WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: HidingTurtle
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◈ I Became the Ophidian of the Apocalypse ◈
Chapter 138: Slave Contract
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Was it drunkenness?
Or fate?
Or perhaps, like a cornered rat biting a cat, Obern had no choice but to bite Covent, who knew his ugly secret.
Perhaps it was because drunk Covent had slapped him across the face.
Had shame and rage surged up inside him?
Or perhaps cold reason had intervened.
There was probably no one else who knew Covent had met Obern here.
They had gone straight to a tavern after meeting, so Covent would not have had time to tell anyone, “Guess who I met today?”
After leaving the tavern, they staggered down the street.
Rain poured from the pitch-black sky.
A downpour heavy enough to wash everything away, even blood.
On that night of thunder and lightning, no one stood by the river, swollen with Solion Impel's sewage.
Besides, several bodies were dumped in that river every day.
No one would notice one more, even if it was Covent.
No, honestly, Obern had not thought anything so rational.
His mind had simply gone blank.
When Covent laughed after slapping him, Obern had already cast the spell.
A simple but effective elemental spell.
“Ice Spike.”
Stab!
When it buried itself in Covent's stomach, Covent stared at him in disbelief.
Was it cold? Or hot?
For secretly killing someone you hated, there was no spell more suitable than Ice Spike. Tradition had proven it.
Covent tried to grab Obern.
But Obern shook off his hand with a Smack!
Covent fell into the sewer with a Splash.
The black water swallowed him in an instant.
Death had swallowed not only Covent, but Obern's ugly secret as well.
Obern was happy and relieved.
Yet only after returning to his room did he realize he was crying.
“So I have fallen into hell, just as you said.”
The demon's prophecy had come true.
He understood now.
If someone had been watching him, they must have seen through even his fate.
Only a demon could torment and toy with a person's soul like this.
“I had no choice but to kill him...”
An excuse. Nothing but a pathetic excuse.
But why would he need to justify murder to a demon rather than a god?
Patter.
Black ink dripped before the weeping Obern.
When he looked up, that pen was dancing once more.
What did this demon want from him? Why had it come to him?
The pen moved and wrote upon the back of his left hand.
「Do you wish to escape the pit of lies and deception?」
The demon offered salvation through the writing on Obern's left hand.
「If you wish it, I will give you everything. I will give you the professorship you desire. And profound, deep knowledge of magic you have never encountered before. Vast wealth. True power that no one can doubt...!」
True power.
His head nodded on its own.
The pen rose and wrote on the back of his right hand.
「Lift your head and behold my form.」
Cra-a-ack. Tap.
Crystal fragments fell before his eyes.
With a trembling heart, Obern raised his head.
The snake was there.
Had the snake been watching everything from the start?
A white snake broke through the crystal and emerged.
He immediately knew that the snake was no ordinary snake.
What snake in the world wore a crystal crown, or had scales that shone like that?
The snake looked down at Obern with eyes gleaming like flames.
At that moment, Obern thought,
‘They are smaller than I expected...’
At most, they were as long as his forearm. They did not even seem fully grown.
If this was a demon's polymorph, why had the demon chosen such a small form?
But nothing was more foolish than judging an opponent's strength by size.
“...What is the price?”
In a trembling voice, Obern asked the important question.
“Do you want my soul?”
At those words, the snake began to cackle.
* * *
What would I even do with that damn guy's soul?
It was not like I could boil noodles with it. I did not need something like that.
Was he so handsome that he had developed an inflated sense of self-importance?
-That was a fairly decent performance this time.
‘What do you mean? I guess evolving made me look more majestic.’
-That is... Never mind.
I had not looked in a mirror yet, but I could roughly tell that my appearance had changed.
My scales gleamed with a more ancient elegance.
Though I definitely seemed smaller. I would have to examine that later.
I moved the pen again.
「Why would I need your soul?」
“...What?”
When I asked that, Obern looked utterly lost.
‘Because you're a demon...?’
「I help you, and you help me. That is all.」
I explained it precisely.
-You fool! That is not how you make someone your slave.
‘Just leave me alone!’
It would be better to write everything out clearly and specify it in a contract.
How should I use this human named Obern?
I had thought about that for days, and in the end, I came up with the most realistic and excellent method.
