WWDNND Chapter 7

“Hmm.”

I stared intently at the object on the floor. The room was dark, making it hard to see clearly.

Fumbling around, I reached out for the thing that shimmered with a red glow.

Clack.

It seemed like the right one…

I picked up the bracelet and studied it closely, murmuring to myself.

This was the bracelet Veronica always wore on her wrist.

It had been mentioned in the original story as well, first introduced as an heirloom of the Duke of Winston’s family.

But this bracelet held an enormous secret.

“To think that a demon is sealed inside it.”

A demon.

A being of pure malice, an inhabitant of the demonic realm.

In typical fantasy novels, demons were usually portrayed as wicked and terrifying creatures, but things were a bit different here.

Creatures from other worlds—demons and angels alike—could not directly interfere with the human world.

So the angels built temples, gathered believers, and used their faith as a source of power to descend into the mortal realm.

The demons did the same. Since they had no temples and couldn’t gather followers, they came up with an alternative solution—forming contracts with humans to manifest in this world.

In particular, the Duke of Winston’s family had needed demonic power to survive in the harsh northern lands.

The first duke had entered a contract with a high-ranking demon, allowing him to command its subordinates. And one of those subordinates was now trapped inside this very bracelet.

“That contract was made ages ago, though.”

The conflict between angels and demons had occurred so long ago that, by the time of the original story, it had mostly faded away.

Demons remained in the demonic realm, angels in the celestial realm.

The only ones who suffered were the demons who had been sealed away in gemstones because of the first duke’s contract.

“In the original story, Veronica was so obsessed with destroying Gloria and Marianne that she ended up unleashing the demon inside this bracelet…”

Veronica, after making a pact with the demon, tried to use its power to eliminate them.

Of course, she failed—thanks to the male lead.

Sighing, I stared down at the bracelet.

Rather than letting Veronica make a deal with the demon and walk the path of ruin, wouldn’t it be much more efficient if I made the contract and put the demon to good use?

But…

“How do I summon it…?”

The novel never explained how Veronica managed to break the seal and make the contract.

It only mentioned that, after forming the contract, Veronica became more wicked than ever.

It was fortunate that I had gotten my hands on the bracelet while everyone else was asleep. But now came the real challenge.

“Come out?”

Just in case, I leaned in close to the gemstone and whispered.

“Come out, demon?”

Nothing happened.

I kept trying.

“Demon? Sir Demon? Lord Archdemon?”

Still, nothing.

“…?”

Should I just give up?

I frowned down at the bracelet, mumbling to myself.

And just then—

[Hey, was it you who woke me up?]

“…Huh?”

[Hahaha! Behold! The mighty archdemon Desmond has returned!]

“…?”

A sudden, booming voice echoed from within the gemstone.

Startled, I looked around.

Luckily, no one else seemed to have woken up from the noise.

Hurriedly, I grabbed the gemstone tightly.

“Hey, shut up!”

[Ack—! Owww! I-it hurts! Okay, okay, I get it…!]

As the voice quieted, I loosened my grip.

Then, I heard a soft sniffle.

[Hmph… It’s not like anyone else can hear this. The voice only echoes in your mind…]

“Oh, really?”

[You’re so mean… You’re really mean… Sniff… Sniff…]

“…?”

Wait, is this really a demon?

Why does he sound so whiny?

I had only told him to shut up without thinking, but I didn’t expect him to be this scared.

“So it’s true that the gemstone is his weakness.”

The red gemstone—a garnet.

The demon sealed inside it had a body practically made of the gemstone itself.

If the gemstone was damaged, he would be harmed too.

That’s why, in the original story, Veronica was executed, and when her bracelet was destroyed, the demon perished along with it.

“You really are a demon, right?”

[O-of course! I am the great archdemon—]

“You’re not an archdemon. Why are you lying?”

[…I’m sorry.]

The archdemon had made a contract with the first duke.

There was no way this lesser demon, trapped in the gemstone, could be an archdemon.

I narrowed my eyes at the gemstone.

“If you lie again, I’m leaving. No contract for you.”

[W-what?! Wait… Do you know how long it’s been since I last met a potential contractor?!]

“Then you’ll listen to everything I say, right?”

[Ugh…]

This demon’s name was Desmond.

Considering that even Veronica lost after forming a contract with him, he probably wasn’t all that powerful.

But he would still be useful.

For example, delivering a secret letter to the duke’s estate without the male lead noticing.

“You’re taking too long to answer. Maybe I should just—”

[W-wait! Hold on!]

“What?”

[Ugh… Fine. I’ll listen to you. But…]

“But?”

[Give me a physical vessel! It’s suffocating inside this gemstone…]

“Hmm, a vessel.”

Now that I thought about it, Veronica had placed the demon inside a cat and carried him around.

But I didn’t have a cat carcass lying around.

Looking around, I spotted a teddy bear nearby and picked it up.

“How about this?”

[What is that?! That’s just some dumb stuffed toy!]

“This is all I have right now.”

[No way! Absolutely not!]

“Oh, really? Then I guess we won’t be making a contract after all—”

[W-wait! Please! Waaaah!]

The whiny voice made my head throb.

A moment later, Desmond spoke again, his tone utterly defeated.

[…Fine. That teddy bear will do.]

“Great.”

[But promise me you’ll find me a proper body later!]

“Hmm, sure.”

I didn’t specify when that would be, though.

Nodding, I watched as the gemstone glowed faintly.

[What is your name, contractor?]

“Yu—”

No.

“Claudia.”

I almost blurted out my old name but quickly corrected myself.

As soon as I spoke, an energetic voice rang in my mind.

[Good! Claudia! I am Desmond! As your contracted demon, I shall fulfill all your desires!]

Flash!

As soon as Desmond finished speaking, the gemstone glowed even brighter.

A streak of red light shot out and was absorbed into the teddy bear.

“It looks redder now.”

The bear had originally been a light brown color, but now it seemed to have taken on a reddish hue.

Watching curiously, I opened my mouth.

“Is it done?”

[Yes!]

“Oh…”

The teddy bear suddenly stood upright and waved its arms.

A moving teddy bear.

Creepy, but also kind of cool.

I tilted my head, studying Desmond’s new form.

“What about the gemstone?”

[Even with a new body, my essence remains in the gemstone! You must always keep it close and protect it!]

“I see.”

Nodding, I brushed my fingers over the bracelet.

It hummed softly in response.

“Mmm…”

“…!”

On the bed, Veronica stirred.

Time was running out.

I leaned in close and whispered,

“I’m sorry for asking so soon, but I have a task for you.”

[What is it, master?]

“It’s…”

Thus, in the dead of night, unbeknownst to anyone, I sealed my contract with a demon.