READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 4
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Yujin normally wouldn’t have made such a decision without a second thought. He had no way of knowing whether everything Tiamat said was true.
To be blunt, even if someone tried to deceive Yujin, he wouldn’t have been able to handle it properly. So he had no choice but to be cautious.
But at this point, when there was clearly no way to leave this place, he thought spending time in contemplation was just a waste of time.
If the only way to leave was to make a contract with her and become a Dragon, what else could he do? Even if that was a deception, he didn’t have any good options.
But if she was lying? Was there any other option? After all, she probably wouldn’t teach him how to escape from here anyway.
Remembering that there was no way to escape a trap in the game with his own strength, he realized he had no choice but to act.
“Uh, are you serious?”
“Of course I don’t want to just sit around and wither away in a place like this. Even if I have to die someday, I’d prefer to go peacefully.”
“Hmm…”
Upon hearing Yujin’s words, Tiamat was at a loss whether to laugh or cry at such a simple reason for wanting to make a contract. But, survival isn’t exactly something simple…
“And personally, I also want to help you, Tiamat. You mentioned that your goal was to liberate the Dragons trapped in the tower and restore your original status, right?”
In the midst of all this, Tiamat responded to Yujin’s statement.
“Yes, I did say that. At the very least, I want to free my children, even if their status is a secondary concern.”
“That thought resonated with me, too. The heart of a parent thinking of their child… is always beautiful, isn’t it?”
Yujin recalled his parents, who were consumed by worry until the very end, and said this. Tiamat blushed slightly at that.
“Um, right. Well, of course, they aren’t my biological children…”
“…I see. So Dragons don’t actually engage in typical reproductive activities?”
Considering the notion of becoming a Dragon by offering his heart, Yujin wondered if Dragons generally didn’t reproduce, and as that thought crossed his mind, Tiamat shook her head.
“Ah, no… that’s not the case. They do reproduce, but how should I put it… the time when they can lay eggs is extremely short compared to their lifespan, and the cycle is very long. Plus, the chances of conception are very low. Once you reach Transcendent levels, having children becomes quite difficult.”
“Ah, I see.”
“And even though you’re just a child and innocent, asking such questions is a bit troublesome. Just so you know, I’m a virgin.”
“…I see.”
It struck Yujin as odd that someone who appeared to be a dragon’s leader had lived for such a long time yet still claimed to be a virgin. Maybe she hadn’t found a suitable mate due to aging?
“Are you perhaps thinking something very impolite right now?”
“Haha, of course not!”
With an unsettling feeling that he might face dire consequences if exposed, Yujin denied it with a relaxed smile. Concealing his emotions was his specialty.
“Suspicious…”
“By the way, how do we finalize the contract? Also, you mentioned using Tiamat’s bones to reconstruct my body, but how does that work?”
Yujin quickly decided to shift the conversation. Fortunately, it was a topic that was both relevant and necessary.
“…Hmm, right. Should we do the contract first? For now, send your mana into my heart.”
“…Understood.”
Yujin was, in fact, an Awakened One who specialized in manipulating mana, especially in the realm of magic.
For him, channeling mana into an object wasn’t a difficult task.
However, there was a moment of hesitation at the end.
‘What if Tiamat is trying to pull a fast one to take over my body?’
This thought wasn’t entirely out of the blue. It felt plausible enough.
But Yujin shook off the worry, thinking.
‘It’s better than withering away here without food or water.’
After all, he was going to die of dehydration or have his body taken over; it was a choice between two death sentences. In that case, would the latter be less painful?
Of course, if Tiamat suddenly showed her wicked side and attempted to impose eternal torment on his soul as a punishment for daring to oppose a Transcendent, that would change things.
But if he couldn’t trust anything, then he was in a tough spot. Didn’t some scientist once say:
[To doubt everything is just as unreasonable as believing everything.]
Sure, that was a scientific hypothesis, but it also rang true in the realm of logic and reason.
What could possibly come out of doubting everything? At least, he should differentiate between what to believe and what not to believe.
He should definitely trust her demonstrated benevolence and goodwill towards him.
With that resolve, Yujin passed his mana into Tiamat’s heart.
“My heart is endlessly concentrated and stored with my mana. When you send your mana into it, the two will mix together… and that mixed mana will serve as a medium connecting both of us.”
“…I see.”
Even with his eyes closed, Yujin could feel the overwhelming power of the mana.
In comparison, his mana felt so utterly meager and insignificant. Yet, Tiamat didn’t seem even a bit displeased by his shabby mana.
“Now you and I have formed a spiritual connection that transcends simply communicating through the heart. Open your eyes.”
At her instruction, Yujin slowly opened his eyes, still squinting, and then…
“…!”
“So, can you see me?”
Before him stood an incredibly beautiful woman.
Her black hair flowed strangely like a silken waterfall, and her ruby-red eyes sparkled intensely, directed towards Yujin.
The imposing curves of her figure contrasted with her seemingly delicate, sweet smile, creating a mesmerizing allure.
She radiated a paradoxical beauty.
One thing was certain; she was more beautiful than any woman Yujin had seen before.
“Though I could have appeared before you in dragon form, I felt that might be overwhelming because of its size… so I decided to show you this polymorphed form. What do you think?”
