I Made a Contract with a Devil, but the Price is Strange

“Master.”

A soft and gentle voice reached my ears. Opening my eyes slightly, I saw Inis’s face. Warm sunlight was coming in through the window.

“Are you awake?”

I nodded and raised my upper body from the bed. I took the water she offered and drank it.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes. Did you sleep well, Inis?”

“Yes. I did some sword training at dawn. There’s a small space behind the inn. The employee said it’s where they do laundry, but when I asked to borrow it for a while, they gladly permitted it.”

“You went training?”

“Yes.”

Now that I looked, there was still moisture in Inis’s hair. Although she had dried it as much as possible with a towel, it seemed that it hadn’t yet dried naturally.

“Fire.”

I summoned a flame and dried her hair with hot air. If left like that, it was obvious that her hair would get damaged.

“Thank you.”

“Are you hungry? I’ll do a quick wash and come. Go down to the restaurant and order breakfast. You can order whatever you want.”

I took out some silver coins from my bag and handed them to her. This amount would be more than enough, no matter what she ordered.

“Yes. Take your time coming down.”

Inis got up. She put the robe over her head and went out into the hallway. I washed my face with water in the wooden tub.

“Hoo.”

When the cold water touched my hands and face, my drowsy mind woke up completely. I changed my clothes, put the robe over my head, and went outside. As I went down the stairs, I saw Inis sitting in a corner.

“Did you order?”

“Yes. I ordered a stew for each of us. Also, they said they bought good meat today, so I ordered that too.”

“Well done.”

“Here’s your change.”

She held out the coins. I shook my head and gently pushed her hand back.

“Keep the change. Save it and buy something you want later.”

“What? Slaves aren’t recognized as having private property. Body and mind, as well as all property, belong to the master.”

“I’ll recognize it for you. So keep it.”

“…Thank you.”

Inis bowed her head deeply and brought both hands to her chest. Seeing her bright smile made me feel good for no reason. Even though it probably wasn’t much.

“Here’s the food you ordered.”

Muffin placed a bowl of stew in front of each of us. A large piece of meat placed in the center. With the juices flowing, it certainly looked delicious.

“Then enjoy your meal.”

“Ah. Just a moment.”

When she bowed her head and was about to leave, Inis called Muffin.

“What is it?”

“T-this isn’t much, but would you accept it?”

Inis shyly held out five copper coins. Muffin didn’t take them and looked at her with puzzled eyes.

“This? Why to me?”

“You let me use the backyard at dawn, didn’t you? I’m grateful for that. And also as a way to ask if I can use it again later…”

Although Muffin heard the reason, she didn’t take the coins. She readily accepted when I gave them to her? Instead, she looked at me.

“Is it okay for me to accept?”

“Why are you asking me that? Inis is giving it because she wants to. If you want to accept, then accept.”

“…Thank you.”

In the end, she took the coins. Inis’s face brightened.

Muffin bowed her head and slowly moved away, but she kept tilting her head. It certainly didn’t seem like a normal situation.

“Let’s eat.”

“Yes. Enjoy your meal!”

Inis, who was in a good mood, ate her meal excitedly. Seeing her eat so heartily made me feel good as well. It was like watching a lovable puppy.

“Ah….”

I reached out and stroked her head. Her busy hands stopped. A soft blush appeared on both her cheeks. Her ears also turned red.

“Eat.”

“Yees….”

At my encouragement, Inis resumed eating. Of course, it wasn’t as excited as before. It was more like something was slightly broken.

After finishing breakfast, we went out to the street. When Inis asked if we were going straight to the labyrinth, I answered.

“I think it would be good to buy some armor before entering the labyrinth.”

“For you, Master?”

“No. Obviously for you. How often do I directly fight with enemies? You’re going to protect me anyway, right?”

“Of course!”

“Good. Then let’s go buy armor.”

The armor Inis was currently wearing was too old and worn out. Perhaps it couldn’t even stop a goblin’s dagger. I couldn’t let her go like this; it made me anxious.

“But wouldn’t it be better to buy armor for you first, Master? I already have a shield anyway…”

“Don’t argue, just follow me. This is an order.”

“Yees.”

Inis quietly followed only after I forcibly commanded her. A slave who refuses to accept what her master offers? How peculiar.

