These Demons Do it for Free-Chapter 84

If I develop *Ghost of the Dream* further, I might eventually manage *“illusionary water without any actual water around”*, but for now, this was enough.

*“But for now, this will do.”*

Mana surged through me, vast and unending.

With the significantly expanded and reinforced mana channels within me, Procell's mana mixed with Undine's water, transforming into an endless torrent in reality.

Undine was struggling to handle the increased water flow, but it was fine; I was the one controlling this torrent.

*[Don’t forget, bound one! Once this is over, you must offer me a tribute worthy of my station!]*

*“Of course. I’ll prepare the finest offering.”*

*[Hmph! A commendable attitude! I shall be waiting eagerly!]*

Promising Procell a future reward, I was suddenly interrupted by the demands from outside.

"Roman! Can’t you go any faster? This is getting easy now!"

The torrent didn’t fill the labyrinth completely, only up to a level that could sweep the Blazing Dead and douse their flames. If I filled it up completely, we’d run out of breathable air.

Ray stood atop the surface, using *Azure Rail* to create a board beneath her feet, allowing her to ride the waves.

Using training as an excuse to play around, Ray shouted at me to increase the power, whipping me as though I were a beast of burden.

Undine was wobbling, as though drunk, under the strain.

*‘This isn’t good.’*

Ultimately, this torrent was an illusion. The anchor of this illusion was Undine, the core of this dream. If Undine were forced into unsummoning, my illusion would vanish as quickly as it appeared.

Leif, sensing Undine’s distress, held on to her and infused her with mana. High Elf mana, imbued with the vitality of the World Tree, forced Undine to stand.

"Roman! We’re almost at the square!"

Ray’s call prompted me to carefully regulate the mana flow. The square would be spacious. If the Blazing Dead had taken it over, it was likely that the entire area would be engulfed in flames.

*“Just a little more power.”*

Undine would suffer, but… there was no choice.

"Hold on! We’re going to crash!"

Fire and water clashing caused a tremendous backdraft.

I yelled to hang on to whatever they could as I unleashed the torrent.

*WHAM!*

The water dragon reared its head as it surged into the square, carving a new river through the labyrinth.

Riding atop the torrent like it was a roller coaster, Ray yelled excitedly.

"Roman! Faster!"

"Get down from there and stop surfing!"

"Wait! Something’s wrong with Undineee!"

*THUD!*

As we entered the square, I felt an unprecedented, intense resistance run through my spine.

"Hey! We hit something!"

"What? Probably a Blazing Dead."

"But it feels different! Ray, finish it off!"

"On it!"

This chapt𝙚r is updated by freeωebnovēl.c૦m.

With a swift leap, Ray launched herself from the torrent.

Using *Azure Rail*, she stepped off an aerial foothold, maneuvering through the raging water, approaching the creature while keeping herself protected with a silvery mana shield.

*BAM!*

Ray’s strike landed.

For the Blazing Dead, fire was life. This one, already battered by the combined water assaults of Leif’s advanced elemental magic and my demon magic, couldn’t withstand Ray’s blow.

That was the end.

Ray’s final strike extinguished the creature, submerging it in water, where it disappeared.

*Tap-tap-splash*

Landing lightly atop the water, Ray pointed toward something in the distance.

"Over there! Survivors!"

"Aerial!"

Once Ray located survivors, Leif summoned the air spirit, Aerial, to encase them in bubbles of air. They completed the rescue with practiced ease, guiding the newcomers toward the calmer waters behind us.

All except for two.

Rather than Leif’s magic, these two had approached on their own. They were experts, after all, arriving with their protective air bubbles intact. Lyudmila, filled with awe, practically burst out in admiration.

"Who are you guys? How on earth did you—this is unbelievable!"

Unable to contain her amazement, Lyudmila covered her mouth.

Ruslan was more reserved but couldn’t completely hide his shock either.

"You’ve grown. Tremendously… I’ve never seen anyone grow as fast as you among our kin. And that magic… were you hiding it all along, or did you just awaken to a new bloodline power?"

Ruslan, being of the same species and familiar with Ray from past training, seemed especially interested in her. Ray shrugged casually.

"Something like that."

I didn’t know exactly what she meant by “something,” but the slight twitch in her lips gave it away.

"But seriously, what is this? I’ve never seen anything like it before. Mixing elemental magic and demonic magic? How did you handle the mana repulsion? Both are rare, genuine disciplines… and Roman, you’re controlling it yourself without handing over control to the demon?"

"Nothing special."

Ah, the same old line.

I might not be able to read minds, but I could guess what Lyudmila and Ruslan were thinking — wondering how much I had to sacrifice for this.

Unfortunately, there was no great sacrifice.

A grand act of heroism? No, not really.

The cost of my contract with Procell was trivial.

Simply to conduct myself with a bit more dignity as her contractor.

Procell’s condition was mainly satisfied by the silver decor that now adorned my spellbook, replacing the leather binding after some recent acquisitions from our rescue efforts.

I let the familiar reactions pass and turned the conversation.

"So, are the three of you traveling alone? Where are the others?"

"Arthur’s group was sent to secure the gate leading to the upper layer."

"Hernando is with them, as are the survivors we rescued."

As Lyudmila answered my question, Ruslan posed one of his own.

"The Blazing Dead you and Ray just took down—can you pull its remains?"

The corpse?

The tradition among explorers was to retrieve bodies when possible, so they could be returned to the Guild for burial by loved ones. But that was only if circumstances allowed. With other Blazing Dead still around and more survivors to rescue, taking the time to collect corpses was a challenge.

Ruslan was adamant, though, even as I hesitated.

"Do you even know what you just dealt with? You dispatched it with remarkable ease, but that was a Blazing Dead using the body of Grant Dexter. That corpse might hold evidence leading back to whoever orchestrated this."

"Then we’d better secure it."

He should have said so sooner.

Manipulating the current, I lifted the remains of the Blazing Dead, the corpse of Grant, which Ray had just decapitated. Regardless of any evidence it might hold, knowing it was Grant Dexter was reason enough to recover it.

*Grant Dexter was my old comrade’s brother.*

Even if their relationship wasn’t great, it was the right thing to do.

"Roman…"

"Hmm?"

"I think this is… my limit."

Ah, it was the increased output, wasn’t it?

It was a necessary decision, but it turned out to be the final drop that tipped Undine over the edge. She had endured without rest for days; it was remarkable she’d lasted this long.

Spirits weren’t immortal. They could be exhausted too.

Forcing more from Undine now would consume her essence and lead to her dissipation.

"Let’s send her back. How long to recover?"

One day?

When I was a slave, a day of rest was considered a top-tier reward.

"That… that won’t be enough…."

So,

Undine was out of it.

"Oh, by the way, about our Guild Leader—"

*Boom!*

A tremendous vibration echoed from afar.

*‘Definitely not just an ordinary person, that one.’*

The rumble sounded again, closer and even louder this time.

"Finally arriving… I wonder what she was up to."

Even though we were rescued, the tension lingering between us began to dissipate quickly.

She had returned.

Viola Palanteer was back.

"I’ll handle the rest. You’ve done more than enough."

"Yes, you've done so well that we can hold our heads high. Now, take a little rest."

I looked over at Leif and Ray.

Their faces showed a slight reserve of strength.

Leif’s expression was partially hidden by her hood, but I’d spent enough time with her to read her moods.

Well, if that’s what they’re saying…

"Leif, Ray. Let’s prepare to move up."