Slave Oath and the Dark Elf Chase
Of course, it wasn't just the gold or whatever else I might snag that had my eyes gleaming.
'You dare lay a hand on me?'
Those bastards were already on my shitlist.
Normally, I wouldn't give them the time of day.
But that spinach-headed prick, Bulria Arishion, kept glaring at me during classes, and it was starting to grate on my nerves.
'And now he's even got eyes on me?'
Whether he ordered it or not didn't matter.
What counted was that I'd caught one of his tails red-handed!
'You're fucked.'
"Alright! We're heading out now!"
-What about this guy?
I gave Eodukshini's question a casual shrug.
"Gonna kill him."
"W-Wait! That's not the deal!"
"What deal?"
I shrugged again.
"Y-You said you'd... spare me...!"
"Got proof?"
You don't have evidence?
I grinned mockingly, baiting him, and Egret's face went ghost-white.
Aigoo, this is fun.
Of course, I had no intention of actually killing him. But insurance? Gotta lock that down tight.
"Fine. I'll let you live. But sign this first."
"...?"
I slid a sheet of paper toward him.
A mana oath contract.
Even for swordsmen, mana was crucial.
It was the benchmark for sword aura, body enhancement, and rank divisions— all came down to mana control.
What swordsmen wielded wasn't "mana" per se, but "aura," refined from mana.
Just one type of mana, really.
1. Shall never disclose today's events to anyone, not even once.
2. Must fulfill one wish from Party A 'Eugene'.
"Never speak of today's events, not even once. And grant one wish from Party A 'Eugene'...?"
"What, should I just wish for your head instead?"
"N-No, sir! I-I'll sign it!"
Fearful I'd change my mind, Egret scribbled his name in a frenzy.
The moment he did, blue light wrapped around his heart... and the man's other vital spot.
"Perfect. One slave contract acquired."
"W-Wait... why's it glowing there...?"
"Listen up. Break the oath or blab about today, and you lose your mana—and become a eunuch."
"...Huh?!"
"Didn't read the fine print?"
Egret frantically scanned the contract.
"Wh-What the hell is this...?"
"Told you to read it carefully."
"Th-This is fraud...!"
"Your fault for falling for it, dumbass."
Sure, the perpetrator's at fault, but this guy came at me first. Self-inflicted wound.
"Alright, in you go~"
"... ."
Eodukshini spat out the words with a disgusted look.
-Demon spawn.
"I'm a priest, remember?"
Why do folks keep calling the priest a demon?
There was a brief interruption from the pest, but we warped to our destination without issue.
Caw— Caaaaw—
"... ."
"... ."
The pitch-black Black Forest oozed an aura like "ghosts lurk here." Shadows seemed to blanket the entire woods.
"Whoa, killer vibe."
My mutter drew terrified whispers from two: Jenella and Eodukshini.
... Eodukshini, why're you scared?
"G-Ghosts won't pop out, right...?"
-Gh-Ghosts... I-I'm hiding in your pocket...
I yanked Eodukshini out before it could slime into my pocket.
Looked like a plain white goo monster, but as my divine beast, I could sense its emotions.
Terror.
"You're a divine beast—why fear ghosts? An angel scared of spooks would be more believable. Hell, your name's ghostlier than any!"
-...What?! No way! Change it!
"Nah. No take-backs."
-Ugyaaaaah...!
As it wailed, I shoved it back in my pocket.
No helping it.
Brought it for filler, but if it's this spooked, it'd just kill the mood.
"Adria..."
"...Don't talk to me."
"...Pardon?"
Adria's face was ashen.
Man, what's a ghost got that living folks don't?
"Jene..."
"Eek!"
"... ."
At least Ash seemed fine.
"Ash."
"... ."
"Ash?"
"...Y-Yes?"
...You too?
I was dumbfounded.
These girls smash living threats daily—ghosts scare 'em?
Heading in like this, morale would tank.
Clap!
I clapped loud, drawing all eyes.
Every gaze dripped fear—ridiculous, but I held it together.
"Think about it. Say ghosts kill us."
"Eek!"
