Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: The Primordial Connection
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There can be demons that don't respond to a summons. There can also be demons that impose trials too difficult for mere humans to overcome.
But there cannot be demons that respond to a summons only to declare a contract impossible.
Let alone a lord of hell.
It's not a choice someone who prioritizes contracts and amusement above all else could make.
[Then why did you respond to the summons?]
[That's... ahem...]
The lord of hell, Kimaris.
Unlike ordinary scavengers that resembled slimes, he took a form similar to a human.
He stroked his chin with a hand that dripped as if it might collapse at any moment, lost in thought.
For reasons unknown, even the demon himself seemed deeply conflicted despite his words.
It was only natural.
Regardless of Damian's need for demonic power, Damian's existence was important to the demons as well.
Even if their sense of time differed vastly from humans', their lives were fundamentally boring.
Lending power through contracts was partly to expand their influence, but the greater purpose was amusement through their contractors.
There had to be another reason for rejecting a contract like this.
[Human. You are dangerous. It's impossible to predict what influence you'll have on hell.]
Was it because of the exorcists who wielded demonic power without contracts, or the ancients with their ancient grudges against hell?
Whatever the reason, he couldn't just let it slide. Not every lord of hell would react this way—Kimaris was just one of them.
'I didn't expect things to escalate like this.'
The series of events Damian had faced were even affecting the world of hell.
He had no desire to get entangled in such matters.
He antagonized the exorcists because they were prime suspects in Ariella's disappearance—not because he needed to make enemies of them right away if they weren't in his way.
The same went for the ancients. What help could he possibly offer in their dusty old feuds? Revenge right in front of him was far more pressing.
But if problems arose like this, the story changed.
A contract with a demon was the most reliable way for a black mage—for Damian—to grow his power.
There was sword unification, primordial mana, and more, but black magic remained the foundation.
[Hmm... What a dilemma, a dilemma. If you didn't have such talent, I wouldn't have responded to the summons in the first place...]
Kimaris, chin in hand, sank into contemplation. His movements ceased entirely, as if he had fallen asleep.
[Hey, Kimaris. So what are you going to do about it?]
But the waiting had gone on too long. Left like this, he might ponder for days.
Demons and humans perceived time differently. A brief moment of reflection for them could be half a lifetime for a human like Damian.
'What is a contract with a demon fundamentally?'
It was something he'd never pondered before regression or after.
Using the Book of Hell always summoned a demon, and satisfying their conditions or trials led to a contract.
As a black mage, Damian's talent lay in reading and understanding the demonic language. To demons, no human was more entertaining.
'We gain demonic power through contracts. But the one actually wielding it is my mana.'
It was the first lesson Aumfasha had taught him. The power manifested from a contract wasn't merely borrowed.
'In other words, a contract with a demon can be seen as a kind of linking device.'
It connected this world and hell through the black mage's soul.
'Then, could I make the connection myself?'
The contract etched into the soul was demonic power originating from hell, distinct from this world's mana.
But Damian had primordial mana.
Both human mana and hellish power stemmed from it.
It could be applied to both magic and black magic, so it should work for demonic power too.
'There's no reaction for now...'
Even as hellfire blazed around him and he pounded the black mud with stone scales, the lord of hell showed no response.
He was so deeply immersed in his dilemma that he forgot his surroundings.
If he was going to act like this, he should either accept the contract or not respond to the summons at all.
Reminding himself not to try understanding demonic behavior, Damian still found Kimaris's actions today utterly baffling.
'First, understand an existing contract...'
Rumble. The hellish power emanating from his soul. It was the root of black magic, but not quite the same.
Black magic was, after all, an adaptation allowing humans to wield demonic power.
With different origins for the user, the power naturally differed.
'Still, I can comprehend it my way.'
Thanks to the methods he'd grasped by observing ancient magic.
This even felt more comfortable for Damian. It was power derived from black magic, after all.
'A connection? Like a pathway? If I manifest this with primordial mana...'
In a sense, it was a power that crossed worlds. The lords of hell had created the Book of Hell as a medium for it.
A dark blue line extended from his soul, linking to Kimaris, still lost in thought.
Manipulating primordial mana had become quite familiar now, thanks to real combat in the world of his memories.
'...Did it work?'
Something had definitely taken root in his soul. It felt distinctly different from other contracts.
But the power was unmistakably there.
Black Magic - Inyeong. A portion of the black mud covering the ground came under Damian's control.
[Very well. I've decided!]
Suddenly, Kimaris's body twitched. The mud on the ground writhed along with it.
[As the lord of hell and king of scavengers, I cannot fear change. To test if you are worthy, a trial...]
Kimaris's voice cut off abruptly.
He had seen Damian controlling Inyeong—and realized he was connected to him by the dark blue mana.
[....]
[....]
Silence followed. The telepathic exchange made the pause feel even heavier.
