The Contract (1)
“Did you hear? Lady Ophelia has finally passed away.”
“Tsk tsk. Eaten up by her own child, born from her womb.”
It was a birth without blessings.
In a barren room, a single clumsy nanny was all the care he received.
But he considered it a blessing in disguise.
It gave him time to sort through his mind.
What a twist of fate. To reincarnate as that man’s descendant, of all people.
Recalling the final moments of his past life, his tiny hands and feet twitched involuntarily.
The expedition's final battle...
It was a nightmare.
The beginning hadn't been bad.
No, it had gone far too smoothly.
The expedition force breached the Demon King's Castle without much trouble, pressing forward relentlessly.
Thanks to Ulfrik, who cleaved through the demons without rest.
Looking back, that's when the oddities began.
He was already drunk on power. Desperate to claim the Demon King's strength as soon as possible, he charged ahead.
But no one noticed his corruption.
As both a Swordmaster and Grand Mage—an Allmaster—his facade was flawless.
The expedition, believing Ulfrik fought with all his might, squeezed out every last drop of strength to advance.
And at the moment he severed the Demon King's head...
“At last...”
Ulfrik placed the Demon King's imperial crown upon his own head.
What my Transcendental Eye witnessed was a shocking truth.
The authority of Demon King “■■■■” is transferred to the successor.
“Ulfrik Kirchheis” ascends as the new Demon King.
Not a subjugation, but a usurpation.
The betrayer turned to the group and burst into mad laughter.
“This power is mine now. I will be the one to reach the ‘Upper World’...!”
Black demonic flames erupted.
The sinister energy flooding the chamber shredded everyone like monsters in a frenzy.
Betrayed by their most trusted ally, the expedition crumbled in an instant. Even the elves at the rear were swept into the storm.
“Iphril!”
I had to save her.
Snapping to my senses too late, I snatched a sword from the blood-slick floor and charged.
Special spell “Rescue” is deployed.
I barely pulled the unconscious Iphril back—and that's when our eyes met. Ulfrik's.
His pupils, slit long and vertical like a serpent's, sent chills racing across my skin.
The corrupted master grinned ear to ear.
“So it's you, my cherished disciple, Tiberian.... Did you enjoy the magic I taught? No need to blame fate. It was all my design...”
Fate? Design?
No time to ponder his nonsense.
I threw everything I had at Ulfrik, but all I grazed was the hem of his robe.
Current attack cannot be defended against.
Evacuate immediately.
Evacuate immediately.
“...”
An Allmaster who had conquered 9-star in both sword and magic.
I knew I couldn't win, yet I refused to retreat.
The entire expedition stood behind me.
But none of them escaped alive, I bet.
Iphril had already sustained fatal wounds; she was likely gone too.
Slamming into the cold stone floor, I could only curse him as death claimed me.
And yet... reincarnation.
Confirming this wasn't a dream, I vowed.
I'll cut you down with my own hands, Ulfrik.
In my past life, I'd squandered precious time and chances.
This life was different.
Now fully aware of my talents, I could soar higher than ever imaginable.
And being born into Ulfrik's family...
Means I can exploit his legacy to grow.
Revenge would be mine.
I clenched my tiny fist tight, sealing the oath.
Though its pudgy, adorable softness deflated my resolve a bit.
Anyway, first things first: assess my situation.
A lot of time must have passed, but exactly how much?
And why this neglect?
Short-staffed, rundown facilities, a subtle chill in the air.
A shabby nursery unfit for the Kirchheis name.
I swiveled my unfocused eyes, hunting for clues, but gleaned little.
I needed a way to gather intel.
Right, time for the “Spirit Possession” spell.
A body not even 100 days old.
Direct action was impossible.
Best to procure some limbs to move.
The “Spirit Possession” spell I'd learned from Iphril was a form of spirit arts.
“You can summon uncontracted spirits and communicate. Test their abilities before contracting, too.”
Meet a resident spirit of this mansion, and I'd grasp the basics.
Problem was, spirits didn't dwell just anywhere.
Especially hard in human-frequented indoors.
If only I could get outside, summon land spirits from the earth.
A way for an infant to feel the outside air, even briefly.
Only one option.
Writhing, I turned my head. There was the servant tending me.
The clumsy nanny, perhaps twenty, named Jenice.
No choice.
After deliberation, I steeled myself.
No pointless pride. Use the one weapon available to the fullest.
“Waaah! Waaaaaah!”
I wailed at the top of my lungs, shaking the room.
* * *
“Phew, the crying's finally stopped. Young master, were you that desperate for some outside air?”
Three solid hours of shrieking.
I ignored the bottle in my mouth, diaper checks, thorough massages—everything.
“Look, isn't it magnificent? This is the Kirchheis family's pride, the Silver Garden. You've been born into such a prestigious house.”
Finally, cradled in the nanny's arms, out we went.
The pristine inner courtyard was breathtakingly beautiful, dazzlingly ornate.
