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Demonic Conqueror: Heroic Valor - Chapter 24.1, 24.2
🕑 Added 2025-02-27 04:30:06 +0000 UTC"You're..." Bastian inched backwards, sidestepping to put himself in-between Simon and the unconscious Cyna. "Ancient One take me, you're a Demon."
Technically a Fell-Shrouded Human, but not even Katarina took me seriously when I suggested I wasn't born like this. "In the flesh," Simon replied, his smile growing. "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather we skip the introductions and pleasantries. On a bit of a time crunch here."
Bastian said nothing, wearing the expression of a man staring down the barrel of a gun. His hand crept towards the longsword sheathed at his waist.
"I don't recommend that," Simon helpfully told him. "Killing me would be hazardous to your health."
"That so?" The rebel let out a half-deranged chuckle. "Would I be cursed for slaying a Demon, then? A last act of retribution to haunt me long after you're gone?"
"Sounds intriguing, but no. I meant it in more of a direct sense."
With his human hand, Simon gestured at the locked door. Outside, heavy footsteps – belonging to guards wearing armor – could be heard gathering en masse. "When Helmund's soldiers finally open that door, the only thing standing between you, them, and a shallow grave will be this protective Barrier I've cast."
Bastian glared at the translucent mana-shield as if it was laughing at him. He sucked in air through clenched teeth, forcing himself to face the Demon again.
"Are you allied with the nobility?" he asked. His voice was one of palpable loathing, like he would throw caution to the wind and attack Simon if given the wrong answer. "Just another of Duke Helmund's sycophants?"
"...Is that a joke?" Despite their need for haste, the question was so absurd – and downright offensive – that the transmigrator felt compelled to respond. "What, exactly, gave you the impression that I'm working with Helmund?"
"You led me straight into a trap, for one. Encouraged my folly as the noose slowly tightened."
"Please. You led yourself, Guy. Not my fault your heart didn't listen to your head. If you hadn't been so obsessively worried over Medea, maybe you wouldn't have rushed full speed ahead and missed a bunch of blatant warning signs."
"If those warnings were so evident, why follow me into a stronghold infested by guardsmen? Helmund would readily slaughter any Demon who encroached on the Severed Isles. When this door opens and your barrier crumbles under a deluge of steel, you'll be joining me in whatever shallow grave they dig for us."
Bastian examined him with a calculating gaze. "You came here for a reason. There's some manner of scheme that I am not yet privy to."
Katarina loudly cleared her throat. "A scheme that I was not made privy to, either." She sent Simon a disgruntled side-eye. "Would it have been so hard to include me in your designs?"
He offered her a conciliatory look in return. "I learned some key details from Sin Scry and Identify. Was difficult to tell you without alerting Guy."
"Nevertheless, you should have tried. We are equal partners in this endeavor. A brief letter slipped my way wouldn't have been remiss."
"Fair. I'll be better about that next time."
Bastian recoiled away from Katarina, as if suddenly remembering her presence. "You're with him," he hissed. "A Contracted servant. A Demon's thrall. I've always thought that Helmund's soldiers were selling their souls, after a fashion – but you've actually gone and done it."
The Arcane Rogue tapped idle fingers against her daggers. "You're still in the midst of adjusting to Simon's...to Simon, so I'll forgive that." She glanced at the transmigrator. "What is needed of me?"
"Just keep your crossbow aimed at the doorway. We should be finished here before I run out of MP, but if not, an explosive Firebolt will make the guards have second thoughts about storming inside."
He turned to address Bastian. "Now – are you going to continue wasting time, or should we skip to the part where I save your life?"
Simon injected a sliver of urgency into his tone that he didn't truly feel. For all he'd claimed that the last minute had been a waste of time, it was necessary to set Bastian at ease. Demons were creatures of nightmare and legend in Valtia; few people would react calmly when confronted with a horror movie monster where lifelong enslavement was one of the lesser hells they could inflict upon you.
