"Ahhh… Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!!"
In the hidden cellar beneath my bedroom.
I vented all my rage on the sloppily dressed devil.
I kicked the broken devil Max that couldn't even fulfill a single wish again and again.
"Yee– Yee– Yee–"
The devil made strange noises when he was kicked and squatted with his head in his arms.
How long has it been since I summoned this low-ranking devil with the divine relic?
Normally, I'll find it easier to get along after spending so much time together with someone. However, I still can't get used to him.
"It's all because of you! If you were a more reliable devil, my Lalatina wouldn't have been snatched away right there! Is your power to manipulate events so limited? Trash! Trash! You trash!"
"Yee– Yee– Yee– My devil powers will be weakened in a church. More importantly, someone seems to have broken the curse, Alderp."
Max maintained his position of squatting and hugging his head as he nonchalantly said something unexpected.
"The curse is broken? You piece of- Can't you even curse a mere human to death?!"
I roared as I kicked Max once more.
This fellow with a terrible memory even forgot that he didn't receive any price in return. I only used him for so long because I didn't need to offer him anything… Was it time to throw him away?
However, I still need his powers to wipe the slate clean.
After all, what I said to Lalatina before the influential nobles and people in town was inappropriate.
In the heat of the moment, I used foul language on Lalatina whose peerage was far higher than mine.
But that's fine too, I can openly execute that damn brat who barged into the ceremony now.
Lalatina might offer herself in order to save him.
"Max! Change the memories of everyone who attended the ceremony, as well as those who heard what I said to my advantage, and settle everything by tomorrow morning! Understand?"
I thought about what to do tomorrow as I said this and left the dim cellar…
"Yee– Yee– … Can't do it, Alderp. I'm not that powerful."
His words made me stop.
… Can't do it?
This broken devil had never gone against my words.
No matter what I wanted or how I wished to twist the facts, he'd never say that it was impossible.
This was the first time he said that.
"… Can't do it? I'm aware of the fact that you're a low ranked devil. After all, you were randomly summoned by that divine relic … However, you don't have the right to reject me. Do it! I don't know what you can or cannot do, just get it done! Are there too many people? Isn't memory manipulation your strongest suit? Do it now!"
Despite that…
"Can't do it. There's a light… Yee– The strong light that dismissed the spell is in my way, I really can't do it."
When I heard the devil's negative response, my wrath got to my head.
"Enough, useless devil! I'll undo the contract with you and summon a more powerful devil! This is my last order! Bring Lalatina to me…! Use your power to manipulate events and bring Lalatina over right now! I'll then pay all of the outstanding price!"
Max reacted to this.
"Price? You want to pay the price?"
"It's true. I'm serious. You're too stupid, that's why you forgot that I've paid the price multiple times already. I'll properly pay it this time. Go, bring Lalatina to me."
I faked a friendly tone and said to the devil without the ability to retain memories. I've already conned him plenty of times.
… At this moment.
"Is the lord of the territory here? It's me. I'm here to apologize for what happened today, may you grant me an audience…?"
Someone knocked on the door to the cellar. No one should know about the existence of this room.
Why at this hour, why does she know about this cellar? All this didn't matter!
I'd never mistake this voice…!
"Lalatina! Is that Lalatina? All right, great job Max! Splendid! You did amazingly! I don't know how you did it, but I'll fulfill my promise and pay the price! The contract's undone! You're free! Oh Lalatina, I'm opening the door now!"
"I didn't do anything. Yee–! Yee–! You want to pay the price? Undo the contract?"
I ignored Max who was mumbling about something and opened the cellar door.
The one who was looking down at me was without a doubt Lalatina.
And she was wearing a seductive negligee and had a warm smile she normally wouldn't show. She slowly descended down the cellar's stairs.
Her attire and smile conjured the darkest desires within me.
Lalatina said sweet and softly with an apologetic face:
"I'm very sorry my lord… I'll apologize for what happened earlier in the day… Please allow me to offer my body in exchange for the lives of my comrades…!"
I understood everything when I heard that.
Just as I expected, this woman was here to plead for mercy for her companions!
I couldn't hold it in anymore!
The woman I'd been pinning for all these years was dressed like that before me.
I couldn't wait for Lalatina to walk all the way down and was about to pounce on her…
Lalatina's mouth opened in laughter as her figure distorted like a mirage.
