NOVEL NEXT Chapter 10: The 2nd Contract
Chapter 10: The 2nd Contract
'That isn't a normally sized being, is it?'
The voice alone told him that the demon of this dungeon was either a giant or possessed the size of one.
He thought about moving toward the source of the voice, and soon felt the rocks around him start to shake.
"Huh?" As he turned to locate the source, he saw the massive snake slithering upward, hurrying toward the voice.
Damien realized he needed to follow the snake, rushing after it. He didn't have to worry about the trees or the maze-like forest; the snake uprooted most of them, creating a clear path for him.
He ran, trying to keep the snake within sight.
After a while of relentlessly chasing the snake, exhausted, he finally saw the being.
"Mastering a spell on the go."
Taller than a mountain.
"Using whatever was available."
Feral-looking.
"Pushing your body beyond what it can handle."
Voice rougher than sand.
"And making a choice with your heart."
He couldn't believe that Paimon—the delicate, pretty Demon—was considered much stronger than this behemoth.
"I see why Paimon praised you," the voice boomed, "something the old king has done for only a handful."
"You are..." Damien muttered, awestruck by the being's sheer size.
The snake slithered up to the being, who gripped it by the neck and wrapped it around himself like an accessory.
"Andromalius," the demon introduced himself, "the 72nd Demon Lord and an Earl of Hell—a devout follower of the most evil."
Damien was still shaken by the demon's immense size. Only one thing remained clear to him—his title: Earl.
Though Andromalius didn't rank as high as Paimon in either status or power, Damien still felt terrified.
He stared at the demon, who, in turn, observed him. Finally, Damien gathered enough courage to speak.
"Did I... did I pass both tests?"
At this, Andromalius laughed. "Both? There was only one test—the trial of choices."
Damien was confused. "But I went through—"
"The trial of choices," the demon repeated. "Making the right choices."
For a moment, Damien felt confused but as he heard Andromalius repeat —he felt a wave of realization, recalling the ordeal with the terrifying eagles he faced before reaching the place to make his choice.
Unless...
"It was all about choices..." His eyes widened. "Even the first part, with the eagles."
Andromalius grinned. "If you were foolish and strong enough, you might have chosen to fight the eagles. If you were weak and cowardly, you would have stayed there, surviving on fish and not advancing. But you were clever and cautious, so you made that choice."
"Could there have been other choices?" Damien asked, amazed.
"Oh, many choices," the demon nodded. "Merlin, acquiring ice magic in his first trial, froze the water and crossed it, wrapped in vines. Solomon the Wise cast a spell to confuse the eagles, making them hunt each other. He swam across, fighting off whatever threatened him."
Damien cursed his luck. He hadn't known a spell to freeze water or one to turn the eagles against each other.
"You did gain water magic from Paimon, but perhaps you haven't yet explored all its spells."
That stung like a bee. He knew his water, earth, and air magic had grown stronger, but his limited spell knowledge made them feel inadequate.
He promised himself then and there to study every magic book he could find on those elements.
"Well, at least I see you're calm now." The demon leaned against the mountain behind him. "And perhaps open enough for some small talk."
"I..." Damien hesitated at the idea but figured it might help him ask a few questions of his own. "I think so, Lord Andromalius."
The enormous demon, whose form resembled a barbarian's, appeared pleased.
"Damien Butler," he mused, "tell me about yourself—beyond your ironic name."
Damien's name was indeed ironic: 'Damien' meant 'Conqueror' or 'Master,' while 'Butler' implied servitude.
However, Damien seemed puzzled.
"My lord, there isn't much to know. Besides, you should already know everything about me, as Lord Paimon did."
'Surely, demons share information, regardless of their ranks?'
But Andromalius only chuckled.
"Boy, Damien Butler, if you rely on us demons for everything in this dungeon, you'll suffer more than you gain."
Damien appeared even more confused.
"What do you mean, Lord Andromalius?"
"Paimon speaks the truth," Andromalius explained, "but his truth is limited to geography, history, and the mystic arts. Anything he says beyond that often contains lies."
Damien found the answer hard to grasp, but Andromalius clarified further.
"None of us demons—not I, rank 72, nor Paimon, rank 9, nor Bael, rank 1—know anything beyond your name, your gender, and your humanity. We know nothing of your age, strengths, weaknesses, or goals."
