NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 79
– 1 –
“Really… Is it true?”
Three days later, Elenore looked even worse than before.
Her throat was hoarse, and her wrists were covered in marks from the shackles.
It seems the time spent in solitary was quite agonizing.
“Yes. You will sign a contract with me and act as Sonia’s guard. Though really, you’ll be more like a helper following her around doing odd jobs.”
“Thank you! Thank you! Please give me any task! I’ll do anything! Sniff…”
It is said that darkness and solitude are the quickest and easiest ways to break a person, but it seems Elenore’s mental strength is rather weak compared to her familial loyalty or the abilities she possesses.
Perhaps she had been maintaining her resolve for revenge against our family, and now with that broken, she was unable to hold her center.
“And with the contract, part of your abilities will be collected.”
“What…?”
She looked up at me in confusion, but it was only natural from my perspective.
After all, her survival thus far was entirely thanks to Sonia’s decision to abandon her revenge.
I had not given up.
To Sonia, she was merely the enemy of a dear one, but to me, she was the “enemy” who caused me to lose a treasured subordinate and the dungeon’s power.
“Do you understand?”
“Ah, um… yes…”
Although her expression didn’t really show understanding, Elenore nodded her head anyway.
I decided to say one more phrase to make things easier for her to comprehend.
“I could have made it so you would never see your family again. In any manner.”
“Thank you!!”
“Feel free to be grateful.”
The contract was formed afterwards, once she completed the task I assigned to her today.
“Oh, you’re here!!”
“Ah, yes…”
“Um…”
When I saw Elenore again at dinner, her expression lit up significantly.
Her bright face was almost an embarrassment to Sonia and Maria, probably filled with the expectation of being freed from solitary and confirming her family’s safety.
“Let’s write the contract.”
Since there was already a minor contract in place, there were no issues with recording personal details and the Soul Trace.
Elenore’s aura glowed wildly like flames, yet the lines that formed it were very thin.
It was as if it reflected her mental and emotional state directly.
“Master? Um, I have a question about this part…”
“Is there a problem?”
She created the special clause below, and when I showed it to Sonia for confirmation, her face was in disarray.
What Sonia pointed out was the last clause of the special provisions.
“‘C’ agrees to pay with ‘B’’s life should ‘B’ suffer a fatal injury that isn’t caused by actions of ‘A’.”
Here, ‘C’ refers to Elenore, while ‘B’ refers to Sonia.
In other words, through this contract, I would be creating a barrier that protects Sonia’s life with Elenore’s life against anything that attacks her, beyond me or my forces.
“Her life is now yours. Since you’ve said you would take responsibility for her, it’s only natural that you must die in her place if she is in danger.”
“But like this… I didn’t want this.”
“This is what I wanted, and she agreed as well.”
“Is that really true?”
“… Yes. It is. I agreed as well.”
Receiving Sonia’s gaze, Elenore nodded her head. Very vigorously. As if to say she wanted it.
That was precisely the behavior I had ordered, and Sonia likely sensed it too… But it didn’t matter.
I still had something to express.
“Is there really nothing you can do about it?”
“Master, but this is…”
While placing one hand on her head, I locked eyes with Sonia.
Under normal circumstances, Sonia would reject such an arrangement.
However, if my expectations were correct, she would not be able to refuse the words I was saying right now.
“I thought this level of safety was necessary. If she’s still alive but you happen to die or get severely injured, I would… feel very lonely. I would like you to accept this as a general rule…”
“… I understand. I will accept it. Master.”
After a while of staring into my eyes, she eventually nodded her head again.
As expected.
She likely was considering my recent experience in losing Leonis while simultaneously worrying about losing someone close to her.
“You’ve thought well. Thank you.”
That thought wasn’t wrong.
What I had just said wasn’t even a lie.
I truly cared for Leonis and felt sorrow over his loss.
Just as I felt the same for the loss of the Skeleton that Evangeline raised.
Moreover, it was true that I was worried about losing Sonia, so there were no lies at all.
Genuinely.
… This is what it means to form a bond with someone.
“No, I’m thankful too… Though it’s not exactly pleasant.”
Sonia’s expression in response to my smile seemed pitiful.
The more I looked, the more certain I felt.
This girl seems to think of me as her protector.
“The Dungeon Lord is a monster, which is common sense in this world.”
To be honest, I found it somewhat ridiculous, and I didn’t even know what caused such feelings.
However, if it could substitute hatred, then it wasn’t a bad thing for me.
Hatred is an emotion that devours both the target and itself.
Growwwrrr…!!
A moment later, right after the contract was complete and the Demon Lord’s hand vanished, I checked Elenore’s condition.
“Attributes – Stamina 39(◀58) Skills 18(◀38) Durability 33(◀47) Magic 36(◀53) Resistance 25(◀42)”
“Traits (Grade Decrease) – Madness, Master Class Specialization: Great Sword, Enchant Body”
“Traits (Loss) – Advanced Specialization: Two-Handed Sword, Magic Overload”
“Her body… feels heavy. I can’t believe this was possible…”
Her ability, previously at the Elite Early Stage level, had plummeted to mid-level.
