The Contract
"...Welcome, Lady Krimhild."
Mist smiled at me.
"I'm so glad to see you again..."
A woman with ash-gray hair wearing a short black dress. She resembled me, yet carried a slightly more sensual allure.
"This appearance... you mean? This is..."
She hesitated a moment before continuing.
"It's the last form I remember of you, Lady Krimhild."
“Me? Why are you using my face?”
"I'm not certain myself. I looked like this from the moment I arrived here."
Hmm… I still didn’t quite understand.
Still, it was clear that I would end up like this in the future.
In that case…
"I see. Then… could you put on something a little more… modest?"
"...Pardon?"
The sleeveless dress left her upper chest completely bare… and the skirt was… why on earth was it so short?
The mere thought of myself walking around like that…
Ha… just imagining it made my head spin.
"Um… but this is the dress you bought for me, Lady Krimhild."
???
I was utterly bewildered.
What in the world had my future self been thinking?
Tap. Tap.
Mist slowly walked forward.
"So… what brings you here today?"
She touched a hand to her lips and continued.
"Could it be… you came to see me?"
Then she offered a gentle smile.
"No, that’s not it."
"...I see."
She turned her head away, looking crestfallen.
What was with her…? If I had answered yes even as a joke, I had the distinct feeling it would lead to disaster.
"I-It’s quite all right. Did you come to ask me something?"
"Do you know someone named Reril?"
"You mean the first wielder of Gram?"
The original user, huh.
"As far as I know… he personally forged this sword and wielded it."
"I see…"
Anyone capable of forging a magic sword themselves must have been exceptionally strong.
After all, he had been called a hero.
"The fact that you’re asking about him suggests you’re looking into the wraiths, yes?"
"That’s right. I’m investigating the Wild Hunt."
From everything I had pieced together so far, the cultists had broken the seal, and the resulting shockwave had unleashed the wraiths.
Both were tied to the Void.
But why? The same thing had happened in Windenstadt—what was the purpose of turning the land into a barren wasteland?
"...I can guess why those cultists broke the seal."
"Tell me."
"They are creating the proper environment for Nidhogg’s return. A world blanketed in death."
Nidhogg… that was the god they worshiped, wasn’t it?
The corpse-eating dragon, Nidhogg. When the balance of life and death is broken and death spreads across the land, it will break free from its nest and feast upon the dead.
A world steeped in death… That explained their actions until now.
Those lunatics. Their entire purpose was to summon a corpse-devouring lizard?
"Nidhogg is powerful. It survived even after the mythic era ended. It must still be coiled within its nest."
Mist lowered her gaze and continued.
"And on that day as well…"
"..."
From those words I understood what had happened to my future self.
I hadn’t finished my revenge… and I had died.
My hand tightened into a fist.
That could not happen.
Never…!
Rustle—swish—
As if reading my heart, Mist approached and gently caressed my cheek.
"It’s all right. This time… I will be with you."
A cool yet tender touch.
"Um… could you move your hand?"
"Eh… Ah, yes…"
Mist withdrew her hand and stepped back slightly.
If I showed this girl even the smallest opening… it would be dangerous.
Yes. Very dangerous.
"So is there a way to deal with those wraiths?"
"You would need to handle the root of the seal… but that won’t be easy."
There had to be a reason they had only sealed it away.
"The concentration of Void is extremely dense. Ordinary magic cannot clear it."
I see. Even if magic could erase it, there were limits.
Hmm, wait a moment…
"Don’t I have resistance to the Void?"
After inhaling it for the first time and collapsing, I had overcome it and risen again.
"With my assistance you should be able to endure it, Lady Krimhild. But… the others will not."
Ah… so she had helped me back then. I never knew.
Then what about Brita? How had she endured while I was unconscious?
"At the time… I took measures for Lady Brita. The moment her hand touched Gram."
So it could affect others as well.
"Then I have a favor to ask."
"Yes, please tell me."
"Can you come outside and protect the others?"
If Mist could prevent the corrosion from outside Gram, the problem would be solved.
"Ah… that will be difficult."
Having said so, she glanced sideways.
"I tried to leave before… but I failed."
"Is there no exit?"
"There is no door in this place at all. No matter how far I walk, the scenery simply repeats."
