Watching Sifney constantly pacing back and forth, Colin couldn’t help but finally voice the question lingering in his mind.
“So, how exactly do we ask a Magic Circle a question?”
Upon hearing Colin’s doubt, Sifney rolled her eyes.
“Ask the Magic Circle? Do you think Magic Circles have mouths? They have self-awareness and can answer you? What we’re asking is the High-Rank Demon summoned by the Magic Circle!”
After Sifney’s explanation, Colin felt a bit embarrassed.
But since he was a Paladin, he had encountered similar situations many times before and had undergone thorough training.
So he quickly pushed the matter aside and started helping Sifney with the preparations.
After some time, with everything ready, Sifney activated the Magic Circle, and Colin nervously watched the inside of the circle.
Before long, a tall, obese figure appeared at the center of the Magic Circle—it was the High-Rank Demon Colin had brutally slain before.
As for why this High-Rank Demon, whom Colin should have killed, was summoned again by Sifney, it was because demons cannot truly be killed in the real world.
More precisely, all demons live in a place called Hell and cannot leave it freely; they can only be summoned out through special Magic Circles.
But not every summoned demon has to appear fully—depending on the summoning strength of the Magic Circle, the form that appears varies in power.
For example, an ordinary summoning Magic Circle might only summon a demon’s shadow or clone.
If the demon is too powerful, sometimes only parts of its body—like a hand, foot, or head—can be summoned.
Whether a clone or body part, the demon can only use part of its power in these cases.
However, Alek’s Magic Circle was of the highest level, summoning the demon’s true body directly.
In other words, the High-Rank Demon Colin faced earlier was using its full strength. Of course, Colin still managed to kill it.
But even if the demon’s true body is killed, the demon doesn’t truly die because its heart remains alive.
Even the highest-level Magic Circles can only summon the demon’s body, never their heart.
As long as the Demon Heart remains safe in Hell, the demon can resurrect after its body is killed.
Naturally, a resurrected demon will enter a weakened state.
To regain its original strength, it must either undergo a long period of dormancy or extract sufficient tribute from its summoner.
Demons become stronger the same way—by living long or gaining large tributes.
Therefore, demons generally avoid facing death.
In short, to truly kill a demon, one must enter Hell and destroy the Demon Heart directly.
The High-Rank Demon standing in the center of the Magic Circle looked at the two figures gradually becoming clear before it.
It could sense their strength wasn’t weak; the summoner had Level 61 power, not much weaker than the last one who summoned it.
Although the demon was currently at Level 57 due to its recent resurrection, it was still strong enough to demand a hefty tribute.
Summoning demons always requires paying a price.
Except for a few special Magic Circles that demand fixed tributes, most prices depend on the summoner’s strength.
The lower the summoner’s level compared to the demon’s, the higher the tribute; the higher the summoner’s level, the lower the tribute.
However, sometimes demons demand tribute out of pure whimsy rather than power.
Such cases are rare and mostly only done by the Demon Race.
Clearing its throat, the High-Rank Demon began its opening line.
“Ahem, I am…hmm?!”
But after only a few words, it realized the figures becoming clear were growing familiar.
Colin noticed the demon’s gaze fixed on him without looking away.
Seeing this, Colin smiled.
“Long time no see, little worm trembling under the ‘Holy Light.’”
The moment the demon heard Colin’s voice, it knew who he was.
It would never forget the Paladin who had laughed madly while calling it “insect,” “trash,” and “for the Holy Light,” chopping its body into pieces dozens of times!
It immediately wanted to abort the summoning and return to Hell, but then it recalled a desperate fact.
Because of that demon, this cursed summoning Magic Circle was one-way! In other words, to return to Hell, it either had to wait for the Magic Circle’s energy to run out like last time or have the summoner manually shut it down.
But the question was: how could it persuade a summoner protected by a powerful Paladin to agree to shut down the Magic Circle?
The High-Rank Demon closed its eyes in despair.
“…Speak. What do you want from me? You know the rules—you must pay a price no matter what.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. or Ms. Demon. We’ve prepared a tribute you’ll be satisfied with.”
Sifney smiled sweetly at the High-Rank Demon.
The demon shivered at that smile.
“Uh…so what is the tribute you’ve prepared?”
“Your life.”
Colin said emotionlessly.
Seeing this, the High-Rank Demon fell silent.
After a twitch of its face, it spoke in a trembling voice, “Excuse me, what do you mean?”
Colin ignored the demon’s question and drew the Sanctuary Sword, raising it to his shoulder.
“I ask, you answer!”
The High-Rank Demon cursed wildly inside but forced a hideous smile toward Colin.
“You…uh, say whatever you want. I swear to answer everything I know.”
“Do you remember the last demon who summoned you?”
“I don’t really know. I don’t even remember his name…Why did that sword light up?!”
The demon had just finished speaking when Colin’s Sanctuary Sword began shining.
“Oh, that. I just used a divine technique called ‘True Word.’ It increases holy damage if the target’s words are false.”
Colin smiled brightly as he explained.
The High-Rank Demon widened its eyes, wanting to retort but ultimately held back.
“Ahem, I remember now. Yes, I remember him. His name was Alek, a relatively unknown Demon Race officer. I don’t know much about him. I only know he liked slumber-type potions and was researching a strange Magic Circle he found in a labyrinth. That’s all I know.”
Seeing no reaction from ‘True Word,’ Colin continued, “Do you remember which labyrinth he took the Magic Circle from?”
“I think it was a labyrinth called the Labyrinth of Yiqiu. I only know the name. Nothing else.”
“Labyrinth of Yiqiu, huh…”
Colin murmured thoughtfully.