In terms of levels, it was only one step down, but the actual sensation she experienced would be quite substantial.
With more than a third of the physical and magical abilities enhanced by the number indicated as “attributes” having fallen away.
“Ugh…”
Maria’s eyes were filled with sympathy, perhaps feeling a sense of kinship with her.
Soon, I did plan to return her power, but she had no way of knowing that, so it’s likely that her feelings wouldn’t change afterwards.
So where did the power I had taken from Elenore go?
“Name – Lin Xue”
I had bestowed it upon Xue, who possessed powers similar to Elenore’s as a warrior.
Of course, this was done without the two meeting, and Xue was currently situated in the adjacent prison.
I didn’t want Elenore, now who had lost her power, to harbor any unnecessary negative feelings towards Xue.
“Amount of Power Taken – Stamina 19 Skill 20 Durability 14 Magic 19 Resistance 17”
“Attributes – Stamina 53(◀44) Skills 27(◀19) Durability 39(◀34) Magic 39(◀33) Resistance 42(◀36)”
“Traits – Madness: Blood, … ‘Magic Overload’ …”
“A relatively good-powered human warrior for her grade. Body quality is top-class, soul quality is middle-class.”
I had indeed been keeping an eye on the growth of my subordinates lately, so I felt quite pleased.
The power granted was too much to be gained through a standard strengthening or growth sacrifice.
Perhaps it had to do with directly infusing the power taken from a human into a Demon Clan being, but there were some considerable losses involved.
“Looks like I perfectly met the standards for the Elite-level classification.”
Unlike advancing to an upper grade that requires different rituals and offerings, I can’t say it has immediately leveled up, but at least I felt proud that someone I treasured gained that much strength.
I wouldn’t intentionally push anyone to death, but since the power I had absorbed came from someone I thought wouldn’t mind dying, it felt more meaningful.
“If I can strip away power, then naturally I can grant it as well. I expect you to show that level of devotion, Elenore.”
“I will work hard…”
Her spirit was low due to despair, so she didn’t display the same enthusiasm as before. But just being able to respond was enough.
The sudden loss of power carries with it almost the same implications as a drop in self-esteem or pride for someone with strength.
It indicates a profound level of despair, and merely not collapsing because of it is a sign of doing well.
“And Elenore, you are not a subordinate but a slave. Make sure to fully realize your position.”
“… Understood. Master.”
“I’ll take my leave now. You three likely have things to discuss.”
“Yes. Master.”
If I see Elenore disrespecting Sonia moving forward, I’ll use that as an excuse to put her in Sonia’s “life slot.”
There will be no compromises in that regard, and even if someone objected, I wouldn’t care.
Just keeping her alive already involved quite a lot of concessions.
As long as I keep her alive, I’ll endeavor to make good use of her.
“Then, while you’re at it, show her that her family is safe. But I won’t allow you to open the jail just yet.”
“Yes. Understood.”
The reasons for not immediately releasing the nobles are clear.
Because I haven’t contracted with them yet.
“I need to check one by one before distributing.”
Contracts with the nobles will have different conditions for each individual, but the one definitely mandated will be the collection and distribution of attributes and traits through the contract.
Nobles often neglect training but, considering the quality of abilities they possess, there must be a reason behind their supposed downfall.
Each has likely been honing their power for revenge.
Even Elenore’s younger brother, who seems to struggle with intellectual functions, was a soldier at the high-grade entry level.
That requires considerable effort.
“There was no one of ‘good quality’ like Elenore who could transfer the original power as much, but…”
If I can transfer even a fraction of the abilities they possess, those abilities will serve as good nourishment for my current subordinates.
I’m already feeling excited.
Thinking about how much they would enjoy it.
– 2 –
“What should I do?”
Sonia was in a pinch.
She had no idea how to approach Elenore.
Of course, she had seen others treat their servants or slaves this way, but those instances were of no help whatsoever.
[Did you just buy this as a manicure? Haven’t you been with me for over a week? You still can’t figure out my style?]
[The slave has no awareness of their station!]
… She didn’t want to rely on the everyday violence or verbal abuse others executed.
In fact, had she looked closely, she may have found masters who treated their servants or slaves well, but such individuals typically went unnoticed.
Servants or slaves enjoying an ordinary life due to their master’s kindness wouldn’t stand out from commoners.
It’s no wonder Sonia was unaware of such cases.
“I’ve really been lacking.”
Thus, she realized quickly enough.
She might have wanted to give Elenore a chance, but that was just a façade rooted in her subtle cowardice.
“How long has it been that I’ve been relying on the Master so much?”
She subtly hoped, and also believed.
That Elenore’s job would be managed by Libertus.
Yet, Rita had entrusted Elenore to her, and the best Sonia could do was not oppose that.
In fact, she couldn’t possibly have understood how amazing it was for someone with such empty expectations to act to that degree.
“Truly commendable.”
Moreover, Libertus was giving her extra scores for that very point.