Chapter 121: Contract (5)
“He’s already fallen?”
[Okay. So there is no need for me to scrape and make crumbs. Playing with contracts is burdensome even for the devil. If you can retrieve the soul anyway, it’s better to be safe.]
“Can humans corrupt themselves without the devil corrupting them?”
[It’s not that rare. There is room for the soul of any human being to become corrupted. On the contrary, his soul may elevate and he may become a hero. Most humans wander between them.]
Corruption occurs without the devil’s help. Just as heroes are not born by someone else’s hand.
“… Antero’s wish was to become a paladin, have many women, and at the same time forget you so that he would feel like he did it.”
[Okay. His wish was already a perfect condition for corruption. Three of the seven sins are contained in one wish.]
The seven sins that Bune talks about. Perhaps it is arrogance, greed, or lust.
Frondier asked.
“Is that what the Fall means? Are you saying that you have committed many of the seven sins?”
[It’s not a matter of frequency. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the seven sins. Human beings themselves move towards negativity. That is corruption.]
That’s a pretty clear explanation.
And in light of that explanation, it seemed as if Antero was seriously moving in that direction, even though it was unfortunate in Frondier’s eyes.
[Frondier. I tell you, the contract between me and Antero cannot be broken, even by gods. Give up thinking about saving Antero.]
“I don’t really have any plans to save it.”
The reason Front Deer did not kill Antero was because he was bothered by what would happen next, not because he was compassionate.
He’s also a guy who’s too irritable to show mercy.
Although it’s pitiful that their souls are being taken by the devil, Frondier is not relaxed enough to save everyone who makes foolish choices.
“Why is Antero using her collar?”
Carla was gathering information about the devil. Judging by the circumstances, it is because of the antenna.
In other words, Antero is gathering information about the devil. Antero seems to have forgotten about her existence in Bune.
‘Besides, Antero is a paladin now. ‘She can gather as much information about demons as she wants, right?’
However, Antero insists on having Carla gather information about the devil.
If it wasn’t just harassment of Kala, Antero couldn’t find the information he wanted through Paladin’s location.
[Well. I won’t talk to Antero after signing the contract. However, from what I saw, it seemed like he was collecting items related to the devil. It seems like he finds and collects everything he feels is evil.]
“Just an eccentric desire to collect… “It’s hard to even think of it like that.”
Antero’s strange obsession with the devil. Perhaps that obsession is what led him to bring in Bune, the 72 demon.
In the end, only Antero himself will know that part.
Considering this guy’s strange situation and personality, I don’t think there will be an easy answer.
“Now that I think about it, if Antero didn’t risk his soul in the contract, what did he risk in the first place?”
Humans usually do not risk their souls to make contracts. Bune just said it himself. So he’s offering something else as a deal instead.
But is there anything the devil wants from humans other than their souls?
Bune answered him.
[This guy gave me the right to use his body at any time. He said he wouldn’t care what he used his body for. As long as the limbs are fine.]
“… He gave you the right to control your own body?”
Frontier thought that certain conditions were necessary for the appearance of Boone. Either it was a battle situation like when Bune appeared in front of him, or Antero’s life was in danger. Even if such conditions are set, it is a very risky contract from Antero’s perspective.
But he gave me permission to use his own body.
[Okay. So this is how I’m talking to you. You can make this guy who has no fighting talent into a paladin. Of course, the condition is that you only move to make this guy’s wish come true, but as you know, this type of contract is full of loopholes.]
“… Yes.”
A condition that is that absurd is no longer a condition.
From the beginning, Bune intended to make Antero’s wish come true. This means that if the process continues, Bune can intercept Antero’s body at any time.
‘In the end, I can’t hear from Bune why Antero wants knowledge about demons from Kala. ‘You only need to look into your head through an antenna to know that much.’
This is a person who makes such a reckless contract. It’s just unsettling what he’s going to do with his knowledge of demons.
“Good. “Then the last question.”
[I have a lot of questions.]
Frontier honestly agreed with that criticism. He had many questions.
And this question now was caused by the sense of discomfort I felt from the conversation I had with Bune so far.
There is something missing.
There is still some misunderstanding.
After hearing Bune’s story, Frontier knew that.
“I knew that divine power and demonic power were extremely similar concepts. “I also knew that the contract is how the devil gives power to humans.”
[…]
When Frondier made such a fortune, Bune remained silent.
However, those eyes spread with displeasure and anxiety.
“… Then, if you think about it in reverse, God giving human beings divine powers is also,”
[Is this a contract? That’s what you’re asking.]
Bune finished his sentence. Fron Deer nodded his head.
“If divine power is achieved by contract like the devil does, does that mean humans also put something on the scale? What did humans give to God in exchange for gaining divine power? “Is this a contract with human consent?”
People who are born with divine powers are predetermined from the beginning.
