Returning to the room with Sebastian, I pulled the sleeping Martin out and sat on the sofa.
“Hey, cancel the eavesdropping prevention spell now.”
Sebastian, who had been kneeling on the floor, nursing his battered wrists, looked up and grinned.
“Sure. That’s not a big deal…”
After casually flicking his fingers, he continued.
“By the way, can’t you use magic?”
I sensed a slight disturbance in the protective barrier. Well, even if guys like Martin intend to eavesdrop, it shouldn’t be a problem.
“Nah, not interested.”
“Why?”
Sebastian asked, widening his eyes.
“Well, you know dark magic, but can’t use regular magic? I heard there was an issue with the input during your creation. Is that true? So, can’t you use magic because of that?”
I still can’t use magic, you bast*rd.
I skipped almost three years; when did you expect me to learn and practice magic?
‘Still, I’ve steadily accumulated mana during this time, so I should pick up magic quickly.’
Although I’m relieved, that’s not all.
Anyway, I clenched my fist and raised my chin as if to say.
“Hey, Greenhead.”
“Sebastian.”
Sebastian’s face wrinkled, but I didn’t care.
After all, this guy is in a position where I has a hold over him.
And since we’ve decided to enter into a master-servant contract,
‘He’s in my hand.’
I smirked.
“Do you think you have the right to question me? Where do you think you can stand up to me? Do you want to get beaten?”
“Tch.”
Sebastian clicked his tongue, and it seemed like he had no choice.
Rolling his eyes, he looked like he thought he could figure something out.
Well, he think I’m a ‘created’ homunculus, only lived for three years. There’s probably something he can exploit.
But I’m human, and I’ve lived for over 90 years.
Am I going to be pushed around by these crazy demons?
“Don’t ask me questions from now on. Curious? Oh well, if you keep being curious, your days may get shorter.”
“I didn’t see you as someone so terrifying.”
“Did I really show you something scary?”
“No. I misspoke.”
Sebastian quickly bowed his head.
Looking down at his neatly combed hair, I asked,
“From whom did you learn black magic?”
When I sensed the aura of black magic from the dolls humans possess.
What I was most curious about was where he learned black magic.
After all, black magic disappeared a thousand years ago.
He squinted his eyes.
“Well, I’d like to answer everything honestly. But I can’t. Why? Because I’ll die.”
“Are you using a Silence spell?”
“Oh, you know about that too. Who are you really? Oh, I told you not to be curious. Yes, I won’t be curious.”
Leaving him, who answered in a way that made me want to hit him, behind, I stared blankly at the ceiling.
A type of black magic, the Silence spell.
If you’re under this spell, you can never disclose the relevant information. The moment you try to speak, your tongue gets cut, your throat closes, and your head explodes.
The way to unveil this is…
‘I need to learn a higher level of black magic.’
Since I couldn’t decide which path to take here, I thought I should consider it a bit more.
“Just tell me what you can say.”
“Hmm.”
Sebastian touched his chin, lost in thought for a moment.
“Ah, I can tell you where I learned it.”
Instead of answering, I raised an eyebrow. Upon which, he smiled and pointed directly below.
“… What did you say?”
“I learned it here, in what used to be the Second Demon Territory.”
“…..”
“If you’re curious, go find the Ice Wall. You might find the answers there. Ah, but I can’t say more than this! I’ll die!”
Ignoring Sebastian, who was going crazy, I leaned back and looked at the ceiling.
Then, I recalled the conversation with Lyat.
– This place, the Demon Margraviate of Daimon, was once called the Second Demon Territory.
– This was a sanctuary and shelter for demons. However, it was destroyed due to the rampage of one demon. Everything froze. So, the demons returned to their original realm, and this place was sealed.
The behind-the-scenes story of the game that I didn’t know.
‘Perhaps…’
There might be answers in the information I didn’t know.
‘Come to think of it, didn’t they give me some kind of setting book before?’
There wasn’t anything substantial, but that was just a part.
‘Maybe I can find something if I get the whole set.’
