Chapter 39: The Contract: A Deal with the Demon King

“Ugh, this is really hard.”

Splash… splash…

I move my hands gently, but it’s difficult since it’s my first time.

It would have been even harder if Cephas hadn’t been guiding me.

“You’re doing well. Ah, you put in too much strength just now. Be more gentle.”

Swish!

The liquid sloshes around, white foam splattering everywhere.

“I got one!”

A flapping, pearly white fish.

An angelfish.

Cephas said you can only catch them with precise power control.

I don’t know much about it, but since Cephas told me, it must be true.

Precise control is key.

I’m practicing controlling the Black Star Dragon in my right hand, and

today’s quota is five.

This is the first one I’ve caught.

Not very promising.

“Can I just give up, Cephas?”

“Don’t suddenly use formal language. And you have to fill your quota. It’s for your own good.”

“Tsk.”

Plop.

The fishing bobber I cast creates ripples on the water’s surface.

I’ve been struggling for three hours and only caught one.

I don’t know how much longer it will take to catch five…

“By the way, angelfish are nocturnal. Catching one during the day is practically a mira…”

“You little…”

“You ran off before I could finish explaining! Serves you right.”

Cephas said with an irritated expression. First, I’ll take care of this guy… and try fishing again at night.

 

***

 

“Night fishing is dangerous. Of course, I’ll lend you a boat…”

“I’m no longer bound by the title of Saintess. I can fight now, not just support and mediate. Who’s worried about whom?”

All the attacks and curses I couldn’t use in my past life because I was the Saintess…now, free from those restrictions, I have the right to spam constellation magic and great magic.

Clink.

Cephas handed me a dust-covered lantern.

I felt the power of the Herdsman’s star.

Strong protection, a warning power.

“The Lamp of Protection. An artifact that blocks one attack per night, whether it’s a surprise attack or great magic. If the opponent is too strong, it might act as an alarm instead of a shield… but in the ten years I’ve used it, that’s never happened.”

“Oh, thanks.”

I quickly took the lantern.

It feels like inheriting Cephas’s years, somehow.

It’s quite heavy.

“…Be careful. I’ve taken care of all the divine beasts and monsters, but just in case.”

“Yeah, alright. Don’t worry…”

That was less than five hours ago…

A large horn and silver hair, visible in the distance on the night sea.

A small figure, dwarfed by the massive wings on her back.

Valentina sits perched on a reef, a melancholic expression on her face.

Splash…splash…

Valentina’s small feet kick the water.

Not the force of a giant dragon, but the playful splashing of an ordinary girl.

Splash…

Valentina stops playing and speaks.

“Is anyone there? If so, would you keep a lonely soul company on this quiet night?”

“Um, yes. I’m not sure if I can offer much comfort on such a lonely night.”

“Oh, please join me. To think it’s a person, not a monster.”

Good. That’s what the Saintess would have said in this situation.

I recited the Saintess’s conversational guide I’d memorized and turned my boat towards Valentina.

“I’ve never seen your face before. I wouldn’t forget such beauty. I’m certain of it.”

“Thank you. You’re…cute too, miss.”

“Haha. I can’t remember the last time I heard that. Thank you for the compliment.”

Valentina’s yellow eyes gleamed.

I shuddered, momentarily remembering our battle in the city.

Those predatory eyes…haunted my dreams.

If I fight her now…I might kill her if I’m lucky, or die if I’m unlucky.

Why is she here during my training? She should have come later…

“So, where were you headed, young lady?”

“Night fishing…”

“Night fishing? A rather mature hobby for someone your age.”

Valentina answered with a gentle smile, no matter what I said.

Where’s the battle-crazed maniac from before, and who is this sweet, innocent girl…?

“And you, miss?”

“Me? I was here, commemorating my fallen comrade with some drinks.”

Valentina waved her arm, and the scent of strong alcohol wafted through the air.

An antique, oriental-style cup rested in her hand.

“Leasilvia, that fool. She should have called for help… She insisted on handling it alone and met such a meaningless end.”

“…I’m sorry. I brought up a sad topic.”

Even though I was the one who contributed the most to that death…

I quietly accepted the drink Valentina offered.

The shimmering liquid reflected the moon.

“Go ahead and drink. I’m talking to you to cheer myself up. I don’t want to be depressed because of her.”

“Okay. This is good.”

The drink was sweet, with a lingering bitter aftertaste.

“It’s called ‘Memories.’ A traditional drink from the fallen kingdom of Kunbyung.”

Kunbyung. I know that country.

