Chapter 237: Without Any Cost (1)

"Then... I have a very good idea. We might be able to save Rubia from the towers.”

I stared at him, asking desperately, "What is it?"

Isaac smiled with amusement, saying something completely irrelevant, "A Skeleton Soldier trying to save a necromancer trapped in a tower... How gripping.”

"Just tell me."

"I’ll need to change the order a bit. Interrupt it."

"Interrupt... what?"

Seuk.

Instead of answering, Isaac crouched and drew several lines across the ground.

"I’ve been tracking the army’s movements. There will be a major clash at the moonlight zone crossroads in ten days. The iron men of the Confederation forces will strike the Empire’s troops from behind as they assault Ember."

"The iron... men?"

"Yes. Once the initial clash begins and the battle devolves into chaos, slip in. There's a small forest near the battlefield. The fight will start around the time the mist rolls in. Wait there and emerge when the moment comes."

"..."

"Then, kill everything in sight. If things unfold as expected, the battle will be evenly matched. Believing they have the advantage, each side will push to the bitter end, until they’re on the brink of annihilation. Since they’re going to be wiped out anyway, might as well make their deaths your nourishment."

Swoosh. Swoosh.

Crack!

Isaac moved a few twigs on the ground, overlapping them, then stomped them underfoot.

I watched blankly. "Those... are the two armies?"

"Yup." He nodded. "And just like I did, shave down both sides’ strengths when they collide."

"You talk like you’re commanding both armies yourself. Aren’t you a little too confident...?" I trailed off.

Clatter.

His amused, almost condescending expression made me falter. There was a familiarity in his gaze, one that carried vivid memories I’d rather not recall.

It finally hit me. This ridiculous-looking crow had once ruled half the Empire during its time of chaos. Just how many battlefields had he crossed alongside his cult?

Unlike me—a mere expendable pawn—he had fought and won from a position that coordinated the entire war effort. He hadn’t withdrawn from the battlefield because of defeat, but because he’d been cursed by the goddesses. Based on military achievement alone, he’d have been a monster who never lost a single battle. At least from a tactical perspective, he wasn’t someone I had any business lecturing

Isaac chuckled softly, then said, "Finally, offer everything."

"Offer what, exactly?"

"All the blood of the humans you kill, offer it to Malphas."

It reminded me of something from my first life with Rena. The words of the old stag, a follower of Purson, overlapped in my memory.

"Humans will... start a war. And we shall offer the blood spilled in that war to the great king."

Isaac kindly explained further. "If Malphas accepts the offering, she will grant you power. If you’re going to be branded a demon anyway, mere slaughter isn’t enough. Human life is a resource. You should make full use of it."

The deer Aezar’s voice echoed again.

"Join us. You too can gain power. It's not enough to overturn the world, but it's more than sufficient to prepare for the King's descent."

Back then, I refused. Why should I mingle with clowns destined to lose? However, the Demon Kings’ downfall was still over a decade away. If this could increase my chances of saving Rubia, turning away wasn’t an option.

"Then what does the Demon King want from me in return?"

"

Hmm

? I told you. The blood of humans. What more would she need?"

"That’s all? There’s no other catch?"

"

Kuku...

" Isaac chuckled. "Why do you think demon worship is forbidden?"

"Because the price is too steep?"

He shook his head. "Because it’s too sweet."

"..."

"The term demon is just a label slapped on the latecomers. They offer more generous and favorable conditions, so those who’ve had a monopoly until now resent them."

"..."

"Besides, I’m Malphas’s high priest. In this world, no one is closer to her than me. And I never make a losing deal."

I’d already checked Isaac’s status window. He wasn’t lying.

"And let’s consider a more concrete scenario. If you wanted to rescue Rubia from that tower, the easiest way would be with a wing-obtained Malphas."

"..."

The deer Aezar once said something similar.

The offerings are ready. Once the King who accepts them descends, humanity will fall.

As his memory stirred within me, Isaac said, "If my Malphas descends into this world before the other Demon Kings..."

He seemed utterly pleased just from the thought alone.

"Everything can be solved simply. Even Rubia, trapped atop the tower, can be brought down with ease. As long as the descent is successful, she could be your greatest ally."

"Can it really happen that fast?"

I knew the future. There were still eight years left before a Demon King's descent.

"That’s why you and I will speed it up."

"..."

"Doesn’t it excite you? Once any Demon King descends, every race will be scrambling to swear loyalty. But you! You’ll be the prophet. You won’t be groveling beneath her talons. You’ll be the one who summoned her, the one who rides on her back, clutching those gleaming black feathers. And I’ll be right there with you."