Damien felt the ground drop from under him.
'Paimon lied?' The revelation shook him. 'He got all that information straight from my mouth…'
"Paimon lies, though not to harm," Andromalius added. "At least, not as a guide."
"But what about as a demon?"
In response, the demon smiled. "If Paimon appears alone—without his two followers—he requires a sacrifice. Otherwise, he's… unstable, twisted, and bloodthirsty."
Damien swallowed hard.
"He'll speak his native tongue, assume whatever form he chooses, and unless you ask for his aid immediately, you'll be stuck with a demon speaking a language you don't understand and in a form that makes focusing impossible."
Damien wondered how he'd survived his encounter with the 9th Demon Lord.
Sensing his thoughts, Andromalius explained.
"However, as a guide, he must follow certain rules: no direct harm to the contractor, communication in a language the contractor understands, a presentable appearance, and no lies or treachery—though Paimon excels at both due to his charm."
Damien thanked whatever forces had established these rules, realizing he might have died following Paimon's words otherwise.
Then another thought crossed his mind.
"Are you... also lying, Lord Andromalius?"
No liar admits their lies. But Andromalius was different.
"We demons are bound to our nature and purpose," he explained. "Paimon is a natural liar, yet also an excellent teacher of truths."
That much Damien couldn't deny. Whatever Paimon had taught him, he'd understood well, and it had helped him grasp his position more clearly.
"I may be a poor teacher, but I am a truthful demon," he explained. "My domain revolves around justice, balance, truth, and punishment—giving what is due, be it reward or retribution. Thus, I do not lie."
After learning the truth about Paimon, Damien struggled to fully trust Andromalius. Yet, given that Andromalius himself had revealed the truth, he felt obliged to give the demon a chance.
"Do you also require a sacrifice, like Lord Paimon?"
At this, Andromalius nodded with a smile.
"You learn quickly," he praised. "Yes, I require a sacrifice. Every demon you encounter, from the 72nd to the 1st rank, has specific requirements."
This horrified Damien. "But I don't have anything on me that I can sacrifice."
"My sacrifice will not harm you, Damien Butler," he replied. "I only wish for knowledge of your life—a sacrifice to satisfy my curiosity."
Damien was amazed. It was hard for him to believe that Andromalius's 'sacrifice' was so simple.
"Is every sacrifice this straightforward, my lord?"
Andromalius gave him a pitying smile. "Oh no, little one," he said. "Some demons demand sacrifices even simpler than mine. Others require offerings that may leave you mentally and physically scarred."
Damien felt increasingly anxious about the journey ahead, especially now with this ominous sacrifice element.
"Since you aided my beloved serpent against the giant, I shall impart some knowledge to you," Andromalius said. "The next demon, the 71st Lord—Dantalion."
This drew Damien's full attention.
"Dantalion is neither a liar like Paimon, nor as committed to truth as I. But he is not violent, nor malevolent," the demon explained. "He, too, is curious—yet his hunger for knowledge is boundless. He devours knowledge as Amon devours blood. He is a master of the mind and emotions, conjuring illusions that can break a contractor's spirit."
Damien guessed that the next trial might not be a physical one.
"Be prepared. He can read minds—not thoughts about him or the dungeon, which are protected by the dungeon's rules—but memories and thoughts about your life, family, dreams, and loves," the earl continued. "His sacrifice is knowledge—not of you, but of the human world and events since the last contractor—Merlin."
'Looks like I have a lot of history to study…' Damien thought.
"You'll need to offer him books. Mark any book you wish to sacrifice with the words 'Hoc est sacrificium Dantalion,' and it will be accepted. Change the name to whichever demon the offering is for, and you'll be able to bring items beyond your clothes and wand."
But Andromalius added a warning. "Know that these items must be used solely as sacrifices. If you try to be clever and use them to your advantage during the trials, you will suffer."
Damien gulped and nodded. "I understand, my lord."
The demon nodded back. "Very well. Now, tell me your story—your history and your place in the world of magic." He took a deep breath. "For the magic I smell on you is not one that has surrounded you since birth; you did not grow up in a magical world."
This caution against lying convinced Damien to speak truthfully.
"I was born to an economically struggling family in Scotland in 1980, twelve years ago. From birth, I was taught that our worth is earned, not given, and that survival itself is hard work," he recalled, reliving darker times. "My father slaved away, aging prematurely, while my mother's hands grew rough with each passing year. I longed to make a better life for them and myself."
