Chapter 7: The Best News
Arzoch stomped into Jokin’s chamber while pulling the summoner along by the scruff of his neck. A demoness dressed like a secretary bowed to Jokin in apology after clearly failing to delay Arzoch.
“Arzoch!?”
“You really have been studying. I do wish you wouldn’t tell my name to humans, though.”
“Forget all that.” Jokin pointed at the summoner. “How is he present?”
“That’s why I’m here, of course. Gather everybody up and I’ll explain.”
“Now? Can’t we do this at the next Walpurg—“
“If you’re fine with me keeping this all secret, then I suppose I can just return to my—“
“Fine!” Jokin interrupted. “I’ll send word for everyone who wants to know the outcome of your research to assemble.”
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“Well?” one demon asked Jokin, clearly getting frustrated. “You told us Arzoch has a really important announcement, yet he’s the only one who’s not here!”
“Typical Arzoch,” a demoness muttered while wearing her archetypal seductive garb characteristic of a succubus.
“Can you at least explain what this is about?” the first demon requested.
“No, I really should let Arzoch do it,” said Jokin. “I’m as frustrated as you are that he requested this meeting and is now the last to arrive, but I promise you’ll be intrigued by what he has to say… or should I say… show.”
“Show?”
“Be careful not to state anyone’s names,” Jokin warned. “Not that it’s likely to matter but… just in case.”
The demons looked back and forth at one another, trying to make sense of the warning. Before they could discuss it further, Arzoch strolled in, still with the summoner in tow.
Several demons stood from their seats, shocked by what they saw.
“How did he ever sneak into our realm!?” another demon demanded to know.
“Calm yourself,” the succubus responded. “This is almost certainly related to all the information we’ve been providing Arzoch. Am I wrong?”
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Arzoch bowed in response. “Quite right. And, coincidentally, this gentleman is one of the ones you informed me of in your reports.
“Oh? You somehow lured him to us? Which summoner is it?”
“Not lured. Summoned,” Arzoch clarified to a combination of gasps and muttering. “You should be able to figure it out from his vestments, no?”
The succubus, one of the top lords of the demon realm, narrowed her eyes at the summoner whose complexion was as white as his priestly robes. “I see. What do you plan to do with him?” she asked with a deep tone that suggested she was prepared to slaughter thousands to get what she wanted.
“Actually,” Arzoch explained, “he’s a gift for you.” Arzoch walked the summoner around the table and handed him off to the succubus. “A certain demon foolishly told him my name though, so do ensure that information does not get out.” Arzoch’s tone was just as serious as the succubus’ had been a moment ago.
“Oh,” she answered, “it’s the least I can do after you brought me such a fine gift.”
“I’m sure you want to begin questioning him right away, and I don’t want him to hear the rest of my report. Why don’t you send a subordinate in?”
She nodded to Arzoch. “That’s an excellent idea. Come, my new friend.” She guided the old man out of the chamber as he screamed, fruitlessly, for someone to help him. she was replaced, a few minutes later, by another demoness of reasonable renown.
A few other demons grumbled at this unusual circumstance, but they were too eager to hear what Arzoch had to say next to complain.
“Put simply, thanks to all the information you each provided me, I’m now able to summon humans, both body and soul, to this realm.”
Several demons shouted in unison.
“Remarkable!”
“Unbelievable!”
“Teach us how!”
Arzoch shook his head. “To be clear, my summoning ritual only targets humans who have already summoned demons themselves. And I don’t plan to teach anyone else how to do it.”
“What!?” a shocked Jokin shouted in behalf of the group.
“Come now,” Arzoch explained. “You don’t really expect me to give away my secret technique to everyone, right? So long as I bring you any vile summoners upon request, you have nothing to complain about.”
“What’s your real reason?” asked Jokin.
“That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.” Before anyone could respond, Arzoch departed the meeting. The remaining demons stuck around to discuss these developments further.
“What’s he hiding?” one asked.
“Knowing him, a lot,” offered Jokin.
“Does it matter?” asked a demon who had been quiet until now. “Just think, from now on, any time a human summons one of our kind, we can punish them. This is the best news I’ve ever heard. The times will change.”
“But is that enough…?” Jokin wondered as he thought of Miona.
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“Well?”
“It went well, Miona.” Arzoch sat on the nearest couch.
“Who will you summon next?”
“I’ll start with the vilest and work my way down.”
Miona jumped up and down in giddy glee. “Are you really going to summon every human who summoned a demon?”
“Probably not,” Arzoch acknowledged. “In those rare cases where the human was respectful and asked for only a simple wish, I’m content to leave them alone.”
“I figured…” Miona looked down at the red carpet. “What about the really bad humans who didn’t technically do the summoning themselves?”
“As I told the others, my ritual only targets summoners.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Arzoch lied down on the couch and stretched as Miona’s face darkened.