Card Apprentice Daily Log

Date- 5 April 2321

Time- 04:13

Location- Southern Region, Blossom district, Sky Blossom City, Outskirts

"Yes, you can become a demon merchant," Belphegor responded but his voice made it sound like I was extorting information out of him. He should have known that this day would come when he choose to become a devil merchant.

"Why stop there, uh, Belphegor why? You know what I am going to ask you next, so why not just tell me how I can become a demon merchant before I ask?" I asked the devil, seeing that it continued to answer just what I asked it to and nothing more.

"Would you believe my answer if you did not ask the question using my true name?" The devil was right. I would not believe any information it voluntarily gave me but if it were to do so then I can use it to understand what it was scheming.

"You are right. Belphegor, be dear and tell me how I can become a demon merchant," As of now, I had no idea as to what were the benefits of becoming a demon merchant except for gaining the merchant copy of the devil merchant code. But there must be something that drove all these demons and devils to willingly be suppressed by the devil merchant code to become demon/devil code.

As for what I was planning to do with the original merchant copy of the devil merchant code, it was pretty obvious. I wanted to level the playing field between me and Belphegor. The merchants played by a different set of rules compared to the customers.

"For you to become a demon merchant there are three ways,

1. Be chosen by devil merchant code.

2. Get recommendations from three demon merchants.

3. Get a recommendation from one devil merchant.

For one to be chosen by the devil merchant code they need to be a demon in the dark realm. So you can forget option number one however you can try your luck with the other two options," Belphegor briefly explained the three ways one could become a demon merchant and that only two of them worked for me.

But what intrigued me most was that in this conversation Belphegor addressed the devil merchant code as if it were a living entity. Causing my interest in devil merchant code to peak.

Why would I be interested in devil merchant code? The devil merchant code could suppress the power of strong pride-filled devils and make them willingly submit to it. It could help them suppress the suppression of the world's will of their customer's world. And now I learn that it could choose who gets to be a demon/devil merchant as if it had a mind of its own. I would not be me if I were not intrigued by such an existence.

"Belphegor, you are a devil," I said, glancing at the devil endearingly.

"..." Belphegor looked at his customer dumbfoundedly. He was without words. He was here to trick this customer of his into selling his special mortal soul not to recommend him to become a demon merchant.

"Belphegor, come on, don't act like a stranger now," I said, moving closer to the jet-black monster worm.

"You need to know that every devil/demon merchant gets one recommendation per decade," Belphegor said, realizing he was in the presence of a shameless being, and a simple no would not be sufficient to get it off his back.

"Great. Belphegor, you must have saved many recommendations in your lifetime," I had decided to become a demon merchant not just to get the merchant copy of the devil merchant code but to get close to the devil merchant code.

"..." Belphegor was astonished by the shamelessness of his customer and thought, 'That's what you gathered from what I just said.'

"Belphegor, don't be shy. You must have saved quite a lot of recommendations, lend me one," I said standing next to the jet-black monster worm.

"A demon/devil merchant cannot accumulate the recommendations they get per decade. If they don't use it in the given decade then the recommendation expires," Belphegor announced.

"That's even better. Belphegor, lend me your recommendation and when I become a demon merchant I will lend you mine," I said immediately.

"Demon/Devil merchants cannot trade their recommendations among themselves," Belphegor said and hurriedly added, "I am not going to give you my recommendation. Just forget it. Do you even plan to save that girl or not?"

"That means you have not used your recommendation for this decade yet. Great," I was enthused to hear Belphegor had not used his recommendation yet.

"Did you not just hear me say I will not give you my recommendation?" Belphegor would have left already if two special mortal souls weren't at stake.

"Belphegor, what happened to you can get me anything for a fee? I want your recommendation to become a demon merchant name your price," I know Belphegor wouldn't just give me his recommendation but there was a point to me acting shameless.

Now I knew exactly how precious the recommendation of a devil/demon merchant was. Had I directly asked Belphegor to exchange his recommendation for a price I would be walking into a fierce negotiation blind. But now I had no problem leading the negotiation.

"Wait, what about that girl?" the jet-black monster worm asked pointing its head toward the one-sided battle between Anna and the semi-demigod chick.

"What about her?" I asked Belphegor feigning ignorance.

As for Anna, Belphegor wanted the battle between Anna and the semi-demigod chick to last longer. Because the only way Belphegor could get two special mortal souls at the price of one was if I asked him to help save Anna. Only in that way, he could descend into this world with his full prowess with the help of the devil merchant code and kill the semi-demigod chick to fulfill my desire. Ultimately allowing him to harvest her and my soul.

"Don't play dumb with me," Belphegor shouted

"Buddy, calm down. What's wrong? Tell big brother, what's troubling you,"