章 4: The Agreement

"This is..." Lyan muttered in shock as he saw his figure reflected in the mirror.

"I'm human again!" Lyan exclaimed in joy.

(And not just back human, it seems that I'm back to my body when I'm still young! No wonder those girls keep on calling me boy this boy that) (Lyan)

Little do the eight spirits know that the hero of the two realms' age had surpassed five hundred years.

(Back human again, huh...) (Lyan)

Several familiar faces passed Lyan's mind, making him sentimental for a second, but he quickly shakes those thoughts and a smile appeared on his face.

(This time, I don't have any quest. I don't have any obligation, I don't have to think about the world's fate, and I'm allowed to do anything I wish) (Lyan)

(I've decided, in this world, I will live my life to the fullest and enjoy my freedom!) (Lyan)

"Hey, sorry for intruding on your joyful moment, but could you explain what is the purple chains that bind us before first?" (Griselda)

"Ah. Forgive me, I got slightly distracted," (Lyan)

"That purple chains are the contract requirement necessary made by the grimoire to complete the high spirit contract with all of you. Those chains are the ones that input all of you as one of the summonses inside the summoning grimoire. You didn't feel any pain when the chains bind you, right?" (Lyan)

"Yup! I didn't feel any pain!" (Azelia)

"I see, so that's what it is, huh..." (Griselda)

"May I ask another question?" Asked Arturia.

"Yes, of course," (Lyan)

"How much did you know about us? After the purple chains suddenly bind us, you mentioned that you've understood why we're here and about our last moment. And you've also mentioned the thing about making an agreement, what kind of agreement do you mean, can you explain that to us?" (Arturia)

(As expected of the serious one, she went right to the point. But that's good, it'll make this short) (Lyan)

"Indeed. The moment the contract between all of you and the grimoire finished, the grimoire gave me some knowledge about all of you and showed me a glimpse of your death. But even so, I've reached several conclusions from the information given from it," (Lyan)

"So in short, all of you are here after making a certain contract with the god's voice, and that's the reason why you're here. If I'm not mistaken, then the offer given by the god's voice is that for you to be reincarnated and given a second chance to live, is it not?" (Lyan)

"I see. Seems like you're rather smart. What you just said is true, kid. Then what about that agreement you about to offer us before?" (Griselda)

"Rather than an agreement, it's more like a promise from me, though," (Lyan)

"A promise?" (Arturia)

"As I've said before, this life of mine is a gift given to me. And in this life, I've decided to live my life to the fullest and enjoy my freedom. But having my own freedom by taking over others' will leave me a bad aftertaste, so when all of you regain your ability to live in the world without being summoned, I'll set you free from the grimoire's binds," (Lyan)

!?!?!?!?

Doubt and hesitation immediately shrouded the spirits.

"Y-You'll let us free?" (Arturia)

"Don't lie to me! What kind of benefit will you get from doing so!" (Griselda)

"I hate lies more than-" As Hestia was about to add something, Cynthia cut her sentence.

"He hasn't said any lie yet," (Cynthia)

"Is that true, saintess?" (Arturia)

(Saintess?) (Lyan)

"Yes. If he's lying, I would be able to sense his lie immediately. And if he uses magic to prevent me from detecting his lie, I would sense it immediately as well," replied Cynthia calmly.

"Can you tell me the reason why you're willing to do so, Lyan?" Arturia's strong gaze reverts back towards Lyan's direction.

"As I've said before, it will leave me a bad aftertaste. But well, aside from that, I wouldn't want to get killed by my summoned spirits when they have the chance right after the contract ends, after all. Well, I won't leave any chance, though, but it would be better to prevent any chances of that happening, wouldn't it?" Lyan's gaze shifted towards Griselda's direction when he said his words.

"Heh, so you knew. I guess the title of the hero of the two realms are not just mere title, I guess," (Griselda)

"You're flattering me. But well, all of you have a reason why you want to go back to life, don't you? Not to mention you even offer yourself to be a contracted spirit. It means that you're ready to be exploited and treated harshly by your summoner. All of you must have your own pasts," (Lyan)

When Lyan mention about their pasts, all of their expression darkens for a moment.

"But of course, I won't ask you what kind of past you have or what you're going to try to change. Heck, I don't even care nor do I want to know about it. But there's one thing all of you need to know," (Lyan)

Suddenly, the air Lyan's emitting changed.

