Chapter 21: The Spirit of Blood

‘Hmph. A kid is still a kid.’

A lavish breakfast table.

The Guild Master of Painters smirked with victorious contempt.

‘Kidnapped and yet all it takes is a few cuts of top-grade beef to win her over?’

Look at that ridiculous sight.

Did she even realize how valuable she was?

“Eat up. So you don’t look like some starved urchin in front of our clients.”

“Okaay!”

He sipped wine with leisure.

But as he mentally reviewed tomorrow’s plans, his expression twisted.

“Click. Eat a little neater, will you? You’re ruining my appetite.”

“Okay! I’m sorry!”

Munch munch!

Chloe chewed her steak and laughed along.

What? You think that tone’s weird?

You must be from the capital, huh.

In a regional SME, that’s basically angel behavior.

Chloe was hit with a pang of nostalgia.

Back in her previous life, at home—

Chopsticks flew at your face instead of words at the table.

Ever heard of Manager Kim the Kimchi Ninja?

He criticized other people’s chopstick manners while performing shuriken arts with his own.

‘Huh…?’

Wait.

Why does this seem… better than 21st-century middle management?

“You done eating? The bath is to the left.”

“Huh?”

“Even if you’re some country bumpkin, you’ve been to a bathhouse, right? Follow the maid.”

Even a free bath after a meal!

As expected of a man dealing with nobles, the guild master offered a full bathhouse course filled with luxury oils.

Chloe returned to her room in a daze.

“Whoa.”

And then startled again at the plush softness of the bedding.

Softer than the default bed in her old rented studio.

The pink-themed interior set screamed:

‘If someone barges in, I’ll say: Kidnapped? No way, I’m being spoiled rotten!’

“…Ugh!”

No!

Don’t give in to temptation!

Chloe snapped herself back.

This unearned pampering felt like it would corrupt her soul.

‘Ugh… But still…’

Maybe the painter’s not so bad?

He is valuing her pretty highly…

And being a painter… doesn’t sound all that different from being a musician, right?

[If painting is your dream, I’ll support you all the way! 💖]

“?”

Wow.

That dopamine hit? Instant.

An AI-add-on to the pampering lifestyle?

Talk about sobering up fast.

‘Makes perfect sense now.’

Almost became a full-time AI artist there.

Terrified, all hesitation evaporated.
Chloe could now see the grim future if she gave in:

Wooooah! How do you even draw like this?!

Ah, this is called “AI art.” A cutting-edge tool to replace outdated geezers like you.

“Gyaaahhhh—!”

Immediate moral reset.

Chloe slapped herself hard across the cheeks.

“Get it together, Chloe A. Turing!”

Wake up, Chloe!

This isn’t real!

Wake up from this stable, well-paying, AI-safe career path!

This comfy mansion isn’t real either!

There’s no daily meat dishes, no private spa baths, no fluffy beds in your real world!

Wake up, Chloe!

Wake up and live the life of an overworked woman in another world, haunted by a garbage-tier AI, surviving off rock-hard bread with no promising plotlines—purely on blind faith in a murky future!

That’s the world you belong to!

That’s the life of a Luntravall musician you’ve dreamed of your whole life!

“AI… I hate you!”

To an artist, AI is murder.

Justice and virtue returned to Chloe’s eyes as she slew the evil in her heart.

“Phew… Delusions, begone. Yep, I’m done with painting.”

[How would you like to quit? Shall I burn down the villa? Leave it to my fiery passion!]

This one’s been acting kinda radical lately.

Chloe clicked her tongue.

“How can you say that? He already talked to my guardians. In times like this, it’s right to step down quietly.”

She remembered a moment from breakfast.

The guild master had answered one of her questions.

Something like:

Don’t worry. I’ll explain things to your parents and to Groomlock.

Roughly that.

It made her sigh automatically.

“Well, yeah. If I were my parents, I’d tell me to give up being a bard and work under the Lord too.”

[I don’t think that’s what he meant!]

“I know. He was probably saying he’d postpone my monastery admission and wanted me to consider things seriously. Even Emil seemed shocked when she heard I was going to the monastery.”

[I really don’t think that’s what he meant!]

Then what is it?

Are you saying the Lord is a genuine Chloe stan?

‘Well… I can’t say for sure that he isn’t.’

The treatment really was that good.

At least by Luntravall standards.

In other words, for Chloe—who came from the modern world—it was a tempting offer she could just barely resist.

“You’re trying to buy me with money? Thank you very much!”

It was too generous to even joke like that.

But still.

There was guilt. 

And fear.

Once her true limits were exposed, it’d be all over.

If she turned into some AI witch or demon, the only ending waiting was burned at the stake.