With that thought, I lowered my gaze from the ceiling and raised my chin.
“Well then, I’ll be on my way. It was a pleasure meeting you. If you call me again, I’ll come…”
“Where are you going?”
I gestured towards Sebastian, who was about to leave absentmindedly.
“The master-servant contract. You should stay for that.”
“Haha, you catch on quickly.”
“If you roll your head one more time, it’ll fall off.”
“Yes.”
Sebastian, who knelt down again and obediently bowed his head, used his long nails to tear through his skin.
As I briefly observed the crimson droplets falling on the contract document, I quickly regained my composure and spoke.
“Oh, and about what I mentioned, make it by tomorrow.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s nothing much, just decorations for the temple. If the image contract holds up, it’ll be useful.”
“… What?”
“Ah, and carve a seal on it while you’re at it.”
Sebastian, who had been dripping blood, slowly lifted his head.
“So, you want me to create a magical tool to probe the temple and imprint my existence there?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“In case it’s discovered, it won’t lead them straight to demon king, but directly to me?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“…..”
Sebastian’s mouth opened wide, but at that very moment, the contract was complete, so I didn’t pay much attention.
So, I just said one more thing.
“If you make a mistake, you face execution.”
***
After sending Sebastian away, I headed to the library.
“Oh, Lady Shekina, have you come?”
A red-haired demon, often seen in cold scenes, greeted me. He plays the role of a librarian.
“Yeah, it’s been a while.”
I casually greeted and tried to go inside.
“Has it been a while? Weren’t you here just last week?”
“…..”
Well, with the absence of a strict sense of time.
I deliberately smiled brightly and looked at the demon.
“Hmm. A week feels quite long for me, you know.”
“Is it because you missed me?!”
“Uh… Is there no one inside?”
“You missed me that much? Really? How much did you miss me?!”
“I checked if there was anyone inside.”
“I missed you too, Lady Shekina!”
It’s a drawback when you recover from a cold so quickly.
Before I knew it, I had formed a friendship. From a third-party perspective, it’s like, ‘Why are they so close?’
“Okay, okay. But can you answer? Is there no one inside?”
“Yes. No one else is here today. It’s just you and me, Lady Shekina!”
“Fine, fine. I’m leaving. Bye.”
“When you leave, you’ll play with me, right? Right?”
Ignoring the shouting demon, I quickly escaped.
Phew, I, being introverted, really don’t know what to do in situations like this.
Thump, thump.
Once inside, I carefully examined the bookshelves.
Normally, the library is enchanted with detection magic, revealing what you’re looking for just by thinking about it. However, this time, it wasn’t advisable.
‘I’m searching for dark magic.’
If someone happens to investigate the records, it could lead to trouble.
So, I was diligently trying to fill my body with information.
I didn’t expect to finish it all in one day. The library contained millions of volumes, and there might not be records about dark magic.
“My legs hurt.”
A child’s legs can’t endure long walks.
So, I just sprawled out. I planned to rest a bit before exploring the library more.
‘Dark magic…’
The Second Abyss, the Ice Wall, demons, summoning spells…
It feels like something is connecting, yet it remains disjointed.
A hint would be helpful.
“Ah, it’s time to recall memories.”
I hadn’t been actively trying to remember, but the time had come.
Now that I was here, the thought of the effort to recall seemed wasteful.
‘… Can’t be helped.’
Sighing, I covered my eyes with my soft palms.
Closed my eyelids.
Then closed another set of eyelids within.
Slowly, very slowly, I entered the abyss.
Toward the memories I had restrained.
Toward the memories I didn’t want to recall.
***
I lived 90 years only in this game.
Ninety years, entirely unhappy, never having felt happiness.
A life where, despite wanting to die, I couldn’t; struggling, yet unable to survive; and the tiny shreds of hope I held always shattered.
No matter how strong one’s mental fortitude, experiencing the 90 years I’ve lived would drive anyone insane.
I’m no exception.
At some point, I lost my sanity.
I killed everyone.
Parents, siblings, friends, villagers—everyone.
