Chapter 5

I stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly held the letter containing the secret that my mother had given me.

Am, whose eavesdropping had been pointed out, turned bright red and followed me to the tavern attached to the guild.

Even in Raven City, where inorganic lifeforms are common, it seems the taverns are not much different. The only thing that shows the culture of this place is the large number of drinks for inorganic lifeforms on the menu.

When we sat down, Am sat across from me. Then, I asked,

"So, what was it...?"

"......I heard that you're looking for a slave."

Am said, shrinking back as if trying to make herself smaller.

The treatment of malignant spirit entities in human settlements is deplorable. But it's not just a problem with the surroundings. I changed my attitude based on Am's demeanor, crossed my legs, and narrowed my eyes in a condescending manner.

"Ah, that's right. I'm a Monster Tamer, and due to certain circumstances, I can't contact my slave. To break this deadlock, I'm looking for a powerful slave."

"......"

Am's eyes widened slightly at my words. I continued,

"I don't know how much you overheard... but I was looking for a benevolent spirit entity or an elemental spirit. Inorganic or organic lifeforms would also be fine, but I thought the conditions on the slave's side wouldn't match."

"That... there was a malignant spirit entity... as a slave..."

"It's not a lie. But she's very jealous, and it would be troublesome to contract with someone of the same kind..."

"I see..."

Am turned bright red and shrank back even more. She seemed to have entered a bad loop. I waited silently for her to speak. Am only glanced at me, and time passed.

I don't mind wasting time, but it seems this girl needs a little more help.

"Am, first—look me in the eye. A seeker who always looks down won't succeed, even if they're not a malignant spirit entity. Look into my eyes."

"......"

"Yes, you have very cloudy but wonderful eyes."

At my words, Am's eyes widened slightly. Complimenting is basic. If her eyes were bad, I would have complimented another part. Am's eyes were transparent, but behind the pale iris, turbulent emotions swirled.

Despair, jealousy, longing, regret—she seemed to be walking a strange path just to be able to walk outside with her head held high. It seems she has had a rather rough time.

"Am, don't forget, nothing will be conveyed unless you speak your mind. Don't look away. Don't be afraid to speak, to discuss, or to be rejected."

I focused my mind. For malignant spirit entities, their mental state is clearly reflected in their physical state, but this is not always a bad thing. A steel will can turn them into monsters. With a little 'adjustment,' Am will become stronger.

Malignant spirit entities lack benevolence and therefore do not trust human benevolence. And because of this, they don't do well in human settlements.

This quality shines as a 'monster,' but I think it's a waste.

"Discuss..."

Am whispered, as if in a fever, her voice hoarse. Just one more push. I always find this moment of changing someone irresistible. I ordered Am,

"Am, speak your mind."

"Please... make me... your slave."

I smiled and replied,

"Yes, well said. But no."

"......What?"

Well, I've done what I needed to do, and now Am will be fine. I'll quickly sell the ring and hire Miss Saya.

As I stood up to leave, Am, who had been stunned, called out in a panic,

"What!? What!? Why!?"

"Am, were you listening to me? I think I mentioned the reasons why I don't contract with malignant spirit entities..."

"But, but, that—"

"You can speak up, can't you?"

However, if someone thinks that speaking up will get their way, it's a problem. I clearly stated my policy. I only accompanied her out of goodwill, understanding why she approached me.

With the current Am, she will probably be able to live a little more normally than before.

"What's the problem?"

"I've already said the problem."

"Is it because I'm weak?"

"I don't think I mentioned strength as an issue..."

Indeed, it's troublesome for a spirit entity to face the monsters of this land, but it's the master's job to make it possible.

"Is it because I'm a malignant spirit entity!?"

Am pleaded with teary eyes. She's a cunning one.

People were starting to look. But I don't want her to think a little crying will solve everything.

"I have a contract with a malignant spirit entity, Knightwalker... Alice Knightwalker, which includes restrictions on contracting with the same kind. A contract is sacred. Breaking it without cause would lose my credibility. I've never broken a contract with Alice in the four years we've been together. Don't worry, the current Am will be fine. Oh, I'm looking for a girl who is a slave aspirant, either an elemental spirit or a benevolent spirit entity, around my age or a little younger. If you know anyone, let me know."

"That's cruel! Take responsibility for raising my hopes!"

Ha ha ha, what an interesting thing to say. Take responsibility for raising hopes?

If I had to take responsibility for that—my slaves would probably number around a hundred by now.

"You seem energetic enough. Use that emotion as motivation and work hard. And one day, show me what you're made of."

I waved and left the table. A few meters away, a scream-like voice came from behind me.

"Doesn't that contract have a clause that says 'stay close'!?"

"Hmm...?"

