05. Deal with the Devil (13)

Certatus’s life was marked by struggle.

Certatus was born as a strong demon, but he was not the strongest from the start. Due to his innate fighting spirit, he had the power to bring down most demons, but the Demon Realm was vast and there were too many demons stronger than that.

It would have been easier if he had been satisfied with a moderately strong demon. He was born strong from the beginning, and was strong enough to survive in the Demon Realm even with moderate effort. He didn’t have to try desperately. After all, there weren’t many demons stronger than him. He bent only when he had to bend roughly, and when he was complacent, he could live a comfortable life without being envious of others.

Certatus did not.

There were too many annoying people in the world. They say that they are strong, they say that they have a strong person as their master, and they say that they are strong… There were many, many people whose heads had to be broken and beaten to death. Do I have to bow my head just because I’m weak in front of those who show off in front of me?

Certatus did not.

He was a fighting demon, and he lived up to his name. Those who dared to hold their heads high in front of me did not discriminate between strength and weakness, and I defeated them all. All of the demons earned beatings every day because of their arrogant and outgoing personalities.

The number of times he almost died was too many to count, but Kertatus did not die. And every trial that failed to kill him only made him stronger.

The one I didn’t like the most was the devil. There were many reasons. First of all, being stronger than me. It is said that he is unlucky because he does not know what he is thinking about the subject of claiming to be God. On a subject that has been silent for the past thousands of years, what I am saying now is that ‘the plan’ is one.

Anyway, I didn’t like it. So I was thinking of killing him. It didn’t go as planned in the end, but Kertatus had that kind of personality anyway. His life is marked by struggle from birth to death.

He wasn’t short, but he lived a tough life and met and killed a lot of unlucky guys….

[Such a jerk!]

“Kkowa? Would you sleep like this if you twisted it?”

Even he wouldn’t have known that a being that scratched his insides to this extent would be a mere human child, not a devil.

–

[One hour? It’s only an hour!?]

“This is enough for me too. There are no more compromises.”

[Stop talking nonsense! I can’t even leave this room, and I only have an hour of free time with you watching? How is that different from prison!]

“Leave you out there and free to roam knowing what to do? You don’t even know much about this world anyway. What can I just go out and do?”

[If you can’t even leave the room, there’s no difference between being unable to do anything!]

“Why is there no difference? You can use this.”

I put my old smart phone on the table.

“If you use this, you can check the outside news and get necessary knowledge. Unlike in the past, these days, it is the information age, so you can find out pretty much anything even if you are alone in the room.”

[This is… What is this thing?]

“It’s called a smartphone… How many times have you seen me write?”

I took out my smartphone and opened the news portal I often see to check the screen. What I see, Certatus can see, so I was actually showing him.

Open News to check the article, then go to the video portal and play some of the popular videos… Roughly that way, I showed some of the features.

“As in the old days, running with your feet unconditionally and seeing with your eyes is not the only way to acquire information. These days, if they need anything, they find out about it on the Internet before jumping in. If you’re not willing to learn and abide by the basic laws and common sense of this age, I can’t let you out.”

[Keuuh… ! Even if I could get the information this way… If you can’t go outside, isn’t it the same that you can’t do anything?]

“I told you. I can’t let you go ‘now’. If you’re a little more docile and cooperative with me, I might be able to amend the contract later.”

For example, extending 1 hour to 2 hours.

For example, the condition of being in the room is allowed all the way around here.

Of course, other than listening to it, it is my heart. There is no problem even if you go later and stick out your flippers saying that it will not work. Because I have the right to command the Sealing Ring.

As Baek Ji-soo said, it shouldn’t be overdoing it, but once you persuade him with words and use it appropriately whenever necessary, there will be no problem.

[Damn… Only one hour as a condition of a contract to never take your body again, and to cooperate with you whenever necessary… Only one hour….]

“If you don’t like it, do you want to hit it and fight again? Isn’t this a pretty moderate compromise?”

[Ah, okay, put the ring in now! Let me think for a moment!]

