Hell’s Rent Is Paid Up Front, Dear Customer
That voice did not belong to the creature they thought they had killed.
It was far deeper.
Far older.
Far more wicked.
[To think you would destroy my toy... Impressive, little girl.]
Black smoke gathered in the air, swirling together until it formed a single gigantic eye.
The eye stared directly at Violetta.
“Who are you?”
Kairic leveled his sword.
[I am the Abyss. The master of this land where you struggle and crawl.]
The Lord of the Abyss.
The true mastermind behind the Archbishop and the Emperor had finally revealed himself.
Even though this was only a projection and not his real body, the pressure radiating from him made it difficult to breathe.
[There is a price for killing my child.]
The enormous eye flashed crimson.
The entire canyon began to tremble.
Boulders broke free from the cliffs and crashed downward. The earth split apart, opening jagged black fissures across the ground.
“Damn it! It’s collapsing!”
Damian shouted.
“We have to run! If the entrance gets blocked, we’ll be buried alive!”
Kairic grabbed Violetta’s arm and pulled.
But she did not move.
No.
She couldn’t.
The giant eye held her in place as if casting a spell, gripping her very soul and refusing to let go.
[You... belong to me. Those eyes of yours are something I greatly desire.]
The creature’s voice burrowed into her mind.
Memories from her previous life.
Nightmares.
Fear.
Everything blended together until her vision blurred.
No... get a hold of yourself...
Her knees buckled.
Just as she was about to collapse—
Smack!
Someone cupped her cheeks with both hands.
Warm.
Rough.
And carrying the fresh scent of a forest.
“Violetta! Look at me!”
Damian.
He held her face and forced her to meet his gaze.
His blue eyes trembled with fear and concern.
“Don’t look at that thing! Look only at me!”
The shout snapped her back to reality.
She shook her head and glared at the apparition.
“Who the hell belongs to you, you creepy stalker pervert?!”
With all her strength, she hurled her hammer at the giant eye.
Whoosh—!
Thud!
The hammer passed through the projection.
Black smoke scattered in every direction as the Abyss laughed.
[Hehehe... I shall wait. In my sanctuary.]
The illusion vanished.
The tremors ceased.
But there was no relief.
The canyon entrance had been completely sealed by the fallen rocks.
“...We’re trapped.”
Kairic stared at the blocked passage.
They had become rats in a cage.
Cliffs surrounded them on all sides.
The entrance was gone.
And behind them still remained thousands of monsters they had yet to deal with.
Yet Kairic showed no fear.
If anything, he looked entertained.
A crooked smile appeared on his lips.
“Our escape route is gone. What’s the plan now?”
Violetta picked up her hammer and slung it over her shoulder.
Instead of looking at the blocked entrance, she turned toward the deepest part of the canyon.
The towering cliffs that seemed to mark the end of the path were split down the middle by a colossal crack.
A cavernous opening.
A dark abyss.
It was the very tunnel into which that monstrous being—the one radiating overwhelming demonic energy moments ago—had disappeared.
Violetta pointed her hammer toward the gaping darkness.
“That’s where we’re going.”
A grin spread across her face.
“Right into that bastard’s living room.”
She hefted the hammer.
“Let’s go collect some rent.”
“Hah! That’s exactly why I like you.”
Kairic chuckled.
Damian released a long, weary sigh.
Yet he never left her side.
“If that is where you’re going, then I’ll follow.”
His gaze softened.
“Even if it’s hell itself.”
Without looking back, the three of them stepped deeper into the darkness.
This was no longer a simple exorcism.
It was war.
Tap. Tap.
Their footsteps echoed through the darkness.
The interior of the canyon was colder and damper than outside.
A strange sticky liquid coated the floor.
Above them, bat-like monsters clung to the ceiling, their crimson eyes glowing as they watched.
“It’s dark.”
Kairic grumbled.
Even with a wolf’s vision, the darkness was nearly impenetrable.
“Relax. We’ve got a human flashlight.”
Violetta casually nudged Damian’s arm.
“Sir Knight, light us up. And not a mood lamp—give me a searchlight.”
“...You really never stop treating me like a tool.”
Damian sighed.
Still, he drew his sword without complaint.
Hummmmm—
Brilliant holy light erupted from the blade.
A holy knight’s divine power was the ultimate light source in darkness.
And an equally effective pest repellent.
[Kreeeeech!]
[Too bright! It burns!]
