THVS 24

Chapter 24

“So… what do we do with that?”

Should I really just chop it clean in half like that demon said?

With my arms crossed, I tapped my fingers as I thought it over. No matter how I looked at it, that didn’t seem like a good idea.

Even Lionel, the male lead, couldn’t properly handle that demonic sword.

Originally, he had intended to keep Leila close as a way to threaten Bael—but when he realized her holy power even worked on the demonic sword, he completely lost his mind.

That was where Lionel’s madness and obsessive fixation began.

Then, after discovering his “taste” through the sight of Leila crying… well, that’s how the romance started.

Though honestly, even calling it romance was strange, since it was nothing but one-sided coercion.

Anyway, even with Leila’s holy power, the one thing she could never truly possess was that demonic sword.

If I carelessly tried to break it in half, I could end up dead.

“I can’t just leave it here either.”

“I told you. Break it. You won’t die just from touching it.”

…If Bael was telling the truth, then I might be able to remove one of the biggest sources of the original story’s tragedy.

‘So there was never really a choice, was there?’

I walked over to the corner and grabbed the demonic sword lying on the floor.

But contrary to my expectations, nothing happened.

Was Bael actually right?

‘It’s an ego sword, so I thought it would resist or something.’

I spun it around, even threw it onto the ground, but there was no reaction.

“…Is this really a demonic sword?”

“It’s just sleeping peacefully. Try sending aura into it, contractor.”

“Aura? Not magic?”

“Even if a demon dwells inside it, its core is still a sword. It won’t respond without aura.”

…Was that why Lionel couldn’t use it in the novel?

Awakening aura took time, and just like magic, it required talent.

I’d think about that later.

Following Bael’s instructions, I let aura flow into the demonic sword.

The energy that poured from my hand began swirling around the blade like a vortex—

[Who dares wake me from my sleep?!]

The sword suddenly thrashed in my grip like a freshly caught fish.

Magic energy from beyond the wall began gathering, and an enormous ripple spread through the air.

Damn it.

I quickly tried to suppress it, but the gathered magic scattered instantly.

“….”

[…]

…Huh?

Even in the awkward silence, I could feel the sword was confused.

“What are you doing, Demos?”

Bael asked as if dumbfounded.

[That voice… Bael?! You bastard, why are you in the human world?! No—why is this even…?!]

The sword absorbed magic again.

Flash—

[Why won’t my power work?!]

After repeating the cycle of gathering and scattering magic dozens of times, the demonic sword finally fell silent.

It seemed to realize its situation.

‘It definitely has an ego… so it is a demonic sword. But it can’t use its power?’

That was when I noticed something strange.

“What the hell is this?”

A mark had appeared on my wrist, and my brow furrowed sharply.

“Hey, sword. Did you do this?”

Was all that commotion just to brand me?

I tightened my grip like I was grabbing it by the collar, and the sword flinched.

[W-Why is that…?]

Its voice trembled the moment it saw the mark.

It wasn’t just the sword. Even Bael stammered.

“Why is that… on your wrist, contractor…?”

“How would I know? This sword bastard did it.”

“Have you ever seen the demonic sword—Demos—before making a contract with me?”

“No.”

At my firm answer, Bael seemed shaken.

“Did you do it?”

I raised one eyebrow. Bael answered quickly.

“No. That’s not it.”

“Then what is it?! Just tell me before I go insane!”

“That mark… is proof that you are the demonic sword’s master.”

“…What?”

I blinked stupidly.

The master of the demonic sword? Me?

As I said, it was an ego sword. The owner of such a weapon had to be someone it chose.

“Talk sense.”

“That’s why I asked if you’d seen it before. That Demos brat suddenly choosing you as its master—”

Bael trailed off.

At the same time, I slowly lowered my gaze to the sword in my hand.

[It wasn’t me! I saw this human for the first time today! Why would I choose them?! I’m the victim here!]

The sword practically jumped in outrage.

[I cancel it! I cancel the master selection!]

But the mark on my wrist didn’t disappear.

“…Contractor, swing Demos once. Demos, you stay still.”

[Who are you ordering around?!]

“When a mark appears, only the marked master can use Demos’s power. Even an ego weapon cannot rebel once it has an owner.”

So he was telling me to confirm if I really was the master.

“Well, swinging it is easy enough.”

I casually swung the sword as if brushing something away.

KWA-KRA-KOOOM!

With an enormous explosion, the wall cracked apart.

“…What?”

Even though I had reinforced it with magic, it was still that powerful?

I quickly repaired the wall, then stared down at the sword with an uneasy expression.

[No…! No! The master is supposed to be MY choice! I didn’t choose you! Why?!]

Bael let out a low, meaningful chuckle.

“Choose, contractor.”

“Choose what?”

[…H-Hey! Shut up!]

The sword trembled as if it sensed what Bael was about to say.

But Bael continued calmly.

“The demonic sword belongs entirely to its master. You may seal it away—or…”

[SHUT UP!!!!]

“…or completely erase the soul dwelling inside it.”

“…!”

I stared at the sword.

If I erased Demos’s soul right here, I’d never lose my power and die…

And Lionel would lose the very reason he became obsessed with Leila.

Not “maybe.”

Completely.

There was nothing to 고민 about.

“Then I’ll erase it.”

Without realizing, my lips curled upward.

[W-Wait! You’re really going to erase me?! I’m a demonic sword!]

“Isn’t it better to disappear than submit to a mere human like me?”

[That’s YOUR opinion! I never said that!]

“Your opinion doesn’t matter. I’ll do what I want.”

[Y-You demon!]

“The demon is you. Bael, how do I erase it?”

“It’s simple. Just—”

[H-Hey! Calm down!]

Who was it telling to calm down?

Well… even villains get last words before they die.

I decided to show mercy and give the sword one final chance.

“One minute. Talk.”

[Think carefully. If you own me, you could conquer the world! Huh? That’s not something just anyone can do!]

As expected of something born from a demon king… it talked exactly like Bael.

“I can do that without you. Rejected.”

[…H-Healing ability! I can heal you!]

“No one can injure me. Rejected.”

[I-I’m different from ordinary weapons! I’ll never break!]

“If it breaks, I’ll buy another one. I’m rich. Rejected.”

[…]

“That’s it? Even you know you’re useless to me, right?”

[…Damn, what kind of human is this?]

Maybe Bael felt pity, because he added:

“Give up, Demos. He’s my contractor. You were never going to be useful.”

They say the one who stops the beating is more annoying than the one who hits.

That fit perfectly.

I murmured quietly, offering Demos a final prayer.

“So… how do I erase it?”

“It’s simple. Call the soul’s true name three times in a row.”

Oh.

That really was simple.

Now it was time to twist the original story completely.

Without even trying to hide my grin, I opened my mouth.

“De—”

[W-Wait! You can ride me! I can fly! There’s no faster transportation than me!]