Chapter 212 – Dear Friend

“As expected, humans are boring.”

Mephistopheles, who had just returned from the human world, climbed onto his throne with a sour expression and leaned against him.

A sense of boredom, which had been completely forgotten for five years, crept over his body his, but the great great demon Mephistopheles muttered in a brusque tone as if it were okay.

“I thought this entertainment would last a little longer, but I didn’t expect it to end in such a boring way.”

It was definitely not a boring 5 years. After meeting a human named Artin Ludwig, Mephistopheles was absorbed in the ‘play’ of equal friends for the first time.

Even so, when I was bored, I would rewind the memories of my previous life given to me like a drama. It was a funny world. A world where the world you live in is actually a third-rate novel that didn’t even sell?

Even more funny was the person who thought of himself as Yang Hee-min and Artin Ludwig. With such a delusional memory of a previous life, asking for a deal with the great devil himself,

It was the equivalent of a madman’s clowning. Because he was the first person to receive something from him with only his memories and personality from his previous life and tongue teasing.

“But, he must have been human at best. He is like a pitiful mortal.”

Artin Ludwig is dead. Even by the humans he was trying to protect. The human who endured the pain of being torn to shreds ended up being burned at the stake and died feeling the burning pain all over.

In fact, it was a pitiful end that didn’t even come out with laughter. Wasn’t he a wormy man who wriggled because of his unworthy power his, even though he acted like a clown to get one of his many treasures his?

In addition, the decisive factor in his death was that he found traces of a pact with the devil and was accused of being a devil worshiper.

..Although Artin was n’t his admirer of him, at least it seems like that to bug-like humans, it’s the fault of Artin, an idiot who could n’t hide himself properly. Demons are incomprehensible assholes for showing weakness to defend his comrades.

“Okay, now that the stupid friend play is over, there’s no reason to interfere with the human world.”

Artin Ludwig is dead, and Violet Purple Crow, an immature half-penny who was his contractor his, couldn’t overcome the emotion of the moment at best. He went mad because he could n’t overcome the sadness even after he borrowed his hand his and threw all the humans who killed Artin into the eternal flames of the abyss.

Anyway, now he had no one who could summon him to the human world. No, even if there is, it is certain that sooner or later the human race will be destroyed by a loser who calls himself the Demon Lord.

Whether it’s the nasty guy who called himself a hero, the sage who supported the hero, or the saintess who relayed the oracle of the goddess, the only thing humans who have lost can do is struggle until the moment they die.

“Still, should I make a last toast to Artin, who was Jim’s friend his until the moment he died?”

This is also an extension of play. Thinking so, Mephistopheles tore the dimension apart with his claws and reached out toward his own treasure chest, taking out a moderate amount of alcohol.

“Stupid Artin, you can’t even choose real treasures because of those gnarled eyes, and you’re going to be an idiot for that piece of fruit.”

It was a moderately chosen drink, but this drink was what humans call the drink of the gods. A miraculous wine that gives fire by drinking it and makes you invincible by applying it. This treasure, which was plundered from the storehouse of the goddess during the Great War, was more valuable than the piece of fruit that Artin wanted.

It’s not just God’s drink. Mephistopheles’ warehouse was full of valuable items that humans could not have imagined. Compared to him, the fruit of wisdom that is not perfect that Artin tried to take everything from is inferior. I laughed when I thought of Artin, who in his own way thought he had made a fair deal with the Devil of the Contract.

“No, that might be a perfect fit, because even if a mortal coveted a treasure more than that, he wouldn’t be able to accept it and would explode like a pig.”

Artin, you acted like a double body from beginning to end and then died. A clown that is fun to watch because all his actions are stupid.

Thinking so, Mephistopheles brought the divine drink to his mouth. After drinking this drink, the memory of that person will be forgotten. He did, as did other things that amused him for a moment.

