Chapter 82 - Trail of Fire (2)

[Though I brought it up first, that is quite the bold request, my pact-bearer.]

Still, wasn't Seir the one who first mentioned Devil multi-level marketing?

This was like how Cao Cao built his staff through Xun Yu's Yellow River Pyramid scheme.

In that sense, it could be Leraje's turn this time.

Just as Xun Yu brought in Guo Jia, who then brought Cheng Yu.

Since Seir connected me with Leraje, couldn't Leraje bridge us to another Devil?

[Me?]

[Hmm... Leraje will not be helpful here.]

[What!]

Leraje immediately protested, but Seir calmly delivered facts.

[Leraje has a narrow network.]

[N-no, I don't!]

[Well, there is Abaddon, but he is more like Hell's administrator, so we cannot exactly call him.]

Duke and Great Marquis.

This conversation seemed too trivial for Archdevils who ruled Hell, almost diluting the situation's urgency.

I wondered if it should be Devil-connections rather than connections, but remembering the situation’s urgency, I returned to the main point.

Then does Lady Seir have any suggestions?

[Heheh, of course.]

Ooh, as expected of Lady Seir.

[There are two methods.]

Two options?

Devils truly are limitless.

Open your mind a bit and extraordinary solutions pour out.

[Either fight fire with fire, or extinguish it with water.]

Just as I wondered about using wind, Seir's voice countered.

[Wind alone will be insufficient for flames of this magnitude.]

[We could create a wall of wind to cut off oxygen.]

[That might work for defense, but remember—we are not alone here.]

That’s right. We're not the only ones here.

Seir reminded me not just of those accompanying me, but of all those who came down to the Second Floor for this operation to hunt the Sentinels.

I keep thinking Seir might be an angel rather than a Devil.

[The choice between the two is up to my pact-bearer.]

Up to me, huh?

Choosing fire would mean either setting backfires or interfering with the Blazing Death directly while choosing water would mean directly extinguishing those walking fireballs like Leaf attempted.

Wouldn't it be better to choose something that doesn't overlap with Leaf?

[However... there is one concern.]

And what is that?

[Whether my pact-bearer can handle the fire option. That one is…  quite violent.]

From Seir's additional comment, I could sense she was somewhat uncomfortable with the Devil who held authority over fire.

[Ah, that one?]

Leraje knows too?

[If we're talking about the Devil of Fire, it's them. The Duke of Fire. They hold the same rank of Great Marquis as me, but they’re violent.]

If they're violent, it might be hard to set backfires too.

Thanks to my pact with Devils Seir and Leraje being incredibly cooperative, I often forget that pacts with Devils were usually a race to destruction.

What about the water option?

[That one... is abnormal as well, correct? Or is she?]

Seir spoke with an uncertain tone.

Leraje stayed quiet, apparently not knowing much about the water Devil Seir mentioned.

Neither option was normal.

But when did we ever expect normalcy from Devils?

Seir and Leraje might be the outliers among Devils.

Let's go with water.

Then, we’d at least be able to avoid the violent temperament with water.

This isn't the time to gamble.

It's not just my life at stake.

At minimum, the six people here including me.

At maximum, all the Explorers on the Second Floor.

[Very well.]

With Seir's acceptance, new knowledge settled in my brain.

Seir transmitted Hell’s secrets to me.

Another set of knowledge about one of Hell's rulers was engraved.

The summoning circle to call her.

The seal patterns I needed to engrave in it.

And the true name of the Devil to be called.

The three elements were ready.

What remains is the offering for the Devil.

"Got anything useful?" after finishing communication with the Devils, I asked those watching me.

"Useful?"

"For a summoning offering."

"Wouldn't a magic stone work? Like a Sentinel's mana core..."

"The power needed for summoning comes from my blood and the mystery in the chant anyway. Mana isn't that important."

"What did you use last time?"

The offerings used in Devil summoning were another top secret in Devil Magic.

At Rei's question, Arthur and Hernan cleared their throats and subtly stepped back.

"Roman. Hernan and I will hold off the Blazing Death."

"Yeah. Thanks. You too, Mr. Hernan."

With no ears to eavesdrop, I told them I used a goat's head for Seir and tanghulu for Leraje.

"Then, anything will do?"

"This is ridiculous, Roman. Other Devil Sorcerers sacrifice hundreds of live humans just for one summoning."

"Um... would this work?"

Leaf pulled out some dried fruit.

