Chapter 349

Chapter 349. Conversations with Demons

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍air inside the storeroom was still.

It ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was the waiting time—waiting for the safe return of a companion who had departed for another world.

Sweat ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍trickled down Inette’s forehead as she stood at the center of the magic circle.

She ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was clearly engaged in a battle unseen.

Watching ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍over her, Radel quietly moved.

He ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍headed toward a corner of the storeroom piled high with miscellaneous junk.

Using an old wooden crate as a chair, Radel dropped down and closed his eyes.

Gusto approached soundlessly and stood by his side.

As always, Gusto’s expression revealed no emotion, yet concern flickered unmistakably in his gaze.

The battle with the dragon, the infiltration of the Mage Tower, the rescue of the Sixth Prince—

After such an unbroken chain of ordeals, it was obvious how exhausted the Prince’s body and mind must be.

“Are you tired?” Gusto asked.

Radel nodded with his eyes still closed.

“I think I need to get a little rest.”

With Inette staking everything on a challenge against an unknown being called the Great Spirit of Fire, Radel could not afford to remain idle.

Even a brief moment was a precious opportunity that could not be wasted.

‘If I am going to face Mammon, I need to prepare.’

A Great Demon must be answered by a Great Demon.

Radel intended to peer into the abyss of a Great Demon using the Key of Sealing.

Though his eyes were closed, Radel’s mind was sharper than ever.

Entering a Great Demon’s consciousness through the Key of Sealing demanded immense focus.

For that, he needed time entirely to himself.

“Then I will stand guard,” Gusto said as though it were only natural.

He did not ask why Radel needed to rest now.

He simply believed that every decision the Prince made carried meaning.

“Thanks, Gusto.”

Radel did not refuse.

Entrusting things to Gusto meant that no one would disturb him until he opened his eyes again.

Slowly, Radel cut off his awareness of the outside world.

Then he concentrated.

His goal was to extract information about Aaron Daryu, the Mage Tower Master’s proxy, and Mammon, the Great Demon of Avarice with whom he had contracted.

And the most reliable informant for that information was another Great Demon already in Radel’s grasp.

The noisy sounds of reality faded away.

Only the steady pounding of his own heartbeat echoed in his ears.

Radel’s consciousness touched a pitch-black abyss.

This was Leviathan’s domain, where jealousy and hatred seethed.

As casually as if entering his own inner chamber, Radel called his name.

“Leviathan.”

At that call, the entire abyss shook with rage.

Black flames erupted from the ground like pillars, forming the figure of a wounded Great Demon.

Jagged purple hair.

Two pairs of sharp horns jutting from his temples.

Reptilian slit pupils brimming with murderous intent, as though he would tear Radel apart at any moment.

He opened his mouth and roared.

—You dare come into my domain after subjecting me to such dog-like humiliation?!

The abyss responded to his fury, blazing violently.

But Radel did not so much as blink.

His gaze was fixed on the golden shackles clanking around Leviathan’s ankles.

Proof that Radel had subjugated him.

The binding curse of a subdued Great Demon.

Clank.

Each time Leviathan moved, the shackles gave off a heavy sound.

—How long do you think you can keep me bound, you wretch?

Leviathan sneered, straining as if to snap the shackles.

—Just wait. The day I break free of this, I will kill you!

“Maybe. Care to bet on whether you break the shackles first, or I die first?”

Radel replied calmly.

He stepped closer, gazing up at Leviathan without flinching even amid the burning heat of the abyss.

“Of course, you do not have the right to gamble. You are my property.”

—You…!

“I did not come to train you today. I came to ask something. About one of your kind.”

At the word kind, a look of contempt crossed Leviathan’s face.

—One of my kind?

“The Great Demon of Avarice, Mammon. The one contracted to the Mage Tower’s proxy.”

—Do not lump me together with that trash!

“Aren’t all Great Demons comrades, then?”

Radel understood Leviathan’s psyche perfectly.

Great Demons never regarded one another as allies.

They were eternal rivals.

And for a prideful being like Leviathan, being bound by shackles while another demon ran rampant was humiliation incarnate.

“Mammon’s contractor, Aaron, borrowed Mammon’s power and took over the Mage Tower. Impressive, is it not? Unlike you, he chose his contractor well. You were defeated at the Academy, but Mammon is devouring the entire Mage Tower.”

—Shut your mouth! What can that gold-obsessed glutton possibly do?!

“Well, he looks more competent than you, at least.”

Jealousy boiled up in Leviathan’s eyes.

“Is it not unfair that you alone suffer this humiliation?”

Radel threw out the decisive bait.

He opened his palm, revealing six violet keys resting neatly atop it—keys that contained fragments of Leviathan’s soul.

