MBOMEN 127

Chapter 127

The monster surprisingly seemed to feel pain in Badin’s grasp. Stretching and shrinking its formless body, it let out a rough, strangled chirp like a bird caught by the neck and thrashed violently.

Laila, careful not to touch it, hid her shadow deep in the darkness and stared intently at Badin.

Normally, even just facing him would make her body tremble—surely it had during the Deceptor incident—but now, she could remain calm because she had a worry far greater than fear.

“That’s right.”

Laila responded.

“If I can’t get rid of it, I’ll die here today.”

Badin scoffed.

“You didn’t call me here for your own sake, did you?”

He loosened the grip on the monster and looked back at the fallen Eustar.

“You’re doing it for that human, aren’t you?”

Laila tensed, afraid he might throw the monster at Eustar.

She had safely hidden him deep in the shadows, but with Badin, there was no telling—just moments ago, he had torn a tree apart. If that happened, Eustar would be utterly defenseless.

“Foolish.”

A bluish vein bulged on Badin’s pale temple. At the same time, the monster, shrinking its body to escape his grip, turned into black powder and scattered into the air.

—Sss…!

The thin, deathly wail was filled with agony. The moment the tension drained from her shoulders, Laila almost collapsed under Badin’s piercing gaze.

“You’d sell me out for the sake of a single, insignificant human male? Do you think he’s worth that much?”

Laila, her lips parted, immediately replied:

“You said before… that Eustar and I could possibly fulfill your wish. Then shouldn’t he live? Whatever your wish is… to make it come true…”

“Don’t think you can fool me with shallow tricks. That’s meaningless talk. Did you think I was foolish enough to place hope in you? I am talking about what you’ve done, Laila.”

“What I’ve done.” In that short phrase, Laila could feel the contempt, anger, and a sense of futility contained within.

What exactly does this man want?

“It’s a simplified contract.”

Laila said firmly. It was true, and she tried to maintain a resolute stance.

“You know it too… a simplified contract…”

“It changes nothing. Making a deal with a demon is still a deal. Didn’t I tell you not to play word games? I am not in the mood to indulge your self-willed behavior. Even if you’re my daughter… it’s remarkable. To irritate me is a feat even the highest of demons would find difficult. Truly impressive.”

With each word Badin spoke, black smoke rose behind his shoulders.

Laila had the strange sensation that the smoke was multiplying. Though there was only one Badin in front of her, it felt as though he were splitting into two, three, ten, a hundred, encircling her.

“So, you decided to sell yourself to me for the sake of that single human?”

Laila immediately refuted him:

“I said it’s a simplified contract. I haven’t risked everything, and I don’t need to give everything.”

Her breathing quickened unnecessarily. She struggled to steady it and added:

“If you think you can deceive me, think again. I know well that there are many types of contracts with demons.”

Badin’s lips pressed into a straight line. Now, more than ever, he was silently, intensely angry.

“Well learned.”

The moment he said it, a cold, sleek hand traced down Laila’s spine. Laila, almost shrieking from the goosebumps, bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut.

Badin’s white hand approached. Unreal, sculpted like a statue, it was beautiful yet chilling. It hovered near Laila’s cheek, as if to caress, then withdrew.

“Even a simplified contract is still a contract. That insignificant thing you wanted is gone. Now it’s your turn to pay me.”

Laila quietly closed her eyes. Yes, even a simplified contract required an exchange.

“One more thing, before that.”

Badin raised an eyebrow at her words. She pointed to Eustar, still unconscious.

“Send Eustar safely back to the royal palace.”

Badin let out a hollow laugh.

“What did you say?”

“I’ve taken his consciousness… He won’t wake for two or three hours. Even if you try, it won’t return. That’s how the magic works. So send him back. Then we can finish… our remaining matters.”

Badin looked at her incredulously. He had no choice but to comply.

Anything could appear at any moment. He couldn’t risk staying here overnight in uncertain circumstances, not knowing if the Sync outside had vanished or if the monster had been the only threat.

