I'm Neither the Mastermind nor the Villain

Chapter 5

In the original work, after this incident was settled, the police conducted a thorough investigation.

During that process, a shocking truth was revealed-

That this man had tried to offer his own family as a sacrifice to summon demons.

Even more surprising was that the demons had already been half-summoned, and although the protagonist was unaware, the place had been extremely dangerous.

Naturally, once the protagonist learned this, he underwent a mental evaluation to ensure he hadn't been bewitched by demons, and also grew quite close with the heroine.......

The man, muttering in panic, suddenly put on a servile smile and made a proposal to me.

"Hey, let's talk this out. There's no need to make this difficult, okay? Do you need money? I can give it to you. Just say the word. I can get you anything."

"Haha, I appreciate the offer, but I think I'll pass."

I can just kill and take it.

That was a truth valid both in my previous life and this one.

Maybe if I'd grown up in a normal family, I would have chosen differently, but I've already grown up like this.

Realizing from my answer that there was no room left for negotiation, despair appeared on the man's face.

And finally, the man began to laugh madly, as if he had lost his mind.

"Ha, haha, hahahat! You're going to kill me?! That can't be. That can't happen! Hahahahaha!"

-Srrng.

"Just rest in peace."

"Keugh-!"

Since he seemed to be doing something, I simply swung my sword quickly.

In the original work, he dies anyway, so killing him now shouldn't matter.

Shouldn't matter? It won't matter.

It's ridiculous to think of a peaceful solution after coming this far.

Yet, even though his body was split into upper and lower halves, the man kept talking.

"He, heh! Hehahah! Uhi-hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"

'What the hell is wrong with you.'

I swung my sword again, turning the man who was in two pieces into four.

But the man didn't seem to feel any pain at all and kept laughing.

Wondering if destroying his vocal cords would stop the laughter, I shredded them, but it was the same.

Even with his head completely separated from his body, the man's laughter continued to echo.

Listening to that laughter, I grew curious how long he could keep making noise, so I sat down comfortably.

'There's no smell of blood.'

The lack of smell meant some kind of measure had been taken.

Still, there was nothing I could do.

When I tried to escape, the door wouldn't open for some reason, and no matter how much I slashed at it, it was so sturdy that it didn't even scratch.

In the end, I had no choice but to settle things here.

"Keep babbling all you want."

After laughing madly for a long while, the man began to mutter quietly.

"It can't end like this, I have to die? Why should I die. If I die, then you should die too, isn't that right? After all the effort I put in. And you want to trample on that?

Some bastard who crawled out of nowhere? When I'm just about to soar... You want to drag me down? That can never happen, never... yes, never, never......."

With those words, the man fell silent.

'Is it finally over?'

As I dusted off my backside and stood up, the man's quartered body suddenly turned to powder and scattered.

I was so stunned by the unimaginable sight that I froze for a moment.

My shocked body stiffened instantly.

And then 'it' appeared.

From the altar, an overwhelming pressure suddenly surged, and a massive amount of dark mana filled the space.

Immediately after, the source of the pressure revealed itself.

[Indeed, I was quite displeased, thinking what unworthy fool had dared summon this body, but it seems there is one here with proper qualifications?

Since a fully qualified candidate was nearby, my descent into this place was no mere coincidence.]

'It' took the form of a lion with a black mane, which at a glance seemed drenched entirely in blood, yet also appeared to have a golden body.

I don't know what's going on, but I can tell this is extremely dangerous.

If I make a wrong move, I might not get out of here alive.

That's how great the difference in power between me and that being seemed.

I wanted to run away, but perhaps due to the pressure, my limbs trembled uncontrollably and wouldn't move.

Only my mouth remained free to make sounds.

"...Excuse me, but may I ask who you are?"

At my question, 'it' in the form of a lion grinned widely.

[There is no need to answer who I am. Once you step outside, everyone will come to realize it anyway.]

No need to ask who 'you' are? Everyone will realize once I go outside?

