["Deceiver, do you think I'll fall for it just because you stay put?"]

Mammon looked at the lava-covered ground and gathered demonic energy in his hand.

["If you don't dodge, it's all the better for me."]

And he fired it right at him. Condensing and repelling, the linear light harboring heat greater than magma pierced the lava and burst with a bang.

["I've been caught."]

Just as expected. Mammon waved his hand as he watched Mephisto pop out perfectly alive. The lava spread out on the ground surged up everywhere. It looked like an inverted image of water droplets falling from a cave ceiling.

CRASH!

Lightning bolts struck down through the spaces of the air restricted by the lava. The remaining pearls numbered just over forty. He had to use these sparingly, too.

SLASH!

But could it compare to Mephistopheles?

["As expected, it's much more comfortable when you have a lot."]

The amount of demonic energy wasn't everything, but it could play quite a large role in determining victory or defeat. Mammon manipulated the lava, satisfied with the fact that he clearly held the advantage in that one aspect.

Rock spears shot out from the surging lava pillars, and volcanic bombs rained down, forcing Mephisto to consume his demonic energy once again.

At that, Mephistopheles twisted his lips crookedly.

["Really? From my perspective, you just look like someone with a lot of capital but terrible investment skills, blowing through your initial funds because you can't even cut your losses, let alone take profits."]

A sword not even coated in demonic energy merely changed its shape and slashed through all of it. A messy yet dynamic trajectory completely shredded everything around him.

As if proving he used to be human, his skill in using tools was quite impressive.

Mammon wiggled his finger as he watched the guy overcome the situation with just tools and no demonic energy after being forced to consume it.

Dozens of thorns shot out from the sloshing lava and aimed at Mephistopheles.

CRUNCH!

CRACKLE!

The one who quickly escaped the building he was in shrank the sword that had expanded to several meters and threw it just like that.

["Bite it."]

Ratel, which had changed its shape mid-flight, dashed like a black dog and aimed for Mammon's main body. There was no reason to just take the hit.

He covered and hid the Magic Tower with the lava behind him, forming a magic circle within it while hiding his main body in the lava.

CLACK!

Ratel's teeth snapped shut, biting into the empty air where he had just been.

["Looking at it now, it seems like you're the guinea pig."]

["Am I that cute?"]

["Whether something like that is cute is secondary, but surely you don't think I meant it that way. I'm saying you're a coward. Needing to prepare a hiding spot just to survive makes you exactly like one."]

At the same time, a hand abruptly thrust into the lava. The bright red eyes within the goat's skull were full of mockery, as always.

["Weak, cowardly, and stupid Mammon."]

Mammon initiated a battle of overwhelming mass, heat, and thorns against the one who had finally shoved his hand into the lava. He could die because the distance wasn't properly widened, but a crisis could sometimes turn into an opportunity.

["It's a shame if you think you're any different, Mephisto."]

SPLASH!

The thorns that surged from the lava pierced Mephistopheles's entire body, and lava covered the spot.

However, there was no way this was the end. There was no way that Mephisto would just take it this easily. Mammon's senses sounded an alarm.

He hastily retreated.

BOOM!

A spherical explosion erupted by a hair's breadth. Around Mephistopheles's body, which had thrown its whole self out as bait, black flames were eating away and obliterating the magma like burning paper.

SIZZLE.

The crimson hellfire that bloomed like a flower from within also scattered sparks wildly like scattering cherry blossom petals. The gently scattering sparks completely swallowed everything they touched.

["Well, I wonder about that?"]

THUD!

An immense impact instantaneously shook Mammon's main body. It was because Ratel, which he thought had returned to its master's main body, had been maneuvering in secret from behind and plunged straight into his heart.

Cunning. Mammon clicked his tongue at the move that fully exploited his lack of combat experience.

GRAB.

In the midst of this, Mephisto's body, which had holes pierced all over it and parts missing as if torn off, grabbed Ratel.

Ratel was still piercing through Mammon's main body.

'It's dangerous.'

