Family heirloom, then turned into a demon girl

Chapter 72 Mission: 12-3 Golden Dream
"cost?"

Before Nero broke through the chaotic space left by Mephistopheles, the devil responded to Hernan's question: "You should understand the price of making a deal with the devil, right?"

"Soul?"

Hernan, who had received the devil's approval, pondered for a moment and said, "Tell me clearly in detail."

"It's simple. I will grant your wish. No matter how many, no matter what it is."

The conditions offered by the devil were so generous that Hernan could hardly believe it: "However, when all your wishes are fulfilled, and the thought of 'this is it, I have nothing else to ask for' arises in your heart - the soul of you, Servant 'Hernan', will be mine."

Then came the devil's additional clause: "Don't think you can return to the Throne of Heroes after becoming like that. If you harbor such thoughts, your soul, your spiritual base, and everything else that exists here will become mine."

The terms, reminiscent of those in the opera "Faust," sound so generous they seem like a massive welfare giveaway. Humans are prisoners of desire, gluttons who, no matter how many great deeds they achieve or how much wealth they acquire, never find satisfaction. Mephistopheles's desire to win this bet is like trying to fill the abyss at the end of the world with stones.

However, Hernan could sense the malicious intent hidden deep within the clause. Because—in her heart, there was indeed a desire that she was willing to sacrifice her soul to fulfill, a desire that was her total obsession.

"how?"

Mephistopheles asked with a smile, as if he had already defeated Hernan.

Hernan's breathing quickened. With trembling fingers, she removed her monocle and placed it in her arms. She lowered her head, her palm pressed against her heaving chest, unable to suppress the urge within her.

"I..." She finally made up her mind, tightly grasped the feathered serpent ring on her right hand, and looked up at Mephistopheles: "I agree."

"The bet is established."

Mephistopheles stood up gracefully, the hem of his tuxedo fluttering in the wind. The next moment, the ring in Hernan's hand suddenly emitted a bright light.

"Come on!" the demon shouted, "Tell me your true wish!"

Hernan didn't hesitate at all. He raised the ring and shouted, "Let the sun never set shine on this place, and let the eternal kingdom of gold come to us!"

From the stranded warship, a golden light shot up into the sky. It was Hernan's ring, Eldorano, rising into the dawn sky like the morning star.

However, when it rose to the highest point in the sky, it transformed into a blazing sun.

The sun burned blazingly, tinting the pre-dawn darkness with a bluish-white hue, dissolving the glimmer of morning light on the horizon into the bright sky. Since the sun was already high in the sky, naturally no new sun would rise. As long as the sun transformed by the ring continued to burn, the time of "sunrise" would never come!

Hernan's wish has been half fulfilled.

The other half starts from now on.

Beneath the sun's radiance, countless golden structures rose amidst the emerald green forest. The largest of these was a magnificent pyramid, rising from a collapsed cavern. A ferocious, evil dragon clung to it, spewing black, poisonous fire from its mouth, igniting the pyramid's summit. From afar, it resembled a golden torch tower.

Hernan stood at the edge of the warship, looking into the distance like a steadfast mast. She had seen this scene before, deep in the jungles of the New World. It was the last glimmer of light in the legendary Golden Kingdom.

And what she had been searching for, chasing after, and pursuing all her life was the sun that had already set.

The sun is now burning in the sky.

Brilliant sunlight streamed down from the ceiling, enveloping the ancient buildings. Magical power surged, and brilliant light continuously reflected between the buildings, making them appear as if cast in gold. The reflected light reflected in the void, and dots of golden radiance converged and gradually solidified. Hernan's gaze became more and more intense.

Mesfit lowered the brim of his hat, knowing the bet was now complete. He chuckled softly and said, "Well, this is what you wished for."

Right in front of Hernan, the golden light kept floating and colliding with each other, and finally -

They converge into a brilliant golden lake.

It was the Aztec ceremonial site. Countless Aztec kings once sailed boats laden with gold into the center of the lake, throwing the gold into the water as an offering to the gods. However, with the fall of the Age of Gods, the gods vanished, and the lake, reflecting countless golden rays, was lost, vanishing into the depths of the world.

Just as the legend goes, its lake water reflects the brilliance of countless golds, and every wave carries the golden brilliance.

That’s right, just like the legend Hernan pursued all his life.

Hernan looked at it and tears flowed down his face involuntarily.

Where did all this begin? How did Hernan get the golden ring, and why did he embark on a journey to find the Kingdom of Gold?
Is it for money? For glory? For curiosity? Or just to sail the ocean?

She didn't want to think about these things at the moment, they were no longer important.

What mattered was that her life, her everything, her soul, was here now.

"This is... the Kingdom of Gold." Hernan's face was filled with tears, and the corners of his mouth curled up as he let out a sigh, "My only wish."

In an instant, a burst of exaggerated laughter broke out beside her, breaking this touching scene.

Mephistopheles doubled over with his belly in his hands, and laughed uncontrollably, "Human! Hahaha...Human!
"You guys really make me ecstatic and smile all the time! Just for such a wish, you are willing to give up everything you have!
"How ridiculous and terrifying it is!"

As Hernan's gaze shifted from the Golden Lake, her vision suddenly blurred. Her entire being suddenly disintegrated, the magical energy that comprised her body transforming into golden light that continuously emanated. Her soul, however, remained locked within her spiritual core, drifting uncontrollably towards Mephistopheles' hands.

She felt a little panic in her heart, but also a little relieved. The moment she agreed to Mephistopheles, she had already anticipated that she would end up like this. And just like that, Hernan fell into Mephistopheles' fingers.

"Now you're mine." The demon swallowed the soul base, which represented everything a heroic spirit possessed, in one gulp and laughed mockingly, "How regrettable, though. Hero—you failed the test."

The demon said, turning his head to focus his attention on a chaotic space.

(End of this chapter)