Survival 57

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“It’s a headache.” 

For himself. 

No, ever since the Speda family was established. 

The Duke had never experienced such an unprecedented event and smirked bitterly. 

“A demon race defector, huh. Seriously, Lucy, this child always brings trouble to the family.” 

He had ordered the capture of the demon, of course. 

But he never expected to subdue and capture one alive to bring back home. 

“Honestly…” 

The Duke quietly drew his sword and looked at it. 

The instinctive hatred that boiled up at the sight of demons. 

Even when he first faced that vampire named Bathory, it was no less intense. 

He almost acted on the impulse to immediately behead them, which says it all. 

“Still, I held back well. Thanks to that, I found unexpected pleasure.” 

Chuckle. 

The Duke couldn’t hide his laughter as he remembered the conversation with the captured vampire, Bathory. 

***

“The malice is quite sharp. Can you put it away? I’m already full of wounds and bound in various ways, so I can’t even resist.” 

A necklace that seals magic. 

Shackles that limit movement. 

And above all, the presence of a Sword Saint who would immediately exclude any misbehavior. 

No matter how high-ranking a demon, they were virtually powerless. 

“Do you know where you are to speak such words?” 

“I don’t know. But if I were to guess, it’s the residence of the descendants of a great warrior.” 

But surprisingly. 

The opponent showed no real sign of resistance. 

It was a bizarre enough event to even momentarily dampen the rising hatred. 

“Descendant of a great warrior, what sentence will you pass on me?” 

Then. 

A maliciousness crept into the crimson eyes that calmly observed him. 

“I have already laid my hands on your people beforehand. If you execute me, it will affect them as well.”

Her face, brightly smiling with fangs bared.

To the outside observer, it seemed like the behavior of an evil demon taking key personnel of the Duke’s estate hostage.

‘However…’

The Duke, having met many people upon his ascent, saw through it.

A contrived manner of speaking.

Cold sweat trickling down the neck beyond the blond hair.

And the pupils, shaking violently as if failing to act.

It immediately reminded him of a young Luciana caught sneaking candy.

“…Well.”

The experienced Duke slowly stroked his chin.

This demon was hiding something.

‘Will her attitude change when her life is on the line?’

He decided to strip off that mask.

The Duke lowered his voice with resolve.

“Though she is a servant dear to my daughter, the price seems too low to capture a high-ranking demon.”

“…Ugh. Have you no shame as a nobleman! To jeopardize the safety of your own people!”

“Sometimes, one must learn to sacrifice the few for bold decisions.”

Of course, the Duke had no intention of risking the talents of the North so lightly.

He was simply curious how the vampire would react once she realized the lifeline she so trusted was severed.

Biting her lip tightly, she eventually let out a feeble voice.

“…Please, save me.”

Was she begging for her life?

Demons are indeed contemptible.

‘It should be easy to negotiate the termination of Hans’s contract using the promise of sparing her life as bait.’

She had hoped to escape.

Expelling her to the borderlands after a bit of cleaning up seemed appropriate.

However, Bathory’s next words forced the Duke to reconsider his plans.

“Save Hans. His abilities will be of great help to you. He is not someone who should die like this.”

In a situation where the roles were reversed, the Duke concealed his discomfort.

The vampire’s ugly struggle was not for her own life.

It was for Hans’s life.

She looked up at him with trembling eyes, having set aside her pride and nobility.

Her flawless blond hair shone like a halo, filled with ‘worry.’

She even appeared noble despite being an enemy.

‘Is this even possible?’

Humans and demons have been deep-seated enemies throughout history.

Failing to understand each other, they only repeated exchanges of mockery on the battlefield for a long time.

Thus, the Duke found this conversation with the vampire strangely unfamiliar and awkward.

“What is your purpose?”

“Purpose? I owe a great debt, and I am here to repay it. That’s all I can say.”

‘As troublesome as my daughter, that boy too is not to be underestimated.’

The Duke was newly impressed.

The vampire, maintaining her dignity even in this situation.

He had felt it intuitively.

She must be a high-ranking demon.

A monster, her strength comparable to thousands of soldiers, tens of knights.

What kind of skill did she employ?

To incur a debt among the conflict-ridden demons and come this far.