From tanghulu to dried fruit.

The offering quality took a nosedive.

But this was the best we could get right now.

We didn't even have ink for the summoning circle.

As an alternative, I cut my palm.

This will make me dizzy.

Using mana to turn my hand into a brush, I started drawing the summoning circle with my blood as ink.

The basic circular frame.

Drawing a winged cup-like figure inside it.

Both the altar and circle were makeshift.

I wasn’t sure if it would work properly with the Abyss' unique mana and flow, but we would have to simply overcome that.

"I summon thee."

The mystery in the summoning chant resonated with the circle, sending an invitation to a two-dimensional being.

Blood dripped from my already open wound in a strange rhythm.

The wind barrier Leaf created to hide my summoning trembled.

The incoming wind wasn't just from the battle beyond.

It's coming.

The third Devil.

The Devil holding the key to overcome this situation.

A flash of light struck Leaf's wind wall, raising the internal heat further.

And with it came a sound.

Water?

The sound of rushing water.

With the sound of rapids, that Devil manifested.

It had silver hair like moonlight reflecting off the surface of a body of water and a body wrapped in silver chains and black bandages.

Spreading wings of a lighter gray than Seir's, the being filled my vision with vertically split pupils.

The sensation of being submerged in water covered my entire body.

The Devil slowly raised her arms.

The texture of water sounds changed with the movement.

The paradox of being submerged and hearing flowing water without actual water.

The Devil, who overwrote the surrounding world with just their presence, truly befitting the title of Archdevil.

Covering her face to show only one eye, the Devil spoke, "Huhuhuhu. Just as expected. One who will weave chains of fate, to sink together into the abyss in eternal darkness."

"...Pardon?"

"Huhu. No need to tremble, Summoner."

No, I'm not trembling.

What is this?

After hearing that way of speaking, what initially seemed like the dignity of an Archdevil took on a different feeling.

"I'm not trembling. More importantly—"

"Shh."

The Devil interrupted, placing their index finger to her lips with the hand that was covering her face.

"Mystery is inherently solemn. The knowledge you, my summoner, seek is difficult to obtain. Your offering... Ah! W-what is this...!"

The Devil, finally noticing the dried fruit on the altar, stomped her feet in anger.

"Y-you! Mage who seeks the secrets of the distant universe! To summon me with such an offering... I cannot feel any sincerity at all!"

Ah, too much to ask?

It was too informal.

While Leraje didn't need offerings and was willing to accept tanghulu, this Devil seemed to be the type who valued offerings.

Seir probably didn't know these detailed personality traits.

Just as I thought about closing this summoning and calling the fire Devil as a backup plan, the Devil continued, "This rudeness will have to be repaid as a covenant-bearer over time!"

This is how it's going?

"Ahem, ahem! Why do you wait!? Let us quickly establish our covenant."

"Before that, there's one thing I must confirm."

"Confirm? Huhu, very well. If it's to confirm our fateful synchronization rate, I gladly permit it. I shall personally assess my covenant-bearer's capabilities."

"Do you understand the situation outside?"

"Hmm? You mean those fireballs?"

"We need to extinguish them. I need that power. More than mysterious knowledge, I need the power to extinguish those flames. What power do you possess?"

"My power..."

The Devil surveyed the area before approaching the floating Undine, as if finding exactly what she wanted.

THUD—!

"Ack!"

And hit the wall blocked by the summoning circle.

"Hnng...! I-I forgot... we haven't completed the covenant yet."

While holding her forehead with both hands, the Devil quickly made excuses.

"C-come here."

"Me?"

"Yes. Would you command that water spirit to provide some water?"

At the Devil's words, Leaf tilted her head and looked at me.

When I nodded, Leaf had Undine float a water droplet toward the Devil.

PONG—

The moment the Devil's hand touched the water.

WHIRLRLRLRL—

The water began spinning violently and expanding.

"Will this suffice?"

"...It's enough."

"Hmm, then let us establish our covenant."

The establishment of the pact.

Once again, my blood wet the summoning circle.

"This Duke's name is Procell. The one who flows Latent Heat."

The Pact Seal that formed with the pact’s establishment settled on the opposite hand from Leraje's pact seal.

Simultaneously, I drew upon Procell's authority that I learned through the pact’s establishment.

KWAAAAAAAA—!!

The water Leaf created mixed with my mana, growing in size and becoming a raging torrent.

It was a moment where fire and water intertwined like a dance.