Chapter 69: Lysette Part 3

Huge flames engulfed me in an instant.

-Whooooooosh!!!!

Was I going to die like this? In such an insignificant? In anticipation of the pain that was about to hit me, I instinctively closed my eyes tightly.

-Beeep!

…Beep?

-Chiiiiik!

…Chiiiiik?

What on earth?

When the situation unfolded differently from what I had expected, I cautiously opened my tightly shut eyes.

Before me was not a giant flame, but a tiny bird.

"Beepy…?"

Beepy was flapping its round and plump body vigorously. From its wings flowed a faint breeze…

Did it… block the flames?

It was a sight so unbelievable, even though I was witnessing it with my own eyes. The great flames could not withstand Beepy's wingbeats and died down with a chiiiiik sound.

-Stop! Stop!

A voice cried out, almost pitifully.

"Beepy… thank you, Beepy."

I carefully cradled Beepy in my hands as it fluttered its small wings roughly, as if in anger. The little bird was vigorously spreading its wings and hissing continuously.

-Beep!

…For some reason, it was incredibly furious.

I brought Beepy, who was sitting on my palm, close to the dwindling flames. Following that, the flames let out a short shriek before shrinking to the size of a candle.

"…What exactly are you?"

I finally voiced the question I had wanted to ask for a long time. The flame flickering on the black scroll replied in a small voice.

-…Demarcushel.

"Demarcushel?"

-You summoned me and yet do not know? Such a fool…

-Beep!

-Eeek! I take it back; I take it back!

"…So, Demarcushel. What are you exactly, and why did you emerge from this scroll?"

The creature remained silent as if gauging whether I truly did not know. After a moment, it spoke in a chilled voice.

-Young crow. Have they not told you my warnings?

…Crow? Warnings?

-Blinded by vain desires, you dare to summon this great being and play such games…

"Wait, wait, wait."

I swiftly interrupted the creature's ranting and tried to explain.

"First, I am not a Crow. Second, that's why I've never heard the warnings. Third, I'm neither blinded by vain desires nor do I wish to indulge in games. Do you understand?"

-....

"I think we're not enemies here."

-What?

"I also want to kill the crows."

-Then you are…?

"I'm just an ordinary druid."

– A druid?

The flame burst into loud laughter as if it had heard the funniest story. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! The laughter was so loud that it seemed as if an elf soldier might kick down the door at any moment.

-A druid has read the evil language, you say?

"…There are reasons for that."

– Will Lynshaka grab the back of her neck and collapse if she hears this? Hahaha!

After a hearty laugh, the creature seemed to feel much better and began to willingly engage in conversation.

"I stumbled upon this scroll by accident. So, it's natural that I know nothing about you."

-'Accidentally' a person who can read evil language 'accidentally' got this scroll? What a joke!

"…Yes, to be honest, it wasn't exactly by accident. But I truly had no idea what this scroll was."

-Oh, I can sense the sincerity in those words.

"Demarcushel, what exactly are you?"

-The primal flame and the great right arm, master of the lava lake, the one who boils souls in hell!

"…Wait, did you say hell?"

-Seeing your fear, you're definitely human.

"No, no, no, it's not fear. Rather…"

Looking at those grandiose titles, it's clear that he must be a demon, so it was ridiculous that he was trapped in such a simple scroll.

…Would saying that piss him off?

"Rather, I'm just curious."

-Curious?

"About why you look like this, why you're trying to kill the crows."

-...

"Maybe our goals align. Why not speak honestly?"

-...

If you won't speak honestly, I might just have to seal this scroll and throw it into the middle of the sea… I was just about to decide that when Demarcushel spoke up.

-I don't know either.

Really now?

-All I remember is waking up to these "crows" right in front of me.

"…What were their intentions?"

-They said they had something to do for "him".

"Him? Who's that?"

Demarcushel snorted at my question.

-The moment I utter "his" true name, the feeble human mind would explode. Still want to hear it?

"…I'll pass. Let's move on to something else. Why did you refuse their offer? Isn't it natural for a demon to desire dominion in this world?"

-I'm different from those vultures. I have no interest in this rubbish world where "he" doesn't exist.

"He doesn't exist?"

-He vanished long ago. They merely use his great name to satisfy their vain desires. So…

"So?"

-…I burned them all to ashes.

The flame flickered with a chuckle.

-I wonder how long I was trapped in this cursed scroll because of that.

"You were trapped?"

-Yes. Every time the crows called me, I killed them all.

"..."

-Come to think of it, it's the first time someone other than a crow has summoned me.

"Thanks for not killing me?"

