Chapter 6: Shhh, don't let them know I like gold (V)
"Contract?" I was stumped at what he meant.
"Don't you know, when you shake hands and agree, you set up a magical contract between two people. This allows the contract to stay valid, and one can not go against the contract, or they will have a bad repercussion."
Was this really the case? Did I just sign over my life to him and herald the beginning of my death?
Colored drain from my face. So this was the mind of the demon lord. I have been fooled! My naivety about this world made it that much easier for me to get an advantage, and this made me angry. I needed to quickly learn more about this world, or I would be dragged around without knowing the consequences, especially around him. I need to be careful. I don't go into some kind of odd contract.
"I see. I never went into a contract, so I wouldn't know. Though is magic an everyday thing here?"
"No. Magic is not used commonly for everyday use. Magic is for the nobles." He said with disapproval. "Even though I am part of the noble class, I do not like how things are run."
"Then how come you were able to use such magic to establish a contract?"
"Well, contract making is a common knowledge in this world, so people normally don't shake hands, occasionally they do, but it doesn't always end up in a contract. There are a couple of requirements for it to be fulfilled. What we do though, is a bow to greet one another."
"Ah, I see." I thought over what he said. "By any chance, do you guys have a library?"
"Yes, we do, but what for?"
"I would like to read."
"We don't have a large collection of books, but we do have a privately owned one if that's alright with you."
I nodded.
A knock was heard on the door. A maid pushed in a cart of food that was prepared for both of us.
"Young Master, your dinner is ready." A young maid with lovely apple color hair bowed and opened up the metal container containing food. She placed it on a table for us to eat.
"Thank you, Margret. Please leave it there." Phil smiled.
"I'm glad to see you back, young master. We missed your presence when you were gone." She giggled.
"I missed you too. Thanks for the food."
I swear I thought they have something going on between the two, but I stopped myself from even asking. It wasn't my business anyway.
"Please ring the bell when you are done. A maid will be nearby to come pick it up." The maid bowed once again and left.
"Apple pie, beef stew, and bread. Looks delicious. Come on." Phil waved me over. I couldn't help but slowly started to salivate when the smell of food was strong. For a dragon, I seriously did not need to eat whole cows to be satisfied. Eating a human portion in a human body seems to be alright. I just needed to eat nine gold coins a day to be satisfied.
"Apple pie." I reached over towards it and stopped myself. I should savor the apple pie later and eat the other things first. Taking up the bread, I tore it apart and dunk it into the soup. Taking a bite, I enjoyed the rich taste of the stew. Was it me or stew and bread a norm even in the noble class? I saw it served often and I missed rice.
"When did you even get cursed?" Phil asked. He was sitting on a chair, chewing on the bread.
"Since birth."
"You must be seriously wealthy if you have to eat so much gold like that, though you living as a hermit does sound strange."
"Let's just keep it at that."
"Okay. It's your business." He shrugged and took a sip out of his stew.
"Do you mind if you take me to the library when we are done eating?"
"Sure. After the stunt you pulled in placing gold in front of my grandfather, I hardly think he will bother you."
"Why is that?"
"He probably thinks you are some noble now after you pulled out those coins. If you agreed to do manual labor, you probably would have been working as a maid. I don't know which is more favorable, though. You're on my grandfather's radar."
I sighed. I should have thought this over before I handed out those six coins, but it was too late to take back what I have done.
With the beef stew and the bread completely eaten, I reached over towards the slice of apple pie. I couldn't help myself but take small bites to savor it. Apple pies are a beautiful creation of desserts. Whoever thought of this dish, I congratulate you for making my life blissful with good food.
Satisfied with eating, I felt full. Eating bread and jerky throughout the carriage ride was not something that I enjoyed. Having warm food in my stomach made it that much more pleasant.
"I'll take you to the library." Phil was done with his. He got up and rang the bell for the maid to take the plates away. Leaving the room, we walked a good minute until we arrived in a large room. The whole wall was covered from left to right with books that I have never seen before. Though the number of books in this room did not compare to the books back at the castle.
Reaching up towards the dusty cover, I pulled one out. Opening it up, I examined it hoping for any clues about this world. Instead, all I could see were funny shapes that I did not understand. "Um, Phil?"
"Yes."
"What language is this?"
"Dragoon language. This kingdom's language. Have you never seen these words before?"
"Dragoon language? How is this dragon language? It doesn't seem anything like it."
"You know the ancient language of the dragon race? Dragoon language is human language, it's not real dragon language."
"Oh, can you teach me?" I felt shame. The only two people in this world that I could actually count on was him and his grandmother. I was asking for a lot in exchange for a little.
"Sure." Phil cheerfully spoke.
"You're not going to ask for anything in return?" I was on guard waiting for him to pull another one of those contracts on me.
"No. I like teaching, plus I like to read as well. Why, do you want to be in more debt?"
My mouth became an 'O' shape. I was glad that he did not take any more favors from me. "No. No. It's alright."
Phil went over to the desk and pulled out parchment paper and ink. He smacked the edge of the chair for me to come sit down next to him.
"Come on. I don't have all day."
I came over-excited. I was only a year old in this world, and even still, my soul and mind was only twenty-five. Though at times like now, I reverted to a kid, ecstatic in learning something new.
For the next hour, until the candle went out, Phil taught me how to read and write. It didn't take long for me to understand and memorize the alphabet. By the time we were finished, I was already able to read elementary books.
"You're surprisingly good at this."
"It just comes naturally."
Phil yawned. "We should go to sleep."
"Yea." His yawn was contagious, and I yawned right after. "You can go. I'm going to sleep here."
"It gets pretty cold in here."
"Well, until I finish reading all the books in here. I don't really want to leave except for taking a bath and eating."
Phil stared at me in disbelief. "Okay. I'll see you later."
"Good night."
"Good night."
Phil left the room, and I was alone. I once again light up another candle and open up a book to read. It was just one more children book for practice before I would go to sleep, but before I knew it, I was out.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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