“I understand that you owe a debt to Hans, the servant. But if you thought I would simply accept your presence here, you are greatly mistaken.”

Accepting a demon’s defection was unexpected and difficult to digest.

Naturally, they are a race not to be trusted.

For the safety of his people, execution seemed the best course of action. 

Firm in his resolve, the vampire spoke without hiding her fangs.

“If you truly are a descendant of warriors, you would brave the smaller risks and guard against the greater ones.”

“That’s a cryptic statement.”

“You must have heard it from your daughter already. Beware of the Demon King.”

The Demon King.

At that word, the Duke’s blue eyes deepened with seriousness.

“The Demon King, you say. Explain further.”

“A being who claims to unite all demons under him and possesses the formidable power to back up his arrogant claims.”

It wasn’t a statement to be taken lightly.

As much as he wished otherwise, was it the truth?

‘If all demons were to unite, the first target would be…

Right here, the North. Our lands, bordering the Evildon Empire, would be threatened.’

“I have fought against this pretender Demon King myself. You could find my information useful.”

“Are you betraying your country to repay a favor?”

“No. It’s for a more personal reason. I lost everything for rebelling against the Demon King.”

‘Revenge, then.’

A flicker of interest crossed the Duke’s face.

Mulling over her words, Duke Speda slowly calculated.

Knowing there was a demon opposing the Demon King was a significant discovery.

Moreover, a high-ranking noble who had fallen and lost her foundation.

‘An excellent opportunity to make use of.’

Yet, the problem remained her very existence.

Just one gesture of her hand could bring about magic that might annihilate his people.

Trusting her word alone was too risky a gamble.

As a noble tasked with protecting his people, he couldn’t help but hesitate.

“Not exactly the response you were hoping for, I see. Is this all the trust my life can buy?”

“Whatever your status in the Evildon Empire might be, what does it matter? Here, you are nothing but a demon.”

It was the Duke’s sincere belief.

This could well be another cunning trick.

As he spoke with a hint of menace, urgency crept into the demon’s voice.

“This is troubling. If I die, so does Hans. I cannot repay kindness with enmity. Please, show mercy.”

‘Oh?’

Her breathing quickened.

And cold sweat was visible between strands of blond hair.

The Duke’s gaze sharpened.

It was clear how dearly she valued Hans, her benefactor, more than he had imagined.

As the Duke remained silent, the vampire bit her lip tightly and slowly bowed her head.

Her brilliant blond hair flowed over her shoulders like silk.

“I swear I will bring something more valuable than the honor attached to my neck. I’m willing to seal it with magic if necessary.”

“Hmm, I’ve heard wizards are averse to that. But you’re quite proactive.”

The vampire’s proposal was straightforward: a contract magic that, if breached, would result in the permanent loss of mana. 

By binding her actions with such a contract, they could be reassured against any potential misfortunes.

‘Furthermore, I could continue the legacy of my ancestors with this.’

Territorial expansion.

Gleaning details about Evildon through her could shift the long-standing defensive stance.

“Very well. Yegor!”

“Yes, my lord?”

“This demon is willing to bind herself with contract magic voluntarily. How can we refuse? Summon the family’s wizard!”

The subsequent proceedings pleased the Duke immensely.

The conditions were clear: do no harm to the citizens or the Duke’s bloodline, no use of magic within the ducal estate, and absolute obedience to the Duke’s commands. 

Despite the unfavorable terms, Bathory accepted them without complaint. 

The only advantage given to her was the preservation of her life.

“Then let’s formalize the contract…”

“Wait! I’d like to add a condition.”

The peaceful atmosphere shifted abruptly. Even amidst a sharp tension, the vampire stood firm.

The Duke noticed his own expression growing stern.

‘Is she having second thoughts now?’

Contract magic requires mutual consent. 

If she harbored any dissatisfaction with the current terms, the agreement could fall through, potentially endangering the safety of the North.

In the midst of their sharp confrontation, the Duke asked about her ‘condition.’

“Let’s hear it.”

“Don’t worry. It won’t conflict with your terms.”

She averted her gaze, mumbling in a soft voice.

“…allow me to do it.”

“What? Speak up. I can’t hear you.”

“I said, let me work in the position of Hans’s exclusive servant…?”

