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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Lemegeton
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Thud.
Claude felt something fall from the object he’d picked up, but he paid it no mind.
His dark-red-stained gloves kept sticking to things, which was a bit annoying. But that was always the case, so it didn't matter.
He stared down at the thing lying there—what had once been someone's head—before tossing it aside.
“It’s not here.”
Strange.
The reason he had caused this whole mess: the grimoire detailing how to summon the 72 demons, the Lemegeton, was nowhere to be found.
On the futile hope that some clever bastard had swallowed it to hide it inside their body, he had personally rummaged through each one, but the Lemegeton was still missing.
The book couldn’t have grown legs and walked out on its own.
Which meant someone who had escaped this place must have taken it.
“Ah…”
A certain person flashed through his mind.
“Kuh, khuhuhu…”
A laugh escaped through his clenched teeth.
What an unbearably interesting human. It was the first time he’d felt this way about a person. Is this how admirers of humanity get their start?
Thinking this, Claude rose to his feet.
Humans, sensing the commotion, were beginning to gather. It wasn't time yet, so he had to hide.
‘There are too many humans. Like cockroaches.’
Disgustingly many. And the fact that a few mutants among them possessed the power to oppose warlocks was incredibly irritating.
‘No. I must endure and wait… until everything is perfectly prepared.’
Because they remembered the failure of their ancestors 300 years ago, deep in their bones. There was no need to repeat the same mistake.
Humans are weak, but they are numerous and tenacious. So, to end that tenacious life force, one must wait with patience.
‘Humans…’
When he thought of humans, certain things came to mind. Eyes stained with greed, greasy, shining hands, an observing gaze, a gaze, a gaze…
Throb. Claude habitually stroked the back of his right hand.
***
-Hoh. To think this thing still exists. It's been a while.
Lev muttered with interest as he looked at the grimoire I had carefully stored in the cellar.
“Do you know what book this is?”
-Of course I do. It’s known as the ‘Lemegeton.’ It's basically a flyer that some bored, crazy demon wrote, detailing the 72 demons and how to summon them, then scattered around.
“You make it sound so lame.”
Anyway, a demon-summoning manual. That was completely different from what I expected.
“So, is there anything in it besides how to summon demons? Like, warlock attack techniques…?”
-Nope. Didn't I just call it a flyer?
“Ugh.”
Did I go through all that trouble for nothing? No, of course, there was meaning in keeping such a dangerous item from them, but…
“I was hoping it would be a book filled with cool attack spells.”
-I don't understand why you'd want to waste your energy on such useless things. You remember what I said about warlocks each having their own specialty, don't you?
“You did.”
-Your specialty is less about fighting directly and more about making contracts with demons and borrowing their power. You have an aptitude for being a demon summoner.
“Really?”
His confident tone was somehow persuasive.
“But how would you know that, Lev? Even I don't know.”
-Hmph. Don't ask such obvious questions!
Lev retorted, tapping his tail against the floor.
-You summoned me, didn't you!
“…Ah, right.”
I was a fool for taking him seriously. When I answered listlessly, Lev let out another hiss and thrashed about.
-You damn contractor! It's not enough that you've trapped me in the body of this pathetic creature! To treat me like this!
I let his familiar lament go in one ear and out the other.
“Uh-huh. I get it. More importantly, Lev. Is there a way to break a memory-manipulation spell?”
With the plan to train myself with the grimoire now scrapped, a sigh escaped me. I needed to rescue Natalie from Penelope's clutches as soon as possible.
-Hmm? It seems you've met quite an interesting one. Memory manipulation is a rather tricky form of dark magic.
“I asked if there's a way.”
Hearing praise for the enemy's dark magic skills was just irritating. In response to my words, Lev arrogantly tapped his tail on the floor and spoke.
-Of course there is.
He narrowed his eyes.
-If you use that Lemegeton, that is.
“…The Lemegeton? You want me to summon a demon?”
