ALL NOVEL Chapter 15
Chapter 15. Contract and Vessel of the Soul
“…So, does that mean you agree?”
I asked the Demon God who was panting and writhing in agony.
“…Hmm. Very well. In light of your determination and wit, let us make a contract.”
He seemed to regain his composure, adjusting his expression as Antendeixis.
“On top of that, I won’t throw you to the Demon Race. It would be problematic if you die before receiving the compensation, after all.”
…Somehow, it worked out.
Thank goodness he’s a pervert who gets excited about breaking taboos.
Wait, but am I really going to contract with this guy…?
“What’s with that face? You’re making a contract with the oldest Demon God, do you not feel awe and gratitude?”
In the mirror, my disgruntled face reflected back at me, while Antendeixis pouted his lips in dissatisfaction.
“No… it’s just that I, the Hero, thought I would be contracting not just with a demon, but a Demon God.”
“Fufufu. How depraved, indeed. Just contracting with me will grant you considerable power.”
“…So your ability really is to ‘gain power by breaking taboos,’ huh?”
“That’s not the only thing, but yes.”
Antendeixis—no, let’s just call him Ante—sat sideways on the throne, in a rather rude manner.
“I am the Demon God who governs taboos. Wherever there are taboos, my influence is there. Each time a taboo is broken, my power increases, whether in the Demon World or the real world. And as my contractor, the more you break taboos, the more your power will increase. Moreover, if my power becomes sufficiently accustomed, you may be able to create new ‘taboos’.”
“New taboos?”
“—[Making blinking a taboo].”
Suddenly, Ante chanted.
“…I can’t close my eyes.”
“That’s right. The reason I made you talk just now was the same.”
It’s a spell that restricts actions or forces them to move.
That’s strong. Depending on the opponent’s magical power, they might resist, but spells like this require you to split your consciousness to resist. Being able to throw around powerful restraints without complex incantations or rituals is incredibly potent.
…While I was thinking about such things, I realized I couldn’t blink.
“My eyes! They’re drying out! Stop it!”
“Aww~? Is it pitiful that you’re already at your limit~? When you say stop, it just makes me want to do it even more, you know~? What should I do~?”
“Cut it out! My eyes are parched!”
Stop casually cursing the contractor (candidate) like that!! Ante, while grinning at my frustration, eventually started to tear up with his vibrant-colored eyes.
“No! My eyes are getting parched! By the way, it also affects me.”
“—Isn’t that bad?!”
The curse was lifted. It would be super strong if he cast something like [Making breathing a taboo], I thought, but now it affects him too…
“Of course. I am the Demon God of taboos, you know? I am bound by taboos more than anyone else.”
Then Ante showed a melting, wicked smile.
“—Thus, your proposal was exceedingly alluring.”
“Can’t you break taboos yourself?”
“Not anymore. I have become too great a being. I can hardly move at all anymore.”
Slouching back into the throne, Ante murmured.
“Demons and Demon Gods govern some concept, you see. And the stronger their power, the greater their rank and ‘purity’ increase. From ‘power with a will’ to ‘pure power’, getting elevated to a concept—”
Do you understand? His vividly colorful eyes locked onto me.
Eyes that brimmed with endless power and void.
“I suspect this world, the Earth, and even Space, once had renowned existences. However, those beings became too strong. Now, they behave as a collective of pure power without a will. We are, so to speak, parasites that feast on their dead flesh.”
“That’s a huge scale to talk about… But that way of saying it is pretty harsh. At least say we’re the children of Mother Earth or something.”
When I honestly expressed my thoughts, Ante looked taken aback.
“…Fufu, that’s true. Well, it’s fine. We’ve digressed. Let us conclude a contract.”
“Right. There’s no point in lingering here any longer.”
Things were getting easier to talk about, but this is still a Demon God. Who knows what kind of whims he might have?
I want to get some power and get the hell out of the Demon World.
“So what kind of contract shall we make? It’s clear that I am at an advantage, and I will be the one granting power.”
Contracts with demons come in two types.
The contractor offers something to the demon in exchange for power, or the contractor offers magical power to the demon in exchange for servitude.
Sophia and the imp attendant, among others, fall into the latter category. By supplying magical power, the contractor, Platy, maintains their physical body in the real world while engaging in education and chores. They enhance their own rank by taking actions appropriate to their abilities in between.
Sophia spends her free time poring over books, while the mischievous little devil doesn’t miss any chance to play pranks.
“I will give you a taboo. You will give me power. Is there anything else?”
“It’s about ‘degree’. To what extent should I fill your soul vessel with my powers?”
A contract with a demon can’t be made infinitely.
In either contract, the demon’s powers must be accepted into the contractor’s soul vessel. And since each individual has their own limits to their vessel capacity, it’s not like one can have thousands of imps under their control.
“Naturally, the more you fill it to the brim, the stronger the power you gain, right? So do I have a choice?”
