That's called possession!
[ Practice More If You're Bad ] couldn't hold back any longer, and while complaining in the small group, he turned away and chuckled to himself.
According to the official website, the demon Duma does indeed possess many special abilities, one of which is the Demonic Whisper.
Intelligent beings whose minds have been seduced by the Demonic Whisper will willingly agree to offer their bodies to Duma.
Then the fire demon can manipulate the other person's body, use their abilities, and fulfill their final wish (the last point seems to be Duma's personal preference rather than a demonic trait).
But Alfonso, the native of this other world, clearly had no idea how much this "minor side effect" would change his life.
His eyes were filled with undisguised anticipation, while the other Soul Returner exchanged bewildered glances.
Messages kept pouring in the small group:
[ The Retreat Drum Player ]: "No, is Duma going to personally go on stage to practice for him?"
[ Elderly and Children Fly First ]: "Although it sounds like a good thing, I have a feeling that the game difficulty will suddenly drop... Did they change the game planner for ' World of Disorder '?"
[ Practice More If You're Bad ]: "It shouldn't be. I remember Duma was the Soul Returner Legion Commander, which is equivalent to a marshal in the empire. Unless there's a major war, it's unlikely he'd leave the Theocracy for an extended period."
[ Howling Pothos ]: "But... look at Alfonso's expression, he looks like he's about to agree."
Just as Alfonso was about to insist on using this plan, Duma suddenly spoke up again:
"The devil doesn't lie. Actually, there's a second method. Why don't you listen to it first?"
Alfonso paused for a moment, then his heart leaped with joy again, and he looked several years younger (although he was only in his early twenties), as happy as a college student just on vacation.
"Please speak quickly."
"Yes, you know..."
Unexpectedly, Duma scratched his head with one hand, looking somewhat puzzled:
What's the word again?
He pondered for a moment, then uttered a word that left Alfonso utterly bewildered but astonished the Soul Returner:
"It's called 'group buying,' right? Do you know what group buying is?"
Of course we know about group buying!
At this moment, more than one player shouted in their heart:
The real question now is—how did you even know about group buying?
Seeing Alfonso's puzzled expression, Duma explained:
"That's right. If two people summon a demon, and their purposes are similar or overlap, then the demon can be much more effective in helping them fulfill their wishes."
"Based on your description, there is another human whose wish highly overlaps with yours, so if you don't mind, you can choose to 'share' with that human."
"I know this isn't very ethical, but... but it'll be much cheaper, which is actually a pretty good option for someone like you who can't afford the price."
"If you agree, perhaps I won't need your entire soul; taking only half your lifespan might suffice..."
So what do you think?
Alfonso was stunned upon hearing this, his mouth agape in disbelief.
"I understand... no, I don't think I understand..."
"I mean, uh, I mean... weren't you summoned by me?"
"Yes."
"Then, shouldn't you only serve me?"
"No."
Duma shook his head in denial:
"I think you should first understand the relationship between summoning and maintenance."
He explained earnestly:
"What requires a one-time cost is 'summoning,' while what requires a continuous cost is 'maintenance.'"
You merely summoned me, not bound me to this place.
Duma paused, then suddenly grinned and sneered:
"Foolish human, it seems you still overestimate yourself."
"It's just some charcoal and a few drops of blood. Do you really think your meager Psionic Energy is keeping me alive?"
"I'm here because I think there's business to be done. In fact, if I needed you to sustain my current state, you would have been drained of your Psionic Energy and turned into a dried-up corpse long ago. That would be no more difficult for me than breathing."
Seeing Alfonso's stunned expression, Duma's face revealed a wicked amusement. Then, this demon, who had lived for over a thousand years, easily unleashed the highest level of " Demonic Whisper."
Low Tier demons use crude language, Middle Tier demons use abrupt transitions, but High Tier demons, especially demons like Duma, use " Demonic Whisper " as skillfully as an old lady returning home, with an effect like a gentle, pervasive rain.
Almost instantly, countless seductive and enticing voices rang in Alfonso's ears:
"There are very few demons left in this world, but there are plenty of fools like you who want their wishes fulfilled."
If you don't make a wish, plenty of others will.
This is called a seller's market.
So why do you think that only you can summon me?
"In fact, there are still nineteen places in the world calling to me right now. I'm only responding to you because I feel you're somewhat qualified to pay the price for making a wish."
Seeing Alfonso speechless, Duma glanced at the non-existent watch on her wrist, her Whisper still echoing in the Viscount's ears:
"Just a reminder, you have five and a half minutes left to make your wish. If you don't make your wish within the time limit, this summoning will be canceled, and you will still need to expend the summoning Psionic Energy."
"At the same time, I will put you on a special watch list and label you as indecisive."
"Next time you want to summon me, you'll need a larger magic circle, a longer true name, and more blood. Making a wish will also require paying a greater price."
"If you stand me up twice in a row, I will permanently blacklist you and your family lineage."
"From this day forward, no matter how perfect you and your descendants make the ceremony, I will not give it a second glance."
"So, foolish humans, stop dreaming of keeping your desires to yourself. Do you really think there are still many demons left in this world after the Demonic Tide?"
"If it were a hundred years ago, I wouldn't have done this kind of business, but the environment is what it is, and we always have to adapt."
"Even I, High Tier fire demon, have made changes. Why don't you, a foolish human, quickly recognize reality?"
"Either give up everything, lose all your past and future, and I promise to make the identity of ' Alfonso Lange ' the person you want to be, but you will never see it happen."
"Either you obediently accept the fate of 'group buying' and share this wish with others, and your wish can still be fulfilled, and you can witness it with your own eyes."
"Foolish human, you have two minutes and thirty seconds left."
After saying this, Duma shut up and began to wait, displaying an air of complete ease.