Chapter 521: Rising Light (4) |
‘Everything is returning to normal, Benigoa. I understand your virtuous heart of not wanting to negotiate with Belial, but sometimes, it’s better to give up on your beliefs.’
[...]
[...]
‘If Belial squeezes into the continent’s rift once again and opens it, then the demon that will emerge through that rift won’t be like him. I know very well that you don’t want something like that to happen, Benigoa. You have just recently recovered your holy power. I think you had to use a lot of holy power to descend like this, and if you try to fix everything that happened here, you’ll end up in the same situation before all this. There’s also no guarantee that the hard-liner demons won’t appear to take advantage of the chaos…’
[M-My lovely priest… but…]
‘Belial is also with his legion. I honestly tried to wrap this up nicely, but your descent has—’
[Did I make a mistake? My precious Father Lee Ki-Young?]
‘Of course not. However, I want to tell you that Belial’s position changed because you showed up in the real world. If the demons disappear after being pushed back by the light, then he won’t be able to save face in front of the legion. They’ll just say that he ran away from you.’
[The disgusting human is right, you stupid Benigoa. It isn’t just my children in the legion. I’d like you to consider how much merit the demons have to pay to watch over this continent. Aside from a few demons, everyone in the 72 Legions is watching the current situation. It won’t be honorable for me if I leave just like this.]
‘I’m just a lowly mortal, so I don’t know what’s going on up there, but I’m sure they’re watching the current situation as well. If you make the situation worse just to protect your belief, I’m sure the ones who are watching will rebuke you, Benigoa.’
[T-Then what do you want?]
[What I want is to step foot on this continent again later.]
[What? Do you really think that I’ll allow that? That’s impossible!]
[I won’t compromise anymore, incompetent Benigoa.]
[As expected, it’s impossible to have a reasonable conversation with demons. Do you really think that I don’t have any idea about your dirty intentions?!]
‘Benigoa, it’s not a bad deal.’
[What? Father Lee Ki-Young! Are you being serious?]
‘The 27th Legion currently has a close relationship with the other legions, and demons are bound to get summoned here no matter how hard you try to stop them. If Belial manages to step foot here once more, then you’ll be more at ease if he decides to move within the territory under your control.’
[That’s…]
‘You can adjust the contract details. I’m talking about how much power he can bring to the real world, the approximate time and size of the damage he can inflict, and if he can even bring the 27th Legion with him. Knowing ahead of time and preparing for their descent is completely different from not knowing what’s going to happen. I’m sure Belial won’t make unreasonable plans. If you consider the possibility that the humans of this continent may forget the 27th Legion after you pushed them away, I believe it’s reasonable for him to make that kind of suggestion.’
[But…]
‘This is your chance, Benigoa. Especially when you just got back your holy power. Do you want to live as a runaway again? You have to use this opportunity to fill your holy power up to the brim.’
[...]
‘Imagine showing your great miracle right now and showing the priests how you drove away Belial. Not only will you recover the holy power you must have consumed to descend, but your status will skyrocket as well. You’re in a slightly unstable state right now. If you make a mistake, it won’t take long for you to fall again. Use this opportunity to make a comeback.’
[The disgusting human is right. You used your holy power to descend, you have to gain something from this as well. This sounds ironic, but I cherish the people living on this continent as well. I don’t want to cause any more damage, however…]
‘If you return with nothing, I’m sure you’ll end up fighting the hard-liner demons.’
[I’m sure I don’t have to mention the fact that my authority will decrease. If that happens…]
‘The hard-liner demons will probably start gathering on this continent. If that happens, I’m not sure if I can even handle them, Benigoa.’
[You know this as well, Benigoa. I’m the most reasonable out of every Demon Lord. You know very well that I don’t want demons like that crazy bitch Lilith and the piece of shit Mammon to come here.]
‘There are very few reasonable demons like Belial. Really…’
[But… B-But…]
‘I’ll be the notary… Let’s write the contract.’
[W-What?!]
‘That’s the right thing to do, Benigoa.’
[Hm, that’s not a bad idea. I don’t think a contract is necessary, but I’m sure creating one will put you at ease.]
‘Of course, you’ll have to compromise many things when writing the details of the contract.’
I had never heard of a demon making a contract with a goddess. However, I figured that Belial probably didn’t care about the details as long as he could establish a contract with a goddess. Of course, I was sure he wanted to reap as much profit as he could, but he knew that Benigoa would rip the contract up if he got too greedy.
Unfortunately, Benigoa still looked like she was suspicious about everything.
To be honest, this wasn’t a bad deal for her either.
Belial was a demon who strived to satisfy his customers, and I was sure that he would do his best to cooperate with the miracles Benigoa would perform in the future. I thought that she stood more to gain by staging a great miracle and being worshiped by mankind rather than arguing with Belial and possibly becoming bankrupt once again.
[If we’re going to write a contract, I’d like to add another condition. It’s also for the sake of my safety, but I know it’s connected to your merit, so think of it as a free gift, Belial.]
[If it’s reasonable, I’ll add it in.]
