Chapter 285 - Ryu Min's Proposal
[Proposal? How dare you?]
The one who was enraged by the human proposal was not Plunictos. It was Baal, who was accompanying him under an invisibility cloak. Even though a demon suddenly appeared, Ryu Min was not surprised. He had already detected its presence with his keen sense.
"How dare you propose such a thing to our human lord! You don't even understand the subject!"
"Baal."
Plunictos reprimanded his follower calmly but with an imposing expression.
"Control your excitement. And who said you could remove the invisibility at your discretion?"
"I'm sorry. But that despicable human said inappropriate things..."
"I did not order you to intervene. Nor did I order you to respond."
Baal realized his mistake too late and lowered his head.
"I'm sorry. I will receive my punishment..."
"That's enough. Punishing for this is ridiculous. After all, you didn't say anything incorrect."
Plunictos looked at the small human at his feet with an expression of disbelief and disdain.
"Proposing something to me, a mere human... It's ridiculous the more I think about it. Are you forgetting your position?"
"Who says yes or no?"
"Alright. Tell me. What proposal do you have in mind?"
"I will help you eliminate the angels on your behalf. Especially Michael, I'll cut his throat. After all, you can't intervene directly due to the rules, right?"
"Hmph."
Plunictos scoffed.
"Eliminate the angels? Is that all?"
"Wouldn't that be a good thing? If I kill the angels, especially Michael, wouldn't we have a better chance of winning the war?"
"Even without killing Michael, we can win the war."
"Are you sure? It is said that if Michael delays time, there is a chance. That's why he tried to postpone the war by transferring the power of the Akashic Record."
"That would only delay defeat. Given the number and skill, our demons are clearly at an advantage."
"But if you handed me over as agreed, wouldn't the war be delayed? Moreover, your direct intervention as a Demon Archduke would also be compromised. Wouldn't there then be an opportunity for the Celestials?"
"There is no such opportunity."
"Although you say so, isn't it true that there isn't a 100% chance of winning the war? If it were a sure competition, wouldn't the gods bet on the outcome?"
"......"
"And in a great battle like the war, variables cannot be ignored. Wouldn't it be wise to try to increase our chances if there is any way to do so? If it were me, I would."
"I'm accepting your proposal."
Ryu Min nodded, and Plunictos seemed to be pondering. It was a completely different attitude from a moment ago when he was mocking.
"I hadn't seen it that way, but it seems you have a very clever tongue."
"I'll take your compliment if you offer it."
"If you eliminate Michael and some angels, the balance of the war will definitely tip in our favor. It's a better proposal the more I think about it."
"Is that so?"
"However, can you kill Michael?"
"Do you doubt my abilities? I, who have defeated the six archangels?"
[Putting that aside, it's about whether you can take out Michael. If you are released from the Demon King's Castle, won't they think you're a fool unless you have a plan?]
"What about taking him out or not? If you join the battlefield right now and kill him, that's it."
"Will you kill him now? Not after Round 19?"
It seems he considers it impossible to kill him immediately.
Ryu Min nodded while Plunictos laughed.
"Don't you know the system rules? Or are you a fool? You are currently contracted as a mercenary by the angels' side. You are not supposed to kill each other since you recognize each other as members of the same team. So don't think about asking me for help. Even if I'm not subject to the system rules, unless you're the developer, you can't change the rules..."
"How insolent, human! Don't you know where you are...?"
Baal raged, but Plunictos raised his hand to stop him.
"What are you saying, Black Scythe? That I don't know anything?"
"Don't you need to change the rules. There is an item that can change your side."
"An item to change sides?"
"Have you heard of the Faction Change Ticket?"
Plunictos slightly tilted his head. A reaction indicating that he hadn't.
"I know about special rewards. But, have you never heard of a reward called the Faction Change Ticket?"
A tone of incredulity.
Ryu Min smiled ironically and opened the skills window.
"Alright. How about I try this? [Share skill information]."
After selecting the skill to share, the information window appeared in his mind.
[Temporary Skill - Faction Change Ticket]
-Effect: You can change your side from angel to demon.
When you change sides, demons will be allies, and angels will be perceived as enemies, and both demons and angels will recognize the user as the opposite.
The mission conditions will also change to demon victory.
This is a temporary skill that can only be used in Round 18.
Information that no one else could see was being shared with the demons as if it were being revealed.
"So there was a temporary skill like this..."
"With this, can't you kill the angels, including Michael, without problems?"
"That's right. With this, I can team up to kill the angels."
"So, will you accept my proposal?"
"I haven't heard what you'll get. Isn't it inappropriate to make such a proposal without any benefit?"
"Of course."
Ryu Min, smiling, directly stated what he wanted.
"Release me in exchange for killing Michael. That's the reward I demand."
"You're asking not to be used as a resource?"
"I still have much to do."
Life is valuable even for an insignificant creature.
Plunictos nodded as if it were something easy to do.
