Episode 16
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The name of this demonic merchant was Artariaxa.
He worked for the Abyss Merchants Association, a place where merchants of the nine races and other beings lived together and traded.
Traders are usually neutral.
However, what happens if they get angry or are provoked on purpose?
Then they are forced to act.
One of the rules of the merchants is not to let themselves be humiliated by an inferior being, even among themselves.
It doesn't matter if you are of the nine races, every merchant has his pride.
Traders' pride is something that cannot be recovered or replaced. If someone loses it, the only way to restore it is to kill.
Kill the one who humiliates you.
If you don't, you will be the mockery of all merchants.
Artariaxa had a dream: to be the chief of the merchants, the highest position among them.
However, to achieve it he needed to contribute by selling items that no one else could offer and to reach level 100, another indispensable requirement.
Of course, it was a long road that would take a long time. Although he was currently weak and selling common items, he also had unique pieces in his inventory.
One of those items was a tunic.
It was an outfit with extraordinary features, as if it was designed for someone of a high level.
It was a long tunic that reached to the knees, black in color, with storage space and a specific area for mounting a sword.
In retrospect, it was a tunic meant for a swordsman, not a mage or something similar.
Artariaxa was at ease, resting after ten years of wandering the abyss and selling items. However, someone knocked on the door.
A human appeared in front of him.
Artariaxa looked at Freddy.
That human was so arrogant that it annoyed him from the first instant.
"I've never sold anything to humans, and now you come looking for me?"
"That doesn't matter to me, I need something you have," Freddy replied coldly.
Freddy looked at him with icy eyes, a look that reflected the weariness of a long history of suffering.
Although the human's eyes were purple and did not convey fear, Artariaxa felt a strange fear.
There was something about his vibe that was unsettling.
Artariaxa spoke.
"I'm on vacation, don't bother me."
However, the human clicked his tongue in disdain.
An unpleasant expression appeared on his face as he looked at Artariaxa, as if Artariaxa had made an unforgivable mistake.
Then something unexpected happened.
Burst!
A stabbing, excruciating pain shot through the lower part of his chest.
Blood spurted from her mouth as she watched Freddy's fist drive into her abdomen.
This human had exerted such brutal force that it even damaged his internal organs.
He couldn't believe it.
He was a high-level human.
But how the hell did he know this location? How did he know who he was?
Questions arose in Artariaxa's mind, but they stopped there.
It felt as if his body experienced death.
A magical power that conveyed the same sensation of death appeared on the human's arm.
Artariaxa trembled in fear.
The magic power emerged at an incredible speed.
Soon he felt that magic power enter his nervous system and run through his entire body, making him fall to the ground while black-colored blood gushed out of every possible orifice.
Artariaxa's eyes turned pitch black.
"W-who... who... are you?"
"I said I just wanted something, but I changed my mind," Freddy replied.
Freddy, immune to Artariaxa's reaction, who groaned in pain on the floor, spoke coldly.
He had come for the robe he needed, but he also had another purpose: to get a contract with Artariaxa.
That demon would be the head of the merchants in five years. If he could get a ten-year contract with him, he would have access to incredible resources in the future.
He needed it for his upcoming plans.
The Abyss Merchants Association provided items that were rumored to be comparable to those of monarchs.
Although many considered that rumor not credible, Freddy was not willing to take any chances; the contract was essential.
Freddy looked at Artariaxa, who was still prostrate on the ground as if begging for his life.
However, what happened next was quite the opposite.
Suddenly, Artariaxa's head shot up so fast that Freddy's reflexes failed to react.
Whoa!
Freddy recoiled as a sharp blow struck his chin.
Artariaxa had hit him with his head, causing Freddy's jaw to crackle.
At that moment, Artariaxa lunged at Freddy.
He grabbed him with both hands and pushed him hard into a nearby wall.
Kwasik!
A loud thud resounded in Freddy's back.
However, Freddy looked at Artariaxa calmly.
