The Dark Beast Squad, huh.
For an underworld crime syndicate, it’s a ridiculously cute name.
‘More than anything, it’s just not cool!’
As I clenched my fists, trembling with indignation, Luna approached me and whispered.
“You looked troubled, so I came up with it for you. Good job, right? Seriously, you can’t do without me.”
I wasn’t troubled—I was trying to think of a cool name!
But I couldn’t get angry. Luna had no ill intentions; she was only trying to help me.
…Well, what’s done is done.
‘Guess I’ll just go with it. Besides, it’s not like we’ll be using it often.’
The masks were more of a half-joking attempt to conceal our identities anyway. If we don’t stay active, the name will probably be forgotten before it spreads across the continent.
Plus, a name this cute wouldn’t easily stick in people’s minds.
“Oh, Dark Beast Squad! Using such a terrifying name—do you intend to conquer the continent?”
“If you provoke us, we just might. So be careful.”
“I-I’ll be careful!”
“No need!”
[The Dark Beast Squad has instilled fear into someone.]
[Reputation has increased by 1.]
[Current Dark Beast Squad reputation: 3.]
“…?”
Crowell trembled under Luna’s harsh tone, and nearby, Joseph curled up in fear.
It wasn’t Luna herself they feared but rather the name Dark Beast Squad.
Maybe in this world, it’s a truly terrifying name.
‘I’ll have to look into that later.’
Lucia’s first disciple, Dark Beast Squad.
Now, I had two reputation systems to manage.
As I explained before, reputation is categorized into Heroic, Continental, Imperial, Kingdom, and Flea levels.
There are five ranks in total, and rewards are given with each rank-up—that’s how the reputation system works.
For the record, it’s possible to create multiple aliases and manage several reputation systems, but it usually ends at two or three. The more you have, the easier it becomes to be tracked.
By whom, you ask? Well, obviously—
‘Caron, Caron, and Caron.’
It’s only natural for the Empire’s watchdog to track down unknown groups.
If you’re just boosting your reputation, he’ll release your personal information after a thorough investigation. But if he deems you a threat to the Empire…
‘He’ll snap your neck right away.’
There’s a reason Caron is called the Bad Ending Maker.
So expanding your reputation system recklessly in pursuit of rewards isn’t a wise decision.
‘Kingdom-level at most—that’s the limit.’
Of course, this is in the worst-case scenario.
Reaching the Kingdom-level isn’t easy either, and since we don’t plan to stay active, there’s a good chance we won’t even reach the Flea level.
“Keke, shall we proceed with the contract?”
“Y-Yes, of course. Dark Beast Squad, hereafter referred to as Party B…”
Crowell was scribbling with the demon’s pen when it happened.
“Mister! Stop! Don’t fall for these people’s tricks!”
The missing child of Carpathia. It was Joseph.
He rushed between us, waving a stick wildly.
“Joseph, it’s okay. This is a demon contract. It helps ensure a fair agreement.”
“My mom said not to sign contracts recklessly! Who knows what tricks these suspicious people will pull!”
“W-Well, that’s true, but…”
Crowell looked at me hesitantly.
I despise smart kids, and I dislike babysitting even more.
So I decided to delegate.
“Keke, are you challenging us?”
“Yeah! Bring it on!”
“What spirit… You’re a worthy opponent for our lightfooted rabbit.”
“Squeak?”
Rezé turned her head sharply towards me. This rabbit has an uncanny sense of timing.
“If you defeat the rabbit, I’ll take you on myself. Though that’s unlikely to happen.”
“Hmph! Just wait right there! I’ll deal with you soon enough! Come at me, rabbit mask!”
“Squeak! Squeak!”
Rezé bolted on all fours, with Joseph hot on her heels.
Kids should deal with kids, after all.
“The distraction’s gone. Let’s continue with the contract.”
“…Y-Yes, let’s.”
Line by line, we slowly drafted the contract, agreeing on each clause.
Perhaps wanting a guarantee of safety, Crowell’s requests made the contract a bit lengthy, but the key points were as follows:
Party A, Crowell, would act as a spy and provide useful information.
Party B, the Dark Beast Squad, would remove Crowell’s brand in exchange.
There were a few terms favorable to Crowell, such as Party B not killing Party A as long as the contract wasn’t violated, and not disclosing Party A’s information to the Black Mages.
“Sounds good.”
“Haha! You’re quite bold. As expected of a man!”
I approved coolly.
Those weren’t the important parts of this contract anyway.
“Whew… Almost done.”
“Keke, let’s wrap it up quickly. Our rabbit seems to be on the verge of death.”
Joseph was struggling to remove Rezé’s mask.
Losing to a kid… what a pitiful rabbit.
“Next are the restriction clauses.”
A demon contract is basically a win-win deal where both parties get what they want.
And, like any other contract, you can include restrictions.
The difference is that in a demon contract, restrictions can include…
‘Forcing death.’
“Party B’s requirement is as follows.”
“Party B’s requirement is… as follows.”
Crowell repeated after me, carefully writing it down.
“If you kill someone who isn’t a Black Mage or betray the Dark Beast Squad…”
“Betray…”
“…your heart will explode, and you will die instantly.”
“Explode and die ins… W-What did you say!?”
Shocked, Crowell threw the demon’s pen.
Luna leaped and caught it mid-air.
“What an insolent act. Do you take the Dark Beast Squad lightly?”
Crowell flinched at Luna’s warning but didn’t back down.
“A restriction that involves death! Isn’t that too much?”
“Keke, it’s simple—just don’t betray us. Or were you planning to betray us from the start?”
“N-No! Of course not!”
“Then sign the contract.”
“I… I mean… you never know what might happen…”
“Hoho, you always live with betrayal in mind? Sounds like you wouldn’t mind closing your eyes here for good.”
