A Deal With The Devil

"What type of proposal are you offering?" I ask in an accusing tone.

"You can refuse if you like. I'm not forcing you to do anything. Let's just say that I'm looking for a solution caused by unfortunate circumstances." He answers without really answering.

"What would be the proposal to solve our circumstances, then?" I ask, getting more annoyed.

"This situation is as follows, our dear departed Kor was looking for some way to make his little band a bit larger and more dangerous. I told him that I could solve those issues as long as he fought in the quinquennial "Blood of Luciel" tournament." He answers as if talking about something obvious.

"How were you gonna solve his problem, and what is this "blood of Luciel" tournament?"

"You don't know about the blood of Luciel tournament?" He asks, a bit surprised before continuing to speak.

"Well, the "Blood of Luciel" tournament is a tournament held every 5 years in the blood district. It's organized by our "church"." He answers, clearly mocking the church.

"It's used to attract all unknown demons in Appolyian and if you perform well you get granted a name and Luciel's Blessing."

"Why did you want him to join?" I ask, trying to figure out the original deal.

"Dear foolish Kor was supposed to establish himself as a true force in the tournament. So that he could kill Ulthris Kaahen for me." He answers as if he was just talking about what he ate for dinner.

"Why do you need his death, and aren't you supposed to be one of the strongest here?" I ask, wondering why he doesn't just kill him.

"It appears Ulthris has someone in his despicable corner helping him out. Besides, while he is as dumb as a rock on the street, his raw strength carries the weight of a mountain."

"I guess that knowing this information will have to do with your proposal?"

"Of course!" He answers while laughing. I frown at this sudden outburst.

"The good thing about Kor was that he was too dumb to ask questions. He didn't know anything about this plan, you see. However, you are clearly more intelligent than him, so I decided to share this information. After all, I'm willing to make some settlements in my proposal."

"You never really made a proposal?" I answer, still wanting to hear a clear-cut proposal.

'I don't know the extent of his abilities, after all.' I think to myself.

Using this reasoning, I try to sneakily use appraisal on him. Streaming the mana through my eyes and mind, I could feel a sudden pressure as my eyesight reveals nothing. It failed.

"I fear that that is a bit out of your wheelhouse. However, I believe in the art of trying, so you get applause from me." He says before clapping with this big grin on his face.

I keep quiet, not in the mood to lose my life whilst regaining my composure from his patronizing tone.

"Anyway, you wished for a clear-cut proposal. I offer to you my potential acquaintance a contract of servitude. No, not one where you have to do everything I say. It's closer to what would be the word again? Aha! An employment contract!"

"What would this "employment contract" contain?"

"You would do everything that our dear Kor was planning to do, or at least what I know that he was going to do. In return: you will be under my protection, Will be helped to become strong enough to fight in the tournament and some other demands that you could have."

I think about his proposal for a second.

'Leilaya did tell me that I should receive the blessing from the church. Besides, getting help from this person would be better than getting his scorn.'

"Very well, but like you said, I would like to make a few demands of my own," I answer in a determined voice.

"Tell me." He says in this surprisingly cold, businesslike tone.

"Firstly, there is a small devil girl that I would also like to have under your protection. Secondly, I wish to know more about these methods of getting stronger, and they cannot be forced upon me if I refuse. Lastly, I wish to be financially sponsored by you during this period."

'The first demand is obvious. I don't believe I'm strong enough to keep Eli safe, and if I were to die one way or another, at least she has his protection. The second one is to protect me from any rituals that could me make lose my self-control. The last one was because I started to feel guilty about spending all Ashmodai's money.'

Ergillaz, who keenly listened to my demands, has been silently thinking about them.

"Very well, then your demands seem reasonable. I suspect that this protection of the devil girl is still in effect even after the contract is finished."

"Yes," I answer short and firm.

Ergillaz snaps his finger as the 3 fallen angels rush back to him again.

"Bring the contract, it appears we have an agreement." He says with this enchanting smile on his face.