* * *
The formal contract was conducted by Kimaris himself. He claimed it was a kind of test.
But in truth, it wasn't. The other lords Damian had contracted with had watched the entire situation.
No words were spoken, but a strange amusement mingled with the tremors felt from his soul.
'This method is worth researching further anyway.'
Kimaris had ultimately agreed to the contract, but the remaining lords of hell might react differently.
Plus, using this approach meant no need for trials or offerings.
'And maybe even with Ishtar...'
The Queen of Hell, Ishtar.
She had offered to give Damian her power without conditions—not just lend it like the other lords.
She would give all her power and take all of Damian's in return. Nothing else.
But forcing a contract could let him use at least part of her power.
The master of revenge that turns back time and boundless mercy. It was obvious she'd be a huge asset against Michael and Rubia.
'The reaction isn't that big, though.'
Perhaps this wasn't the first or second time something like this had happened.
Aumfasha had discovered primordial mana first, and he too mastered black magic. He might have forced contracts this way.
The other lords' mocking laughter was aimed at Kimaris—for nearly being forcibly contracted despite being a lord of hell.
'If he knew, would he have taught me this?'
No contact from Aumfasha yet. But his curiosity about the man had only grown.
* * *
"Whoa, it's complete!! It worked, it worked!"
"Finally! Finally!"
After weeks of intense research, the magic tool to replace Black Magic - Absorption was finished.
Gremory had provided the knowledge, but turning it into reality was another matter entirely.
As a result, there'd been no time to study Molech's bone fragments or the old mountain man's scythe.
But the potion issue was the most urgent.
Until the magic tool was ready, Damian couldn't step away. Now he could.
"It's all thanks to Sir Damian's ideas."
"No. You ultimately created it."
"Th-thank you..."
"While we're at it, let's research the potion's formulation more. No need to stick to liquid form."
"How about jelly form? Sir Damian, Mr. Dylan?"
"Th-that can wait..."
With those words, Dylan collapsed onto the sofa as if dead to the world. Anya patted his back once before reviewing the trade documents again.
Actually selling the goods and earning funds was now the Hilton Merchant Association's job.
"How about a game of Anytic to clear your head, with me?"
"Sure."
Leaving the collapsed Dylan behind, the two sat facing each other.
"The advance payments alone are enormous. Now we just need to expand the market."
Anya's eyes gleamed like gold coins. Though still a young girl, she came alive most during talks like this.
"We'll shake up the stagnant potion market that's been stuck for over a decade. Heh heh. It feels like yesterday I first met you, Sir Damian, yet here we are causing this upheaval. It's like a dream."
"It's not a dream—it's reality. Don't get complacent."
"I know. With the supply chain ready, trust in our sales skills. We'll go all-out aggressively."
"That part..."
Snap. As Damian spoke, Anya's fingertips twitched. It was a move she hadn't considered.
"Problems can arise anytime."
At the time, Anya couldn't grasp what Damian meant.
But soon, the incident occurred.
"Why the sudden cut in magic stone supply... and now raids too...?"
In Anya's room at Ezekiel's mansion, the Hilton Merchant Association members gathered, all eyes on her.
"Everyone's awaiting the mistress's next orders."
"You need to decide how to proceed."
"I-I know. First, confirm the secured stock precisely... Delay dates starting with low-volume traders... No, no. Without finding the culprits at the root, it's meaningless..."
Anya's talent as a merchant was beyond doubt. But she was still a young girl.
She lacked absolute experience. Especially against non-standard tactics like illegal force—her response speed suffered.
"Grandma would... Grandma would..."
This deal was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Damian and Dylan had already done their parts.
Now it was her turn to prove herself, yet this problem cropped up.
"Mistress Anya. Calm down first. The previous mistress would assess the situation coolly."
Edwick wasn't wrong.
Who could have predicted such armed interference?
But it didn't erase her inadequacy as a merchant.
"Is the problem that serious?"
The door opened then, and Damian entered.
Anya quickly masked her emotions, greeting him with a smile. The other Hilton members swiftly turned their gazes.
"Yeah, just a little disturbance. Ha ha ha. Call it good luck to get it out of the way early."
"Marriott. Forest."
The two merchant association names made everyone in the room tense up instantly.
"They're behind it."
There was circumstantial evidence. But no hard proof.
They were the empire's most influential merchant groups. Antagonizing them without clear evidence could spiral uncontrollably.
"I'll handle this issue."
"B-but..."
"Your strength isn't in crushing foes with force. It's precise calculations and judgments that bring profit. That's your role. Allies have their specialties."
Damian smiled gently. Calm and confident, as if he'd foreseen this.
'Good timing. Saves me the trouble.'
He'd anticipated sabotage, but not this crude tactic.
The enemy had stepped into the trap unknowingly, driven by haste and anxiety.
It was time to clean up the trash in the magic tower again.