Seeing my displeasure, Lev clicked his tongue. How that was even possible with a cat's oral structure remained a mystery.
-Similar, but different! Do you remember me telling you that a warlock's power is fundamentally borrowed from demons?
“Ah, uh-huh.”
-Right. Dark magic is inherently the power of demons. It is specially permitted to warlocks.
I'd heard this from Lev before. There was a time when he was hell-bent on teaching me dark magic.
-Because it makes it easier to feed on human despair! And if we can take their souls through a contract, it's killing two birds with one stone.
“And so?”
-Which means that the ability known as ‘memory manipulation’ is also ultimately a power that comes from a demon.
I nodded. As I focused on his lesson for a change, Lev lifted his chin high.
-I've explained this much and you still don't get it?
“I don't get it.”
-It means the one who lent out the power of memory manipulation will also be listed in the Lemegeton!
“Oh, that could be true.”
-So, if you summon that fellow, offer a suitable price, and ask it to retract the dark magic, it will comply.
‘A suitable price.’ I couldn't begin to fathom what scale of price a demon would consider suitable.
Books depicting the Holy War often described warlocks burning down entire villages to use powerful magic. Was it for a similar reason?
“Is there another way?”
-Of course there is! Make a contract with me! If you offer your soul to me, a piddling warlock like that is…!
“Ah, right. I get it.”
I immediately lost interest in his familiar repertoire.
-The day will come when you experience my greatness…!
Meeeeeow! The cat's mournful cry filled the mansion.
***
“Good morning.”
The next morning, I ran into Zion as soon as I got to work. It seemed he had arrived at the office much earlier than I had.
On the table before him sat a teacup from which steam no longer rose.
“…Good morning.”
I forced myself to greet him calmly.
Even before opening the office door, my pounding heart had already told me he was there.
Since receiving Tristan's permission, he had often come to the office. Since top-secret documents were stored elsewhere anyway, it seemed Tristan didn't mind.
‘And I'm miserable because of it.’
I put on a business smile and spoke.
“What brings you here today?”
“I have something to discuss with His Highness the Crown Prince. Ah, would you care to join me for a cup of tea?”
Zion replied with a gentle smile.
‘As if I’d want to.’
I doubt there are many warlocks in the world who'd want to share a table with the Saint, but…
“I would be honored.”
If he asks, I have to do it. I pushed aside the pile of backlogged documents and decided to attend to my guest first.
Pour.
As tea filled a new cup, a fragrant aroma filled the office.
“I must first apologize to you, my lady.”
“Pardon?”
“For dragging you into such a dangerous matter.”
“Oh, no. If you think about it, I'm involved as well. The warlocks are targeting House Walker… so I should be the one thanking you.”
As I smoothly retorted, Zion's faint smile deepened. He was a difficult man to read.
“I've heard a lot about you. You seem to be a very kind person, my lady.”
Oh, would you look at this?
If I'd heard that from anyone else, I would have taken it as a simple compliment, but I had already half-figured out the kind of person Zion was.
‘He's a master at using that face of his to charm people.’
The way he's so naturally made himself at home in this office since day one is a prime example. Honestly, I have no idea how he sweet-talked the guards.
Anyway, when this type of person praised me, it was highly likely they wanted something from me.
I decided to be on high alert.
“By the way, my lady, how long have you been working with His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“As a secretary, it's been about four years.”
“And regarding the warlocks?”
So this was his real question. I realized it immediately but pretended not to and opened my mouth.
“Let's see. It hasn't even been a few months.”
“It's dangerous work. You've made a big decision.”
“Is that so? It's simply what must be done.”
I replied with a shy smile. Dealing with this type of person is actually simple.
‘Pretending to be oblivious is the best way.’
I deliberately widened my eyes and put on an innocent face. As if I knew nothing, I would blurt out the kind of thing a man like Zion would never say.
“By the way, you're really handsome, Saint. I've thought so before, but seeing you up close, it's even more true!”
Cough.
Zion, in the middle of swallowing his tea, choked and coughed.