As I pressured him with the [Eye Opening] skill, sweat began to pour down Crowell’s face.
He couldn’t resist.
This is the true terror of a demon contract.
‘Mutual consent is a very subjective concept.’
As you can see, a demon contract is powerful enough to control life itself.
While it contains the power of a great demon, it’s also an equal contract based on mutual agreement.
The issue is that the mutual agreement only needs to be obtained at the moment of signing.
You can’t force someone to sign by physically manipulating their hand, but you can coerce them into signing the contract.
‘There was a similar situation during the Academy Raid.’
When the fragment of a demon died, an enraged Lizbeth triggered a hidden piece that summoned the upper demon Bineus to the academy, pushing us to the brink of death.
I had tried to make a contract with Bineus, offering my soul in exchange for saving the children.
‘Luckily, Lucia showed up, and we barely got out of it.’
Even now, I’m not sure why I was willing to sacrifice myself back then.
Anyway, the fundamental rule of a demon contract is mutual consent based solely on the act of signing.
As long as they sign with their own hand, it’s valid.
And yes, even if they sign after getting beaten up, it still counts as mutual consent.
Compared to that, my intimidation tactics are mild.
‘That’s probably why demons never give demon contracts to humans.’
Humans are known to make contracts so vicious that even demons concede.
There have been times when a human set a contract like “sign a contract with a demon and then immediately die,” and then hunted the demon.
So Crowell’s reaction isn’t surprising, considering I’m the one holding this demon contract.
“Think carefully. It’s nothing. Just do your job as a spy, and nothing will happen.”
“B-But a contract that demands my life is just too…”
“You don’t have any other options. You’re more likely to survive by helping us than by running away.”
“B-But…”
Crowell began to tear up.
Though an adult, he was only a year or two older than the Academy students. Still just a kid.
‘I’ve whipped him enough.’
Time to offer the carrot.
“How many children like Joseph do you think perished during the Carpathian invasion?”
Crowell trembled violently.
Even as a low-ranking Black Mage, he’d spent three months in the field.
He had likely avoided killing anyone himself, but he must have seen and heard plenty.
“This is your chance to save and protect them. Gather your courage, like when you stepped up to protect Joseph earlier.”
Crowell hung his head low.
For the record, if Crowell rejected my proposal, I planned to kill him on the spot.
It would be a shame to lose the chain quest, but it wasn’t worth risking Caron’s and my own life.
Crowell slowly raised his head.
The time had come to choose: life or death.
Though he raised his head, Crowell couldn’t speak.
From behind the mask, glowing red eyes stared at him, sending chills down his spine.
‘Could I survive among the Black Mages?’
Maybe it would be better to die here.
Yes, just die. Better to die cleanly here than struggle and die miserably later.
“Are you giving up? How foolish.”
The man in the snake mask sneered.
Crowell lowered his head again.
Yes, I’m a fool. Tricked into becoming a Black Mage, losing my childhood friend to someone I just met.
A fool.
Maybe dying is the most fitting end for me.
“My mister isn’t a fool! You fool!”
His gaze dropped to the floor, where he saw a pair of short legs.
It was Joseph, the child he had saved.
“My mister is going to punish scum like you!”
“Keke, do you really believe that in this situation?”
“He’s just momentarily confused! I know how brave my mister is!”
He must be talking about the time Crowell smashed a senior Black Mage’s head with a rock and fled.
No, that wasn’t bravery.
It was just a desperate struggle to survive.
“No, he’s hopeless. Courage, bravery—he’s far from those things.”
“No! I believe in him! My mister… My mister is going to become a hero!!”
“…!”
Thump-!
Crowell clutched his heart.
Hero—a dream everyone had as a child.
Crowell was no different. There was a time when he secretly practiced swordsmanship, dreaming of becoming a hero.
At eight, he realized reality early and chose the path of a farmer, but could that dream still be alive somewhere deep inside?
His heart began to race.
“I like it. Joseph, you might be better suited for this mission than that guy.”
The snake-masked man’s hand moved fluidly, reaching for Joseph.
Joseph instinctively closed his eyes. And then…
Grab!
When Joseph opened his eyes, he saw Crowell tightly gripping the snake-masked man’s wrist.
“Take your hand off.”
“Keke… I see you’ve made up your mind. I like the look in your eyes.”
Crowell flicked away the snake mask’s hand.
Hero.
Of course, he couldn’t become a true hero.
He was just a low-ranking Black Mage from a farming background.
But.
‘If I can become Joseph’s hero… that’s enough.’
He was in a situation where signing was his only option.
Not signing meant 100% death.
Signing gave him a small chance of survival.
Yes, it wasn’t time to give up yet.
He’d already made one foolish choice by falling into the Black Mage’s trap.
‘They’re strange people, but… I don’t think they’re bad.’
A mysterious group, but they were clearly against the Black Mages, which made them allies.
And no matter how bad they might be, they had to be better than those Black Mage scum.
‘Spying is scary, but…’
Crowell gritted his teeth.
He had to muster the courage to become Joseph’s hero.
Swish, swish—
Crowell’s hand moved smoothly as he signed his name with the demon’s pen.
The snake, cat, and rabbit-masked individuals huddled together, watching the contract.
“Kekeke, incredible rewards…!”
“Those Black Mage bastards… they’re done for!”
“Ah, a safe life!”
What could they be so happy about? Their shoulders shook with excitement.
“Kekeke!”
“Hehehe!”
“Squeak! Squeak!”
Their laughter echoed through the underground sewer.
Watching them, Crowell wondered.
They’re less evil than the Black Mages…
Right?
–TL Notes–
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The image of masked Zero Luna and Reze laughter truly reminds me of Demons in the dark lol