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Chapter 78

“So, are you going to sign the contract?”

Cha Jinsu, who had switched back to formal language without me noticing, said this to Yeon-woo, who wore a serious expression while pondering.

“…Do I really have to?”

“It’s better to do it. After all, having a spirit sleeping inside a person means that the spirit holds a certain goodwill towards them. As you know, affinity with spirits is the most important thing.”

Spirit affinity. This is the key concept in spirit contracts, indicating that the better the relationship you have with a spirit, the more power it will lend you. Essentially, it’s like borrowing strength through connections.

However, Yeon-woo’s concern lay precisely in this area. Given how reluctant she was about it, the darkness spirit was likely not fond of her either.

How could one like the person who had killed them? After all, a doppleganger is technically classified as a demonic monster, an enemy life form, right?

[For now, this kid is… claiming to be a part that separated from the doppleganger. They say there’s nothing to worry about like what Dad is concerned about. The change that allowed it to consume curses last time was initiated by itself.]

‘Hmm…’

That aspect definitely needed consideration.

Regardless, quite some time had passed since it absorbed the darkness, and throughout that time, it had not caused any troubles but remained quietly beneficial to Yeon-woo, even evolving to consume curses.

[On the contrary, it’s thinking that Dad would dislike it. So it took on a one-sided form of lending strength while only sleeping. It’s a bit pitiful, really….]

‘Ugh…’

What does that make it sound like? I thought it was just mana….

Yeon-woo could only awkwardly rub the back of her neck, feeling like she had stumbled onto a scene of child exploitation.

“Right now, it’ll be several times more advantageous than searching for another spirit to sign a contract with. In many aspects.”

Cha Jinsu’s cold and pragmatic words struck Yeon-woo like a nail. There was no justification for her to decline.

“I’ll… sign the contract….”

Yeon-woo had no choice left but to sign her name on the contract while holding back tears.

“Thank you! If you have any questions related to spirits, please! Do visit me!”

Was he that happy about the increased performance? I don’t know how the performance of the Magic Tower is calculated, but Yeon-woo, who had initially been planning to do it anyway, could only nod weakly with a pale face as she crawled out.

‘Who would have thought they would extract so much blood just to sign a contract.’

It wasn’t that she was pale from emotional stress; it was simply because a lot of blood had been drawn.

The fact that Cha Jinsu insisted that the more blood he used, the more effective the contract would become, made Yeon-woo, who knew nothing, helplessly have her blood drawn in that very seat.

Above all, Cha Jinsu, who kept repeating “More blood… more blood…!!” was terrifying.

As Yeon-woo walked out of the Magic Tower, she muttered under the scorching sunlight high in the sky.

“Well, at least things worked out somehow.”

“User Choi Yeon-woo raises a question. Why did you sign the contract? User Choi Yeon-woo is remembered to have hated the doppleganger.”

The child with black hair, held by both Shar and Yeon-woo, spoke in a mechanical tone that felt even more like a case of abduction.

Just born, Shar’s little brother.

…Is he really a brother? I guess so.

Sorry, Nea, but… I ended up with a second child.

To those unaware, it might seem utterly nonsensical. However, establishing a relationship in spirit contracts is an incredibly important process.

Some people raise spirits like pets, while others treat them like children, making sure they receive their compulsory education.

Where does this discrepancy in relationships stem from? It’s what the spirit desires.

During the contract process, the Spirit Master must inevitably verify what the spirit wants.

Being bound by pure life force and a close bond of contracts means just that. Naturally, Yeon-woo had seen this spectacle too.

And ironically, that sight closely resembled the one she had witnessed previously.

A small child sitting alone in a dark, quiet, and cold space.

Many things were visible within that scene. A baby wrapped in swaddling, abandoned in front of an orphanage.

Nea, who had to eat the already cold flesh of her kin. And even Shar, who had ended up sitting blankly in the center of their shared grief.