If God and humans made a contract, then humans with divine powers made a contract with God before they were even born. Of course, this is impossible.
So, how was this contract made? Or is the reasoning behind signing a contract wrong?
[… Before answering this question, I have something to say first.]
“Say it.”
[I don’t know much about him. Because I am not God. Additionally, even if you have doubts about what I am saying from now on, I cannot answer. Even if the truth appears in a different form, I was just ‘mistaken’ or telling a ‘lie.’ There is nothing more to say than that.]
“That’s quite kind. “I know that even if you don’t tell me in detail.”
[I’m doing this because I have to say it in advance. Because the process of speaking is important.]
The speaking process is important. Even if it’s something you know anyway.
Frondier’s eyes sank as he felt the depth of the meaning of those words.
[As you think, God made a contract with humans. Divine power arises in the process.]
“… “How can I make a contract with a person who wasn’t even born?”
[It is not an individual contract.]
Bune’s words.
One word that it is not an individual contract. In other words, not each human being has made a contract with God.
After hearing those words, Fron Deer blinked his eyes just twice.
And then there was great anger in the eyes that opened.
“… “Nonsense.”
[I should have said that. Even if you doubt my words. If you don’t believe it, accept it as a lie.]
Frontier does not respond to that.
Bune just continued his talk.
[A long time ago, humans and gods made a contract that would change the entire human system in the future. I don’t know the details, but humans who are born with divine powers are the effect of that contract.]
“… “The humans of the past made a contract that binds the humans of the present.”
[It’s bondage. I don’t know if humans at that time would have thought that way.]
Yes.
Very few people feel that divine power is a bondage. At most, Frontier, Aster, or Edwin. Elodie feels the danger of divine power, but she still uses it, and so do others.
[Frondier, Antero must be such a pathetic human being in your eyes. I also agree. But.]
Present humanity is suffering because of the actions committed by past humanity.
Thinking about it that way, Frontier felt similar to himself now.
Naturally, disgust creeps up inside his body.
[Assuming he was a human from the past, he was slightly better than Antero.]
* * *
Frontier sent Antero back. Of course, I left his memories to Bune.
From Bune’s perspective, he wouldn’t want Antero and Frontier to meet again. I believe it will take care of itself.
Fron Deer took a walk outside to cool his slightly agitated head.
The evening wind sweeps my skin and lingers over the corner of Frondier’s mouth.
‘… I thought he solved it well.’
It’s not an illusion that it was resolved well.
Frondier solved Kala’s curse, and as a result she was promised her support.
With her curse gone, Carla is just an ordinary human being. She no longer needs to use the listening device within Atlas, and she has no reason to make unreasonable contact with nobles to get information about the devil.
Moreover, she has instilled a certain fear in Teacher Giotto, so Fron Deer will be able to have an easier life as a teacher in the future.
It may take some time for Lady Achaia, but for the time being, her bluff will work. At least while she was trying to find a place in the dark where Lady Achaia was not.
‘There’s so much I know. ‘Something I didn’t want to know, but needed to know.’
As she tried to figure out who was controlling Kala, she learned about the similarities between demons and gods, and even her unidentified contract with gods and humans in the past.
God has been an enemy of Frontier for a long time. From when Frondier first brought his weave into reality, and with it Thanatos appeared.
Frontier did his best to avoid a game over. He might say it was to save the world, but it wasn’t something that grandiose to Fron Deer himself.
He doesn’t want it to be game over. I don’t want to die. That’s all.
In order to do this, Frontier cannot do it alone; he must grow the main character, Aster, and build relationships with the people around him. To achieve this, she established relationships with people around her and helped them.
As time passed, the friends around him changed from being just there to clear the game to something more valuable.
Even if he overcomes a challenge he has never succeeded in, this game is not cleared.
Most of his colleagues who helped him overcome those difficulties are no longer by his side.
“… Under.”
Now I feel like I can’t help it.
It’s no longer a matter of whether you clear the game or not.
He has already touched something too big, there is no coming back,
Above all, he could no longer entrust that role to anyone else, not even Aster.
Frondier lifts his languid eyes to the sky.
It is difficult to read the emotions on Frontier’s face. It was the same when Frontier himself looked in the mirror.
The members of the Roach family were of this nature to begin with, and Frondier’s indelible languor became more severe due to the influence of sloth.
Frondier realized that it was impossible to see through Selena’s acting and gave up, but most people probably felt the same way when they saw Frondier.
─Are you hurt anywhere?
Before leaving the Palind Continent, Selena asked Frondier who had returned.
In the end, Front Deer was unable to answer the question he asked again, saying that he could not protect his heart.
Why did you do that?
There were no real injuries anywhere.
She could have said a few words to reassure Selena.
‘… ‘Selena.’
“I’m okay.”
Frontier responds, albeit belatedly.
Alone, looking up at the sky, in a low voice.
Like a twilight.
“You’re not hurt.”