Chapter 521: Rising Light (4)

‘Goddess Benignore, it’s about time for everything to return to normal. I can understand why you wouldn’t want to make a compromise with Commander Belial, but sometimes we have to sacrifice our principles for the greater good.’

[…]

[…]

‘If Commander Belial decides to create another hole in the empire, many demons from that space will not be like him. Goddess Benignore, I know you wouldn’t want that to happen. Aren’t you healing your holy powers right now? You used up a lot of powers to come down here, and if you try to fix what’s going to happen after this, we will be in a worse situation.’

[My lovely follower… However…]

‘Aren’t you also with your troops, commander Belial? I was actually going to finish up everything, but Goddess Benignore decided to come at this moment…’

[Are you saying that I was in the wrong, my precious Holy Cardinal Lee Kiyoung?]

‘Of course not. I just wanted to say that Belial’s situation had become a little more difficult after you appeared. If the demons disappeared after receiving your light, Belial might lose face in front of his troops. There might be rumors that he ran away from Benignore with his tails between his legs.’

[This disgusting human’s words are right, stupid Benignore. It’s not only about my Corps. You should consider the number of demons that are watching the empire right now. Almost all of the commanders of the 72 Corps are bearing witness to this situation. I will lose face if I retreat right now.]

The conversation was going as I wanted. It had just the right amount of tension.

‘I’m just a lowly human being, so I don’t know what the situation is exactly from up above, but I’m sure a lot of higher beings are watching us from up there as well. Goddess Benignore, if you refuse to compromise due to your principles, others might disapprove of you.’

[T-Then what is it that you want?]

[I want to come back to this empire again.]

[What? Do you think I will approve of that? That’s impossible!]

[I will not compromise anymore, stupid Benignore.]

[I should have known it was impossible to have a proper conversation with demons. Do you think I will not be able to see through your dirty intentions?!]

‘Goddess Benignore, that is not a bad compromise.’

[What? My servant Lee Kiyoung! Are you saying that for real?]

‘The 27th Corps is already tightly intertwined with the empire. Even if you try to stop it, demons will always be summoned. If Belial tries to come back again, won’t it be better that he will be the one you’ll be expecting?’

[That will…]

‘This is your chance, goddess Benignore. Do you want to keep running away again? You should take this chance while you can.’

[…]

‘Imagine your followers being able to see you use your awesome power to defeat Belial. Not only will you recover your energy from coming down here, but everyone will also sing praises for your name. Aren’t you in an unstable state right now? If you happen to make a mistake, you might fall back to the bottom again. Take this chance to make your return.’

[What this disgusting human says is right. Shouldn’t you also get something after using so much power to come down here? This might sound ironic, but I also care about the people who live in this empire. I don’t want to cause any more damage, but…]

‘If I retreat at this moment, other demons will definitely come to attack.’

[I will lose standing, and if my ability to control shrinks…]

‘Many strong and vicious demons would come here in even greater numbers. Goddess Benignore, if that happens, even I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop them.’

[Benignore, don’t you also know that I’m the most reasonable among the demons? You know best how much devastation will be caused if crazy demons like Lilith and trash demons like Mammon come here.]

‘It’s very rare to see a demon as rational as Belial. I hope you keep this in mind.’

[But… b-but…]

‘I will act as the witness. Let’s write a contract.’

[W… What?!]

‘Goddess Benignore, this is the right way to do it.’

[Hmmm, that is not a bad thought. It’s unnecessary to write a contract, but won’t you feel more secure if we write one?]

‘But of course, Commander Belial, you should make it more favorable for Goddess Benignore.’

That was probably the first time a contract would be written between a god and a demon.

I bet Belial probably didn’t care so much about the contract’s content as long as he could write one. This was because he knew how easily the contract could be annulled.

However, Benignore still seemed hesitant.

To be honest, it wasn’t that bad of a deal for Benignore.

Belial always tried his best for his clients, so once the contract was written, he would probably do his best to make Benignore’s miracle look as awe-inspiring as possible. It was much more effective to act out a dramatic scene and gain humanity’s faith than fight with Belial and use up all her powers again.

[If we are going to write a contract, I want to add a few conditions. Belial, this is not only for my safety but the effectiveness of my performance.]

[If it is reasonable, I will add it.]

[T-Then don’t bother my lovely servant Lee Kiyoung again…]

[Rejected. You’re asking me to give up my entire merchandise. You are shrewder than I thought.]