The spirit longed for warmth. It didn’t even wish for parents; it simply wanted someone to hold its hand next to it.

This was without a doubt the most effective attack method in the world for Yeon-woo.

Thus, a three-person family was born in this place.

Though their bodies had shrunk, their minds remained clear! Dad, Choi Yeon-woo at fifteen!

Gold Dragon, Shar!

Dark Spirit, name undecided!

‘How does a three-person family not have overlapping traits?’

They weren’t even human!

Isn’t this what we call a true multicultural family? Their cultures were so different, they came from entirely different timelines.

“Well, I’ll slowly think of your name by tomorrow….”

“User Choi Yeon-woo’s opinion denied. No need for a separate entity name.”

“Can you please not talk like that?”

It sounds like a robot, seriously….

“Hah! Then maybe I should teach you while Dad has dinner with Grandpa Dok-go!?”

“No, then you wouldn’t get to eat.”

“I’ll eat with Grandpa Yuri! Grandpa Dok-go is a bit scary….”

“User Shar’s opinion confirmed.”

…So I’m okay eating alone with someone like that? I’m scared; at this rate, we’ll all die….

Although that thought crossed her mind, Yeon-woo just nodded. The determination as a father that he wouldn’t force his children to do things they didn’t wish if they were unnecessary weighed heavily on his limbs.

*

In the grand center of the Sacred Grounds, a massive flame was blazing.

However, amidst the considerable amount of firewood, there were no branches to be seen.

– Aaaaaah!! Help me!! It’s hot!!

The flames were sustained by the screams of humans.

Periodically, people thrown in by masked figures, much like they were tossing in coal, were being used to maintain the fire.

It was a maddening noise to simply listen to, a maddening scene to merely observe.

Amidst this landscape, a man dressed in a loose, priestly robe lounged, sipping on wine.

He looked as if he was enjoying human screams like they were classical music. Yet such pleasure could not last long.

“High Priest, report.”

“Speak.”

The man who approached under the permission of the High Priest whispered something in his ear. Upon hearing it, the High Priest’s face contorted.

“What? Really?”

“Yes, we have not been able to get in touch since yesterday.”

“…Oh my. Who informed you of this?”

“‘Violence.’ He said he saw it while passing by the area.”

“Of all people, that annoying guy…. Understood. But losing a useful pawn is a painful blow.”

Saying this, the High Priest waved his hand. At that gesture, the subordinate who had reported exited the Sacred Grounds.

‘Could it be that Louis has died? Without knowing exactly what his ability is, there’s no way to counter it.’

Louis’s deception is such a property. If one has enough mana, they can deceive the world at least once. Even if they die once, it can be treated as if they didn’t and act again.

While not reaching the territory of time reversal, at the very least, in terms of escape, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say his ability cannot be blocked at all.

“As always, this Academy….”

It’s bothersome, the High Priest tossed away the wine bottle into the fire. The flames flared up violently.

*

“Ahem!”

Shar placed her hand to her mouth and cleared her throat loudly.

The black-haired boy with brown skin, seated on the floor with his knees pulled close, stared up blankly at her.

And Yuri, sitting at a desk with her chin resting on her palm, was once more looking at the two of them.

Fortunately for Yuri, her appearance didn’t seem too childish to her at all.

Being around ten years old was fortuitous; if she had looked even slightly younger, the Department Head’s Office would have resembled nothing more than a daycare center.

Of course, Shar’s mind was already completely focused on Yuri, who was watching from a few steps away. It’s clear that dragons are wise creatures, but that doesn’t mean they lack a childhood.

Despite that wisdom, it’s undeniable that they could still exhibit the pure innocence of a child.

“From today onwards, I will be your big sister! No, um, your older sister…?”

Confidently placing her hands on her hips, Shar opened her mouth, but her confidence wavered right from the start.

She had heard that gender is determined when signing a contract but didn’t have the bravery to confirm it here. No matter how one looked at it, it was embarrassing.