Mist took a breath and continued.
"Before I came here, I was told I would not be able to act freely."
The price of reversing time… I suppose.
A person from the future arbitrarily changing the past could cause problems.
That must be why she was imprisoned inside Gram.
...Wait.
"Mist, I have a question about magic."
"Yes? About magic?"
"Spirit summoning magic. You’re a spirit too. Can I not use it?"
"No, you can… Ah."
Mist stopped mid-sentence as if she had realized something.
If I formed a proper contract and summoned a spirit,
Wouldn’t that let me bring her outside?
Swish—
"Take my hand."
"Yes…?"
"Contract with me."
"!!!!"
Mist’s face turned scarlet as she covered it with both hands.
"A-A contract!? Hwaaaaa……"
What was wrong with her?
"T-Then we’d do all those sorts of things… Ehehe…"
She was babbling incoherently.
Was a spirit contract always like this?
Hmm… I had no idea. I’d have to ask Soleil later.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, no! It’s wonderful! Yes! Please take care of me!"
Pat pat—Clasp—
Mist rushed over and laced her fingers tightly with mine.
"I, the spirit Mist, swear to remain with you for all eternity!"
I, the spirit Mist, swear to remain with you for all eternity.
I accept your vow.
A small light bloomed between our hands and flowed into each other.
It felt strangely intimate.
"Is that all it takes?"
"Hoo… hoo… With this… we’ll be together forever… Hehe…"
Mist pressed her right hand to her chest, breathing hard.
...
Let’s just get out of here for now.
Swish—
I slashed Gram through the air, opening a rift.
"Just in case, hold my hand tightly. Don’t let go."
"Y-Yes, yes!!"
Haaaaaaa…………
It really felt like things were heading in a strange direction…
After Krimhild left, in the secret deep archive.
"Ugh… haaam…"
Brita stretched and yawned.
"That girl’s been gone forever. When is she waking up?"
Thud. Thud.
She wandered around and spotted Soleil.
"I’m dying of boredom. Hey, Solei—" "..."
What was it? Why was she staring so intently?
Where…
"...Hey, look over there. What an incredible sunset."
"Yes…"
"Such vivid colors."
"Aah… it really is. It’s almost like…"
"...What are you watching?" "Eek! U-um, when did you get here…?" "Why are two women doing… that?" "It’s a legend from Hellas. They turned it into a story about two gladiators. It’s quite entertaining! Would you like to watch?" "Ah, no… I’m fine."
Whoooosh—
A familiar wind blew in from somewhere.
"...She’s finally awake. Let’s go see her." "Y-Yes!"
Perfect timing, Krimhild.
"Hey. You’re ba—?" "You’re back?"
I had successfully brought Mist outside.
Just as I thought—using a contract between spirits allowed her to manifest.
It had worked, but…
"Um… you’re heavy."
I hadn’t expected her to tackle me to the ground the moment she appeared.
"Hehe…"
Nuzzle—
Mist rubbed her face against my cheek.
"I’m back."
Still half-crushed beneath her, I greeted the other two with sleepy eyes.
"Uh, that…" "U-um…" "Who’s that girl?" "W-Who are you?"
"Ah!"
Mist slowly rose and turned toward them.
"It’s been a while, Lady Brita, Lady Soleil."
She greeted them both and smiled brightly.
"Have we… met somewhere?" "Are we acquainted? She looks exactly like her. Ah, unless…" "It’s her. The sword spirit named Mist."
I had given Brita a brief explanation before.
"I’m Mist. Please take care of me once again!"
"Roughly that’s the situation."
I explained to the two everything I had discussed with Mist.
"Great! So we’re ripping it out by the roots? I like the sound of that!" "Uwaa… Can we really manage it? What about all that Void?" "Ah, she’ll handle that part."
"Ahem."
Mist puffed out her chest and smiled triumphantly.
You… You’re just excited to be outside, aren’t you?
"Um… Krimhild. One question." "What?" "Can you put her back inside?"
"Whaaat??"
"No, you… that… it’s a bit…"
Brita’s face flushed as she avoided Mist’s gaze.
Ah, well. If I let her wander around outside, she would definitely draw a lot of stares and misunderstandings.
"Uh… I think she looks wonderful!"
Soleil smiled as she spoke.
