EP.5 Negotiation Complete
"Krrgh…"
Satiana's face was bright red.
The reason, of course, was what had happened in the bathroom just a little while ago.
Perhaps because she'd been subjected to something so humiliating, she was glaring at me as if she wanted to kill me.
"Don't worry so much about something that's already over."
"You're one to talk…!"
"I told you, I'll take responsibility. I'll work hard for the Demon King's army."
"Kgh… If only you were useless…"
Even if I were useless, she couldn't do anything.
The contract prevented her from harming me, after all.
In effect, I had the upper hand.
"Anyway, we need to leave, so let's get ready quickly."
"L-leave…? What are you talking about…?"
"I told you earlier. We're going to settle in a nearby village."
"Ah… r-right! But I didn't think we'd go this soon…"
Unfortunately, there was no time to linger.
If we stayed too long, someone might report that something was off.
We might get discovered eventually, but the later the better.
"Just tell the trustworthy high-ranking officers to take care of things for now."
"So what are you planning to do after we settle in the village?"
The short-term plan was to settle in the village.
But since we could be targeted at any time, we needed a plan beyond that.
"Obviously, revenge."
"I see. You mean revenge against that king."
At the mention of the easily understood word "revenge," Satiana nodded.
Objectively speaking, there was no way to avoid being at odds with the king.
Eventually, the fact that I'd escaped the king's plan would be exposed.
"But the royal army is strong. No matter how powerful you and I are, it won't be easy to face them."
Satiana expressed her doubts, wondering how I planned to fight the royal army.
A head-on confrontation was, of course, not a good plan.
"We'll settle in the village and gather people who can help us."
"Hah… Who would help with something as dangerous as going against the king…?"
"I do have some people who could help. I don't know if they'd go as far as to join a rebellion, though."
"You really think your acquaintances would risk their lives for you?"
That part was uncertain even for me.
It was such a dangerous matter that they might back out.
But it wasn't like I had no plan at all.
"I'll just win a bet and coax them. We're close enough for that. If they lose, they'll have to help-one way or another, I'll make it work."
"Risking their lives on a bet? I can't understand that."
"Oh… Of course, I could also use that contract magic you experienced in the bathroom. I'd rather not, but it's an option."
"Ugh… If it's that magic…"
Recalling her humiliating experience, Satiana grimaced, but then asked with curiosity.
"But why would you not use it? Wouldn't it be better to put it on everyone?"
"Well… It's not a magic you can use without limit."
There's a restriction on how many times the contract magic can be used.
Especially since my current contract partner is none other than the Demon King herself, most of my allowed capacity is already taken up.
Also, it's tricky because the other party's consent is required-unless you catch them with a weakness, like what happened with Satiana in the bathroom.
"So you can't use it, then?"
"No. It's not that I can't use it at all, but its duration is limited."
"So they could betray you later?"
"Don't worry. By then, they'll be settled into their new life."
"…?"
Satiana tilted her head, not understanding.
It might be a bit hard for someone as innocent as her to grasp.
"If I make them feel as good as you did in the bathroom, they probably won't want to leave."
"Ugh…! W-what are you saying…!"
Her face, which had finally calmed down, turned bright red again.
She was clearly recalling her humiliating memory.
"So in the end, you're targeting women."
"Even if you let that slide…! What are you going to do by targeting women?!"
"You know about the saint from the church and the influential noblewomen, don't you?"
"D-don't tell me…"
First, we'd establish ourselves in the village.
After that, the plan was to steadily recruit allies.
It was a much more promising method than a direct confrontation.
"Still… to fight the king…"
"Internal enemies are always harder to deal with than external ones. Especially the church-they're not easy for the king to touch, so it'll be tough for him."
"You're going to corrupt even the saint…?"
She sounded incredulous.
Even as the Demon King, she probably never imagined such a thing.
"Since I'm officially a subordinate of the Demon King, I should at least have this level of planning, right?"
"Ugh… You're more of a demon king than I am…"
"I'll take that as a compliment."
I responded to Satiana's words with a smile.
Honestly, I felt more excited than vengeful.
Of course, in the end, I'd still smash that king's head.
"But… if there's a limit to the contract magic… does that mean the magic on me will wear off someday?"
"That's not the case."
"Ugh…! W-why are you so sure…? That's not what you said before…!"
"Obviously, the magic I put on you is special. In fact, the reason for the limit is because of the contract magic on you."
"Ugh… Then why not release me and use it on someone else…!"
At first glance, it sounds reasonable.
But that's only if I'm sure she won't betray me.
Especially with that look of regret in her eyes, it was obvious she'd try to turn things to her advantage if released.
"You're planning to stab me in the back, aren't you? I just got stabbed in the back recently, and it still stings."
"T-that's not true…! I swear on the Demon King's honor! Besides… aren't you part of the Demon King's army now…?"
"Hm… Is that so?"
Her face showed she'd been caught.
It was almost funny to see.
She needed a little scolding for trying to deceive me.
"Why not just be honest? I have ways to make you tell the truth, you know?"
"Ugh…w-what…"
"If you wait, you'll only regret it more later."
Satiana looked conflicted.
She must have realized she'd been found out.
'For a Demon King, she's pretty cute.'
Her conflicted expression as she glared at me was rather charming.
Her subordinates would never guess that their Demon King could worry like a girl.
"Ugh… I just… thought I'd exploit you a little more later, that's all."
"So, you were planning to betray me in the end."
"Ugh…! Don't compare me to that petty king! I just… wanted to make you work a bit more as my partner."
"Ah-right, you did say I had to take responsibility in the bathroom, didn't you?"
"Don't talk about the bathroom…! Ugh…!"
For a Demon King, it was a rather modest form of revenge.
Of course, she'd tried to trick me and got caught.
"Fine. I'll work as your partner for now. But you'll have to pay me properly."
"What are you going to demand this time…"
"I'll make sure you never think about betraying me again. It was a cute plan, but it was still a plan to exploit me, wasn't it?"
"Ugh…"
"I'll tell you more once we get to the village."
Even before we left for the village, Satiana was already facing a punishment.
Her slightly resentful expression was adorable, but we couldn't stay any longer.
"Tell your subordinates and let's get moving."
"Ugh… f-fine…"
"And pack up those clothes and change into something a beggar would wear."
At my demand, Satiana protested.
"You want me to dress like a beggar…?! That's too much…!"
"We have no choice. If someone from the Demon King's castle shows up dressed normally…"
"Ugh… I guess that's true…"
"I'll just say I rescued a runaway slave or something, so dress appropriately."
"Ugh…! To be treated like that… Ugh…!"
She looked like she had a lot to say, but Satiana kept her mouth shut.
She must have realized there was no point in arguing.
"By the way, we might run into people watching us on the way back, so remember to act accordingly."
"This humiliation… Ugh…! I'll get you back for this someday…!"
Will she ever get her chance?
For now, she should worry about what'll happen to her once we reach the village.
'Once we get to the village… I'll have to teach her how to adapt a little.'
I'll have to teach her how to rein in that high pride-
in ways I can't tell anyone else.