The creatures on the ceiling shrieked and fled the moment the light touched them.
Instantly, their surroundings became visible.
“Wow.”
Violetta gave a thumbs-up.
“Excellent performance.”
The cavern walls were covered with grotesque murals.
Humans offering sacrifices to demons.
Humans slaughtering one another.
Humans driven mad by greed.
Just looking at them made her skin crawl.
“These depict ancient demonic worship rituals.”
Damian studied the murals with a frown.
“This is not merely a nest.”
His expression darkened.
“It appears to be a cult temple that has existed for a very long time.”
“Temple?”
Kairic sniffed the air.
“More like a slaughterhouse.”
“You can smell that?”
“Blood.”
His nose twitched.
“Rotten blood.”
A pause.
“And old iron.”
“Iron?”
“Yeah.”
A grin spread across his face.
“Smells kind of like money.”
Money?
Violetta’s ears practically perked up.
“Then we need to move faster.”
She immediately increased her pace.
“Nothing smells sweeter than someone else’s money.”
They ventured deeper.
The passage narrowed.
The demonic energy thickened.
The whispers in their heads grew louder.
[Turn back...]
[You’ll never leave...]
[Your greed will devour you...]
“Oh, would you shut up already?”
Violetta dug a finger into one ear.
“These guys complain more than angry customers.”
Back in her previous life, even dealing with nightmare clients had been less annoying.
Then—
A massive double door appeared before them.
It stood over thirty feet tall.
Fashioned from black metal and human bones.
Carved into its surface was the image of a gigantic maw frozen in eternal hunger.
“We’ve arrived.”
Kairic adjusted his grip on his greatsword.
Damian raised his shield.
“An immense presence is beyond this door.”
His voice tightened.
“Be careful.”
Violetta swallowed.
Then tightened her grip on her hammer.
Beyond this door waited the so-called Lord of the Abyss.
“I’ll open it.”
Rather than hiding behind the men, she strode confidently to the front.
Then she raised her leg.
And kicked the center of the giant doors with all her might.
“Hello! Property inspection!”
BOOOOOOM!
The enormous doors flew open with a deafening crash.
A flood of brilliant light poured out.
For a moment, all three were blinded.
“...!”
When Violetta opened her eyes, her jaw nearly hit the floor.
It wasn’t hell.
It was gold.
Mountains of treasure filled the chamber.
Gold coins.
Jewels.
Gems piled so high they reached toward the ceiling.
Rubies.
Sapphires.
Diamonds.
A sea of unimaginable wealth glittered before them.
“What... is all this?”
Even Damian stood frozen.
The sight was enough to tempt a saint.
Then a smooth voice echoed through the chamber.
[Welcome, my honored guests.]
Black smoke gathered.
A gentleman appeared.
He wore a perfectly tailored tailcoat.
His face did not exist.
Only two glowing crimson eyes floated within a mass of darkness.
[You have worked hard. I commend you for killing my children and reaching this place.]
The demon bowed politely.
Like a noble host greeting visitors.
[I am generous.]
He spread his arms.
[If you wish it, all of this can be yours.]
“...Everything?”
Violetta asked.
[Everything.]
His smile seemed audible.
[The gold. The jewels. Even dominion over this land.]
[Whatever desire lies in your heart, I shall grant it.]
He raised one finger.
[On one condition.]
The finger pointed directly at her.
[Lay down that club and kneel before me.]
[Then I shall place this empire beneath your feet.]
A demon’s temptation.
Classic.
Predictable.
And for someone thoroughly corrupted by capitalism...
Devastatingly effective.
Her heart pounded as she stared at the mountain of treasure.
With that much money, she could live in luxury for generations.
Forget paying off the territory loans and private debts she had secretly accumulated trying to repair her family’s finances.
She could buy half the empire.
No—
She could become a real-estate tycoon powerful enough to make the Emperor look poor.
As if hypnotized, she took a step forward.
“Violetta! Don’t!”
Damian reached for her shoulder.
“That’s an illusion!”
But Kairic stopped him.
“Leave her.”
He crossed his arms.
“The choice is hers.”
He understood.
The look in her eyes was not greed.
It was something else entirely.
Violetta walked to the treasure pile.
She picked up a gold coin.
Heavy.
Cold.
Completely real.
“Hmmm.”
She bit into it.
Then spat it out.
Ptooey.
“Hey.”
Tilting her head, she glared at the demon.
“You really think I’m that easy to scam, don’t you?”
