The contractee makes a wish, and the demon grants that wish in exchange for the contractee’s soul.

Additionally, there were two conditions for becoming the subject of a demon contract.

The human must possess a strong will.

Such a human will harbor the most desperate desire.

Delphine read a portion of the Demonology Illustration with a bored expression.

What they ultimately desire is the human soul, and the will of a human represents the strength of the soul they possess.

The deepest despair arises from the most desperate desire.

They seek out souls with great power, push them into the pit of despair, and finally claim those fallen souls.]

However, the ‘contracts’ mentioned here all referred to contracts with demons in the heavens above.

There were no records of direct contracts with demons who had descended to earth, like Ioan.

“No. There’s really not much time left now…”

Delphine muttered desperately, lowering her head onto the desk.

Although she had not found a clue to save Ioan’s soul, the numerous books commonly stated a few things.

One, humans cannot kill demons.

Two, a contract with a demon can never be broken under any circumstances.

All Delphine had gained from the past three months of investigation was despair.

She suddenly craved the ginger cookies she had finished eating earlier.

Should she drag her heavy body back to the kitchen?

As she was contemplating seriously, a voice suddenly rang out.

“Are you here again?”

Startled, Delphine raised her head.

“Esmeralda.”

Delphine called out joyfully.

All the descendants of the saints in the Holy Kingdom treated her kindly, but among them, Esmeralda was special.

Now, she felt like a biological sister to Delphine.

Esmeralda smiled as she set down a tray of tea and refreshments on the desk where Delphine was sitting.

“You need this, right?”

The plate was filled with ginger cookies.

Delphine grinned brightly and immediately picked up a cookie, taking a bite.

It was truly incomprehensible, but she never grew tired of this tart and sweet flavor no matter how much she ate.

“Thank you.”

“It’s too late. The sun set a long time ago.”

Esmeralda retorted with criticism in response to Delphine’s greeting.

Had it already gotten so late?

There were no windows inside the library to protect the books.

When she concentrated in this quiet place, she often lost track of time.

“You shouldn’t overexert yourself. Didn’t you hear the doctor?”

“But…”

As Delphine spoke with a gloomy expression, Esmeralda sat on the desk and shrugged her shoulders as if there was no choice.

“Well, it’s understandable to be worried. A war will break out soon.”

Delphine fidgeted with the leather cover of the book she was reading, her face immersed in melancholy.

“‘Demonology Illustration’…”

Esmeralda muttered quietly upon seeing it.

Her face, gazing at Delphine’s pregnant belly, was filled with complex emotions.

Esmeralda was now fully aware of the circumstances.

What exactly had happened in that demon’s empire, and who the father of the child in her belly was that her comrades reacted in such a way.

“Those ginger cookies.”

After hesitating for a moment, Esmeralda finally opened her mouth as if she had made up her mind.

“Actually, Lin gave them to me.”

“…”

“She asked me to check on you, saying it seemed like you were overexerting yourself again.”

Carefully observing Delphine’s darkened face, she asked cautiously.

“Delphine, about that child’s father… Why don’t you give up now?”

“Esmeralda!”

Delphine cried out with a shocked face.

The shock was even greater because Esmeralda was the only one who understood her feelings.

However, Esmeralda continued speaking with a resolute face as if she had made up her mind.

“A human who has once sold their soul to a demon can never return.”

“…”

Seeing Delphine still not giving any answer, Esmeralda finished her words coldly.

“The holy war will happen, and he will be sealed away forever with the demon by the Holy Crusaders.”

Delphine’s distinct emerald eyes trembled greatly.

Is that really the case?

Is she being stubbornly foolish?

Regardless of the reason, Ioan was a murderer who had killed thousands of people.

Is it wrong in itself to seek a way to save the soul of such a man, simply because she loves him?

‘I still don’t know what the best way for us is, my child…’

Delphine stroked her swollen belly with a face that seemed to burn with agony.

Observing her expression, Esmeralda quickly changed the subject.

