Although the demon wasn't unwilling to share his plans - he at least told the human girl to wait until they were somewhere more secure. As such they both travelled back to their hidden base in what amounted to complete silence. Just the chattering of those around them to prevent any awkwardness.
At least on Elizabeth's part.
Fortunately that archdemon seemed to have done something in the time she was unconscious as literally no one dared to approach them. Those that were considering it were dismayed by those near them. Even resorting to violence to prevent Necrohamster from being proactively disturbed.
It was a confusing sight for sure; their "death star cult" was one of the organisations that were treated with a certain level of caution by those who lived here. Known for their manpower and strange "curses". Yet it was impossible to claim that they were as untouchable as people were treating them.
With a new lease on life (even if she didn't quite understand it herself) she let her curiosity flow more freely as she looked around to take in the reactions of the passersby. Sadly she wasn't exactly an expert at reading people's faces. Only knowing that their gaze was focused on the two of them.
So, sadly, she essentially learned nothing other than he apparently did something to the gangs in the area that made them unwilling to act against him.
Either way, arriving at the base was painless as a result.
When they stepped down the long stairs she couldn't help also taking a better look at them - realising that the materials were a far higher quality. Not exactly hard since they were previously working with literal dirt that had just been compacted. Now there was actual stone with some kind of symbols engraved in them.
"We're pretty much already inside so I may as well tell you what you want to know…"
She nodded so - not that he turned around to see her response - so she listened to him explaining what he planned while they both walked down the long wide stairs into their hidden base.
The plan to move to a whole new country was… Interesting to say the least.
Essentially he wanted to completely seal this base away and simply leave everything behind with just him alone heading towards the new country. At which point he wanted to become an adventurer to gain some local currency; maybe take down some gangs. Once he had enough he'd purchase some land.
Then he wanted to essentially shit on this world's level of magic by doing what they still have never been able to do… Make a teleportation gate back to the base they're currently in. Although it wasn't that difficult to accept since summoning was just teleportation across realms which surely couldn't be harder?
"But wouldn't such a teleportation gate cost a lot of mana?"
Summoning a demon like the archdemon required more sacrifices then there were potentially people who existed on this planet. The only reason they managed to summon him is because he came along with a half dead divine demon. In addition they had to cheat the price as she is still worth more than a kingdom.
It seemed that the archdemon understood her thoughts as he chuckled softly while directing some of their members with a large pile of notes in his hands.
"Most of the ritual isn't even a payment to the one summoned… It's appeasement to let us cross across the void between realms, an anchor so we end up in the right place, else we wouldn't need something as weak as a mortal sou. So energy isn't the problem but co-ods."
She just continued to look at him while blinking cluelessly.
"Now we'll pawn that off so that we can get some proper tools to expand this place and I want you to set up one of those totems there-"
Initially that hamster didn't realise her look as he continued on with guiding everyone while wiggling around a fountain pen like it was a conductor's baton. When he happened to look in her direction, seeing her look, he let out a sigh. At least he continued to explain it to her.
"Simply put, the details of the ritual are to ensure you are summoning the right entity. The souls involved are just a requirement to ensure the demon arrives in the right place. It's a beacon that allows us to arrive in the right mortal realm on the right celestial body.."
"Wait… So there is nothing assuring that you'll actually make a deal?"
To that he shook his head.
"Following the intent of deals we accept is in our nature but just because you summon us doesn't mean we become puppets to follow your bidding…"
Snorting at the belief that a successful summoning would lead to a successful deal.
"But we always thought that the souls were payment, if they're not, what is?"
If before she could never imagine herself trying to get any non-vital information out of him yet now she didn't even show fear as she asked them for curiosity's sake alone. Such a thirst for knowledge was something that sparked a little respect from the archdemon. Making him willing to answer.
"Just like all intelligent races we have our own currency; however for demons this currency holds more value than even our own lives. That currency is the spiritual energy that a soul produces which is commonly referred to as sin. Different sections even attach different values to different types just like you humans have different currencies for different countries."
He answered with a smile as he continued his directions, looking over his shoulder to see the shimmering eyes of the girl, allowing him to be more smug.
Nodding his head with confidence.
"So you demons actually take the sin from our souls rather than the oils themselves?"
"Precisely; spirits meanwhile are communists so they care less about deals so often play around with them as a means to entertain themselves. For us it's just business. This is why the common belief that spirits are more trustworthy is actually a bold faced fallacy; who would you trust more?"
"... Definitely the person who actually had some actual stakes."
"Indeed, a demon will never run without you while a spirit who doesn't like pain won't think twice about hiding behind you."
She could certainly see why them and spirits didn't get along when everyone was essentially trusting spirits who the demons felt weren't trustworthy. Honestly she had heard about spirit mages before. In fact she had heard many tales about how capricious those very same summons are.
To the point where more than one account of them not coming when their contractor was in mortal danger leading to the obvious unfortunate result.
"Do you mind sharing… Why is sin so important to demons?"
Deciding promptly that it would be best to not ask about spirits from one of the strongest demons.
"Ah~ an intelligent question that even those who know our price don't often ask; simply put it's both our life blood and the currency for which we can buy extra lives. A demon's core is literally formed from coalesced sins and by taking in more they get stronger. That is what demonic cultivation is!"
"Demonic… Cultivation?"
"The process from which a demon ascends their spirit - refining their spiritual body through various methods which usually involves quite a bit of pain. Through true suffering comes true strength. It is a fact that the ever brilliant primordial demon has developed into our very genealogy."
Letting all that knowledge sink in for a second as she remembered another odd term that the archdemon had replied with when she asked about the importance of sin. The fact that they could apparently "buy an extra life" felt like a rather elaborate choice of words. It was impossible for her not to ask about it.
So she did just that.
"What do you mean that demons can… Buy an extra life?"
That question brought a rather… Interesting "smile" to the archdemons face; one that spoke of a great amusement that the girl picked up on his words as well as that she was brave enough to ask about something likely so important. How many mortals were brave enough to ask him a question?
Especially when he had already shown off a little bit about how strong he was - that was different from being fearless due to ignorance. This was bravery in the face of fear. A desire to know more no matter what the risks involved are.
Those other humans quickly backed away from the demon but Elizabeth held steady.
"Demons can't die yet everything is solved through two methods for demons, strength or a deal, and immortality is no different. As long as a demon can pay then her exalted demoness will bring them back from the brink. As such sin is more important to a demon than anything else!"
Moving his hand in front of him where a strange greenish crystal - radiating a powerful aura - came into existence from his own twisted undead flames to just hover above his open palm.
"For, to a demon, anything can be bought with enough sin~!"
A shiver travelled up her spine however she couldn't help having her gaze drift from the archdemon to turn toward the coffin that held his master.
It was a set of questions that she was forced to ponder if the archdemon even knew the answers for.
Which in turn meant only one person could reasonably have them; the divine demon herself.