“If you’re seeking the power to defeat the Demon Lord, then no choice. Though I planned on pouring it in until you were about to burst anyway. Just checking.”
“Stop saying scary things…”
The notion of my soul vessel bursting isn’t a joke… Given that the opponent is a nearly inexhaustible power-holding Demon God, they could very well make it happen.
“Extend your hand, contractor.”
Ante stretched out his hand, overlapping with mine.
“In the name of the Demon God Antendeixis, I bestow power upon Hero Alexander.”
“In the name of Hero Alexander, I offer taboo to the Demon God Antendeixis.”
Our gazes intertwined.
“The contract is complete.”
Through the connected hands, ‘power’ began to flow into me.
At that moment, I regretted it.
Something gross, separated from the concepts of good and evil, light and darkness, started to fill me like a muddy torrent—a distillation of the world’s laws rotted away and turned grotesque.
“—It’s too late now.”
Ante laughed sadistically at me.
I didn’t even have enough composure to respond. I was desperately enduring the sensation of being fundamentally remade from the inside, as if countless poisonous insects crawled around my entrails.
“Your soul is so parched. It can hold more than the vessel. It’s accepting me like a desert absorbs rain.”
I felt like I was about to drown—
“Rejoice. No one has ever accepted a Demon God’s power to this extent.”
The hands were released.
Gasping for breath, I fell to my knees.
When I looked at the mirror—I was changed.
Transformed. My once scrawny body now boasted muscles like in its prime. However, my skin had turned a brownish color, similar to Ante’s. My formerly brown eyes were now filled with chaotic colors. And I had horns growing out of my head—surprisingly similar to those of the Demon Race.
“I can’t tell if I’m still human or already a demon.”
Ante burst into laughter.
“Once you step out of this portal, you won’t be able to return to the Demon World again. If you adapt here, you will likely be unable to return to the real world.”
So this is the first and last time then. Honestly, that’s a relief.
“…This doesn’t mean I’ll look different when I return to the real world, right?”
“Well, there might be some impact… but it should fall within the range settled by the contract with the demon.”
What kind of impact falls within the range of a contract with a demon…?
“…By the way, will it be bad if I openly say I contracted with a Demon God?”
Platy would be overjoyed, but if asked what kind of contract I made with a taboo Demon God, I’d feel it would be a bit tricky. I can’t just say I’m planning to annihilate the Demon Race! But how else would I explain it?
“That would likely not be good. However, fortunately, you have two names. As long as you do not mention Alexander when wielding my power, its effect will remain in the ‘ordinary’ range. In other words, you can make it seem as if you merely contracted with some random demon.”
“I see.”
I made a contract in the name of Alexander without a second thought…
Oh yeah, I’m Zilbagias…
“Then I’ll just say I contracted with the demon of restrictions, Ante, instead of the taboo Demon God Antendeixis.”
“The demon of restrictions Ante… That really makes me sound incredibly small…”
Ante made a face looking aggrieved, but then began to shake with laughter, clutching his shoulders.
“This Demon God…! Reduced to something comparable to a little devil…! What a blasphemous thing…!”
This guy really is a pervert…
And the moment I called him Ante, I felt my power slightly spike—that’s just unpleasant… Seems like I’ve committed a taboo of diminishing a Demon God…
“Well, okay then. It’s hard to say, but I should leave soon.”
Avoiding Ante’s panting gaze, I took my leave.
“…Hmm. That’s true. It’ll be a shame to part.”
Antendeixis snapped back to his senses and stood up from the throne.
“Let it be a short farewell to this familiar palace.”
“…Huh?”
“Ah, it’s been so long. I wonder how many thousands of years it’s been since I’ve seen the outside world. I’m excited!”
“Um, Ante? The way you’re talking sounds like you’re coming with me?”
Even the first Demon Lord, the Demon God Cannibal, provided power while staying in the Demon World.
There’s no way a being as strong as this Demon God can just come to the real world whenever he feels like it.
…Right?
“Huh? What are you saying? Of course, I’ll go to the real world.”
I went serious.
“Don’t worry. Even if I say I’m going to the real world, I’m only sending a part of myself, just extending a fingertip through the portal. Also, your status as my contractor was beyond my expectations. Even now, power flows into me, which will help maintain my physical body in the real world.”
“Uh…”
“Additionally, to save power, I’ve made a place for myself inside you. Here!”
Suddenly, Ante hugged me.
—Before I knew it, his form became translucent and zapped into me!
‘This will do.’
A voice echoed in my chest.
“That’s not good!!!”
What the hell is this Demon God doing!?
The feeling of being ‘decisively remade’ was just the beginning; now it’s actually happening!
Am I going to be stuck with him pestering me 24/7?
“Stop it!! Get out!!!”
I pounded my chest, but it only hurt me and served no real purpose.
Only Ante’s spiteful laughter continued to echo within me…