These Demons Do it for Free Chapter 22

“What are you talking about, Arthur?”

Surprisingly, the one who spoke with a tone bordering on hostility was none other than Juan.

“Are you saying we should disregard Roman’s achievents?” “What’s this now? Weren’t you the one badmouthing him for being a demon warlock?” “...That was a long ti ago.”

He’s completely changed, hasn’t he?

‘Not that I can bla him.’

They all saw it, didn’t they? They experienced it firsthand.

Roman’s devotion to them.

Spatial magic. Even for a regular mage, repeatedly using such magic is enough to cause imnse physical strain. Roman, despite using the power of a demon, still poured out everything for them.

He had saved their lives. Burned through his own life force to save them.

It’s only natural that they’d want to ensure he gets the recognition he deserves.

But Juan and Amaia aren’t the only ones who feel this way.

Of course, Arthur felt the sa.

“This is the best way for Roman.”

Is this Arthur acting on his own? No, it wasn’t.

Fiona agreed with him as well.

“This attack, the target was .”

The necromancer had explicitly targeted Fiona first. Maybe it was because she was the most troubleso to them, but Fiona, having experienced similar incidents multiple tis before, instinctively knew that she was their primary objective.

Arthur and Alejandra were probably also targets, but their priorities were lower than hers.

However, if this incident becos public knowledge… If word spreads that a mage using spatial magic disrupted the cultists’ plans…

The Abyss-worshipping cultists would go after Roman before anyone else.

“It’s not just the cultists. Other mages would target Roman too. Whether it’s to steal his spatial magic or to summon the sa demon he does.”

Arthur and Fiona’s concerns were perfectly reasonable. Even Juan, who had initially opposed the idea, couldn’t co up with any objections and had to accept it.

“…Sixteen people know about Roman’s magic: the fifteen of us and Instructor Davenport.” “The commander saw it too.” “Then that makes seventeen. Isn’t that too many to keep a secret?”

Alejandra had a point.

While Fiona could use her status as the Grand Duchess to keep the commander and instructor quiet…

What about the other trainees?

They were citizens of Les Rin but still free individuals. They paid taxes to the city and were bound by its laws, but they could leave at any ti. Fiona, as the Grand Duchess, didn’t have the authority to order them around.

“We’ll have to rely on their conscience.” “Or instill fear in them.”

The one who spoke up this ti was Dustin Challoner, number 8 among the survivors from the underground. A mber of the prestigious Celsus School, Dustin wasn’t particularly sociable, which ant he hadn’t built the kind of factions Arthur, Alejandra, or Fiona had, but he wasn’t without influence.

“A promise of certain retaliation against anyone who leaks the information. If we make that clear now, fear of the consequences will keep their mouths shut.”

Dustin cast a nacing glance, as if daring anyone who might consider leaking the information to show themselves.

But everyone here had survived the underground, a near-death experience. They weren’t so weak-willed that a single glare from a fellow trainee would scare them.

In fact, so even t Dustin’s gaze head-on, engaging in a silent staring contest.

“What do Roman’s teammates think?”

With Alejandra’s question, the room’s attention shifted back to one point.

Normally, if all those eyes had suddenly turned toward her, Leif would have yelped and shrunk back. But right now, she was oddly unresponsive. Ever since they’d erged from the underground, she had been like this. When Roman collapsed, she had reacted, but after that, she had frozen up again like a doll.

“Besides Arthur, who shares a room with him, you two are the ones closest to him, right?”

Seeing the silence from both of them, Alejandra pressed again.

There was no helping it.

The truth was, from the start, Ray hadn’t been all that interested in this gathering. She’d only bothered to co because everyone else was gathering.

Ray spoke indifferently.

“It’s all fine. It’s for him, so it’s fine. But…”

The reason for Ray’s disinterest in this discussion ca out of her own mouth.

“Shouldn’t we hear what he thinks first?”

In the end, everything depended on Roman’s will.

Everything said here could be taken as advice, but it could never beco a demand placed on Roman. It shouldn’t, and it couldn’t.

That was Ray’s perspective.

“Leif and I are heading back. Finish your eting and let us know what you decide later. He’ll make his own decision.”

My eyes opened.

I was sure it had been night when I’d last been outside, but it was still dark outside the window. I guess I didn’t sleep as long as I thought? But then my stomach growled loudly, and I realized I’d probably slept the entire day.

“I’m hungry.”

I must have muttered to myself, but responses ca from both sides as if we were having a normal conversation.

“Want to bring you so soup?” “We’ve got bread too.”

Hearing Ray and Leif’s voices from either side told I was in a safe place.

So it really was over.

I’d been a little worried that I’d wake up and find us all imprisoned, but that was just my paranoia.

Realizing I was safe made feel a bit more at ease.

All the tension from the battle and the weight of being in training lted away like snow under the sun. With my mind so relaxed, my mouth slipped before I could filter my thoughts.

“Where am I? Who am I?”

“…What?” “Roman? Is… is he okay?”

Oh, they don’t get it.

This is just a silly joke.

I was about to brush it off as nonsense when Ray suddenly climbed on top of and grabbed my shoulders tightly.

“Hey! Snap out of it! Look at ! Look! You rember , right? What’s my na? Tell , quickly!”

“Roman, you didn’t lose your mory, did you?”

Ray looked absolutely pale, shaking intensely, while Leif, trembling, was muttering sothing under her breath.

