These Demons Do it for Free

Chapter 33

I refused Mea’s offer to teach me the summoning method for her contracted demon.

Well, it was the obvious decision.

Even as a demon warlock, it's practically impossible to just go around making contracts with new demons left and right. Not that it’s entirely impossible, but even if you recklessly form more contracts, you wouldn’t be able to borrow real power from them.

If I were to explain it in simple terms, a contract with a demon is like going public on the stock market. If you consider me, Roman, as a company, then going public means issuing shares (worship, sacrifices, offerings) in exchange for borrowing money (power). That’s the basic principle of demon magic.

And the value of those shares depends on my rank. Think of it as the value of the company.

Now, when a demon warlock increases their rank to form more contracts, it’s like issuing new shares. But existing shareholders don’t like it when new shares are issued, since it dilutes their stake.

Demons are no different.

There’s also the fact that certain ranks place limits on demon contracts, meaning there are demons you simply can’t contract with.

For instance, I’m already contracted with two high-ranking demons, both of which hold noble titles. Right now, I don’t have the luxury of adding any new contracts.

Even if I could, I doubt I’d want to contract with Mea’s demon.

Why would I make a contract with an otherworldly demon when I’ve got earthly demons helping me for free?

No way.

But for some reason, it seemed like my refusal had a big impact on Mea. She looked dejected, lips tightly pressed together, not saying a word.

Offering to teach someone the summoning method for your contracted demon as a demon warlock is a huge gesture of goodwill. Mea must have worked up the courage to make that offer, and maybe I’d been too blunt in my rejection.

‘Maybe I could have said that I’d consider it once my rank increased. That would’ve been a better way to handle it.’

Why do good ideas always come too late?

Saying that now would probably just sound like an empty attempt to comfort her.

The atmosphere was awkward.

"...Hey." "Yes?" "That’s a Plant Goblin. They mimic plants to ambush prey. And over there, that’s a Magnetic Beetle. Be careful, they can pull in metal objects."

Even in this awkward situation, Mea diligently continued her role as a guide.

I had to rise to the occasion and meet her expectations.

'Are you ready, Le?' [Of course, Ro.]

"I’ll take care of them right away."

This was practically my first real battle in the Abyss.

'This is my chance.'

A chance to show Mea why I couldn’t form a contract with her demon.

The monsters?@@@@

They're as good as dead.

Fortunately, the awkwardness eventually subsided thanks to the ongoing conversation and the steady progress of the training. Though it took a full day for things to get back to normal, by the third day, we were back on track.

What was originally planned as a two-day training session had long since been extended, and we had been traveling for several days now.

And yet, Mea still hadn’t slept.

Even when I stood watch, she only laid down but never actually slept.

It wasn’t even like she was pretending to sleep—she just stared blankly at the sky, wide awake.

So, by the third day, I gave up and either stayed awake with her or slept alone.

On the first day, I was too busy keeping an eye on the four captives to pay much attention to my surroundings.

On the second day, we occasionally encountered other explorers, so I couldn’t afford to let my guard down, and we were still busy working through the awkwardness.

By the third day, Mea and I finally had the chance to appreciate our surroundings.

Today marked the fourth day since entering the Abyss.

With the crackling sound of burning logs in the background, I found myself entranced by the strangely familiar yet unfamiliar landscape of the first layer of the Abyss.

The deep blue sky, the floating islands drifting overhead, and the shadowed mountain ranges cloaked in twilight.

The mysterious, almost hypnotic beauty of it all was a constant reminder that this place was far removed from the world above.

However, one thing was missing—something you would expect from the Abyss.

"Is it because we’re lower down? There don’t seem to be many monsters around." "They’re here."

Mea pointed with her slender finger.

There, glowing softly in the wind, was a cloud of luminous dust.

"Glow Dust Bugs." "That? Really?"

I’d imagined something like fireflies based on what we learned at the academy, but seeing them in person, they just looked like glowing dust.

"They’re harmless. People even question whether they should be classified as monsters." "They’re beautiful."

Fortunately, there was no actual fever, just the torment of the nightmares.

[Shall I help?] "Can you?" [Hmm, it’s tricky to interfere with a demon’s rightful contract, but it’s not impossible.]

As expected from the Lord of Hell, Seir.

A true noble worthy of the title of Grand Duke.

[No, it’s not me. It’s Leraje!]

...Oh, the Great Marquis of Hell!

[So, what do you think? Want some help?] "Yes, please. I’d appreciate it." [It’s easy. Just give me one more sugar-coated fruit skewer the next time you summon me. Deal?]

Of course.

Just moments ago, I was thinking that dealing with nightmares wasn’t such a bad price for a high-ranking demon with a noble title. And now, the Great Marquis was asking for nothing more than a couple of sugary treats in exchange?

I was all in.

I wholeheartedly agreed, bowing to the only ones who could provide such value—my demon lords.

The moment Mea woke up, she knew something was wrong.

Snap!

She immediately sprang up, her abrupt movement sending the blanket that had been covering her flying. But Mea didn’t even notice.

‘Did I... sleep? When? How long?’

She didn’t want to sleep.

She hated the nightmares that dredged up those dreadful memories, forcing her to relive them in vivid detail.

Nightmares that made her experience the things she never wanted to face again.

And worst of all, the hollow emptiness that always followed afterward.

‘Why now...?’

She had been in the Abyss for far too long.

The Abyss saps your energy, even if you’re just standing still. She’d warned Roman about it, told him to be cautious, but in the end, she hadn’t managed her own condition.

‘At a time like this...!’

"Did you sleep well?"

"What?"

"Did you have a good rest?"

Did I sleep well?

He knew.

I had told him about the price I paid—the nightmares I had whenever I slept. And now he had the nerve to ask me if I slept well...?

"Huh?"

I felt... fine.

There was no cold sweat soaking through my clothes, no soreness from tossing and turning all night, no lingering confusion or the crushing weight of the nightmares that usually clouded my mind.

There was nothing.

Instead, I felt... refreshed.

How long had it been since I last felt this well-rested after waking up?

I couldn’t even remember.

"You..."

"Shall we eat and get going?"

"Wait, that's not...!"

The sleep wasn’t the only issue. There was more to it.

Roman didn’t know this, but the nightmare wasn’t the only price I paid.

Just as Roman had contracts with Seir and Leraje, I also had multiple contracts with different demons.

And one of those contracts demanded a price far worse than nightmares.

In a panic, I grabbed my notebook and quickly flipped through it.

I read everything I’d written, from the first page all the way to the last, skimming through every entry quickly but carefully.

By the time I reached the last record, my mind was more confused than ever.

"Why...?"

I remembered everything, didn’t I?