Thankfully, they'd managed to prevent the rebel from having a full-blown meltdown. While he still seemed anxious and on a hair trigger, that was a far cry from readying to charge at Simon, sword drawn and heart steeled. I'll have to thank Katarina later. Her speaking so nonchalantly worked wonders.
"Save...my life," Bastian repeated under his breath. He looked back at the still-unconscious Cyna. A grim countenance passed over him, as if preparing for the worst. "What of–"
"Her too. If you comply."
"...Comply." The color drained from Bastian's face. "How–"
With a creak of interlocking metal, the door opened.
Simon arched an eyebrow at what he saw outside. The adjacent hallway wasn't especially large, but a dozen soldiers had packed themselves together like sardines in a tin can. There were probably dozens more just out of view. Most of them shouted with glee as the door opened, raising triumphant fists into the air, as if this was the most entertainment they'd had all month.
I suppose we are spicing things up for them, Simon mused. Doubt that Helmund's strongholds are infiltrated often – let alone twice in a single day.
Upon seeing the glowing Barrier covering the doorway, the guards went from excited to stunned in an instant, their cheers dying abruptly. Silence reigned for a few moments. The armored men and women exchanged befuddled glances with each other, as if wondering whether there was another Artifact they'd forgotten to deactivate.
Katarina flinched at the sight of a full retinue of soldiers standing mere feet away. Simon flinched as well – from suppressing the broad grin threatening to ruin his negotiations with Bastian. A rebel at the end of his rope wouldn't appreciate how thoroughly pleased the Demon felt right now.
Threaded the needle. He'd positioned himself close enough to the door to cast Barrier, yet angled himself so that the soldiers couldn't see his Demonic arm. They were unaware that this strange new obstacle was a product of Fell magic. The guards would leisurely take their time confronting it...
All while remaining in Bastian's peripheral vision. A constant reminder of the fate that awaited if he refused to comply.
Simon couldn't have asked for a more effective backdrop.
"I'll ask plainly," he quietly whispered to Bastian, so that the guards couldn't hear him as they murmured amongst themselves. "What have you heard of Demons? In general."
"You devour souls." The man shivered. "Bind people into Contracts of servitude. Torture them to fulfill whatever twisted fantasies your hateful, diseased minds crave. It is said that slitting your own throat is preferable to catching their interest."
Katarina said something similar. Are the rumors exaggerated, or are native Demons truly that awful? Guess I'd need to meet one to find out.
"Hmm." Simon tilted his head. "Can't speak for others of my kind, but I specialize in a slightly different field than torture for torture's sake. Rather, I possess the capacity to bestow incredible power unto people."
"...So that's your game." Bastian twitched with nervous energy, not seeming to realize that he was leaning on Cyna's chair for support. "Fool's gold wrapped in a fool's tale – but I'm a fool as well, so I suppose it's apt. Been some time since I was on the receiving end of a con this...grandiose."
His lips morphed into a sneer. "What were you planning to say next, Demon? That you'll make me invincible? The second coming of Piers Helmund? With just a snap of your fingers, I'll massacre my way through this entire Ancient-accursed stronghold?"
"Yes."
The word was stated with the severity it deserved. Bastian's eyes widened at Simon's sudden shift in tone, the transmigrator not blinking as he spoke. "You won't be invincible, and I've never met Piers. But massacring your way home? That's the idea."
Simon was highly impressed with what he'd seen of Bastian's combat efficacy, both in-person and during Sin Scry. The rebel had moved with unerring precision, capable of cutting down soldiers like trimming weeds in a garden. It was even more impressive when accounting for his sub-par mana affinity.
However, that same lack of mana had also hamstrung his potential. He would never be as strong as he wished. The nature of his birth had left him with an inherent deficit that no amount of hard work could ever surpass.