The demon listened intently. "Though Scotland provides free education, it is often insufficient for securing a good job. So, I tried to devour knowledge, grasping at even the smallest scraps of written words."
This was where his habit of reading every spare moment began.
"When I received an invitation to Hogwarts, I was ecstatic. Not just by the discovery of magic, but at the possibility of changing my life and finally achieving my dream of becoming wealthy."
Damien had hoped to use the money from trading magical knowledge to support his family.
"But my dreams soon crumbled when I learned that my magic was mediocre at best, my blood was deemed impure, and I belonged to the lowest social class in a wizarding world dominated by purebloods. I remain mediocre, yet with a slightly better chance at achieving something than before."
He looked earnestly at the demon. "So, when this opportunity arose, I seized it without hesitation. Even though I fear for my life at every turn, the changes I feel within myself make it worthwhile."
Damien poured his heart out, seeking a listener to his twelve-year-old soul.
The demon didn't judge. Instead, he seemed pleased to hear Damien's story.
"I may not be able to offer sympathy or comforting words, Damien Butler," the demon said. "That is beyond a demon's capacity."
Damien didn't mind. What mattered were the abilities the demon granted, far more valuable than any comforting words.
"Your sacrifice has been accepted; your heart's words have been heard." The demon smiled peacefully. "Extend your palm. You have earned your trial gifts."
Damien exhaled deeply, ready to receive his reward.
"Yes, Lord Andromalius." Without hesitation, he extended his palm, which was cut and barely closed, the sand caked over it keeping blood from flowing out.
"Let me start by healing your wounds." With that, Andromalius released his serpent, which slithered down his body, shrinking as it moved.
By the time it reached Damien, it was the size of a common snake.
"Fear not," the demon said. "She has no venom."
Before Damien could respond, the snake climbed up his arm and bit his palm. He let out a grunt of pain.
"Urgh!"
Though painful at first, the bite soon became soothing as the serpent's fangs sank deeper, spreading a warm, comforting sensation through Damien's hand.
Soon, the injuries on his body began to heal. Wounds closed, his clothes mended, and he felt his strength and energy returning.
In mere seconds, he felt as if he had never been hurt at all, as if he had just woken up—full of energy and strength.
And while he looked at the snake that had bitten him, he noticed a mark—a sigil that had appeared on his palm.
It was a complex, three-lined pattern, intertwined with another line running through them, all encircled by a ring bearing Andromalius' name.
"Andromali Gratia Invoco, Oculus Veritatis, Fraudes Discerne. Dona Iustitiae, Vigilantia Tribuo, Custos Occultorum, Potentia Revelat! Furtum Absconditum, Adduc Meam Vocem, Sic Iustitia Triumphat, Andromalius, Benedicat!" the demon chanted, making Damien feel a familiar sensation, like he had with Paimon.
"Look at the book, Damien Butler," the demon instructed, prompting Damien to repeat his actions from his encounter with Paimon.
He saw the text in the book and nodded.
[Name: Damien Butler]
[Class: Warlock]
[Race: Human]
[Charisma: 16 (15+1)]
[Constitution: 15 (14+1)]
[Dexterity: 15 (14+1)]
[Wisdom: 13 (12+1)]
[Intelligence: 11 (10+1)]
[Strength: 9 (8+1)]
[Points: 5]
[Patrons(+): 9th Demon: King Paimon, 72nd Demon: Earl Andromalius]
[Abilities:
[Description: Warlock with high charisma and potential, blessed by 2 Demons.]
"Do not be disheartened," Andromalius said. "Though I cannot grant many status points due to the dungeon rules for the 72nd demon, I can still bestow some of my best abilities upon you."
Damien knew these 5 points were fewer than the substantial boost he'd received from Paimon, who had increased his stats from a mere 2-3 points to 15-16. Yet, he understood that even a single point could make him more powerful than a hundred other wizards.
He felt grateful for the chance to allocate the points as he wished, rather than having them randomly distributed.
"By no means am I disheartened, Lord Andromalius," Damien assured. "I am grateful for all you have provided."
The demon chuckled. "Then allow me to make you even happier, boy."
With that, he extended his hand toward Damien —without touching but simply pointing it towards Damien. This caused the sigil on Damien's palm to glow brightly.
