Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Scams Are the Victim's Fault
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Sunday afternoon.
In the peaceful nook of my home, I'm calling out to someone.
"Lily."
No answer comes back. Even so, I keep calling. Propped up on the sofa with my arm as a pillow, I continue summoning her.
Levatein is sitting in front of me, playing with Lachesis. Raphael stands behind me.
"Lily."
And the demon I'm calling is kneeling right in front of me.
The reason? Simple. Time to fix this demon's bad habits. I need to uproot this opportunist's tendencies entirely.
"Tell me about your current situation."
"Not answering?"
Crack!
A sharp sound echoes, and Lily flinches. She looks up at me, then finally speaks.
"...I can't go back to Hell."
"Why not?"
"...Because I betrayed an upper demon."
We'll ignore the whispered "forced" part. I block Raphael as she lunges forward.
"So you're freeloading at your contractor's place right now?"
A timid nod.
A hesitant affirmation. I wait patiently for her to say it herself.
Lily squirms. It doesn't take long for her mouth to open.
"I was planning to scam that contractor and return to Hell."
"Even in a life-threatening situation."
Another nod.
Another affirmation. I release the hand I'd been holding back. Raphael pounces and starts beating Lily.
Not that I can say much after starting this, but are you some kind of guard dog?
I cover Levatein's eyes and ears, waiting for Raphael's violence to end. Soon enough, a swollen-faced Lily sniffles up at me.
"Hey, that was a bit much."
"Demons need a beating like this. Otherwise, they won't learn and will betray you again."
Can't argue with that. I uncover Levatein's eyes and ears.
Come to think of it, Levatein watches me decapitate things with my weapons all the time. Was covering her pointless?
[You okay?]
She's patting me sympathetically, so maybe not. Who knows. I pick up Levatein, who's climbed down onto my lap.
"Levatein. Look. Read it."
I have the [Menu] open to [Familiars]. Last time, she even touched my Blue Spear when she saw it, so it should be visible to her.
[Huh? Fam...iliars? What's this?]
She tilts her head as she reads. Yep, she can see it. I tell her I'll explain later and let her keep reading.
[Lily has collected... the demonic energy... to evolve into a mid-tier demon...?]
At those words, Lily startles, floating up into the air before dropping back down.
A bit early to be surprised.
[Evolve to mid...tier demon...? Will you command it?!]
"Good job."
I ruffle her head wildly in praise. Whatever it is, she seems happy to be praised, her body trembling with joy.
At the same time, Lily leaps forward and grabs my pant leg.
Angel or demon, grabbing pant legs is kinda weird.
"M-Mid-tier demon?! Did you just say mid-tier demon?!"
"After low-tier comes mid-tier, not high-tier, right?"
"That's what it means, right?! Are you an idiot, Seong-hoon?!"
I know. I shove the noisy angel's face away.
"I-Is it real?"
Like it's fake. Can this girl not see my blue window? I show it to her eagerly, but no dice.
"Since you're contracted to me, I have the authority to evolve you."
I say it sternly. Felt like it needed a solemn tone. Yeah, this calls for gravitas.
Evolving from low-tier to mid-tier demon carries huge implications. Like Lachesis becoming a divine beast.
In monster terms, it's existence evolution.
Like a goblin breaking its flesh-bound limits to evolve into a whole new species.
Not hobgoblin, goblin knight, or goblin king.
Transcending goblin entirely—into an orc or troll.
That's why she's reacting like this.
"Master. My great master."
A demon who's lived centuries as low-tier without breaking through, finally evolving thanks to a good master.
Pride matters more than anything. Lily's banging her head on the floor.
"And that's how you treat your master? 'Hey kid'? Hand over the demonic energy? Planning to backstab me the moment Raphael's gone?"
"That was demonic instinct..."
"What's an angel's instinct, Raphael?"
"Beating demons to death."
Lily quiets down at that. Well, more combat power is good for me anyway. I'm a generous guy.
You bet I am.
A paper flutters down from the [Inventory]. Still holding Levatein regally, I shove it toward her.
"In the name of the master-servant contract~"
"You don't look like one at all."
I mimic the earless rat robot, but harsh critique. I ignore Raphael's gaze and hand it to Lily.
By the way, Isia delivered this. I messaged her this morning, and the block was lifted.
Good thing she didn't kill herself.
"We're already contrac—"
"This is additional. First clause: No defying me."
"..."
"Second: Polite speech only. Say 'hey kid' one more time..."
[NYAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!]
"And this happens."
[Why me?!]
Shut up. I'm telling you. Ignore the cat shaking me in human form.
"Third: Repay any power gained with souls."