‘Am I the same way…?’

I chuckled and headed toward the dwarf’s forge.

“Come again!”

The dwarf’s call from behind. I waved my hand and left the shop.

“How’s the armor? Do you like it?”

“Since Master bought it for me, how could I not like it? It’s much lighter than what I wore before. Plus, it has a little room, so it’s comfortable to move in.”

“That’s good. But just stand still for a moment.”

“Yes.”

I created a slight distance from Inis and looked her up and down.

The appearance of wearing black armor with a cloak. If it had been just black, it would have been dull, but with a slight blue accent, it was very pretty. I was a bit concerned that her thighs were slightly exposed, but that much should be fine.

“Master?”

She tilted her head at my incomprehensible behavior.

“Changing the armor definitely makes you prettier.”

“What? W-what’s that all of a sudden…”

I chuckled and approached her side. After stroking her head slightly, I walked down the street. Inis hurried to stay by my side.

We headed toward the labyrinth without saying anything. While walking, we began to hear voices from our surroundings.

“Did you hear? They say the guild has issued a request this time.”

“The guild issued a request? Those guys who don’t usually get involved. Suddenly, why?”

“I heard this from a guild official. Apparently, a count’s daughter is trapped in the level where the disaster occurred. So the count personally requested it?”

“No wonder. I was wondering why those guys who don’t usually move suddenly took action. There was a reason after all?”

It was very interesting content. A request from the guild? This was truly a rare occurrence.

“Master. Do you think that’s really true?”

After the adventurers moved away, Inis came close to me. She expressed her doubt in a small voice.

“Which part? That the guild issued a request, or that the count’s daughter is trapped?”

“Both. Logically, someone like a count’s daughter has no reason to descend into the labyrinth.”

“Well. Nobles have no reason to enter the labyrinth, but there’s also no reason they shouldn’t, right?”

“What does that mean?”

“Adventurers like us have to start with nothing when challenging the labyrinth. On the other hand, nobles can start with all kinds of good equipment, helpers, and information. The efficiency is different.”

At first glance, Falsion seems like a fair city. The labyrinth doesn’t discriminate based on status, and death is equal to all.

“All adventurers are equal. But some adventurers are more equal than others. And not all lives have the same value.”

“Ah….”

Inis opened her mouth blankly. She was lost in thought for a moment, then began to speak again.

“That’s true. Actually, the fact that the guild issued a request this time is ultimately because it’s a noble’s daughter. If we were trapped, would they have issued a request?”

“Obviously not.”

Her face darkened a bit. She seemed to have become depressed after newly realizing the reality.

“I feel a bit angry. Nobles already have so much, yet they covet what belongs to us…”

“People who have a lot naturally desire more. They know the power, and they know the value.”

Truly, to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. Isn’t there also something called the Matthew effect?

“But the adventurers here don’t seem to care about that at all. I’m getting so angry…”

“They’ve either already given up and accepted it, or they don’t know at all. After all, these kinds of thoughts can only come when you have some margin.”

Someone who has no food to eat today can’t even think like this. Only after your stomach is full can you think about what comes next.

“Gasp. Then am I full now?”

“Probably so. But that’s not a bad thing. In the end, this kind of contemplation will make you a better person.”

“A better person….”

The corners of Inis’s mouth rose and then fell again.

“But I think I was better off not knowing. Now that I know the truth, I feel a bit depressed…”

“Don’t worry too much. In any case, all we can do now is descend into the labyrinth, right? It might seem meaningless now, but someday these efforts will shine.”

“Do you really think so?”

“You have to believe that. Or does Inis want to become a miner?”

Inis was startled and waved her hands.

“Of course not. I don’t think being a miner is for me at all.”

“Right. So don’t get too frustrated. It’s all meaningless anyway. You should do what you can do now. Right?”

“What I can do now… Yes. That’s right. As expected of Master.”

“I’m not sure how you reached that conclusion, but for now, let’s go to the guild. We need to go to the greenskin territory anyway, so let’s take a look while we’re at it.”

“Yes!”

I’m glad Inis seems to be feeling better. In truth, I just spouted some plausible words I had read in books.

How was I when I lived in Korea? Was I really such a diligent and hopeful person who lived as I advised Inis?

“Absolutely not.”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. It’s nothing.”

It really was nothing.