"I, Earl Andromalius, the 72nd Demon Lord, grant my Contractor, Damien Butler, my Ears of Truth!"
Damien opened the book, following the familiar ritual.
[Ability Acquired: Ears of Truth - Every tenth topic of lie you hear shall be revealed to you.]
"I, Earl Andromalius, the 72nd Demon Lord, grant my Contractor, Damien Butler, my Serpent's Intuition."
[Ability Acquired: Serpent's Intuition - Enables you to react to projectiles coming from outside your field of vision a second before impact.]
"I, Earl Andromalius, the 72nd Demon Lord, grant my Contractor, Damien Butler, my Serpent's Drain!"
[Ability Acquired: Serpent's Drain - You have a 30% chance to drain energy from any opponent showing signs of exhaustion.]
The demon then proceeded to bless Damien with his magic.
"I, Earl Andromalius, the 72nd Demon Lord, grant my Contractor, Damien Butler, the magic of Retrieval!"
[Retrieval Magic Acquired! You can locate any item you've held for at least ten minutes in your lifetime.]
"I, Earl Andromalius, the 72nd Demon Lord, grant my Contractor, Damien Butler, my magic of spirits!"
Finally, he received the last gift.
[Spirit Magic Acquired! Affinity with both benevolent and malevolent spirits has increased.]
Damien was astonished at these gifts, particularly the abilities. From discerning lies to evading unseen attacks, to draining energy from others—each skill was remarkable.
"I trust you are pleased with the rewards, Damien Butler."
"I... am beyond grateful, Lord Andromalius," Damien replied, awestruck.
He realized that Andromalius was now his patron, which granted him a host of new powers.
[Patron's Magic: Earth Magic, Water Magic, Air Magic, Astronomy Magic, Retrieval Magic, Spirit Magic]
[Patron's Skills: Silver Tongue, Eye of Worth, Ears of Truth, Serpent's Intuition, Serpent's Drain]
[Patron's Items: —]
"I lack the treasures Paimon possesses," Andromalius said, "but take these."
He gestured to Damien's pocket. "Check your pocket."
Damien reached inside, astonished to find gold coins—thirty in total.
"I may not have jewels, but I can offer these coins of gold," the demon said. "I hope they suffice."
Andromalius was kind, quite unlike the typical demon.
"I am grateful, Lord."
[Patron's Items: Gold Coin ×30]
The kind demon nodded. "I'm glad. But remember to allocate your points now. You won't be able to do so after leaving the dungeon."
Not wanting to delay, Damien nodded. "If you don't mind—"
"Allot them."
Damien nodded, checking his status.
"Touch the aspect you wish to increase and think of how many points to add."
Following the instruction, Damien noted his Wisdom was close to the threshold of 15, so he allocated two points there.
[Wisdom: 15 (14+1)]
[1st Wisdom Threshold Surpassed: Ability Acquired: Sage's Thoughts]
[Sage's Thoughts: In perilous situations that strain your mind, focus improves by 200% to help you find solutions.]
"That smile tells me you received a good ability."
Damien couldn't hide his grin, which told the demon everything.
The remaining three points he distributed to Intelligence and Strength, raising them to 13 and 10, respectively.
[Intelligence: 13 (12+1)]
[Strength: 10 (9+1)]
Satisfied with his new abilities, Damien breathed a sigh of relief—feeling stronger and more capable.
[Abilities: Fallen's Grace, Iron Clad, Feline's Escape, Sage's Thoughts]
"I suggest you leave now, Damien Butler. You've been in the dungeon for hours, and as a student, you might be in trouble."
Damien's eyes widened.
"I—"
"You may go," the demon said, and Damien nodded.
"Thank you, Lord Andromalius, for everything."
The demon laughed and flicked his wrist. At that moment, Damien saw the word 'Return' appear in his book.
He thanked Andromalius one last time, tapping the word, and everything went dark—marking the end of his first true dungeon trial, the Trial of the 72nd Demon Lord, Earl Andromalius.
_______________________________________________
[A/N: the
The 'Return' option is like a rune or a pre-installed charm that teleports you back to your previous location. It is basically the 'Translocantis' spell that we saw in chapter 1, but Damien doesn't have to chant it anymore and can just touch the word in the book to teleport.]