Standing there was…
"Hahaha! You think it's Lalatina? Too bad, it's moi! Oh, what intense dark emotions! How delicious, delicious! Hahaha!"
A masked man was standing there dressed in a tuxedo similar to Max.
"? W-Who are you? Who the hell are you? This chilly feeling… It's just like Max! Devil! You must be a devil!"
I pointed at the man before me who was probably a devil and he sneered.
"Max! Kill this despicable devil right now!"
I screamed as I pointed at the masked devil.
To take the form of Lalatina that I dreamed so much about and feast on my feeling of disappointment and loss, how evil!
Ah, this disappointment as if I'd fallen into a chasm!
I'll never, never forgive him!
"…? Why must I kill my kin? Yee…? Hmm? Have I met you before?"
Max ignored my order and asked.
How many times has he defied me today?
What was with this devil? Is he broken?
While I was thinking about that, the masked devil before me displayed perfect etiquette that'd make a noble like me jealous and bowed towards Max.
"This is the hundredth or thousandth time moi have introduced myself to thee. It's the same this time– How do you do, Maxwell. Maxwell, manipulator of facts. Maxwell, twister of truth. Moi art the devil that can see through everything, Vanir. Devil that twists the truth, Maxwell, moi have come to receive thee!"
The broken devil wasn't called Max, but Maxwell?
No, he said to receive him…?
"Vanir! Vanir! Why, why's your name so nostalgic? Have we met before?"
"Hahaha, thou always say that every time we meet! Thou art Maxwell! Thou came from another world without your memories, thou art moi kin! Let's be off to the place thou ought to be, back to hell!
"W-Wait, hold up! He's my servant! Don't decide on your own and take him away!"
I blurted out on reflex, but the devil named Vanir merely laughed.
"Servant? Thou art think Maxwell who art one of the dukes of hell like moi a servant to someone like you? Arrogant shorty who's only strong point's your luck. Luck's really the only thing thou have going for thee. It just so happens the first devil you summoned is Maxwell, how fortunate.
If thou summoned any other devil, the moment the summoning succeeds, thou would be torn to shreds if thee didn't pay the price! However, your luck's really good! The ignorant Maxwell! Powerful, but as simple as a child! It's thanks to him that thou reached your current position, so thou should repay him properly!"
I didn't know what he was talking about.
That Max I've been raising was a duke of hell?
No, I climbed to my current status by my own power.
That broken devil only contributed insignificantly.
I was confused by what Vanir pointed out and the masked devil added on with a sneer.
"Also, before moi appeared, you said this to Maxwell… 'I'll fulfill my promise and pay the price! The contract's undone! You're free!'"
I realized I messed up.
I thought Max used his powers to bring Lalatina to this place.
In a moment of excitement, I said all that.
… So this was the devil that claimed he could see through everything.
He knew this would happen and chose this moment to come here.
And he seemed to have seen through what I was thinking at the very moment.
"Yes, the contract between thou and Maxwell's the problem. Ah, thou really made moi go round in circles."
… Round in circles?
"S-S-So you… You, could it be?"
"Yes, just as you imagined! Moi created the opportunity for that brat to pay off the debt and told him about thee! Hahaha! This, this is great! What magnificent negative emotions! Delicious, delicious indeed!"
I clenched my trembling fists.
"You dare! You dare do such a thing…? If you just wanted this broken devil, you should've just told me up front! If you would've revealed your identity, I would've given him to you from the very start! You don't need to involve the entire city and make me lose face before everyone…!"
That's right, if I knew there was a devil that could see through so much, I won't do something so daring…!
The devil faced me.
And said nonchalantly something ridiculous.
"How interesting! Hahaha, what a good show, a good show indeed! Even that goddess's dancing on the palm of moi hand this time! When that delinquent devil participated in the ceremony, she'd to ask for moi assistance to incubate the egg. She let me taste the negative emotions of absolute shame! Tormented by thy lust, thy love finally blossomed! But the moment thou achieved thy goal, the bride was snatched away! Thy negative emotions in that moment! It was so delicious that moi would have no regrets if moi was to be vanquished at that moment!"
What's he saying, what's this devil saying?
"Well then, Sir Landlord. Moi have no further business with thee. Moi will take Maxwell back to hell and moi will continue to work harder under that crazy shop owner."
