Chapter 33
After entering the Count’s office with Iris, I briefly explained the matter to Count Frantel, who nodded as if he understood.
“So, what you’re saying is that the way you operate magic is incredibly valuable, and you’re willing to pass that on to Iris?”
“That’s correct, provided we draft a magic contract.”
“May I hear the terms?”
The magic contract. If any harmful clauses were included, life could get quite troublesome, so the Count immediately questioned the terms.
“The terms are simple. I will designate myself as Party A and Iris as Party B.”
With that, I began writing down the terms I had in mind one by one on the paper.
The contract period for Party A and Party B begins on the 23rd of April, 298 of the Empire and lasts for a total of ten years. The following terms apply for the same duration of ten years:
- Party A shall diligently teach Party B the magic operation method called ‘mixed operation method’ each time a lesson is conducted.
- Party B must strive to show kindness to humans they perceive as below them.
- Party B must make an effort to think at least three times before getting angry.
- Party B must strive to reduce consumption unless purchasing items deemed absolutely necessary.
- Party B must not disclose the magic operation method received from Party A to anyone else.
- As compensation for receiving the magic operation method, Party B must sincerely assist Party A whenever requested during the contract period. Here, the scope of assistance is limited to combat-related matters.
- If either party fails to fulfill these terms, both parties will be subjected to a restriction. That restriction will be a stomach ache mild enough to be manageable. This stomach ache will persist until the terms are sincerely fulfilled again.
- However, if Party B violates clause 6, Party B’s circle will be annihilated.
After slowly reading the contract, the Count posed a question.
“With such a contract, I would expect a powerful magic contract to be necessary. Do you happen to have one?”
“I would appreciate it if you could assist with that, Count.”
“Well… let’s set that aside for now. We should address the second condition. How do you plan to conduct the lessons?”
“I plan to conduct lessons for one day each time Lady Iris visits me, about once a month. More than that might be difficult.”
Upon hearing this, the Count let out a low sound.
Well, since I was the one in the dominant position, there was no need to accommodate Iris’s circumstances.
The Count wasn’t a fool; he likely had a rough idea of the value of the magic I used.
Naturally, for the precious opportunity for lessons, she should come over. Why would I be bothered by when she comes and goes?
“…I understand. Conditions 3, 4, and 5… you seem to have a precise grasp of my daughter’s issues… how did you manage to pinpoint them so accurately…?”
At the Count’s words, Iris scrunched her face up.
Seeing this made me chuckle softly before looking at the Count.
“Are you pleased?”
“Honestly, the terms are not bad since they are for my daughter… but I worry that signing this will lead to her suffering. A stomach ache…”
“To be honest, it would be manageable enough. However, if it continues, it would become quite annoying.”
We must try.
This phrase turned out to be a remarkably powerful term.
Effort.
It signifies exerting oneself both physically and mentally.
The key point here is the heart.
With a low-grade magic contract, one could breeze through and miss the catch.
But a high-grade magic contract could read even the sincerity behind it.
You couldn’t just pretend to be different on the surface and get away with it.
At that moment, one would feel quite a strong stomach pain.
Initially, one would struggle a lot, but as time passes.
Humans are creatures of adaptation, so they would gradually change.
At first, they would reluctantly do so, but eventually, their thoughts would shift.
It could produce an effect similar to brainwashing, perhaps?
‘This really hits the mark.’
I had successfully rehabilitated several strong but unruly characters through such contracts in the game.
Iris would be no exception.
Arrogant. Dismissing the weak. Indulging in luxury.
I had to erase those three representative traits.
As for having two faces or being an actor.
There was no need to erase those traits.
The obsession with looks could be simply viewed as her being a girl who likes idols.
“Count.”
“What is it?”
“First and foremost, isn’t the lady’s heart the most important thing? Even if you agree, if Lady Iris doesn’t agree, it would be essentially pointless. So…”
I then looked at Iris and asked a question.
“Do you, Lady Iris, have any desire to agree to this contract?”
“….”
She seemed to be pondering.
“If you are not inclined, you don’t have to do it. I have no intention of forcing you.”
“…Let me ask just one thing.”
“Go ahead.”
“Are the conditions of this contract such that I won’t regret accepting them? Is this… mixed operation method truly that excellent? Are there any drawbacks I might not know about?”
“It’s a method that allows you to utilize magic more quickly and powerfully than traditional methods, with reasonable mana consumption. Compared to the existing ways, there are absolutely no drawbacks. I can include that in the contract as well.”
Looking at the young lady, I spoke with certainty.
“I promise you, if you learn this method, you won’t regret it. Of course, you might regret not adhering to the contents of the contract and suffering from a stomach ache, but that’s unavoidable.”
“I’m at the 2nd Circle, though…”
“I’m not planning to close my mouth at the 1st Circle. Although it may not be immediate, I intend to gradually apply this method to higher Circle magic as I raise my own. If I succeed, I’ll certainly let you know.”
“…Then I want to learn.”
“Iris.”
“What is it?”
“You must make an effort. Don’t take this phrase lightly. A high-level contract will assess your heart as well. No matter how much you pretend to change on the outside, you won’t be able to escape from a stomach ache.”
Even though she was a child of the Belger trait, I had no intention of cheating in this contract.
Doing so would not only fail to win her heart but might even lead to a slap on the cheek. If we’re going to do this, I at least need to ensure she knows what she’s getting into.
Gazing at Iris, I continued earnestly.
“Experiencing the mild stomach aches can be quite frustrating. The process of change will be more painful than you think. Ten years is not a short period. Considering all that, do you still want to make the contract?”
The moment those words ended, the little one’s eyes sparkled.
