“Enemy attack!! They’re coming from the village entrance and from behind as well! Arm yourselves!!!”
Shouts echoed through the night as fire arrows rained down. It was the humans—the ones who had been unusually quiet of late.
Though humans occasionally attacked the elven village, this time it was different. The raiders came in a larger band than ever before, organized and intent on a coordinated assault.
“Justus!”
A woman’s voice called out to me as I nocked an arrow from my perch in the trees.
I was keeping watch at the back of the village, where I had already spotted at least ten men advancing. I fired arrows to fend them off. Her warning was timely, as it seemed a spell had been aimed at me. I quickly leapt to another tree, avoiding the threat just in time.
“You saved me—I almost didn’t react in time. They even have a mage…”
“There are too many on the front side as well, and we’re struggling! We have to finish up here quickly and go help them…!”
We couldn’t spare enough fighters for both sides.
Three swordsmen moved forward to confront the attackers, while I provided cover fire with my bow. If possible, I wanted to take down their mage, but he stayed hidden in the shadows of the trees, preparing something. I couldn’t risk getting close.
All I could do was use my bow and offer healing. Offensive magic wasn’t my forte, much to my frustration. But I had honed my archery skills to a level unmatched by anyone else. Carefully aiming to avoid hitting my allies, I loosed arrows at the enemy.
Though it was nighttime, the irony was cruel—the burning buildings illuminated the silhouettes of the attackers.
The village was ablaze. I wanted desperately to join the firefighting efforts…!
It was then that I felt a malevolent surge of magical energy. A man’s triumphant shout reached my ears.
“We did it! A demon…! Now, kill the elves! We’ll use them as sacrifices!!”
What?! A demon?!
The demon had shoulder-length blue-black hair and eyes as bright as lapis lazuli. He wore a dark blue coat and white trousers, his tall, lean frame cutting an imposing figure.
“…Why have you summoned me?”
The demon looked displeased. I held my breath and watched. Even as my comrades fought the raiders, I couldn’t take my eyes off the demon. No one could contend with such a threat.
This could determine the fate of our village.
“Damn it! Kill these elves—leave only the women and children alive! Take whatever pleases you as your reward, and then—”
“Do you think I would agree to such a one-sided contract, you fool?! Are you mocking me?!”
The next moment, the summoner’s head flew from his shoulders.
Although the man had stood within the summoning circle, it had no effect. How could someone of his caliber hope to summon a demon, let alone one of noble rank?
The now-unbound demon strode toward the burning village, his expression one of seething disdain.
This is disastrous… A rogue demon has been unleashed upon the world. How could humans be so foolish?!
As he advanced, the demon attacked indiscriminately—both raiders and elves. I leapt down in front of the woman who had called to me earlier, spreading my arms to shield her.
“We have to run… This man is a demon, and his summoner is dead!”
“A demon?!”
The demon’s glowing blue eyes caught us in their unsettling gaze, a smirk playing on his lips. It was as though he were mocking our futile attempts to escape.
“Go now! Warn everyone!”
“…Understood!”
She backed away, then turned and ran. The demon made no move to pursue her, instead shifting his attention to me with an air of boredom.
“I have no interest in elves. Nor do I desire sacrifices. However…”
The demon suddenly dashed forward with blinding speed, closing the distance in an instant. His eyes burned with murderous intent.
“…I’ll vent my frustration on you! With your lives!!!”
It’s over…!
His hand struck out, charged with immense magical power, and slammed into my stomach. I could only flinch back slightly in resistance. However—
A loud crack sounded, and the demon’s magic dispersed. Though his hand struck my abdomen and sent me flying to the ground, I was spared the deadly force of his attack. Gasping for air from the pain in my stomach and back, I realized I was still alive.
“What… What is this?! What’s happening?! Is it a protective talisman?! But such a powerful one… No, that bracelet…!”
The demon, bewildered by his dissipated magic, muttered to himself as he approached me with long strides. Trembling, I braced for the end, but instead, he grabbed my arm and stared at the bracelet dangling there.
“…You, how did you come by this?!”
“…It was… from a woman named Iriya … and a demon called Belial…”
“Be… Belial-sama?!”