Please, let go… You need to let go before I can talk… I’m still exhausted.

With all the strain from the battle and the hunger gnawing at , I had no strength left, and with Ray shaking so violently, it was hard to form words. But sohow, I managed to gather enough energy to say sothing.

“Hey, hey! It was a joke! Just a joke!”

Ray stopped instantly.

Phew, finally.

“What?” “I was just making a dumb joke. I didn’t think you’d take it so seriously. Sorry.”

“….”

Leif had stopped shaking, but why was Ray still trembling?

“Ray?” “…It better be true.” “Huh?” “If you’re lying just to make us feel better, then… if that’s the case, I swear I won’t forgive you…”

Ray muttered with her head hanging low. Because she was smaller than , even though I had only half-sat up, I couldn’t clearly see her face.

“It’s true. What’s the point of lying about sothing like that?” “…Alright, then.”

Ray pushed back down onto the bed and climbed off, turning her back toward .

“Rest. I’ll go get you so soup.”

And with that, she left the room.

But there was still soone else in the room.

“Um, Leif…?” “That was too much.”

Her voice, laced with emotion, made think of her face hidden under her hood.

If I hadn’t seen her face before, I wouldn’t have known. But since I had already seen what was under that hood, I could easily picture the look on her face.

I should apologize.

But before I could even say sorry, Leif spoke up again, just a little faster.

“But still, I’m relieved.” “…Thanks.”

At daybreak, Instructor Davenport ca to see . The commander wanted to have a private conversation with , apparently.

As I followed Davenport, I took a quick glance at him.

“Don’t worry. I’m all healed.” “Oh, okay.” “Thanks. I’ll never forget what you did for .”

For a man who usually didn’t speak much, that was the longest sentence I’d ever heard him say since I joined.

“We’re here.” “That was quick.” “We’re in the sa administration building.”

Davenport said I had to go in alone and disappeared, saying he’d see later.

As I was about to knock, the door opened as if on its own.

I guess I’m supposed to co in?

When I walked inside, I saw the man already seated in the reception area.

I looked at him. At the sa ti, he looked at .

“I’m Skyler Martin, the training center commander.” “I’m Roman Seon.” “I know.” “……”

What’s going on?

This doesn’t feel normal.

“Sit.”

As soon as I sat down, the commander imdiately bowed deeply.

“First, let thank you. Thanks to you, not only the trainees but I myself survived.”

It was a bit startling how quickly he bowed, but I understood. If anything had happened to Fiona, the bla would’ve fallen entirely on him.

“So, it’s only right that I repay you.”

Straightening up, the commander pushed a book across the table toward .

“It’s called the Blank Grimoire.” “What is that?”

A grimoire is a grimoire, right? What’s a “blank” grimoire?

“It’s a grimoire from which the original contents have been erased. It takes a linguist, a magic scholar, and an alchemist working together to make it.”

A lot of effort → expensive. He’s just explaining in a roundabout way that this is a valuable item.

Is this the wisdom that cos with age? People who’ve lived in society really are different.

As the commander explained further, I ca to fully understand what the Blank Grimoire was.

You know how in gas there’s a system for reincarnation or inheritance? Where your level resets, but you get stronger stats and more skill points?

The Blank Grimoire works on a similar principle.

It erases the existing contents, but the accumulated power and mysteries within the book remain, passing them on to whatever new knowledge is written in it.

If you get a powerful grimoire that doesn’t match your specialty, you can erase its contents and keep the power, transforming it into sothing you can use.

“I don’t have any grimoires related to demon magic. They’re rare, after all. And grimoires related to spatial magic are even rarer.”

Instead of using a subpar grimoire, it would be better to make one that suits you perfectly, the commander added.

I accepted the grimoire. Honestly, considering I already wield demon magic without needing any resources, I wasn’t sure if I really needed it. But it’s always better to have sothing than nothing.

I’ve secured my connections through Fiona. Maybe I should secure sothing tangible here.

As I took the grimoire, the commander spoke again, his voice more serious than before.

“What this ans, though, is that there have been very few mages who’ve dealt with demon or spatial magic.”

Ti, space, creation. The ultimate mysteries still not fully understood.

I had already stepped into one of them.

To be honest, it’s not that different from using an artifact from the Abyss. It’s less my own ability and more like borrowing Seir’s power.

But unlike artifacts, which are limited in number, a demon contract is a free resource. There will undoubtedly be mages who co after , seeking to make a contract with Seir.

“If your magic is revealed, it will draw imnse attention, both good and bad.” “I’m aware.” “…Good. The longer your magic stays hidden, the better. So, I won’t be reporting anything about your magic to the higher-ups. But if you wish otherwise, I’ll comply.” “No, I agree. It’s better this way.”

The commander smiled approvingly, nodding in agreent.

“And here, take this.”

This ti, instead of a grimoire, he handed a small rectangular badge.

“It’s a temporary license. The survivors of this midterm exam have all passed.”

“This is…”

A permit allowing to enter the Abyss.

Finally, I had officially earned the qualification to enter the Abyss. Although it was conditional.

“I won’t congratulate you. As you know, this is only temporary. It’s a half-license that won’t even allow you to enter the Abyss alone. Only after completing the practical training in the Abyss and passing the final exam will you beco a full-fledged explorer.”

“Yes, I understand. This is just the beginning.”

“Which brings to a proposal.”

A proposal, huh. At this timing, what else could it be?

“How about completing your practical training with the City Army?”