The monster unexpectedly seemed to be in pain within Badin’s grasp. It stretched and contracted its formless body, shrieking like a strangled sparrow while thrashing violently.

Laila hid her shadow firmly in the shade to avoid touching it, then stared intently at Badin.

In truth, she should have been trembling just from looking at him—it was certainly so with the Deceptor—but now she could remain calm because she had an even greater worry.

“Yes.”

Laila answered.

“If I can’t get rid of it, I’ll die here today.”

Badin snorted.

“You didn’t call me out for your own sake, did you?”

He loosened his grip on the monster and looked back at the fallen Eustar.

“It’s for that human. Isn’t it?”

Laila tensed, worried he might throw the monster at Eustar.

Though she had safely hidden him in deep, solid shade, Badin might tear apart the trees like before. Then Eustar would inevitably become the creature’s prey.

“How foolish.”

A bluish vein bulged on Badin’s pale temple. At the same time, the monster trying to escape his grasp by shrinking itself dispersed into black powder in the air.

—Shhh…!

The faint death cry seemed full of agony. As the tension left her shoulders, Laila nearly collapsed under Badin’s glaring gaze.

“You’d sell yourself to me for one worthless human male? Do you think he’s worth that much?”

Laila, who had been about to speak, immediately retorted.

“You said before. That Eustar and I… might be able to fulfill your wish. Then shouldn’t he live? Whatever your wish is, to fulfill it…”

“Don’t think you can get away with such shallow tricks. That was merely idle talk, did I seem foolish enough to pin my hopes on you? I’m talking about what you’ve done now, Laila.”

‘What you’ve done’. Laila could sense the contempt, anger, and a kind of futility in those brief words.

What on earth does he want?

“It’s an informal contract.”

Laila said. Since it was undoubtedly true, she tried to maintain as firm an attitude as possible.

“You know too. An informal contract is…”

“Different. But making a contract with a demon remains the same. I told you not to play word games. I’m not in a good enough mood to indulge your willfulness. Even if you are my daughter. It’s truly remarkable, making me displeased is difficult even for the highest-ranking demon. I’m quite impressed.”

With each word Badin spoke, black smoke rose from behind his shoulders.

Laila had the strange feeling that he seemed to be multiplying. Though there was only one Badin before her eyes, it felt as if he was increasing to two, three, ten, a hundred, surrounding her.

“You’ve decided to sell yourself to me for the sake of that mere human.”

Laila immediately refuted.

“I told you. It’s an informal contract. I didn’t stake everything, and I know I don’t need to give everything.”

She was unnecessarily out of breath. Though it wasn’t the situation for it, she was breathless. Laila struggled to calm her rough breathing and added one more thing.

“Don’t think you can deceive me. I already know well that there are various types of contracts with demons.”

Badin’s lips pressed into a straight line. He was now very quiet, more intensely angry than ever before.

“You’ve learned very well.”

The moment he spat those words, a cold, slippery hand stroked down Laila’s spine. Nearly screaming from the chills, Laila bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut.

Badin’s white hand approached. It was an unnervingly beautiful hand, like a plaster statue, lacking a sense of reality. That hand came close as if to caress Laila’s cheek, then quickly withdrew.

“Even if informal, a contract is a contract. That worthless thing has disappeared as you wished. Now it’s time for you to pay the price to me.”

Laila quietly closed her eyes. Yes. Even if informal, what must be exchanged remained unchanged.

“Before that, one more thing.”

Badin raised an eyebrow at Laila’s words. She pointed with her finger at Eustar, who was still unconscious.

“Safely send Eustar back to the royal palace.”

Badin gave a mocking laugh.

“What?”

“I took his consciousness… He probably won’t wake up for two or three hours. Even if you try to wake him forcibly, his consciousness won’t return. It’s that kind of magic. So send him back. Then we can finish our… remaining conversation.”

Badin looked at her with incredulous eyes. He had no choice but to grant this request.

Who knows when, or what might appear next. It was uncertain whether the sink outside had disappeared or not, or if that monster was the only one. They couldn’t face the night here in this uncertain situation.

“I can demand this much, can’t I?”

“There’s a saying humans use at times like this. I’m absolutely flabbergasted.”

