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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Click. Clack.
The damaged Skeleton Knight regenerated, infused with my demonic energy.
“…This is horrifying.”
It had already regenerated over a dozen times.
I knew most of the traps within this dungeon.
However, it wasn’t entirely safe.
My former master specialized in curses, and having taught me various schools of magic, she was knowledgeable in other areas as well.
Besides the sleep-inducing purple smoke we had encountered earlier, countless other curses such as weakening, blindness, silence, slow, hallucination, and confusion which were scattered throughout the dungeon.
There were also physical traps, like knock-back traps and poison gas, and even chimeras with unpredictable attack patterns, all designed to stop and kill intruders.
“If I had come alone, I would have fled.”
“Then she would have tried to capture you.”
“How do you know about all these traps?”
“Research, and some are… visible. I’m a warlock, after all.”
It wasn’t entirely a lie.
As a magic user, I had a better understanding of dungeons and the mindset of mages than warriors.
However, there were limits.
Traps were naturally concealed, and physical traps were more the domain of rogues than mages.
If it weren’t for my memories from my past life, I would have fled as well.
‘Or I would have sacrificed undead to progress.’
The reason the Skeleton Knights had regenerated so many times was because of unavoidable traps and unexpected attacks.
It might have been easier to collapse the entire dungeon from the outside. Though, she had likely prepared countermeasures for that as well.
“A warlock. I see.”
A voice echoed through the dungeon.
“Even so, that’s impressive. How did you get this far unscathed?”
At the sudden voice, Kayla and Athena drew their swords, and Entin and the undead knight order formed a protective barrier around me.
A defensive formation, centered around me. They were determined to protect me.
“You’re a bit late. I expected you to appear sooner.”
She still hadn’t revealed herself, so I spoke in the direction of the voice.
“Hmm? Were you planning to summon me?”
“Yes.”
“You know me. I’ve never seen you before… Were you sent by House Liyereia? No, that can’t be right. Even after all this time, they wouldn’t send a human as a messenger.”
Even with the robe, she could still tell I was human. It concealed my aura and disrupted information, but it didn’t hide or alter my appearance.
“House Liyereia is looking for you, Yeria.”
“Hmm. Do you have a connection to the house?”
“There were… certain circumstances. Untinia, in particular, wishes to see you.”
“Untinia…”
At the mention of Untinia’s name, Yeria finally revealed herself.
Tall, with long, pointed ears and waist-length black hair.
Perhaps because I was taller than in my past life, she now appeared shorter than me, while we had been almost the same height before.
However, I was the one who had changed. Yeria looked exactly the same as before.
Well, she was a dark elf.
And I had met her much earlier than in my past life, so it would have been stranger if she looked different.
“It’s a ‘pleasure’ to meet you, Yeria. My name is Do Inha.”
After briefly introducing myself, I continued,
“I’ve come to recruit you.”
Yeria chuckled, as if she found my words absurd.
“You’ve come to recruit me?”
“Yes.”
“That’s absurd. Judging by you and your companions, I wouldn’t say you lack the qualifications, but you seem to be lacking in common sense.”
Yeria smirked and continued,
“Do you know why I’m in such a dangerous place? I have my own goals.”
“I have a general idea.”
“Oh?”
“The revival of the dark elves, isn’t it?”
“Hmm. So you’ve met Untinia. It seems you’ve heard quite a bit.”
“I also suspect you’re trying to reclaim the dark magic abandoned by the dark elves.”
“…….”
“However, contracting with a demon isn’t a wise choice.”
“You seem to know quite a bit, but I’d advise you to be careful with your words. I’m not a fool.”
“I admit that contracting with a demon is more efficient for acquiring demonic energy than rebuilding a catacomb, but there are other ways.”
Existing catacombs were powerful because they had been naturally formed over long periods. Replicating their power was difficult.
“There are, but they’re not ideal.”
“Contracting with a demon is too dangerous.”
“That depends on the demon.”
“I see. So you haven’t contracted with an ordinary demon. A demon lord, perhaps?”
Yeria didn’t deny my confident assertion.
“Interesting. We’ve just met, yet you know so much about me. Even if you met Untinia, it’s strange. Hmm… are you a demon lord’s contractor as well?”
“Would someone who belittles demon contracts make one with a demon lord?”
“You never know. Human warlocks, especially, are known for their… eccentricities. And the fact that you’re concealing your aura makes you even more suspicious.”
It seemed the robe was indeed raising suspicion.
Though, I had no intention of removing it.
“Still, it’s intriguing. You seem so young. How did you reach such a level without a demon contract?”
I didn’t answer. Instead, I repeated my offer.
“I’ll help you achieve your goals, the revival of the dark elves and the restoration of their dark magic. Break your contract with the demon lord and join us.”
“You truly are mad.”
Instead of mocking me, Yeria seemed genuinely curious.