Infinite energy named. Brilliant idea, right?
"You already took them all back."
"To prevent tricks."
Fine then, don't sign. As I try to retrieve the contract, Lily grabs my arm. She looks up pleadingly, shaking her head frantically.
"Thinks she's cute, huh? That only works if someone like me does it."
"If you did that, I'd rip the contract right now."
This only works from girls like Isia or Sophia. Not you.
"Want me to rip Seong-hoon in half?"
No, not that. As I lower my eyes, she sidles up and starts punching. Cat punches and angel punches from both sides hurt like hell.
Even amid this, Lily signs the contract without hesitation.
Demon signatures bind stronger than blood. Fine by me.
I grin as she finishes. Smiling while getting pummeled looks weird.
"Lily."
"Yes, Master."
Oh. Language patch complete. No more bugs now?
"Forgot to mention. The contract includes cooking well."
"Pardon?"
"Lunch, if you please."
"What do you m—"
What do I mean?
"Whoa, Seong-hoon. You said we were broke—wasting ingredients like this okay?"
"Don't know. Tell Isia to send more. She's loaded."
"Genius."
I know.
[Genius? Nah, exploitation, nyang.]
"Where else you gonna find a master like me? Lily's thrilled too, right?"
"Of course... AAAAHHH!!!"
Tried it, didn't taste good. Oh well, part of the contract. Keep at it till you're a pro chef.
"Seong-hoon."
"Yeah."
"This is how you use subordinates, right?"
You get it.
[Isn't this contract fraud, nyang?]
"What? It's in fine print. Victim's fault for not reading. My fault?"
"Victim's fault, yeah."
Raphael's spot-on today. First time since she got here?
"Scams are the victim's fault."
[Really?]
"Yeah. Levatein, watch out so you don't get scammed. Victim's the idiot."
"Calling me an idiot— AAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"
I await a delicious lunch amid the demon's screams.
Lily's habits fixed. Lunch was delicious.
Evolution if she behaves, I said. One thing left.
"No way?! Seong-hoon, you suck at fighting games and FPS, but why are you so good at racing?!"
"I'm the king of racing. Don't underestimate Speed Racer!! Honed my skills dodging high schoolers since middle school—taste my mastery!!"
"Whoa, hearing that makes it real. What kinda life did you live?"
Shut up. I snag first place effortlessly and flash Raphael a grin, thumbs up in her face.
After that.
"Loser."
Her inevitable crash. Raphael's face crumples instantly.
"Rematch."
"Nah~ Stay a loser forever~"
"Rematch. Please!! Come on!!"
"No. How many rounds now? Eternal loser. Accept it."
Ignore her AAAAAHHH!! screams. I boot up an RPG. She shakes me wildly, but I hold firm.
After bickering forever, we're co-opping the RPG when Lily brings cola and snacks.
"Usually tea for this?"
"Tea?"
Lily smirks. Then words pour out like a machine gun, laced with exasperation.
"You'd complain 'What tea is this?' Sip once and spit at me yelling 'Fucking bitter!!' I'd clean it up. Buy cola, you say zero cola. Buy zero, you crave regular and drink it anyway. So I brought regular cola."
"Oh."
No retort. I just drink. Did Dr. Lee Seong-hoon study psychology?
"Whoa, how do you know him that well? Who are you? Been in Seong-hoon's brain?"
I elbow Raphael's side and keep gaming. Lily, nothing to do, watches from the side.
"Oh right."
"What? Don't eat those? Boss incoming—eat before!!"
"You eat 'em. Hey, Lily."
"Yes."
Time before boss. I open [Menu] to check [Death Reaper].
"Souls all hoarded? How'd you cheat the contract."
I killed tons with that rag, no way only 30 souls. Was psyched to evolve Death Reaper. Lily's work, for sure.
"Ah!! Healing!!"
"Dammit. Dodge the pattern!!"
"That was YOUR miss, Seong-hoon!!"
Was it? Awkward. Keep playing, then an unexpected voice from the side.
"I did nothing. The souls were taken as-is."
"No way—"
"Lee Seong-hoon!!!!!!!!"
"Wait. Don't grab my collar!!"
I got stuff to say. Dead to boss is dead. Hold on.
Lily says it unfazed. No lie detected.
"Whoa, Death Reaper's fuel efficiency sucks."
A little use and all those souls gone?
"My wings suck at efficiency. What about the boss?!"
Who knows. I avert my eyes; Raphael shakes me harder.
Gonna puke. Stop.
Me puke? On your face? Boss or not, puke time?!
As we wrestle awhile, a voice chimes in.
[Master. Text about finals notice, nyang.]
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
For real?