Saved by the Light of Evil (4)
It had almost been the end for me.
'One little gift from me, and this is what happens? What kind of lightning bolt is this?'
I never imagined those guys would track me all the way here.
I was too careless with Barloken.
'Thank goodness modern weapons can't touch magic, or I would've been in real trouble.'
Guns.
A weapon that harmed people, no matter how many times you pulled the trigger.
My father once introduced them to me as a demon's weapon.
He warned me never to use them, no matter how I found them, and scolded me relentlessly.
'Sorry, Dad, but I'm not the human I used to be.'
First, I had to save Haley.
And I actually managed to do it.
“……How did you find this place? They didn't seem to have done anything.”
While I was making excuses, Haley asked me.
“It was quite hard. Finding you wasn't easy.”
“Then how…?”
I almost couldn't find her at all.
Not even my signature magic could help.
[System: Contractor detected!]
[Tracking function terminated!]
Even so, I was able to find her thanks to the status window.
The contract tracking function that activated out of nowhere.
It was doing its job well lately. It was revealing only the necessary abilities.
“Fufu, only a demon could come up with this.”
Of course, I told her that half-heartedly.
“Well, since it's you, there must have been a way somehow.”
“I'm grateful you trust me.”
Perhaps it was the effect of rising trust.
Haley answered without any suspicion at all.
**Familiarity: 60/100** **Trust: 50/100** **Respect: 70/100**
'No matter how many times I see it, it always leaves me speechless.'
Khh… Where had those times gone when everything was minus except for respect?
??? 0/100 → 30/100
'But what exactly is this?'
If there was something bothering me, it was that mysterious number that caught my eye.
'I don't know what it means at all.'
It wouldn't hurt to ignore it?
All three numbers above were positive, and the status window itself was already a mystery.
Gurgle.
“Oh my, are you hungry?”
“Yes, I'm starving, Demian.”
The cute voice that suddenly rang out.
It was almost time for dinner, just as her stomach clock had predicted.
“We should buy something on the way back.”
Right there, in front of us, was a grocery store.
We headed over and spoke to the woman who looked like a clerk.
“Good afternoon. I'm looking to buy some things.”
“Yes, of course!! What would you like…?”
Huh? Why was she reacting this way?
She was reacting more than I expected.
“Two pounds of beef, various vegetables, and some seasoning, please.”
Well, as long as we bought ingredients, that was all we needed.
“Ah, oh… I see.”
“See what? Are you selling more than groceries?”
“Nothing! I'll prepare it right away and bring it!!”
Whoosh!
In an instant, the woman disappeared into the store.
“It feels off. Did she realize Demian is a demon?”
Haley was trying to figure it out herself.
But how? She hadn't transformed into a demon form.
“It just seems exaggerated. She might just be awkward at talking to people.”
“I hope so…”
Even though she looked mature on the surface, she was still just a child.
Her imagination was as limitless as any other kid's.
It made me think of her bright future.
“One day, Haley will grow up too. She'll definitely grow into a mature adult.”
“Eh!? W-why all of a sudden…!?”
Oh.
I had spoken my thoughts out loud.
“Forgive me. It's become a habit for me to talk to myself lately.”
“…Even if you become an adult, you'll stay by my side, right, Demian?”
Haley looked a little gloomy again.
It wasn't what I wanted, but I had no choice but to use this method.
“You are bound to me. I won't let you go even if you want to leave.”
“…Yes. Exactly as you said.”
The result of avoiding the system's speech correction as much as possible.
I didn't understand why the words of caution came out so twisted.
I might be perverted, but I didn't actually plan to do anything trashy, so the problem was…
[System: Contractor's status has been updated!]
**Familiarity: 60/100 → 65/100** **??? 30/100 → 40/100**
'What?'
Why was it suddenly increasing?
***
“I thought I was going to be eaten alive…”
A woman calming her racing heart in the warehouse.
Calm down, Yusia. You haven't been spotted.
“I hope so…”
Her name was Yusia.
A young maid serving the young lord of Barloken.
Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility.
“Before that, I'll probably get eaten alive, though!”
Yusia communicated with the young lady using a magic device attached to her ear.
The only reason she was spying on Demian like this was to gather information on demons.
You have no choice when it comes to building a record of the demon's power.
“But it's really scary!”
It was for the young lady's command to obtain information.