"Wonderful?" "In what way?"
Squeeze—
She wrapped both arms around Mist.
"She’s so soft and fluffy, I love it!"
"Lady Soleil… that tickles."
Her eyes held a mixture of embarrassment and deep longing.
"Anyway, put her away for now. How are we supposed to bring her to the director like this?"
She had a point.
"..."
She looked at me with a dejected expression.
"We’ll buy her some proper clothes later. For now, send her back."
"...Understood."
Hmm… how exactly do I send her back?
Let’s see, maybe like this?
Bonk!
"Ah!"
I lightly tapped her forehead with the hilt.
"Um… I don’t think that works." "Yes… that doesn’t seem right."
"Uuu…"
Mist clutched her head and whimpered.
"Sorry."
"If you tell me to go in… I’ll go in…"
"Uh, doesn’t this feel like we’re treating her like a dog?"
Brita wore a dumbfounded expression.
"Dogs are kind of… Hehe…"
What was that supposed to mean?
"Anyway, get inside."
"Yeees… Call me anytime!"
Shoosh—
Mist vanished back into Gram.
"This is dizzying." "Haa… Soleil, are all spirits like that?" "Not usually… But isn’t Miss Mist adorable?"
????
"Uh, what?" "L-Let’s hurry. We have the information now, so we need to talk."
Flustered, the two of us quickly walked away.
"Why are you leaving me? Wait for me!"
Tap. Tap.
Soleil hurried after us.
Director’s Office, Altwissen Library
"...And that’s the situation."
I summarized all the information we had gathered and reported it to Albrecht.
We also decided that only the three of us would investigate the plains.
"Hmm… I see. The sword’s spirit. And that spirit can block the Void…"
"Yes. We’ll head for the tower on the plains using Mist’s power."
"Understood. But… are you certain the three of you will be all right on your own?"
"Director, you’re injured! Please don’t push yourself and leave it to us!"
Soleil spoke to Albrecht with clear worry.
Before joining us he had already been wounded by a wraith.
"Then… I’ll entrust this to you. Take this."
Swish—
Albrecht held something out to me.
"This is… that compass."
It looked identical to the one Soleil carried.
A magical tool that ran on mana and pointed toward inputted coordinates.
Click—
When I checked, it was pointing in a specific direction.
"While you were investigating, I gathered what information I could."
Flutter—thud—
Albrecht spread a map across the desk and pointed to a spot.
"After cross-referencing the texts, I was able to determine the location. It’s here. I’ve already entered the coordinates into that compass."
It was in the exact opposite direction from where we had gone before.
If we had searched blindly during the last expedition, we might have run into serious trouble.
"Follow this and you should reach it. But be careful. I cannot guarantee what lies along the path."
"Understood. Thank you for your concern."
"No, it is I who should thank you. I’ve prepared rooms for you, so rest before you depart."
I glanced up at the clock.
Six in the evening. It had already grown this late…
"Oh! Then thank… thank you very much."
Brita answered in an awkward tone.
Late that night, inside a guest room at the Altwissen Library’s visitor quarters.
Puuu… snore… snore…
Brita and Krimhild had been sound asleep for some time.
"♪"
Pat—
They must all be sleeping by now, right?
Snore… snore…
Krimhild slept with an utterly peaceful expression.
If someone tried to carry her off… they would definitely get caught.
...
It had been so long since I could watch her from so close…
These really are… faces I missed terribly. All of them…
When I became the spirit of Gram and was locked away,
I had thought, ‘So this really is my limit…’
Simply meeting Lady Krimhild in the mental space had been enough to make me happy,
yet here she was, bringing me outside with her…
Thank you. Truly… thank you, Lady Krimhild.
Rustle—
Mist gently lifted the blanket and slipped beneath it.
Squeeze—
From behind the sleeping Krimhild who had rolled onto her side,
she wrapped one arm around her.
Hehe… so warm…
I want to stay like this tonight.
Just for a little while… let me feel your body heat…
She buried her face against Krimhild.
...
Suddenly Krimhild thought,
Mmm…
Why is the blanket so cold…?
Well… it’s fluffy and cozy, so maybe it doesn’t matter…
Snore… snore…
Without the slightest concern for who was behind her,
Krimhild… fell back asleep once again.