I had no interest in such glory, but if a Demon King personally aided me... Then yes, it was the surest way to save Rubia.

"You’re someone I’d proudly introduce to her."

"Were you planning for this descent all along?"

"Of course. I even intended to shape this battlefield into a sacrificial offering. But if someone like you—who's bound by contract—does the killing, Malphas will truly come to love you. She’ll grant you her strength without question."

"

Hm

."

"What? Are you feeling sorry for them? Once the Demon King descends, these humans will die anyway. Dying by your hand isn’t a tragedy, it's a mercy. Wouldn’t you agree?"

I didn’t pity them. It just felt strange to accept help from those destined to lose. Still, looking back, Malphas’s mark had been etched into me.

The Demon Kings, who once felt so distant and overwhelming... Perhaps getting closer to one of them wasn’t such a bad thing after all. Not like there was any other choice. There was no time to agonize over options, or devise clever alternatives. Even now, Rubia’s mind could be breaking down beyond repair.

"Fine..." I nodded. "Let’s make the contract."

"Wise choice!"

Isaac was overjoyed. He spread his wings and a gust surged forth.

Whoooosh...!

Darkness and wind rose from the earth and wrapped around me. It bore no weight whatsoever, but it was obvious I had to follow its flow.

From beyond the veil, Isaac’s voice echoed. "Picture yourself moving with the wind. Like a thread unraveling..."

I could feel the boundaries blur. The more I focused, the clearer the world beyond the veil became.

Crackle...!

Lightning flashed as a fierce wind howled around me.

"Good. Keep holding onto the sensation of flight. Imagine the horizon ahead. Can you see the crow?"

I nodded. I saw a crow cloaked in black feathers, wings spread across the edge of the ashen sky.

"Is that Malphas?"

"She’ll be watching you. You must continue watching her in return. The most important thing is to not lose sight of her."

A man appeared near the crow. Platinum earrings studded his ears, and each of his ten fingers bore a different ring—some with twisted bands, others with rare gems. He took my wrist and flew toward the crow.

"I-Isaac?"

"Yes, it’s me."

Was that what he looked like? My concentration slipped for a moment, and half his form blurred like smoke. Still, he didn’t scold me. This illusion was Isaac’s creation. I only needed to follow his lead. Through a storm of swirling winds and warped air pressure, I flew alongside the crow.

"All you need to do is deliver your intent. Tell Malphas that you offer your kills to her. The circuits are already engraved and with me as the intermediary, that’s enough."

"I offer them."

The wind ceased in an instant. The black veil Isaac had conjured faded away. He stood beside me again, looking a bit worn.

"Hey. You okay?"

The battered crow puppet slowly nodded. "

Huhu...

It’s done. There are a few loose ends left, but I’ll take care of those. Congratulations."

Despite his exhaustion, his tone was filled with a sly amusement.

"Congratulations for what?"

"Put simply, even if you kill one human, you’ll receive rewards as if you killed two. You’ll understand once you experience it yourself."

"What does that mean...?"

A contract with a Demon King. Isaac had said he handled the details as the intermediary, and I had no reason to doubt him. Still, I couldn’t feel anything just yet. I stared blankly at Isaac, who seemed utterly drained. His numerous wounds stood out more than ever.

"Thank you."

"Of course...

huh

?"

"You saved me from the barrier, didn’t you?"

"

Keke...

earlier you were whining that I didn’t save Rubia, and now this? I’m just doing what I can to maximize my own gain."

"Still..."

He quickly changed the subject. "Enough! Let’s get moving. We need to head for the moonlight zone and set up the altar."

***

We walked for three days straight, heading to the crossroads in the moonlight zone as Isaac instructed. He said this wasn't a designated battlefield. However, the size and movement of the armies made him certain this was the place.

He lifted his beak and gestured in a wide circle. "There’s no other spot."

"It’s quiet for now." I followed suit and looked around.

Only the soft patter of raindrops through the heavy mist and the rustling cries of late-summer insects filled the silence. For each of those insects, today could be both their first and last day of life. A few months from now, others would replace them, chirping briefly between brittle leaves before dying themselves. It didn’t seem like a bad place for an ambush and slaughter.

"I’ve been here before. Fewer trees than last time... good. Hide behind that ridge before the armies arrive. It’s the best spot to slip in."

"Shouldn’t we draw the altar first?"

I swung a spear I’d taken from an imperial ranger we ran into in the mountains.

Isaac gave a lopsided grin. "Some other fools have already carved everything all over the place. On rocks, underground, in the forest they really went wild with it."

"..."

"We just need to change the recipient from Purson to Malphas. This’ll be done in no time!"