[I-In that case, I don’t want you to bother my lovely priest anymore…]
[Impossible. Your free gift is basically telling me to give up everything I have. You’re more cunning than I thought.]
[If you write in the contract to not bother my priest anymore, I’ll make arrangements so that you’ll be able to make five waves on the continent within the next two thousand years Additionally, I want you to retrieve the Dark Plaguelord job that you gave him. I think those conditions are to your satisfaction. Am I right, Belial?]
[That’s a bunch of bullshit, you cunning bitch! I thought you were just incompetent, but you’re eviler than I thought.]
[Then, forget about the contract.]
[All right, incompetent Benigoa, I’ll make sure you become bankrupt once again.]
[My lovely priest will fight beside me.]
[That disgusting human will be with me, not with you.]
[My lovely Father Lee Ki-Young. You’ll be with me, right? Right? I’ll do better in the future… I really will… So come with me, and let’s get rid of the demons together.]
[Disgusting human. I believe you know better than anyone what your true identity is. Let’s show the dirty bitches up there what it’s like to defy those who refuse to talk to you.]
What was wrong with them? Please stop. I had to stop the sudden argument, and I couldn’t help but bite my lips because I really didn’t expect them to argue.
I thought I could finally rest since the arc was over, but to do that, I had to prevent them from fighting each other no matter what. The continent was on its limit, and if another fight were to break out, mankind and even Kim Hyun-Sung wouldn’t be able to recover and return to their peak condition, so I was really worried that they would fight.
‘T-Then how about this? You both seem very interested in my position at the end of my lifespan…’
[I can wait for two thousand years. I don’t know about her, but it seems that she wants you as well… She’s probably thinking that she can purify your disgusting soul, but that’s just ridiculous.]
Belial was right, but it seemed that Benigoa was prepared to do anything as long as Belial wouldn’t be able to take me for himself. Unfortunately, I couldn’t really quite believe that the heavens actually wanted me.
She was probably thinking that it would be better for her to take me rather than let the enemies take me away. She could have also gotten a hint from someone else, but I didn’t really have the time to speculate right now.
I had to resolve this argument as smoothly as I could. I had an idea, but I wasn’t really sure if they would be satisfied with it.
‘I’m thinking about giving you priority recruitment, Benigoa.’
[...]
[...]
[That’s not a bad idea…]
[P-Priority recruitment?]
‘Yes, a chance for priority recruitment.’
[I-It’s not like you’re leaving me, right? My lovely—]
‘Of course, I want to be with you, but I have to be more cautious about making a decision since I would have to stay on whatever side I’ll end up picking forever. I also need to consider the conditions… There are many things I have to consider. Don’t worry, Benigoa. As long as you offer the right conditions, I’ll think positively about your offer. Therefore, I’m giving you priority recruitment for this negotiation. You should also discuss my suggestion with those above instead of making the decision by yourself.’
[Y-You’re definitely quick-witted, Father Lee Ki-Young.]
‘I thought someone gave you a hint. Anyway… are we proceeding with the contract?’
[It doesn’t sound bad…]
‘Yes.’
[I’d like to think about it for a moment…]
‘I understand.’
It wasn’t really strange that the idea of signing a contract with a demon was a difficult pill to swallow for Benigoa. She probably had many things to consider as well, and I figured that she would also have to let go of some of her beliefs to proceed with the contract.
Signing the contract honestly wasn’t a big deal in my eyes, but it was definitely a big deal for her.
I suddenly found myself staring at Belial holding up the contract. Benigoa also sat down in front of the table while crying, and she was looking at me as if she was asking for confirmation that signing the contract was truly the right thing to do.
I looked around and confirmed that they were truly transcendent beings. I didn’t even notice when they pulled me somewhere else, but my awe turned into something strange when I saw Benigoa’s crying face.
She didn’t look like a transcendent being at all. She kept on glancing at me as if she were about to sign a slave contract.
‘Trust me, Benigoa. We overcame the bankruptcy crisis together. You’ll definitely profit by signing that contract.’
[We’re running out of time. Hurry up and make your decision.]
[Father Lee Ki-Youngggg… Hiccup.]
‘Sign it.’
[I’ll take it back if you don’t want to.]
‘If you don’t sign it today, you won’t get another chance.’
[The disgusting human is right.]
‘Sign it.’
[Hiccup… hiccup…!]
Benigoa’s hand was trembling, and I ended up doing something that I thought was a bit rude to do to a transcendent being.
I grabbed her hand quietly, and I could feel her calming down.
‘Trust me and sign it.’
[Looks like you don’t want to sign the contract...]
‘She just needs time to compose herself. Please wait a moment.’
[Hiccup…]
‘Hurry!’
[The contract…]
‘Sign it, Benigoa!’
[I… I don’t… I don’t think I can…]
‘Don’t be so weak. Hurry up and sign it!’
[Kgh…]
‘On the count of three, I want you to sign it. One…’
[Two.]
‘Three!’
Benigoa finally placed her trembling hand on the contract, and a bright light instantly pervaded the space in front of me.
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