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The Emperor’s appearance was somehow different than usual. However, I couldn’t quite put my finger on what exactly had changed. Well, as the Emperor himself said, he suddenly showed a sentimental side, but ultimately he was still the Emperor. Maybe by the next time we meet, he’d have returned to his usual self, and such a sight would be hard to come by again.

Having finished dinner, I noticed the street beyond the window was already starting to grow dim. Since the sunlight streaming through the window had decreased, it was only natural the hallway was getting darker. Yet, instead of skimping on the oil for the candlelight, the extravagance of having magical lights spread throughout made the hallway as bright as daytime.

Since I already knew the way back, I refused the attendant’s guidance and strolled through the hallway alone. Thinking back to the days I lived cooped up in a guild hideout deep in a forest, damp and smelly, I realized just how much I had risen in status.

That said, I would soon have to say goodbye to this kind of life. Going to deal with the Four Heavenly Kings was not as simple as it sounded. They wouldn’t just show themselves in front of us; rather, we had to make our way through the demonic races hiding behind them. The journey certainly wouldn’t be easy, and it would be impossible to continue enjoying fine food and comfortable beds like now.

But I didn’t mind. No matter how tough and painful the path ahead may be, I now had friends with me. Friends who clung to me even after I had once pushed them away. Of course, I was also immeasurably grateful for those friends who had supported me to keep me from going astray.

Once I return to my room, I should take a moment to sincerely thank my friends for all they’ve done. Of course, I know such mushy behavior might be cringeworthy. I understand that they can feel my gratitude even without words. But still, expressing it verbally wouldn’t diminish its meaning. Some things can only be conveyed by speaking directly.

Thinking of my friends waiting in the room made my steps lighter as I walked through the hallway.

However, while passing by a door, it suddenly flew open, and a hand darted out toward me. For a moment, caught off guard by the abrupt situation, my body instinctively reacted as a Sword Master should.

Yet, what reached out was a hand, not a weapon, and I noticed that it was quite delicate. So I didn’t draw my sword. But besides the hand reaching for me, there was an unexpected assault from below.

Suddenly, my left foot shot up, and my right foot was lifted off the ground. The foot that had been firmly planted was now suspended in the air. Naturally, my center of balance was disrupted, and I failed to dodge the reaching hand.

The unknown hand grabbed me and pulled me into the darkened room without any lights on. It wasn’t a gentle drag; I was forcibly moved by whatever had lifted me up.

As soon as I was brought into the room, the light from the hallway was blocked as the door slammed shut. Only a faint glimmer of light seeped through the crack of the door.

If I were an ordinary person, I would have struggled to react to the sudden loss of sight. But for someone who had lived their life in darkness, this was rather a familiar situation. Even if it was complete darkness without a shred of light, it wouldn’t change anything.

However, because of that very reason, I found myself even more flustered.

If someone had come to assassinate the Emperor and had sneaked into the Imperial Palace, that would be understandable. Of course, I didn’t believe that such an assassin could actually take the Emperor’s life.

But the one who attacked me, the one who had kidnapped me into the room, wasn’t an assassin at all. Instead, a mage—graceful and awkward in movement, far removed from the lowly life of an assassin—stood before me.

“President?”

At the sound of my voice, Frecia flinched slightly, then looked up at me. Frecia’s eyes, meeting mine in the darkness, resembled those of a cat.

Frecia had always liked transforming into a cat, but maybe after three years, she had become skilled enough that she could change just parts of her body. If she wanted, she could probably just pull out cat ears or a tail.

No, not if I wanted. If she wanted.

“Elysia….”

My pointless musings were interrupted by Frecia calling my name. Realizing that I was looking directly at her without the darkness hindering my vision, she started darting her eyes around, unable to meet my gaze.

“Um….”

Frecia stammered, and seeing her call me aside meant she had something to say. Yet after pulling me into the room, five minutes, then ten—it was just “um, uh, well…” over and over without getting to the point.

Of course, I wasn’t bored waiting. Watching Frecia’s fingers fidget, her toes tap the floor awkwardly, and her rolling eyes as she failed to meet my gaze was enough to keep me entertained.

Others might call it perverted, but… well, isn’t this okay? I may be a man, but on the outside, I look like a woman just like Frecia.

By the way, for someone to find it this hard to bring something up, I was a little worried about what she had to say. When convincing the Mage Tower Lord in the conference room earlier that day, Frecia had spoken confidently, holding her own without hesitation. She was not the type to hesitate when speaking.

Huff, puff.

And finally, as if steeling herself, Frecia took a deep breath. Her previously fidgeting hands turned into clenched fists, and her eyes locked onto mine.

“Speak freely. Just like you did for me, I can wait for as long as it takes.”

