Chapter 15 - A Contract With The Devil

Chapter 15 – A Contract With The Devil

He thought that perhaps he found a new love interest, unfortunately even after all those dates and being taught how to swim, he was tricked. This nice and sweet girl turned out to be the bomb devil.

Reze flicked her wrist, and a small blast of vibrations shook the air and reached for Denji. The next second, the very place that he was at suddenly erupted, igniting Denji's right arm with fire.

"Why can't you just accept death? You have nowhere else to run, and you still stubbornly fight."

"Not nowhere else to run actually." He pointed a bloodied chainsaw that sprouted from his left hand in a certain direction, "the ocean in behind us. You know, you taught me how to swim, so I wanna run there."

She flicked another blast at his other arm, the one that was pointing. A cloud of smoke engulfed Denji, but when it cleared it revealed his arm, surprisingly attached. He managed to keep the arm connected to his torso by placing a chain between his shoulder and forearm. Flinging the chains at Reze, he wrapped her up and broke out a dash into the ocean.

This sudden turn of events shocked Reze, and before she was able to comprehend what happened, she found herself sinking to the bottom of the ocean. She then tried to escape, but realised she was unable to explode when wet.

(Ironic that I would die in this way, I taught him to swim after all...)

With resignation in her heart, she gave up resistance and accepted death.

...

She opened her eyes, to be greeted with a bright sun hanging in the sky. The light emphasised the golden nature of the sand and the hard shadows cast by the trees.

She looked around and identified herself to be on the beach in her human form, lying next to Denji.

"Why did you revive me?" It was a simple question.

"For my own happiness." Denji was somewhat serious, which was a rare occurrence, "I don't really know. I just felt like if I killed you, the thought would haunt me forever, which would be pretty annoying."

"You know, I could still easily kill you right now."

"Yeah I know, but if I'm gonna die, at least it will be at the hands of a beautiful woman."

This amused Reze, as she began to laugh. Only after a couple minutes the laughter began to die down.

"You still believe that? Let me tell you something, I never really liked you, and everything I did in the past was for my plan to kill you." She sneered. Then she got up and started to leave, leaving damp and heavy footprints on the sand.

She took 3 steps before Denji's voice stopped her.

"Can I leave with you and go on the run?"

"What?"

"Its just... I genuinely like you, and even if all your comments are a lie, you still taught me how to swim, which means that you at least still care about me to some level."

Once again being amused, she approached Denji and embraced him. He was elated, since he thought she accepted, only to realise he was mistaken, when Reze applied some force and snapped his neck.

His frail body then fell to the ground unable to move, and she left.

"THE CAFÉ!" He desperately shouted, "IF YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND, I'LL WAIT FOR YOU AT THAT CAFÉ!"

It was uncertain if she heard him, because they was no visible reaction from her, and her figure gradually disappeared into the distance.

...

Nearby.

After leaving the immobile Denji, she planned to run away and maybe start over again. She moved to a train station, and on the way donated some money to the same charity stand that Denji donated to, and received the flower the same kind Denji had.

She was about to enter the station, but hesitated. She looked down at the flower, and an unreadable expression appeared on her face. She gazed at the flower for a while longer, before choosing not to enter the train.

She turned around and started walking to the café, laughing at herself inside though.

(Perhaps I'm not as strong as I thought I was. How pathetic.)

As she began to smile with anticipation, suddenly a group of mice ran by her feet.

They then converged to form a large pillar, and out walked Makima. She had her usual smile on her face and her voice sounded across the alleyway.

"They're nice aren't they. Country mice are my favourite, because I like to capture and kill them. It gives me a peace of mind you see."

Although she tried to make small talk, Reze was on guard. Her hand moved to pull the pin in her neck to activate her powers, but her arm was instantly obliterated. She then pulled out a knife she had hidden with her remaining arm and dashed at Makima to stab her, but she was impaled by a spear thrown by an angel-like figure on a rooftop.

After the last futile attempt at pulling the pin, she lied weakly on the floor.

The café was in her sights, a couple hundred metres away, but it was too late.

(Denji... maybe you're the first person I met who is crazy like me.

I didn't kill you on our first date... be-)

She soon fell unconscious due to blood lost, and her eyes unwillingly closed.

Makima then stared at her lifeless body for a moment, before ruthlessly leaving her there.

As she disappeared, and after confirming she disappeared, a light flashed in the same alleyway, and with a 'pop' sound, a blue-haired and golden-eyed figure appeared.

