Necromancer Of The Black Bible (4)

The Great Demon King, Dikrea.

That was the name of the being I had summoned.

‘It’s been a long time.’

The last time I saw her was three years ago, when my master Balthazar summoned her in my previous life.

After making a deal with Dikrea, my master once lamented deeply.

Though Dikrea’s power was immense, it ultimately prevented him from achieving what he truly desired.

He repeated that story at our final supper, one month before our deaths.

My journey has hit a wall. I was trapped from the very beginning, and I came this far without realizing it.

So remember this: if you ever seize a new chance, do not form a covenant with a Demon King. A mark etched on the soul can be erased, but the heart-ring created by a Demon King cannot.

Even though my master warned me so strongly, I summoned a Demon King—the same one he had once covenanted with, the most powerful of them all: Dikrea.

The reason was simple.

Because I could no longer summon Illinas, the Demon King I had covenanted with in my previous life.

‘And upon my regression, he already carved his mark into my soul.’

To Illinas, I was nothing but a sacrifice—not a partner for bargaining.

For now, Dikrea was my best option.

She was the Demon King I knew the most about, apart from Illinas.

In truth, countless Demon Kings exist in this world.

Their personalities and abilities vary greatly, and choosing poorly could make things worse than before.

Thus, the essence of dark magic lies in negotiating successful deals with them.

The key here is to know your counterpart’s disposition.

‘She will answer my bargain—because she wants to spite Illinas’s mark.’

Dikrea and Illinas are twin pillars among Demon Kings in dark magic.

Their powers are equal, though they preside over different domains.

But their temperaments differ.

Illinas respects Dikrea’s domain, but Dikrea envies his.

My master, mindful of this rivalry, steered me toward Illinas, even paying the price himself.

‘Master…did you foresee even this moment?’

I recalled my master’s final face and looked to the Demon King.

Dikrea, floating in the air and gazing down, was a sight of overwhelming majesty.

Just looking at her made my head reel.

[So, child… You are the one who called me?]

That voice of the soul seeped into my chest once more.

Before the force that sought to swallow me whole, I entrusted myself and answered.

[Yes, Great Demon King Dikrea.]

[Oh? Admirable—you even know my name?]

[Your fame already echoes across the world. How could I not know it?]

At my sly praise, a smile touched Dikrea’s lips.

She glanced at the sacrifices within the magic circle and spoke.

[Twenty-one children, five adults…and one rather cute heretic. Do you mean to offer them all?]

I briefly turned my head.

Before me, Mikel von Raiernov was struggling, but I hardly cared.

The Kallios clergy were always like that.

They act as if they’ll bestow every blessing when you don’t need them, but when you do, they refuse with endless excuses.

They are demons disguised as priests.

After learning dark magic, I realized—even the most capricious Demon Kings are more generous than they are.

Offer them sacrifices and a sliver of soul, and they will grant you something in return.

I ignored Mikel and looked toward the orphanage building beyond.

Inside were twenty-one children and five teachers asleep.

They were the ones I had carefully chosen.

Those who tormented or ignored me in my past life. The unrelated ones I had already arranged to leave the orphanage tonight.

Thus, I felt no guilt or regret.

The only pity was that Dexter, Emma, and their lieutenant Revan had already been adopted.

‘No matter. I can hunt them down in time.’

For now, I wanted to deal with Andre, the cause of this journey, and reclaim what I had lost.

I looked at the Demon King and answered.

[They are all prepared for you. Please accept them.]

[Indeed. Most impressive.]

Dikrea laughed deeply.

Such satisfaction was rare to see in her.

She slowly descended before me and met my eyes.

[Now then, let’s hear your wish. You do know the price list, I trust?]

[I do. But first.]

To leave no room for misunderstanding, I revealed something crucial.

[My soul already belongs to another. Please take that into account.]

[Oh? Is that so?]

Dikrea’s brow furrowed.

She despises learning important details after the fact. Fail to disclose them before the bargain, and she will twist or void the contract.

Thus, this moment was critical.

I had to handle it carefully for the deal to succeed.

Dikrea studied me for a moment, stroking her chin, a troubled look on her face.

[I see. Illinas’s mark is etched into your soul. Then why summon me, instead of him?]

I steadied myself and answered.

[I gave Illinas my entire soul. How could I bargain with him as an equal?]

[Kha-ha! Quite right. Even I would not bargain with a fish already caught.]

Dealing with a Demon King requires more than sacrifices.

A portion of the summoner’s soul is also needed. Thus, with each deal, the summoner becomes more bound to the Demon King.

And once the soul is entirely paid, the summoner becomes the Demon King’s servant, dragged into the Demon Realm.

At present, my soul was mortgaged to Illinas. At my death, he would claim me into his realm.

Illinas would never deal with me like this—he was a strict absolutist.

Dikrea, however, is flexible. Especially since she envies Illinas, she often allows exceptions in overlapping domains.

Indeed, Dikrea grasped my situation exactly and spoke.

[Hmph. So you’re clawing for a stay of life. A boy too attached to living.]

[I simply wished to seize another chance.]

[I understand. I too had such a time.]

Dikrea chuckled, then assumed a more severe expression.

