“Does that mean you don’t want to return the souls?”
“That’s correct.”
Belphegor answered my question.
Well, of course, it would come to this.
Who in their right mind would willingly hand over something just because a stranger barged into their house demanding it?
Especially when that someone is an Apostle.
I placed a hand on his shoulder.
“Are those souls so precious to you that you’d sacrifice your own life for them?”
“Not at all.”
“Then, do you think you can win if you fight me? Someone like you should’ve sensed the difference the moment I stepped into this room.”
“I cannot defeat you. As you said, I knew it at first sight. The difference in the quality of our souls is clear.”
“Then what? Do you have a death wish?”
Belphegor chuckled leisurely and shook his head.
“I do not wish to die. I simply have no contractual obligation to return the souls to you.”
“I told you that contract is wrong.”
“You may claim that, but the timing is different, isn’t it?”
What does he mean by ‘the timing is different’?
As I stared at him, Belphegor pulled a thick book from the bookshelf.
“This is the Codex of Contracts. I execute all soul-related agreements based on this law book, without exception.”
“So?”
“For reference, this book I am holding is the version from ‘five years ago’.”
The codex opened by itself to a specific page.
Belphegor pointed at a particular sentence.
“It clearly states here, ‘A soul may be transferred on behalf of another.’”
“What kind of nonsense is this?”
“Though it is the law from five years ago, the contract in question was made five years ago as well. Therefore, I have no obligation to return the souls.”
Hah… what a ridiculous bastard.
At first, I thought he was just making excuses, but judging by how he acts, he actually believes what he’s saying.
He’s genuinely refusing to return the souls because, from a legal standpoint, he sees no flaw in his reasoning.
I shook my head.
“Forget it. I can see now that you’re the kind of guy who just won’t listen to reason.”
“What part do you not understand?”
“All of it. This law was made by you, and you’re enforcing it however you please. Stop pretending to be objective.”
“I adhere to the laws I create more than anyone—”
“Shut up.”
CRACK.
I tightened my grip on the Apostle’s shoulder.
His collarbone and shoulder blade shattered.
“Ever heard the saying ‘Might makes right’?” I asked.
“Enough with the bullshit. If you don’t want to die, hand over the souls.”
“Are you resorting to violence and threats?”
“Yeah.”
He looked back and forth between his twisted shoulder and me.
Even a seasoned knight would struggle to endure this injury, yet he seemed unfazed.
“This won’t work. No matter what you do, I have no contractual obligation. Whether you beat me or kill me, it doesn’t change anything.”
“This bastard…”
“If you kill me, it won’t be me who suffers the consequences. My soldiers will retaliate against you with full force.”
“You think I can’t handle that?”
“Even if my subordinates fail, you’ll have to face the entirety of Selenoa. Despite appearances, I hold a prestigious status here.”
This guy… He’s calmly using the people outside as hostages.
Has he figured out that I despise unnecessary sacrifices? Or is he simply stating the inevitable?
Either way, further threats won’t work.
I need a different approach.
If I start a fight here, just as he said, this entire area will be reduced to ruins.
I already have a persuasion tactic in mind.
Let’s test it out.
I released Belphegor’s shoulder and casually dusted off his crumpled suit.
“You’re completely obsessed with contracts, huh? But seeing how dedicated you are to principles, I doubt you’d act irrationally.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“Those souls must be something special if you’re clinging to them despite your life being on the line. Are they that delicious?”
“Souls can be eaten, worn, admired… They are everything in this world.”
“I see.”
I nodded and gestured toward Kalian.
“Then how about Kalian’s soul?”
“Huh?”
“From your perspective, how valuable is Kalian’s soul? Top-tier? Don’t play dumb—I know you’ve been eyeing it since earlier.”
“Ahem.”
Belphegor cleared his throat.
I sat beside him and whispered.
“Doesn’t it look absolutely delectable? Undoubtedly the finest quality for consumption… Not to mention, it shines so brilliantly that it would be perfect as a display piece.”
“…”
“Making him your friend wouldn’t be bad either. Unlike a body, a soul never decays. He could be your companion for eternity.”
“…”
“Be honest. In your entire life, have you ever seen a soul as radiant and magnificent as his?”
“…I have not.”
“Yeah, I figured.”
He swallowed his saliva.
So this is your weakness.
I smirked.
“Now, let’s imagine something. You’re standing before the greatest soul you’ve ever seen in your life—possibly the first and last of its kind. If you had a way to claim it, what would you do?”
“And what would that way be?”
“You make a deal with us.”
“A deal?”
“A duel. If you win, you get Kalian’s soul. If we win, you return the souls we asked for.”
“A wager where we both stake our souls?”
