"I will take a step first to check the situation. You will follow later." One morning in the New Year, Lin said to his companions who were ready to go to the abyss.
This trip includes Finn, Halumi, Kaya, the dark elf Maiershan, the demon prince Azad, the former commander of the Dark Legion Guards, Rock Stone, and the gray short-haired demon cat Hardy.
The reason why I brought Hardy with me was because the destination was the most familiar enemy territory of the Demon Cat Clan, and Hardy had gone there several times. No matter what, it must be clearer than someone whose eyes are dark.
Secondly, the demons in that place are the targets of the defense of Demon Moth King Jane Moss and the Demon Cat Clan. When I return this time, I plan to deal with these demons. In order to prove that he has not betrayed the interests of the Demon Moth King and the Demon Cats in exchange for his own convenience in the abyss, it is a very important thing. This is why Hardy followed up and became a witness.
Of the two forces, Lin still tends to establish a more solid relationship with the Demon Moth King. Except for the fact that the remnants of that silk cocoon are still coveted, the relationship with the devil can only be based on profit, and there is no morality at all.
To believe in a demon who will betray you at any time, or who wants to kill you all the time, and to give up on a group of allies who are simple-minded and will not betray as long as they treat each other with sincerity, how stupid you have to be to make such a choice.
Not to mention anything else, after putting forward the goals and requirements of this trip to Hadi, the gray cat agreed without even thinking about it. He didn't consider the possibility that he might have tricked it into the abyss as a sacrifice to befriend the devil.
Of course, he doesn't intend to do this; but if someone else makes the same request to him, Lin will definitely consider this possibility. This shows the innocence of these cats, or that they believe in themselves too easily.
The items carried include astronomical telescopes, tripods, coffins, and various lenses and filters. The rest are everyone's own weapons and equipment. If you can carry it with you, carry it with you; if you can't, use the leftover magic silk from previous clothing productions to sew a furoshiki and wrap it up.
After confirming with his eyes that everyone was prepared correctly, Lin set off first. Flash spell activated!
As long as it is a place that has been visited once, whether it is the abyss or hell, someone can come and go as freely as if he were visiting a back garden. So Lin immediately arrived at the destination of his trip, the largest rooftop platform in the Demon Lord Sabine Castle.
As soon as they arrived, they were greeted by a huge fireball coming towards them!
Another flash spell moved the fireball thirty feet laterally, directly smashing a tower not far away. Only then did Lin notice that he had actually arrived on the battlefield. The defensive barrier belonging to the castle is working hard to resist various attacks from the outside world.
Occasionally, attacks with huge mass or power penetrated the barrier, or smashed into the gathered demon army, or smashed a building somewhere. But more often than not, the demon army standing on high ground launched a defensive counterattack against the attacking party below through the barrier, or fought on the city wall.
Before he could send a message to stop him, Fen had already appeared a few steps behind him with other people and equipment. Although there was no big fireball to wash their faces, the shouts of killing on the battlefield still frightened a few relatively young little guys.
Before Fen had time to ask questions, the local lord, the demon Sabine, had already led his guards to the roof and surrounded him. The demon army that was fighting around them was also distracted by the sudden appearance of this group of invaders.
The originally surrounding demons did not intend to ask questions, but directly killed the group of uninvited guests. But the gray cat Hardy jumped from Lin's arms, arched his back and screamed, allowing Sabine to stop his subordinates' attack. The gray short-haired cat with scars and bald spots could be said to be the most impressive demon cat in recent times. And among the humans present, there was also that familiar aura. Sabine said: "Human Magician, are you here again?"
"It seems that I picked a bad time to visit. Maybe I should go back first and come back another day?" Lin said in a normal tone.
He waved his hand to let his guards leave first to assist the army in defense. When the demons on the rooftop saw this, they stopped talking to the visitors because they seemed to be old acquaintances with their lord and had something to say.
Sabine straightened his appearance and tried to show the magnanimity of a noble. The power of the magician in front of him was still fresh in his memory. See you again now. Although the appearance is different from last time, the strength seems to be even higher.
However, under the flames of war, there is no way to maintain manners. It is lucky that there are no missing legs or arms. Sabine's behavior only made people like Fen and Stone, who had actually experienced the war, feel disapproving.
But the devil's idea was simply that he didn't want to be at a disadvantage in front of this human being. He considered himself to be a gentleman and said: "Your Excellency, if you have needs, please tell me now. Next time you visit, maybe I won't be the lord here."