Go ahead, drink the bottle. The source of sweet power permeates the whole body, and at the same time, a powerful miasma that makes even the transcendental intoxicated came. Mephistopheles’ eyebrows curled like a crescent moon at the drunken feeling he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Fun. This intoxication is enjoyable. This sweet sensation that makes you forget even the boredom that filled your body is so enjoyable.

“…What?”

Mephisto, who was drunk, suddenly felt embarrassed by the hot liquid flowing down his cheek.

Does he cry when he gets drunk from his injections his? While he was embarrassed by the drinking habit he had learned for the first time in his thousands of years of living, Mephisto rubbed his eyes and wiped away the tears.

“Is it because I played for too long, or did I become tainted with human emotions? Well, it’s just for fun…”

It’s just a joke. While Mephisto was repeating that, the bracelet on his wrist caught his eye as he was suddenly wiping away his tears.

A bracelet made of silver, an insignificant metal with crude craftsmanship. It is too worthless for the great Overlord of Hell to wear. Even so, the reason Mephisto was wearing this bracelet was because of the human Artin.

– “This is proof that you and I are real friends. Do you like it? He said he was heartbroken when he saw the necklace he gave to Violet last time, so I prepared it.”-
– “Ruff, idiot! Who was jealous of that crappy piece of trash?”-
– “Oh, I never said I was jealous. I guess I was really pissed off?
– “What are you saying! You wormy human! How dare you make fun of the Overlord of Hell!”—

“What? Uh huh weird. I’ve only taken one sip yet, so why do I keep crying?”

As tears continued to flow from his eyes his, Mephisto rubbed his eyes with his hands until tears stopped coming out. It’s a big deal if you get caught by the guy. The great Overlord of Hell, if he knew that he only cried because of humans…!

“…Ah, now I don’t have to get caught. Because Artin is dead.”

It felt like a blow to the head of his. Okay. Artin is dead. He must have known it in his head his, but to make such a foolish misunderstanding, did he become a clown while staying with him for a long time?

“No, I might be fooled by Asmodeus for being such a fool. Okay. At least because of humans, I can’t cry, right?”

This is because of the alcohol.
Yes, it’s only because his injection is an injection that makes him cry like an idiot. Humans don’t matter.
Reflecting on his injection his, which he had known for the first time in thousands of years, Mephisto gulped down his bottle.

The alcohol that should have been sweet somehow felt too bitter.
But he didn’t stop drinking. He lacked alcohol, so he took another drink from the storeroom and drank it.

Tears flowed non-stop, but I couldn’t help it.

Because this is just getting drunk and giving injections. Yes, no matter how transcendental, it can’t be helped.

Stupid Mephisto.

“I guess I should have given you something better.”

Nor was it a direct request for her own power over her. It was, at best, one of the most insignificant treasures in the treasure chest. Wouldn’t it have been possible to enjoy Yu-hee for a little longer if they had given them something more impressive?

There was at most one treasure, at most one thing.

“…No! I asked if I would sign a real contract, but refused it was that stupid person who!”

I was suddenly angry. When he asked if he wanted to make a direct contract to get a little more in love with Yu-hee, the human didn’t reject his offer.

*

“Humans… Talk back?!”

Mephisto had to doubt his ears. He had no idea. Could it be that a human scumbag rejected his offer?

“I’m sorry, Mephisto. I don’t think my body is in a state where I can make a contract with you right now.”
“My, I’m not asking for a big price! I just wish we could spend more time together! Doesn’t that work too?!”
“Sorry. Instead, when your body is healthy, you will play a lot… Cool! Cool!”
“Ah, are you okay, Artin?! There’s water here! Drink slowly!”
“Thank you… Mephisto.”

After coughing up blood, Artin wiped his mouth and slowly drank the water he had given him. After consuming the fruit of wisdom, Artin’s body his steadily deteriorated. After 5 years, he became like a patient suffering from an incurable disease.

