## Chapter 480 – Killing Demons
The demon proposed a deal, saying that killing him would yield me nothing.
But that doesn’t make sense. If there’s nothing to gain from killing him, there’s nothing to gain from making a deal either.
More than anything, trying to negotiate from the start is something you do to resolve a situation favorably when you’re at a disadvantage. Interpreting that, it means that the demon is aware that he’s in a disadvantageous position.
There’s no reason to negotiate with an inferior opponent.
Actually, I don’t dislike negotiating. There’s nothing better than resolving issues through conversation.
However, demons are untrustworthy beings.
It’s absurd to negotiate or make deals with those bastards. It’s not like they pulled out an item and waved it around like those fairy bastards I saw last time, and I’m not alone now.
I can dissect them and interrogate them right away, so there’s no need to bother with a deal.
In the first place, I came here to kill demons.
“Daring to act tough when you have nothing? Let’s split your belly open and see if there’s any loot to be had, hehehe.”
I slowly advanced towards the Lesser Demon with my sword pointed at him.
“Peace is a significant value. What is the reason for trying to fight even though I explained that there is nothing to gain from fighting?”
—Clack, clack, clack.
The skull-like head, barely covered with black skin, moved busily as it spat out words. The sound of teeth clashing echoed, but the tone was calm.
Being a creature from hell, it certainly felt ominous.
“There is nothing to gain even if you kill us. Let’s make a deal.”
This bastard… is he a pacifist demon?
Of course, there’s no such thing as a demon not driven mad by blood and violence. Sometimes, stereotypes and prejudices point you in the right direction.
“Why do you think there’s nothing to gain from killing you?”
“Because we have nothing.”
“I think our demon friend’s corpse would be quite valuable, don’t you think?”
“Our corpses do not remain in the real world.”
Come to think of it, there was a time when a High Imp’s corpse immediately melted away into a pool of black fluid as soon as I killed it.
Demons’ corpses don’t remain in the real world? Then what about proof of killing a demon? Is it limited to their possessions? Does that mean no body parts remain at all?
Maybe it’s different for each individual.
Anyway, it’s full of unknowns.
Then it might be okay to talk a little more to extract information.
“Why don’t corpses remain?”
“It is difficult to explain the reason.”
When I asked about the reason, the Lesser Demon stated it bluntly. His blazing red pupils didn’t seem to be looking at death.
“Then can you explain the reason for infiltrating the human world?”
“That is also difficult to explain.”
“Are you even planning to make a deal, you son of a bitch?”
“…You seem angry. I request that you put down your weapon. Conversation and deals can be made without weapons.”
I glanced back at Cloudi and Winia. Winia looked very nervous, but Cloudi nodded at me with a face that showed extreme interest.
If Cloudi is interested, there’s no need to think any further.
—Clack.
I immediately pointed the tip of my sword towards the ground.
“I’ll lower my weapon. You want to make a deal? No. More than that, do you have anything to trade? You said yourself that you have nothing.”
As I lowered my weapon, the demon brought his hands together and expressed his gratitude.
“First, I would like to express my gratitude that one with a human body has agreed to make a deal with us demons.”
“Then tell me why you came. What do you want to trade?”
—Whoosh.
The blazing red pupils now burned with a blue light.
Is this bastard a traffic light demon?
“As you humans expect, we are beings from the outside world, beings called demons. The reason we came is to make deals with humans. We wouldn’t have come if we didn’t have a purpose. However, the humans here are too violent and don’t try to engage in conversation at all.”
So he met some violent humans.
What happened to those bastards?
“That’s probably true. Demons are evil beings.”
There are people all over this area who are trying to kill demons and gain enlightenment.
Cities under the influence of religious people tend to have this kind of color.
In fact, besides that, humans just naturally like to plunder something. It just looks like justice if the targets are villains or demons. There’s no one who wouldn’t do it since they can kill and plunder to their heart’s content, and even get rewarded for it.
“Not all demons are evil beings. Don’t you humans also divide between good and evil? Just as not all humans are evil because there is one evil person, not all demons are evil because there is an evil demon.”
The Lesser Demon spoke with considerable composure.
Of course, I didn’t come here to have such trivial conversations with this bastard.
From a human perspective, demons and monsters are all evil. There may be good demons, but a dead demon is still better.
“I don’t care. Just tell me what you’re going to trade. I’m starting to lose my patience.”
“What we trade is our power.”
“Power?”
“Don’t you want power? We can give you power.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. It’s so absurd that I’m laughing.”
It was such a classic and cliché scam.
Demons tempt humans with power in exchange for something.
Seeing his gentle attitude, I thought some dimwits might take the bait.
Is there a reason why those heretics who worship Ejath went crazy? There are plenty of people who live only for today, and there are humans everywhere who will throw away their souls for a moment of wealth and glory.
“The world is not infinite, so the conflicts over limited resources never end. What is needed to win in conflicts is power. If the world is full of endless blood and violence, it is wise to take advantage of it. With the power we give, it will be easier to win in such competition.”
The horse-headed demon spoke in a speech-like manner.
His pupils were burning with blue flames.
“So?”
Seeing him speak in a fairly logical manner, it seems like he’s done this kind of trickery more than once or twice. I’m becoming more and more unable to trust him. Usually, the guys who come up with plausible stories are the ones who scam you.
Being good at talking is the most certain proof that you’re good at scamming.
—Clack.
The guy who was walking on all fours stood up with a bizarre sound.
His height was almost 2 meters, and his frame was unrealistic.
Therefore, the sight of him standing up was truly bizarre.
