“I woke up at a weird time.”
I guess it’s the same as always. Most people passed out drunk during the banquet, and are now lying on the beach.
The kids are sleeping in a tent, so that’s fine, but this might be a bit bad for their education.
“Not that there’s such a thing as education on an island as free as this…”
I get up with an awkward smile, and I’m careful not to step on anyone as I walk.
“Ah, I’ll take that.”
I take some sake from a place where demon gods are gathered.
It was a free for all drinking party, so I’m sure they won’t mind.
I keep walking on the beach until I get there.
“I came here on a whim, but…”
It’s the place where I spent my first night on this island, where I looked up at the sky.
The rocks are rugged, and it’s not a nice place to stay, but…
“It was here that I decided to live on this island. It’s significant to me.”
I take some dry lumber from my Storage Magic, and start a fire with magic.
As I hear the crackling of the burning wood, I take out the soy sauce and mayonnaise Reina made after hearing me talk about it.
Neither looks or tastes quite like how I remember, but they’re pretty close.
After looking at the fire burning for a bit, I roast some squid and put soy sauce and mayo on it.
“Tasty.”
I feel its flavor the more I eat.
After the first one, I drink the demon god sake I brought.
“Taasty…”
I’m alone, so I can just say what I want. But that’s the extent of my vocabulary.
As I enjoy the squid and Japanese sake, I look at the sea and starry sky.
“Everyone’s rowdy, and that’s nice, but it’s also nice to enjoy sake by myself.”
The crackling of the fire. The wind blowing through the trees. The waves.
I don’t have a problem with the salty breeze of the dark sea and the kind of damp air.
“Come to think of it… I forgot to ask Edinburgh how to summon demons.”
I was told they can come to the outside world if a contract was formed, but otherwise, they have to stay in that cave.
The other strongest races are confined to this island, so their range really might be short…
“I really need to learn, because they could’ve joined us today if I knew how.”
This is just me thinking, but I’m sure they’d prefer to be able to go out too.
Even if they’re demons and it’s just how it is, I think it’s wrong that they don’t have a choice.
“They said I could summon both with my magic energy.”
But there are drawbacks to summoning demons.
From what I heard from Orobas and Mister Asmodeus, once you summon a demon, they remember your smell, and it makes it easier for other demons to target you.
There are examples of demons trying this and that to be summoned too, and as a result, the summoner’s soul gets taken.
That said, those two are the only demons on this island.
Orobas’ nature as a demon means he doesn’t lie, and I can’t see Mister Asmodeus doing that either.
It has Orobas’ approval, so it should be fine.
But who knows if other demons are like them…
Even I feel cautious about demons.
If it’s possible to summon demons from outside of this island, the opposite should be too. I have to be very careful, because if anyone else uses it, they might be targeted.
“It really does sound dangerous. No one else but me should do it. But I can’t do it unless someone does it first… Can Edinburgh face a great demon…”
“How about I teach you?”
“Eh?”
I whispered to myself as I watched the night sea, but got a response. When I look up, I see Wil in the sky.
She has a sake bottle and cup in hand that I recognize. Sure enough, when I look, they aren’t there anymore.
“When did you…”
“Kukuku, it’s advance payment. Do you want me to teach you how to summon demons?”
She throws the bottle as she lands, and I catch it.
I’m guessing she already emptied it in the air. And as she sits in front of the fire with very natural movements, she takes my squid.
“Ah, that’s mine!”
“Like I said, advance payment. It’s in return for teaching you how to summon demons, so shut up.. Mu, this is pretty good…”
She talks while munching on squid with her small mouth.
She finishes quickly, and motions with her eyes for me to give her more.
I start roasting more, and get soy sauce and mayo.
Then we take it easy eating together for a bit.
“Ahh… Not bad. I haven’t had this since I traveled alone on the continent.”
“I’m actually really interested in that.”
“Then how about we make this the payment? I don’t care either way.”
No, that’s a bit troubling. I mean…
“Is this really the appropriate payment for summoning demons? Squid?”
“I decide how much it’s worth. For me, summoning a demon is no different than roasting squid.”
I guess people do value things differently.
Some like jewels, some like food.
Some spend money on a mansion, some on their favorite idols, some see value in games.
“You can replicate it if you see it once, right?”
“Yes. That’s one of the powers granted to me by god when I came to this world.”
“…That god that summoned you really plays fast and loose. You asked for a healthy body, and got an invincible one that can replicate magic by seeing it once. The gods that made me were a bit more reasonable.”
I guess she has a point.
“But that god was nice.”
“Gods are perfect beings with no real emotion. They have no human kindness… But it’s a waste of time thinking about it.”
According to Wil, the god that brought me to this island is higher than the god of this world.
That’s why we can’t interfere from this side, but there’s no need to in the first place.
“Well then, let’s go over there. We need a catalyst.”
“Catalyst?”
“Something connected to the demons. Hair, a nail… What you need to summon a demon is magic energy, a catalyst, and a person’s desire.”
“Does that mean I can’t do it?”
“Hn? I guess you’ve met demons. It might work.”
Come to think of it, I was summoned because of my connection to her… And so were Reina and Xellos.
It’s rare to see Wil doubt something, but if it doesn’t work, I’ll just have to go there and talk to them normally.
“Let’s give it a shot.”
Wil quietly grabs a piece of burning wood from the fire, and draws a circle on the rock a little further away.
She then writes irregular patterns inside like a magic circle, and red lines start glowing ominously like blood.
“Is this…”
“Now Arata, state your wish.”
Says Will with a sneer while reaching towards me from the magic circle.
I’m a little nervous, because it feels like we’re using bad magic to form a contract with a demon, and I make a sound with my throat.
I have to say it. For my dream… I have to summon Orobas and Mister Asmodeus…
“I want to eat squid together.”
I say with a serious voice, and the intense light of the magic energy releases very strong magic energy.
“…Are you serious?”
“Orobas has arrived! Now let us eat squid.”
Mister Asmodeus looks exasperated, and Orobas full of energy.
Funny, he summoned the demons so they could eat squids together.
Thanks for the treat.