The woman smiled.
"You're not Abel Croy, are you?"
It felt like my heart stopped.
Click!
When the woman snapped her fingers, the desk disappeared, and the entire surroundings were covered in darkness.
Strangely, I couldn't see, but I could feel it.
When it no longer felt like a dream, fear washed over me like a wave.
"Are you scared of me?"
In the darkness, where you couldn't see an inch ahead, only a cold voice rang out softly.
There was no need to worry about who that person was. Her name naturally stuck in my mind.
'… Asmodeus.'
I was prepared to meet her someday since I was selling her name, but I never thought we would meet so suddenly.
When she turned around, an old man with three eyes appeared before her instead of a woman.
A voice that sounded like scraping rusty metal rang in my head.
"What gave you the guts to do such a thing when you were so scared?"
This time, it transformed into a three-headed crow.
"It was fun to watch."
My whole body was shaking like an aspen tree. I wanted to answer, but my body, which had already lost control, did not listen.
I tried my best to make my voice sound, but the only thing that came out was the sound of my teeth chattering from my constantly trembling mouth.
An incomprehensible being that far surpasses human cognition. I vividly felt that I was witnessing such a being.
"I still have many questions about you. I wouldn't be able to have a conversation in this condition."
Asmodeus's form returned to that of the previous woman.
Then, my body, which had been shaking just a moment ago, stopped like a ghost.
"Now, let's talk. Who are you?"
It wasn't a simple question. It was asking about the essence.
From what I was saying to myself earlier, I guessed that she already knew my identity.
"You're pretty smart. Only the shell is the same, but the inside is different... Not Abel Croy, what should I call you?"
Even my mind was being read.
Asmodeus said with a grin. It was a creepy, beautiful smile, but what gave me goosebumps was another reason.
"Hmm… Creator?"
"… … ."
Asmodeus suddenly burst into laughter.
"Kyahahahahaha!"
Goosebumps ran down my spine.
"It's so fun! Isn't it? Isn't it? You're the creator, trapped in a world you created. But you have no power. What would the world you live in say about this situation? Ah! Did they say you're screwed? Hahahahahaha!"
Dream. Web novel. Creator.
The meaning of these keywords was clear.
'You saw it. What I wrote.'
Suddenly, the laughter stopped. Her eyes flashed eerily.
"I thought it was somehow strange. No matter how stupid he was, he would never do something like that. How on earth did this happen, Creator?"
"… I do not know either. Suddenly I opened my eyes and I was possessed by this damned body of his."
"I don't know… . Ok, fine. Well, let's say that's possible. Then is this world really something you created?"
"You know because you've read it, but this world is a novel I wrote. But I didn't make it. Because I am an ordinary human being with no powers or anything."
There was nothing more to say.
Because this was the truth.
I'm just an aspiring writer who writes while lamenting my poor grades.
Asmodeus, who was looking at me with interest, changed every moment.
She seemed to be thinking deeply about something. She is also a god, and in this world, there were many gods other than her.
"… So what happens to me at the end of this world?"
"You Die."
Even though her death was confirmed, she did not seem very upset. Rather, she seemed to accept it calmly.
"I see. In the end, will this body die too...? ."
"I will save your life."
"Huh? How do you do it? You may have conceived and created this world yourself, but in the end, you are just an ordinary human being with no power, right? You can hear the head rolling all the way from here~?"
"… I can do it. I will make you the king of hell. Make a deal with me, Asmodeus."
An interesting expression appeared on her face. She asked back, sticking out her bright red tongue and tasting me again.
"I guess you know best who I am, right?"
This was a warning.
How dare someone like you ask me to do business with you?
That was she is trying to say
"That's why I want to do this deal. It's a deal you can never lose. Isn't this a battle that is destined to fail anyway? Either you wait for death to come, or you can change the future and become the king of hell you so desperately want."
She smiled slightly as she reacted to the words 'King of Hell'.
"Asmodeus. Don't you want revenge too?"
"… After all, you are the Creator. Okay, let's see what I can hear. What are the conditions?"
"Cancel this ridiculous and unfair contract… ."
"What an unfair contract! Is this the industry standard?"
When I looked at her as if I was dumbfounded, she smiled playfully and said,
"Ha ha ha. Just kidding, kidding. Okay. What, are you asking me to appoint you as an official apostle?"
"No, I want you to be my familiar."
"What-?"
An indescribable magical energy pulsated throughout her body. I continued speaking urgently before my head fell to the floor.
"Do not misunderstand. Because it is a contract on equal footing. Anyway, even if I'm appointed as an apostle, I can only use a portion of your great power, right? I need strength to achieve my plan. In order to use all the power you have, you have no choice but to enter into this type of contract."
"I see. But even if I become your familiar, don't you know that your abilities won't be able to handle it anyway? And so far I have only appointed one apostle. That's also a demon, not a human. But how can a mere human being who is not an apostle... ."
"For you, a powerful demon god, that would be very prideful. But don't you know that this is the only way? You don't have to worry about handling power. Because I plan to obtain the Demon God Lemegeton. I swear. One year. If Idoesn't produce results you will approve of, you can take my soul."
Her pupils were slitted.
"…It's Lemegeton. Are you sure?"
"It is certain."
"Good. The soul of the creator... It's exhilarating, first of all... ."
I felt a burning pain in my left eye.
"The previous contract was terminated… Come here."
As I approached her, she suddenly hugged my neck and kissed me.
"What!"
-Stay still.
She forced my mouth open and bit my tongue.
Even though it was my dream, I was writhing in excruciatingly vivid pain.
Damn, isn't this enough to cut me off?
"It's a temporary contract. That's enough for you to use it as much as you want. For the rest, let's do it officially when you find Lemegeton."
This wasn't bad at all. But there was one question.
"Where are the stigmata engraved?"
Her finger pointed at my face.
"… My face?"
She shook her head with a playful look on her face. She then made a mirror in her hand and showed it to me.
"… Fuck."
A curse came out in a voice.
The stigmata was engraved on my forehead. At this level, it was like advertising, 'I am a demon worshiper.'
"Asmodeus! This is not it. Change it quickly… ."
"See you next time, Creator."
With those last words, the space collapsed and I lost consciousness.