I had the thought that the legendary beings who found the middle ground when the stars were arguing over bipedal and quadrupedal walking in the distant past might have walked like that.
“This is an opportunity. An opportunity to gain our power and live in the world more comfortably. We know very well the status that power has in the human world. Will you make a deal?”
However, he wasn’t an opponent I couldn’t defeat.
My heightened senses always allowed me to calmly assess the combat power of the opponent and myself. Cloudi would be satisfied if I listened to this much of the story.
“Hehehe, power. Power is good. But if I receive power from a demon, I feel like I’ll be ruined? Or do I have to give you my soul or something?”
“Ruin and soul are not needed. You just need to grant us one request in exchange for power. Then that power will be entirely yours.”
—Clack.
The Lesser Demon who stood up pointed at me.
—Whoosh.
“The conditions are good.”
Darkness was swirling behind him.
As expected of a demon, I could feel the pressure.
But a demon who wants peace, conversation, and a deal is offering to grant a request in exchange for power?
The words don’t match.
He’s simply clouding the other person’s mind with good words, then using the simple condition of one request and power as bait to obscure the person’s vision, and inducing a deal by vaguely explaining the true purpose.
It must be a bad deal.
—I immediately drew up mana.
“But no matter how I look at it, you seem like a weakling… What use is there in receiving power from you? It looks like it would be hard to even beat the kids playing ball over there?”
“Krrr!”
—Bubbling.
As I mocked him and prepared for battle, the guy suddenly started foaming at the mouth.
“What, what the fuck! This bastard is foaming at the mouth!”
He’s finally revealing his true colors!
—Swish!
I immediately kicked off the ground with my sword pointed at him.
The mysteries of the Heavenly Demon’s Descent Footwork add to the leg strength. In an instant, the ground caved in and my body was shot out like a cannonball. Closing the distance with him in an instant, it’s an assault!
—Whoosh!!!
“Dejaaaaaaaat!!!!!!”
I add mana to the speed.
I wanted to use sword energy, but it’s not something I can use immediately. I can’t use an incomplete technique when dealing with a demon. I’m timing it to unleash my main skill, the Executive Beheading, while operating as if exploding the mana in my body!
“I said I wanted peace and a deal! Why don’t you agree!”
“Fuck off, Demon!!!!”
—Cawwww!!!
The Lesser Demon screamed and swung his arm.
From the start, I had no intention of making a deal with a demon. It’s the same even if they only give benefits. They are my enemies. There’s no way a person who receives the power of a demon can live a normal life. There will surely only be tragedy and ruin.
If I want the peace and tranquility of the world, I have to cut it off!
“Is there no human who will agree to a deal!!!!!”
—Swish!
At the end of his long arm were sharp claws. The momentum was like a spiked whip.
Is he not using evil magic?
Anyway, I’m aiming for the moment his attack reaches me!
“Executive Beheading!!!!”
—Slash!
As I unleashed the Executive Beheading towards the hand that flew like a whip, the arm was cut off in vain and flew into the sky.
“Kiyaaaaaaaaaaaak!!!!”
The demon screams as black blood pours out from the cut.
Who would this kind of loser make a deal with?
I was about to follow up with a series of attacks—
—Boom!
Suddenly, a fireball flew and hit the demon’s head.
—Whoosh!
Winia had provided fire support.
The demon was about to attack with his other arm, but he screamed and slapped his face. I was thinking about cutting off his breath right away, or cutting off his other arm for stability, but in this situation, I can aim for his neck right away.
“Die, Demon! The price of the deal is your life!”
I thrust my sword forcefully into his neck. —Thwack! The blade with strong force pierced through his neck.
“Krrrrrrrrrrk!!!!!!”
The attack worked very well.
—Thud.
Whether that was the finishing blow or not, his body fell backward.
How much power would this kind of bastard give even if he gave it?
Having seized the victory, I never slack off. I immediately stomped on the chest of the guy who had fallen backward, twisted the blade stuck in his neck, and tore off his head.
—Thwack! Thwack!
I stabbed his chest a few times for confirmation, and he soon became quiet.
“What a bland bastard. Winia. Thanks for that just now.”
“Don’t let your guard down, Blackie. There’s no way a demon would end that easily.”
“I know.”
—Bubbling.
The Lesser Demon’s corpse began to melt. As he revealed, there was nothing left of the corpse. The naked demon, who didn’t even have any possessions, instantly turned into black pus.
All that remained in that place was a sticky black puddle.
It’s the same as with the High Imp.
“Hmm… Is this the end?”
Cloudi approached with a curved sword in each hand.
“I don’t know. Seeing him try to make a deal, I thought he’d have at least one trick up his sleeve… He died too easily, this bastard.”
I briefly examined the puddle with Cloudi. As I did, Winia also stuck to my back and observed the puddle.
“Blackie. If we put this black liquid somewhere and take it, wouldn’t the church give us a reward?”
“Oh, that might be possible.”
The paladins would know that demons turn into black liquid as soon as they are killed.
Then let’s put the Demon Juice in a canteen.
—Bubbling!
That’s when I was about to throw away the water, squat down, and put it in.
—Swish!
“Oh, oh, what the fuck is this!”
At that moment, a black figure rose from the black puddle. Rose? No! As soon as the puddle surged, black beings popped out of it in succession!
—Swish.
I immediately distanced myself.
“Kiyaaaaaaaak!”
“Kreleeeeeeeek!”
“Chiyaaaat!!!!”
What came out of the inside of the puddle were all deformed demons with black skin! Could it be that their blood also had the effect of summoning comrades!
