"Gibberish, ignoring all your chatter... (a few indistinct words)"
What is this guy saying?
Alfonso naturally didn't understand the devil's language; in fact, even Duma himself didn't understand it, because he had just spoken offhand.
At this point, [ Practice More If You're Bad ], who was very cooperative, also understood what was going on. After all, the " Little Green Translator," who was online the whole time, didn't say a word, so there was no room for translation in what Duma said.
He quickly bowed to Duma, then ignored her and mumbled a few more words. The demon nodded and looked at Alfonso again.
This time, he spoke in standard Imperial English:
"Was it you who summoned me?"
Having confirmed with absolute certainty that the being before him was a High Tier demon, Alfonso was now somewhat paralyzed with fear.
Unlike most people, Alfonso rarely trembled when he was terrified; instead, he would stiffen.
At this moment, he looked like a drug addict whose nerve control had been disrupted by an overdose, staring blankly at the demon before him, and after a long while, he finally uttered a single word:
"It is... it is me, no, it is I who am summoning you."
"Very good."
Duma crossed one hand in front of her chest and spread the other hand out to the sides:
Tell me your wish, and I will give you my offer.
"If you can accept this, then I will grant your wish."
Is it really that simple?
Alfonso paused for a moment, but then realized that it didn't seem much different from what was recorded in the legends.
Whether they are demons or devils, these kinds of creatures seem to readily agree to the summoner's requests, but they always secretly sabotage the process, causing some incalculable losses.
Alfonso was unaware of the Holy Grail and the Wishing Willow; otherwise, he would have certainly associated them with the fire demon before him.
Duma then added a reminder:
"You only get one chance. I suggest you first figure out what you really want, and then tell me."
Alfonso; in fact, he had been thinking about this issue ever since he confirmed his ability to summon demons.
What exactly does he want?
If we understand it superficially, then all he wants is his father's and family's recognition.
As the second son of the Lang Family, he was destined to be excluded from certain things from birth.
But upon closer examination of his inner thoughts and the past twenty-odd years, Alfonso was astonished to discover that his desires were not so superficial.
Because his father, family members, and even his older brother who was two years older than him, seemed to have never rejected him from the very beginning.
Everyone knows he is exceptionally capable and has a very strong personality, but as that saying from another world goes:
Everyone understands the logic, but the inheritance right belongs to your brother.
Looking across the entire empire, which major family doesn't inherit its power in this way?
Oh, it seems there is indeed one large family that isn't like that—the largest family in the empire.
But so what?
Not everyone is His Majesty the Emperor, who likes to treat his brothers like a game of cat and mouse.
So what else does he need to prove?
Alfonso conflicted and somewhat confused.
He suddenly realized that even if he were to transmigrate into his father's body, he would make the same choice as his father. Even if he became the head of the family, he would still follow the same path as his father.
Therefore, what I really want to change is not the inheritance itself.
So...
He quickly began to think about another problem—
Since his father already approved of him and knew about his resentment, why did he still bring him to this battlefield?
The idea that he was looking for an opportunity to murder his own child seemed absurd to Alfonso.
After much deliberation, he finally reached an unexpected conclusion—
The reason his father brought him to this battlefield was exactly the same as the reason he wanted to go to the battlefield: to make him achieve merit so that he could receive a larger share of the family fortune.
Thinking about this, Alfonso could hardly believe his brain, but he suddenly felt that everything should be this way.
So what do I really want?
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is presented to you; what wish should you make?
After a long period of contemplation, he looked at the fire demon that stood motionless, like a stone statue:
"I've made up my mind."
"Go ahead and say it."
The demon responded calmly, its four eyes simultaneously locking onto Alfonso.
"I want to establish a monumental achievement in this war between the Starlight Empire and the Skeleton Alliance, a feat so great it will shake the ages, so that future generations will always remember my name when they speak of the Empire!"
The young viscount met the devil's gaze and spoke slowly and deliberately, with unprecedented seriousness.
"This is a very big wish."
Duma listened patiently to Alfonso's words like a holy grail, and thoughtfully replied:
I can help you fulfill this wish, but what will you give in return?
"Don't try to find loopholes or play any tricks. If you try to deceive the devil, you'll only end up hurting yourself."
Alfonso replied almost without hesitation upon hearing this:
"Everything that belongs to me, you can take away. I can sign a contract with you, so that my soul will never be freed after death and will serve you forever, just like the demon and his servant in legends!"
"That is indeed a very firm resolve."
Duma commented:
"Even including your meager possessions and your ridiculously weak soul, it still seems far from enough."
So the devil means... no?
From initial excitement to midway through surprise, and now to his dejection, Alfonso finally realized just how cheap his viscount status was in the eyes of the powerful superiors.
At that moment, he felt a deep sorrow for himself, sorrow that he didn't even have any value to be used.
So what price did those who successfully made deals with the devil or the demon pay?
Conversely, given their immense wealth, why would they need the devil to grant their wishes?
Just as Alfonso was at a loss, the devil suddenly changed his tone, like the first ray of sunshine after a sudden rainstorm:
However, it's not entirely without a solution.
"What?"
Alfonso looked up in utter shock, disregarding any notions of High Tier or Middle Tier, or hierarchy:
"Is there another way?"
"That's right. The first method is that I will bestow upon you High Tier strength and a vast amount of mysterious knowledge, making you an all-rounder in the fields of war and politics. In the entire empire, no more than three people can compare with you in terms of vision, strength, and skill."
Hearing the devil's Whisper, Alfonso's breathing began to quicken:
"So, what is the price?"
The demon looked at the young man and said with a half-smile:
"Losing a few insignificant memories."