Kays Translations

Chapter 27: What Is a Contract?

Lucius rode on a horse along the road that cut through the forest.

"You've become quite skilled at horseback riding," Lucius's father, Robel, who was also riding a horse, said as he rode alongside.

"I've practiced a lot. The nobles in the northern region say that one must be proficient in horseback riding to be considered an adult," Lucius replied.

"Riding a magical beast is similar to riding a horse. It's beneficial to get used to it from a young age. Although I honestly can't say whether riding a dragon is similar to riding a horse. That thing is just too enormous," Robel laughed heartily.

While they are similar, there is a magical connection between Lucius and his formula, so he can convey his intentions even without reins or a bit. It is meant to develop a stable core and a sense of balance in creatures that are constantly moving.

"Indeed, the vibrations can be quite strong. Oh, look, we can see the capital city," Lucius pointed with his finger.

It was the second time in his life that Lucius arrived at the capital city, Barondia. Two days had passed since he formed a contract with the evil dragon, and today he was accompanying Lord Strauss and the others to the capital city.

"Oh, we finally arrived. Lucius, go and inform the people in the carriage behind us," Robel said.

"Okay."

Lucius slowed down his horse. After bidding farewell to some people, a luxurious carriage pulled by four horses came into view.

Lucius rode his horse closer and spoke to the carriage driver.

"We can see the capital city of Barondia now."

"I see. You went out of your way to inform me, young master."

"No, it's because Lord Strauss, who is in the carriage, would like to know as well. Well then."

Lucius was about to quicken his horse's pace when he noticed blue hair flowing out of the carriage window.

"Lucius, what do you want!?"

A girl's voice echoed.

"Oh, Olivia."

Lucius moved his horse closer to the side of the carriage window.

"I just informed the carriage driver that we can see the capital city."

"Hmm."

Olivia narrowed her eyes with dissatisfaction.

"Well, let's go."

"Aren't we going already? If we stayed here a bit longer—"

"Hm? Why?"

"Why? That's because—"

Olivia's gaze started to wander.

At the age of 10, Lucius enters the forest with Lord Strauss' daughter Olivia and his childhood friends in order to make a contract with a monster and

"Gufel-sama. Yes, we need to talk about the contract between Gufel-sama and us!" Olivia exclaimed.

"We agreed to discuss that after arriving at the capital city, didn't we?"

"Then what about my father!?"

Lord Strauss widened his eyes in surprise. He seemed to be taken aback by being included in the conversation.

"It would be disrespectful if I were to have a conversation with Lord Strauss while on horseback."

"Then..."

When Olivia tried to find the next topic, Gufel admonished her.

"Miss Norris, that's enough."

"Gufel-sama, this is an important conversation for deepening the understanding between the engaged couple."

"Isn't the engagement entrusted to Lord Strauss?"

Regarding the matter of Olivia making Lucius the king consort, it was decided that Lord Strauss would take care of it.

The reason for this is that with Lucius having tamed the evil dragon, the decision to marry him was no longer something that could be decided by individual families alone.

Surely, there would be many families across the country who would want to strengthen their political influence by accepting Lucius as their son-in-law.

If the Norris Windsor family, who are closely related, were to bear the burden, it could increase their political enemies.

Furthermore, during the "Appraisal Ceremony," Lucius was bestowed with a royal sword by the current king.

From one perspective, it could be said that the current king offered his protection to Lucius even before Lord Strauss did.

Lord Strauss, who had made this mistake, now needed to handle the bomb called Lucius with care.

Therefore, the engagement with Olivia required consultation with the current king.

"...That may be so."

Lord Strauss wore an expression of defeat.

While observing the entire situation with an amused expression, Lady Strauss spoke to Olivia, as if advising her.

"It's fine to be deeply in love, but Olivia, don't you have something you should be doing?"

The rosy tint disappeared from Olivia's eyes, and they turned deep blue.

