Chapter 5 The Seventh Prince

After my encounter with the shadow monster, I was supposed to head back home and treat my wounds. But I guess that my empathic power reacted to my needs and led me to the closest demon with the ability to heal.

But of course, I needed to go through a lot of demons since they seemed to be in a pack. I managed to target the demon with the healing ability first, using my shadow weaving to heal myself before I took care of the rest. Among the pack of demons, I managed to acquire a keen eye and brute strength from them.

Since I am satisfied with my talent haul, I decided that it is time for me to head back and go to sleep. At least, that’s the plan, but when I finally managed to reach my room using my shadow weaving, I sense another presence in the area.

I went to grab my knife when I realized that it was already broken down and no longer useable. 

As I figured, I need a proper demon-slaying weapon made of sturdy material if I am to hunt every night.

But I will have to worry about that some other time because right now I have to focus on the intruder in my room.

The light was off, so I am blindly relying on the light coming through my window for some visuals. There is a man at the far side of the room, leaning against the wall right beside my door. Something about the way that he walks seems so familiar when he starts to head over to me.

I ball my fist as I prepare myself for hand-to-hand combat, but I know that my body is already at its limit from all of the fighting I did. If I survive this time, I am sure that I am going to be sore all over my body the next day.

Not soon after the man steps into the silver light from the moon coming through my window did I recognize him. More like, it's the smiling mask that he’s wearing to hide his face that gives it away. The hairs at the back of my neck stood as I began to panic a bit.

The seventh prince.

“Well, now. No need to be so uptight. It’s just me.” That voice. Even though I only heard it once in my other life, it sent shivers down my spine. I feel like I’m losing strength in my legs. One of the things that I immediately thought of was to turn back and use the shadows to escape. But that would only put my family in danger. I don’t even know if they are aware that one of the seven princes of hell is in our home.

I was brought back to the present when the prince slammed his hands at the walls on either side of me to lock me in place. “That’s just rude. Is this how you’re going to repay me after I helped you? I am deeply offended by your actions.” He gently lifts up a hand and glides a finger over my hair to play at the strand that came loose from my ponytail.

“What do you want? Are you here to claim your price for the deal?” I’m shaking, which is why I was surprised when my voice did not falter when responded to him.

“Zarah, that’s rude. You didn’t even call me by my name. Or don’t tell me that you forgot about me? Shame.” I stiffen when he buried his masked face over my neck. The cold material of his mask makes me want to push him away, but I no longer have much strength in my body. “And here I was, thinking that you’d miss me. I want to cry.”

I rummage through my memories as I try to recall this demon’s name. I know that he mentioned it before while we were making our deal. 

“I’ll count up to three. If you can’t remember my name, then the deal is off and I will murder your entire family. One.”

Calm down, Zarah, and try to think carefully. I know that it’s a difficult name, but try to remember!

“Two.”

“Verogphegor!”

The seventh prince lightly chuckled as he withdrew his face from my neck. His mask face looks ominous under this light, and I froze when he inched his face closer to me. “That’s a good girl. Do try to remember that. It might save your life one day.” He brushes his thumb over my lips when he moves a step back to give me some space.

I suck in a breath before looking at him. “What do you want…Verphegor?” I added his name when I noticed the menacing tilt of his head to the side when I did not address him properly.

“I’m simply here to discuss the terms of our agreement, baby bug.” He pauses as an idea strikes him. “By the way, can I call you by that name? I think that it suits you wonderfully.” He clasps his hands together dreamily.

“The terms. What are they?”

Verphegor sighs and crosses his arms in disappointment. “I knew you were an uptight person, but I never knew that it is up to this extent.” He shakes his head. “Well, since we are at it, my terms is that you keep me entertained as much as possible.”

I have to take a few seconds to process his words before I ask, “Pardon?”

“Don’t die on me. Your goal is to kill the princes as brutally as possible, because I will be watching. Easy, right? Especially since I allowed you to keep your old memories from your previous life. I mean, look at you!” He gestures for me like a proud parent with both hands. “You manage to siphon five talents from demons in one night! Especially that shadow weaving. Man, I am jealous right now.”

“I don’t understand,” It’s my turn to shake my head. “You want me to murder your brothers? Wouldn’t that…basically prevent your main goal of destroying humankind?” I watch the seventh prince carefully. Even though I can’t see his face, I am hoping more for the fact that I might be able to read something in his body language.

“Destroying humankind? That sounds nice but boring. I rather have you entertain me by killing my brother, then get strong enough so you can fight me instead. I mean, you died after fighting the sixth prince. I didn’t even get to have my turn. What a bummer.” By the way that he crosses his arms, I can only assume that he’s pouting.

“If you want to fight with me so much, then why not just fight with me now?”

“Too weak.” He waves his hand at me dismissively, which I take as an offense, but I already know that it is true. “I rather fight you when you are at your full potential.”

“If you wait that long, you know that there is a chance that I might be able to kill you, right?”

“A chance.” He shivers perversely and hugs himself. “It’s a possibility that even I don’t know of. Doesn’t that make things more exciting!?” I can’t tell, but I am guessing that he’s looking right at me through his mask right now.

“S-Sure…” All the princes of hell have strange behaviors, but I think that I can safely say that Verphegor is the weirdest one among them. “Is that all of your condition? To get stronger, entertain you, and fight you?” I counted the conditions with my fingers. Three conditions that I don’t have to pay just yet. It’s like an interest pay of some sort.

Verophegor nods and silently claps his hands. “Yes, yes. Very good, baby doll. I knew you were smart. And there’s also one more.”

“More conditions?”

Argorius laughs. “Nah. It’s more of like an assist.” The seventh prince closes the gap between us again and lowers his head to whisper in my ears. “Call my name whenever you need my help. You only have three usage of my service.” He then draws back after that.

“Help? What kind of help, exactly?” I raise my brow at him suspiciously. “Is there a price for every assistance?”

“Darling, it’s in the package!” Argorius sounds like a businessman when he says it before fixing his look at me with that creepy mask again. “And as for the favor, it can be anything except for wishing to kill me of course.” The slight movement of his head made me realize that he was eyeing my body, which suddenly made me conscious cover myself with my arms.

“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think I’ll be able to use those favors.” I hope he leaves soon because this guy is starting to creep me out.

The demon laughs at me amusedly. “Oh, confident, aren’t we? We’ll see about that. Sweet dreams, baby doll. I’ll see you next time. Or maybe soon if you think of dreaming of me.” And then he’s gone. He simply turns himself into smoke and disappears into the shadows of the night. “Oh, and enjoy my little gift! Consider it as a token of my love!”

I crumpled to the ground when his presence disappeared. I cannot express the deep relief that I have when nothing happened during the visit of the seventh prince.

Although it doesn’t seem like he intends to harm me, I still cannot shake the fear and vulnerability that I had when he was here. As I thought, I need a weapon to protect myself. And the only way to get one is to either buy one myself or get sponsorship from my parents for becoming a huntress.

While I was in a deep dilemma of where I am going to get a weapon, the blunt and broken knife in my pocket began to shiver. Curiously, I got it out and noticed a green aura emanating from it.

“What the hell?” I was lucky enough not to point the blade in my direction while I studied it because it suddenly enlarged and sharpens itself into a short sword. The material of the blade was something that I have seen before, but never at the hands of a hunter.

A demon metal. It’s forged using the fires from hell and the bones from a demon to make it sturdy.

But why do I have this? I can only think of one answer: The seventh Prince.

Is this the gift that he told me about before he disappeared?

Well, it doesn’t matter. At least I now what a proper weapon to use when I hunt at night. The only problem is, where do I hide this?