“Thankfully, he said he wouldn’t force me to stay. Said quitting was always an option.”

[I really! Don’t! Think! That’s what he meant!]

Then what did he mean, you brat?

Just say it already.

Chloe, tired of the AI’s nagging, decided to ignore it.

“I’m sorry. I’d like to resign.”

“…What?”

She went straight to the Guild Master with her decision.

[Wow! What a fresh plot development!]

Flabbergasted.

That’s the only word for the Guild Master’s expression.

He massaged his temples.

“Are you out of your mind? Do you even understand what you’re saying right now?”

“I gave it some thought, but I don’t think this path is for me. Oh, and this isn’t much, but here’s a parting gift.”

With that, she laid a freshly printed picture on the table.

It was the kind of artwork the Guild Master despised.

One of those AI-generated, click-and-go creations.

“This is Cynthia’s final work. A little fan service for the Guild Master who appreciated my art so much!”

“………………”

He held back a scream with near-superhuman self-restraint.

If it were a student saying something like this, he’d have smacked them already.

But Chloe was a product.

And the grand banquet was almost here.

Beating her now and leaving a bruise would be a massive hassle.

She showed up at the Empress’s birthday with a bruised face?

Isn’t the Guild Master abusing her?

Even if he’s not, it’s a great excuse to destroy the Guild Master and snatch Chloe away! Coup time!

‘Ugh.’

Just thinking about it gave him a headache.

He reached into a drawer for some antacids.

‘Huh? What’s wrong with him?’

Meanwhile, Chloe tilted her head in confusion.

Didn’t he say quitting was allowed?

SLAM!

After chugging the antacid, the Guild Master slammed the desk with dramatic force.

Then he spat venomously:

“You know how many powerful people are waiting just to see you? You ready to deal with the consequences?”

“Gasp.”

Chloe’s eyes widened in surprise.

Which made sense.

‘What?! You already had meetings lined up?’

Well, why didn’t you say so?

If there were important meetings, she could’ve worked around them.

It’s not like delaying her resignation by a month or two would kill her.

Quitting on the day-of?

That’s just heartless.

There’s a kind of warm-heartedness in the provinces that city folk will never understand.

Feeling a little ashamed, Chloe bowed politely in apology.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I can’t turn down an invitation from such important people.”

“…What did you just say?”

The Guild Master was stunned.

Even more so, because it was the third or fourth time today.

‘This little brat…! She flat-out rejected the invitation I sent for the competition, and now she says this crap?!’

Can’t refuse high-ranking nobles, huh?

Then what does that make him?

Was he so beneath her that refusing him was just fine?

In that case, Chloe’s words meant something like:

— Wow, what a scrub ♡

— You’re just a pathetic loser who sucks up to nobles but tries to flex on a little girl ♡ So embarrassing ♡

— Oh? Did you think I’d treat you like a noble or something?

— Too bad ♡

— What kind of creep thinks a competition invite is enough to woo a girl? Delusional much? Kyaa-ha-ha!

Grrrk…!

The Guild Master ground his teeth.

Rebellion was one thing, but mockery?

Her defiant attitude sealed his decision.

“Fine. Take this.”

He reached into an open drawer—not for medicine this time, but a necklace.

“Wear it. And just so you know—you don’t get to say no.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“Would you even understand if I explained it?”

Well, fair point.

Drawing on her corporate experience, Chloe did as she was told.

…Not because she liked the pretty jewel. Probably.

Convinced his intimidation had worked, the Guild Master gave a chilling grin.

“The Blood Crystal necklace… never thought I’d actually use it.”

Blood Crystal.

In other words, the Spirit of Blood.

A corrupted elemental—once of water, now twisted.

A fallen spirit who learned joy in tormenting life.

But fallen didn’t mean weaker.

If anything, it was more vicious now.

A spirit that dominated and brainwashed weaker beings by controlling their blood… practically a demon.

Perfect leash for a cocky little girl who didn’t know her place.

— O Spirit of Blood!

— Bind with Chloe and seize her body!

The Guild Master howled telepathically.

The Blood Spirit responded.

— KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAK?!?!

“?”

Wait, what?

Why’s it screaming?

The Guild Master blinked at the mental shriek in confusion.

Meanwhile—

‘Oooh, this looks expensive. Must be a luxury piece for all those meetings.’

Chloe fiddled with the necklace, suppressing a smile.

Pretending to admire the Guild Master’s portrait—drawn by Clicky, of course.

🔗 Temporary Contract with Corrupted Spirit Confirmed.
✨ A blessing protects you.

[You have a cult following.]

[You are blessed with spirit magic.]

[Wisdom of the Dragonborn is bestowed upon you.]

⚠ Target cannot cast magic due to overwhelming fear.