“If staying in this Holy Kingdom feels suffocating, you can go somewhere else. Didn’t you say you’ve never seen the ocean, Delphine?”

She must have judged that it would be best not to dwell on this topic for long for the sake of Delphine and the child.

Delphine, well aware of that sentiment, also tried to smile and muttered.

“The ocean…”

The place where you see the horizon instead of the skyline.

Esmeralda nodded and spoke in a cheerful tone.

“To properly see and enjoy the ocean, Rinosa Island is the place to go.”

“…Rinosa?”

“Ah, Delphine wouldn’t know. It’s a small island nation to the southwest.”

Esmeralda continued.

“It’s a small but beautiful country. It’s also a resort.”

Esmeralda went to the library bookshelf to look, and soon brought back a thin book.

It was a travel book describing the locations and sights of various resorts on the continent.

Rinosa Island was introduced as one of them.

Delphine gazed at the vivid pictures drawn in the book as if entranced, forgetting the conversation from just before.

A clear and transparent blue ocean.

Long trees with unfamiliar shaped leaves hanging down.

“It’s famous for its bright and sunny weather all year round. Delicious fruits and food are also a must, of course.”

Leaving behind the numerous books about demons, Delphine took that single thin travel book and returned to her room.

The appearance of Rinosa Island that Esmeralda had described that day was strangely deeply engraved in her heart.

After that, Delphine opened that book several times a day.

Then she would stroke her pregnant belly and mutter.

“My child, I’ll show you the ocean of this island someday.”

Although I grew up trapped within the narrow walls of the empire. Ioan was the same.

But I wanted to show our child a wider, brighter, and warmer world.

I wanted to let them grow up without a single shadow under the sun.

To see the endlessly stretching horizon and become someone who can go far away someday.

But was that small wish just a fragile daydream?

Less than a week later, news finally arrived that the holy war had begun.

“The gods desire this war!”

The amplified shout of the Pope echoed loudly.

“We will slay that evil demon and reclaim the glory of the gods and the dignity of humanity!”

Gosen Plain, located south of the Holy Kingdom.

That vast plain was filled with tens of thousands of troops, war horses, and wagons loaded with supplies.

Delphine stood beside the Pope, who was delivering a passionate speech on a temporary platform, gazing at the plain with a devastated heart.

It was said that the army would move by land as it was impossible to teleport this many people at once.

Even with the help of mages, it would not be easy for tens of thousands of troops to cross the Antes Mountains.

There would likely be casualties and deaths along the way.

Among the soldiers, there were also young-faced boy soldiers.

Delphine stroked her pregnant belly with a pained expression.

“Those who embark on this holy war will not die even if you die, and will be remembered forever in history!”

Finally finishing his long speech, Pope Graniel I raised his hand high and shouted.

“In the name of God!”

Then, tens of thousands of soldiers chanted in unison following him.

“In the name of God!”

Goosebumps rose all over her body at the immense cheers that shook heaven and earth.

Delphine wrapped her thin arms around her belly and trembled slightly.

Soon, the march began.

“There you are, Delphine.”

At that moment, Marian and Belly, fully armed, approached where she was.

“We will be departing soon now.”

Belly had become the deputy commander and was tasked with guiding the Holy Crusaders to the empire.

Marian had taken the role of the general of the 1st division with her immense strength and combat power that amazed even the people of the continent.

Their knowledge would be a great asset to the Holy Crusaders who were unfamiliar with the situation beyond those walls.

Of course, a heavily pregnant woman in her seventh month of pregnancy was not allowed to accompany them on that journey.

Delphine, who had been watching them with a mixture of envy and worry, asked belatedly.

“…But where’s Lin?”

“She should be with the rear mage unit…”

Marian said, scanning the surroundings with a puzzled expression.

“That’s right. Why isn’t she coming to say her final goodbyes to Delphine?”

“…”

Bitterness spread across Delphine’s face.

‘Is he not going to say farewell?’