“If it means I can learn the magic I saw earlier.”
“Very well.”
Having hooked the bait, it was now time to negotiate with the Count. Thus, the Count and I began discussing the terms.
Of course, the condition of non-disclosure to others was a given.
It was also easy to agree to the clause that the Circle would vanish if it were broken. After all, such clauses were typically attached when imparting a vision.
Even the penalty of stomach ache was brushed aside without a hitch.
However.
“About the part where I must assist upon request. What exactly does that mean in terms of combat?”
“Lady Iris is a talented magician. But she has no real combat experience. This condition is included so that she can gain that experience and utilize her magical skills.”
“…Are you saying that you would summon my daughter even in the event of war?”
“Well, I certainly hope that doesn’t happen, but if it were to come to that… then yes, I would.”
The reason for wanting to raise Iris was to gain an ally capable of stopping the upcoming villain invasions.
Naturally, that meant she would need to rush to my aid when I called. If that wasn’t going to happen, there would be no reason to teach her.
“That would be troubling.”
“I also find it difficult to compromise on this clause.”
“Does that not imply my daughter’s life could be in danger?”
Well then.
Once the villains start invading in earnest, the Central Continent will be torn asunder.
Whether one hides or not, the danger will be the same.
In fact, the Count of Neiron would soon become one of the places to be destroyed in just a few years.
“I can’t speak for much else, but I promise to do my utmost to ensure the safety of the lady. That’s all I can guarantee.”
A 1st Tier magician.
This was a force that absolutely needed protection.
The moment I lost her, I would be plunged into a deeply gloomy mood.
At that moment.
“I’ll do it. The contract.”
Iris’s voice was heard.
“Child. Think a bit more…”
“If the method you mentioned is indeed much better than the existing ones, and there are no drawbacks at all, then it seems worthwhile.”
“Hmmm…”
“I understand your concerns, but I will do my utmost to protect the lady as well. I have my escort knight, and I wouldn’t send her off alone if I were to summon her, would I?”
“That’s true, but…”
“And we don’t even know if such a situation will arise. In fact, the empire has been at peace for the past hundred years.”
That was true.
Although problems were scheduled to arise soon.
But I didn’t need to mention that; no one would believe me anyway.
“Alright then. Can I add what you mentioned to the contract? Specifically, the clause stating that there are no drawbacks when compared to existing methods and that you will do my utmost to protect my daughter if the seventh clause is fulfilled.”
“Please do.”
“Then wait a moment. I just happen to have a decent contract.”
Soon after, the Count brought out, surprisingly, a top-grade magical contract. It was a contract two levels above the high-level one used during grain transactions. That single contract would be worth about two hundred platinum coins.
Of course, I could argue that the lessons I was teaching would easily surpass that value.
“There are only three of these contracts in existence. With this, you should be able to fulfill all the clauses perfectly, right?”
The Count seemed quite pleased with this contract.
Well, why wouldn’t he be? After all, I was correcting the behavior of a troublemaker and teaching an innovative magic class.
There’s no way he would dislike that.
So, it made sense that he brought out one of the only three top-grade contracts in the Count’s family.
Indeed, the Count was a fool for his daughter.
“That’s right. By the way, it seems the young lady will have quite a hard time.”
“Hmph! That’s easy to fix. What’s so difficult about it?”
I could fix it, but whether it would change smoothly as he said remained to be seen.
Then, Iris and I signed the contract using our magical powers.
At that moment.
The contract began to glow.
Flash!
It turned to powder and sprinkled over Iris and me.
As expected.
The effects of a top-grade contract were on a different level.
[The Heart Eye is activated.]
[A powerful contract has been engraved upon your body.]
[The duration is ten years.]
‘That’s done.’
“Let’s go. I think it’s time to start the lesson.”
“Okay.”
With that, Iris and I headed toward the training grounds.
I began to slowly explain to her about the mixed operation method. The first thing I taught her was the Magic Missile. After carefully explaining the differences from existing activation methods, I used the Heart Eye to look inside her, then detailed how she should move her mana. If she moved it incorrectly, a magical explosion could occur.
“Don’t move it like that, shift a little more to the left…”
Ah, this is tricky to explain verbally.
Then a good idea popped into my head.
“Just wait a moment.”
I grabbed a piece of paper and drew a picture on it.
“Right now, the mana is here, and you should do it like this…”
“Um, excuse me.”
“Yes?”
“Can you see the mana inside my body?”
“Roughly. It’s been that way since I was a child.”
I couldn’t explain the Heart Eye, so saying I had been like this since childhood was the best I could do.
“Is Hermemu some kind of illness?”
“It’s not an illness, just that I have a somewhat unique constitution. I’ll explain again, so listen carefully and follow along.”
As I explained using the drawing, she seemed to understand at once and began to slowly move her mana as I instructed.
The drawing was crudely done, resembling a stick figure, but as long as she understood, that was fine.
It was clear she was sharp; her learning speed was incredibly fast.
One hour into teaching the operation method.
In just that hour, a Magic Missile began to form above her hand.
“Can I shoot it?”
“Why not try shooting it at that tree?”
As soon as the magic collided with the tree.
Boom!
With a heavy sound, the tree’s center showed a deep dent.
“…Wow.”
“How is it?”
“…Hmm. It’s pretty good.”
Her expression seemed to say “pretty good,” but she looked utterly astonished.
“Let’s practice repeatedly. The area I warned you about—never move your mana there. There’s a risk of magical explosion.”
“Got it.”
Thus, the magic lesson continued for three hours.
That night.
The little girl had perfectly memorized the operation method for the Magic Missile.
Certainly.
Regardless of her characteristics, she truly had talent.
—
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