「You will enter into a contract with me.」
“A contract...”
「Read it and sign it.」
It was something I had obtained from the Court Count's warehouse.
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【Malphas’s Parchment】
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It was the parchment demons used when making contracts, and with it, I would make this human my slave!
-Haah.
Pelerian sighed.
He had agonized to the very end, wondering, ‘Is this really right...?’
Obern slowly began reading the contract.
「The White Serpent, hereinafter referred to as “Party A,” and the human Obern Grimoire, hereinafter referred to as “Party B,” hereby enter into the following employment contract...」
For the first time in my life, I was writing a contract where I was Party A.
How deeply moving.
Obern looked up with a frightened expression.
So? What did he think of this demonic contract?
No matter how harsh and cruel its conditions were, he would have no choice but to sign it.
* * *
Obern read the contract closely.
Despite his delicate appearance, he had lived a hard life.
To earn money quickly without revealing his status, he had not hesitated to do unpleasant work.
He had also been employed by others many times.
And this employment contract...
「Article 1.
1) Party A employs Party B and provides assistance to maintain Party B's social standing and dignity as a mage.
2) The scope of assistance includes the provision of magical knowledge and martial assistance.
3) Party A shall provide its best assistance until Party B is appointed as a professor at Emerald School.」
Had Party A not said they were a snake?
Yet Article 1 stated that the snake would help Obern.
Had he ever seen a contract like this?
Moreover, the clause was written with sophistication and objectivity.
This was certainly not some employment contract from a street stall.
‘They really are a demon. I cannot let down my guard.’
There might be some scheme hidden in the demon's sweet words, one meant to steal his soul. That was what Obern thought.
「...
4) Party B shall be employed by Party A and provide services.
5) The performance of said services may involve danger, and Party B shall raise no objection against Party A in this regard.
6) Party A and Party B shall fulfill their duties to protect each other's social standing, life, and safety.」
‘What...!’
Obern shuddered.
A demon's contract could not contain lies.
Yet Clause 6 said they would fulfill their duties to protect each other's social standing, lives, and safety.
Was this not too advanced and merciful a contract for a demon to offer?
「Article 2.
...
2) Party B is obligated to carry out Party A's instructions.
3) Should Party B fail to faithfully carry out Party A's instructions, penalties shall be imposed pursuant to the following liability clauses.
-If you speak disrespectfully, one punch.
-If you speak disrespectfully twice, one finger.
-If you disobey an order, one stab.
...」
Of course, there were harsh terms as well, but that was only natural.
At this point, Obern could not help feeling doubt rise in one corner of his heart.
‘Perhaps Hell is actually more livable than the surface.’
Obern considered it for only a moment.
But the final clause resolved his hesitation.
「Special Provision)
Should Party B fail to be appointed as a professor at Emerald School, the above employment contract shall be terminated.」
The truth was, Obern was desperate enough to sell his soul to obtain that position.
Being employed by a crystal snake was nothing.
If he could receive the help of a mighty demon, would that not be a benefit instead?
Scratch, scratch.
Obern wrote his name, then signed beside it.
“Should I add a blood seal as well?”
‘Uh...’
Before the snake could answer, Obern pricked his thumb and drew blood.
Then he pressed his bloody thumbprint over his signature.
The snake merely picked up the pen and signed.
The parchment began to shine.
Fwoosh!
It was astonishing.
The parchment was engulfed in violet flames. Yet the paper showed no sign of burning, and when the fire went out, the writing had turned bright red.
‘Hahahaha!’
The snake eagerly moved the pen and wrote.
‘By contract, you are now my subordinate.’
“...?”
They had signed an employment contract, so why was the snake emphasizing something so obvious?
Obern did not understand, but remained silent.
The snake held out its tail.
The gesture looked just like an offer of a handshake.
Slowly, Obern reached out and clasped the small tail.
Then something mysterious happened.
The snake's crown flashed.
Bzzzz-
A tingling sensation, like static electricity, ran through his hand.
Mana flowed along the tail and his fingertips. It felt as though he was connected to the snake.
Then he heard the snake's voice in his ear.
-Ah, ah. Can you hear me?
The snake was definitely speaking.
It was certain, even though the snake's mouth was not moving.
-Obern, I'm a snake.
“Ah... Yes.”