At that moment, Mammon decisively attempted a rapid escape. It was a choice made to protect his life above all else, even if it meant giving up something.

SLASH!

In a flash, the world was dyed pure white. All that remained in the spot where everything had been obliterated was the ground carved out in a fan shape and Mephistopheles standing there like a half-corpse.

["See, you're always the one running away, Mammon."]

However, Mephisto still spoke perfectly fine even in that state. And for good reason.

Mephisto's essence was Wrath, and the power he wielded was fire. And flames... could expand their size at any time as long as there was an ember and firewood.

Most demons possessed recovery abilities akin to regeneration, but due to his essence, Mephistopheles's speed and range were overwhelming.

To the point where one might sometimes wonder if the thing he was deceiving wasn't other demons, but death itself.

["Coward."]

CRUNCH.

Mephisto whispered as he leisurely regenerated his missing left cheek and right hand. In response, Mammon, who had barely managed to pull his body away at the cost of sacrificing his arm, clenched his fist tightly.

["... Right. I can't help it. I'm not used to fighting like you are, you know?"]

However, even that tension was soon relieved.

["So I have to fight like this at least, what else can I do? I can't just let you hit me."]

The Magic Tower that stood far away melted down and lent him strength. His heavily depleted demonic energy filled up once again.

["Isn't that right?"]

It was the moment Mammon regained his composure.

On the other hand, Mephisto, who fully sensed that, narrowed his eyes.

It was an obvious reaction, considering the opponent he had been fighting for a while had suddenly replenished his demonic energy from somewhere.

["A sacrifice."]

Regardless, what happened had happened. Rather than throwing a fit over the change in the situation, Mephisto calmly began to assess it.

There were a few possibilities, but the most likely one was among them. 'Offering a sacrifice.'

["What, are you jealous?"]

["Ha."]

When did he offer a sacrifice...? Well, since his demonic energy is full all around, it probably wouldn't have been that hard to hide.

The problem was what came next.

The opponent had refilled his demonic energy, and Mephistopheles was now in a situation where he was desperate for every last drop of demonic energy.

In this kind of situation, no matter who he was, it would be hard to hold out for long.

He needed some kind of scheme.

["Do it too if you want. Though I won't just sit back and watch you do it."]

Should I offer a sacrifice too? But what is there that's even worth offering as a sacrifice?

Most of the substances that made up the world were far too common to have any value as a sacrifice. Even if he offered them, the demonic energy spent in the process would be greater than the power he'd get in return.

["My, my, I guess I could pass down the title of Deception and Trickery to you."]

["Oh my, you're going to give it to me? I'll gladly accept it then."]

At least things that were clearly granted popular value, like gold or jewels, would return a fairly guaranteed price when offered as sacrifices, but...

Would Mammon really have left any gold in this city? An amount of gold capable of overturning this situation?

There's no way.

Mephisto quickly gave up on treasures like gold and silver.

["There's no reason I couldn't give it... provided you pay the proper price."]

["Haha, sure. Of course. Wouldn't shattering your vessel be a sufficient price?"]

But it is true that offering a sacrifice is convenient...

Mephistopheles's red eyes flashed even redder.

'Should I sacrifice that snake?'

His gaze landed on the turtle that wasn't budging on the beach. The snake that had been hiding inside the turtle's shell was thoroughly destroying the surrounding coastline in search of what was stolen from it.

It would take quite a bit of time just to chop off its head before offering it as a tribute.

'Then should I sacrifice the humans?'

Next was the corner of the city where humans had gathered after desperately evacuating. The fact that thousands of presences were swarming like cockroaches was unpleasant but also quite tempting.

Offering a living creature had a more complicated procedure than offering an inanimate object... so he thought it would be difficult to offer them right now without any prior preparation, right in the middle of fighting Mammon, but...

If he could just succeed, the payoff would be substantial. It might even be better than the snake bastard, which would take a lot of effort to subdue.

Because he didn't actually need all that much demonic energy to catch Mammon.

["... What, you weren't siding with the humans?"]

However, seeing Mephisto's gaze land on the humans, Mammon was the one who panicked.