"Mother, of course, I understand."

"Then, release Lucius, who is in trouble."

"I-I'm not trying to restrain him or anything."

"That's right, Lucius."

Lady Strauss sent a smile to Lucius, but her eyes were not smiling at all.

She was probably giving him a warning.

――She's definitely the secret lord of the northern region.

"Well then, if you'll excuse me."

After saluting while on horseback, Lucius urged his horse to move ahead of the running group led by his father, Robel.

They soon entered the capital city of Barondia, surrounded by city walls, and made their way to the castle through the citizens who were celebrating Lord Strauss's return.

◆ ◆ ◆

The residential area in the center of the castle.

It was even deeper within the castle than the hall where guests were entertained and the place where visitors stayed, and it was also the place where Lord Strauss and Lady Strauss usually lived.

In one of the rooms in that area.

They were led into an exceptionally luxurious room.

The spacious room had only multiple sofas and tables placed in the middle.

For security reasons, it was surrounded by other rooms and corridors, with no windows, making it dim even during the day. However, it was the most suitable place for confidential discussions.

Six people sat on the sofas.

Lucius, his father Robel.

Lord Strauss, Lady Strauss, Olivia, the head of the family responsible for recording the ceremony, Gufel.

Several knights and maids stood by the wall, keeping a distance.

Tea, with a fragrance they had never smelled before, was placed in front of everyone, and Gufel began to speak.

"Now, let's talk about the situation Olivia and Lucius are in."

Gufel took a sip of tea.

They had already reported everything that happened after returning from the forest.

However, Gufel had something she wanted to discuss in strict confidence, which is why Lucius and the others accompanied her to the capital city of Barondia.

"It seems that both of you have gone about the formula and contract in an unusual way."

Olivia's parents and Robel held their breath.

"Is there something wrong?"

Robel can't contain his curiosity and raises his voice.

"Shall I explain it step by step? Olivia and Lucius. Do you know why monsters make contracts with humans?"

I cannot answer the question asked by Gufel. I thought that was how the world worked.

"I don't know."

"Me neither."

"Well, it's not an important discussion itself, but I want you to know it to explain the following situation. For monsters, humans are like cocoons."

"Cocoons?"

"Yes. A butterfly goes through the stages of larva, cocoon, and then becomes a butterfly. It's similar."

"I don't quite understand the meaning. Is it some kind of metaphor?"

"It means exactly that. Monsters grow by absorbing magical power from the natural world. However, they reach a limit at some point. The limit varies depending on the species. At that point, they progress to the next stage by reconstructing their own bodies. During that time, they entrust their bodies to a temporary shell, which is what humans are."

"...So, through humans, all formulas change their forms?"

"No, they usually remain the same. Only a few rare exceptions can advance to the next form. There's a clear example here."

Gufel looks at Olivia and, Baron Robel.

"What? What do you mean?"

Olivia stumbles.

"Griffons and hippogriffs. In this example, the griffon is the larva, and the hippogriff is the butterfly."

"Gufel-sama, isn't it the other way around?"

The griffin is a Class 1 monster, while the hippogriff is a Class 3 monster.

"Strength for monsters is not only about the strength of individuals but also their cunning. Griffon requires a lot of resources and magical power to maintain its immense strength. On the other hand, the hippogriff, in exchange for losing its immense strength, has increased adaptability to the environment. Now, hippogriffs have expanded their habitat range more than griffins."

"I see, so it's not just about ranks."

"Of course, there are cases in the opposite direction too. Now, the problem lies in what comes next. The formulas lend their spells and bodies through humans, but usually, only magical power and bodies are required."

"Bodies?"

"I understand magical power, but what do you mean by bodies?"

Lucius and the adults' expressions darken.

"Gufel, these two are still children. Shouldn't we keep this information from them for now?" Lord Strauss voiced his concern.

"No, they should know now."

Gufel remains firm.

