Chapter 103 – Contract with the Demon
2024.02.11
“Cordelia!”
Before the voice even reached her ears, Cordelia’s body was lifted slightly and pushed to the side.
“Ugh.”
When she glanced aside, she saw sharp claws embedded in the floor. If she had been even a moment later, Najabut would have surely cleaved her in two. Her spine went cold.
Najabut twisted his lips in frustration at his failed attempt and turned around. Unsurprisingly, Leonard was glaring at him, breathing heavily.
“You’re persistent to the very end,” Najabut said. Then he raised his hands once more.
But immediately, twelve snakes conjured by Leonard coiled around Najabut, binding his limbs.
“Pathetic!”
The demon raised his hand and cut through all the snakes that had wrapped around him. Seizing the opportunity, Leonard moved in front of Cordelia.
Cordelia’s fear surged—Roti was lying on the ground, bleeding. Could she be dead? But she could not stop now. Suppressing her tears, she continued the spell.
“I will kill them all.”
“Who gave you permission?”
Najabut and Leonard clashed again. But as time passed, the disadvantage shifted to Leonard. Even weakened by Cordelia’s magic, Najabut did not falter easily.
Najabut raised both hands, and sharp wind blades formed at his fingertips. One of them shot straight toward Cordelia’s neck.
Sensing it, Leonard grabbed Cordelia and rolled across the floor with her.
“Master!”
The scent of blood filled the air. Leonard grimaced, letting out a short grunt.
“Ugh.”
“Attilei!”
“Leo!”
Screams erupted from all around. Leonard spun around, gathering all his magical power, and struck Najabut’s abdomen with a punch. The sequence happened in the blink of an eye.
“Gah! A mere human—!”
Having been hit from so close, Najabut staggered several steps backward with a grunt. At that moment, Matilda and Kainon’s magic struck his back precisely, sending him sprawling forward.
Seizing the opening, Leonard conjured the sharpest, coldest spear. A white snake opened its jaws and pierced straight through Najabut’s heart.
“Argh!”
Najabut thrashed on the ground, skewered by the spear. Cordelia shivered, looking up at the sky. The previously darkened heavens gradually brightened, and the magical energy being drawn toward Najabut stopped completely.
Is it over?
But as if mocking her thoughts, the demon staggered back to his feet. Holding a spear the size of a grown man’s arm in his left chest, Najabut smiled—a terrifyingly beautiful smile.
“Until next time, Cordelia.”
Najabut spread his wings and soared into the sky. He was so fast that Cordelia thought he had teleported. In an instant, he vanished from sight.
Cordelia finally relaxed and ceased her magic.
“Roti! Roti!”
Roti, crouched on the ground and gasping for breath, suddenly twisted his entire body. Bones cracked with a sharp sound. Cordelia rushed to his side, kneeling.
“Roti, are you okay?”
I just need to rest a bit, Roti seemed to convey. Thankfully, it appeared to be part of the healing process. His expression was now far calmer than before.
Relieved, Cordelia noticed that Leonard was struggling to stand. Examining him closely, she saw that his back was soaked in blood and his complexion was pale.
“Master, Master.”
The wounds he had sustained when protecting her were clear. Tears welled up in Cordelia’s eyes. But Leonard carefully checked her over first.
“Any injuries?” he asked.
“You’re the one hurt, Master. You need a healer… some kind of recovery magic.” Cordelia stomped her feet anxiously.
Kainon clicked his tongue and approached Leonard. “Tsk tsk. Come here.”
He muttered a brief healing spell onto Leonard’s back. The bleeding stopped, but Leonard struggled to stay on his feet and soon sank to the floor. Cordelia quickly pressed herself close.
“Lean on me. I’ll even handle the martial arts magic—”
“Master!”
Finally, Baron arrived, followed hurriedly by an elderly man who appeared to be a healer. Cordelia gestured him over.
“Here, quickly. His back has been severely cut.”
