Chapter 71

"Wh-What the hell!? Why can you cut with a magic wand!?"

"I told you, a true swordsman doesn't choose their weapon."

"But a wand? A wand is for hitting, right!?"

"By the way, you can also cut with your hands and feet."

"Then why do you even need the wand!?"

Indeed, when you think about it, that's true.

There is a slight advantage in having a longer attack range, but for me, it's negligible.

"Didn't you say you're a magician!?"

"That's right. But I'm also a swordsman."

"I see... You're a Magic Swordsman, huh!"

"No, just an Unemployed person."

"Huh?"

...Hmm.

Still, this demon, even though his torso was split in two, is talking normally?

But then,

"Hahaha! You surprised me a bit, but what a disappointment! I won't die just from being cut!"

When I realized it, the demon was standing there unharmed as if nothing had happened, letting out an unpleasant laugh.

"Is it a similar power to a blessing? Like that skeleton clerk?"

Anyway, I decided to try cutting him again.

This time, I aimed for his abdomen.

The upper and lower body should separate...

"Ah! Hahaha! As you can see, no damage at all! Stop doing useless things—"

Then, I tried splitting his head in two.

"Wha—"

I tried beheading him.

"Enough—"

I tried cutting off both his arms and legs.

"Stop—"

I tried chopping him into pieces.

"Hmm. Demons seem to have quite peculiar properties."

In front of me stood the demon, still unharmed.

But he had clearly shrunk.

Initially, he was taller than me, but now he didn't even reach my waist.

The more I cut his body, the smaller he gradually became.

It seems that when he takes damage, his body shrinks.

"Ah! Stop it, please!"

All the bravado from before was gone, and the demon let out a tragic cry as he tried to escape.

Of course, I had no intention of letting him go.

I caught up to the demon, who was flailing his short limbs, and easily overtook him.

Turning around to block his path,

"Ahh!? N-no, just kidding! I apologize! Please forgive me! No, please forgive me!"

This time, he pleaded for his life desperately.

His voice had become childlike, and combined with his appearance, it felt like I was bullying a child.

"Please... please..."

With teary eyes, the demon pleaded, and I thrust my sword into his face.

"Ugh!?"

It cleanly pierced his head, and the demon's body shrank even further.

"No way!? How can you attack this form of mine normally!?"

"Even if you shrink, you're still a demon."

He had declared that he would make me a sacrifice.

I had no intention of showing mercy.

Besides, he was being overly cunning, probably trying to lull me into a false sense of security before making a last-ditch effort.

"Since we're at it, let's see how small you can get."

"Ah! I'll disappear!"

It seems that he would lose the ability to maintain his existence and vanish—more like disappear.

"Damn, I can't maintain the barrier anymore!"

The strange sensation that had enveloped his body disappeared.

He had no choice but to dissolve the barrier that had sealed my magic.

Now, the demon was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand.

About the size of a fairy.

"Ugh... I'll really disappear..."

"Do you hate it that much?"

"Of course I do!"

He shouted, but it sounded like a cute chirping.

"Then I might let you off."

"R-really!? No, really!?"

"Yes. But in return... like this."

I formed a spell and activated it.

Magic runes appeared on the demon's small torso.

"Huh? —Piiiyaa!?"

The runes glowed brightly, and the demon screamed.

"C-could this be!?"

Looking down at his abdomen, the demon's eyes widened in shock.

A brand-like mark had been imprinted there.

"Subjugation magic!?"

"Yes."

Subjugation magic is one of the dark arts.

As the name suggests, it can enslave a target through a magical contract.

Once enslaved, the target must obey the master's commands without fail.

It is often used on slaves, but in regions where the target is human, the scope of the contract is often legally restricted to prevent inhumane acts.

But with a demon, such considerations were unnecessary.

"I was just thinking I needed a familiar. You're lucky."

"T-this me... a human's familiar!?"

The demon trembled.

"Are you moved by being saved?"

"No way! I'd rather die than suffer such humiliation! I'm a high-ranking noble in the demon world, Giaaaaaaah!"

"By the way, if you show a rebellious attitude, I made it so you'll be hit with intense pain."

"F-fuck you, Aaaaaaah!"

It wasn't physical pain.

Demons can endure any amount of physical pain, so I made it a type that affects the mind.

"...P-please take care of me... Master..."

Seemingly resigned, the demon bowed his head.

"Yes, I look forward to it."