As I struggled to speak through the pain, the demon’s eyes widened in shock. He stared intently at the red stone in the bracelet, then released me and stood still, deep in thought. My comrades, too, were frozen in astonishment.
“…I didn’t know! I had no idea you were associated with Belial-sama…! Damn that summoner—I’ll kill him again if I could!!”
I recalled Iriya ’s words: “If you ever face trouble with a demon, invoke the name of Belial.”
Who could have imagined that she had a contract with such a high-ranking demon?! I’d thought her words were merely a jest. Yet this bracelet and the name held such weight—they had completely nullified the demon’s magic.
Even my companions, though baffled, asked me what was going on. I barely understood it myself.
“This won’t do! Where is Belial-sama now?!”
Frantically, I wracked my brain to recall what Iriya had told me.
“She mentioned… the town of Renant in the Kingdom of Chenkaslar… It’s across the river and further away…”
The demon’s gaze followed the direction I indicated, where the chaos of burning homes and battling elves and raiders played out.
“…I see…”
The demon seemed to be pondering something.
One of my elven comrades, his arm injured, crept up beside me and grabbed my shoulder.
“Justus, what’s going on? You can’t summon demons, can you?”
“…No, I can’t. It’s… a long story involving a human woman and her demon. Apparently, I’m loosely connected to that demon somehow. That’s all I know…”
Fearing the demon might attack again if he realized our connection was tenuous, I explained quietly.
“What an odd twist of fate…”
Fate, huh? Perhaps this encounter was destined to save us today…
“…So that’s how it is.”
The demon suddenly nodded to himself, as if reaching some conclusion. What decision had he made?
“Listen, golden-haired elf. I was deceived into attacking you. You’re completely unharmed—no pain at all. Isn’t that right?”
“Uh… What?!”
What was he even saying? It hurt like hell.
“I’ll also deal with your enemies. We are not adversaries, correct?”
“Are you saying… you’ll help us drive off the raiders…?!”
If he stopped attacking us and instead fought the raiders, we might actually survive this!
“I shall annihilate them!”
Before I could respond, the demon drew a radiant golden sword and charged forward.
In a flash, he cut down a raider attempting to seize an elven woman. He intercepted another trying to snatch a child, delivering a magic-charged strike that killed the man instantly.
His overwhelming power was undeniable.
The ground itself rose, sharpened into spikes by his magic, impaling raiders before they could flee.
“As cracks spread from beneath their feet, they reached the group of bandits. Dust and stones scattered, obscuring their vision, and in the ensuing confusion, the demon’s sword cut down one bandit after another. It was such a swift display of skill that there wasn’t even time for them to scream.
Faced with the sudden and overwhelming intruder, the bandits abandoned their arson and began to flee. Some even attempted to escape outright. Seizing the opportunity, we elves launched a counterattack, taking down the bandits who had brazenly attacked and rescuing our captured comrades.
Those unable to fight tended to the wounded and used water magic to extinguish the flames.
Victory was near! For a moment, the thought of our annihilation had crossed my mind, but this was nothing short of a miracle!
‘Why are you here, Botis?’
A voice suddenly echoed from above. There was no mistaking it—the red-haired demon Belial and her contractor, Iriya . But why were they here?
‘Lady Belial!! Ah, no, I was summoned…!’
The demon, with blue-black hair and lapis lazuli eyes, named Botis, cast a glance in my direction as if asking me to explain.
Ah, so he’d been trying to come up with an excuse. This Belial seemed to be quite a high-ranking demon.
‘The bandits are retreating. First, we must extinguish the fires,’ Iriya said as she descended to stand beside me. It seemed she remembered me.
‘We’re already using magic and have begun extinguishing them,’ I replied.
‘It’s been a while, Lord Justus.’
She greeted me with her usual politeness, her cheeks lit red by the fires caused by the bandits.
‘It has been a while, Iriya …’ I replied, though wondering if I should have addressed her with the more respectful “Lady.” Was she perhaps a noble magician from the human world?
She didn’t appear offended; instead, she offered a kind smile. Then her gaze swept across the burning buildings and the destruction caused by the bandits’ rampage.
‘The fire is spreading rapidly. At this rate, the current extinguishing efforts won’t suffice,’ she observed.