“I came down with a rare command, and now this about the demon…”
I need that power. I don't know when those fangs will come for us.
The former young lord and tower master who had been in hiding for several years.
The position had been left vacant, and the young daughter left alone had inherited it.
“I'm right, my lady has way too many enemies.”
So… you obtained the position of lord because you wanted it?
A child like her could have no power.
It was only natural that people who coveted her position would target her.
“So you need the demon's power?”
Yes. Since they broke through even magic circles, their ability is definitely strong.
At that time, the demon appeared.
“I can't believe it even after hearing. The barrier of this mansion was the former lord's masterpiece.”
I was surprised too when I checked.
Her master was the tower master of a magic family.
She could see through everything inside and outside the territory.
I need that power. I hate living like a walking corpse.
She had watched the demon's actions from beginning to end.
At first she wanted to stay silent, but after confirming the demon's power, her opinion changed.
I have to make a deal somehow.
She decided to make a contract with the demon, even if it meant offering her soul.
“Are you okay? I'm really anxious…”
I'll take responsibility. Isn't it better to bring it over sooner?
“Oh, right! The beef and seasoning…”
For that, a good first impression was essential.
Yusia searched the warehouse to handle the demon's request.
She planned to pay the store owner later.
“…But isn't this for braised ribs?”
I guess she's preparing dinner. It's already evening.
While exchanging meaningless conversation, Yusia moved the groceries to the counter.
“Oh, you're late! I've brought all the items you ordered!”
“Thank you. It must have been a lot of trouble carrying such a large quantity.”
“Not at all. H-hehe…”
She gave a meaningless laugh while looking embarrassed.
She was still at that age where she craved praise.
Snap!
“Here is the payment. Feel free to keep the change as a tip.”
“So much? I think half is enough!”
“I'm paying you for making me your slave.”
A demon who was surprisingly kind and gentle.
I wonder. Maybe he's not as scary as I thought.
Yusia looked at him and thought.
Was she overreacting too much?
“You.”
“Oh, yes! How can I help you?”
“Don’t use your tail on Demian.”
“……Eh!?”
The girl standing beside the demon.
Until before her tail was caught.
***
How shameless this woman is.
It wasn't to my liking.
She had gone through such little effort just to get praise from Demian.
“You're using your… tail!? I had no intention of…”
“Don’t try to weasel out. You were pretending to be weak to gain sympathy, weren't you?”
Somehow, I felt like a woman's instinct.
It seemed she was hiding behind that warehouse to use Demian.
“Haley, excuse me. Suspicion isn't good.”
“Why are you defending that child? You're on my side.”
I'm Demian's devil.
The owner of my body.
So isn't it natural that I'd trust me more than some random fox?
“……!?”
“Demian? Why?”
He suddenly looked up at the empty space with a startled expression.
I had never seen such a panicked look on his face.
“Ha, Haley. We have such a big age difference, don't we? If I meet that kid, I'll get caught.”
“So that means you won't let her cross over?”
“Of course. Nothing like that.”
Good.
As long as he looked only at me, that was enough.
“It’s getting late. Let's head back!”
“Yes, yes! Be careful on the way…!”
Demian grabbed my hand and ran toward the inn.
Still warm.
His hand was still pleasantly warm.
***
??? 76/100 → 40/100
Hah, thank goodness it dropped.
Crazy. I was terrified.
When I checked Haley's status because it looked abnormal, her unknown stat was changing rapidly.
I was just too busy doing good things lately, so I forgot for a moment.
She was the one who used to bind me and steal my breath.
“Meat juices are all drained. Now we can add water?”
“Good. You can simmer it as is and strain it.”
Haley was healthy now.
But in my eyes, the ruthless expression from just now was still flickering.
It felt like a predator eyeing prey.
I had no idea.
How could the girl who had always been so kind and polite suddenly become so sharp?
Gurgle gurgle……
“You haven't been using magic much lately.”
“I'm holding back. I don't want mana to affect Haley.”
It was like the feeling of a dad who quit smoking because of his kid.
“For me… thank you, Demian.”
“I'm the one who should thank you, our contractor.”
**Familiarity: 65/100 → 70/100**
The familiarity was rising faster than I could praise her.
I didn't specifically aim for it, but I'm glad.
??? 40/100 → 50/100
Ah.
You really didn't aim for it…