Chapter 597: Eraser in my Head (4)

‘…’

[I asked if that was the only thing you needed.]

‘…’

[You are exactly as I’ve seen, heard about, and read about. I can’t say you’re a particularly wicked person, but you’re the first person I’ve met to own a soul so disgusting. It feels really fun to have a conversation like this.]

It was only for a moment, but I was startled by that voice. The flattering instinct toward those in power already engraved in my body made me speak without my knowledge.

‘Gosh… I don’t know who you are, but it is an honor, nay, an overwhelming honor to be able to speak to you like this. I’m flattered to hear your beautiful voice. What kind of business do you have in mind that needs this inferior mortal?’

[Inferior? It doesn’t suit you at all. You’re already different from ordinary insects, so how could I dismiss you as inferior like other humans? I know that you already talked to Belial, that kid… Am I wrong?]

‘Belial was just generous with this inferior human. How could I stand on the same line as the supreme demons?’

[I don’t know. Many want to work with you besides Belial. Paimon, Vasin, Molech, and the 72nd Corps, all the demons that desire the same as me are waiting for you.]

‘It’s such an honor.’

Who the hell was it?

That thought passed through my head. One thing I was convinced of was that the demon talking to me was not an ordinary demon. I expected that much the moment it gave the demon contractors a lot of power, but I couldn’t think straight under the sudden situation.

“Are you okay? Vice Guild Master! Vice Guild Master!”

‘Fuck… What should I do?’

I couldn’t come up with anything, and Cho Hyejin was biting her lips tightly and examining my movements, making me realize that the timing to have the conversation with the demon wasn’t all that good.

Didn’t that kind of suspicion arise because of my conversation with Benignore in the first place?

I wasn’t sure how Cho Hyejin, who just gave and received stories with tears, would be able to take what was happening.

I didn’t even know why such a great and noble demon personally spoke to me at that timing.

I wondered if it was enjoying me being in trouble. All demons had a spiteful side, after all.

“P-Please, wait for me outside for a second. I have something urgent to do… it’s nothing dangerous, so let me be alone for a minute. I’m really fine.”

“Are you feeling any pain? What do I… how… how do I… I will bring in a priest. You shouldn’t stay here…”

‘No, I’m fine, so leave me alone, fuck. It’s something important, Hyejin. It’s really important.’

“I’m… really fine. So… just for… a minute… just for a minute, don’t intervene… and please let me be. It’s not something that can be solved with divine power. And it’s not that I’m sick. I’m just dazed… You don’t even have to worry at all.”

The situation was gradually getting worse. How could I focus on the other conversation when Cho Hyejin, who was currently looking at me with desperation, hadn’t even left the room yet?

I bit my lips firmly at the thought that the misunderstanding might get bigger than I thought, but I couldn’t miss such an opportunity.

The demon was an executive.

The one that came to visit wasn’t the manager of my business partner but someone who was presumed to be the chairman of a large company.

It had called Belial, who was the commander of the 27th Corps among the 72 demons, a kid. No, he would have entered the top 10 by then, and yet the situation persisted. Was there really a need for more explanation?

It was even casually calling the names of other monarchs such as Paimon, Vasin, and Molech.

It wouldn’t be strange to think that the demon was unconditionally ranked within the top 5.

“Vice Guild Master!”

‘Please stop. Fuck. Hyejin, I’m busy right now.’

[Am I disturbing you?]

‘No way! How could you be a disturbance? Far from that, actually. I have more than enough time to spend for someone as transcendental as you. Please, keep speaking comfortably.’

[You are definitely fun. I understand now why those kids were interested in you. I also personally have much interest in you… First, I would like to apologize for using this somewhat rude method of contacting you. As you know, in our case, there are limited ways to influence the continent directly… The same goes for the others, but in my case, it’s a bit harsher. Therefore, I politely apologize once again for the fact that I can only greet you in this way.]

‘What exactly are you talking about?’

[I’m telling you that I’ve given some insects some power in order to lead you in to this place.]

‘Gosh… you didn’t have to worry about all that. Rather, you even went to such lengths because you wanted to meet with this lowly mortal. I’m more than greatly honored. I cannot thank you enough.’

[There is no need to humble yourself like that. That aside, I am still amazed by how disgusting your soul is. I thought this kind of flattery wouldn’t affect me, but your words give such a strange sense of superiority… It has been a long time since I felt this feeling. It’s fun. Yes, this is fun.]

“I shouldn’t stay still like this. I’ll bring Elena. Ele… Elena…”

‘No, please don’t do that, Deputy Cho. This chairman is saying she’s having fun.’

“I’m fine… I’m fine… so just let me be alone for a minute. You know that kind of thing won’t work… on me… don’t you? Just… leave me in solitude… I just need a moment.”

“…”

“…”

[Is this really okay?]

‘It will be okay, so don’t worry and make yourself as comfortable as need be. Rather, I want to apologize for this mess.’

