章節 7: Evil's Soft First Touches
Looking at O'Dimm, I addressed him, "I understand the main idea, but before we proceed, I have my own terms and conditions to lay down."
He nodded in acknowledgment and replied, "Fair enough, one should have anticipated this when hiring a mercenary," maintaining a neutral expression.
Taking a moment to consider the potential outcomes during and after the job, I carefully explained my terms to O'Dimm, "When hiring a mercenary, there are certain factors to consider, such as operating costs, insurance, and the reward."
Intrigued by my words, Gaunter O'Dimm seemed interested and said, "I'm well aware of the standard conditions when it comes to hiring a mercenary. Please state your terms."
It appeared that he was curious about what I would propose next.
"Telos Karma," I responded, my demonic power reinforcing the meaning behind those words.
Dealing with a being like O'Dimm required utmost caution, as he had the ability to twist the meaning of every word.
That was precisely his skill, and he excelled at it.
However, by using my demonic power, I could ensure that the true intent behind my words would be interpreted accurately and couldn't be manipulated.
He smiled upon hearing my statement, seemingly recognizing what I was doing.
This situation reminded me of a story from Polish folklore involving a devil and a nobleman named Mr. Twardowski.
In the tale, the devil could only claim the nobleman's soul when he visited Rome, an event the nobleman had no intention of undertaking.
This allowed him to escape the pact until he stayed at an inn called Rzym, which means Rome in Polish, and the devil came to collect.
Intrigued by my request, O'Dimm inquired about my reasoning. "May I ask the reasoning behind your choice?" he queried.
"In 'The Last Wish,' a total of three requests can be made to a proxy, and I assumed that any request would be impossible for a low-ranking devil to fulfill. Hence, those requests would serve as the operating cost and insurance," I explained.
Telos Karma possessed the ability to create and enforce options and choices that would normally be impossible, transforming the likelihood of certain events into unexpected occurrences.
It was rumored that Telos Karma could even interfere with the course of history in the world.
Whoever had made a deal with Gaunter O'Dimm seemed unaware of his true nature or gravely underestimated his abilities.
The three requests were likely impossible for an ordinary low-ranking devil to fulfill, leaving the debt unresolved.
Some of those requests might even lead to me becoming an enemy of the world, which would be an impossibility for a regular devil.
But what if this devil possessed a device akin to plot armor that allowed him to control the situation?
If I were the one making that pact, I would seize control of the proxy's ability to fulfill the requests and finally find peace in my life, so I will expect that much.
That's what I would do, but I wondered what requests had been made and what wishes had been granted.
"Fascinating," O'Dimm remarked with a smile, before continuing, "Now, what reward would you desire?"
I pondered for a moment, considering the reward I might ask for.
I knew that as long as the request was fair, there would be no strings attached, and I was in a position to negotiate with him.
Based on the options I remembered from The Witcher 3, I had a few ideas on how to proceed.
One option was to become as fast as the wind.
Choosing this option would earn me a unique Roach Saddle.
This saddle was among the best, greatly increasing the horse's stamina, allowing me to complete any galloping task without interruptions.
Additionally, while riding, a cloud effect would be applied to nearby enemies.
Furthermore, the horse's appearance would transform, becoming sleek black with eyes resembling those of black cats.
Another option was to never feel hungry.
In this case, I would receive a unique item called the Horn of Plenty.
This horn had an endless supply of food and drink, restoring health slowly but with infinite uses.
I also considered the option of always having a full bottle of vodka.
If chosen, I would receive a bottomless decanter, allowing me to craft elixirs, bombs, and oils without limit.
Alternatively, I could opt for becoming rich. If I chose this option, I would receive a wallet with 5000 crowns.
However, this amount was relatively insignificant in the later stages of the game and considered the least attractive option.
If I hadn't yet saved Ciri from the Isle of Mists, I could inquire about her whereabouts.
Unfortunately, O'Dimm wouldn't provide an exact answer, stating that she was in a place even he couldn't access.
Lastly, I had the option to decline any rewards from Gaunter O'Dimm and simply leave.
Since that is a game, of course there are limits to not break the game's balance.
I asked for a saddle once and a bottomless full bottle of vodka on another game save.
Both appealing and unappealing rewards were available, as it was a game with limitations to maintain balance.
Since this was not a game, I had a specific reward in mind when faced with a man of O'Dimm's talents.
"Talents, comparable in value to the three requests he would ask of me," I replied to O'Dimm, once again backing my words with my demonic power to prevent any manipulation.
Why did I make such a request? Because I knew of no known limits to his abilities, and since he called himself a man of many talents, I desired to possess the capabilities he held.
While Gaunter O'Dimm could use magic and create magical effects, it was implied that his power surpassed that of most beings in the Witcher universe.
He claimed to despise spells and referred to ordinary magic wielded by spellcasters as mere "hocus-pocus."
His power seemed to manifest through sheer will, without the need for components, incantations, or rituals.
He was beyond the limitations of a single reality, especially now that he was in the DxD world.
"You are an interesting individual," he said, smiling with satisfaction.
"Most people would be greedy or hunger for power, but you, as expected from someone who hones the quality of their demonic power instead of the quantity."
"Deal!" Gaunter O'Dimm exclaimed, extending his hand to seal the agreement.
As we shook hands, a peculiar energy started to shape my face, leaving a mark.
Oddly, it wasn't painful, but rather a mix of discomfort and ticklish sensations, a truly strange feeling.
Curious, I touched my face and discovered three symbols engraved upon it.
The first symbol was the Roman numeral for three, "III."
The second symbol was the Greek letter Omega.
The third symbol was the Greek letter Alpha.
Before I could fully contemplate the meaning behind these symbols, O'Dimm interrupted my thoughts by summoning a piece of paper—a scroll or ancient document adorned with intricate decorations.
It contained the following inscription:
*****
Pact
In exchange for one's soul, Gaunter O'Dimm must fulfill three wishes.
One: Obtain a gamer's system with the skills possessed by Noir Stardia in "The Hidden Dungeon Only I Can Enter" after he met Olivia Servant and received skills from her.
Two: Acquire the body and skills of Rimuru from "That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime" when he was reincarnated as a slime.
Three: Make a total of three requests through a proxy chosen by Gaunter O'Dimm. The proxy must be of low-ranking power, and Gaunter O'Dimm cannot assist in fulfilling the requests. The requester cannot harm the proxy in any way.
Upon completion, the three must stand above countless lives atop the Multiverse.
*****
Some might deem this an impossible debt to collect, but having dealt with O'Dimm before, I noticed that the intricate decorations surrounding the text were actually fine print.
Now, as I stared at O'Dimm, I witnessed something I never expected.
There he stood, holding a device of some kind, a mischievous grin on his face.
An unknown energy emanated from the device, bearing a faint aura that hinted at its sacred nature.
All this time, all along, Gaunter O'Dimm had possessed Telos Karma even before he met me.
創作者的想法 
EviLivE33
EviLivE33 Gaunter O'Dimm's initials form an acronym: G.O.D.
每周推薦票狀態
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榜單 
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