NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 9
Wait three days… will there still be enough time for that?
Who would’ve thought that the kind and friendly bandaged woman would refuse to help, Leon gritted his teeth in worry over the hospital situation, bowed his head, and tried to plead again:
“If you’re willing to lend a hand, I can…”
“Sorry, it’s not about the price.”
Interrupting Leon, the fully bandaged woman shook her head with a regretful expression:
“The reason I’ve been able to stay safe in the Clearing Bureau for six years is because I never act without certainty.
Though I sympathize with your predicament, I have my reasons for not taking unnecessary risks. I hope you can understand my decision.”
“…”
Understand? Of course, I understand. What else can I do if I don’t understand? Drag you there by force?
After hearing her firm refusal, Leon couldn’t help but release his grip on his palm helplessly.
Although it sounded a bit cold, what she said was actually right. She didn’t have an obligation to take risks for her own sake. But… what about Anna? Right now, I can still choose to go back to the hospital and bring Anna out before that “out-of-control tainted person” causes too much trouble.
But if what the nurse said is true, stopping her medication and taking Anna away now means she’ll likely spend the rest of her life lying in bed, unable even to handle simple household chores like laundry or cooking.
These past years, Anna has already suffered greatly due to her lung disease affecting the family. Given her seemingly gentle and obedient nature but actually stubborn character, if she realizes she’s become a complete burden…
“Kid, you better not welsh on our deal, ya hear?”
As Leon hesitated between two choices, unsure whether to bring Anna out, the black goat he held in his arms twisted its neck uncomfortably and reminded him anxiously:
“We did agree beforehand, didn’t we? I help you find people, and you buy me cigarettes! Now I’ve helped you find her, and if she doesn’t want to help, that’s her problem. You owe me every single cigarette!”
“…”
Oh yeah, there’s still this guy!
Seizing what seemed like a lifeline floating in front of him, Leon’s eyes lit up suddenly. He grabbed the goat’s head with an urgent look on his face:
“What about you? Can you solve this issue? If you can, as long as I’m still working at the Clearing Bureau, I’ll buy you a pack of ‘Gauloises’ every week!”
Tsk… here we go again… Are we getting cocky? Hearing Leon’s offer, a trace of annoyance flickered across the black goat’s face.
Kid! Do you really think I helped you find her just for the cigarettes? I’m a mighty demon! Would I care about a measly pack of cigarettes worth only three silver coins?
Let me tell you something! If it weren’t for that red-haired woman admiring you, not only would a lousy pack of cigarettes not work, even if you knelt down and begged me to take your soul, I wouldn’t bother with you, got it?
“At least three packs!”
“Deal!”
Shit! Too low! Feeling somewhat regretful, the black goat pouted slightly, cursed himself for being pathetic, then sighed as he pushed closer into Leon’s embrace.
Sigh… who can blame me when I enjoy it so much?
And in my current goat-headed form, I don’t even qualify to rob anyone. It might end up where I don’t just fail to get money, but also get myself stewed, leaving me without enough cash to buy even a pack of cigarettes.
Damn it! Just thinking about it makes me upset! That red-haired woman, though not poor, exchanges her entire weekly salary for horse piss as soon as she gets it, not sparing even half a copper coin for me!
Once I smoke a few more cigarettes and gather enough strength to turn things around, I’m going to destroy every tavern in the capital city! And the alcohol perfume factories too! No way you’ll have anything left to drink, you stinking woman!” The black goat fumed silently while gathering his remaining strength. He imprinted a demonic mark on Leon’s chest, granting him the right to “use” him.
“Zzzt”
[First obtained usable anomalous item, “Materialist Soul (Bright Red)” hidden trait activated]
[Materialist Soul (Anomalous – Bright Red – Cannot Upgrade): …]
[Wearing Effect: …]
[Advancement Path: …]
[Hidden Trait: Badge slot +1, Current number of slots: 4, Total number of anomalous items required to unlock next slot: 2]
With a mechanical prompt sound, the virtual panel originally with only three slots rolled slightly, quietly revealing a fourth slot. A blue badge shaped like a goat head was already embedded inside.
[Obtained usage rights for anomalous item “Demon Horn,” successfully activated Bronze Badge “Demon Follower”]
[Demon Follower (Bronze): After completing a dirty and despicable trade and agreeing to perform an extreme evil sacrifice weekly thereafter, you successfully gained the favor of a high-ranking demon]
[Wearing Effect: Increased affinity with abnormal items marked “Corruption.” Slightly reduces the cost of use while significantly enhancing effects]
Without exception, one after another, content within the 69 Book Bar!
[Advancement Path: Complete ten agreed-upon evil sacrifices privately without Olivia, the previous owner of “Demon Horn,” discovering. This badge will automatically advance to the Silver Badge “Friend of Demons.” Current Progress: 1/10]
[Hidden Trait (No need to wear): Your soul has been tainted with a trace of demonic aura, making you more susceptible to attention from certain evil entities]
[Your taint value has increased]
[Current Taint Value: 0.1]
…
“Hiss… Kid… you’re kinda growing on me!”
Lying in Leon’s slightly uncomfortable embrace, feeling the harmonious sensation akin to “like fish to water,” the black goat couldn’t help but lift his head in surprise and comment:
“I thought you were someone with strong morals since you could control yourself and not stab that fatso from the Road Administration Department earlier. I figured we wouldn’t get along.
But seeing how well we sync, you’re clearly not a good person! Not entirely wicked, but definitely not squeaky clean either. You must’ve done plenty of conning and swindling, haven’t you?”
“…”
High compatibility with you is due to the badge’s effect. I’ve been a law-abiding citizen for two lifetimes, alright?
Though his impeccable reputation was unjustly questioned, Leon’s mind remained clear. Naturally, he wouldn’t confess his advantage to a demon.
After holding the chattering goat head for a while, Leon was pleasantly surprised to discover that he seemed to have temporarily gained the ability to peer into souls.
Centered around the goat head he held, within a radius of about two kilometers, thousands of faint “flames” flickered unpredictably.
Hatred, betrayal, mockery, jealousy, rage… countless cold and dark yet flame-like malicious thoughts, like ghostly blue phosphorescence drifting through a graveyard at night, dotted Leon’s vision.
Whenever he focused his attention, he could penetrate through layers of concrete and brick, directly perceiving the burning malice contained within those “flames.”
Leon even had a strange premonition that if he simply reached out with his “hand” and lightly flicked them, these icy flames could instantly surge, burning away all traces of sanity from their hosts, turning their originally pale gray souls pitch-black darker than charcoal!
(End of Chapter)