“Generally, it’s said that forming a contract with one drives you insane. So maybe those with strong mental resilience are qualified to form contracts?”
“…………”
Is my mind that resilient?
If anything, every time it seems like my lack of a spirit contract might be exposed, my stomach twists in knots. I don’t think I’m that strong…
“I don’t think it’s that simple. There’s probably something more fundamental…”
Lily shook her head at Gareth’s suggestion. If it were just that, there’d probably be more spirit masters who could contract with evil spirits.
“…We just don’t have enough information.”
After muttering to herself for a while, Lily finally let out a tired sigh and said those words.
It was something we already knew, but with our current knowledge, there’s just not enough information to analyze the qualifications for contracting with a evil spirit. evil spirits themselves are still shrouded in mystery, so it’s impossible for us to delve deeper on our own.
In that case, who should we turn to…?
“…Gareth, are you free tomorrow?”
“Huh? Yeah, after class should be fine.”
“Then, after class tomorrow, can you come with me for a bit?”
“Sure, I don’t mind, but…”
Though he looked puzzled, Gareth nodded. I started planning our after-class schedule in my head.
“…What about me?”
“You’ve got the ranking match coming up soon, right? Focus on preparing for that.”
Lily pouted, clearly unhappy about being left out, but unfortunately, I couldn’t bring her along for this.
Even as I said that, she continued to look dissatisfied, but she seemed to accept it and didn’t press further.
“Alright, I have some errands to take care of, so I’ll be going now.”
“Rourke, where should I wait for you after school tomorrow?”
“For now, just wait in front of the school gate.”
“Got it.”
Hearing Gareth’ response, I slowly got up from the bench and started walking toward my destination.
“Where are you going?”
As I was leaving, Lily tilted her head and asked. I stopped, turned around, and answered.
“To my part-time job.”
“Another request to borrow a spirit?”
“Yes, would that be possible?”
“I won’t say no outright, but it depends on the reason.”
Since I had finished cleaning during my part-time job the other day, Master Owen’s room was relatively neat and tidy.
He motioned for me to sit on a chair while he settled onto the sofa across from me and muttered.
When he asked for the reason, I pulled out the scroll-like talisman I always carried from my pocket and showed it to him.
“…Hmm.”
Upon seeing the talisman, Master Owen immediately sensed the faint spiritual energy emanating from it and recognized the spirit sealed within. He smiled.
“I see. It seems you’ve captured a rather evil spirit. What do you plan to do with it?”
“I want to test it.”
“…………”
He didn’t ask what I meant by that.
Instead, he erased the smile from his face and narrowed his eyes quietly.
“Why did you come to that decision?”
“I met a spirit master who had formed a contract with an evil spirit.”
“…I see.”
When I answered his question, Master Owen let out a deep sigh with a look of understanding.
“I’ve heard about it too. Something about the revival of the Four Fiends or whatever. There are people out there trying to cause trouble.”
“What do you think about that, Master? After hearing that story?”
“Humans forming contracts with evil spirits… Well, it’s not impossible.”
Master Owen didn’t seem particularly surprised. In fact, he looked as if he had expected something like this.
“After all, evil spirits are still spirits. If anything, it’s more strange that they can’t form contracts.”
“Do you know the conditions… for such a contract?”
“If I knew that, I’d probably have my name in the history books.”
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Master Owen glanced at the talisman as he spoke, then casually snapped his fingers. Out of nowhere, a small water spirit shaped like a squid appeared, using its tentacles to hand him a keycase.
“Well, if that story is true, it’s likely related to one’s constitution.”
“Constitution…”
“It might even be the reason why you can’t form contracts with spirits.”
I furrowed my brow at Master Owen’s words.
Could it really be possible to form contracts with evil spirits but not with regular spirits? After all, evil spirits are still spirits, just with a different label…
“That said… I wouldn’t recommend forming a contract with an evil spirit. I’ve told you this before, but…”
“When I was fighting that spirit master, he said to me, ‘You’re just like us.’”
“…………”
Those words from Haunted had been echoing in my mind ever since that day.
I didn’t believe that man, of course. But after the chaos had settled and I returned to my daily life, still without a contracted spirit, I couldn’t just brush off his words.
“I know that forming a contract with an evil spirit is taboo and dangerous. But even so, I want to form a contract with a spirit as a spirit master.”
“…………”
A contract with an evil spirit.
It’s true that it’s something to be avoided, and seeing the likes of Haunted makes it clear that it’s not the right choice. But even so…
“I’ve failed to form contracts with so many spirits up until now, and honestly, I was close to giving up. But even if it’s an evil spirit… if it’s possible… if this one will take my hand… I want to be like everyone else…”
“…Fine. I guess there’s no helping it.”
Perhaps sensing my feelings even though I couldn’t explain them well, Master Owen sighed and stood up from the sofa. He walked over to a locked cabinet behind him, inserted a key from the keycase, and opened it.
Inside were several spirit-sealing stones, shining like gemstones. Master Owen picked up one of them, an emerald-colored spirit-sealing stone, and tossed it to me.
“Whoa!? Wait, huh…?”
“You need it, right? Go ahead and take it.”
I fumbled to catch the stone, startled, and stared at Master Owen. He sat back down on the sofa.
“Even though I’m the one who suggested it… are you sure this is okay?”
“Well, it’s not exactly good. From a professional standpoint, I should probably stop you… but you’re going to try it anyway, aren’t you?”
“W-Well…”
“And besides, as your master, I’ve seen your efforts and struggles. If Rourke is serious about trying this, I’m not going to stop you.”
Master Owen smiled wryly as he muttered in response to my question. He knew about the hardships I’d faced since my first year, which was why he was letting this slide.
“Well, there’s no law or system that outright forbids forming contracts with evil spirits. Go ahead and give it a try.”
“Master…”
“Ah, but there’s one condition.”
As he said this, Master Owen showed me a red spirit-sealing stone he had apparently taken out earlier and laid out the terms.
“You have to let me observe the contract. And if I judge it to be too dangerous, you’ll stop immediately. If you don’t agree to these conditions, I can’t lend you that spirit. What do you say?”
“That’s fine. In fact, I’d feel more reassured if you came along.”
If Master Owen was there, he could handle any emergencies that might arise. I was truly grateful for his offer.
“Alright, then it’s settled. When do you plan to do this?”
“Well, I was thinking tomorrow after school…”
“That’s pretty soon. By the way, who else is joining?”
“I was actually planning to ask a friend for help.”
“Oh? Asking for help from a friend? You must be pretty close.”
Master Owen muttered with the most surprised expression I’d seen all day.
“…Yeah, I at least trust them.”
One of the few friends who knows about my situation.
Even though I’m a failure who can’t form a contract with a spirit, they’ve never treated me differently and even taught me swordsmanship as a way to fight.
I’m really grateful.
“I see. So with that friend joining, where do you plan to test the contract? Surely not within the academy grounds, right?”
“No, I was planning to try it in the woods of Judeca.”
I didn’t have the courage to openly attempt a contract with an evil spirit within the academy. That’s why I chose the woods of Judeca, far enough from the city in case anything went wrong.
“That’s a reasonable location. In that case, I’ll go to the woods of Judeca first and set up a barrier in a suitable spot. You can join me later with your friend.”
“Thank you, I appreciate your consideration.”
“More importantly, make sure you explain everything properly to your friend.”
“Yes, of course… Oh.”
Come to think of it, I’ve only asked Gareth to make time for me and haven’t properly explained the details yet. I’ll have to make sure to explain everything tomorrow.
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