Perhaps it was cruel to think of him in that manner, but Valtia was not a world that shied away from cruelty. People with mana were simply capable of more. It was why Armand Calloway's dagger had turned an untrained, languid nobody into a monster to be feared. It was why Katarina had wept when she first tested the power granted by her new Levels, overcome with tears of relief, joy, and the frustration of so many wasted years.
Yet despite his innate handicap, Identify had deemed that Bastian was worthy of Estimated Level 15. He'd stormed strongholds, battled guardsmen, pulled off assassinations, and traded blows with two people of higher Level. His body may not have been a font of all-empowering mana, but his skill with the blade was unquestionable.
What would happen when you endowed a man like that with the gods' system?
"I'll help, of course," Simon continued. "Katarina and I will fight at your back. But you will be the tip of the spear piercing through the soldiers' ranks. I have faith that you'll tear through them like wet tissue paper – especially in a relatively thin corridor, where they'll have difficulty surrounding you and making use of their numbers advantage."
Bastian bit down a retort. He wanted to argue, to call Simon a maniac, but something in the Demon's unwavering gaze stopped him short.
It was tough to debate a conman who wholeheartedly believed in what they were selling.
"Let's...presume you are correct," Bastian eventually said. Although his body was so tense you could practically hear his heart pounding from across the room, the man's voice sounded buttery-smooth. "How would you go about empowering me? Would I need to accept a Demon's Contract?"
"That would be part of it, yes." Simon wasn't Granting this Boon purely out of the goodness of his heart. There would be terms and conditions, sign here, please.
Besides, Bastian would've been less likely to take the deal if there weren't strings attached. He'd been forced to bet on the kindness of strangers in order to rescue Cyna, but that was an act of desperation. Con artists were generally the types of people that responded to altruism with cynicism.
Nothing was more suspicious than someone telling you exactly what you wanted to hear – and that went double when it was coming from a Demon.
Bastian paused. "Curious that you chose to regale me with stories of the power I can have, dangling glory just within my grasp, plying me with silver honey...before bothering to mention the Contract even once. Why not threaten my life, cow me into submission?"
He narrowed his eyes. "Makes me think that you sorely desire my assistance. That without my sword arm, you'd be in as much trouble as the rest of us."
"No."
Simon pushed more severity into the word than before. "You are not needed, Guy. Nor is Medea. Don't make the mistake of assuming you aren't expendable."
It was the honest truth. If Simon placed a Landmine outside the door, blew apart some of the clumped-up guards, grabbed Katarina, used the confusion to dash through the hallway, and cast quick Barriers to fend off attacks as they went...
He felt very confident that they could make it to the window room mostly intact. And due to their increased Vitality, the ensuing four-story drop wouldn't pose much of an obstacle. Any major injuries could be patched up later by Transmigrator's Body or visiting a local healer.
Bastian and Cyna wouldn't be so lucky.
The rebel winced as if he'd been struck. Again, he tried to muster up some form of rebuke – and again, words failed him. It would've been easier if there was some logical hole or exaggeration to poke at, but none existed. Simon didn't have to tell lies to ensnare people.
Not when the cold starkness of reality provided all the argument he needed.
A sword tapped at the Barrier. One of the guards was testing the waters, poking their weapon from a distance, like a child using a stick to examine something unsavory. The soldiers had belatedly figured out that the translucent mana-shield wasn't something of theirs. Wouldn't be long before they started hacking away at it.
"Time's up." Simon concentrated his Demonic mana, struggling with the effort of maintaining his Barrier while simultaneously tapping into a different ability. "I'll initiate the Contract. Be prepared to read fast. I trust you'll find the terms agreeable."
Energy concentrated on the wall behind him – out of view from Helmund's guards. Unfortunately, that didn't stop the room itself from darkening. Shadows stretched forward, deepening, almost seeming to come alive. Frenzied muttering swirled at the edges of their hearing.
