"Natural death?"
Celia's brow furrowed as she stared coldly at the ancient demon in the darkness above.
"Correct," Zak-Eos replied, seemingly not minding the extra effort to explain the rules to the two humans. "The Soul Feast will be maintained indefinitely. During this period, the two of you will remain here as associated parties until Samantha completes her natural lifespan and truly dies."
"At that point, all contractual obligations will be automatically dissolved, and you may return to the physical realm."
Celia immediately looked at Ansu, their startled gazes meeting in the void.
"Your Excellency," Ansu asked in a deep voice, "how much longer does Samantha have to live?"
Zak-Eos answered flatly, "I do not know."
A cold sneer came from Celia's side. "It seems your skills as a demon aren't that impressive after all."
Zak-Eos's voice remained calm. "Life and death are the authority of the gods. We are only responsible for fulfilling the current contract. However..."
Before it finished, the massive golden soul scale hummed again, and the demon's low voice seemed to vibrate directly within their souls. "If the two of you dare to violate the contract, you will naturally suffer our most severe punishment."
Celia's gaze grew even colder.
"So we're just supposed to wait here?" Ansu frowned, looking at the empty shell that was the old hag's body.
Samantha had lived for three hundred years. Even if her physical functions were severely declining now, she could certainly linger on for a long time—perhaps months, half a year, or even two or three years. If they were truly trapped here for that long, the situation in the outside world would have likely changed beyond recognition. He didn't have the time to waste here.
Ansu looked at the demon again. While he was speechless at the result, he also felt a sense of relief. It was a good thing he had used the simulation to test for errors first. He was now even more convinced that ordinary humans could never outplay a demon. The so-called 'contracts' woven by these cunning creatures were themselves the greatest traps.
"Wait!" Celia suddenly spoke up. "Why must we wait for a natural death? If I simply destroy this vessel..."
"Forbidden!" Zak-Eos's voice carried an unquestionable will. "Once the ritual begins, the parties involved in the sacrifice are prohibited from attacking each other. For those who break the contract, their souls will be claimed by me."
Inside the dark domain, the atmosphere fell into a stalemate.
Sensing the anxiety and frustration of the two humans, Zak-Eos's lava-like eyes slowly narrowed as it suddenly leaned in closer. "Actually... there is another solution to this situation. A perfect solution."
Ansu could sense a hint of 'temptation' in the demon's tone.
"So, what is the solution?"
Although he knew it certainly wasn't up to any good, Ansu still put on an expression of interest.
"That would be..." Zak-Eos scanned back and forth between the two of them. Finally, its gaze settled on Ansu, and it spoke in a low, enticing whisper. "You, Ansu, shall inherit and complete Samantha's unfulfilled contract."
"If Celia's soul is devoured by me, then all contracts will be fulfilled, and you... will regain your freedom."
After hearing this so-called "solution," Ansu immediately scoffed. "So that's what you're after!"
As a cunning demon that survived by devouring souls, Zak-Eos was certainly unwilling to let go of the triple gift that had been delivered to its doorstep. It would do everything within the rules to find a way to devour more souls.
"How about it, Ansu?" Zak-Eos watched him greedily. "If you agree, not only can you regain your freedom, but you can also possess Celia's... once-in-a-millennium magic-attuned body."
The demon continued its persuasion, its tone becoming fervent, as if it were truly looking out for Ansu. "Even if you don't usurp this perfect body for your own use as Samantha intended... even refining it into a puppet would be an excellent choice. Think about it! Having one of the world's top magic experts as your absolutely loyal guard. Ansu, what would you ever have to fear again?"
Just as Zak-Eos was about to say more—
"Enough, enough!" Ansu interrupted impatiently. "Stop wasting your breath. That's impossible!"
A flash of surprise crossed Zak-Eos's eyes. "Do you not think this is the best solution?"
"Best, my foot!" Ansu looked at it with a sneer. "Only an idiot would make a deal with the most greedy of demons. I don't even have to think to know you've got some foul scheme hidden behind this! Who knows what kind of traps are buried in that pile of broken rules?"
After saying this, he instinctively looked toward Celia. Celia was watching him with a faint smile, her face showing not a hint of worry, as if she had been certain all along that he would flatly refuse.
"Then wait here until the end!" the demon sneered darkly. "I want to see how much of your so-called trust can withstand the test of time!"
As those words fell, Ansu felt subtle ripples in the dark void around them, and he caught a faint glimpse of the scene outside.
On the outskirts of the forest, which had been turned into a vast expanse of scorched earth, a large number of fully armed clergy were searching relentlessly. David and several cult executors were covering Vera as they hastily retreated through the shadows of the trees.
Further away, on the streets of Maplewood Town, Freya, wearing a hood, was in a tense standoff with a tall, thin middle-aged man surrounded by the power of holy light. That man was the strongest figure in the current Church of Holy Light, the Pope's guard, Seance, who had pursued Samantha all the way here and had taught Freya the God-Descent.
"Do you see?" Zak-Eos's voice rang out again, tinged with schadenfreude. "Your family and your lover are in grave danger. If you remain trapped here, they will surely meet a terrible end!"
For some reason, Zak-Eos had actually identified Freya as his 'lover'... To the point that after the demon finished its threat, Ansu instinctively glanced toward Celia. Celia's smiling expression instantly froze, then turned dark.
"Lover?"
What kind of lover is she!
Ansu coughed awkwardly and continued looking at Zak-Eos. He was unfazed by the demon's threat, smiling faintly as he said, "I recall you said you couldn't predict fate? You don't even know when Samantha's time is up, yet now you claim to know they'll meet a terrible end? Can you at least be consistent?"
Zak-Eos was taken aback, its tone gradually becoming irritable. "The disparity in strength is immense; anyone can see it! In short... if you do not make a decision immediately, they will certainly be dragged down! Think carefully about my solution! I will give you one more chance!"
With those words, the vision of Freya instantly vanished. Zak-Eos let out a cold snort, and its massive figure also gradually disappeared into the dark void.
The atmosphere became incredibly quiet as Celia silently watched Ansu from the other side.
"How long... do you think we'll be trapped here?"
"I don't know." Ansu shook his head. "But no matter how long it is, I won't just sit here and wait. I have to find a way."
"But I can't use magic to break this domain..." Celia had been trying to gather mana to attack the surrounding black void, but other than causing a few ripples, nothing had changed.
"This place... indeed does not exist on the material plane. This should be a higher-level spiritual realm..."
"When I said I'd find a way, I didn't mean here." Ansu chuckled, then sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to rest. He meant after he went back.
As Ansu calculated in his mind, he silently waited for the simulation time to end.
"Hmm?" Celia tilted her head suspiciously.
...
【Reality】
【Radiant Calendar Year 625, June 28, 10:58】
【Rating: C】
【Reward: 40 Points】
【Remaining Points: 178】
【You used this simulation to engage in a 'sacrifice' duel with Samantha.】
【Although the ancient demon is cunning and powerful, now that you know more of the rules, you may be able to find a perfect way to break the deadlock.】
Opening his eyes again, Ansu returned to the depths of the dense forest. Beside him, Celia was following the traces of triggered magic traps, moving forward step by step.
"Wait a moment!" Ansu called out to her.
Celia turned around, her eyes filled with confusion. "What is it? Samantha is definitely up ahead. Are we not going to find her?"
"Of course we are," Ansu said in a deep voice. "But before that, I have a plan..."
Rate on N.U.
