Chapter 3
Turning his head, Roan saw a disheveled and dying old man limply lying on the ground along with the bodies of dead soldiers. The old man looked like he is around sixty years old, his hair is mixed with grey and dark strands while wrinkles were prevalent on his face.
" Please, help me. My granddaughter still needs me! " a river of tears gushed out of the old man's eyes while his trembling voice begged.
Although skeptical, Roan still moved towards the old man. As Roan moved closer to the old man, he was able to get a clearer understanding of the situation. Blackening bruises are stretched all throughout the old man's body, infection plagued his grievous wounds, and his right leg was twisted in a weird way.
The old man is desperately clinging on his life despite the death's door already wide open and waiting for him.
" Please help me. Please help. Please…. " the old man profusely begged, but his voice was getting weaker and weaker.
Not knowing what to say, Roan could only silently look at the old man.
" Please, I beg you. My little princess is still waiting for me to get back. I need to live! I promised that I would bring her again to that restaurant! " The old man's desperate voice intensified. " Please! I'll do anything. Save me. "
" But…. I do n… " Roan was just about to reply when the system rang.
*Ding* [Potential Va.s.sal found, the host can use the grimoire of va.s.sals.h.i.+p to the target. But please be reminded that the grimoire of va.s.sals.h.i.+p is consumable, it can only be used once.]
" Old man.. Hang on, I might be able to help. " Roan clutched the hand of the old man. Then he inwardly thought ' What effects does the grimoire have, and how would I be able to use it? '
*Ding* [To use the grimoire of va.s.sals.h.i.+p, the va.s.sal's blood, and personal consent is required. If the va.s.sal agrees, he would be effectively surrendering his life to his lord thus making him the property of his lord.]
*Ding* [Since the va.s.sal's life is the Lord's property, the lord is the only one capable of sentencing death to his va.s.sals. If a va.s.sal's body is destroyed, the grimoire of va.s.sals.h.i.+p would bring back the soul of the va.s.sal to his lord. The lord also has the ability to bestow his va.s.sal with anything he posses, and likewise, he can also take any possession of his va.s.sal.]
*Ding* [The host currently owns three grimoires of va.s.sals.h.i.+p. Please wisely use every grimoire.]
Roan was pleasantly surprised when he heard the power of the grimoire of va.s.sals.h.i.+p. Accepting to become a va.s.sal would be like signing a contract with a devil and selling your whole life and soul.
Looking at the old man's condition, Roan hesitated, he felt like the dying old man isn't a good choice. He only has three grimoires of va.s.sals.h.i.+p, it would be a waste to use one on a sickly old man.
But despite Roan's rational reasoning, he still decided to summon the grimoire of va.s.sals.h.i.+p. Although the old man is clearly not a hero among men, his att.i.tude and his love for his granddaughter are both worth commending.
" Count yourself lucky. I'll give you a chance to live. " Roan looked at the luxuriously covered book suspended mid-air.
" YOU! who are you? " The old man's eyes nearly popped out of his eye sockets when he saw the book materialize out of thin air.
" Since you desperately cling on that life of yours, I'll give you an offer ----- A
" If you can save this old man's life, then I would gladly swear my allegiance to you. " The old man said as he thought 'If swearing loyalty would mean that I would be able to see my beautiful little princess…. Then…'
" Great! Then let's start… " Roan looked around and picked a broken spear from a dead soldier. Then, Roan took the old man's hand and opened a small wound.
" I still haven't asked for your name yet… " Roan asked as he took hold of the floating grimoire.
" It's Remlend, but most call me Old man Remley. " the old man answer in a weak voice.
" I'm Roan, but you should call me Yulio when people are around. " Roan introduced himself using both his real name and the name of the previous owner of the body.
After introducing himself, Roan continued with the thing he is doing. He took Remlend's bloodied finger and smeared the old man's blood to the book.