“A unique, unparalleled soul versus common ones. If you weigh it out, you stand to gain much more.”
Belphegor stroked his chin, looking troubled.
“That is true, but… it’s still an unfair contract. I have no chance of winning against you.”
“You won’t be fighting me. It’ll be Kalian himself. That should make things a bit more balanced, don’t you think?”
“Hmm… That certainly makes it more interesting. However, I can’t be sure what kind of trap you’ve prepared. I’d need about a week to review—”
“Ah, forget it. Never mind. Just drop it.”
I cut him off and got up from my seat.
I needed to play hard to get here.
“You think we have all the time in the world? If you keep dragging this out, how do we know you’re not planning something shady? We can’t make a fair wager under these conditions.”
“Wait a moment.”
“Wait for what? I’m not losing anything here. You can just keep feeding on the souls of cheap mercenaries for the rest of your life. Come on, everyone, let’s go.”
Grab.
As I turned to leave with my companions, Belphegor hastily grabbed my shoulder.
“Alright. I accept the contract.”
Elia spoke up.
“He’s more reasonable than I expected.”
“Yeah.”
“I thought he’d be a ruthless demon who devours souls without a second thought, but he’s surprisingly normal. Even his servants and the people in the region speak well of him.”
“Most Apostles are completely insane. This one’s just… a little less insane.”
We made our way to the duel arena inside the mansion.
With the duel between Belphegor and Kalian formally agreed upon, we drafted the necessary contract.
As we had discussed earlier—if Kalian won, we would reclaim the souls of the Belmore family. If the Apostle won, he would take Kalian’s soul.
Kalian had suddenly found himself wagering his own soul, but he didn’t complain.
The guy’s a self-sacrificing hero to the core.
He was willing to take that risk if it meant saving Elia’s family.
“I’ve ended up putting all the burden on Kalian. This isn’t what I wanted.”
“Isn’t this better?”
“Coming all this way just to do nothing… I feel pathetic. I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long.”
“It’s not like you’re doing nothing.”
I handed Elia a small pouch.
Inside, several small, densely packed orbs clinked together.
“What are these?”
“You’ll find out when the time comes. Only you can use them, so stay sharp. We don’t know when the opportunity will arise, but I’ll let you know when it does.”
“Alright.”
She clutched the pouch tightly against her chest.
Then, Evelyn spoke up.
“What should I do?”
“Evelyn, you also have a very important role. I can’t tell you yet, but just make sure you don’t get caught up in the fight.”
“I understand.”
Now, only Victoria was left.
Victoria stared at me blankly, as if wondering if there was anything for her to do.
Just to test, I asked Belphegor, “How about dueling Victoria?”
He immediately refused, saying, “She has the second most dangerous soul after you.”
Well, that meant she had nothing to do.
It would be best if she didn’t cause any trouble while standing idle.
“Hmm, you should…”
“What should I do? Tell me.”
“Uh… act weak.”
“Huh?”
I leaned in and whispered to the puzzled Victoria.
“You’ve seen it in plays, right? How a weak woman triggers a man’s protective instincts? If you want to get on Kalian’s good side, that’s the way to do it.”
“You want me to lie?”
“I want you to act. Just picture it—Kalian holding you in his arms, asking, ‘Are you alright?’”
“Hmm, that doesn’t sound bad.”
She nodded and went along with my plan.
With that, I had removed any unnecessary variables.
We arrived at the dueling arena.
Belphegor was already waiting in the center, and the rest of us, except for Kalian, took our seats in the spectator stands.
As Kalian approached, Belphegor greeted him with a warm smile.
“Kalian Bright, correct? A fitting name for someone with such a radiant soul. Allow me to introduce myself once more. I am Belphegor.”
“Shall we start right away?”
“Please wait a moment, Kalian. There is still a necessary procedure left.”
He pulled out a small, thin pouch from inside his coat.
As he slightly opened the pouch, a wave of anguished wails and desperate cries echoed from within.
“These are the souls I am bound to hand over should I lose this duel. It is only proper that you verify the contract goods in advance.”
“You’re not such a bad guy after all.”
“I merely value perfect procedures.”
Belphegor sealed the pouch again and tucked it away.
Before Kalian drew his sword, he asked,
“Are you going to fight like that?”
Belphegor was still dressed in a neatly tailored suit, without a shield, armor, or even a simple dagger.
“I am fine as I am.”
“You must be pretty confident in your abilities.”
“Confidence is unnecessary. That is because I far surpass you in strength.”
“Then let’s begin.”
“Very well. I will attack your chest. Prepare yourself.”
“What?”
Boom!
Kalian’s body was suddenly sent flying, crashing violently into the far end of the arena.
Wait a second—this guy is stronger than I expected.