Unwanted Souls Can Be Traded for Stainless Steel Basins

The king offered his soul to the devil in exchange for forbidden knowledge.

That was the rumor spreading through the capital.

Bathing gave the devil a chance to take advantage of you, yet the king decreed that everyone who came before him must bathe. Witches bowed in allegiance to demons, yet the king forbade the burning of any witch and even ordered them brought to the capital.

Not even the cardinal could stop the king's resolve. His soul had clearly fallen into the hands of evil. Yet years passed, and the country didn't decline. In fact... it seemed to be doing better.

Eventually, people began to understand: even if the capital was shrouded in the devil's shadow, if His Majesty was only sacrificing his own soul and no one else was harmed, then perhaps it wasn't such a bad thing after all?

Meanwhile, the devil, who had gotten nothing out of the deal, finally decided to do something about it.

>>>

"When are you finally going to make up your mind and hand your soul over to me? Everyone thinks I deserve something by now."

"Relax, my friend. It's Thursday, and in my distant homeland, that's the day we eat fried chicken."

Theme: Stand firm