The Werewolves' Attack and Baal's Contract
I left the village before dawn, before Serina could wake up. Saying goodbye in person felt too risky—she would have clung to me and demanded I stay. So I left a note instead. The night before, right before heading into the mansion, I had pulled Sylvia aside and asked her to stay with Serina for a few days after the cooking lessons ended. I also asked Lucas, who was with her, to keep an eye on Serina just in case. He agreed without hesitation. Of course, I had reminded Nimeli as well. He assured me that no one cared for Lady Serina more than he did, so I had nothing to worry about. Somehow that only made me worry more.
Sigh… By the time I left the village and reached home, the goat uncle had already arrived.
“Hey, Allen!”
“Uncle!”
He had brought sixty baby goats with him. They were plump and healthy, their coats glossy. Not a single one looked sick.
“What do you think? Good stock, right?”
“Yes. They’re perfect.”
“Didn’t know there was a place like this. Ideal spot for raising livestock.”
“Isn’t it? Would you like something to eat before you head back?”
“No, I need to get going.”
“That’s a shame.”
“Looks like you’ve got your hands full too, Allen.”
“Haha. Yeah, the place has been neglected for too long.”
“A little?! You’re going to be busy for days. Anyway, good luck!”
“Thanks. Safe travels.”
After settling the payment, the uncle headed back down the mountain. Once he was gone, I stood with Melo and stared out over the wide pasture. There was a mountain of work waiting. I had no idea when I would finish it all.
I ate the snacks I had bought at the market before leaving the village and got started. First I repaired the broken fences, then scouted for a good grazing area so I could expand the enclosure. After that I dragged over some lumber to build a proper pen for the goats.
“Hmm… I wonder how Serina’s doing.”
I was genuinely worried. Without me there, I couldn’t shake the anxiety that she might cause some kind of incident in the human village.
“Ah, well… Maria’s with her.”
I pushed the worry aside and focused on the tasks in front of me. Luckily there weren’t many broken sections of fence, so that part went quickly. I decided to postpone the expansion and finish the pen first. I picked a suitable spot, set the posts, and framed it out. The size was just right for the baby goats. Once the basic structure was up, the rest of the work flew by. I had enough experience with animal husbandry to make quick work of it.
Sweat poured off me. My clothes were completely soaked. Only the roof remained. Maybe I should leave that for tomorrow. I was exhausted.
Next came the worst part—cleaning up the dung. It had been accumulating for days and was practically glued to the floor of the pen.
“Ugh… Couldn’t you have gone a little less?”
I grumbled at the innocent sheep. Before I knew it, evening had arrived. I was completely drained after working all day. Thankfully I still had some of the food from the market. I ate mechanically, then collapsed into bed.
The pillow still carried Serina’s scent. I pressed it to my nose and breathed it in. It smelled so good… Serina… What was she doing right now? I hoped nothing bad had happened.
Without her around, an empty feeling washed over me. The house felt hollow. But I was so tired… I fell asleep without realizing it.
Puuu…
I must have been asleep for a while when rustling sounds woke me.
“Mmm…?”
Footsteps. I could hear Melo barking too.
“Woof woof! Woof woof woof!!”
“Hmm… Must be some wild animal.”
I muttered to myself and tried to roll over to go back to sleep. That was when I heard it again—thud, thud. Heavy, deliberate footsteps. No one should be walking around at this hour. A thief, maybe? Living in the mountains meant staying alert. Wild beasts, humans, monsters… Though monsters rarely entered human territory, so they didn’t scare me much.
I quickly grabbed the longsword I kept inside the house, pulled the blanket over my head, and peered out through a small gap toward the window. Something slid past it with a soft scrape. I shifted my gaze. Then a face pressed against the glass.
“We… Werewolf?”
It was one of the creatures known as the dragons’ servants. So the footprints I saw before must have belonged to them too.
The werewolf peered inside, searching for something.
This is bad. Staying inside would be suicide. I was also worried it might smash the door down. I needed to get to open ground.
The moment the creature moved past the doorway, I threw the door open. Dozens of werewolves were waiting right outside.
“—You alone? Where is the witch?”
“Wh-what?”
“—Tell the truth. Where is the witch?”
“What witch are you talking about?”
One of them, a scarred male, stepped forward. He grabbed my throat and slammed me against the wall.
“Cough… hack…”
“—Human. Where is the witch?”
“I… I don’t know.”
“—Protecting her? If the witch does not appear, we will turn the nearby village into a wasteland.”
“You think the witch will just let you?”
“—If she interferes? She is an incomplete witch. When the legion moves, how long do you think she can last?”
“Cough… ugh…!”
The grip around my throat tightened. My face was turning blue. I couldn’t breathe. My vision blurred… Ah… So this is how I die. My consciousness was fading.
“—Tell us where the witch is and you may live.”
The werewolf’s voice sounded distant now. My body gave out. I collapsed helplessly to the ground.