I was thinking of putting him to sleep for a day or so to cool his head, since his energy seldom weakened, but Certatus seemed frightened and stopped me, as if he had noticed that thought.

After… Exciting. This is the crap You should have done something like this in your entire life.

Actually, it’s the same for me that it’s difficult to openly stand apart from Kertatus.

I don’t know how long I’ll be using my body with this guy, but if this guy confronts me every time and is looking for an opportunity to snatch her body, I have a lot of things to worry about, but I’m tired.

But now is the time to come out strong, even if it’s overdoing it. If I look weak, this guy will take me for granted and try to eat me. There is no mutual trust or anything, but in the end, there is no answer other than a power struggle.

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Just thinking about the last time I slept, Ji-soo Baek and Yoon Seo-hee’s help made me gain an advantage, but the terms of the contract that Ji presented as if he was patronizing were no different from the first time. We need to properly break the arrogant nose of this guy who practices child independence in heaven and earth.

That’s why we go out even stronger. I have been pushed back in the power struggle until now, so there is no chance if it is not now that I have the upper hand. If I showed concession up to this point in an advantageous situation, it would be nothing more or less than Hogu.

“I gave you enough time. Answer for three counts. Or fall asleep again This time it’s a week, not a day.”

[What, what? One week!? You’re going to put me to sleep for a week!?]

“Three.”

I didn’t hesitate on purpose and counted quickly.

“Two.”

As I imbued my magic stone ring with magic and tried to count the next number, Kertatus hurriedly raised his voice and stopped me.

[I got it. Got it! Whoops… ! Contract… would.]

“What? Can’t you hear me?”

[I will make a contract! On the terms you want! Didn’t you understand enough!]

It was a voice full of shame, resentment, and humiliation. Satisfied that I had subdued Certatus by force, I lowered my hand holding the magic stone ring. Of course, signing a contract does not remove the ring.

“Okay. Then let’s check the terms of the contract again.”

Hereinafter, Kim Yi-jin is referred to as ‘A’, and Kertatus, the demon of struggle, is referred to as ‘B’.

First. ‘B’ completely gives up on attempting to take away ‘A”s body without the consent of ‘A’ after the contract.

Second. ‘B’ cannot take any action that harms ‘A’ himself, ‘A”s family, ‘A”s friends, or any person designated by ‘A’.

First and second are the most important. Kertatus must never harm me, my family, or friends. It is the power of the devil, it is Nabal, and the goal and means must not be reversed. In other words, it is more like a safety device.

The contents following the first and second were in fact details to extract as much as possible from Kertatus.

Third. When ‘A’ wants it, ‘B’ provides her power and information to ‘A’.

Not only Kertatus’ power as a demon, but also information about other demons he has known from living in the underworld for thousands of years can be a powerful weapon that can be used against demons in the future.

She may know quite a bit of information about the devil, but the information about her future is not complete, and Certatus might know other information she doesn’t know.

Fourth. When the above contract conditions are fulfilled, once in 24 hours, ‘A”s body is provided to ‘B’ when ‘A’ is awake. However, ‘A’ can regain ownership at any time if he/she wants, and the radius of action is limited to ‘A’s private room.

Finally, the price of the contract given to Kertatus.

I received a message from Baek Ji-soo and received a confirmation that there was no problem. I didn’t need to draw a particularly grandiose magic circle or have strong magic power. The contract with the devil was simple itself.

“I will make a contract.”

[Contract… would… !]

When you verbally agree to each other, the contract is engraved in each other’s soul. Since both I and Kertatus had intact souls, the contract was concluded without any problems.

“Haa….”

Impression that the contract ended… I honestly didn’t mind. There was no sudden surge of strength or the feeling that something inside me had changed.

But mentally they were different. The devil’s contract is absolute. As I signed the contract, the thought ‘I must keep this contract’ naturally came to my mind. Probably Kertatus too.

So, you don’t have to worry about losing your body suddenly to Kertatus anymore.

That fact was the most satisfying of all.