"...Companion?"
Elmesia repeated the word, as hard to read as the sly smile on her face.
It was obvious what she was aiming for: a vague, simple contract full of loopholes she could exploit.
"...I'm sorry, but if you want me to carry out the [Contract], you'll need to explain it more precisely."
"Hmm~? A demon's contract doesn't really have limits, does it? Is that really not possible?"
Elmesia's eyes sharpened as she spoke in a tone that made it clear she knew demon contracts very well.
...As expected of a High Elf over a thousand years old—
Sliiide
"Hmm~? Why aren't you answering already? What exactly are you thinking about right now~?"
—Killing intent.
I could feel a heavy murderous aura, dense with anger focused on one particular word.
It felt like if I said even one wrong thing right now, I might actually die.
...Was this the famous intuition women were supposed to have?
'I didn't even say it out loud, so how does she know...'
At this moment, Elmesia's killing intent was scarier than Guy's.
No, seriously.
I almost wondered if she had some kind of skill that let her read minds.
[Report. No such skill has been identified among the abilities of the individual Elmesia.]
'...I know. I was just saying it.'
Swallowing my sigh at the cold reply from [Answerer], I looked at Elmesia, who was still pressing me with her gaze, and reluctantly opened my mouth.
"...I need at least a little explanation. If we're going to shape the contract, even roughly, there have to be supporting terms."
That was how contracts worked in the first place.
You needed a basic framework before you could decide anything. Just because there were no strict limits didn't mean you could build one from a single word.
Well, maybe you technically could, but then it would just turn into a filthy game of creating loopholes.
Even as a demon, I wanted no part of that kind of contract.
"Hmm, an explanation..."
Fortunately, Elmesia seemed to find my argument reasonable enough, and this time she actually fell into serious thought.
After a brief but tense silence, she finally seemed to make up her mind and spoke.
"Then how about 'mutual cooperation'? As the Heavenly Emperor, I need to know what kind of existence you are. In exchange for you telling me information about yourself and related matters, I'll provide some support with Salion's magitech."
"...Are you serious?"
The magitech of the [Sorcerous Dynasty Sarion] was not the kind of thing anyone could obtain cheaply.
Even a major nation would have to pay dozens of platinum coins just to get useful information, let alone actual technical support.
But—
"Of course. I'm serious."
Elmesia meant it.
Because she had good reason to trust her own judgment.
First, information.
'If he knows that much about the World Tree, something even we elves still have many secrets about, then he must have plenty of other valuable information too.'
She could obtain high-value knowledge that could never be bought through ordinary dealings with foreign nations.
Second, force.
'And no matter how I look at him, he's a demon far beyond an [Arch Demon]. He might even be a [Demon Lord]-class [Seed Demon Lord]. I need to keep him under watch nearby.'
He possessed overwhelming strength, enough that among humanity's forces, there were almost none who could stand against him.
And finally, temperament.
'...If even Emperor Gran acknowledged him and handed over his sword despite him being a monster... then maybe he could become part of our strength.'
He had a fundamentally decent nature, unlike ordinary monsters.
'Really... a demon perfectly suited to the phrase double-edged sword.'
As an ancient hero who protected humanity, she could not simply leave a demon that powerful alone.
Especially not as one of the guardians who had to deal every year with demons crossing over from [the continent of frozen earth].
And yet, even beyond that danger, the power a demon possessed was deeply tempting.
That was why she did not consider it a waste at all to use part of Salion's exclusive magitech as the price of this deal.
If he had not been a monster, she would have gone so far as to force a political marriage with one of the Thirteen Royal Houses just to bind him to Salion's side.
"So? Isn't this enough?"
...More than enough.
At this point, even if she had been lying, I would have had no choice but to accept.
But Elmesia was not the sort to speak falsehoods, so my answer had already been decided.
"...Yes, that's enough."
In the end, the demon chose to accept her proposal and calmly agreed to the [Contract].
Without even considering what shape the end of that decision might take.
**
'Seriously, I should've revised that [Contract] a little more back then... Why did I accept it right away...?'
A square transfer platform.
Standing atop the platform I had created with the Extra Skill [Spatial Movement], I was briefly lost in memory before suddenly going blank.
Because I had made a choice every bit as contradictory as a demon's contract itself.
'Looking back, it would've been much easier for me to tilt the terms in my favor...'
It would not have been difficult to reshape the contract into something more advantageous for me.
To put it bluntly, even if I had threatened Elmesia by force, I probably would have walked away unharmed.
There had been other options too.
Since the [Mages] hadn't been nearby, escaping wouldn't have been that hard either.
And yet, the reason I accepted that [Contract] immediately was...
'...Because I still haven't given up.'
...It meant I was still yearning for a way to bring [her] here.
If I had that thing made possible through magitech, then <u>I would no longer need to remain bound to hell.
And if that method succeeded, then—
"...Adelio? Why are you spacing out like that?"
"...Huh?"
Chronoa's voice rang clearly through the rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds.
Her innocent call pulled me up from my deep thoughts.
"...We're already here."
At last, I lifted my gaze past her and looked into the sky beyond, where a dense forest filled my vision.
I shook my head and drew in a breath. The scent of grass was familiar—something I had smelled a few times over the past several months.
A nation nestled in nature, where bright sunlight mingled with the green of thriving plants.
We had arrived at the [Sorcerous Dynasty Sarion].
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