Returnee from Another World - Chapter 28: The Sacrifice and the Oath

Chapter 28: The Sacrifice and the Oath

“You, a servant of the devil? What nonsense! I don’t know what trick you’re pulling, but our security cameras have already recorded you. You’d better flee while you can!”

Higashikawa clearly didn’t believe a word I said.

Despite witnessing the cabinet fly through the air and Nishikuse’s abdomen being slashed, he refused to face reality, seemingly convinced this was the work of a mere thief.

Given their earlier conversation, these two were just con artists. They probably didn’t even believe in the god they preached about.

I didn’t expect them to fall for my “devil” lie so easily.

“Believe me or not, it doesn’t matter. My task remains the same. Vepar is furious, you see. You dared to touch his sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice? What are you talking about? Where are you? Show yourself, you filthy sneak!”

Higashikawa scanned the room, eyes darting.

He likely thought the flying cabinet was a rigged stunt and Nishikuse’s wound was from some projectile.

“It’s about Hojo Sayaka. That woman was offered to Vepar long ago. Her body and soul belong to him. I’ll grant you didn’t know, so it’s a bit harsh to blame you. But the fact remains—you tried to steal Vepar’s sacrifice. Consider it your bad luck and give up.”

“I don’t know her! I’ve never heard of this Hojo whatever! You must have the wrong person. Maybe there’s a believer with that name, and it’s a misunderstanding.”

“Oh? Playing dumb now?”

“Hmph! I don’t know what I don’t know. If you or your group laid claim to her first, fine, take her. So, that’s it—you’re from another organization? Talking with devil-worshipping creeps is a pain, but given the circumstances, we can negotiate. Let’s settle this peacefully.”

Higashikawa’s face twitched when I mentioned Sayaka, but he quickly regained composure, feigning ignorance. He was betting I hadn’t overheard their earlier talk.

He even suggested I was from a rival sect, his tone shifting to a performative, diplomatic one.

I pressed play on the voice recorder I’d used earlier.

“—Hojo Sayaka, huh… She’s tougher than expected. Devout, but not stupid. Not easy to fool. I’m struggling to get her into bed…”

“Damn it…”

Higashikawa’s expression changed instantly.

His glare at Nishikuse grew irritated, likely blaming him for this mess.

Nishikuse, trembling in fear, stayed silent. Despite the shallow cut, he seemed far more cowardly than Higashikawa, confirming their power dynamic.

“You’re stubborn, I’ll give you that. Not running away shows some guts, or maybe you’re just used to rough situations. But you don’t seem to handle things outside your understanding.”

“You’re the brazen one! Breaking into this Holy Temple over a woman and causing a scene with blades? The security company’s probably already called the police.”

I noticed Higashikawa’s right hand inching toward a phone on the table.

Reacting quickly, I grabbed his throat.

Stopping him just in time, I lifted him by the neck and threw him toward Nishikuse’s sofa.

Higashikawa, though lean, weighed about 60 kg.

His body flew like a ragdoll, crashing into the sofa with a loud thud.

I’d been careful not to cause serious injury, but the way his body bounced suggested a broken bone or two.

No matter. I had no intention of killing them. My goal was to instill enough fear to ensure they wouldn’t cross me.

“Hiii! Rin, pyo, to, sha, kai, jin, retsu, zai, zen! Evil spirits, begone! Begone!”

Nishikuse screamed, frantically making the nine-syllable mudra.

Not even a Taoist or Buddhist, yet he was cutting mudras? Still, he seemed to fully believe my devil story. His round body radiated a purple (【Fear】) aura.

“Fufu, that won’t help. Why not pray to your so-called god? Maybe he’ll save you. After all, the demon Vepar is an enemy no god can ignore.”

I slashed the marble table in front of me with Lady Bird.

It split in two, collapsing under its own weight.

Nishikuse’s face paled with terror and shock. He tried to flee but could only crawl, legs failing him. Nearby, Higashikawa lay limp, possibly from a bad impact.

Stepping over the table, I stomped on Nishikuse’s back.

“Gah!”

“Where do you think you’re going? Escape is futile.”

“I’ll give her up! Hojo Sayaka is yours!”

“You’re mistaken. As I said, she’s already Vepar’s. There’s nothing for you to ‘give.’”

