Chapter Index

    Seongguk – Transaction

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    “It’s simple. Make a contract with me.”

    “A contract, you say…?”

    “Of course, a contract using magic.”

    A contract using mana.

    It was a method that Ian, as a Wizard, trusted and favored the most.

    However, Lena rejected Ian’s proposal without a moment’s hesitation.

    “No. Absolutely no contracts.”

    “Hmm… If you refuse, you know I can’t trust your words, right?”

    “…Still no. Tell me another way instead.”

    “I can’t trust you without a contract.”

    “But…”

    Lena bit her lower lip at Ian’s firm attitude.

    Then, as if something came to mind, she hurriedly grabbed Ian’s arm.

    “Th, then how about this?”

    -Squish.

    In the midst of it all, Lena rushed in too forcefully, and her chest was pressed against Ian’s arm.

    “Gasp?!”

    Ian, whose body stiffened for a moment, turned his head to the opposite side and said quietly.

    “Unless you’re going to say something ridiculous about solving it with your body… move away a bit.”

    “S, sorry!”

    In the awkward atmosphere, Lena scratched her head and stepped back.

    Lena was watching Ian, wondering if he was upset.

    “I’m really sorry. You must have hated me touching you…”

    “It’s okay, just say what you want to say quickly.”

    “Um… You might be able to find an Artifact in the Papal Chamber. Wouldn’t that be enough evidence?”

    “That’s foolish. Even for me, infiltrating the Papal Chamber isn’t easy.”

    “You’ve been boasting about your skills since before. Are you saying you can’t even do this much?”

    “There’s a Barrier inside the Papal Chamber. I’ve confirmed it myself. Forcibly breaking through the Barrier is possible, but I’ll inevitably be discovered. Besides, where’s the guarantee that His Holiness the Pope keeps that Artifact in the Papal Chamber?”

    “St, still, if we can get our hands on the Artifact…”

    “I’m not saying you’re completely wrong. If we can find the Artifact, we can even undo the Saintess’s hypnosis and reverse the situation. But that’s an option to consider after gaining your trust. The order of consideration is wrong.”

    Of course, Ian was willing to gamble if there was enough evidence.

    However, such recklessness was only possible when there was mutual trust first.

    In the end, Lena couldn’t refute any further in the face of Ian’s logical explanation and closed her mouth.

    “Ugh…”

    “Rather, I’m getting curious now. Why are you so against making a contract?”

    Ian’s question was valid.

    Contracts using magic were one of the most commonly used methods.

    Needless to say, the coercive power was stronger than contracts made with words or paper.

    Although there were ways to break or circumvent the contract, the difficulty was among the highest.

    Therefore, Lena’s appearance, shuddering and refusing the contract, seemed very strange to Ian.

    “Have you had a hard time with contracts before?”

    “Haa…”

    -Thud.

    Lena, letting out a deep sigh, sat down on the floor and curled up.

    “That’s right. I had a bad experience with a contract in the past.”

    “Did you make a dangerous gamble or bet?”

    “That’s right. I thought it was a favorable contract for me at the time. Of course, my life almost ended because of it. And Jade and Annie had a really hard time too.”

    “Well, there are a lot of people whose lives have been ruined by bad contracts. I guess you’re one of those fools.”

    Even at Ian’s sarcasm, Lena didn’t get angry and just nodded.

    “Yeah. I’m a fool. So, can’t we try another way?”

    “Hmm…”

    Ian leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

    “I understand your unfortunate story.”

    “Right? Then—”

    “But I have no intention of taking dangerous gambles at all. Not if there’s even a slight risk of being played by the Demons.”

    “If I refuse here too, will you just go back?”

    “Of course.”

    “What about your promise to Annie? You came to save a comrade at your sister’s request. What are you going to tell Annie if you go back empty-handed?”

    “I’ll explain that you colluded with the Demons, that’s the truth.”

    “A, are you serious? Honestly, you know my words are true to some extent…”

    “You don’t know ‘moderation’.”

    -Thwack.

    “Cough?!”

    Ian grabbed Lena’s neck with one hand and lifted her up.

    His patience had reached its limit.

    “Lena, do you think this is a joke?”

    “Kh… L… Le…t… g…”

    Lena, with her neck strangled, grabbed Ian’s arm and began to struggle.

    “Then stop acting like a spoiled brat.”

    As Ian released his grip, Lena collapsed to the floor with a thud.

    Lena looked at Ian with a hint of fear in her eyes.

    “Cough, cough. Wh, what are you doing…”

    “Let me explain one last time. You can’t escape from here without my help. You know what will happen if things continue as they are, right?”

    “Ugh…”

    “You’ll live as a Fleshlight until you die. And Jade, who you love so much, will become the Pope’s puppet. Of course, I’ll just take Annie with me.”

    After Ian’s explanation, which was practically a threat, a moment of silence flowed between them.

    And eventually…

    “…I’ll do it.”

    Lena’s mouth opened first.

    “Contract. Contract. That damn contract. I’ll do it.”

    She realized that Ian wouldn’t budge no matter what proposal she made.

    “Good. Now you’re talking.”

    Ian’s hardened face softened a little at the positive answer.

    “So, how are we going to make the contract? Should we write a contract?”

    “No.”

    Ian shook his head.

    “It’s difficult because I don’t have a contract right now. Instead, I’ll engrave magic on your body.”

    “…I’m already suspicious.”

    Lena squinted and looked at Ian.

    It was difficult to trust even a contract using a Mana Contract.

    In this situation, Ian’s offer to engrave magic was even more suspicious.

    “I’ve never done a contract without writing a Mana Contract… You’re not trying to pull something, are you?”

