Infinite Returns : The More I Give, The Stronger I Become-Chapter 80:…damn

Chapter 80: ...damn

"...Come again?" Ethan asked incredulously.

He was truly surprised by this response. He had expected a look of disdain, or words meant to humiliate him, or even complete dismissal — but no...

This archdemon really said no.

And the more he thought about it, the more Ethan was puzzled.

"...Why?" Ethan asked again.

But the archdemon barely looked at him. His eyes were now closed, as if the very act of acknowledging Ethan was somehow exhausting.

And seeing that attitude, Ethan’s patience began to thin — but before he could even throw out a threat or force a reaction, the archdemon spoke,

"Why, you ask...?" he said lazily, still sprawled on the bed.

"Well, you look interesting. And it’s been a long time since I had someone to talk to, so... why not?" he added before finally sitting up in the middle of the bed, his legs crossed, the lazy air around him fading, replaced now by something far more potent. The presence of a demon. A sly and prideful demon.

"You asked why I don’t want to pull out this spear, huh?" he asked again.

Ethan nodded, his irritation beginning to rise, this demon had a habit of echoing questions and wasting time.

"First of all, my name is Seravax. The Archdemon of Pride," Seravax said, pride dripping from every syllable, his expression high and noble, as if expecting Ethan to react with awe or at least show some reverence.

But Ethan remained unmoved. He simply stared, neutral-faced, before tilting his head slightly and replying,

"Did you expect me to be surprised? I already knew who you were."

Then, shaking his head slowly, Ethan continued, "Just tell me why you don’t want to be freed."

His tone was flat now, he had no time to indulge a drama queen.

Seravax smirked. "Fine, I can tell you. But... what will I gain from it?" he asked, chin resting on his palm, eyes gleaming.

"What do you want?" Ethan asked immediately, not even hesitating.

That response made Seravax grin inwardly, his thoughts swirling with amusement. ’What a fool...’

"Well," Seravax began, stretching the moment as if enjoying the taste of it, "you want me to share my private life, my deepest secret — something I’ve never told anyone between heaven and earth. But you see... keeping secrets isn’t really my thing. I need to let it out. Still... I can’t just do it for free."

He paused, letting the tension hang.

"You’ll swear on the Tower that you won’t tell anyone and also, that you’ll speak only the truth. And in return... you’ll tell me your greatest, deepest secret. The one you’d rather die than speak aloud."

A sly, almost wicked smile formed on his lips as he finished.

Ethan regarded him calmly. "Will you swear on the Tower too?" he asked, voice soft and even.

Seeing that Ethan wasn’t backing down, Seravax’s grin widened. "Yes," he said simply.

Ethan was silent for a moment. Then, inwardly, and not to his system, he spoke.

’Dear Tower, will you close your eyes if I lie after swearing on your glorious name?’ he asked, cheeky as ever.

And as if on cue...

{You will be punished, O Allholder.}

Ethan’s lips twitched. ’The one protected by the Tower, my foot. Next time I’ll trade this damn title to my skill.’ he muttered inwardly, exasperated.

Then, without wasting another breath,

’System, how much would it cost me to lie without being punished or even noticed by the Tower?’

[15 quadrillion.]

’Negotiable?’

[Non-negotiable.]

’Take it.’ Ethan ordered.

[DING! Confirmed.]

[You can now lie all you want, Host.]

Ethan’s lips twitched again. ’Don’t say it like that, for god’s sake...’

"Do you agree or not?" Seravax called out, pulling Ethan back into focus.

"I swear on the Tower that I won’t tell anyone about our discussion, and I’ll only tell the truth," Ethan said calmly.

And as he finished, a heavy pressure descended within Seravax’s realm, then quickly faded — but not before Ethan felt the binding settle inside him. And he could feel it: the vow could not stop him from lying or leaking every word if he so desired. He smiled slightly, then looked back at Seravax.

Seravax swore too and the same process echoed in the air.

’System, can he bypass the Tower as well?’

[No.]

Ethan’s smile widened.

"I’m listening."

And Seravax’s expression changed again — the smugness drained from his face, replaced by something Ethan hadn’t expected to see from an archdemon.

"It’s because of her," Seravax began, voice softer now, expression slightly clouded.

"You know I’m the Archdemon of Pride, and that’s because I’m the one and only son of the Demon Lord of Pride. And do you know what comes with that?"

He didn’t wait for Ethan to answer.

"It came with talent, wealth, power, influence. And even... divinity."

Ethan’s eyes widened slightly at that.

Seravax smiled, as if expecting that reaction. "Yes. There are people out there born as gods and I’m one of them."

"But all of that... none of it was worth the price I had to pay for my status," he said, eyes now piercing.

"Do you know how hard it is to be the son of a Demon Lord? And not just any Demon Lord...him. The one who obliterates entire realms and worlds because someone wounded his pride. Because someone dared to say something they shouldn’t have. Or simply because he felt like proving a point."

"Do you know how many enemies I’ve inherited just because of that man’s reckless ego?"

"Too many to count, I’m afraid."

"And that’s why I spent my entire life training, my entire life fighting, my entire life looking over my shoulder every single second because at any time, someone might try to kill me. I spent my whole existence learning who to trust and who to avoid, how to smile while watching everyone’s hands."

His head dropped slightly.

And for once... Ethan didn’t know what to say.

He had never expected a story like this from an archdemon.

But Seravax wasn’t done.

"But all of that changed... when I met someone," he said, voice lightening just a bit almost... fondly.

"A woman. Someone I fell in love with at first sight. Someone I pursued for millennia. I asked her to be with me. I brought her gifts, made gestures, offered anything I could..."

He looked directly at Ethan with a wistful smile.

"It was hard at first. But eventually, after a few thousand years, she finally acknowledged me. And she told me... to prove it."

"To prove my love."

"Do you know what she asked me to do?"

Ethan tilted his head. "What?"

Seravax’s smile remained, quiet and knowing.

"Nothing much, really. She just told me to let her pierce my very being with her spear for one million years. Only then, she said, would she accept my love."

Ethan’s eyes widened.

"...Don’t tell me...?"

"Yes," Seravax said, calm now.

"The one I love... is an angel. And that spear outside? That’s her love for me. So don’t touch it, puny mortal."

Ethan stood there for a few moments, stunned, before finally whispering one word.

"...Damn."

—End of Chapter 80—

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