He too knew that offering humans as sacrifices was effective, but it was because he never expected Mephisto—who had saved the Hero—to contemplate using humans.

["That's a very unpleasant misunderstanding. Why would I side with humans?"]

["Then why are you fighting me??"]

["Because you pissed me off."]

... Crazy bastard. An actual crazy bastard!

Mammon finally understood Mephistopheles's words denying that it was a betrayal.

That guy hadn't sided with a foreign god, nor did he feel pity for the humans.

He was just doing whatever the fuck he wanted, just like he did in Hell. Just like the right Satan had promised, he was simply living exactly as he wanted!

So of course it isn't a betrayal!

["You're, really...!"]

It was truly absurd, but whatever. Whether it was a betrayal or just him trying to kill him because he was pissed off, the situation where his own neck was on the chopping block remained the same.

In a way, he was even relieved. To be honest, it suited Mephisto much better to try and kill him because he couldn't control his temper than to fight him for the sake of something like humans.

["Whatever, just die!"]

Putting that aside, Mammon raised his power to counter him.

His target was the humans he had neglected, treating them like flies. There was a chance, however slim, that Mephisto might consume them and recover his strength, so they were a natural target.

The lava began to rush like a tidal wave toward the humans who were in the final stages of their evacuation.

「Are you planning to break your promise?」

Meanwhile, Mephistopheles also became annoyed in his own way. Right after his conversation with Mammon, the one who had quietly stepped back brought up the promise and began to choke him.

'I saved four humans just like I promised, didn't I?'

「You tried to use civilians as sacrifices! Furthermore, you even put them in danger!」

'It's fine as long as the humans I promised to save don't die. What's the problem?'

Red hair, green hair, two-toned hair, platinum blonde hair. He saved all of them.

As for them dying after that, well. They had enough strength to avoid that wave of lava. If they didn't avoid it and died anyway, wasn't that their own fault?

But why would that be his fault? Why? He had already paid the proper price. He even endured becoming a hunting dog according to the Contractor's will of not wanting to make Gretchen suffer, so why!

Even so, why on earth did it become his fault!

His annoyance turned into rage, and that rage wholly became fuel, making his flames burn even more fiercely.

The flames directly pierced into Mammon's opening as he tried to attack the humans.

「... Even though you criticized him for neglecting innocent people dying or whatever!」

Even at that moment, the Contractor was yelling thunderously in his head. It was absurd.

'You believed that, kid?'

There was nothing more foolish than looking for loyalty in a demon. Even more so if the target was him, who was once called Deception.

「... You!」

'Stop being annoying. You should have already known, shouldn't you? There's no way I'd actually care about things like humans.'

If it meant he could snatch the initiative that Gretchen was holding, he could easily spout any amount of lies that suited the other party's disposition.

Of course, they weren't even binding each other with a legitimate contract; if he could take over the vessel just by saying a few words, why wouldn't he?

Once he gained it, it would completely be his world. As long as he got it, he could just ignore any empty promises!

Therefore, whether it was Gretchen or the Contractor, playing along with them for the sake of profit was a piece of cake.

At least, that was the case until now.

「... Right, typical of a bastard like you.」

When he didn't hide his brazenness, the Contractor filled his voice with contempt. It wasn't his concern. He also despised the Contractor just the same.

「But you can't just do whatever you want.」

However, moments like this were truly irritating. Mephisto's brow crumpled fiercely. His rage, which accumulated toward everything at every moment, ignited even further.

BOOM!

An explosion erupted from the collision with Mammon.

「Keep the promise.」

'I did keep the promise!'

「Keep it. If you don't want to die.」

God damn it! Why something like humans! Why did he have to protect them! In his entire life, there was probably nothing as worthless, meaningless, and unhelpful as them, so why did he have to protect them!

'Do you think protecting those kinds of things is going to change anything?!'

Even if he were to at least use them as sacrifices, it was still the same. The power spent protecting them, or the power gained by offering them as sacrifices—breaking through Mammon's checks and interference—would end up being the exact same.

In the end, there was no profit! No profit for him to gain!