“Notification that the entity’s gender is male.”

“I see! I’ll be your sister, Arkishare! Just call me Shar on normal days, and if there are strangers around, call me Love-nee!!”

Golden love. It was the name they decided to use when introducing herself to someone completely unaware. She had intended for it to go on her household registration as well.

Though her surname was different from her father’s, since she had gone through the proper procedures, there wouldn’t be anyone to complain.

“Notification received. From now on, I will refer to user Shar as such. User Shar, older sister.”

“…Uh, sorry. That’s not the kind of feeling I was hoping for.”

Though Shar accepted the spirit’s comments, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed by the lack of warmth in its mechanical tone.

Of course, since it didn’t know what she wanted, it could only tilt its head in confusion.

“Maybe Dad’s tone is a bit different…. What if you try copying Yuri-nee’s way of speaking?”

“Notification that I retain the memory. Notification that I have access to user Choi Yeon-woo’s memories.”

“How about mimicking Yuri-nee? After all, uhmm… Dad’s friends have the smoothest speech, right?”

Suggesting that the child who had identified itself as male should now mimic feminine speech was a bit dubious, but Shar had no other option.

When she thought of similarly toned masculine speech, it reminded her of Namgung Seong, but he was kind of… well, a bit too playful…?

He came off as a bit rough, which didn’t seem suitable for a cute little brother’s speech. If Yeon-woo were here, he would have definitely agreed that such teasing wouldn’t do at all.

After a brief moment of mechanically rolling its eyes, the spirit opened its mouth. Its brown cheeks had reddened slightly, and while Shar felt odd about it, she couldn’t help but notice.

“Ah, hello…!! Shar, big sister…!!”

“Ugh…!!”

The shock that burst forth was as impactful as Dragon Breath itself, causing Shar to exhale sharply.

“A-are you okay…!? Turns out that isn’t working…!!”

Reacting to Shar’s response, the spirit quickly reverted its tone. However, even though its tone fluctuated back to flat, it was still intensely emotional as if channeling Kim Yoo-min, which was oddly cute in its own right.

But more than anything, what was most frightening was that from Shar’s perspective, it seemed as if the spirit was genuinely embarrassed.

‘It was speaking mechanically, then suddenly became normal and is embarrassed…!!!!’

W-What is this? This is a forbidden door that humanity should not be allowed to enter. While the opposite might be understandable, to think something like this could exist was shocking enough to send shivers down Shar’s spine.

What the spirit desired was family, and what Shar longed for was a younger sibling, so it was a given that Yeon-woo would surely open her heart to this.

At that moment, Yuri decided to speak to the two of them. Whatever her intention, their cheerful interactions were simply too cute, and she planned to offer them some candy.

“Hey, you two, are you having fun?”

At those words, Shar snapped back to reality and took the spirit’s hand, jumping up suddenly.

This was no time to sit around. She needed to spread this child’s cuteness as far as possible!

“Grandpa!! Grandpa, listen! Can you call us Yuri Grandpa~!?”

At those words, the spirit, still holding Shar’s hand, hesitated for a moment before closing its eyes tightly and speaking.

“Y-Yuri Grandpa…. Hello…!”

Having spat it out in a rush, there was no response whatsoever, so the spirit cautiously opened its eyes. Shar, watching from the side, burst into laughter, while Yuri covered her face with one hand.

‘It was definitely something unusual…’

No doubt about it, it was impossible to think that it wouldn’t be rejected by humans….

She couldn’t understand why she even dreamed of wanting a family, regretting the thought that she had offended that kind-hearted Yuri Grandpa as she began blaming herself.

Just then, a loud bang rang out.

Startled, the spirit squeezed its eyes shut, but when it opened them again, a mountain of candy piled high came into view.

“…?”

“Looks like good fortune has come to the Academy…!”

A smile that couldn’t be concealed spread across the fingers covering her face.

(Continued in the next episode)

 

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