-Hahahaha!

The flames flickered loudly along with the sound of laughter. I gazed quietly at the scroll. This fellow killed all the crows that summoned him out, so he doesn't have any information about them, right? It turned out to be less useful than I thought. At least, thanks to Beepy, it seems unable to harm me for now… But what should I do?

"…Well, I've heard what you had to say."

-Then get rid of that bird.

"That's not going to happen. How do I know when you'll try to kill me?"

-I promise.

"I don't trust a demon's promise."

Without a 'contract', demons are not to be trusted.

-So what will you do?

"....."

Since we're by the sea, let's reseal it and throw it back into the sea. Even though it was an enemy of the crows, this creature was too dangerous.

-I can see right through your thoughts.

"Is it that obvious?"

– It can't be helped then. I propose a deal!

…A typical demonic choice.

"What's the deal?"

-I will make you the incarnation of the great Demarcushel.

"....."

Are you serious?

Becoming an incarnation essentially meant becoming a "vessel" for another entity. In exchange for borrowing power from another being, I would have to lend my body to it. Though it sounded like just lending, in reality, it often meant losing most of my control, especially if the other party was a demon.

"The primal flame, the great right arm, the master of the lava lake, the one who boils souls, becoming my incarnation is a rare opportunity. You will gain the power to command this world. Every flame on this land will obey you, every lava will boil for you, and every life will fear you! You said you wanted to kill the crows, didn't you? Then take my hand!"

The demon's tongue was as slick as one would expect. I looked at him with an indifferent expression and shook my head.

"I'll pass."

-What?! How dare you refuse my offer…!

"Beepy, shall we blast this guy away?"

-Beep!

-Now, now, wait! Just a minute!!!

The demon shouted frantically. The flame of Demarcushel had now shrunk from the size of a candle flame to that of a match flame. Whatever the cause, it seemed he was quite frightened by Beepy's flapping wings.

"Fine. Then just half, lend me just half of your body!"

"You know that's nonsense, right?"

-Ugh…

"It was nice talking with you, Demarcushel."

"Then the right hand, just the right hand! Or the left hand, the left hand is fine too! Please! Plea…!"

I ignored his outcry rolled up the scroll and secured it with a leather strap.

-Aaargh!

A scream rang out followed by a pff. It was the sound of a candle being snuffed out.

"Demarcushel… to think such a creature was trapped inside."

He was more troublesome and dangerous than I had anticipated. Without Beepy, I too might have been roasted by his flames.

Normally, a demon would have negotiated with the crows rather than remain trapped in such a scroll. After all, it's typical for demons to detest being confined to the point of death. Yet, this one turned down every chance to manifest in the world and chose instead to kill the crows whenever the opportunity arose. Among demons, not all are insane, but Demarcushel was certainly one of the exceptionally mad ones.

Such a creature is better off not kept close.

Give you my right hand? I wouldn't give you even the pinky finger of my right hand.

However, seeing how much he hated the crows, it seemed he might be of some use…

"....."

I placed the scroll on the desk and fiddled with it. Instead of tossing it into the middle of the vast sea where no one could find it, I chose to keep it.

It was a dangerous choice, one that could be poison or medicine.

…I must ensure that I never have to use this creature.

The only reason I could make this choice was because Beepy had the power to subdue Demarcushel. Perhaps it was some kind of emergency stop button? But for how Beepy possessed such a power, I still do not know…

"Beepy, just what are you?"

I stroked Beepy's head. Regardless of my actions, he kept pecking at the scroll on the desk, almost as if to punish it. And each time…. it seemed as if Demarcushel's screams echoed in response to each peck.

***

The long voyage was nearing its end. We had finally arrived at Lysette. Unlike other ports, the port of Lysette was serene and elegant. The ships moored there were mostly those of the elves, with very few belonging to others.

While the elves constantly traveled between nations such as the Echaits Union, the Barak Empire, Roshan, and even Solen and Ergin, they kept the doors to their own land, Lysette, firmly closed. On the surface, it was to protect other nations from the dangers of the "Dark Forest", which was notorious for its excessive monster appearances, but frankly speaking …

It's a kind of national isolation policy.

They wanted to avoid exposing the internal strife between elves and dark elves, the repellence of other races, and the filthy political fights within the decaying elf nobility. That was the real reason.

Because of this, only mercenaries with strong skills who had already made a name for themselves on the continent could set foot in Lysette. I had built up quite a reputation myself, but it was doubtful if I could enter Lysette. Unexpectedly, a variable named Darion appeared and made things easier.

"Stop!"

…or so I thought.

But that was a very strong misconception.