Rimuru looked at the body with a frown. He had been following their journey ever since the hospital incident. Originally, he wanted to appear just as Denji was about to be killed by her, but alas love can change a person. He didn't expect that she would actually start developing feelings for Denji and actually not show hostility, despite breaking his neck.

He then opted to observe a little longer, and that is how he appeared now.

(She's still alive, albeit barely. Hmmm, what should I do?)

Suddenly, an idea popped into his head.

...

For the second time today, she woke up from a sleep-induced injury. She thought this was Hell, since all devils end up there, but contrary to her expectations, she was still in the alleyway where she thought she was killed.

She stood up and then saw a figure – but it wasn't Makima but someone, or something, else.

"Did you save me?"

"Yes." He nodded.

"Why?"

At this, he didn't answer but stared at her for a bit, before speaking again.

"That's not important. What is though is what you will do. Will you take revenge on her? Or will you go to chainsaw and run away together? Either way, you will probably be killed."

With no hesitation at all, she replied, "I will take revenge."

"But how?

You stood no chance against her. It was a one-sided beating, not to mention that she had multiple others working for her. It would be simply seeking death."

"Then what do you think I should do?"

At this, a mysterious smile crept across Rimuru's face.

"Make a contract with me."

Reze soon frowned.

"Who are you?"

"I am Rimuru Tempest, and I am here to help you."

"Why?"

"Do you wish to accept the contract or not?"

She didn't pursue the matter and thought for a while.

"How strong are you?"

"Very."

"Can you help me kill Makima?"

"No, I will only aid your task to kill her, I won't personally take action."

"Will this harm me?"

"You just have to find out."

Having one last question, she asked, "okay, what's the condition? I doubt you're doing this because of good will. You're a devil I presume, so what do you want in exchange?"

"Entertainment."

"Entertainment?"

"Yes. The contract won't be a sacrificial-based one. It will be a simple mark. You will have more enhanced abilities, and you can summon me at any time. However, the twist is that you can only summon me when you meet someone strong or there is something interesting to show me. If that isn't satisfied, then I will cause more harm than good, understand?"

She fell silent, then reached out her hand, "I agree."

"Good."

When both shook hands, Reze felt a comfortable feeling in her body, then all her senses seemed to be sharper, but not that much. She also felt a thing in her mind, and strangely enough, she knew how to activate it and that it summons Rimuru.

Waking from her daze, she found herself lonely in the alleyway again, and began to make her way to the café.

...

Medea was chilling in the background, but somehow she ended up having to approach the mentally unstable couple.

She heard from Artoria about them but still, hearing and experiencing are two different things.

She saw that the man was very happy to see the woman, and gave her a bouquet of flowers.

She deduced that something must have happened and separated them, or at least gave circumstances that would've ruined their relationship.

However, as if there was not enough trouble, another mentally unstable woman entered the café.

"Power!" Medea heard the man shout.

"Please be quiet in here."

After shutting him up, she took their orders and left quickly, lest some of their idiocy rubbed on her.

(Why is boss Rimuru still not back yet? Dealing with these people are exhausting.)

Even though she thought about him 'boss', it was more like a family. Maybe she has or hasn't realised it, but she has began treating everyone here more casually and relaxed.

...

As Denji layed unconscious on the floor, the woman appears and applauds.

The team was told to resolve the zombie outbreak issue, but it turned out to be more than they could handle.

After a tough few battles, they still stood no chance, and were defeated. Even Reze, who accompanied them under the disguise of someone else, was easily trampled on, although she couldn't use her explosions since that would expose her.

There was another devil, or helper, called Quanxi who came for Denji's heart, but after realising the dire situation, changed sides and temporarily aided the devil hunter team to sort this mess out.

As Aki and the other hunters awaken from their sleep, Quanxi defeated Yoshida, and throws him out of the window. As he falls, he was able to catch himself with the Octopus devil, one he was contracted with. Inside the building, the hunters prepared to fight again, until Aki suddenly stops, horrified by a glance at what the future showed.

And the vision came true.

Suddenly, from outside, Santa Clause sacrificed the Elderly Man and the three children he was promised to the hell devil, in return to send everyone in the building to Hell.

And as promised, those inside the building were plunged into pitch-black darkness.

If one were to watch this from outside, they would see a giant, bony hand reach down and crush the building.

Those who were inside the building suddenly appeared in a large, grassy field, and when they looked up, they saw the sky completely covered in millions of doors.

...

Meanwhile, Makima suddenly looked towards a direction and frowned. She then disappeared from her office.