Ruling the World With My Rebellious Demon Girls

Chapter 2

Vyrella was already reaching for her sword again when Marcus heard it scraping against the ground. The sound snapped him out of the strange notification before he could even understand what it meant.

Three Demon Lords! If this woman was only one demon, and she was already this determined to kill him, how the hell was he supposed to survive the others?

Right now, his only chance was to get her on his side. She was Level 18, while his status showed Level 1. He had no idea what either number meant in a fight, except that she could move faster than he could follow. He couldn't afford to make another enemy out of someone this powerful.

"I can prove to you that I don't know what you're talking about," Marcus said, struggling to his feet.

Vyrella stared at him. "Is that what you wanted to tell me?"

Before Marcus could explain, she swung her sword again. The blade caught his arm, sending him stumbling backward with a cry of pain.

"What if I help you remove that chain?" Marcus asked desperately, holding his bleeding arm. "The one binding us together."

Vyrella stopped, but her expression showed that she wasn't convinced.

"You must think I'm a fool, Lucien. How many times have you made me believe that lie?"

"Just give me seven days," Marcus said. He had absolutely no idea how he was going to remove the damn thing, but only a living man could worry about what would happen tomorrow.

She laughed in his face. "Why should I trust someone who has betrayed me before? This time, either you prove yourself or I end this right here. I don't care what happens to me anymore."

"Then let me prove it."

And his fucking voice still sounded confident!

Marcus couldn't wait to find out what kind of bastard Lucien Veyr had been. Even when begging for his life, the body made him sound like he was giving orders. Still, he had to admit that the voice was giving him some confidence he didn't even know he had.

"Tell me the exact words of our contract," Vyrella demanded.

Marcus froze.

Fuck!

He didn't know anything about a contract! He tried calling up the status screen, hoping it would show him something useful, but nothing happened.

Vyrella watched him with a cold smile. She had known Lucien long enough to know that he never cared about the promises he made. If he had cared about their agreement, he wouldn't have tried selling her to House Vareth in the first place.

"Well?" she demanded.

Marcus spread his legs slightly and folded his aching arms. Back on Earth, he had worked as a salesman, and handling angry customers was something he knew how to do. But none of those customers had ever threatened to cut off his head.

"I messed up, and that's on me," he began.

Vyrella's eyes narrowed.

"But I don't think repeating the same words will change anything. You've heard enough promises from me already." He continued.

"Because you're a liar."

"Then don't believe me."

Her expression changed slightly.

Marcus swallowed. He had no idea whether that was the right thing to say, but he continued.

"The contract was supposed to bind us together, wasn't it? And whatever I did to you went against that agreement. Now you want your freedom, but the same chain that's keeping you here won't even let you kill me."

Vyrella said nothing.

That was something.

He had guessed correctly, or at least he hadn't said anything stupid enough to make her swing again.

"Here's the thing," Marcus continued. "I'm not asking you to forgive me. I'm asking you to give me seven days to fix what I did."

"You're avoiding my question."

"Because telling you what you already know won't break that chain."

Vyrella tightened her grip on her sword. Marcus could see that he was pushing his luck, but stopping now wouldn't help him either.

He took a cautious step closer.

"Seven days. If I don't find a way to break this fucking contract, you can do whatever you want to me. Torture me, make me suffer, anything. I won't stop you."

Vyrella frowned.

This was strange.

The Lucien she knew was a selfish bastard who would rather watch someone die than admit he had done anything wrong. He had never taken responsibility for anything, especially when it involved her.

And now he was offering to let her punish him?

Something wasn't right.

Perhaps he was planning another trick. But she also knew something he didn't. Their contract couldn't be destroyed through ordinary means, and even his death wouldn't free her. It would only leave her waiting for Lucien to return again. She had seen him come back after death before, though she had never understood exactly how it worked.

If he wanted seven days to attempt the impossible, why should she stop him?

A cruel smile slowly appeared on her face.

"Seven days," she said. "And when you fail, I'll make sure you regret ever making that promise."

Marcus nodded immediately.

Thank God!

He stepped back, trying not to show how relieved he was.

Vyrella sheathed her sword and turned away. She had no intention of helping him. If he somehow succeeded, she would finally be free. If he failed, she would make good use of the permission he had just given her.

Either way, she had nothing to lose.

Marcus watched her leave before looking down at his injured arm.

Something was wrong.

The bleeding had stopped. The pain had not.

He pulled back his sleeve and stared. The wound that had been there only moments ago was gone, leaving behind a thin scar. He checked his shoulder and found the same thing.

What the fuck?

He had healed already? Or had the wounds only closed? His shoulder still throbbed when he moved it.

Was this some kind of ability that came with his new body?

He tried calling up the status screen again. This time, it appeared, but when he attempted to open the contract record, the only thing he received was a warning.

[CONTRACT ACCESS RESTRICTED]

[ORIGINAL TERMS UNAVAILABLE]

Marcus stared at the message.

You've got to be kidding me.

He tried again, but nothing changed.

So he had just promised a dangerous demon that he would break a contract he couldn't even read.

Wonderful.

He rubbed his forehead. The chain still recognized Lucien, even though Marcus was the one inside his body now. He had no idea whether it was bound to the body, the soul, or something else entirely.

But if the contract had survived death itself, how was he supposed to break it in seven days?

Marcus began to suspect that the woman had agreed because she already knew he would fail.

That crazy woman set me up!

He was still thinking about this when he heard heavy footsteps approaching.

Marcus turned.

Vyrella was coming back.

He immediately straightened.

What now? Has she changed her mind?

But something was different. She wasn't looking at him. Her attention was fixed on the chain around her wrist, which was glowing with a faint red light.

A few moments earlier, while walking away, Vyrella had felt the chain move. At first, she thought Lucien was trying something again. But the markings had begun flashing one after another, sending a signal through the contract.

Someone had detected the damaged chain.

And judging by how quickly the signal was growing stronger, that person was already coming toward them.

Vyrella knew she couldn't simply ignore it. If someone killed Lucien before he fulfilled his promise, she might have to wait for another of his strange returns before she had any chance of freedom.

She had already waited through one death. She wasn't interested in waiting through another.

Besides, whoever was approaching had no reason to come looking for Lucien with good intentions.

Marcus noticed her expression and raised an eyebrow.

"What's that?"

Vyrella looked up at him. "Someone knows you're alive."

Marcus felt his stomach tighten. "Who?"

She glanced toward the entrance.

"The people you tried to sell me to."

Before Marcus could ask another question, the chain flashed again.

This time, Vyrella drew her sword.

"They're coming for you, Lucien."