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

Just as you only know it was spring after the flowers have fallen.

I only realized how good it was to live in Korea after landing in this fucked-up world.

Public safety has gone to the dogs. A world where even food is poisoned. A world where even something as common as water is hard to come by.

I just installed a mod pack because I was tired of the regular game. I never imagined something like this would happen. Truly, not even in my dreams.

Shhhhhhh—

Rain pours down. It falls like mad, as if trying to submerge the world in water.

“Did the sky spring a leak or something? Why is it coming down this hard?”

One of the mercenaries riding in the carriage muttered while looking outside. Since they were using a road in the forest, the sky wasn’t visible.

“…This isn’t the work of a devil, is it?”

One mercenary mumbled. Everyone flinched at those words. Though no one showed it openly, they all knew something was strange.

“Don’t say unlucky things. What reason would a devil have to be in a place like this?”

“Don’t you know devils are everywhere and nowhere? When have those bastards ever been where you’d expect them? Besides, we’re headed to the Labyrinth City. So there’s definitely a possibility…”

“Both of you shut up. Haven’t you heard the rumor that talking about devils makes them come looking for you?”

A large-bodied mercenary scolded those around him. With the scar on his face and sturdy physique, even this man who looked like he’d lived a harsh life feared devils.

“Wasn’t it that bastard who summoned the devil?”

After a brief silence, one mercenary spoke while glancing at me.

“…I felt ominous about him from the start. Black hair? How could such a color even exist in this world?”

“What about killing him right here? With all this rain, the bloodstains would wash away.”

“Stay put. We’ll arrive in just one more day. Don’t cause trouble until then. We’ll only get our pay docked if we do.”

“Tsk. Lucky bastard. I don’t even know how he got on this carriage.”

The mercenaries whispered to each other, but their voices were so loud I could hear everything. Why even bother whispering if they’re going to be that loud?

I frowned and pulled my robe down further. I burrowed deeper between the luggage in the carriage.

This is why I hated showing my face to others. Eight times out of ten, they react like this. It’s bad enough being dragged into a game, but to be treated this way too.

‘It’s not exactly wrong though.’

I looked at the status window visible before my eyes.

『Name: Romon』
『Level: 3』
『Job: Devil Contractor』

A simple status window consisting of only three items. Though levels existed, I couldn’t assign ability points, and there were no skills.

Was it because conditions weren’t met? Or was the status window originally like this? I didn’t know. I might never know for the rest of my life.

The most frustrating part was the job title. I hadn’t even managed to contract with a devil, yet I was a “Devil Contractor.” Where did this nonsense come from?

Shhhhhhh—!

The mercenaries jumped when rainwater hit the carriage wall. I squinted my eyes and looked outside. I felt a warm presence.

Prrrrr—

A sudden neighing sound. Despite the pouring rain, the sound of a horse? Everyone froze at the ominous sign.

“F-fuck. What was that sound?”

“Shut up, you idiot…! Just stay… quiet…”

They held their breath and looked back and forth. Soon, something blue appeared in the distance through the mist.

“W-what is that?”

“I said shut up, you idiot…!”

『Rain Devil, Safar』

A window appeared when I made eye contact with the devil. Though there was no detailed explanation, at least I could tell what kind of being it was.

『This devil cannot be contracted with.』

I sighed deeply at the notification that a contract was impossible.

It had already been a year since I came to this world. Including Safar, I had encountered devils three times, but all of them were impossible to contract with. If this was going to be the case, I didn’t understand why my job was Devil Contractor.

“Contract my ass…”

I muttered while waving my hand where the mercenaries couldn’t see. Though it took the form of a beast, it was a devil, so it would understand what I meant.

Prrrrr—

The devil that brought the rain stared at me briefly before turning away.

Splash splash—

Instead of hoofbeats, the sound of rough steps in the mud gradually faded away. Everyone sighed in relief as the rain slowly lessened. I was no different.

Fortunately, this one understood. The second devil I met had ignored me and massacred an entire village.

“Tsk. This is all because of that Teufel bastard. That damn guy is why the devil came.”

Teufel. Though it meant devil contractors, they used this term for anyone with black hair. A kind of racial discrimination, you could say.

The discrimination stemmed from some crazy black-haired person who once tried to summon an arch-devil and nearly turned the world into a demonic realm.

Having to endure such humiliation because of someone else’s actions was irritating, but I couldn’t say it was unfair. I was indeed a devil contractor.

“Hey.”

Someone kicked my leg. Looking up, I saw the mercenary who had been badmouthing me.