!?!?!?!?!?

Dense, suffocating, powerful, and terrifying murderous intent fills up the whole room, disturbing their breath. The eight girls immediately ready their weapons and warm up their mana.

The murderous intent is so thick that the room looks like it's getting filled with a thick dark red fog. Griselda, Hestia, Arturia, Eira, Azelia, Lilith, Sylphia, and Cynthia couldn't help but get cold sweats because of the murderous intent.

(W-What with this guy... The pressure, it's even much more powerful than that guy!) (Griselda)

"In case any of you disturbs or hinders with my life and freedom in the future, don't ever think that I'll let you off just because you were once contracted with me. If you mess with me, trust me that even the gods would aid you, I will definitely find you and pay you back," (Lyan)

And in the next moment, after he utter those words, the murderous intent suddenly disappeared as if it doesn't even been there since the beginning.

"Well, that's what I mean, I guess," said Lyan as he wear his smile again.

(His muderous intent disappeared...) (Griselda)

"I see... So the agreement is for us to ensure your freedom and not to hinder with your freedom after we're unbound by the grimoire, correct?" (Arturia)

"Yes, that's right," (Lyan)

"I see..." (Arturia)

(Eh?) (Lyan)

Lyan got dumbfounded when he saw a smile on Arturia's face as she approaches him.

"Hm... It seems that the one that the god has chosen truly is an amusing man. To think that you uphold your freedom that much, you're an interesting man. I agree with your conditions, Lyan. Once again, it's nice to meet you," Arturia reaches her right hand forward, offering Lyan a handshake.

"...Ah! It's nice to meet you too," said Lyan as he took quite a while to process what just happened, and accepted Arturia's handshake.

"By the way, can I ask something?" (Lyan)

"Yes, what do you want to ask?" (Arturia)

"How long will it take for you to be unbound by the grimoire? And are there any conditions to make it quicker? I believe the god's voice mentioned that there are some conditions that needed to be fulfilled," (Lyan)

"The original duration is three years, for the conditions to make it quicker... It is... We need to..." Arturia's voice suddenly gets smaller as her face reddens.

"Need to?" (Lyan)

"We... W-We need... To..." (Arturia)

Not just Arturia, but the other girls' faces redden as well, making Lyan more confused.

"It's simple, we just need to make love with each other!" Lilith cut Arturia's words boldly.

"I see... As expected of the conditions came from the perverted summoning grimoire... So it's just making- Wait, L-Lady Arturia, what are you-" Lyan became flustered as he saw Arturia gathering a terrifying amount of mana on her right hand as she clench her fist and lowers her head.

"How indecent..." Arturia muttered in a low voice.

"Eh? What?" (Lyan)

"How indecent!!!" (Arturia)

"W-Wait! Stop! Blergh!" (Lyan)

Arturia's fist lands smoothly on Lyan's stomach, sending him flying and crashing towards the wall and losing his consciousness.

*************************

---Lyan's PoV---

"Huh? Where am I?"

I slowly regain my focus as the blurry image starts to become clear, revealing the interior of my old bookstore.

"I fell asleep, huh..."

Wait, I kind of feel I'm not supposed to be here... I wonder why am I feeling like this...

"Uncle! Where are we going today!?"

My niece's cheerful voice entered my ears as she entered the bookstore.

"Huh? Suzu?"

Suzu approached my face and pouted.

"Geez! You forgot your promise, didn't you!?" (Suzu)

Promise? Ah... I've promised to take her out today, didn't I...?

"Ahahaha! There's no way I forgot the promise I made with my adorable niece, right? Wait for a second, I'll tell the part-timer that I'm going to leave the store for the whole day,"

I get up from my chair and told the part-timer of my bookstore about my plan with Suzu.

"Suzu! I'm done, let's go!"

I exit the staff room and saw no one is in there.

"Suzu?"

I searched the bookstore once again and still didn't find her.

"Geez... I'm too old for hide and seek, you know? Hey, part-timer!" I entered the staff room once more, but the part-timer that I just talked to isn't there as well.

"Huh? She was just here a second ago. Where did she go?"

If she left the room, I would have seen her since there is only one door leading towards the staff room.

"Well, let's try checking outside,"

I exit the bookstore and went outside.

Only to find a horrible and terrifying sight.

"W-What is that...?"