“Is it not a waste for you alone to enjoy the pleasure of wearing such elegant shackles and becoming a frying pan? Should not the others share in this joy as well, for fairness’ sake?”

Realizing the true meaning behind Radel’s words, Leviathan’s gaze wavered.

Radel was casually revealing an outrageous plan—to subjugate the other demons as well.

—…You madman.

“Then tell me. What is Mammon’s weakness?”

Leviathan fell silent for a moment.

Countless schemes crossed his mind.

Could he deceive this human and trick him into releasing the shackles?

Could he feed him false information about Mammon and lead him to ruin?

But Leviathan soon abandoned every thought.

The human before him was not someone bound by common sense.

His schemes had already been seen through hundreds of years ago by an even greater madman named Hayden.

For now, it was better to play along.

With a sense of resignation, Leviathan spoke.

—Weakness? That gold-crazed bastard has no such thing.

Bound by the shackles, he growled with fury.

—He does not even enjoy fighting. When other demons invaded one another’s domains and waged wars, he stayed shut inside his golden palace, counting gems. He fights for only one reason: to take. He moves only to protect what is his, or to steal what belongs to others!

Leviathan’s words pierced straight to Mammon’s essence.

Mammon, the Great Demon of Avarice—he was a being obsessed not with destruction or domination, but solely with possession.

‘He dislikes fighting directly…’

Hearing that, memories of the two failed timelines Arteo had described flashed through Radel’s mind.

Aaron had fought, and the Sixth Prince’s other personality had rampaged—but Mammon himself had never descended.

‘Which means descending into the mortal realm is not what he wants. Then what does Mammon desire?’

If he could figure that out, a path forward might appear.

As Radel pondered, Leviathan licked his lips with his split tongue and whispered slyly.

—By the way, what do you plan to make Belphegor into?

“Hm, Belphegor?”

—Yes. You have gathered all of his keys as well.

Leviathan casually let slip the information.

He knew that Radel possessed all six black keys.

—Go ask that lazy bastard. He knows Mammon better than I do.

Leviathan snickered inwardly.

I will not be the only one turned into a frying pan!

Belphegor, you can share the same suffering!

It was the vicious grudge befitting the Great Demon of Envy.

Radel saw through Leviathan’s intentions, but the suggestion was still worth considering.

He withdrew from Leviathan’s abyss and entered through a black key.

***

Radel’s consciousness arrived in an empty space.

No up or down.

No beginning or end.

A pure white void.

At its center, the Great Demon of Sloth, Belphegor, lay sprawled like a mountain, fast asleep.

When Radel appeared, Belphegor lazily lifted his eyelids.

In the dream long ago, his body had seemed mountain-sized, but now he appeared no larger than an ordinary man.

It was proof that Radel’s soul had grown that much.

—Have you come to contract with me?

Belphegor slowly sat up.

His voice still carried a languid boredom, as if everything were a nuisance.

“I came because I wanted to know more about you. You have wanted to contract with me for a long time. Why?”

At Radel’s question, Belphegor smiled faintly.

—Because it is amusing.

Belphegor looked at Radel.

—If you contract with me, you will eventually realize that nothing truly changes.

A statement befitting the Great Demon of Sloth.

He denied change itself.

At the end of all effort lay nothingness.

All things were ultimately futile.

That was the essence of his authority.

“I see.”

Radel was unbothered by his words.

Instead, he gained a crucial hint.

‘He dislikes change. Then…’

A brilliant idea surfaced in Radel’s mind.

The perfect item—one that matched Belphegor’s sloth to perfection, yet could turn him into a tool.

‘A magic pot where the stew never runs out, no matter how long it boils.’

The ultimate item for the pinnacle of sloth, eliminating even the effort of preparing daily meals.

‘That would suit Belphegor perfectly.’

As Radel smiled in satisfaction, Belphegor, unaware of his thoughts, continued lazily.

—You came to ask about Mammon, did you not? He is my opposite. He moves to possess, while I do not even move to maintain. What Mammon fears most is losing what he owns. What I find most troublesome is changing what I already have.

Belphegor’s words sounded like a riddle, but Radel grasped their core precisely.

‘Mammon fears losing what he owns. Then what Aaron is obsessed with is…’

After hearing the Mage Tower Master Helio’s story, Radel understood what Aaron clung to.

The position of Mage Tower Master.

The Mage Tower Master’s recognition.

The Mage Tower itself.

Aaron regarded them as his possessions and believed they had been stolen from him.

That was why he had been able to contract with Mammon.

‘This can be used.’

Having obtained what he needed, Radel gave Belphegor a light bow.

Coming here had been the right choice.

“Thank you for the valuable information. This makes things clear.”

—Clear about what?

Radel grinned at Belphegor.

“That I can put you to very good use.”

At that smile, a spark of interest—his first in centuries—flickered in Belphegor’s languid eyes.

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