“……It’s breathtaking. Really.”
Yujin, still dazed, replied without realizing that his eyes had widened. Tiamat laughed softly at his words.
“Thank you. Your eyes are quite beautiful too.”
“…Haha.”
Yujin realized with a wry smile that he had been staring wide-eyed. He then composed himself and met Tiamat’s gaze with a slightly serious expression.
Tiamat asked.
“Do you remember the conditions of the contract I mentioned earlier?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“I will now proceed with the Soul Contract. After I state the conditions I must fulfill, you will recite the conditions you must fulfill.”
“Is that it?”
“Yes, once the Soul Contract is cast, that’s the end of it. Casting the Soul Contract is my responsibility.”
“Understood… are there any precautions I need to take?”
“Not so much precautions… but I should mention the consequences of failure. First, after casting the Soul Contract, both parties must adhere to the conditions that are mutually agreed upon. If you state a condition that wasn’t part of our prior agreement, the other party won’t agree, and the Soul Contract will inevitably be broken.”
“Hmm, I see.”
The contract is only executed with mutual consent… that makes it quite safe.
“Aside from that… if you sever the mana connection, the Soul Contract will also be interrupted. However, doing so might risk tangling mana circuits.”
“I’ll have to be careful.”
“Since I am a Dragon and at present only a heart, that risk is practically nonexistent. So, as long as you don’t break it yourself, you should be fine. Now, are you ready to begin?”
“Yes, please proceed.”
“Then, I will now start the Soul Contract.”
With those words, Tiamat initiated the contract.
Wuuuuuuuumm!
The mana around them glowed, illuminating the surroundings.
With it, Yujin felt a fundamental part of himself… connect with Tiamat.
Tiamat spoke.
“First, I, Tiamat, offer my heart to Yujin.”
Next was Yujin’s turn.
“I, Yujin, shall form a fate community with Tiamat and establish a Soul Bond.”
As the clauses multiplied, he felt a chain constricting his soul.
“Second, I, Tiamat, shall transform the other into a new Dragon.”
“I, Yujin, will exert my strength to liberate the Dragons of the Maze and restore their status to what it was before the Great War, as per her demand.”
“However, Tiamat’s demands may be adjusted based on discussion with Yujin. If my demands are deemed impossible, Yujin’s wishes will take precedence.”
“Tiamat?”
This was not a term they had agreed upon beforehand. However, the essence of it was beneficial to Yujin.
“I thought it necessary. After all, I can’t force someone into an impossible situation.”
“…Understood.”
Yujin didn’t find this clause to be unfavorable, and perhaps she genuinely believed it was necessary, so the Soul Contract remained intact.
Charru….
The chains constricting his soul became thicker.
“Thus, we have established the Soul Contract, and we vow to do our utmost to fulfill and uphold our conditions.”
“I swear.”
Fwaaaaaaaaaah…!
Gradually, the mana that illuminated their surroundings began to dim.
“…Did it succeed?”
“Yes, the Soul Contract is now established.”
“…Hmm.”
He could no longer feel the once constricting sensation of chains. However, they probably still lingered in some form.
“Now, shall we finalize the Soul Bond as well? It seems wise to reshape the body and accept the heart afterward.”
“Oh, is the contract separate from the bond?”
Yujin thought the Soul Bond and contract would occur simultaneously, but apparently not. Tiamat explained.
“The contract is just that: a contract. While the Bond is a type of contract, it’s more… um…”
“Is there something different?”
“…Hmm, well! If I were to put it simply, the Bond is closer to marriage. A sort of union of souls, you could say…”
“Marriage…”
When he heard the explanation about the Soul Bond, he had a fleeting thought about that, but he didn’t expect it to carry such a close meaning.
Perhaps because they were linked by mana? Sensing Yujin’s reaction, Tiamat spoke.
“W-well! I don’t mean that you and I are actually getting married! It’s purely a metaphorical meaning…”
“Haha, of course. I understand.”
Yujin fully believed she was speaking metaphorically. After all, there wouldn’t be actual marriage involved.
“Right, that’s a relief.”
“Then, shall we begin? Do I proceed as before?”
When Yujin asked, Tiamat shook her head and replied.
“This is different from the contract we discussed before. It’s simply a process of binding our souls together. So…”
Upon saying this, Tiamat extended her hand.
“Here, take my hand. That will be sufficient.”
“….”
At her words, Yujin reached out and grasped her intangible hand in a trance.
Weirdly enough, he felt the unusually chilly touch of a woman’s hand.
“From now on, this person shall be my soul’s companion.”
Yujin instinctively echoed her next words.
“And I shall be his companion, sharing the rest of my life together.”
“And I shall be her companion, sharing the rest of my life together.”
In that moment, he felt that sensation he had felt when they first connected once again.
This time, it was denser and more profound, wrapping around their joined hands like a red thread.
Slowly, the red thread dimmed, and the remnants began to fade away…
“…Did it work?”
“Hoo… yes, we are now one in soul.”
To be one in soul… it was a wondrous feeling. For a moment, Yujin squeezed his hand that had been holding Tiamat’s, then turned to her and spoke.
“So now…”
“Yes, it’s time to transform you into a Dragon.”
Now, the process of turning Yujin into a Dragon was about to begin.
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