The Duke couldn’t help but burst into laughter at the absurdity. 

It was a statement that could only come from ignorance of human culture.

“A servant’s servant! Now, that’s something new!”

“What’s so funny?”

Though the vampire frowned, the Duke paid it no mind. 

The idea of a high-ranking demon desiring to undertake such menial human tasks was ludicrous.

After a hearty laugh, the Duke cleared his throat, regaining his solemn demeanor.

“Ahem! Very well. I’ll gladly accept your condition. A maid’s position under his supervision should suffice.”

“So, I’ll be able to stay with Hans?”

“Of course. You’ll be working closely on a professional basis.”

Bathory then showed a satisfied smile.

“I’ve made a unilateral pact with him, so I must repay him in some way, right?”

Well.

She is a high-ranking demon, a symbol of terror.

Who would dare assign her menial tasks?

‘But then again, considering that audacious fellow…

It might just be possible.

He’s a boy who’s always been bold enough to state his opinions, even in front of him.

‘Maybe he’ll work her to the bone.’

-Am I to perform such demeaning tasks?

-Oh? Weren’t you the one who said you wanted to serve me? 

Was everything you said to me a lie?

“Fine, fine! Can’t I express at least some dissatisfaction? Treating a high-ranking demon like an ordinary maid.

Just imagining her doing menial tasks like cleaning and laundry, and being ordered around by a servant.”

-Snicker.

Duke Speda couldn’t help but laugh out loud, forgetting his dignity.

“Let’s finalize the contract, then.”

“I, Erzsébet Bathory, agree to fulfill the terms of the contract. Should I fail, I consent to lose all my mana.”

-Swish.

The mana leaked from the vampire’s chest, precisely from her heart, in front of the Duke’s wizard.

Strands of red and blue light were absorbed into the contract.

“Now that the contract is complete, you can unbind these. I never intended to harm, but now it’s truly impossible.”

She showed her bound wrists to him, with a tone far from the humility of a maid, arrogant and assertive.

“Well, I won’t bother telling you to speak formally to me.”

The Duke was unconcerned.

How long would that last anyway? 

She would only listen in the moment, her proud nature making it impossible to turn into a habit.

“Now tell me everything you know.”

From the situation in the Evildon Empire to the characteristics of this Demon King.

After hearing it all, Duke Speda rested his chin on his hand.

“…Understood. Do not speak of today’s events to anyone. This is an order.”

“Understood. I will do so.”

Bathory turned around and left the master’s chamber.

“The butler, was it? Where is Hans?”

“A maid’s manner of speaking, what is that?! …Ah, what am I saying. Never mind. Follow me.”

Yegor, the steward, tried to maintain his dignity while clearly flustered by the high-ranking demon.

A smile lingered on the Duke’s lips as he remained alone.

***

“Extra, extra!”

Fame is not something one chooses for oneself.

Achievements.

As long as there are dazzling achievements to admire, even if one shies away from the limelight, others will naturally elevate them.

[The Jewel of the North, Luciana Speda. Defeats a High-Ranking Demon.]

The fact that a young lady, not yet of age, defeated that formidable demon.

That alone was enough to elevate her to the status of a celebrity.

“Luciana again?! The more I try to get close, the further she seems to get!”

Some, jealous, devoted themselves even more to their training.

“How can a journalist write so poorly?! Ah, her beauty matched by her strength! Luciana cannot be contained in just a few words!”

“Keep your fuss to a moderate level. Remember, she’s your magic mentor. Well, I do agree that she embodies both beauty and strength.”

There were those who spared no praise, almost worshiping her like a deity.

“Ha! To think the girl I’m taking as my daughter-in-law would do such tremendous things!”

And the news reached the ears of the most revered entity in the Manhett Empire.

“Tsk. Lighten up. Shouldn’t you be happy about this?”

“I haven’t even spoken to her once. Why should I be pleased with this news?”

The Emperor sighed deeply at his child’s indifferent words.

“You’ll meet her soon… Don’t make such a face in front of your fiancée.”

“I’ll consider it.”

In front of the Emperor, the only person who could afford not to immediately agree was the Crown Prince, Garon Manhett, causing the Emperor’s wrinkles to deepen.

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