The guardsmen fell deathly silent. They peered through the Barrier and into the room, their morbid fascination plain to see. None had witnessed a Demon's magic in-person before, so without being able to see Simon's arm or the Contract forming, they didn't know what the change in scenery truly meant.
But even then...they could still feel that something was amiss, something was wrong. The mob of armed soldiers all took an automatic step away, pressing further against the opposite wall, as if they'd sensed phantasmal fingers greedily caressing the backs of their necks.
Bastian felt no different than them. Only the unmoving Cyna behind him kept him from fleeing to the farthest corner of the room.
He merely watched, frozen motionless, as blackened words were etched onto the wall above Simon.
Clause 1: This Contract will be between the Contractor, known as Simon Cobblestone, and the Contractee, named Bastian Evergray. Simon Cobblestone is the initiator of this Contract.
Clause 2: Upon Bastian Evergray's acceptance of this Contract, Simon Cobblestone will promptly Grant a demonic Boon to him. This Boon shall vastly increase Bastian's combat prowess.
Clause 3: In exchange, Bastian Evergray will never purposefully reveal Simon Cobblestone's status as a Demon to anyone, whether directly or indirectly.
Clause 4: Additionally, Bastian Evergray will never seek to physically harm or kill Simon Cobblestone or Katarina Cartier.
Clause 5: Lastly, Bastian Evergray will unconditionally obey all commands issued by Simon Cobblestone for a period of one year.
Simon allowed a savage grin to creep up his face as his Fell magic instinctively told him the exact verbiage he wished to use. A cloying sense of satisfaction warmed his bones, like the delight of victory combined with the surety of rightful authority – and not just because forming Contracts felt fantastic.
He was luxuriating in Bastian's expression of astonishment after reading 'Bastian Evergray' clearly spelled out.
"You...know my name?" the rebel mumbled. "I...when–"
"Read fast," Simon repeated. His voice sounded calm, yet his face remained a portrait of manic glee. "The soldiers are growing impatient."
A guard struck out at the Barrier with his longsword. He retreated immediately afterwards, as if afraid the spell would strike back. When no reprisal came, several more guards unsheathed their blades, cautiously stepping forward.
There was still time. The hallway had limited space, so not all the soldiers could attack at once. Furthermore, Barrier seemed more resistant to a multitude of weaker attacks than a single crushing blow – part of why it'd crumpled under the Ravenous Wanderer's colossal strength, yet managed to trap the bandit group for so long. The spell would hold for now.
But for now wasn't forever.
Bastian cursed under his breath. His eyes rapidly shifted left, to right, then left again, hurriedly reading through the Contract.
Clauses 1 through 4 were standard procedure. Establishing identities, confirmation that the Boon would be Granted, and preventative insurance for Simon.
Nothing unusual there. Bastian wasn't like Katarina. Simon had no guarantee that any power he Granted wouldn't immediately be used against him – implementing restrictions was an absolute necessity.
The rebel hesitated when he got to Clause 5. That was fair. Even Kat had raised her eyebrows at Clause 5.
"Unconditionally obey all commands? For one full year?" Bastian shuddered, imagining what those commands might entail. "I can't–"
"Do you think I'm running a charity?"
Simon ignored the sensation of his Barrier weakening as more and more soldiers tentatively attacked it. His poker face was immaculate, exhibiting not a hint of concern or vulnerability. "I asked you a question, Bastian Evergray. You have a habit of demanding much while offering little in return."
The transmigrator's stare pierced through him. "You balk at a vow of servitude? How else am I meant to benefit from saving you and your girlfriend?" He scoffed. "Or had you assumed that your sob story was so effective that I'd taken leave of my senses? Don't be ridiculous."
Even if he'd been more sympathetic to Bastian's plight, this was one thing that Simon wouldn't have felt any guilt over. Unlike with Katarina, there was no foundation of trust built between them. 'Guy' had already tried to take advantage of them by hiding his affiliation with the Hurricane. Taking advantage of him back was simply a matter of course.