-Don't speak out loud like an idiot. Try speaking in your head. Focus, like you're talking to yourself.
‘Like this...?’
-Yes, yes, that's it. You've got some talent.
Did he have talent for this sort of thing?
Obern cautiously asked,
‘Are you a demon?’
-No, I'm a Little Prince Serpent. Don't compare me to some demon. Anyway, let's work well together from now on. I have high expectations for you.
The snake climbed up Obern's hand to his shoulder.
The snake was only as big as a forearm. If they coiled up, they could probably hide in a hat.
-I've got a lot for you to do, but tomorrow is your interview, right?
‘Yes, that is correct.’
-Peler... no, I'll help you, so go crush that interview. Then let's stop by the bank together.
‘The bank?’
-Yeah. There's a safe-deposit box there.
What could be in that place for the snake to say this so casually, like the snake was sending him on an errand?
Obern felt almost bewitched.
And though he did not show it,
a thought came to him whenever the snake spoke.
‘...Their voice is more vacant than I expected.’
But he had already climbed aboard a snake on the move.
* * *
So this was Emerald School.
Who would have thought there would be an academy of this scale in the middle of the capital?
Passing through the wide-open gates revealed a beautifully maintained garden.
Several buildings stood scattered around it, and even the five-story main building at the center was a grand manor.
It was just like a university campus. One of those prestigious universities in America or Europe.
Thinking that, I got down from the carriage.
Not by slithering down, but while hanging from Obern's wrist.
“This way, Professor Obern.”
Though he had not yet been appointed, Obern was called professor.
That Obern sure knew how to put on airs.
Even his walk was that of a cool-headed young genius professor. There was not the slightest trace of him kneeling and bawling yesterday.
He did not seem intimidated at all until he entered the interview room.
‘Aren't you nervous?’
‘Terribly.’
He seemed to be shaking inside.
Not showing it was practically the work of a great actor.
‘Crown of Connection Lv. 1.’
Thanks to that newly acquired skill, I could freely converse with anyone I touched.
It was much easier and more discreet than writing back and forth.
Of course, that was not the only effect of Crown of Connection.
“Oh, Professor Grimoire!”
“It is my first time seeing you in person.”
When he entered the room, the Emerald School professors waiting for him rose from their seats.
Obern placed a hand lightly over his chest and greeted them.
The professors conducting the interview offered words that were almost blessings.
“We have very high expectations.”
“I heard you did remarkable work in the Empire.”
But because I was so perceptive, I could tell.
There were unfriendly looks among them as well.
They wanted to see for themselves how impressive this rumored young genius truly was.
“Please show us the original spell you prepared.”
There was a wide-open training ground in front of the interviewers' seats.
Three self-repairing dummies stood in the distance. The first task was to demonstrate an original spell.
“Hoho. I am looking forward to it.”
“Could it be the spell you said you devised in ‘Wave Theory and the Fire Festival’?”
The professors asked.
“No.”
That had been the original plan.
Obern had intended to demonstrate a fire spell.
He had even planned to use magical reagents to make it look more impressive with a few cheap tricks...
“It is a spell that has not yet been revealed.”
“Oh? You did not throw it together in a hurry, I hope? Hahaha!”
Obern elegantly brushed back his hair.
“Well, I did devise it yesterday.”
“...Huh.”
The professor who had subtly mocked him grimaced.
“What is the name of this spell?”
“I did not find it necessary to name it.”
“...Your confidence is remarkable.”
Obern turned toward the dummies.
His posture said he would show them.
But he did not chant a spell. He did not form hand seals or raise a staff.
He simply lifted a long white finger and pointed at a dummy.
“Pierce through.”
His low voice rang out.
‘Now!’
I poured in mana.
*「You use Crown of Connection Lv. 1.」
*「You share the skill ‘Beam Lv. 3.’」
A beam fired from Obern's fingertip.
Pew!
It pierced the dummy between the eyes.
It was not magic.
At least, the professors conducting the interview could not think of any similar magic.
“What is this?”
“No, I did not even see a mana formation process!”
Of course not. It was not magic!
Obern neither looked proud nor showed any sign of tension.
He merely said calmly,
“Did you think you could see through the magic I devised at a glance?”
No one could get angry at those arrogant words.
Hmm, I think I hired myself quite an actor.
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