~Chapter 38~
“Contract…?”
“Yes. From this moment, if I get hurt, you will take all my wounds.”
The words came from a face so innocent it was hard to believe a five-year-old could say something so cold and cruel.
Esther’s golden eyes, round and bright, began to flicker and slowly turned red.
“This is a contract. From the moment I step into that house until I return to the Egbert mansion.”
Her eyes were now fully red as she held out the back of her hand while still in Denver’s arms.
‘Why… am I so afraid?’
Banshee clenched her fists tightly.
Even if she was special, she was still just a five-year-old child. Yet, somehow, she felt more terrifying than the man standing behind her, Denver.
She was smiling sweetly as she held out her hand, but still…
“…Yes, I swear.”
Banshee slowly stepped forward and kissed the back of Esther’s hand.
Whoosh—
Black flames flared up and sank into the back of Banshee’s hand.
“There, that’s done, right?” Esther looked at Denver.
Denver frowned.
He knew his young master had mysterious powers, but there were people in this world who couldn’t be underestimated, no matter how strong she was.
Some would sacrifice a single member of their group without hesitation if it meant getting what they wanted.
“…It’s still dangerous. Who knows what she might—”
“Denver, I said it’s fine.”
Esther’s red eyes turned cold as she looked at him.
That chill running down his spine made him close his mouth and slowly set her down, bowing slightly.
“Understood, miss.”
“Good.”
Esther’s face quickly returned to that of an ordinary child as she turned and headed straight for the lonely cabin at the edge of the quiet village.
‘Desolate.’
And for some reason, her back felt cold.
At Denver’s signal, Banshee went ahead and opened the door.
Inside, the house was dark and filled with a musty, indescribable stench — and the thick smell of death.
Esther’s face twisted.
‘I didn’t sense this outside…’
There was poison.
What filled the house was miasma — the result of magic that had stagnated and rotted for so long it had turned into poison.
“Light.”
“Yes?”
“It’s too dark. I can’t see anything. Open the door and light the lamps.”
“But… what if it’s contagious—”
“I’ll control it.”
Thanks to the place being sealed so tightly, almost nothing had leaked out, but she could guess why the area around here had become barren.
Banshee, Denver, and Shiphon worked together to open all the closed doors in the house.
“This is…”
“Ah…”
Denver and Shiphon gasped. Shiphon even covered her mouth.
Banshee just stood still with her lips pressed together, as if she had expected this reaction.
“I know… it’s a terrible sight.”
Shiphon slowly lowered her hand, glancing around nervously.
“You said… it’s been a year?”
“Yes. A little over a year now.”
How could it get this bad in just one year?
Still, it was as she suspected — this was indeed a case of turning into a monster.
But…
“Has he eaten anything new since then?”
“Something… new?”
“Yes. Something strange, or something he wouldn’t normally eat. Do you remember anything?”
Banshee frowned, resting her fingers lightly against her chin, before suddenly widening her eyes.
“My father has a chronic illness. Around that time, our usual herbalist said they had a new, very good medicinal herb, so we started brewing it for him.”
Esther’s eyes lit up.
‘Found it.’
No doubt the herb was the culprit.
“Do you still have it?”
Banshee nodded and went to the kitchen.
‘But… could just a year of drinking that cause this much?’
And realistically, after being bedridden, he probably hadn’t even been drinking it for the whole year.
“Here it is. Could this be… the problem?”
Esther took the root-like herb from Banshee and frowned.
“…”
Something felt off. For once, she doubted her own certainty.
“Ros.”
“Kyut!”
Ros, who had been sitting on Denver’s shoulder peeling acorns, hopped onto Esther’s shoulder.
After crunching down his acorn, Ros grabbed the herb in his tiny hands.
Just then, a parchment appeared before Esther’s eyes.
[Bulb of the Cheonri Flower]
The Cheonri Flower grows in slightly dry soil and blooms into beautiful bright violet flowers when in full bloom.
Effect: Effective for heart disease, lung disease, and respiratory conditions.
It was just a medicinal herb. Completely ordinary.
“…”
“Miss…?”
Banshee called again, seeing Esther at a loss for words.
“Ah… is there nothing else?”
“What?”
“Any other food?”
“No, that’s all. Everything else was our usual food. The ingredients change all the time depending on what my mother could get from the market…”
Esther looked at the man lying under thick blankets. His body was buried under hard, black, shell-like growths, his breathing faint.
‘I could break the shell by force, but…’
It had already fused too deeply.
Removing just the outer layer would require magical precision she didn’t have right now — a mistake could kill him.
“I guess… it’s time to summon.”
“What?”
“Everyone out. Except Ros.”
“What are you—”
“I said out.”
At her glance, Shiphon and Banshee closed their mouths and stepped out.
But Denver didn’t move.
“I’ll stay here in case something happens. You’ll need protection.”
“You could get caught up in it—”
“It’s fine. I swore to serve you, so until my interest fades, I’ll protect you with my life.”
“If you get dragged in, it’s not my problem.”
“Understood.”
Esther let out a deep sigh.
“Ah… right.”
Banshee, who was about to leave, paused.
“It might not be related, but… before he started taking the herb, a priest came to our house.”
“A priest?”
“Yes. He said he was a missionary traveling around, asked to stay for the night. My father gladly let him.”
“And?”
“That night, the priest used holy power on my father, saying it was healing magic.”
Why was she bringing this up if it wasn’t related?
Esther frowned — and froze.
“Holy power?”
“Yes. But my father said it was… strange. Isn’t holy power supposed to be pure white? At least from what little I know…”
“Yes. Usually.”
They were obsessed with white — maybe that was why they were all a bit insane.
Even their temples, altars, and robes were all white.
“But this holy power… was green. The priest said it was because he came from another country and served a different god…”
“…That’s strange.”
Magic and holy power reflected one’s soul, origins, and attributes — even crimes committed with them could be traced back by those traits.
‘Green holy power?’
She recalled a lower relic she had once seen — that had green holy power too.
A strange relic that quieted its holy power when prayers were said over it.
“Aside from that… there’s nothing else.”
Banshee left with Shiphon and closed the door.
“Ros, the summoning circle.”
Esther had decided — she would summon a demon.
“Finally…! Kyuuu!”
Ros shot up into the air and transformed into human form, landing on the floor.
“You can transform too?” Denver muttered, surprised.
“Ah, this is your first time seeing it?”
“Yes. I’ve heard high-ranking beasts have human-level intellect and powers, but… it’s true.”
“Hmph! Now you know my greatness!”
Ros put his hands on his small hips.
There was nothing threatening about the small boy, though his round eyes almost begged to be patted.
“Alright, Ros.”
Esther cut her palm and held it out. Ros pulled a brush from the air, soaking its white bristles in her blood until they turned bright red, and began drawing in the air.
When the summoning circle was complete, Esther spoke:
[In the name of the Demon King, I announce the birth of a new Demon King. Become my loyal servant, guide my way, and protect me until your life ends.]
The strange language spilling from Esther’s lips made Denver’s eyes widen.
Her red eyes and firm expression didn’t belong to a child — it was like looking at someone entirely different.
“Just what are you…?”
And then, the summoning circle began to glow red.