At the outset, who would wait for just ten minutes for a response? For her, ten minutes wouldn’t even be considered a wait.

“Elysia.”

Having gained confidence from my voice, Frecia called my name without hesitation this time.

“Yes, President.”

I also replied to her call.

“Do you remember the contract we made…?”

“Of course. I can still feel the magic connecting me to you.”

How could I forget? Back when I didn’t know the ‘meow’ was my president, the connection through the clumsily tied contract magic had made it difficult to sense our bond. I should commend Frecia for navigating a faint link to find me. Truly, she was a Great Wizard with talent unrivaled on the continent.

But now it was different. I could feel the clear connection between us. The contract magic linking us allowed me to sense each other’s position no matter where we were, and if desired, we could even communicate without words. It may not seem particularly special for a contract magic, but it was enough for Frecia and me.

“Well… it’s a contract magic, but… it’s not the usual kind…?”

For some reason, Frecia seemed to lose her confidence again. Still, despite her hesitation, she managed to slowly speak up.

“Um… with a summoner contract, usually it’s based on the summoner’s magic, so it’s not a big issue…”

However, as Frecia’s explanation began to stretch on and on, I didn’t find it hard to listen but felt limited in comprehending the magic talk. Of course, I wouldn’t let that show on my face. I had lived long enough to maintain a poker face even in horrific times; that was basic for a professional assassin.

Instead, I responded with simple conversations and a smile, hoping to encourage her to speak more freely. I reached out and gently grasped her clenched fist. Surprised by the sudden contact, Frecia visibly jumped but quickly regained her composure, starting to speak in a clearer tone than before.

“Right now within me is your magic, and within you is my magic in the form of contract magic.”

Indeed… if so, then the contract magic I felt within me certainly was Frecia’s magic. It might seem a bit odd, but being aware of it brought a blush to my cheeks. But thinking like this would be disrespectful to Frecia, so I quickly set aside that thought and focused back on her.

“After returning from that spirit realm of another dimension, it seems there was a gap formed in our connected contract magic. So, it’s gradually weakening…”

Listening to her, I could certainly feel it too. I might not understand magic thoroughly, but I could tell that Frecia’s magic inside me felt fainter than before. Initially, I thought I was just getting used to it, but now that she’d explained, it made sense.

“Um… then what happens? Will the contract magic be broken?”

I didn’t want to lose the thread that connected Frecia and me. With that concern in mind, I asked her.

Of course, it practically became as good as nonexistent already. While it might offer a little assistance, asking if it was worth obsessing over was a different story altogether.

It wasn’t like your usual summoner magic which came with dazzling features or anything. In fact, if one of us were to die, the other would also die at the same moment, making it a rather grim magic.

But if someone asked whether it was important, I could firmly say yes. As I mentioned before, this magic was the bond that tied Frecia and me together. It proved that we were connected. Just like friends who’d wear matching rings as symbols of friendship, it was only natural to want some kind of token.

Even what others might view as a downside, Frecia and I accepted it as part of the bond we shared.

“Do you want to… continue the contract with me, Elysia?”

“Of course! And you said you wouldn’t let me go. So, are you getting tired of me? Are you going to abandon me? But alas! I won’t be letting you go, either!”

Frecia burst into a smile, relaxing from her earlier tension. That’s right. Frecia looked cuter, prettier, and more beautiful when she smiled rather than when she was tense. Of course, Frecia was often expressionless, so not many realized it, making her rare smiles feel even more precious, much like luxury goods.

“Phew… I’m relieved your feelings haven’t changed.”

“So, since you’re bringing this up, you have some kind of method, right?”

“Yeah. There are two methods. One is to let the contract break on its own and then re-establish it. Since no one would unilaterally break it, and the gap would close due to external factors, there shouldn’t be any side effects.”

“I’d prefer to avoid that method if possible. I’d rather keep this contract magic going. What’s the other option?”

Even if there weren’t any substantial issues, the thought of our connection being momentarily severed was uncomfortable. Of course, once we reestablished the contract, any gap would likely go unnoticed.

But the very fact of having a brief hiatus with Frecia felt unsettling. Even if no one knew but us, we both felt it clearly.

Therefore, I asked Frecia about the next method.

“Uh… the… second method is…”

The confident Frecia from before was nowhere to be seen, replaced with her hesitance. Seeing her like that made me a little uneasy, wondering if there might not be a method I’d like.

“Well, the second method could, in fact, be the answer… but…”

However, my worries turned out to be unfounded. After all, this was Frecia; surely, she wouldn’t be at a loss for solutions.

“To replenish each other’s magic, since it has faded, would be an easy fix…”

For some reason, as she spoke, Frecia’s face turned bright red, even visible in the dark.

 

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