[If you add in the contract that you will not interact with Lee Kiyoung again, I will let you influence the empire five times in the next 2000 years. You can also recover the Plaguelord of Darkness class that you passed over to him. With these conditions, won’t even you be satisfied?]

[You are asking for too much! Evil bitch! I thought you were useless, but you are more cunning than I thought.]

[Then there is no contract.]

[Then eye for an eye, worthless Benignore. I will have you keep running away again.]

[My lovely servant will also fight by my side.]

[No, this disgusting human is going to fight by my side.]

[My lovely servant Lee Kiyoung, you are going to follow me, right? Right? I will treat you right… I’ll be really good to you…so come here and let’s defeat all those demons.]

[You filthy human, I trust that you know where your heart lies. Let’s show these heavenly bastards what happens to those who refuse to have a rational conversation.]

Why were those guys acting like that? I wanted them to stop. I had to quickly stop the situation from becoming an epic war between gods and demons.

I prevented myself from biting my lips due to the sudden turn of events.

I thought I could finally rest easy, but it seemed I had to do everything to avoid being pulled to the battlefield again. Everything was worrisome. If their arguments continued, humanity and Hyunsung would not be able to recover.

‘T-Then why don’t we do it like this? Since both of you have such a keen interest in my future, after I die…’

[I’m looking at about after 2000 years. I don’t know about Benignore’s side, but it seems she wants you on her side…I don’t know if she thinks she can reform your filthy soul, but that is laughable.]

More than that, I thought he wanted me on his side. He probably couldn’t understand why the heavens wanted me. He probably thought that the best course of action at this point was to take me in.

Benignore probably felt pressured to do the same. However, that wasn’t the most important issue. It was more important to resolve our present dilemma.

I didn’t know if the solution I had would satisfy them, but I spoke anyway.

‘I thought that I could at least give Goddess Benignore a chance to recruit me.’

[…]

[…]

[That’s not so bad…]

[C-Chance to recruit?]

‘Yes, I will at least give you the chance to recruit me.’

[A-Are you thinking about not actually joining our faction, my lovely…]

‘Of course, I want to be on your side, but don’t you think I should be extra cautious about the place I’m going to reside in for the rest of my life? I have to check the conditions as well…there are many things I have to think about. But goddess Benignore, please be rest assured. If the conditions are met, I will think of going to your side most favorably. That’s why, as a mediator, I offered this choice. Don’t you also have to talk it over with the other heavenly beings that you work with?’

[As expected, your senses are keen.]

‘I thought you would be pressured. Then… how should we negotiate our contract?’

[Well, the content of the initial contract was not so bad, but…]

‘Yes?’

[Wait, just give me more time to think about it…]

‘I understand.’

As a holy being of the heavenly faction, it must have been hard for her to make a contract with a demon. She had to sacrifice her principles, and there was a lot to think about.

Signing the contract itself was not a big deal, but that was probably one of the most difficult decisions she ever had to make.

In a second, I saw them both going to an imaginary space, and I saw Belial holding a contract.

Benignore was sitting on a desk with tearful eyes. She looked as if she was wondering if there was really no other choice.

Looking at them made me realize that they were supreme beings, considering they could make an imaginary space in a split-second.

However, Benignore’s tearful face was unbecoming of a transcendental being like her. She looked at the contract as if it was a slave contract and kept stealing furtive glances towards me.

‘Goddess Benignore, please believe me. Weren’t you able to recover from being almost bankrupt because of me? You have a lot to gain from this.’

[There’s not a lot of time. Quickly make your decision.]

[Follower Lee Kiyoung… hicc.]

‘Please write down your signature.’

[If you don’t want to, I’m going to take it back.]

‘There’s never going to be a chance as good as this.’

[This disgusting human is right.]

‘Please sign.’

[Hicc… sniff…]

Her hands were trembling. It might have been rude of me to touch a supreme being, but I held her hands down, and she stopped shaking.

‘Please trust in me and sign.’

[I guess you don’t want to sign the contract.]

‘No, she just needs to prepare herself. Please just wait a bit longer.’

[Hicc…]

‘There, quickly.’

[The contract…]

‘Quickly sign, Goddess Benignore!’

[I… I don’t think I can…]

‘Don’t say such weak words. Quickly sign your name!’

[Sigh…]

‘In the count of three, let’s sign. One.’

[Two.]

‘Three!’

Benignore’s hands started shaking again as she began writing on the contract. With that last sight, a flashing light soon blinded my eyes.