I stopped in my tracks at the sharp observation.

A Monster Tamer can't do anything without a slave. At least, that's how it is for me.

A contract is an equal agreement. It exists to protect both the master and the slave. Of course, my contract with Alice includes a clause that says 'always follow and obey orders.' There's no mention of physical distance, but Alice's forced teleportation, while for my benefit, could be seen as a clear breach of contract.

"Yes, it does. It's a basic clause for a Monster Tamer!"

Her voice was desperate. Indeed, just because the other party breaches the contract doesn't mean I can do the same, but in a way, the current situation could be seen as partly Alice's fault.

A loophole in the contract. I turned around.

Interesting. Very interesting. I didn't expect her to notice.

Being a Monster Tamer is a rare profession. It's unexpected that Am knows the basics.

Am seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Alice? I understand your feelings about being separated from her."

"You're eloquent."

"But I think that clause exists for situations like this... What do you think?"

Am's eyes glowed darkly. Perhaps due to her strong emotions, a chilling sensation eroded my body.

The 'aura of fear' is a power that all malignant spirit entities possess, one of the reasons they are shunned. It's supposed to be prohibited in town, but it seems she has poor control.

"I'm looking for an elemental spirit or a benevolent spirit entity as a slave. The powerful attack magic of elemental spirits is advantageous for magical machinery, and benevolent spirits are popular, so they can be useful for networking. I have no experience with contracts, so I'm also interested."

At my straightforward words, Am, who had been hesitant, now spoke with a strong tone.

"There are none. There are almost no elemental spirits or benevolent spirits in this place. The possibility of becoming your slave is—practically zero!"

"You're very clear. That's true. But there might be a rare connection."

"There is a rare connection here! Indeed... I'm not an elemental spirit or a benevolent spirit, but I can adapt!"

...What an interesting girl. I didn't expect her to use the word 'adapt.'

"I can work without eating or drinking for days! And my eyes, they are cloudy and wonderful! I'm a great deal! A great deal!"

When she put it that way... it started to seem like a good idea.

Maybe I had narrowed my vision in this new land. She might be a new seeker, but she doesn't seem unintelligent, and her skills are probably far superior to mine. Upon closer inspection, she has a well-proportioned face.

Her age isn't too far from mine, and she's of the opposite sex, so there's no issue with age or gender. Most importantly, since she approached me, the trust is already built up to a level that won't be a burden at this stage.

Dealing with Alice will be tricky, but it's just a matter of negotiation on my part. A permanent contract isn't possible, but a temporary one wouldn't be bad. Most importantly, she's the same kind of malignant spirit entity, so she can adapt, and she's a great deal. I can always hire Miss Saya later—

"...Alright. It's a great deal, so let's give it a try..."

"Yes! Please give it a try!"

At my smile, Am responded with enthusiasm.

§

First, we need to make the contract. Even for a trial run, we can't use the Monster Tamer's power without a contract.

Also, it would be troublesome if the terms were raised later. While it's not discriminatory, dealing with a malignant spirit entity requires caution.

We proceeded with the contract in a corner of the tavern. Am was fidgety and nervous.

She probably can't believe the negotiation was successful. I like smart kids. When I explained the basics, Am was surprised.

"A full contract would be fine..."

"The form is the same as a full contract. There are only two types of contract magic for Monster Tamers."

Monster Tamers can use two types of contract magic: the ordinary contract magic 'Promise of Friendship' and the contract to form an Astral Link—'Covenant of Souls.' We'll be using the former.

A contract is about creating a connection. The Monster Tamer's magic—skills—strengthens the slave through this connection.

I stated my requirements straightforwardly. The goal is to return. The duration is undetermined but not permanent.

Upon hearing this, Am said regretfully,

"A permanent contract would be fine..."

...Why would she say that before we've even completed a single mission?

"Well, we can discuss the duration later."

That's flexible.

The contract magic of a Monster Tamer is not a coercive contract like those used by criminals. It's easy to form and can be easily dissolved by either party's will.

—That's why trust, understanding, and bonds are essential.

After stating the requirements, the next thing to decide is Am's conditions. I explained thoroughly.

"The next thing to decide is the compensation. I don't think we need to set a clear amount for a trial run, but if it goes well, we should at least have a benchmark. For inorganic lifeforms, it's usually currency, but for others, it's often magic power. For malignant spirit entities, it could be something like a soul. Other times, it might be a directive like 'glory' or 'defeating a demon lord-level monster.'"

"Compensation..."

The contract process is important for both the master and the slave. If not addressed here, the slave might accumulate grievances and start slacking off, or the master's affection for the slave might wane, leading to abuse. I haven't had such experiences, but many Monster Tamers quit because of this. It's especially difficult when dealing with multiple slaves, as compatibility also comes into play.