"Alright. If it can increase the chances of winning the war, then you can relinquish your soul approximately."
"And there's more."
"More?"
"I would like you to give me a reward for killing the angels. Like strengthening the demonic blessing or providing additional rewards when I kill them. If you consider yourself a god, couldn't you offer something like that?"
Some people might come to talk to the Archduke out of curiosity, but what Ryu Min really wanted was this reward.
To obtain an additional reward from the Archduke.
This was the reason he had come so easily to the Demon King's Castle, even when he had the chance to kill Michael.
He thought he might get an additional reward if he negotiated with the Archduke.
"I'm even grateful for the simple act of saving my life, and now you say there's an additional reward. Ha, you are a great human I've never seen in my life."
"Are you suggesting you can't grant a reward?"
"Of course, I can! In the Demon King's Castle, my power rivals that of the gods. I can't interfere with the system, but I can grant additional rewards to players. However..."
Plunictos, with a majestic expression, looked at Ryu Min.
"There is no reward to give to an insignificant human like you. You should be grateful for being let go alive."
"That's disappointing. If you do things this way, I might not have the pleasure of killing angels and might not fulfill the promise, right?"
"Are you saying you would run away if I release you?"
"It's more than just a lack of enthusiasm. If a master who threatened to make broth out of his hunting dog released it to hunt, would you easily catch it? You would seize the opportunity to escape, right? Even if you catch the prey, there should be some reward, right?"
"Hmm..."
Plunictos seemed to be considering Ryu Min's request.
"Definitely, I will need a reward to motivate you. I will also be able to rest easy and let you go."
Then, as if he had made a decision, he nodded.
"Alright. I will give you an additional reward. But there's a condition."
"A condition?"
"You must kill Michael within this round."
"Don't worry about that. I'll kill him without you telling me."
"And take my subordinate, Baal, with you."
The surprised one was none other than Baal.
"My lord? Why would you send me with a human like him...?"
"To supervise if Black Scythe properly fulfills his mission. Couldn't you escape and break the promise?"
"I won't escape, sir. Please send another demon..."
"I can't trust anyone else. I'm giving you this mission because you are the one in the first place. It's safer for you to go."
"Ah..."
Baal seemed resigned after hearing that they trusted him.
"I will follow your orders."
---------------------
Ryu Min left the Demon King's Castle following Baal. Then, seeing the message that appeared, he exhaled a sigh of relief.
"I've returned to the round place."
"The rank loss has been canceled."
"It's good to have left on time in an hour."
He almost lost all the accumulated effort if he had stayed a little longer in the Demon King's Castle.
"I can't end my life here."
Fortunately, the negotiations with Plunictos had gone well.
As proof of this, Ryu Min had received an additional benefit.
"The 'Archduke's Representative' benefit has been applied."
[As an effect of the benefit, certain stat points will be awarded depending on the opponent when killing an angel.]
[This is a temporary benefit valid until Round 18.]
"I don't know how much my stats will increase, but it's better than nothing."
With this, even with the blessing of a demon, I will be able to obtain more stat points than before.
"Why not try changing sides first?"
Ryu Min used the temporary skill.
[You have used the temporary skill Faction Change.]
[Player 'Black Scythe's affiliation changes from 'Angel' to 'Demon'.]
[From now on, the Angels will consider you an enemy.]
[The mission victory conditions have also changed according to your new affiliation.]
Opening the mission window after reading the message, to his surprise, the main mission had changed.
<Main Mission>
Win the war against the Angels
The mission conditions were now to face the Angels.
"I'm ready. It's perfect."
Everything is prepared. It would be perfect if it weren't for Baal, the supervisor.
"Go to the battlefield immediately and kill the Angels as you promised the Archduke. Especially, you must kill Michael first. I'm not sure if you can kill someone like him, but that's what's expected."
"Do you want to check it now?"
Ryu Min challenged, but Baal was the first among the 72 demon nobles. Although he seemed foolish, he was not someone easy to deal with.
"I have no intention of getting involved in a useless fight. You are a mercenary hired by the lord."
"So, you're just here to see how it all ends?"
"I have no other choice. From Round 20, according to the rules, I cannot participate in the current war. If I join, all of you players will be annihilated."
"Oh, is that so?"
"So, do what was agreed without further delay. If you break the promise and try to flee..."
Baal's eyes glowed with a deadly light.
"Then rest assured, you will not survive."
"Well, I have no intentions of fleeing."
"Just do your job correctly. I will observe you in invisibility mode, human."
After saying that, Ryu Min muttered to himself while Baal disappeared smoothly.
"This guy talks too much."
With that said, Ryu Min spread his wings and soared into the air. Although he couldn't see, he could feel Baal's presence following him.
"Hehe..."
A chuckle escaped Ryu Min's lips suddenly.
"The Archduke must have a reason to put Baal here."
After all, by reading Baal's thoughts, he could understand the Archduke's intentions.