“I’m curious why you’d want to recruit me when you already have a Master by your side, but you’re suggesting I break my contract. As a warlock, especially one at your level, you should know. Demon contracts can’t be broken.”
“It’s not impossible. Just difficult.”
“True. It is possible if both parties agree. But do you think a demon would break a contract without any conditions? They’ve provided me with demonic energy, and there are still outstanding debts.”
Moreover, the contract itself benefited the demon.
Therefore, just like warlocks, demons sought suitable contractors and were reluctant to break established contracts.
“Look. My contractor is telling me to kill you. And you’re openly provoking a demon lord, no less. Are you unfamiliar with contracts, perhaps? A demon lord can observe this situation at any time.”
Of course, I knew that. I had been a contractor myself.
‘Though, I can’t sense the demon lord’s presence at all.’
It was quite unfair.
“Well, I believe even a demon lord would find my offer acceptable.”
“…Let’s hear it, then.”
She seemed curious, yet not particularly hopeful.
I retrieved a wooden box from beneath my robe.
“This.”
“What is that…? Hmm?”
Unlike Yeria, the demon lord seemed to recognize its value.
Yeria’s expression hardened.
‘It’s practically begging to be stolen.’
Even within the box, it couldn’t escape the demon lord’s gaze.
“A demon lord’s objective is obvious.”
Descent.
And for that, they needed an avatar.
“This, believe it or not, is the bone dust of a dragon slayer.”
“…So that’s why…”
“While it won’t completely fulfill the contract, it will resolve more than half of it.”
“Indeed. If that’s your offer, it’s acceptable. It might take a few attempts, but with such material…”
As if suddenly remembering something, Yeria asked,
“Why not use it yourself?”
“Unfortunately, it’s difficult to utilize at my current level. But a demon lord is different.”
“Yes. I suppose so.”
I had anticipated needing additional conditions, but it seemed unnecessary.
The demon lord desired the bone dust more than I had imagined.
“However, this is just a condition for breaking the contract. There’s no guarantee you’ll be able to fulfill my wish, even if I break the contract. And if necessary, I can simply take it by force.”
“Take it? This? From me?”
For the first time, I looked at my former master with a mocking smile.
“I acknowledge that this is your domain, but you should know. You can’t take this from me by force. Do you think I would have come unprepared?”
Entin and the knights raised their swords, and Athena and Kayla’s auras intensified.
I met Yeria’s gaze, a cold smile playing on my lips.
A tense silence hung in the air.
Finally, Yeria shrugged.
“Yes, you’re not to be trifled with.”
Not to be trifled with? She was wrong.
“Let me be clear. You won’t be able to take this from me unless we make a deal.”
It wasn’t just directed at Yeria.
It was also a threat to the demon king, a message that he would have to accept the deal if he wanted the bone dust.
“I’ve met Untinia, and I’m allied with House Liyereia.”
“Hmm?”
“I also have a good relationship with the Demihuman Alliance. Councilor Adias has acknowledged my value.”
“You’ve met the Councilor? A human like you?”
“And I’m affiliated with the Six-Kingdom Alliance. More specifically, I have a close relationship with one of the royal families.”
“…….”
“I’m engaged to the daughter of a founding noble house, a countess, I’m their recognized warlock, and I’m also close with a certain religious order.”
“Do you expect me to believe that?”
“It’s all true. Kayla here is a free knight recognized by the royal family.”
At my gesture, Kayla presented her identification.
It was the token she had received upon becoming a free knight, bearing the crest of the Septran royal family.
I also showed her the crystal ball Untinia had given me.
“…It seems genuine. What has the world become while I’ve been in seclusion…”
“I’m also a 7th circle warlock.”
This status, these connections, this power.
It was my answer to her question about how I could fulfill her wish, even without a demon lord’s contract.
“While it might be difficult, aren’t the chances of me fulfilling your wish higher than a demon lord’s?”
“…Well, I can’t say for sure.”
“I reached 7th circle without a demon contract.”
“…….”
“Doesn’t that suggest there’s another way?”
“There are rare potions infused with demonic energy.”
“You’re suggesting I relied on potions to reach 7th circle?”
“It’s not impossible if you combine other methods. Perhaps a faction knowledgeable in dark magic is supporting you…”
“You’re thinking of the Black Star, I presume. Unfortunately, I’ve never met them, and I’ll never associate with them.”
“Hmm? You seem quite certain.”
“The religious order I’m close to is their sworn enemy.”
“…….”
The Black Star were the ones who had summoned the demon lord with the Empire.
She should know about them, since the Councilor had told her about the forgotten history.
“And besides…”
“You’re trying to recruit me… to create… that dragon?”
“…….”
I hesitated for a moment, and seeing my reaction, Yeria nodded.
“So it’s true. I suspected as much, considering you mentioned the bone dust of a dragon slayer.”
I remained silent.
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