Headmaster Inverness told me Valentina destroyed it.

“…What kind of person are you, miss, to have such a drink?”

Go ahead.

Explain yourself.

Reveal your wickedness before a stranger…

“The shame of the dragon race. A parricide who devoured her own parents. Trash that shouldn’t have been born.”

“Huh?”

I didn’t expect her to say that.

Valentina’s sincere self-condemnation was shocking.

I almost forgot my Saintess persona and screamed.

“Dragon Lord. Or, as Kunbyung called it, Dragon King. I was the only child born to the king of the race closest to gods.”

Please stop.

The more you sell your tragic backstory, the less appealing you become… Valentina, oblivious to my pleading gaze, continued,

“I killed my father shortly after I was born. He was teaching me how to breathe fire, and he had no idea that a hatchling would achieve Transcendence, something no dragon had ever done before.”

So…her small stature is also

because she achieved Transcendence at such a young age…

What an incredible genius.

“And that power consumed me. My childish mind couldn’t control the dragon’s instinct for destruction. So, until my reason could overcome my instincts, I only destroyed. All the nations I’ve destroyed…met their end that way.”

“It wasn’t Valentina’s fault. Shouldn’t you atone?”

“I’m not strong enough to atone. The only thing I can do is carry the weight of all the lives I’ve taken and become strong enough to kill myself. Currently, my attacks aren’t faster than my regeneration.”

So Valentina’s wish is to die.

This might be easier than I thought…

“So I made a contract with the Demon King. In exchange for absorbing his subordinates as they die, I agreed not to kill myself and cooperate with him until his goal is achieved.”

“I see.”

“…Hmm…”

The small boat rocked as I shifted my weight.

It’s a shame.

If I had met her before she made the contract with the Demon King, I could have dealt with her quickly.

Valentina, mistaking my movements for boredom, said,

“Heehee. Not very interesting, is it? That’s what life is. A play you have to keep watching, even if it’s boring.”

“Interesting or not, you’re…pitiful.”

“Pitiful? Do you pity me? I might have killed tens of millions, if not billions. And their consciousnesses are trapped within Gargantua, experiencing both eternal respite and unending torment.”

Valentina’s voice rose slightly, as if agitated.

She must be lonely, hurting. I’m strong enough to bear all your weaknesses.

Come to me.

I opened my arms and approached Valentina.

With the gentlest expression and warmest voice I could muster,

“Would you like a hug?”

“…What?”

Valentina let out a surprised yelp and tried to back away, but I was faster.

I used Instant Transmission for a split second.

“Gotcha.”

I pulled her small form into my embrace.

Careful not to poke her with my horn, I held her close, her small face buried in my chest.

“I can’t breathe. Are you going to let go?”

She doesn’t seem to dislike it. Did she miss a mother’s embrace?

I pulled Valentina’s head closer. Not out of pity or to comfort her.

Just… hugging something cute is comforting.

A sort of truce and respite.

“You wanted to atone, right? Endure it, even if it’s painful.”

“To treat me like this…the kings of the nations I destroyed would weep.”

“It was the dragon’s instinct, not you, right? Don’t keep blaming yourself.”

“Ugh…I can’t…breathe…”

She’s a demon, she can’t die from suffocation. What an exaggeration.

Well, this body does have a rather ample bosom.

“You did nothing wrong. No one blames anyone for actions committed while not in their right mind. How many lives have you taken after regaining your senses?”

“I thought I should kill them as painfully as possible. I devoured countless challengers. At least thousands.”

“And how many have you attacked first?”

“None. I’m certain of that. Though some may have died as a result of the battles.”

What trash.

Trash that feels no shame for taking lives.

A selfish creature who only thinks of herself.

“You’re truly pitiful, Valentina… no, Cynatria.”

“…You even know my true name. Who are you?”

Well, if you want information, it’s as if someone whispers it to you.

Like riding a specific wave in the sea of knowledge.

“Think of me as someone who asks questions, Cynatria. Are you a dragon?”

“I am. The purest of dragons.”

“Then what is a dragon?”

“Living destruction. The closest life form to God. A monster.”

“Are you a dragon?”

“I told you, I am the purest of dragons, and destruction.”

“No, you’re self-destructive, but you cannot become the embodiment of destruction.”

A child wielding a sword that doesn’t suit her.

One of the many pitiful souls I must save.

“Weep out all your sadness and regret, poor dragon.”

“…Huh.”

Valentina let out a tearful chuckle.

“Crazy woman.”

“I agree.”

I’m acting as the Saintess.

It’s not me.