Chapter 23

My blood mixed with Emma's and was sucked into the magic circle.

"Sir Cyril..."

"Yes? What's wrong, Emma?"

"Hehe... Nothing."

Emma looked at me, blushing and smiling happily. It seemed like something was up, but she said it was nothing.

I tilted my head, wondering what was going on.

Before long, the contract was formed. The light from the magic circle was absorbed into my body.

At that moment, the contents and abilities of the contract appeared in my mind.

"Hmm, I see."

"What does it feel like, Master?"

Louise, who had already completed her contract, asked.

"Um... I'm not sure."

"Try aiming at me."

I looked around for something suitable, and Chris stepped forward.

"Do you understand? Or is it okay?"

"Hahaha, who do you think I am? I can roughly guess. And I am the only one, the immortal. No matter what you hit me with, I won't flinch."

"That's true, but..."

I felt hesitant about hitting Chris.

"Don't hold back, we are heart friends, after all."

"Well, if you say so... I won't hold back."

When he put it that way, it felt like not doing it would be worse. I turned back to Chris and extended both hands.

I could see Emma, who was standing next to me, trembling with excitement.

I used the skill I gained from my contract with Emma.

Nine flames shot out in quick succession from my nine fingers. Each flame bullet, the size of a pebble, attacked Chris.

"Hahaha, good, good, keep it up!"

"Wow, pervert."

Colette whispered, pulling back in shock.

"What? What do you mean by pervert? Fire is the source of my life—"

"I get it, pervert. Just let him hit you more."

"Listen to me!"

While Colette and Chris were having a comedic exchange, I stopped the rapid fire of flame bullets and looked at my hands. The skill had come from nine of my fingers.

All nine fingers except my right thumb shot out flame bullets.

The skill is called "Nine-Finger Flame Bullet."

"Why nine?"

I tilted my head and focused on my thumb. I tried to shoot a flame bullet from it but couldn't. The other nine fingers could.

While the other nine fingers were shooting, a ring of fire formed on my right thumb. I couldn't throw the ring, and it disappeared when the flame bullets ended.

Hmm, what is this?

"Can't you, Sir Cyril?"

"Yeah, I wonder why."

"Hmm? Oh, your right thumb?"

Chris, who had been distracted by the comedy, looked at my hand and nodded in understanding.

"Do you know something, Chris?"

"Yes, the right thumb of a human represents power."

"Power..."

"Have you never seen kings or emperors wearing rings on their right thumbs?"

"No, I've never met a king or emperor."

I smiled wryly. I've never had such an experience.

"Hahaha, I see. Well, meeting such mundane people wouldn't make much of a difference anyway."

Chris laughed heartily.

"You are the master of the contract. As proof, the skill is designed to control the other nine fingers, symbolizing the lack of power in the right thumb."

"Wow, that's interesting."

I looked at my hand again. I tried shooting flame bullets from my nine fingers at nothing. I could shoot them freely from the nine fingers except my right thumb.

This must be how it is.

"Yeah, it feels good."

With the right thumb issue resolved, I nodded and smiled in satisfaction. The skill to shoot a large number of flame bullets is easy to use and has no quirks.

"Thanks, Emma."

"I'm glad I could help!!"

Emma smiled happily. With the contract with Emma complete, I turned to Colette.

"Next is Colette, okay?"

"Sure, go ahead."

Colette stood in front of me, and I faced her again.

Just like before, the magic circle opened. We each dropped a drop of blood, which mixed in the circle and was absorbed into me as light.

"Hmm..."

"How is it?"

"Yeah, it's related to eating."

"Of course."

"Um, the food you eat turns into energy and is stored somewhere in your body as invisible energy."

"What do you mean?"

"Normally, the food you eat turns into fat and is stored. Like a bear before hibernation. But this energy is in a different form, can be stored indefinitely, and can be used whenever you want."

"Wow."

"So, you won't gain weight no matter how much you eat."

"That's right."

I secretly thought this was a good thing. The ability to eat as much as you want without gaining weight is a great power.

"Thanks, Colette."

"Hmph. It's not like it's a disadvantage for me."

Colette turned her face away. Was she blushing?

Just then,

"Hahaha, good for you, heart friend."

"What do you mean?"

"That contract, if you made even a small mistake, you would have ended up gaining a lot of weight every time you ate—"

Gulp!!

In a flash.

Colette bit Chris at a speed that couldn't be seen.

"I'm not fat!!"

"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!"

"Chris... that was your fault."

I pointed out, looking exasperated. As a heart friend, I thought it was important to be honest.

On the other hand,

Chris, who was bitten by Colette. They still seemed to have a good relationship.