"Replacement of lords?" Lin accurately caught the meaning of the demon's words. He pointed with his thumb at the attacking demon army outside the castle, and asked: "Are they those unfriendly visitors? You must have failed as a demon, and that's why you incurred this kind of retribution."
"What a pity. Their unfriendly visit was all thanks to your Excellency. The injuries you left on me made me so weak that not only my subordinates, but also the demon commanders outside coveted my position. So. How should I treat your visit?" Sabine said, with a ferocious expression on his face. After returning to his normal expression, he continued: "If you have nothing else to do, please leave. I accidentally hurt you and your friends, which is not what I want to see."
Although he said it politely, the demon lord's idea was actually very simple. He didn't want to create another opponent that he would find difficult to deal with at this critical moment. Sending the other person away with words is the most cost-effective behavior.
But how could Lin let go of this opportunity? He said with a smile: "I won't hide it from the lord, I came back here hoping to borrow a place to set up some equipment so that I can conduct stargazing operations in the abyss. The place doesn't have to be too big. Mostly just set up a tent or a small room with some bookshelves and desks. I like the roof terrace of this castle, so I plan to come to you to discuss it. But since there are other people vying to be the owner of this castle, maybe I should Wait for the dispute between you to come to an end and discuss this matter with the future owner of the castle. However, I don’t mind supporting the party that allows me to conduct stargazing operations without other conditions and be the owner of this castle. What do you think?”
Sabin was also able to grasp the meaning of this human magician. The pros and cons were just flashing in his mind. He said with the same brilliant smile: "I can agree to this small matter here. Your Excellency, He Lao, go and talk to the outside world again." discuss with the little devil. Besides, if you want to make a contract with the devil, who will pay for it with his soul. But with your friendship with me, this kind of trivial matter can be saved. My castle is your castle, and my servants are also yours. Servant. There will be no friend in the abyss who is more hospitable than me. You see, my friend across the passage and I—"
Sabine clicked on the ground, wary of the puzzled gray cat Hardy.
"——We have been in peace and quiet for such a long time. However, there are many bellicose little devils who are clamoring to fight to the other side all day long and go to the mysterious place to seize the flesh, blood and soul of living creatures. Most of these little devils have been killed by me. It was suppressed, so a full-scale war didn't happen. If it were other demons, I don't know if they would be as friendly as me. You don't think that a few cats can stop the demon army."
Take the Moth King and the Demon Cat clan as an example. But this threat is not painful to someone. Even if the other person's words are somewhat true, you don't need to care. The devil in front of him just wants to remind others how many chips he still has.
"Then the lord agrees to allow me to borrow a small area of the castle." Lin confirmed again.
Rubbing his chest and saluting, Sabin said: "Abiding by the contract to the letter is the character of a devil. Hospitality and welcoming friends warmly are my characteristics, Sabin. As long as the devils outside don't come to cause trouble, the castle will still be with me. It is under your control, so how to use this castle is entirely up to you. Your wish will be my wish. All the demons up and down this castle will understand this matter."
In fact, what can really restrain the devil is the contract written in abyssal writing. Because there will be his real name above him, and coupled with the testimony of the will of the abyss, this is the saying that "the devil will abide by the contract". But when it comes out of your mouth, you can blow it if you can, and you can bluff if you can.
For Sabine now, pulling the magician in front of him into his camp is a matter of great benefit and no harm. At least it can be used as a shield to withstand the opponent's attack, so all kinds of promises are made randomly without money.
If the other party is still as strong as before, then there is nothing wrong with agreeing to his request. Anyway, now it seems that this human magician's request is really a small thing for a demon lord. It's even more perfect if the opponent is injured in the battle. The new and old grudges will be settled together, and you don't have to pay any price, so why not do it.
"Okay, I'll take it as your agreement. Please remember one thing. If you regret it later, the consequences will be serious."
After finishing speaking, Lin retreated to his companions. It's just that others are puzzled as to why the man in front of them wants to negotiate terms with a demon whose territory is about to be lost. Especially now that it sounds like he has to sacrifice his life for a demon. Although they were also killing demons, it still made them a little unhappy.
However, no one complained or objected. They put aside the large non-combat equipment and walked towards the edge of the rooftop to watch the fighting going on everywhere.