“—It would be inconvenient if he dies from this.”
The werewolf nudged me with its foot. I didn’t move.
“—Search the area. The witch must be close.”
At their leader’s command, the werewolves scattered in every direction.
A door engraved with a strange seal opened, and from within came a voice that sounded like it belonged to a demon.
Voice: “Son of the priestess. It has been a long time.”
Allen: “Who are you?”
Voice: “Did you not come here to meet me?”
Allen: “No… I’m sure I was attacked by werewolves and lost consciousness…”
Voice: “Hmm… I assumed you had come to form a contract.”
Allen: “A contract…?”
Voice: “Yes. Did your mother never tell you?”
Allen: “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Voice: “Your mother knew. She knew that fate would repeat itself.”
Allen: “What fate?”
Voice: “You will learn that in time. The fact that you stand at death’s threshold is why you have come to me. So, what will you do? Will you form a contract with me?”
Allen: “Contract… death… Are you saying I’m about to die?”
Voice: “Most likely.”
Allen: “Death really does come without warning. I never expected this.”
Voice: “That is how death usually arrives. Form a contract with me. Accept your fate.”
Allen: “What happens if I do…?”
Voice: “Nothing will happen to you. The price was already paid with your mother’s death.”
Allen: “Then I pay no price at all?”
Voice: “Correct. A favorable fate, is it not? However, the one who stays by your side will bear the burden of that fate.”
Allen: “The burden of fate…?”
Voice: “Indeed. That too is their destiny. What choice they will make later, I cannot say.”
Allen: “I don’t understand any of this.”
Voice: “Would a fate you walked while fully aware of it be any fun? You simply walk forward and meet it when it arrives.”
Allen: “This is all… complicated. But what happens if I refuse the contract?”
Voice: “You cross the river of death, of course.”
Allen: “I don’t have a choice then. If I contract with you, can I become stronger?”
Voice: “I will keep you from dying immediately. I cannot fully trust you yet, so I will observe for now.”
Allen: “Then I’ll do it. I don’t want to die yet. There’s still someone I want to see.”
Voice: “Very well. The contract is sealed. I expected tears and begging, but you are no mere fledgling.”
Allen: “Of course not. By the way, what is your name?”
Voice: “Kukuku… Me? I am Baal, the King of Corruption.”
The moment the words ended, my entire body felt like it was on fire. It was as if I were being consumed by flames. My body began moving on its own.
“—Is he still alive?”
The werewolf glanced back. Allen’s eyes were unfocused, as though he had lost consciousness. Yet he rose on trembling legs. Flames suddenly erupted and wrapped around him.
“—What is this?”
When Allen stretched out his hand, the sword on the ground flew to his grip. The moment he seized it, the flames coating his body traveled up the blade.
“—He was no ordinary human. No matter. Go. Tear his body apart.”
At their leader’s command, the scattered werewolves charged toward Allen. They ran on two legs, claws extended like razor blades—sharp enough to rival a witch’s nails. The ground shook beneath their assault.
Allen kept his head lowered, watching them approach.
“—You do not intend to dodge?”
Just before they reached him, Allen swung his sword. The flames wrapped around the blade split apart and streaked through the air like blazing comets.
With a roaring burst, the flames exploded outward in every direction. The werewolves froze, staring up at the dazzling display. The fire danced hypnotically, entrancing them. Then the scattered flames closed in, forming a blazing cage around the pack.
The werewolves could no longer advance. They crouched low in panic, trying to avoid being burned.
“—What is this?!”
The frantic werewolf shouted at Allen. Without a word, he raised the sword high overhead and swung it down once more. The flames surrounding the werewolves detonated with a deafening boom.
In an instant, dozens of werewolves vanished without a trace.
The leader stumbled backward in shock from the explosion. Moments later, Baal’s silhouette appeared within the flames. The demonic form looked at the surviving werewolf and laughed.
“Kahaha! You will make a decent meal.”
“—What nonsense are you—”
The werewolf’s words cut off in a strangled choke as Baal’s flames surged forward like a serpent devouring its prey. Soon the leader too disappeared into the blaze.
Once the werewolves were gone, the flames faded away. All that remained were scorched marks across the ground. Allen’s legs gave out and he collapsed, unconscious.
A single flame flickered above his finger, burning a pattern into his flesh.
*
“Ugh… My head…”
It was morning by the time Allen regained consciousness. His sword lay beside him.
“Yesterday… I was definitely attacked by werewolves…”
Everything after that was a blur. It felt like I had spoken with someone, but the memory was hazy. I wondered if the whole thing had been a dream, but the burned ground and clear footprints proved otherwise.
“What the hell happened…?”
There was no way Serina had come to save me. If she had, she would still be here.
“Strange things keep piling up lately…”
I told myself I must have woken up from a nightmare and tried to go back to sleep. My mind felt completely messed up.