"How much is the going rate for compensation?"

"It depends on the race, but it's often decided through negotiation. Generally, the higher the race's rank, the higher the compensation, but it's also common to negotiate higher rewards as the slave's skills improve."

At my words, Am said thoughtfully,

"By the way, my race is Succubus. What's the going rate?"

"......Succubus... huh..."

...This is bad. This girl has a higher racial rank than I expected.

A Succubus is a B-rank malignant spirit entity, on par with a vampire. Vampires have higher combat power because they can only move at night, but Succubi can move freely during the day, giving them a longer active period.

Am is apparently an F-rank seeker, but a low seeker rank doesn't necessarily mean a low racial rank. I thought she was at most an F-rank 'Incubus,' but it seems I drew a good card.

She might be a dud, but—

There's a profession called a 'Necromancer' that specializes in contracting with malignant spirit entities.

For a Succubus, a renowned Necromancer might pay over 200M per month. It's a rare flower for ordinary mages, and only the most excellent mages can contract with them. That's what a B-rank racial rank means.

In fact, at B-rank, they are so strong individually that there are almost no candidates for slaves.

However, there's no room for faking in a contract.

"For a Succubus, the minimum would be 100M per month in magic power... Depending on your skills, it could be more... It also depends on the master's profession, but an excellent Necromancer might pay double or triple that."

"Um... then, 90M...?"

Am tentatively suggested. She's offering less than the minimum 100M. It's a bargain. I wish I could teach this modesty to some Light Whisperer registered with the guild.

Well, I can't afford it even at that bargain price.

"I can't even pay a fifth of that."

"Wh-What!? ...Then, how much can you pay?"

I don't have any spare magic power. I don't have much magic power to begin with. The reinforcement skills I use on my slave are already pushing it. I explained this, but it was a complete waste.

If I had enough magic power, I would have become a regular mage.

At my answer, Am was silent for a while but then said, somewhat happily,

"......Well, it can't be helped... I don't need magic power. I have enough."

"I'll try to meet your expectations in terms of treatment."

"Well, it can't be helped. I'm a great deal, after all."

This is entirely my fault. And it seems Am really wants to be a slave.

She's cheap, and I'm worried she might be taken advantage of.

But so far, it's fine.

So far, there's almost no coercion. From here on, it's a bit different.

"The last thing to decide is—prohibitions."

"Prohibitions..."

"How far you will obey."

What will you do? Is there anything you don't want to do? For example, when contracting with a vampire, a common prohibition is not to give orders for daytime activities. Conversely, when contracting with a benevolent spirit entity, a common prohibition is not to attack the same kind.

This item is crucial for the slave, and if not set properly, it can lead to stressful orders for the slave.

It's also an important item for the master to understand the slave's preferences.

"As a rule, prohibitions on orders that lead to death and forced sexual acts are set. Is there anything else?"

Of course, I have pride as a Monster Tamer. I don't intend to do anything indecent, but having it in the contract provides a sense of security.

Am looked up slightly to the right, thinking, then turned back to me,

"I don't need any prohibitions."

"Eh... None?"

"Yes, I don't need any."

She said something unbelievable with an innocent smile.

I stared intently at the girl's eyes. Am's smile had no shadow, and there was no sign of a joke.

Having no prohibitions is very rare. It's a phenomenon that only occurs when trust between a Monster Tamer and a slave is very deep. Normally, it's a choice made by a slave who has spent over ten years with their master to show their trust. In other words, she's essentially saying to me,

"I will dedicate everything to you."

This is almost the same as a 'Covenant of Souls.'

That sacred contract has no restrictions. It's a testament to the dedication of the soul, and a contracted slave will do anything. In Monster Tamer jargon, this is called 'Last Trust' or 'Last Engagement,' and it's considered the ultimate form of trust.

"Am, you should reconsider. You'll definitely regret it. Prohibitions are not just for show."

"Eh... Is that so?"

"Yes. For example, if there are no prohibitions, Am, you won't be able to resist my order to 'die.'"

"Ah... I see..."

Whether she agreed or not is a very important factor in magic.

Forcing someone to do something against their will is much harder than forcing them to do something they've already agreed to. The contract magic of a Monster Tamer isn't very strong, but it can still do most things.

It's common for first-time slaves to take the contract lightly. That's why the master has the obligation to explain everything about the contract to the slave.

It's all for an equal relationship. In a contract, the mind cannot be bound.

"Even after decades of shared hardships between a Monster Tamer and a slave, it's rare for all restrictions to be completely removed. In our world, it's considered the ultimate form of trust."

It's very rare for someone to remain calm with a blade at their throat. Am blinked at my words.

"Ultimate trust