"Wait? You already have another contract?"

I trailed my hand against the shimmering tattoo on my abs. I could feel a strange energy coming from it, but before I knew it, it disappeared along with the tattoo that came on my arm from the Moth Queen’s contract.

"Death mentioned something about a contract."

"Wait, you’ve met Death?!" She looked at me with wide eyes and her mouth hanging open.

"Could this be his doing?"

She shook her head.

"I doubt it. Death’s situation is a bit unique. Mainly that he is the only person in the demon army that doesn’t possess a demonic bloodline. It’s most likely that he must’ve gotten another demon to do this contract for him. But who?"

"Never mind that for now. Can you figure out the terms of this contract?" I said.

"No, that’s not how it works. I can’t tamper with another contract created by another demon, even if I just wanted to look at it. Only King Lucifer holds such a power."

"Darling~" Kumo suddenly shouted. She was running towards me after defeating the Mothmen I told her to fight. "You wretched witch, get away from my darling!"

Seeing the giant spider woman rushing towards her with murderous eyes, the Moth Queen panicked and immediately hid behind me. I stepped in front of Kumo and stopped her before she skewered the Moth Queen with her giant spider legs.

"Darling?"

"It’s fine, Kumo, the Moth Queen is on our side now."

"She is? Did my darling manage to tame her?" She asked with sparkling eyes. "Wait, but what about the witches?"

"They won’t be a problem. My agreement with them states that I’ll make sure that the Moth Queen doesn’t pose a problem in Starlit City. If she joins me, then she won’t, and our agreement will be fulfilled."

"Tsk! I don’t like the idea of those witches getting their way," the Moth Queen said, folding her arms.

Now that the Moth Queen was no longer a problem, the only thing I had to worry about was the ambush the witches and the vampires had planned for me. I had originally come up with a countermeasure. One that would’ve required me to sacrifice someone and use one of my trump cards, but that might not be necessary anymore.

"Moth Queen, is it possible to carry the mana crystals in the city with us?" I asked.

"Well, I have some space in my storage space, but if I do that, it’ll be full. Why do you ask?"

"I want to use them as bargaining tools for the witches."

A cunning smile appeared on her face.

"I like the way you think. Okay, I’ll add all the mana crystals here into my storage space."

She seemed more than happy to help since our plan involved hurting the witches. The Moth Queen took to the skies and, using her strange dark magic, she absorbed all the mana crystals and hid them in her storage space.

"Darling, are you sure we can trust her?" Kumo asked the moment we were alone. "Just a few moments ago she wanted to kill us. Besides, she’s not one of us, you haven’t turned her."

Of course I didn’t fully trust her. There were just too many oddities about her, things I couldn’t ignore. I was also certain that she was hiding something. But I didn’t want Kumo to worry about such things.

"I think it’s fine. We can trust her for now."

She nodded along and smiled.

"Okay, darling."

When the Moth Queen was done absorbing all the mana crystals, it was time to contact the witches. I used the ring Eira gave me to summon her. She appeared in front of me just as usual, but the cunning smile on her face completely disappeared when she saw the Moth Queen.

"So you haven’t killed her? What is this?"

"Don’t worry, the Moth Queen will no longer pose a problem in Starlit City just as we promised."

"Can you both stop referring to me as Moth Queen? I have a name you know—it’s Khalissi." The Moth Queen suddenly interrupted.

Meanwhile, the witch’s eyes wandered around the city. Her expression suddenly changed to one of complete shock.

"What happened to the mana crystals?" she turned sharply at me.

I shrugged.

"Our deal didn’t mention anything about mana crystals."

Her eyes turned into a sharp glare.

"So this is how you’re going to play this. You’ve joined up with this demon."

"That’s no concern of yours, is it?"

"You!" Several veins sprouted on her head. It looked as if they were going to explode. "How will I explain this to the queen? If they find out I’ve been outwitted by a wolf, then I’ll be a laughing stock!"

"You won’t have to," I said.

"Huh?" She looked at me confused.

"If you call off the ambush you’re currently planning with the Veylmont clan then I’ll return your mana crystals."

"So you know about that... But I can’t call it off just like that."

"I’m sure you’ll work out something. It’s either that or you’ll lose your mana crystals. Which is more important, getting revenge for a vampire’s death or your own power?"

She said nothing, only stared at me while biting her nails.

"It’s not like you have a choice, witch," Khalissi spoke up. "You guys have coveted mana crystals for centuries. Your supply was running out, but all of a sudden we demons showed up with an abundance of them. You can’t possibly say no."

"Tsk! Fine, you win. I’ll make sure this ambush doesn’t happen. But you better keep to your end of the deal!"

"As long as the ambush is called off, then I’ll make sure you get your mana stones."

The witch snickered something before disintegrating into thin air. The moment she left, Khalissi let out a small chuckle. She seemed to have enjoyed messing with the witch.

"Witches are always such a pain. By the way, I’m curious, if you didn’t have the mana crystals, how would you stop them from ambushing you?"

"I have something else they want. If it came down to it, I would’ve had to make a trade."

"Hmm..." Khalissi looked interested. "Something like what? What do you hold that could bend witches under your will?"

"It’s actually a person. A seer, actually, one that holds my primordial bloodline."