"What do you mean by bodies?"

"...Lucius, have you ever seen the graves of your ancestors?"

"Come to think of it, I haven't."

He has seen portraits displayed in the mansion. He has seen the pictures of the grandparents and those who were said to be his ancestors many times.

"I thought so. Nobles don't leave corpses behind."

The meaning of Gufel's words became clear immediately.

"...Are you saying corpses are used for the formulas?"

'You have a good intuition. That's right. When the master breathes his last breath, the formulas devour the flesh along with the magic core. Some may wait for a funeral and bid farewell to their family, but in the end, they will be devoured without fail. It's said that by incorporating the living partner into their body, as a half-being, it is a form of mourning. But honestly, only monsters understand the feelings of monsters.'

Lucius looks at his left hand.

'Let's start with Miss Olivia.'

'Yes...'

'Griffins are Class 1 monsters, and Olivia is Class 2. What did you feel when you made the contract?'

'Even if you say that, I only felt that I had to help Lucius, and that I had to do everything I could to become king.”

"Hmm, in that case, their compatibility must not have been bad to begin with. While there may be individual differences, Griffons, in general, have a high temperament and a strong territorial instinct. From what I gather, it strongly resonated with Lady Olivia's way of life, which is to become the king and make the entire country her territory when her territory was invaded by the wicked dragon."

"If that's the case, what's the problem?"

"There shouldn't be any particular problem. As long as Olivia maintains her awareness of becoming a king."

"...What do you mean?"

"Originally, if humans and monsters are of equal status, they can accept some changes in consciousness. It's because they can provide sufficient magical power to the monsters. Humans who can maintain their values and goals from when they were 10 years old throughout their lives are rare. However, if the monster's status is higher, we need to satisfy the monster through the way the master lives, as we cannot provide them with enough satisfactory magic power."

"What happens if the Griffon is not satisfied with my way of life?"

Olivia's face becomes serious.

"In the worst case, the contract will be broken. At that time, it depends on the monster whether they will only consume the magic core and leave or consume the master while still alive and then leave. But in the case of the Griffin, it would probably be the latter."

Olivia's face contorts.

"No way!"

"It's dangerous. Having a contract that is beyond one's capabilities. That's why it is strongly recommended to have a partner with a similar status and relatively close values, and the Orleans family is also working hard for that purpose."

"Is there no way to do something about it?"

Lord Strauss interrupts the conversation. It seems that this is the question he wanted to ask the most.

"That depends on Olivia's way of life. Fortunately, between Class 1 and Class 2, the difference in status is not that significant, and your values are also similar. So, unless you fall into extreme corruption and cannot become a king, you might still receive some favors."

"That's just a possibility."

"Yes, that's right. That's why I'm telling you this now. It's better to know it sooner. However, the problem lies with Lucius."

"Me?"

"Yes. From what I've heard, you have a dragon as your Formula, and moreover, an evil dragon."

"I promised to give it power because I was seeking power. I'm a bit confused about the details, but is it different from the situation where the evil dragon will separate from me like Olivia?"

"Lucius, what you did was a forbidden act. That's why I'm explaining all this in this room."

"A forbidden act?"

"Normally, it is the monster's role to judge the difference in values. Monsters are more sensitive to magical power. Normally, monsters don't even notice that they have demands."

Gufel takes a sip of tea and sends a sharp gaze towards Lucius.

"Who did you hear that from? That information should have been kept secret by royal decree."

"I associated it with the word 'contract violation' that Gufel-sama mentioned during the 'Appraisal Ceremony.' I thought there must be some demands and agreements in the contract."

"That's unthinkable, as always, Lucius. It was indeed a slip of the tongue. After all, it was the first time in my life that a Siren tried to attack someone against the contract."

"Is it not good to fulfill the demands of the monsters?"

"If that method becomes known, there will be an overflow of people who cannot meet the demands of monsters. That's why we deliberately guide them to choose partners with similar values."

