Ch.265265. Dragon of Fortune? (3)

The Animal Friend Contract was, in truth, something that couldn’t be formed with ‘her’ under normal circumstances.

Why is this soul-based quasi-familiar contract called an ‘Animal’ Friend Contract, and why have I only been forming Animal Friend Contracts with animals and magical beasts rather than other beings?

Obviously, the Animal Friend Contract was originally created as a technique to form contracts with ordinary animals or magical beasts. While there are occasional exceptions with nearly mutant-like abilities, this rule remains firm.

Even I wasn’t an exception to this rule. Naturally, I couldn’t form a contract with a cloud dragon, which belongs to the dragon species rather than animals or magical beasts.

However, ‘she’ who was contemplating before my eyes could be an exception.

She who, as a form of punishment, was banished from the Celestial Court, lost much of her power, had her memories erased, and as a result, became an undefined unique species of magical beast.

And this fact was something she knew all too well, having received the information from me.

I shared information with her through the new method I had acquired, and she, accepting rather than rejecting it, must have understood what I was trying to convey.

Details about the Animal Friend Contract, and the situation she was currently in.

“Memory recovery… seems impossible.”

“That’s right. That can’t be helped.”

The memories forgotten by her have gone beyond simply being erased from the brain; her soul has been bleached like during the process of reincarnation, completely disappearing.

In addition, there are instabilities created by issues such as the overall imbalance between body and soul, but…

While the former might be impossible to address, the latter can certainly be treated or resolved through a contract.

And she, who knows this fact better than anyone, clearly seems to find my proposal attractive.

The Animal Friend Contract is fundamentally different from ordinary familiar contracts.

It’s a contract that binds souls with the subject and merges their paths into one, creating a complete community of fate. Since betrayal isn’t even possible in the first place, it allows for mutual trust.

As for the power gained through the contract… that’s more beneficial for me.

It’s essentially like recruiting an unexpected high-level Animal Friend as a new force.

On the other hand, the benefits that ‘she’ can gain through the Animal Friend Contract are substantial—perhaps not overwhelmingly so, but certainly significant enough.

Treatment for wounds that could never be healed through conventional methods. Providing a stable foundation, and possibly even creating the potential to recover memory damage that no one else could reverse.

In any case, it remains an offer that’s impossible for her to refuse in her current state…

“I will form the contract.”

“Good, I look forward to working with you. …I’ll call you casually from now on.”

The moment her affirmative response reached my ears, I happily smiled inwardly and extended the bond for the contract.

※ ※ ※

And so, after we agreed to form the contract.

‘Finally, the last one…’

In fact, thinking about it, this contract was meaningful in many ways as it was my last Animal Friend Contract.

At first, I wondered how I would ever manage to fill all twelve slots, but now I’ve actually filled all the remaining positions.

Thanks to this meaningful yet somewhat strange situation, I was briefly lost in thought, but soon felt the contract progressing and connecting us—

Naturally, as always, changes occurred on both sides.

First, with her soul entering through this contract, my “Celestial Magic Aptitude” seems to have increased somewhat.

If I were to convert that level into a numerical value… it feels like it went from about a ‘C+’ to somewhere between ‘B’ and ‘B+’.

Even growth limited to certain qualities would be enough to make me happy, but this level of improvement was enough to make me feel like I could die from happiness.

While previously my abilities were far inferior compared to Sophia’s, now they were at a level where a reasonable comparison could be made. As I genuinely rejoiced in this, I also turned my attention to other abilities.

The second ability I gained was… horns.

-Crack!

Amid somewhat savage bone-cracking sounds echoing all around, I could feel a pair of horns sprouting from the top of my head.

Like deer antlers… no, more like dragon horns resembling branches, these jade-colored, luminous horns were indeed those of an Eastern dragon.

These were special organs used for detecting and precisely controlling dragon magic.

While Western dragon horns are solid weapons and focused on concentrating magic for attacks, these horns are closer to auxiliary tools used to detect or control surrounding magical energy.

What I found particularly attractive was the horns’ magical detection function. With these, unlike conventional magic detection that relied solely on the five senses, I could use them like a magic detection radar.

Detecting magical energy has more versatile applications than detecting life force, and since the horns can be concealed if necessary, they truly have multiple uses.

Additionally, I could feel that my body could now emit a versatile cloud-like substance, and my physical form had developed a significantly higher affinity with nature…

…But more dramatic than my changes were those manifesting in her before my eyes.

-Flash!

“…Huh.”

“Huh? Huuuh?”

The moment the contract was finalized and the spiritual bond completed, suddenly a “auspicious light” like those described in classical novels burst forth from her, and then the silhouette of her visible through the light began to change?

‘….??’

Completely taken aback by this unexpected turn of events, I watched in confusion, but regardless of my reaction, her brilliant and solemn light soon completed its transformation into something that had reached a certain realm.

Her form… human. To be precise, it began taking shape similar to a human girl.

Her height was barely over 130 centimeters. With cloud-like, fluffy white hair flowing around her, she bore such a striking resemblance to Sophie at first glance.

Of course, unlike this girl who clearly didn’t have an adult’s build or physique, Sophia definitely had the height and figure of an adult.

…There’s no need to know how I knew about Sophie’s figure when she usually wears loose clothing.

Anyway, while I was having these irrelevant thoughts, her appearance and form continued to change.

The areas from her feet to just above her knees, and up to her upper elbows, were covered with dragon scales, resembling those of reptiles or birds.

On top of her skin, a flowing garment that looked like it was made directly from wool… not so much a traditional costume of any specific country, but more like a general East Asian traditional outfit took shape, with a fairy’s “celestial cloth” made of clouds naturally draped along her arms.

Between her legs, a snake-like tail sprouted and grew out as an added feature.

Anyway, right after the “contract” was completed.

“Ugh, huk…!”

-Thud!

Since her injuries remained even in her humanoid form, she collapsed while bleeding profusely from her side. After watching her for a moment, I sensed her will being transmitted to me and began preparing to cast a slashing magic spell, but then…

“Ah, what should I call you?”

When I voiced this question that suddenly occurred to me, she hesitated to answer, so I showed a mischievous expression and—

“Looking forward to working with you, Yongyong.”

“…Ugh.”

She reacted strongly to that overly simple and rustic name as I smiled at her, then immediately cut off her breath with a slashing spell and instantly collected her soul.

‘It’ll take about two weeks… maybe three at most.’

As I was mentally estimating the time it would take for her to recover,

Sophia slowly approached me and kindly spoke.

“Are you finished?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, it went well.”

And so, having recruited my final Animal Friend, I summoned Tarasque to rest my tired body, and about three days after we set out again toward Hanyang…

“Sophia, look over there. It’s Hanyang!”

“So it is!”

Finally, the two of us were able to set foot in Hanyang, which could be considered our original destination.