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

[I would like to have a conversation face to face… but it seems a little difficult right now.]

‘No. It’s not. You can call me right away.’

[It would only be for a moment, your physical body will pass out.]

‘Gosh… you don’t have to worry about it. That doesn’t matter at all.’

[I’ll allow you a short conversation with someone who has a pure soul. If you leave this place during the time you’re passed out, I will be in trouble too…]

“For now, I’ll take you there, Vice Guild Master.”

“No. Don’t go outside or tell anyone. Heed my words… please. Hyejin. Keep my words in mind. You must not leave this place. Wait a minute, just a minute…”

[I will take you there now.]

The scenery changed immediately.

It felt like my mind was being sucked into somewhere, just like when I went to the negotiating table with Belial and Benignore. In an instant, I was in a room lined with classic-style furniture, and on a large table were luxurious foods that I had never seen before.

‘I hope Cho Hyejin follows my order.’

While I worried about the current affairs, I couldn’t help but notice some butlers coming into the room after a few minutes.

The typical middle-aged, who had a nice mustache, didn’t say anything to me and quietly poured wine into an empty glass. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to feel dumbfounded.

I felt confused if it was really the unconscious world or whether my body was actually moved.

The moment I blinked, I found my body sitting on a chair, my hands holding a fork and a knife.

‘Fuck, what the hell is this?’

Even though I harbored such blasphemous thoughts in my mind for a moment, I shook my head and immediately removed them. This was because I saw a woman looking at me right in front of my eyes.

She had long black hair and black eyes. It wasn’t the same shade as the black color that humans had. Would it be more accurate to describe it as eyes and hair that were the epitome of pitch-black darkness?

It was far from the color that humans could see with the naked eye.

It was amazing enough to make me think deeply about it unknowingly.

I felt different from when I first saw Belial.

There was no feeling of dominance that made me tremble without my knowledge. Rather, it felt like she made people very comfortable.

Needless to say, her smiling expression was beautiful. She had an appearance that definitely wasn’t normal for a demon.

However, the woman in front of me was definitely a demon. Quite a high-ranking one, at that.

She said that she was the one that gave powers to the contractors, but I also used them to get me to where I was.

I had no choice but to admit that my previous thoughts, which had applauded the fiery will and efforts of the demon contractors, were wrong.

If all the words of the beautiful demon before me were correct, they probably didn’t summon her. The demon merely chose to be summoned.

Of course, the method I had just stated wasn’t even an option for ordinary demons.

I hadn’t seen or heard a demon that could appear just because it wanted to, even within the ranks of the 72nd Corps.

The reason why she was able to choose that method must’ve been related to her position. I didn’t know the full extent of Hell’s hierarchy, but it was reasonable to think that she was at least in the fifth, no, third place.

If I were to suppose she was a demon who was really ranked third or higher, had set foot on the continent, even Benignore wouldn’t be able to handle her alone, and I wasn’t saying this because I looked down on the goddess.

One thing I could be certain of was that those above Benignore would be sent to the continent.

Not only that, but the continent would naturally enter a state of chaos in the process…

That was probably not what the demon, who was supposed to be classified as moderate, would want.

-That’s an interesting reasoning. Almost all of them are right. The reason why I was able to meet you only in this way and that I have a moderate tendency are both correct.

‘I’m sorry if I was being cocky.’

-It is important to properly face and understand someone you see for the first time. So… Have you found out my name?

‘To be honest… It’s a little too difficult to tell.’

-If you think about it a little more, you’ll reach an answer. As you might think, there aren’t many demons who can be summoned at will and can exert influence over the continent… Would you like to take a guess? It’ll be good entertainment…

Was she Baal, the first placer, or Agares, the one ranked second? Or perhaps it was Vassago in the third place? There was no chance that she would be Gamygin or Marbas, considering she deserved more than the fourth or fifth rank.

Wouldn’t it be better to think she was either of the first two guesses?

I didn’t know how much power the demons ranked in the top 8 had, but she was by no means an ordinary demon.

There was no point in thinking about it too much. Either wasn’t a bad choice, anyway. The supreme demon, looking beautiful, noble, and powerful, seemed to be quite the understanding type.

-This is fun.

‘Excuse me, but are you maybe Baal…?’

-You’re mistaken. I’m not Agares, either.

She was smiling as if the situation was pleasing to her.

-In addition, my name isn’t included in one of the commanders of the 72nd Legion.

As I looked at her blankly, I saw 12 wings of pitch-black spreading out from behind her back.

Their beauty was indescribable, and I found myself muttering unknowingly.

I wasn’t sure if I was right, but I couldn’t help but spit out the name hanging in my throat. I thought I should.

‘The Fallen Angel.’

-…

‘…’

-Yes. I’m one of what the mortals of several dimensions call the Seven Demons.

‘…’

-I think it would be better to introduce myself again. I’m looking forward to work with you, Lee Kiyoung. My name’s Lucifer.