"Quiet! Anyway, we'd become ghosts too, right? Then we'd face off with 'em."
Jenella finally snapped out of it, tilting her head.
"...Maybe?"
"Exactly! Ghosts are folks who died with grudges. We'd be pissed too—done in by ghosts? We'd haunt right back! Imagine the awkward stares."
Dumb logic, but better than nothing.
Seeing them so rattled tugged at me a bit...
"Ghosts can't touch us. Got it?"
"B-But..."
"No buts. And honestly, you're tougher than any gh—ow."
Got smacked for adding that.
Ow, that stung.
But really, how tough could a ghost be? Real heavies become liches or death knights, not wimps.
I don't buy ghosts anyway. If they existed, those assholes would've been haunted to death already.
"Anyway, cool? No more freaking. And who am I?"
"...Thug?"
"Handsome student?"
"Fighting buddy...?"
"... ."
Fine for Jenella, but you two...
I stared blankly at the sky.
Missing Mosik... Muscled-up Mosik wouldn't fear ghosts.
'Nah, he'd panic over not muscling them down.'
Whatever.
"...Forget it. Even if ghosts tag along, I'll handle 'em. Don't freak—scaredies attract more. You ain't like that, right?"
"...N-No way! I'm no coward."
Ash, you seem pretty jumpy though...
"R-Right. I'm the princess. Ghosts? Pfft."
"O-Of course. With all of us? No ghost's sticking."
"Yeah, yeah. Or they don't exist?!"
After the drama, we plunged into the forest.
Caw— Caaaaw—
Ash had seemed spooked pre-entry.
But combat mode flipped her pro switch.
"Everyone, halt."
She stopped us, muffling her mouth with cloth and crouching low.
Ear to ground, she hurled a nearby pebble ahead, then frowned.
"Illusion magic over the forest. Senses all fuzzy. Threw it straight... but..."
Whoosh!
I snatched the pebble flying at my head.
Definitely weird.
Saw her toss it forward. Why from behind?
"Illusion magic? Hmm, stomach's off... ears ringing too..."
Jenella rubbed her solar plexus, queasy.
Mana-sensitive mages reacted hard to sensory twists.
"Adria, send a doll that way?"
"Huh? Sure."
Tree vines surged at her gesture, shaping a doll.
But wonky shape.
"...Where's the doll's arm?"
"Huh? Why's it like this?"
"Whole forest's glitched out."
I dug in my ear. My hearing? Fine. Senses normal. No distortion.
'Mine are intact.'
But if even Ash felt it, guess it's just me.
'War God's Blessing?'
Then I'm the sole carry here.
I closed my eyes, honing my senses.
Something prowled nearby.
Swish, swish.
Animal?
Too lanky limbs, sharp aura for that.
'...Human.'
Why we're here: dark elf hunt.
But that a dark elf?
Dark elves weren't officially registered anyway.
'Less elf, more human-like?'
Then, the presumed dark elf glanced my way.
Eyes locked.
"!"
Screeeee!
Something rocketed at me. Instinctively, I grabbed it.
Snatch!
Short spear. No monster crafts this quality.
I glared fiercely. Dark elf, seeing the block, bolted.
"Over there!"
I yelled, drawing my sword.
"Wait! Eugene, space here's warped...!"
No hesitation—I drew with a slash in iai stance.
Slash!
Rumble!
Crimson sword wave mowed the trees the elf had leaped through.
Elves were nimble—on branches!
'Clear the footing, problem solved!'
Warped space? Irrelevant.
Illusions didn't faze me. That pebble? Elf caught and rechucked it.
"I'm going ahead! Follow as best you can!"
"Eugene! Our senses are messed—might not keep up!"
"Nah!"
I surged Divine Power. Crimson glows enshrouded them.
Not revealed to Jenella yet, but inevitable.
War God Priest's Blessing
Debuff Removal
"...Huh?"
"All good now! Follow! I'm chasing it down!"
I swung again, charging ahead.
Slash!
The tree the dark elf perched on toppled. It leaped to another—eyes met again.
"Come here!"
Back—or blood—I see!
---