Contract (1)

The Imperial Underground Prison. In that place filled with heavy air and a nauseating stench.

The northern warrior, Ruston, lay bound hand and foot on a stone bed. Squeak squeak! A few sewer rats peered at him with curious eyes before scampering off into the darkness. The biting chill, the foul air. Torture devices stained with someone's blood and flesh. Rusted chains and flickering torches…

Why the hell… did things end up like this?

Ruston felt like he was on the verge of madness. Coming all the way to the imperial capital to show the spirit of the northerners had been great—at first. Even capturing the imperial princess by sheer luck had sent his spirits soaring.

But then… some mage had shown up and ruined everything. Dante Aision. That freak who wielded bizarre bug magic…! If he ever got out of here, he'd make that bastard pay…!

That was when it happened.

"You're awake~"

"…!"

A beautiful woman's voice echoed through the chamber. As someone approached, Ruston turned his head. Even in the dim underground prison, her sacred platinum blonde hair shimmered radiantly. Eyes that drew you in like a magnet, a slender and elegant face. The empire's rising star. It was Princess Esilia.

"Wh-what do you want…!"

Ruston tried to sound bold, but he couldn't hide the tremor in his voice. He was terrified.

"What I want is always the same. Information."

"…Information?"

"Who is the backer sponsoring you Carmilton Liberation Army folks? I want to know."

Ruston flinched. One name came to mind… but if he spoke it aloud, he'd be betraying countless northern brothers!

"I-I don't know!"

"Hmm. If even you, sitting at the Carmilton Liberation Army Command Post, don't know the sponsor, then who the hell would know who's behind the Liberation Army?"

"There's no 'behind'! We're driven purely by the will of true northerners—"

Princess Esilia burst into laughter.

"Fine. Shall we put that northern spirit to the test with our own eyes?"

"…"

Snap! As the princess flicked her fingers, someone dragged in a cart. The man wore a burlap sack over his head, with only eyeholes cut out, completely hiding his face. The cart was loaded with tools—knives, scissors, awls, hammers, sickles—all caked in blood and grime.

"A poet I respect left these words."

The princess's soft voice echoed like a haunting melody.

"Flay the skin from a man's flesh. All that you knew will become unfamiliar, yet you shall draw nearer to its essence."

"…"

"I love this line~ It fits any situation so perfectly."

"W-wait a minute…!"

The princess smiled. A chillingly pure, sacred smile.

"Shall we get a little closer to that 'essence' ourselves?"

"I'll talk! I'll tell you! As a prisoner, I demand fair treatment—"

The burlap-sack man hurriedly clamped Ruston's mouth shut. Then, in a trembling voice, he saluted the princess.

"It's an honor to demonstrate my skills for you, Your Highness!"

The princess played along innocently. "Oh~ I'm looking forward to it~"

"I'll do my absolute best to satisfy you, Your Highness!!!"

"Mmph! Mmmphh!!"

Ruston tried to shout something. You're trying to get information—why gag me, you lunatic?!

But neither the princess nor the burlap-sack man paid him any mind. They had more important work ahead.

"First! Let's start with these scissors!"

"Oh my~ How exciting~ What are you going to do with them~?"

"You'll be shocked, Your Highness!"

"Mmmphhh!!!"

The terrified prisoner's gasps filled the dark underground. As it always had, ever since the Imperial Underground Prison was built.

Answering the princess's summons and returning from the debutante ball, Dante briefly enjoyed the life of an unemployed noble.

"Mom! Dad! Did you hear? Big bro saved the princess at the debutante event!"

"Oh my, really?!"

"Dante. Tell us what happened."

Dante explained the situation to his family. In truth, it had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all been handed to him on a platter. He'd merely played his part in the princess's setup.

But those unaware of the circumstances believed it was a miraculous coincidence yielding astonishing results.

"Wow… that's incredible."

"Hah. What were the capital guards even doing…"

Surprisingly, the princess kidnapping attempt didn't become ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠big news. After all… nothing had actually happened! The princess had nearly been taken, but she was fine, and no one was hurt or killed. No dopamine rush, so the newspapers didn't dig deep.

Of course… that was thanks to the princess's firm nudge.

'Um… Your Highness. What if we wrote an article about that incident…'

'Hehe. Go ahead and try~'

'Yes ma'am! Even if it kills me, I won't write it!'

Reporters lived by reading the room. The press, masters at gauging the princess's mood, wisely kept quiet. With the papers silent, the general public remained oblivious to the near-kidnapping—and it only circulated in noble society.

"From what I hear, the princess brought it on herself…"

"She deliberately cleared the guards because she needed a spot for young nobles to meet discreetly."

"Tsk tsk. Even at a ball, you can't just remove security~"

"Eh, but nothing happened, so it's fine!"

The informed nobles put it that way. The princess had made a mistake. And fortunately, one of her close aides had swiftly rescued her. None other than Dante Aision.

"Bro! You got a letter!"

"Another one?"

Letters poured into the Aision mansion daily. Fellow young nobles and friends, hearing of Dante's rescue of the princess, sent praise-filled missives.