“You can make this request, right?”

“There’s a phrase humans use for this: utterly ridiculous.”

Badin’s sharp remark was followed by him closing his eyes. Moments later, Laila noticed Eustar, who had been sleeping under a tree, was gone without a trace. Her eyes widened in shock.

Badin’s gaze returned to her.

“Is that done?”

“He really was sent to the palace, right?”

Annoyed, Badin waved his hand through the air.

In an instant, the empty space became like a mirror, revealing Eustar collapsed on his bed. Even the flustered servants could see.

Badin moved his hand again, and the image vanished. Laila finally exhaled, staggering and leaning against a sturdy tree. The tension left her body entirely, and she felt like she might faint.

“Let me ask one thing.”

Laila, exhausted, tilted her head to him.

“What is it?”

“Do you have affection for that human male?”

“That person’s name is Eustar. Don’t call him a male.”

She heard a scoffing laugh. Anger rose at Badin’s mockery, but Laila had just enough strength not to collapse.

“Answer me. Do you feel affection for him? Not just in your blood, but does your soul desire him too?”

“What… does that mean?”

“Do you intend to accept him as your companion?”

Laila blinked in disbelief. It was as if Badin had struck her cheek with that question.

“What does that mean… and what does it have to do with you? No, what does it have to do with this situation?”

Badin didn’t answer immediately. Laila straightened herself, leaning against the tree.

Her face flushed as if with fever. Her lips moved, twisting into an indescribable expression—a bitter, devastating smirk.

“Why ask that? If it’s to play ‘father,’ just stop.”

Disgusting.

But she swallowed the words.

Though she had summoned him through a legitimate contract, she had to admit that she had sought the demon’s help to face something beyond her ability. That alone was shameful enough.

The thought that Badin could, if he wished, see her emotions and thoughts laid bare like objects on his palm made her shame sting even more.

She didn’t want to remember how relieved she had felt when he appeared.

“You cannot make a contract with me unless you promise to accept him as your companion. You know what happens if you don’t? You owe a debt to a demon. That’s far worse than any exchange through a contract.”

Unbelievable. Laila thought. She couldn’t understand or trust what he was saying. What is he demanding? Why?

“This has nothing to do with Eustar.”

Laila said, trying not to tremble, though her voice betrayed a faint quiver.

“This has nothing to do with Eustar. He didn’t participate in this contract. He didn’t contribute a single breath. So why is he involved?”

“Involved? Not at all. This is what I want from you. What you must give me.”

Badin smiled. His white teeth gleamed, and thin black smoke rose like ghostly wails from his mouth. It was as if he held glowing embers inside.

Laila’s thoughts grew even more entangled.

He wants her to accept Eustar as a companion? She didn’t know the full scope of what “becoming a companion” meant, but it clearly wasn’t the superficial pretense of marriage she was using to deceive others.

Her frozen lips finally parted.

“I can’t do that.”

She gasped, like someone who had just survived a battle, and continued:

“I can’t. I’m a witch. Eustar must escape—from the Deceptor, and from me.”

“That’s just your judgment.”

“My feelings aren’t real. It’s because of you. You, my mother, and the bloodline of the first witch… all of it has made me strange. Because he’s close to the Deceptor. Because he’s under a demon’s influence! You said so yourself!”

Badin slid closer. Their foreheads and noses nearly touched. Laila flinched, trying to step back, but couldn’t. Badin’s cold hand held her firmly.

“The contract is valid, and you cannot set the terms. So, Laila Chrisrad, my foolish daughter, listen carefully to what I say from now on.”

Badin’s lips drew closer. Laila could feel the icy breath radiating from him, brushing against her ear.

As it touched her, her body stiffened as if paralyzed. Her vision spun, then blurred, as though bitten by a venomous serpent.

She heard Badin whispering in her ear.

Listening to that voice, she felt as though some emptiness was opening inside her.