The task done, Roan waited... Then waited…
After a minute or two of silence, Roan decided to ask the system " Why isn't it working? "
*Ding* [The host hasn't fully explained to the other party what the contract would entail. As such, you still lack his consent.]
*Ding* [The contract would only finish if both parties agree to the same contract.]
Roan clicked his tongue, he had forgotten to explain the full details of the contract and only said that he only needs the old man's pledge of loyalty.
With an awkward smile, Roan said " Well… I think you misunderstood when I said pledge your allegiance. "
Not wanting to fully admit to his mistake, Roan instead blamed the old man " How can you misunderstand such thing? What I mean by swearing your allegiance to me is that you will be giving all of your being to me. I will own your life and soul. "
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" YoU! d.a.m.n yoU! Devil! You are a devil sp.a.w.n preying on the weak! Die!" Remlend gritted his teeth, his eyes were sharp with anger.
" It is a great deal. Since I will be the one giving you a new life, then I should own it. Don't you think? " Roan shamelessly said as he faced Remlend's berating
Hearing Roan's reply, Remlend trembled and puked blood.
" Please, give me another way… I swear I will be loyal! Why need to go that far? " Remlend slumped his head on the ground and begged.
" I… I don't have another way. " Roan said earnestly. Even he himself wouldn't be using this path if he has another way. Not only does he feel that the contract is indeed too harsh, but he also has second thoughts in parting with such valuable treasure in exchange for an old man.
But alas, he was moved by the old man's desperation.
Remlend paused, thinking of his little princess back home. He regretted joining this army. What was he thinking when he joined? Just for quick money, he had joined as a mercenary despite his age.
The officers tasked with accepting mercenaries didn't even want to accept Remlend. But he was steadfast, he threw away his dignity and profusely begged the officer to accept him. Because of his seniority and that the officer doesn't want to further shame Remlend, he was able to join the army.
Now facing a contract offered by a devil, Remlend could only bite his lips as he thought 'I never had dignity in the first place. I have placed myself in this situation just for quick money. What's the use of regretting now? Why am I even regretting? My little princess was able to eat at that restaurant that she always yearned for because of the money I got. It was worth it. IT WAS WORTH IT!'
" I accept. My life would be yours but in one condition… Although my life isn't worth much, I think my soul would have a great use for a devil like yourself. Aren't devil sp.a.w.ns like yourself use souls of humans? You must have been yearning for a soul. Am I right? You are drooling to eat my soul! "
Remlend had convinced himself of the true ident.i.ty of Roan. He had mistaken him for a devil wanting to eat his soul. Based on what Remlend had heard from the legends, devil sp.a.w.ns love to eat souls, and they would stop at nothing just to satiate their appet.i.te.
Roan was hardpressed by the accusations. He fully knows that he isn't a devil, but explaining wouldn't bear anything. Especially since the contract is indeed extremely harsh.
At Roan's silence, Remlend has further convinced himself that Roan is indeed a devil in disguise.
" You don't have to beat around the bush. If you want my life and soul, just say it. I only have one condition to give my all to you… I wish you could give me a year to stay with my granddaughter before eating my soul, I want to properly say my farewell to my granddaughter. And I also want you to give my granddaughter a wealthy life… I want her to live her life without having to struggle anymore… She's young, there's a lot ahead of her. " The way that the old man spoke was as if he is announcing his last will before his death.
Even though the condition was technically two and not one, Roan didn't mention it and just agreed " I agree, I will do my best to give your granddaughter a life with great wealth. I would also not take your life before you have spent a year with your granddaughter. Is that enough? "
" Yes. Thank you, Master! " Remlend wept in joy, he had fully given his consent to give his life and soul to the devil in his front. In addition, he had also changed the way he called Roan.
After getting the va.s.sal-to-be's consent, the va.s.sals.h.i.+p commenced. The grimoire resplendently glowed and turned astral. Then, strange patterns appeared out of the grimoire, binding Remlend.
Finally, a burning and sizzling sound came out of Remlend as his eyes turned dull and lifeless.