BXBX NOVEL 757 Chapter 757
Marcus eyed the piece of paper the Archdevil had presented him with warily.
While he was fine offering his own soul up as collateral, he did not want to do the same with his companions.
\'Mraz, you are certain he does not have telepathy jack?\' Marcus asked over telepathy.
\'Yeah, I am. It is not on his skill list. Of course, it is possible he has a supreme skill similar to your false status that can change up his information and fool even my dragon eyes even if your unique skill cannot. But I find this unlikely.\' Mrazivý responded.
With this confirmation Marcus felt a bit at ease and began discussing a plan with the rest of them.
\'I believe we should turn him down. I was leaning towards takings the deal if only my soul was at risk, but I do not think it is worth it to put anyone else in danger.\'
Unfortunately, while Marcus had been trying to be considerate by shouldering the burden of making a deal with the Archdevil, it only made everyone else angry.
They were all pretty close at this point and none of them were going to let Marcus take such a risk by himself.
\'Just because you are our leader for this floor do not make all the decisions for us. It is our choice if we are going to sign the deal with this devil.\' Lyra said with a very angry tone in her voice.
\'Yes, how could you even think about doing something like that. I would never allow you to offer up your own soul and especially not stand with you if it was our only choice.\' Mrazivý said while practically glaring at Marcus.
\'Yeah, you cannot offer up your soul. You are my caretaker, and we are linked together. If I lost, you who would give continue to give me delicious food.\' Roxene said with definitively different concerns than everyone else.
One by one the entire group chastised Marcus for his reckless decision to solely offer up his own soul as collateral without asking anyone else\'s opinion.
\'Okay, I will rein myself in. I should have talked it over with everyone first, but I did just want to protect all of you. Let us reject the deal and kill this Archdevil.\'
Yet before Marcus could do anything else, James spoke up.
\'I would be willing to sign my name so long as the contract truly is what this devil has said it is. If we can avoid a fight with such a powerful opponent, we should. So far none of us have died, and I would rather not take any chances if we do not have to.\'
Standing next to him in human form Fallon followed his lead and nodded her head. Agreeing to offer her soul up as collateral as well.
It was shocking to see, and Mrazivý and Lyra who had been opposed entirely could not believe that they were still discussing making a deal.
\'I will also sign. If my liege is willing to barter with their soul I will as well.\' Blitz said, being the next to offer his support.
\'Hm, I kind of want to fight, but I do understand that it is more important we all get out alive. I will sign as well. If it is just monsters and beasts, I can kill a hundred thousand on my own without any problem within five years.\' Quillon said
\'If Marcus is going to sign I will as well. It is times like these where I need to do my duty as a little sister.\' Lilia said with her head held proudly.
Following her both Aurelia and Zareen gave their consent as well. If their master was willing to sign a contract with her soul at risk, so were they.
Inten came next, saying that this was the perfect opportunity to pay Marcus back for sparing his life in the past.
\'If Lilia is willing than so am I. I already promised to support her, and I trust everyone here that we can defeat the required number of beasts and monsters together.\' Alaric said.
With his approval there were now ten of them that were willing to sign the contract with the Archdevil.
Mrazivý, Lyra, Roxene, and Eirwen though vehemently refused.
\'We should think about this more rationally. That thing is obviously evil. Any deal we make with it is going to be unfair, and even if it is fair, we should not allow it into our world. I feel it would be even worse than letting in an equivalently strong demon. There is no telling what sort of damage it could do.\' Mrazivý said. Trying her best to argue the negative points of any deal they could make and try to convince everyone against it.
And it was true that this Archdevil could become quite the danger to Mirrion when he made it there.
Still, when weighing the weight of what might happen to strangers in the future versus risking their lives right now in a fight with a powerful entity the answer was obvious to most of them.
\'I understand where you are coming from Mraz. But we have to think about ourselves right now. After the battle we have been through none of us are at our best and we do not know what kind of tricks this Archdevil has. If even one of us dies here it will be a hollow victory. If the time comes when we need to fight this Archdevil, let it be in the future when we are back to our full strength.\'
Sighing she could see that everyone\'s mind was made up and relented.
\'Fine, but I will sign as well. It will be easier to collect all the souls for it if we work together, and I am not going to let any of us end up bound to this monster if I can help it.\'
Mrazivý finally agreed with the plan to sign the contract, and Eirwen who was only holding back since he was her beast companion joined as well.
Quickly Lyra also agreed. Not wanting to be left out.
In the end the only one that did not consent to signing was Roxene.
\'As touching as this moment of comradery is, I will not be risking my own soul. Even if it is just a one in a million chance, I would never make a deal with a devil.\'
Shrugging his shoulders, Marcus never expected Roxene to offer up her soul.
Now that they had come to a consensus, he turned his attention back to the Archdevil who had been waiting patiently.
"I see that you have finished with your discussion. Have you come to a decision?"
The Archdevil once again held the paper out to Marcus. A wide smile on his face as if he already knew what conclusion they had come to.
"Yes, we will be making a deal with you. All of us are tired, and if we can avoid a fight that would be best for us. But before we sign this, I will look it over carefully. I am sure you understand I need to make sure everything you said is the truth before we possibly sign with our souls at risk."