Despite being up against someone who was probably no higher than level 10, Artariaxa was demonstrating enough strength for Freddy to take him seriously.
This was especially relevant because Freddy was still at level 1.
His only advantage was his abilities.
Although he had only used one of them, keeping it active for a long time was an extremely demanding task.
The physical effort required by the skills was a huge cost to the body, making it almost impossible to use them continuously.
Therefore, he decided to act quickly.
Although his magic power was limited, the magic power of death was enough.
Freddy struck Artariaxa's lower side with precision.
The demon was thrown to the side and fell to the ground.
Freddy spoke as he looked at it spilling blood.
"You're annoying, but if you listen, I won't kill you."
Artariaxa, lying on the ground, looked at Freddy with a frown.
He was half beaten and wounded in several places.
The pain was like hell.
This was because Freddy's magic power was imbued with death.
How was this possible?
Thanks to the Aura of Death, an innate ability of the Sword of Death, Freddy could channel that aura into his arms and use it as if it were ordinary magic power.
That is why the effect of death was so devastating.
It was as if every internal organ suffered immense pain and the flesh began to slowly melt.
However, for a demon, the effects were milder: although the internal damage was significant, the flesh did not suffer as much.
It only burned for a few seconds, causing intense pain, but that was all.
If Freddy had used 100% of the Aura of Death, Artariaxa would have turned to dust. But that was not his goal.
Freddy approached Artariaxa, who lay dying on the ground, and spoke:
"Make a contract with me and I'll let you live."
"Human bastard... I have pride, in case you didn't know."
"That I know very well, but here the question is: do you want to live or not?"
"....."
Artariaxa was silent for a few seconds.
Freddy's words were true.
With a few more blows, his body would completely crumble. If he kept taking damage, his death was inevitable.
So he didn't think too much about it and responded:
"Just... let me recover for a few seconds."
"Sure.
Anyway, if you don't accept, you'll die instantly.
Despite being at level 1, Freddy wielded the power of death, a challenge that could not be trifled with.
Thanks to a special title, Freddy emanated the aura of death.
The titles offered great benefits, unique abilities and special features, so many risked their lives to obtain one.
Freddy, having received a title related to the god of death, had acquired basic and low-ranking skills linked to this concept.
However, that was not without consequences.
"Shit," he muttered.
His arm hurt terribly.
Using the power of death for a few seconds to subdue Artariaxa had taken its toll.
But it was worth it.
After a few moments of reflection, Artariaxa spoke:
"What are the clauses of the contract?"
Freddy thought for a few seconds.
Although the terms were not complicated, they needed to be precise.
Even if the merchants were neutral, that didn't mean they were completely trustworthy.
A mistake in the clauses could give Artariaxa an advantage in the future.
Finally, Freddy responded:
"First thing: if I call you, you will arrive as soon as possible and sell me the objects or items I ask for."
Freddy paused.
This clause was essential for urgent situations, where having quick access to resources could make all the difference.
"Second thing: I need you to be faithful to me. If you betray me or try to kill me, the contract will interpret that as a breach of the terms... and you will die."
"And the last thing?"
Artariaxa, though visibly affected, listened carefully.
The conditions were harsh, but reasonable within a contract between races.
"The last thing: the contract will run for ten years."
Artariaxa kept silent.
Ten years was nothing to him, but the other clauses were hard to accept.
Still, he had little choice.
"All right."
Artariaxa agreed.
He didn't want to do it, but he knew he had no choice. If he didn't accept, he would die instantly.
Suddenly, messages began to flash before Freddy and Artariaxa's eyes:
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⟨⟨==Breed contract==⟩⟩
⟨⟨==The contract system is being activated due to the agreement between the demon Artariaxa and the human Freddy. Both parties have agreed to the terms, and the contract is sealed.==⟩⟩
⟨⟨==If the demon Artariaxa breaks the conditions set by human Freddy, then Artariaxa will die.===⟩⟩
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