[If you cannot pay with soul, I will take double the sacrifices. Will you accept that?]

[I would be grateful even for that.]

I bowed in thanks, and the Demon King asked again.

[Good. Then state your wish.]

[First…]

I gestured to my left leg and said:

[Heal this ruined leg.]

[I will heal it. That will cost ten children.]

A red flash burst from the magic circle, shooting skyward, and at the same time crimson energy gathered in my left knee.

The energy spread, soon enveloping my whole leg in heat.

‘Ah…’

There was no pain. Instead, warmth and strange ecstasy swept through me.

A truly sweet sensation.

But I must beware. Many have lost themselves to this pleasure and become the Demon King’s thralls.

This was why my master never healed my leg in my past life.

‘Far more dangerous than I thought. I could be swallowed whole.’

I steadied myself and respectfully spoke to Dikrea.

[Thank you. Thanks to you, one wish has been fulfilled.]

[A polite child. I like your bearing. Now. What is your next wish?]

I caught my breath, then answered.

[Grant me the full body of a twenty-year-old adult.]

I phrased it carefully, so its meaning could not be twisted.

For if there’s room for interpretation, they always twist it.

Dikrea mulled my words, then grinned.

[Clever. I know what you mean. I shall grant it. That will cost eleven children and three adults.]

The moment she finished, the circle flashed again. My body lifted into the air, and crimson energy whirled around me.

Warmth spread through every corner of me—an ecstasy beyond comparison.

And my body grew.

Thin arms and legs lengthened, gaining balanced muscle. My torso grew, shoulders broadened, chest hardened, abs smoothed with strength.

When the growth was done and I landed, I stood a perfect naked figure.

But I felt no shame. The power radiating from me filled me with confidence.

“This is my body…”

My skin paler than before, my height taller, even my manhood stronger.

It was far greater than my body at twenty in my past life.

[Oh-ho. Beautiful indeed.]

Dikrea’s gaze flickered.

But she did not act further.

For this was a law kept for millennia.

‘During a deal, a summoner cannot be touched.’

Besides, my soul was bound to Illinas.

If she laid a hand on me, it would provoke conflict with him.

So even after, Dikrea would tread carefully.

‘Now, only two adults and the priest remain.’

Exactly as expected.

The remaining question: could I claim what I truly wanted with them?

For this was a wish no one had ever succeeded in bargaining for.

‘A high priest is a special sacrifice. But will it buy me immortality?’

Immortality is the only way to nullify a soul’s mark.

If Dikrea granted me immortality for the priest, I could be freed from Illinas’s hold.

‘But if not…’

Then she would take the sacrifices and give nothing.

Deals with Demon Kings work this way. Ask for too much, and you gain nothing.

After a pause, I decided.

[Great Demon King, may I offer one adult in exchange for a question?]

[Very well. Ask.]

Dikrea smiled in intrigue as I asked:

[Can you make me immortal?]

Dikrea smirked, snapped her fingers, and a small light vanished from the circle. She spoke.

[I can.]

Her deep smile made me realize my mistake.

‘I should have worded it more carefully.’

That answer alone was not enough.

Of course a Demon King can grant immortality—the issue is where.

‘I don’t need immortality in the Demon Realm.’

So I offered another adult and asked again.

[Demon King, can you make me live forever in this world?]

Dikrea’s brow twisted oddly.

It was a clear sign.

For Demon Kings never say “no”.

She avoided the answer and asked me instead.

[Then how about this? Offer the last heretic, make a covenant with me. I’ll double the strength of the power you once had and return it to you. And after that, all further bargains at half price.]

A tempting offer indeed.

But my instincts screamed no—and my master’s words came back to me.

A soul’s mark can be erased, but the heart-ring a Demon King gives cannot.

The only way to erase it is to return to a time before.

With a Demon King’s ring, you cannot walk the path to immortality. That is why I failed.

Only then did I realize: my master reached 8th-circle necromancy, but never the final stage.

Back then, I didn’t know why. Now it was clear.

‘The 9th circle of necromancy ties to immortality. And to reach it, you must never take a Demon King’s ring.’

True dark magic begins with a covenant.

In exchange, the Demon King places a mana ring in the covenantor’s heart.

This is what makes dark magic vastly superior to other schools.

For in any other discipline, gaining even a 1st-circle mana ring takes immense time and effort.

[Don’t overthink. With just that one heretic, the world is yours. You were a 5th-circle warlock in your past life—now you could be a 10th-circle grand magus. And in this world, none has ever reached the 10th.]

Dikrea’s eyes gleamed.

Seeing that gleam, I knew what I would ask.

[I thank you for your offer, but I shall live within my means.]

I knelt respectfully on one knee. Dikrea crossed her arms, displeased.

Then she summoned a throne, sat, and crossed her legs.

[Hmph. Then what do you seek? Speak quickly.]

[Just a single book. Find it for me.]

[A book?]

Dikrea’s face filled with doubt, and I spoke the title.

[Bring me the true copy of Aium de Equinox.]

This was the legendary tome of necromancy my master once held.

With only its copy, he became an 8th-circle necromancer.

Rather than seize power in haste, I would use the true copy to reach the eternal realm my master could not.