Even so, why did he have to make a move? It was their own fault that they died because they were weak, so why did he have to volunteer to make a sacrifice!

「Protect them.」

However, there was no choice. A coerced action, or a death he would be forced to face. Out of those, what Mephistopheles would choose was obvious.

'Fine. Let's say I compromise a hundred times over and protect them.'

Survival. If it meant living, he could lower himself as much as he needed to.

'How am I supposed to protect them? Don't tell me you think being stubborn is going to solve everything?'

However, he wouldn't accept unreasonable demands.

Indeed, killing Mammon alone was a situation where he'd have to endure any sacrifice, so protecting that many humans here was realistically impossible.

'Let's compromise, kid. Because it hurts my feelings if you only demand a one-sided loss.'

No matter how important survival was, if he only kept lowering himself, he would only be used. Mephisto knew this, so he suppressed his anger and sneered.

The Contractor stayed silent for a while.

BOOM!

During that time, another explosion erupted between Mephisto and Mammon.

「... If it's offering a sacrifice, there's already something prepared.」

'Hah, where the hell is a sacrifice in a place like this—'

Is this bastard making fun of me right now? As Mephistopheles thought that, his body suddenly stopped.

There was a sacrifice. There certainly was.

「Don't use it all.」

It wasn't prepared for a moment like this, but rather arranged because of Gretchen... but regardless, there was indeed one device he could use.

Haha, hahahaha! Mephisto's lips curled up smoothly.

["Humans truly are foolish."]

["...?"]

But he kept his mockery to a limit. The foolish Contractor, in other words, maximized his profit.

["There won't be a single person who acknowledges your devotion and sacrifice."]

["What the..."]

After clashing with Mammon once more, Mephistopheles used the recoil to retreat far away.

Mammon grew wary at this action, which was different from him trying to close the distance up until now.

["What, are you going to offer the humans as a sacrifice?"]

["No. Ah, but maybe you're right?"]

Mammon absolutely did not believe Mephistopheles's denial. Unless he was trying to protect the humans, there was no reason for him to risk getting swept away by standing in front of the lava rushing in like a tidal wave.

["Go ahead and try, Mephisto."]

However, Mammon did not forcefully try to stop that action. In order to burn away all the lava he had created, no matter how powerful Mephisto was, his demonic energy consumption would inevitably be extreme.

He might even end up squandering all his demonic energy without being able to burn it all away.

["I'll enjoy watching your last-ditch effort."]

Even assuming he could burn it all away, what then? To offer living creatures as a sacrifice, he needed to prepare bindings to tether their souls and magic to preserve their bodies so they wouldn't lose their value.

Engraving a magic circle wouldn't be difficult using fire... but there was no way Mammon would just sit back and watch him do that.

In the end, he would consume his demonic energy for nothing and fail to offer the sacrifice, which was pure profit for Mammon.

While staying wary of the unfathomable intent, he somewhat leisurely watched what Mephisto was doing. He's going to regret it. Had it not been for the words Mephisto muttered, he would have maintained that attitude until the end.

["O ancient magic."]

["...?!"]

Mammon's eyes widened.

["O supreme law."]

["You...!"]

He's using that magic without a sacrifice? No, before that, he hasn't even prepared a magic circle?

How?

["O scales of the universe."]

Paling in comparison to his words about enjoying the show, Mammon lunged forward immediately. His long-honed intuition told him to absolutely not leave any opening, making his action even faster.

["A proper price."]

However, the speed was simply too fast. There were clearly several steps to offering a sacrifice, but Mephisto had completely skipped all of them.

As if he had prepared everything in advance, as if reusing something he had used before, as if fulfilling a forged contract!

Wait, reusing? A contract?

Before Mammon could realize something, the ancient rule responded.

The power obtained in exchange for a portion of his lifespan bloomed over Mephistopheles's hand.

Ratel. The moment the black-and-white mixed sword was swung, silence fell upon the turbulent world.

And in the middle of that silence, the fire of wrath aimed at the world, which nothing had been able to extinguish, erupted.