Badin, who had spoken sharply, closed his eyes. A moment later, Laila’s eyes widened in surprise as she noticed Eustar, who had been sleeping under the tree, had disappeared without a sound.

Badin’s gaze turned back to Laila.

“Is that enough now?”

“You did send him to the royal palace, right?”

Badin frowned irritably and waved his hand in the air.

For a moment, the empty space became transparent like a mirror, showing Eustar collapsed on the bed in his room. She could also see the flustered servants rushing about.

When Badin moved his hand again, it quickly disappeared. Only then did Laila sigh and stagger, leaning against a solid tree. With the tension completely gone, she felt like she might faint.

“Let me ask one thing.”

Laila, who had been sighing tiredly, tilted her head to look at him.

“What is it?”

“Do you have affection for that human male?”

“That person’s name is Eustar. Don’t call him a male.”

A snorting sound was heard. Though Badin’s mockery made her anger flare, Laila barely had enough strength not to collapse, let alone get angry.

“Answer me. Do you have affection for him? Does your soul, not just the blood flowing in your body, desire him?”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“I’m asking if you have the will to accept that human as your partner.”

Laila blinked as if she couldn’t believe her ears even after hearing Badin’s words. Her expression was as if Badin had slapped her cheek.

“What… what are you saying? What does that have to do with you? No, what does it have to do with this situation?”

Badin didn’t answer right away. Laila, who had been leaning against the tree, straightened up and stood.

Her face was flushed as if she had a fever. Her lips trembling, she suddenly twisted the corners of her mouth with an indescribable expression. It was a miserable sneer.

“Why are you asking such things? If you’re trying to play ‘father,’ please stop.”

It’s disgusting.

But she swallowed those words back down her throat.

Though she had summoned him through a proper contract, she couldn’t deny that in a corner of her heart, she had sought help from a demon when faced with something she couldn’t handle. That alone was shameful enough.

The thought that Badin could plainly see her emotions and thoughts as if laid out on his palm if he wanted to made her shame claw at her even more fiercely.

Laila absolutely didn’t want to recall how relieved she had been when he appeared.

“Unless you promise to accept him as your partner, I cannot contract with you. You know what happens if we don’t make a contract? You’ll be indebted to a demon. That’s even worse than exchanging something through a contract.”

I can’t believe this. Laila thought. She couldn’t believe or understand what Badin was saying. What is he saying now? Why is he demanding such a thing?

“This has nothing to do with Eustar.”

Laila said. She tried her hardest not to tremble, but still, the end of her voice quivered faintly.

“This has nothing to do with Eustar. He didn’t participate in this contract. He didn’t contribute even a single breath. Why is Eustar being involved?”

“Involved? Not at all. This is what I want to receive from you. It’s what you must give me.”

Badin grinned. His even, white teeth showed. Between them, black smoke rose faintly like a ghost’s scream. It was as if he had red-hot coals in his mouth.

Laila’s mind became even more confused.

He wants her to become Eustar’s partner? Though she wasn’t sure of the exact extent of what “becoming a partner” meant, it clearly wasn’t referring to the current state of pretending to be married to deceive others.

Laila’s frozen lips finally parted.

“I can’t do that.”

She gasped like someone who had just fought a battle and spoke again.

“I can’t do that. I’m a witch. Eustar needs to escape. From the Deceptor, and from me.”

“That’s just your judgment.”

“My feelings aren’t real. It’s because of you. You and mother, and the bloodline passed down from the first witch. All of that is making me strange. Because he’s close to the Deceptor. Because he’s under the influence of demons! You said so yourself!”

Badin glided towards Laila. Their foreheads, the tips of their noses were almost touching. Laila flinched and tried to step back, but couldn’t move. Badin’s cold hands were holding her body firmly.

“The contract has been established, and you cannot set the price. So Laila Kristrad, my foolish daughter. From now on, listen carefully to what I say.”

Badin’s lips drew closer. Laila could feel the ice-cold breath emanating from them.

As that breath touched her ear, her whole body stiffened as if paralyzed. Like being bitten by a terrible snake, her vision spun and blurred again.

Laila heard Badin whisper in her ear.

As she listened to that voice she had no choice but to hear, she felt as if something deep in her heart was becoming empty.