It seems that this devil was planning to leave with Max.
It can't be helped. I didn't know Max was such a powerful devil, but there'll be a way even if he leaves.
However, what should I do for tomorrow?
I won't be able to wipe away the evidence of my wrongdoing from now on.
As I was troubled over this.
"Yee! Yee! Vanir! Vanir! Before I go back, I've to let Alderp pay the price! He said he wants to pay the price!"
The excited Max made a whistling sound like a flute and said happily.
Shit, I think I did say that.
"I get it, I get it. The price, huh? I'll pay, so hurry up…"
And go back. Before I could finish.
A dull crack reverberated in the dim cellar.
I realized it was the sound of my arms snapping…
"… Huh, ah, ahhh?"
Was after I saw Max holding my broken arms.
"Yee? Yee–! It hurts, it hurts!?"
I screamed as my broken arms remained tightly in his grip.
"Alderp! Alderp!! Your screams are great, Alderp! Yee–! Yee–!"
The broken devil was still saying nonsense.
"What are you doing? Release me, Max! Stop! It hurts, stop!"
When he heard my cries, the devil that I'd been with so long showed an expression for the first time.
The face that was as expressionless as its mask twisted, turning into a genuine, unblemished smile.
Vanir then said:
"Hahaha! Maxwell, thou can continue with this in hell. This man owes thee a huge price. Just bring this man back to hell and let him pay back slowly."
Even though my senses turned vague because of the pain, I heard something that couldn't be taken lightly.
"The price thou need to pay for the service of Maxwell will be in accordance with the time stipulated in the contract, during which thou shall continuously release the negative emotions Maxwell likes… Yes, thou worked Maxwell really hard and led a really depraved life… Thou probably can't clear the debt before the end of your lifespan."
The masked devil's words sent a chill down my back.
Even the pain in my arm was thrown to the back of my mind as I tried my best to bargain with the devil.
"I, I got it! It was wrong of me to work you so hard! How about this, first, my massive–"
"Thy wealth, huh? When Maxwell returns to hell, all thy wrongdoings will be exposed and all thy assets will be confiscated and managed by house Dustiness… After that, it'd be returned to that guy who's regretting in his home, complaining that, 'I shouldn't have cockily thrown all my money away, I should mercilessly make that woman pay me back with her body.', as well as the town and kingdom. Vanir, the devil that can see through everything, declares that thou art penniless."
When I heard that, my teeth chattered and I almost fainted.
All the money I accumulated…!
"In…."
"In that case, 'Pick as many people as you like in this mansion in place of me.', right? Unfortunately, the obligation of payment must be done by the contractee! … Oh, such negative emotion is hard to come by, but despair isn't to moi taste. That's what Maxwell prefers though."
After hearing that, I finally stopped the quivering of my body.
"M-M-Max… Max…! I-I did many cruel things to you… Cruel things. But, please, can you save me? Spare me Max, I don't really hate you…! It's true! Please, Max!"
Vanir merely snickered as he listened to me and didn't correct my lies for some reason.
Max released his hold onto my arms.
I collapsed onto the ground.
With a glimmer of hope because of his action, I uneasily looked up at Max.
He was smiling happily.
An innocent and pure smile.
This devil that'd always been expressionless showed a smile as pure as a child.
"Alderp! Alderp! Me too! I like you too, Alderp!"
Vanir continued to snicker as he watched me and I didn't know what was wrong.
The broken devil I've known for such a long time continued excitedly shouting with a flushed face.
"Alderp! Alderp! I like you, Alderp! Stay by my side in hell, Alderp! I want to enjoy your despair forever, Alderp!"
Oh, I see now.
So the reason why I couldn't bring myself to like this devil was this.
I was terrified from the bottom of my heart, terrified of the hidden nature of this devil.
With the smiling devil before me, I couldn't stand the fear anymore.
– Oh, my god.
"Oh, the feelings are mutual, Alderp. Maxwell's the type who likes to go above and beyond, he'll definitely toy with you all day and night! Hahaha! Hahaha!"
God, please let this broken devil lose his interest in me and grant me a quick death… With the laughter of the devil in my ears, I prayed to God for the first time in my life.
"I'll cherish you, Alderp! Unlike the girls you abandoned after abducting them, I'll take care not to break you! Yee–Yee–Yee–Yee–!!"