maniac Summoning Contract?
Naturally, the Hell's Maniac Summoning Contract I'd bought on the black market came to mind.
"Was it B&T Antiques?"
It had been a while since I'd heard about it, but I remembered clearly. That was where I'd bought the Hell's Maniac Summoning Contract that summoned Liliana. The only proper antique shop on the black market.
"...Sigh."
Ah, this felt ominous. Something big was brewing. No matter how I thought about it, if it was a Hell contract from the black market, it had to be there. Was Pandemic after the contract? Why?
I left the sobbing man and headed to the black market. Fortunately, I always carried the token to enter. Recalling the way, I made for the antique shop where I'd bought the Hell's Maniac Summoning Contract.
What I found was a ruined lot.
"...What the hell."
A profound sense of wrongness hit me. When you pass a collapsed building, you can usually tell how long it's been that way. Broken wooden table fragments were still intact, and valuables were left behind.
This was the black market. Anything of value got snatched up. Meaning this had happened recently.
Looking around, I spotted a bored-looking merchant fanning himself from the shop across the way. I approached him.
"...Mind if I ask something?"
"Sure. Ask away if you're buying."
His shop sold vitamins or something, but that wasn't my goal.
"There was an old man running a shop over there. Know where he went?"
"Oh, that place? Yesterday, I think. Some scary-looking guys showed up and trashed it."
"...What about the owner?"
"No idea. Dead or whatever. They were yelling for him to hand over some hidden contract. The old guy was tough, kept denying he had it, but they dragged him off. Probably scammed them or something."
"Contract... Did they mention anything like Hell Summoning Contract?"
"Maybe, maybe not. Anyway, buy some of this. Vitamins. Good for the body."
Yeah, it had to be the Hell's Maniac Summoning Contract I'd bought.
"...No thanks. Appreciate it."
I left the clicking merchant behind and exited the black market. Breathing the fresh outdoor air, I replayed the thug's and merchant's words.
Hell's Maniac Summoning Contract.
It sure seemed like the one they'd been after was the one I'd bought. When I'd checked a few months ago, that was the only worthwhile item.
It was far more likely than some amazing artifact arriving in the months I hadn't visited, and it just happening to be what Pandemic wanted.
It was tragic that the old man got dragged off because of me... but the reason mattered more right now.
Sorting the info: Hell and Pandemic were definitely connected. For some reason, a Pandemic executive had a Hell contract, and the apostle they summoned was from Hell—no denying it.
But why was Pandemic seeking that contract? And how did they even know about it? Antiques circulate widely; tracking one to that shop would take insane effort.
Did it hold that much value?
"...Nothing's certain."
I messaged Liliana on my smartwatch.
One thing I could say for sure: if what Pandemic was after was really the Hell's Maniac Summoning Contract, then something was definitely up.
With Liliana.
*
I hurried my steps. An inexplicable anxiety filled my chest. Whether intentionally or not, Liliana might be a key piece for Pandemic.
Back at the dorm, the door chimed as I entered. Liliana, who'd said she was streaming, was humming and packing her bags.
"You're back?"
She greeted me with her usual cheer.
"What about the stream?"
"Changed my mind. It's the weekend, so I'm chilling! Plus, gotta prep for the move!"
"...Right."
I sat on the sofa next to the beaming Liliana and gathered my thoughts. She probably wasn't at fault. I wanted to believe that. It wouldn't turn out that Liliana was the Demon King's secret mastermind or some nonsense.
But there was definitely something to the Hell's Maniac Summoning Contract that summoned her.
I cautiously spoke to Liliana, who was stuffing snacks into her bag.
"Liliana. Remember when we made our contract?"
"Huh? Oh, the summoning one?"
"Yeah. That. Do you remember how the contract brought you to Earth?"
"Contract? Hmm. I was gaming at home and suddenly got pulled in~."
She yawned carelessly.
"...What were you doing before the contract?"
"Gaming, like I said."
"You weren't gaming 24/7. What about when you weren't?"
"Umm... Don't really remember."
Her usual response. She always said that to personal questions. I'd never pressed because it was suspicious as hell, but only because it was Liliana. Her pure innocence kept me from digging.
Not anymore.
Acting casual, I continued. "No schools in Hell?"
"Of course there are. Mandatory education here too. Don't underestimate us."
"What about your childhood or school days? Don't remember?"
"Nope. Don't remember."
She shook her head vigorously, as if she didn't want to talk about it.
"... "
No, this was weird. How could she not remember? Even years as a total shut-in wouldn't erase that. My common sense couldn't grasp it.
And from what she'd described of Hell and her habits, it wasn't that different from Earth life. Yet she claimed no memory.
"Liliana."
I called her again. She answered irritably at the odd questions.
"I gotta pack. Stop bugging me! Busy!"
"...From now on, answer everything I say with no lies. Absolute truth."
It had been a while since I infused my words with mana. Time to use the contract's command. Liliana couldn't defy me.
The contract was active, of course.
Liliana and I had built a bond strong enough to bypass such limits easily. So it hurt a bit to force this.
"Ugh...?"
She clutched her head. Probably the strongest constraint yet. She stared at me in confusion, startled by the suddenness.
"Wh-what's wrong? I-I was just packing..."
"Answer only what I ask. Liliana, why do you dodge questions about your childhood memories?"
I needed answers this time. She couldn't run forever.
"Memories... I don't... remember. Ah, ah...."
"Liliana...?"
Her hands trembled as she gripped her hair. Too violent a reaction, even under constraint. And despite the no-lie order, she repeated she didn't remember—no backlash, so it was truth.
"Really, really... don't remember... S-sorry...."
Thud—
Lips quivering, she stuttered and collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.
"Liliana! Liliana?!"
Not acting—I was right there. Her pulse was steady; just fainted. No life threat.
"...Why?"
But my questions remained. Why no childhood memories? Why faint? Trauma? Even then, my command was to speak truthfully.
Maybe she sealed them herself from severe trauma... but my gut said no.
I placed a hand on her furrowed brow.
"Then why this reaction... Huh?"
As doubt grew, a faint mana reaction emanated from her head. No, not mana—Hell's mana. Trace amounts, but unmistakable from her unconscious head.
The moment I sensed it, it dispersed. Liliana's face relaxed peacefully, as if nothing happened.
"... "
Biting my lip, I watched her sleep. To resolve this, I'd need to connect to Hell.
The choices from that first Hell's Maniac Summoning Contract when I met her. I remembered them vividly.
The third choice: '20-Year F-Rank Mercenary. The Veteran Centaur's Unyielding Might.' That had to be the centaur who appeared in France—Chiron.
Then it made sense why Pandemic sought the Hell's Maniac Summoning Contract. A Hell link unrelated to Liliana.
"Only the centaur, huh."
Meeting him might ease this stifling feeling. That's what my intuition said.