I Contracted a Demon, but It Turned Into My Pet

The Darkfiend Broodqueen—Designation 520—was having a really bad day.

She had finally managed to slip past that terrifying woman's senses, found a good spot to build a nest, and even laid a promising batch of eggs to kick off the invasion plan.

But just as everything was going according to plan… that woman showed up out of nowhere. She wiped out every single one of her eggs and larva, and worse, captured her alive.

"Hmph. Foolish humans. So what if you've captured me?"

"I, 520th Darkfiend Broodqueen, swear eternal loyalty to the great Demon Lord. Loyal unto death. You'll never get anything from me!"

She had made up her mind. The first chance she got, she would end herself—no information, no leverage, no hope for her captors.

…Huh?

What is this human doing?

Getting so close—does he not believe I'll spit on him?

Lucian leaned in, curiously observing the brooding, bug-like creature. Then he grinned and said, in the most "polite" tone he could muster, "Hey there, little mama bug. Wanna be my pet?"

The Broodqueen: "…"

How very 'polite' indeed.

Wait—why can I understand what this idiot is saying?

Did this human just ask me to be his pet?! Go eat sludge, you maggot!

She hissed furiously, flaring her mandibles—and then hawked a glob of acidic phlegm straight at Lucian.

"Ptoo!"

Lucian barely dodged. The slime splashed against a nearby tree, instantly corroding a large hole into the trunk.

The Broodqueen screeched, "If you want me as your pet, then may I never birth another child in my life!"

Lucian blinked.

Did… did I just understand that?

Then it clicked. Must be the system's auto-translation function.

If they could communicate, then that was good enough for him.

He didn't get mad. Instead, he chuckled and said, "Now, now, don't be so hasty. Submit to me, and I promise there are… perks."

"Silence, ignorant human! This world will be overrun by the legions of the Demon Realm! The great Demon Lord shall descend with billions of demonkin and trample your pitiful lands beneath his claws!"

"The Demon Lord is invincible!"

The Broodqueen's hissing grew louder.

Lucian raised his brows, looking surprised. "Wait a minute… did you just curse the Demon Lord?"

"What?!" The Broodqueen stiffened in place. "Lies! I didn't! I am loyal—eternally loyal—to the Demon Lord!"

Lucian crossed his arms. "Oh really? You said he'd live ten thousand years. But the great Demon Lord could live for millions—billions! So by saying only ten thousand, aren't you cursing him to an early death?"

"Wha… I… Is… is that how it works?" the Broodqueen faltered.

"Of course," Lucian nodded solemnly. "Look, if you pledge your loyalty to me, I'll personally teach you how to serve the Demon Lord properly. Sound good?"

The Broodqueen froze—then her eyes widened in realization. "You're trying to turn me!"

"Dream on, human! I'd rather die—be eaten by beasts—throw myself off the Demon Dragon's Cliff—than submit to you!"

"In your dreams—PTOO!"

Lucian quickly ducked again, dodging another corrosive missile. His expression tightened.

For a bug with zero tact, this thing was surprisingly stubborn.

Beside him, Lysera folded her arms and said plainly, "Your Slave Contract is a perfect-binding one. It bypasses soul resistance. Just enslave it already."

Lucian blinked. "Oh, that's allowed?"

He snapped his fingers. "Slave Contract!"

A magic circle appeared beneath the Broodqueen.

"Hah!" she sneered. "Foolish human. I am a high-born demonic noble! I am shielded by a soul barrier! Your pathetic little binding spell won't—huh?!"

Before she could finish, the contract circle surged into her body, binding her instantly.

Lucian now felt it—a direct link between them. He could control her life and death with a single thought.

The Broodqueen stared at him, trembling. "No… this isn't happening. You… you can't enslave me!"

Lucian grinned and leaned in close, whispering, "You won't believe it… but I'm actually the Demon Lord in disguise. Just came to check on you."

The Broodqueen stared blankly for a moment.

Then she drew in breath to launch a massive spitball—but Lucian was faster.

"Freeze."

The Slave Contract activated, locking her body in place. The venom dribbled out the side of her mouth.

She couldn't move, but her psychic transmission was exploding with rage.

"BASTARD! You liar! You trickster! You think I'm stupid?!"

Lucian sighed, shaking his head. "Why won't you believe me? I really am the Demon Lord."

"Screw your molten lava demon ass! You think I'm dumb?!"

"I'm serious!"

"You don't even have boobs! The Demon Lord's boobs are way bigger than that woman's over there!"

Lucian: "…"

Oh.

So the Demon Lord… is female?

No wonder the lie didn't fly.

He glanced at Elvira Sol's chest—she had a solid D-cup. So how massive must the Demon Lord's be?

…No, he was just curious. No other thoughts. None. Really.

Lucian cleared his throat. "Fine. You caught me. I'm not the Demon Lord… but I've always dreamed of becoming the man worthy of her!"

The Broodqueen sneered. "You couldn't even satisfy the lowest imp! And you dream of being the Demon Lord's man?! Pah!"

Lucian snapped. "You dumb bug! Got a mouth full of crap, huh?! Come on then—let's see who gets hurt first!"

From Elvira Sol's perspective, it looked like this:

Darkfiend Broodqueen: "Hisss-sss-chrrr!"

Lucian: "Skkk-kkk-ttt!"

Broodqueen: "Tch-ttt-sss! Ptoo!"

Lucian: "Grr-ss-huh! Ptoo ptoo!"

Broodqueen: "Ptoo ptoo ptoo!"

Lucian: "Ptoo—gluk! Cough!"

Lucian clutched his throat and turned to Elvira Sol, exasperated. "Chkk—ah, wait, forgot to switch tongues."

Then he pointed angrily at the bug. "Elvira Sol! Help me curse her out—I'm losing this one!"

Elvira Sol couldn't help it anymore—she burst out laughing. "You… you're actually arguing with a bug?! Hahaha!"

Lucian's fluency in demonic insect-speak wasn't the strangest thing she'd seen from him—but the fact that he was losing the argument definitely was.

"Alright, enough," she waved a hand, still chuckling. "You've enslaved her, so just toss her in the contract space for now. You can punish her later."

Lucian sighed and nodded.

With a thought, the Broodqueen vanished into his contract space.

Slave contracts came with their own pocket dimensions tailored for the creature, including environment and containment functions. Lucian immediately locked her down to prevent any suicidal tantrums.

But she was still yelling.

"Coward! Let me out and give me one month! One month and I'll take you down in a fair duel!"

Lucian stared like she was an idiot.

One month? She'd just spawn a hundred thousand bugs and swarm him. Nice try.

"If you won't submit," Lucian muttered, "how about you lay me a few eggs to play with?"

"No way! Kill me if you must—I won't birth for you!" she screamed. "My babies won't be your toys!"

Lucian groaned. He could control her life, but not her ovulation cycle. How inconvenient.

"Let me out! When the Demon Lord finds out, you're finished!"

"I'm the Demon Lord's favorite! You'll pay for this!"

"Hey! Hey, you listening?!"

Lucian ignored her, deep in thought. "I should give you a name…"

"No! I'm 520! Don't you dare rename me!"

Lucian clicked his tongue. "520 is such a trash name. You need something radiant and wholesome. How about… Bubby?"

"FUCK YOU!"

"Just kidding. Let's go with Dodo. You kinda look dumb and goofy."

"FUCK YOUUUUUUUU!!!"