Tears she had just held back slipped again. Cordelia fretted, worried that Leonard might suffer further because of her.
Baron examined Leonard’s back with a grave expression.
“This wound is serious. Shall we move to the mansion? Martial arts magic cannot be performed by outsiders, so it’s better for proper recovery.”
“That sounds best. That demon will also need time to heal from such a wound.” Leonard frowned, breathing heavily. He glanced at the tearful Cordelia beside him and gently wiped her wet cheeks—a surprisingly tender gesture.
“Stop crying, my clumsy apprentice. You’re not going to die from this.”
“But because of me… because of me…”
“What did you do? Najabut—or whatever that demon is—cut my back.”
“A demon?” Baron’s eyes widened, unfamiliar with the situation. Leonard quickly explained the events and the demon’s identity. Meanwhile, the healer worked, sweating as he treated Leonard’s back.
Baron’s astonishment grew with every detail Leonard recounted.
“My goodness… a divine descent. I’ve only read about it in books; never witnessed it in reality.”
“To think Lydia would go so far…” Leonard sighed, unprepared for the outcome.
At that moment, Rosenbluer and Leonard made eye contact. Rosenbluer, limping from a leg injury, approached.
“Leo, are you okay?”
“Not enough to die.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Rosenbluer’s face twisted with pain—perhaps regret, sadness, or disappointment. Too many emotions collided at once to discern his exact feelings.
“It was your sister’s doing, not yours.”
“No, this is all my fault. If only I had acted faster against Lydia…”
Rosenbluer shook with guilt, repeatedly lowering his head. Leonard cut him off curtly but not unkindly.
“Whatever you did, Lydia would have made the same decision. Stop complaining and deal with the aftermath here.”
“Alright. I’ll handle it. You two should rest. Cordelia, you’ve done well.”
“Of course,” Cordelia said faintly, smiling. She gathered the still-gasping Roti and followed Leonard.
They arrived at a mansion not far from the martial arts hall. Though smaller than Attilei Townhouse, its presence was imposing. Pain gripped Cordelia, but she clenched her fists and endured it—Leonard’s condition was far more important.
A steward rushed over at their arrival, panicking at the sight of Leonard’s bloodied clothes.
“Should I call a healer?”
“No, he’s already here. Prepare the bedroom so the master can rest.”
“Yes, understood.”
Leonard lay on the bed, breathing heavily. The healer tore open his clothes and began treatment. Cordelia watched from a distance. The wound, stretching across more than half his back, made her gasp involuntarily.
“Take this. It’s anesthetic.” Baron handed him a vial. Leonard grimaced but drank it in one go. The healer wiped sweat from his own brow and began stitching the wound. Watching the process, Cordelia felt aches all over her body. Three consecutive uses of powerful magic had left her far from well, but her pain was nothing compared to Leonard’s.
Cordelia endured until the healer finished. Legs trembling and sweat running down her back, she needed to see Leonard safe to feel relieved.
The healer sighed deeply. “You must rest lying down for several days. If not, the wound may reopen. This is ointment, and these are pills to take daily.”
“Well done,” Baron said, taking the medicine and sending the healer off.
Cordelia, hands trembling, approached Leonard. Her voice barely came out after a few coughs.
“Master… are you alright?”
Leonard, still prone, could not see her tear-streaked face.
“I said I’m fine. A day or two of rest will fix this.”
“…Please, don’t do that again.”
“What?”
“If a dangerous moment comes again, don’t… don’t hold me like that.” She wiped her tears with her sleeve.
Leonard’s expression instantly turned pouty.
“Is it so hard to say thank you for saving you?”
“Your life is far more important than mine! That’s why… don’t do it. If anything happened to you because of me—”
“Who said that?”
“Huh?”
“Who says my life is more important than yours?” Leonard jumped to his feet, looking Cordelia straight in the eyes.
“You’re far more important to me. Understand?”