    “Ha. Do you think I’m the kind of person who would play such tricks? As long as you don’t deceive me, there won’t be any problems with the contract.”

    “Ugh… Fine. I wouldn’t have a choice in the first place. Do as you please.”

    Lena shook her head, tired of arguing.

    “But promise me. Promise me that you’ll make a normal contract and cleanly end the contract when this is over.”

    “Of course.”

    Ian nodded as if it were obvious.

    “So, what do I have to do now?”

    “Just lie down as you are.”

    “Like this?”

    Lena lay down on the floor and stretched her arms and legs out in a star shape.

    Naturally, her bulging chest and the secret area below were emphasized.

    It was an excessively defenseless pose for a woman to take in front of a man.

    “Haa… I’m going crazy.”

    Ian ran his hands over his face as he watched.

    But Lena frowned, as if she was also dumbfounded.

    “…Why are you sighing again? What’s the problem?”

    “Put this on.”

    Ian picked up the clothes the Priest had taken off and threw them to Lena.

    -Thud.

    Lena’s face, catching it, was full of questions.

    “Huh…? You’re giving me clothes now?”

    “It’s hard to keep looking at your naked body.”

    “You’ve already seen everything anyway. And is my body, which I’ve worked so hard to maintain, that unpleasant to look at…”

    Hearing Lena’s grumbling, Ian grabbed the clothes she was holding and pulled them.

    “If you don’t like it, give it back.”

    “Ah, no. I’ll just wear it.”

    Lena grabbed the Priest’s robe and hurriedly began to put it on.

    -Thump.

    “Ugh?!”

    Lena flinched as Ian’s finger touched her left shoulder.

    “What’s wrong?”

    “I’m a little nervous…”

    Seeing her obviously nervous, Ian comforted Lena.

    “Calm down. It’s just a contract that will let me know if you’re deceiving me.”

    “Well, Ian, who has the best pride in the world, wouldn’t lie.”

    “…”

    Ian didn’t say anything and just looked at Lena’s back. His eyes flickered quietly.

    But Lena, not knowing that, just urged Ian on.

    “Okay. Hurry up.”

    “I’m starting.”

    Ian’s fingers moved, and blue energy flowed from the end of them.

    -Swish.

    The mana began to engrave something on Lena’s left shoulder.

    A little later.

    Ian took his hand off and lightly dusted Lena’s left shoulder.

    -Tap, tap, tap.

    “It’s over.”

    “Hmm… Is this a rose?”

    -Swipe.

    Lena rubbed the small rose-shaped tattoo engraved on her shoulder with her hand.

    “I didn’t know you had such aesthetic sense. Amazing.”

    “I wish you’d stop showing off your ignorance. Balance and harmony are important elements in magic. The shape is a part that greatly affects the effect.”

    “Yes, yes. I understand. …But I don’t think anything has changed.”

    Lena shook her body from side to side, as if there was no immediate change.

    “It’s a natural result since it’s not a contract that has physical changes.”

    “Then does it hurt if I lie?”

    “The contract is about not lying in front of me. If you lie while in physical contact with me, I’ll know. The tattoo glowing and a little pain are bonuses.”

    “Then shall we test it?”

    Lena grabbed Ian’s arm.

    “Okay. I’m a man.”

    “…That’s a lie.”

    Ian shook his head, feeling the fluctuating mana.

    At that moment.

    “Ugh?!”

    Lena grabbed her left shoulder with a strong and tingling sensation.

    “It works well.”

    “It hurts… Still, this is a very reasonable contract. I’m ashamed that I made such a fuss about hating this earlier…”

    “Then I’ll do some testing too.”

    This time, Ian grabbed Lena’s arm with his hand.

    “Huh? You’re going to test—”

    “[Sleep.]”

    -Thud.

    Lena fell to the floor as it was.

    **

    Ian, who had left the welfare facility, was walking towards Annie’s room.

    -Thump, thump, thump.

    Suddenly, Ian stopped walking and shouted quietly into the empty hallway.

    “Come out.”

    But as expected, no answer came back from the surroundings.

    “This is annoying.”

    It was very faint, but there was definitely a gaze watching him.

    Ian immediately spread mana and began to search the surroundings.

    1m. 5m. 10m.

    He continued to increase the range of the Detection magic.

    But the only things caught in the mana were the people of the Great Temple doing their jobs.

    Contrary to Ian’s expectations, the person watching him was nowhere to be found.

    “…Was I mistaken?”

    Ian tilted his head and started walking down the hallway again.

    **

    -Thump. Thump.

    Daniel checked Ian’s receding figure and breathed a sigh of relief.

    “Hoo…”

    ‘As expected, he has a good sense. I almost got caught.’

    He almost got caught while quietly hiding and watching Ian.

    It was fortunate that he avoided the Detection magic with the Divine law he used to ambush the Demons by hiding his presence, otherwise, things would have been complicated.

    ‘In the end, he contacted the Sinner Lena.’

    Daniel had confirmed a little while ago that Ian was coming out of the place where Lena was imprisoned.

    That meant there was a very high probability that Ian had contacted Lena and plotted something. No, it was certain.

    ‘If the two join hands…’

    Ian belonged to the Magic Tower, which was currently in conflict with the Holy Kingdom. There was enough reason for him to help Lena.

    If Ian, a powerful Wizard and disciple of the Magic Tower Lord, and Lena cooperated… there was a possibility that His Holiness the Pope would be in trouble.

    He had to prevent that at all costs.

    ‘I need to report to His Holiness the Pope right now.’

    -Swish.

    Daniel’s figure, standing behind the pillar, disappeared in an instant.

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