When a fisherman threw out a lure, attached with juicy bait...they only had themselves to blame if a shark surfaced to drag them under the waves.
Bastian's breathing grew ragged. Droplets of sweat collected on his brow. His gaze shifted from the Contract to the soldiers – who were now picking up steam, bashing against the flagging Barrier with something akin to fervor. He looked back at Cyna once more, her skin marred by bruises and her clothes stained with blood.
"I can't." He spoke the words like they were a betrayal to both himself and the woman he loved. "You're right. I owe you. Much. But unconditional control...is..."
An absurd request, Simon finished. He'd known that when he added it to the Contract. I wouldn't accept it either.
Subjecting himself to the guards' tender ministrations would've been preferable to placing himself directly under a Demon's thumb. In theory, if Bastian signed this Contract, then Simon could compel him to turn around and lop off Cyna's head.
As the first order of many.
"You desire assurances?" The Demon rubbed his chin in consideration. "Very well. I'm feeling generous today."
By design. Opening with terms you knew would be rejected was a basic tenet of negotiating. Bastian would be more likely to accept a Contract that he'd successfully 'haggled down'. Simon wasn't a fan of straight-up mind control anyway – although what he had in mind was toeing the line.
As if scrawled by an unsteady head, the Contract gradually changed. Clause 5 was rewritten, and two brand-new Clauses appeared below it.
Clause 5 (Amended): For a period of one year, Bastian Evergray must kill anyone whom Simon Cobblestone commands. When given the order to kill, Bastian will immediately carry it out to the very best of his ability. Exclusions to this Clause are: Katarina Cartier, Cyna Noname, Bastian Evergray, and any member of the Severed Isles resistance group known as the Hurricane.
Clause 6: At least once per day, Bastian Evergray must report to Simon Cobblestone for orders, in-person.
Clause 7: All EXP gained by Bastian Evergray shall be transferred to Simon Cobblestone and Katarina Cartier, split evenly between them.
"What is E-X-P?" Bastian asked, slowly sounding out each letter, his tone distracted as he processed the revised Contract.
"It's an aspect of the Boon." Clause 7 was more of a long-term benefit; a bargaining chip that could come in handy weeks or months down the line. "I'll explain in detail after you accept."
Simon leaned an inch closer. "So. Do you?"
"...Cyna Noname," Bastian muttered, as if just now realizing what was written. "The Hurricane. You knew...everything. From the beginning."
He gave Simon an appalled look. "How far did you plan all this out, Demon?"
Less than you'd think.
Oh, to be sure, Simon had fashioned plans. He was also cognizant of the fact that plans tended to veer off-track at the first bump in the road. While he'd predicted the general shape this interaction might take, the specifics of Cyna's condition, where they'd find her, and Bastian's temperament had all been left vague in his mind.
It made things easier. If you were good at improvising, then you always knew what your next step should be.
"Who's to say?" Simon answered, donning a mask of uncaring superiority. Not smug, per se, but feeling no need to explain himself – and tacitly implying that he had everyone in the palm of his hand. "You haven't given me a response, Bastian Evergray. Do you accept this Contract?"
Bastian hesitated. While the amended Clause 5 was a definitive improvement from before, as it now safeguarded Cyna and the Hurricane, it still controlled him to an uncomfortable degree. Hypothetically, the first command he received after they'd escaped the stronghold would be to go forth and murder countless innocent civilians.
Not that Simon had any interest in something like that. He knew precisely where he wanted to direct his new weapon – and his sights were aimed much higher than the streets of Caelryn City. But he also knew that no argument would convince Bastian to put his faith in a Demon.
No logical argument.
"Was it all talk, then?"
Simon's voice was soft. He spoke quietly, his tone free of reproach or criticism.
It made Bastian jerk back like he'd been punched in the gut. "What did you say?" he demanded.