‘That’s true…’ I admitted. Being mostly wooden structures, the flames spread faster than expected, worsened by magical arson and flaming arrows. The bandits had set fires as if for fun.
‘Oh, clouds, spread endlessly and cover the skies. Close the azure heavens in a veil of mist. O windows of the sky, open. Shower upon us a billion raindrops. Let the endless rain that quenches even deserts fall upon us. San Million Rain.’
As she chanted, clouds began to gather, and a light rain started to fall. Gradually, the rain intensified, and the dark columns of smoke rising to the sky began to lose their force. The fires were being extinguished!
By the time the flames were reduced to mere embers, the rain stopped, and the skies cleared beautifully. Stars twinkled brightly, reclaiming their presence.
‘Rain through magic! Thank you so much!’ I exclaimed, amazed that magic could be used for something other than combat. Iriya blushed slightly and smiled modestly at my enthusiastic thanks.
‘Now then, it’s your turn to explain, Botis,’ Belial said.
The demon Botis, who had been so bold moments ago, visibly flinched when Belial called his name.
I testified that this demon had been summoned by the bandits’ sorcerer but had chosen to help us instead.
Iriya and Belial had sensed the activation of protective magic and had come, even in the dead of night. Apparently, they also wanted to purchase Mandragoras.
‘Mandragoras, you say? I hope the fields are still intact…’ I said, leading the way with a woman I had earlier told to flee. Unfortunately, much of the field was destroyed—trampled and further damaged by the demon’s earth magic.
‘…Botis, what have you done? My contractor desires Mandragoras! Your actions have made this trip meaningless!’ Belial scolded.
‘I had no idea of such circumstances. My deepest apologies…!’ Botis, who had helped save us, was now being reprimanded! Were Mandragoras really that important? More important than our lives?
‘Lady Belial! Surely it is enough that everyone is safe. Besides, we haven’t yet obtained the Seeb Issahil Amel herb, have we?’ Iriya interjected.
‘There might be some left in the storage, assuming it hasn’t burned down…’ the woman beside me said, running off to check.
In the meantime, I pulled out a few intact Mandragoras and handed them to Iriya . Cultivated Mandragoras didn’t scream as loudly as their wild counterparts.
She hesitated, feeling guilty for taking them after all the damage, but I insisted, as it was thanks to her and Belial that we were saved. We also found a small amount of Seeb Issahil Amel to give her. Though it wasn’t much, she seemed genuinely pleased.
‘Oh! It’s the big sister from before!’ a child called out, waving at Iriya . She and Belial had rescued two children and a woman from the bandits. However, in our current state, we could neither properly thank nor host them.
Iriya , accompanied by the elf woman who had prepared the herbs, left with the child. This left only Botis, Belial, and me.
‘It seems the village’s recovery will take some time. Botis, you will assist them,’ Belial declared.
‘…What?’ Botis replied, dumbfounded.
Ignoring him, Belial continued, ‘You caused the loss of the Mandragoras. You will cultivate them anew and deliver them to us.’
‘I, uh, delivering Mandragoras is no trouble at all. There’s no need to go that far…’ I interjected, feeling it was unnecessary for him to help us further.
‘…Then how will he atone?’ Belial’s voice took on a dangerous tone.
‘I suppose helping with the recovery is the least I can do! As expected of Lady Belial, a truly fair judgment!’ Botis quickly agreed, clearly intimidated by her.
Thus, Botis ended up assisting with the village’s recovery. Since demons cannot use their full power without a contract, I entered into a contract with him: ‘He would help with the recovery for a year in exchange for Mandragoras and Seeb Issahil Amel.’ It was a contract that offered Botis no real benefit, and with Belial overseeing, there was no room for deceit or revision.
The next day at noon, Iriya and Belial departed, leaving the elf village with a resident demon for one year.
Surprisingly, Botis, who preferred knowledge over combat, found the cultivation of Mandragoras quite intriguing and proved to be rather gentlemanly. He quickly adapted to life in the elf village.
Later, I learned that Botis was a count-class demon, which greatly surprised me. Then what on earth is Belial…? A terrifyingly powerful demon under contract with a human.
I’m so glad I apologized immediately back then…”