As the saying went, praise should flow freely for good deeds. The nobles seized the chance to flatter Dante and build ties. He was already a key figure in the [Princess faction].

Dante was quietly amused. The Aisions were just a coastal count's family enriched by New World trade… yet young nobles flocked to him, seeking connections through his exploits.

Is this what an insider's life is like?

"Bro. Who sent that?"

"Imperial Youth Association."

"Ugh, they're still hitting on you?"

"Sara. Use this for kindling."

"Yay~!"

"…"

"Who's that from?"

"Magic Tower Lord. Seems insane."

"Why?"

"It's all just 'magic is great.'"

"??? Then why write?"

"Beats me."

Dante tossed another letter to Sara. Kindling fodder.

Dante smiled faintly. The only normal letters came from the gentlemen's club members. Maybe time for a sparring session…?

Anyway, letters begging for friendship flooded the house daily. Mostly spam-like trash, but some caught the family's eye.

"Oh, Dante!"

His mother, Elena, waved a letter excitedly.

"Another date invite~!"

"Who this time?"

"House of Lingray marquess! Their young lady is flower-like pretty~ She must be interested in you!"

As Elena laughed, Sara snatched the letter and tossed it into the fireplace!

"Take that!"

"?! Sara! What are you doing?!"

"I met her, and the Lingray marchioness's daughter has no manners! She doesn't suit you at all, bro—don't even reply!"

"???"

Dante eyed his sister with exasperation, but Sara had matured into a fine noble lady, well-versed in society. She declared proudly:

"I'll screen out the mediocre girls! You can't date just anyone, bro!"

"Thanks. I'm touched. Sis."

Sara, Princess Esilia… why were all the women around Dante so controlling?

While burning letters and drafting polite rejections to the ladies' date proposals:

"Dante. Step outside for a moment."

"Pardon?"

His father, Lennon, called him. Lennon Aision wore an awkward, troubled expression. The reason became clear soon enough.

"The… Magic Tower Lord is here."

"???"

That lunatic—no, that weirdo—had invaded their home?

Dante set aside his work and headed out.

Rushing into the drawing room, Dante was stunned. The Magic Tower Lord sipping coffee was shocking enough—but seeing his second sister, Valentina, chatting amiably across from him was another level.

"Brother."

Valentina stood and bowed. The 17-year-old girl took after their father: quiet and deep-hearted.

"Ah~! How many years has it been, Dante!"

"…Marquis."

The one-eyed spectacles-wearing oddity. Genie Haragan marquis. As his appearance suggested, he was one of the empire's top eccentrics. Infamously, the magic-obsessed man! He ate with magic, showered with magic, dated magic… a total nutcase. But that's why he succeeded.

"Hahaha! I heard! You heroically saved the princess with your bug magic!"

"Yes. It just happened."

"Your magic grows stronger every year!"

"…"

"But what a shame~. If a talented mage like you studied at the Magic Tower…"

Genie eyed Dante oddly before speaking.

"Planning to dive into politics with the princess?"

"No interest in politics. For now, I'm just aiding her due to personal ties."

"I see? So after that's done, you'll study magic?"

"I'd like to, but does it have to be at the Magic Tower?"

Genie jumped in shock.

"A mage studying anywhere but the Magic Tower? Where else?!"

This conversation repeated yearly. Dante replied wearily.

"The Magic Tower won't have the bugs I'm after."

"That's… Ah, right! Research funds!"

"?"

"Hire adventurers with research grants! Have them hunt rare bugs across the empire, buy them at high prices—you could study all you want!"

Dante stifled a laugh. The Tower must be swimming in cash, solving ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠everything with money.

"What do adventurers know about ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bugs? Better to hunt them myself."

"Ah… so you want to travel the empire."

"It's the surest way to advance my magic."

Genie nodded, then grinned.

"Knew it. So I brought you a gift."

A gift? From this magic fanatic? No expectations. Probably a magic book or materials.

"This rare magic tome!"

"…"

"Hahaha! Too thrilled to speak!"

Thrilled. Sure. Bug magic books were rare anyway… Dante flipped it open—and paused. Better content than expected.

Genie caught the reaction.

"Like it?"

"This is… a scrapbook?"

Indeed. Not a single book, but pages copied from various magic tomes, pasted into one patchwork volume.

Genie chuckled.

"I scoured every book in the Magic Tower, excerpting every page mentioning [bugs]."

Dante was genuinely impressed. Every bug-related page from the Tower's library? Madness!

"I'd love to support your studies fully… but I know zilch about bug magic."

Bug tamers were exceedingly rare. Human ones, anyway. Lizardmen abounded, but their knowledge suited the New World. Useless for the empire.

"Wondered what to prepare for you, so I made this crude thing."

Dante shook his head.

"Crude? It's incredible."

"Hahaha! Knew it! So passionate, Bug Tamer Dante!"

Skimming it, Dante found plenty of value. Sightings of bugs across the empire alone were gold. Useful on future travels.

"I'd like to repay you. Anything you need?"

"Sure! Write a book someday! A bug magic tome for the library—by a human, not Lizardmen!"

Dante smiled back.

"I'll work on it in my spare time."

"Excellent! The empire's magic will flourish! Hahaha!"