A sight mismatched with the warm season.
Magic adorns every inch, from one to ten?
No other explanation for snowflakes blanketing every broadleaf.
An insane waste of mana.
But something even more extravagant caught my eye.
What the hell is that? A whale?
High in the sky.
A massive bulk drifting leisurely below the clouds, swimming through the heavens.
“That's the Kirchheis airship. Amazing, right?”
“...”
If they'd launched that in the expedition era, it'd be decried as mana squander.
Ages had surely passed.
Hurry.
Cradled in Jenice's arms, I focused my will.
Drew the ritual for Spirit Possession in my mind.
Deep within, my trait stirred.
The Transcendental Eye opens.
A trait born of the soul.
I seized nearby mana, bending it to my will.
As intent projected outward—
Summoning spell “Spirit Possession” is deployed.
Whooooosh!
A whirlwind howled.
Fierce enough to make Jenice yelp and turn.
And voices echoed.
[Tiny young human, did you summon us?]
[Such an immature child?]
[Fascinating!]
The land spirits dwelling in the garden revealed themselves.
I replied swiftly.
Yes, I summoned you. I have questions.
[Before that, share a bit of mana? As payment for answers.]
[Hungry. Contract! Let's contract!]
What...?
Land spirits typically wanted nothing from mages.
Bound to the earth, they absorbed nature's mana abundantly.
They even clung to talented mages, sharing mana.
Why demand this now?
Doubt triggered my Transcendental Eye's expansion.
Sparks of insight fired, sifting dozens of possibilities.
Conclusion came quick.
This garden. Green mana-capturing arrays buried underground, powering constant decorative spells.
To run such a vast garden, they'd siphon natural mana.
Land spirits starving? No wonder.
Cruel and arrogant.
Fitting for Ulfrik's kin.
He'd used spirits as familiars but scorned spirit arts.
If land spirits were this bad off, family guardians fared worse.
Wait. Then...
This is perfect for me.
A good idea sparked.
One way to summon something superior.
Maybe even that one.
“Time for milk, back to the room. Babies can't take too much outside air.”
As Jenice turned toward the mansion,
I burst a mana particle laced with my trait into the air.
[...!]
The land spirits flinched in unison.
My talent's scent spread like perfume.
All felt it.
My potent trait.
The plan: Want a contract? Come find me.
Leverage their obsession with gifted mages, spread the word.
Then pick the best from the crowd.
It worked flawlessly.
That very night.
* * *
[Here? The child's room?]
[Seems so. Smells of fragrant mana everywhere?]
[Maintain decorum, all! What are you lot doing, oh noble guardians?]
Lying in the crib, I cracked my eyes.
Sharp presences prickled my senses, rousing me.
A grin crept up.
Hooked perfectly.
The room buzzed like it might burst.
Spirits packed in, countless.
Perched everywhere, staring.
[Oho! Awake!]
[The little one. Indeed, a gleam in those eyes.]
[Contract with me, quick!]
My blink sparked reactions like fireworks in the night sky.
The clamor was almost overwhelming.
These weren't land spirits.
Land spirits appeared as formless haze.
Earthbound, unable to stray far without contract.
These had distinct forms, come to my room.
Higher rank.
[We are the “Guardian Spirits” who once protected this Kirchheis Castle.]
[High spirits safeguarding buildings and key figures.]
[Ancient history now. Damn it all.]
Guardian Spirits.
Powerless like the land spirits.
Neglecting even family guardians?
So much had changed.
[Ahem! As for this one, guardian of that grand chapel...]
[What? Wait your turn! I'm the central research tower's guardian...]
[Outta the way! I'm the grand gate guardian...]
Guardian Spirits pitched themselves eagerly.
But disappointment—no sign of that one.
Then—
[Silence! All of you, withdraw!]
[Oh, the king arrives.]
[Then we yield.]
The rowdy guardians hushed, vanishing like smoke.
As if a small sun entered, eclipsing all starlight.
Intense heat, overwhelming presence.
I smirked.
You've come.
The one I'd waited for.
Eyes aglow with pure golden flame gazed down.
[Hmm, a soul strangely alluring. In any case, thou shalt be this one's contractor. If thou aspire to head of Kirchheis, that is.]
The late arrival spoke arrogantly of the family patriarchy.
But justified.
The eternal phoenix, emblem of Kirchheis.
Supreme over all guardians—the Great Guardian Spirit.
[This one is Hierniorn. The longest sentinel of Kirchheis. Contract with this one. Now!]
Arrogant tone, as if he were the Allmaster.
Ridiculous.
I knew him all too well—
Long time no see, Hiern. You've grown. Feels like yesterday you were Ulfrik's pink chick.
[Eh...?]
I knew Ulfrik's familiars intimately.
This phoenix especially unforgettable.
He'd fled, abandoning the expedition at the end.
You don't remember me? I'll jog your memory.
[Gack!]
I stretched out my small hand and seized Hierniorn's throat.