“…What, ahem, is it?”

I answered while slowly drawing the dagger at my waist.

“Get off the carriage. I can’t stand being with someone as ominous as you. Makes me uneasy.”

“For someone who feels that way, you’re quite bold with me. If you really thought I was a devil contractor, you wouldn’t be able to pick a fight like this. For all your tough looks, you’re quite the coward.”

“Hehe…”

“He is pretty cowardly. When the devil appeared earlier, I thought he might wet himself.”

The surrounding mercenaries snickered. The face of the man who confronted me turned bright red.

“You fucking bastard!”

The moment he tried to draw his sword, I stood up, grabbed his waist with both arms, and shoved him.

Thud!

The mercenary fell backward with his hand still on his sword. I immediately sat on his upper waist and held my dagger to his throat.

“Move and I’ll stab you.”

“F-fuck. Do you have the guts? You fucking bastard! Don’t make empty threats!”

Instead of answering, I lightly drew the dagger across his throat. Blood stained the blade.

“Uhhh…”

“Still think I’m joking?”

The mercenary couldn’t say more. He just trembled and gasped for breath.

“That’s enough.”

The large mercenary with the facial scar stopped me. Since I didn’t actually intend to kill him, I slowly got up.

“Next time, choose your opponent more carefully.”

After saying that and backing away, the mercenary also got up awkwardly and returned to his seat. Judging by the slight smell of urine, he had wet himself a little.

“Ugh… what’s that smell?”

“Ugh… fuck.”

The surrounding mercenaries distanced themselves slightly from him. His face flushed, he moved further into a corner. There wouldn’t be any more trouble now.

It had already been a year since I came to this world.

During that time, I had experienced all kinds of discrimination, and to survive, I had no choice but to become tough like this. Black hair wasn’t welcome anywhere.

I hugged my knees with both arms and buried my head. Having met a devil after so long, I felt a bit tired.

‘Things should be better in the city…’

Clop clop clop—

I walked down the main road with a blank expression. Yesterday I had no choice but to ride in the carriage because of the heavy rain, but today there was no such mercy.

“What are you going to do with the money when we get to the city?”

“I’m heading straight to the brothel. I haven’t had sex for weeks, and my groin is itching like crazy.”

“City whores are expensive, so you won’t be able to afford a good one. Why not come with me to the gambling den? If we win some money there, we could afford high-class prostitutes.”

“…That does sound tempting. Hmm. Should we go?”

The mercenaries chatted about various things as they walked. All their talk was about money, alcohol, prostitutes, and gambling, but the atmosphere was quite lively.

Normally they shouldn’t be this relaxed, but the security near the city was perfect, so there wasn’t much need for vigilance.

“By the way, what’s that guy going to do? I doubt brothels would accept him with that black hair. Gambling dens kick out black-haired people too.”

“Maybe he’s buying materials to contract with a devil? You know, they say you need sacrifices to summon devils.”

I flinched at the mercenary’s words. They must not have been watching me closely, as there was no further reaction.

‘I really thought I was caught.’

That mercenary must have said it without much thought, but my goal really was to contract with a devil. The Labyrinth City Falcion was overflowing with rare materials after all.

My plan was simple.

Go to the city. Buy the materials. Contract with a devil. Then use that power to descend into the labyrinth.

I didn’t know what lay at the end of the labyrinth. I had played the game many times but never cleared it.

‘But I have a chance.’

During the game, I had fought devil contractors several times, and each time they wielded surprisingly powerful abilities. If I could use that power, reaching the end shouldn’t be impossible.

What worried me was the price. Devils demand something in return for their power, and that varies depending on the devil.

‘Please. I hope it’s a kind devil…’

Even I knew this made no sense, but at this point, meeting a good devil was my only option. My fate would be determined by the luck of the draw.

“Oh, finally it’s visible.”

“Every time I come here, I think the same thing – they really built a magnificent city. It’s spectacular. Spectacular. My heart flutters every time I see it.”

“Your heart isn’t fluttering because it’s spectacular. Isn’t it because you’re thinking about the brothel?”

“Hahaha. That’s true too.”

The mercenaries’ conversation snapped me out of my thoughts. Looking up, I saw the massive city in the distance.

‘It is impressive.’

Seeing in person the city I had only seen on screen was… stirring many emotions.

The sense of achievement in finally reaching it. The weariness of knowing this was just the beginning. The excitement and anxiety that I might finally be able to contract with a devil.

‘I will definitely escape this damn game.’

Definitely.