It was a reasonable price. Artin Ludwig’s talent for magic is near the bottom. Whenever there is danger to such a subject, borrowing the power of the fruit of wisdom and pouring out higher magic, it is difficult for the body to withstand.

If he had become stronger himself by taking appropriate giyeons in the middle, he would not have deteriorated to this extent even if he had just awakened his potential.

Perhaps even if he made a contract with Mephisto now, he would only cut down on his own lifespan. Mephisto and Artin both knew that fact well.

──However, Mephisto had a plan.

“..I won’t complain about playing together. Instead, as we promised last time, let’s go to our castle. Huh? I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Certainly! It will be a lot of fun!”

Mephisto smiled as he suppressed the tearing pain in his heart as much as possible. If it was the special magic circle created for Artin last time, even Artin’s weakened body would be able to come to hell without any burden.

And in his castle his, there are many treasures and medicines that will help Artin prepare as a surprise for Artin.

Actually, I wanted to beg him to come to the castle because he would heal me even now. No, I wanted to drag her by force. But it can’t be.

It is because when he first proposed to Artin to come to play, he promised to keep secret what he prepared for Artin. Because he was so offended by Artin who made fun of him that he had to swear an oath to the contract, he was so resentful of the situation now that he could not reveal to Artin what he had prepared.

“…It did. I promised to go to Mephisto’s castle.”
“Okay! It’s a promise with the demon of the contract! Are you sure you don’t intend to break it? If you don’t, I’ll take your soul away…!”
Haha, isn’t that too scary Mephisto?”

Squeak squeak, as Artin’s skinny hand stroked her head, Mephisto felt a sense of sadness. Thinking he might burst out crying at any moment, he gritted his teeth and turned his head away, and Artin calmed himself even more kindly, assuming he didn’t think he was upset.

“Then I promise Mephisto. If the ritual to delay the resurrection of the Demon King succeeds this time, there should be enough time. At that time, I will really go to hell.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah, not really. Invite other friends and let’s all have fun together. Understand?”
“A promise, a promise?! You can’t go wrong this time?! I will prepare a lot too!”
“Haha, thank you. I want to eat lots of delicious food. I haven’t been able to eat anything properly these days because my stomach hurts.”
“… Yes, are you sure you want to come over?”

When Mephisto held out his little finger his, Artin smiled faintly and held out his little finger his. A proof of a promise between friends that Artin taught himself that must never be broken. Only then could Mephisto smile.

Now you can save your precious friend! Would you be surprised to see how healthy you are? Maybe it’s so good that he even rinses it off! If we sign a contract, we should play together more! You will be very happy to see the other presents. Devil? Just make a contract and I’ll defeat you!

So, don’t look so sad anymore. Okay Artin?

**

Three weeks later, Artin Ludwig was burned at the stake. The crime was a pact with the devil.

**

“Keep…Keuh ahh…Artyin…Artyin…”

Mephisto’s cries echoed sadly in the demonic castle.

Despite the pile of bottles rolling across the floor, Mephisto could not get drunk. I couldn’t forget the human named Artin.

How could I forget his only friend his.
The only man who made her heart beat, who put an end to the painful boredom that lasted for thousands of years.

“Next time… I’ll do better next time… I won’t play around… I’ll stop being silly…”

He wanted to find that soul. But he couldn’t find it. As if someone took it directly at the moment of death, as if the soul of a man named Artin Ludwig was not of this world.

I was scared. If he had really gone to another world, if he had returned to Yang Hee-min’s world, he would never see Artin.

“Next time I will give you something better… Something more precious… I will give you everything I hold dear…”

Next time you visit me, I will give you the most precious things.
Nothing could be more valuable than you, right?
You’re such an idiot, you won’t be able to leave my side because you’ll be so grateful to receive such precious things.
I don’t need the great Mephistopheles, I just want to be your Mephistopheles.
So. So.

“Please… Come back, Artin… “

A sad cry rang out.

It resonated endlessly like an echo, but there was no warmth in the world anymore to soothe the cry.