I have no idea what that means.

But I could tell that the being before me wanted to converse.

If it didn't, there'd be no reason to show goodwill and respond to my words like this.

"Then... may I ask why you have appeared here?"

[There is likewise no need to answer that. All is both coincidence and inevitability, so you and I would have faced each other sooner or later regardless.]

'Then what am I supposed to do.'

I desperately racked my brain.

'It', watching me, smiled as if amused and continued.

[Of course, this isn't the answer you desire. The reason I descended is simple. Because of that one who could not bear the price.]

The gaze of 'it' turned toward what was probably the powdered remains of the man.

I couldn't confirm since I still couldn't move my body, but that was likely the case.

"Are you saying that man summoned you?"

[That one attempted to summon something... but it was probably not me.]

Saying so, 'it' began rummaging through the powder that had once been 'the man'.

Though 'it' remained motionless atop the altar, the powder was being stirred by something.

Soon, a creature resembling a leech emerged from within the powder.

Upon seeing it, 'it' bared its teeth in a grin.

Then, suspending the leech-like creature in midair, 'it' continued speaking.

[Ah, so you used that one's body as a host, intending to summon your true body. But now that I have descended, what will you do?]

Then, from the leech-like creature, a voice emerged.

"...I pay my respects to the eternally great Archdemon, Lady Marbas...."

'It', called Marbas, scolded the leech-like creature.

[You were surely excited to summon your true body and expand your influence and power in this world,

but now that I have descended, what will you do? Will you challenge me with that pitiful little body?]

At those words, the leech-like creature flinched.

"N-No. How could I possibly....."

[Though my true self has not descended, had you descended with your true body, what do you think would have happened?]

"I... I do not know..."

[Do you see this man? His intent to eliminate his enemy is so blatant that even without reading his mind, it is clear as day.]

At Marbas's words, the leech turned its head toward me and said,

"Y-Yes... I see him....."

As the leech answered reluctantly, the lion's grin deepened.

[Had you descended in full, wouldn't that feeble true body have been instantly slaughtered by this man?

In a sense, I have saved a hopeless junior, so you should be grateful to me for the rest of your existence.]

The moment Marbas finished speaking, the leech bowed deeply and shouted loudly.

"Thank you so much! Lady Marbas! Even if thousands of years pass, no, even if I perish, I will remember and remain grateful forever!"

Marbas smiled contentedly and said,

[Good, it seems you understand well. Then, as promised, live the rest of your existence in gratitude.]

"O-Of course-"

Before those words were finished, Marbas exploded the leech-like demon.

Then, she turned her gaze back to me.

You asked why I descended, did you not? That demon's summoning ritual called me here. Originally, that demon's true body should have been summoned, but for some reason, I appeared instead.

And that incident occurred because the 'contractor' became a variable-in other words, it is your fault, is it not?

A word from Marbas's statement grated on my ears. Contractor? Who is whose contractor?

"What do you mean by contractor?"

As if she had anticipated that I would question that word, Marbas opened her mouth again.

[Indeed, it is true that I descended here of my own will, but the sacrifice was woefully insufficient. Mere livestock and offerings were not enough. Even if another demon intervened in the process and the price was thus reduced,

the gap between demons was mismatched, and moreover, that demon was hiding inside the sacrifice, so the value of the sacrifice was halved. Furthermore, that sacrifice possessed no talent for dark magic,

nor was the self-sacrifice entirely of its own volition. Of course, its willpower was not bad, but that was all.]

Marbas bared her teeth and continued speaking.

[Of course, I could return without receiving any compensation, since I did not descend into this world in my true form. However, that would not be profitable, would it?

Yet, could I claim your soul as payment? Even if you are the only living being in this space,

besides, you are more than qualified. With a little more growth, you will be capable of far greater things.]

With a face full of laughter, Marbas continued.

[Therefore, you have no choice but to make a contract with me.]

I could do nothing but listen blankly to Marbas's words.