“Then I’ll pay compensation! 3 million—no, 5 million! I’ll apologize for targeting her. Just spare my life!”

“I’m human, like you, so I’m not immune to greed. But do you think a pittance like that would make me defy Vepar’s orders? That’s a tough sell.”

Stab.

I drove Lady Bird into Nishikuse’s thigh from above. The sword, now visible, trembled with joy at the fresh meal.

The sensation of piercing flesh sent my blood racing.

I’d adjusted to this world’s life, but once the restraint snapped, my violent impulses surged.

“Gaaaah! It hurts! Stop! I’ll do anything, just don’t kill me! I’m gonna die! Someone, help!”

Nishikuse thrashed, screaming in pain, begging, then crying out for nonexistent help.

I understood his panic. Normal people don’t get stabbed.

From my other-world experience, I knew how much damage was safe. But to Nishikuse, this was a brush with death. I avoided major arteries, but blood still poured from his thigh.

“Anything, huh? Well, if you swear loyalty to Vepar and offer everything, I might consider sparing you.”

“I swear… I swear loyalty to Lord Vepar! Pull it out! It hurts! I’m dying…”

“Don’t be dramatic. You won’t die from that.”

Still, I figured this was the time to pull back.

Any more could be fatal.

Lady Bird was gleefully drinking his blood. Left alone, he’d last maybe 15 minutes.

I removed my leather glove, took three rings from my dimensional storage, put one on my finger, and rolled the others toward Nishikuse and Higashikawa.

“Put on the ring. Swear loyalty to me and Vepar, and I’ll spare your lives. A warning—these are magical rings. False oaths will be detected instantly.”

Trembling in pain, Nishikuse grabbed the ring and put it on his right index finger.

Thinking it’d save him, he swore the oath immediately. The ring glowed briefly, signaling a pact between us.

The Ring of Oath was common in the other world, used for trade or contracts.

Paired one-to-one or one-to-many, it couldn’t be removed for a month without mutual consent. Breaking the oath caused pain, and the ring darkened with each violation.

It was a kind of curse, removable by a priest. Unfair or coerced oaths could lead to arrest.

Still, it was abused in that world, so it wasn’t foolproof.

“You, Higashikawa Keibun. I know you’re pretending to be unconscious, waiting for a chance to escape. Stop resisting. Refuse, and I’ll kill you as planned.”

Purple (【Fear】), black (【Caution】), and a hint of gray (【Pain】) from an injury during the throw. Higashikawa lay still, but his aura betrayed his consciousness.

First, I had to deal with Nishikuse.

I pulled Lady Bird from his thigh and poured Healing Potion from my dimensional storage onto the wound.

“It hurts… Call an ambulance… Wait, what?”

As the thick liquid flowed, Nishikuse’s expression softened, his screams stopping.

“The pain’s gone because of a numbing effect. It’ll take about an hour to fully heal. It’s a witch’s miracle regeneration drug—guaranteed to work.”

I placed the vial of Healing Potion beside him.

This wasn’t just about forcing their loyalty. It was a demonstration of the Healing Potion.

A live sales pitch, using their bodies.

Or rather, I’d gone through this elaborate scheme to make them swear loyalty so I could sell the potion.

The Healing Potion would fetch a fortune.

It could heal even missing limbs, given time. But I couldn’t sell it directly. I was pondering how to do it when Sayaka told me about these two.

My devil act was to prevent betrayal and to ensure that if the media caught wind, no one would believe the drug came from a “demon.” I’d have them sell it as a divine elixir. Either way, I needed to erase my connection to them.

“What happens if we swear this loyalty? Will our souls be taken or possessed by a demon?”

Higashikawa, silent until now, spoke up. He likely feared he was next after Nishikuse’s oath.

“Nothing like that. You’ll just help Vepar with a few things.”

“Help how? I won’t kill anyone, no matter what you order.”

“Simple. During your worship, include prayers to Vepar for your believers. They don’t need to understand the words. Slip them in subtly. Also, as a condition for sparing you, offer a few believers as sacrifices to Vepar.”

“Fine. But that’s it? If it doesn’t harm us, I don’t care about a few believers…”

“Relax. It’s a win for you. Being a sacrifice doesn’t mean anything overt. Their souls go to Vepar after death. Though, like Hojo Sayaka, some might catch Vepar’s favor and spread misfortune to their kin.”