-- I see.

Lucius vaguely understands the current conversation.

A contract is similar to an employment relationship.

Magical power can be substituted for wages.

If sufficient wages are provided, a slight difference in values with the employer can be tolerated. They will follow the rules as long as they are within an acceptable range.

However, if the wages are low, it is impossible to make ends meet without empathy towards the employer's humanity or a comfortable working environment.

In Olivia's case, if she doesn't continue to act with unwavering determination, she will inevitably be abandoned sooner or later.

In other words, it is an unstable relationship based on a contract.

What Lucius did is even worse.

Not only does he fail to adequately pay wages, but he forcefully hired an employee who has conflicting values just to meet their demands.

It's a tactic that a president of a shady company would employ in this world, if it were an ordinary society.

If there is a difference, it lies in the fact that in this world, if there are lies in the contract, the president will be devoured.

The concept of "unlawful" also seems plausible in this context.

If this method becomes widely known, there will likely be an increase in people entering into temporary contracts just to obtain their preferred outcome. If that happens, the only visible result will be numerous lives being lost.

While it may be considered self-inflicted if only the individuals themselves die, it leads to the unleashing of enraged monsters in the streets. It goes beyond a matter of public safety.

However, it's highly likely that if the class difference is too great, they won't even be given a second glance, regardless of their values.

"I understand the gist of it. So, the problem is how to empower the evil dragon, right?"

"You catch on quickly. The evil dragon becomes a formula seeking power. There is only one answer."

"Is it about transforming from a cocoon into a butterfly?"

"You have a keen understanding. Dragons, by nature, tend to stay within their territories and do not favor needless killing or conflict. Red dragons residing in the imperial territory are famous examples. However, it is said that evil dragons, evolved from dragons, do not possess specific territories and instead have a preference for strife and destruction."

"However, Lord Gufel, based on the previous discussion, most familiars do not change their appearance or evolve, right?"

"That's right. The majority of familiars remain in the same form as when the contract was made until the end of the contract. Changing form and evolving is synonymous with the birth of a new species, so it's a rare occurrence."

"...Then, how can it be done?"

"I don't know."

"Huh?"

"I don't know. In the first place, I don't know the conditions for evolution to occur and for a new species to be born."

"I have to find your own way, huh?"

"Or perhaps when it seems like you're being abandoned by the wicked dragon, you should retreat to a secluded place far away from civilization."

-I've done it now.

Naturally, I knew there were risks involved, but I didn't expect it to be this difficult.

I had a faint hope that asking Gufel would solve it somehow, but it seems that it's a hopeless situation.

The former head of the Orleans family, who should have the most knowledge about formulars within the country, is saying this. It's impossible to expect anyone else to know.

However, there were no other choices in that situation.

Just having my life was enough to be grateful for.

"...I understand. When there's no other way, I'll do that."

"Dragons aside, there is no precedent for formulars of wicked dragons. The Orleans family promises full support. Besides, it's not like there are absolutely no clues."

"What is it!?"

"Recently, there have been several observed cases of monster evolution in a certain region."

"Where!?"

"The Kuron Mountains in the east."

"The east..."

Count Strauss  and Robel's expressions darken.

"Does Father know about it?"

"He does. It's a well-known habitat of famous monsters in the east. But that place..."

Unusually, Robel's tone is hesitant.

"In any case, we understand the situation. Let's end today's discussion for now."

Count Strauss  interrupted the conversation.

Presumably, he wants to take prompt action considering the situation Olivia is in.

"In any case, tomorrow we will have an audience with His Majesty. Robel and Lucius, please accompany me."

Count Strauss  refers to his father as Robel instead of Lord Dragon, but that's only in private.

Currently, it seems to be a confidential matter for Count Strauss .

With Count Strauss 's announcement, the meeting comes to an end.

Lucius, harboring vague anxieties, leaves the room with his father, Robel.

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