"Your sob story may not have pulled the wool over my eyes," Simon continued, "but I'll admit that it did convince me of one thing: your love for Cyna."
He gestured at the unconscious woman. "You really do care. Deeply. I'm actually a tad envious – not sure I'll ever be able to feel the depth of emotion for someone that you do for her."
A love that was genuine, heartfelt, and sincere. A love that overwrites a person's survival instincts and makes someone else the center of their world.
A love so strong that it became their greatest strength–
Simon let out a sigh. "It's regrettable that you're still choosing to abandon her."
–And their biggest weakness.
Bastian snarled at the transmigrator as if he wanted to rip his throat out. "Don't you dare. You have no right!"
"No right to what? To offer a chance to save your lives? Because that's all I've done since the very first moment we met. You're the one who's stumbling at the finish line, refusing to take an outstretched hand when it would provide the salvation you were begging for mere hours ago."
Katarina remained silent, her crossbow pointed at the Barrier-covered entrance, but she had a disconcerted look on her face. She'd always been aware that Simon softballed her when proposing their alliance, but she seemed to be realizing just how difficult he could've made things if he'd decided to use Gerold's illness as leverage.
"Shut your bastard mouth," Bastian seethed. "Is this what you've been reduced to, Demon? Exploiting my love for Cyna as a verbal bludgeon?"
"That's a mite dramatic, don't you think? I've barely said anything...and you're already burning with guilt. Imagining what will happen when the guards reach us?"
As if on cue – because it was, with Simon having shortened his speech accordingly – the Barrier shattered into dissipating shards of mana. The attacking soldiers had whittled its reserve of MP to 0.
They were so surprised when it vanished that they failed to dodge the exploding Firebolt detonating within their ranks. Katarina had fired her crossbow the instant the Barrier broke.
Simon nodded appreciatively as the guards scrambled in shock and pain. He quickly re-formed his spell before they could charge forward, imbuing the second Barrier with 100 MP, making it half as strong as the original.
Down to 130 out of 430 MP now. "That's the last shield I'll create," Simon told Bastian. "If this one breaks as well, you can consider the Contract rescinded."
He would need every drop of his remaining mana to escape with Kat if negotiations fell through. The two rebels would simply have to fend for themselves in that case.
Bastian, for his part, looked stricken with terror. Seeing the mass of guards without a Barrier blocking their path – even if just for a moment – had driven home how very real his situation was.
Whatever doubts he might have about striking a deal with a Demon, the consequences would likely pale in comparison to dozens of longswords dissecting him within the next minute.
Simon could see the stress mounting on Bastian's face. Between the soldiers, the Demon, and the Contract emblazoned above, he felt surrounded on all sides. Like the walls were closing in. No way out. No time left. Either submit to death, or waltz into the dreaded unknown. Tick-tock. He had to make a decision. Had to–
"...hnn..."
It was a soft utterance. Scarcely even a word. Just the agonized groaning of a slightly conscious mind.
And it had more impact than anything that came before. Bastian glanced back, eyes trembling, as it dawned on him that Cyna was starting to wake.
Simon seized the opportunity like a wolf bounding at a wounded rabbit. He fixed the man with a withering gaze, opened his mouth, and struck the final blow.
"Is this the limit of your affection for her?"
There was a pause.
But not a long one.
"I...accept."
--
Thanks for reading!
Comments
KamikazePotato
It was, although for several reasons: 1. Simon doesn't want to empower Bastian without having insurance that Bastian wouldn't immediately turn around and use that power against him. 2. Simon doesn't believe Bastian would trust a Demon trying to act nice. 3. Simon also just doesn't like or trust Bastian much himself. From his perspective, Bastian would have been 100% fine with him and Katarina dying as long as Cyna gets saved. If that didn't come across in the chapter, or it felt like 'too much' anyway, I can make revisions.
Julia
Ouch. That was *mean.*
