The Munchkin Disciple Wants To Stop Being Obsessed Over

8 – Priest’s Bond

[Please choose a reward.]

[1. All stats +10]

[2. Penetrating Eye (穿察眼)(lv.1)]

[3. Starlight(lv.1)]

‘Damn!’

I exclaimed inwardly.

‘Penetrating eye…!’

An eye that can see through everything.

It’s a trait that can identify attack patterns of the opponent, and even brief status.

‘You can possibly learn your opponent’s skills and traits in rare cases as well.’

This unnaturally powered trait, which can only be described as game-breaking, was something that I myself was able to acquire only once.

‘There’s no need for contemplation.’

Without hesitation, I chose my reward.

[‘Insightful Eye (穿察眼)(lv.1)’ is added to your traits.]

Suddenly, a brief tingling sensation was felt in my eyes, and soon, I began to see what was previously unseen.

‘So this is what it feels like…’

Just moments ago, I thought it was just an ordinary log house.

But through the Insightful Eye, I could see numerous magic circles spread out inside the house.

And that wasn’t the only surprising thing.

“What are you staring at so intently?”

Daphne asked me as she put down her spoon.

There was tomato sauce smeared on the corner of her mouth, and most of the bowl was already empty.

It was a situation where I could have been rightfully angry.

But I couldn’t get angry.

“Ah, no. It’s just that you look so beautiful while eating…”

“How bland.”

“hehehe.”

No, I should have bowed my head in a more polite and humble manner.

Because the energy that began to emanate from Daphne, who was still munching with her small mouth, was more than enough to make me polite.

‘What on earth is she doing?’

Through the Insightful Eye, I instinctively knew as I looked at Daphne.

That Daphne was a being that I could never defeat, even if I brought all the characters I had raised.

“Clean up roughly, and let’s rest for today.”

With a complicated heart, Daphne said so and got up from her seat.

“From tomorrow, I’m going to teach you this and that.”

She comforted my complicated feelings and left with words that would inspire enthusiasm.

****

Daphne and I had been outside since early morning, when the faint remnants of dawn’s darkness remained.

The place where we stood was the white sandy beach near the lake we had visited yesterday, so wide that its end was not visible.

Daphne was drawing something on that sandy beach with her sword.

‘A magic circle?’

Judging by its shape and the energy I felt, it seemed so.

As my thoughts reached this point, a sense of unease crept in.

‘What is she trying to do again…’

Having been through a lot in the past two days, my eyes naturally narrowed.

Did she notice my gaze? Daphne raised her head and approached me with a smile.

“I won’t eat you, so take a rest for a while.”

I thought I heard a scary afterword, ‘for now.’ But it must have been a misunderstanding?

Anyway, I asked a question that I was curious about.

“What are you drawing right now?”

“A magic circle.”

“May I ask what kind of magic circle it is?”

“We’re going to make a contract.”

Upon hearing the reply, my head inadvertently tilted.

Contract? What contract?

*Pfft.*

Did my troubled appearance amuse her?

Daphne chuckled then stopped what she had been doing and looked at me.

“Why? Are you afraid that I’ll turn you into a slave?”

“I didn’t think so…”

On reflection, it seemed possible, and my expression began to harden unconsciously.

“Don’t worry. If I intended that, I could have made you a slave without going through all of this trouble.”

I found myself convinced, nodding reflexively.

Considering what I observed about Daphne, she was fully capable of doing something like that.

However, what is this contract she speaks of?

“We’re going to form a bond of magic.”

Did she just read my mind?

Daphne, who was drawing a magic circle, alleviated my curiosity.

“A bond of magic?”

“Yes. Why? Do you dislike it?”

Why would I? To be honest, I’m so grateful I could burst into tears.

“No, it’s just… it’s a surprise, and I also feel thankful…”

“Didn’t I say yesterday that I would teach you this and that?”

“Yes, you did.”

“Good, stand here.”

Daphne, who had at some point completed the magic circle, called me from the center of it.

“Ah, Daphne. Wait a moment.”

I was on my way to where Daphne had called me when something occurred to me.

“Yes?”

“Can I see the contents of the contract before signing it?”

“What?”

Daphne looked at me with a perplexed expression.

I didn’t waver this time, looking back at her with determination.

Why? If something inappropriate is in the contract, I could find myself in a predicament I can’t get out of.

‘Seho. Are you living well?’

Suddenly, I remembered my poor friend who had been scammed out of his deposit due to a poorly written contract.

“Why do you look so nostalgic?”

“Ah, sorry. I just feel like I must do this.”

“Well, it’s not bad to be careful.”

Daphne led me to stand inside the left circle she had drawn in the center, before stepping into the right circle herself.

“Unless you verbally agree, this contract can’t be fulfilled.”

And then, she reached her right hand towards the magic circle in the very center.

Suddenly, the magic circle emitted a blue light, resonating, and started to spew a blurry figure of scales above itself.

“State what you wish to contract.”

In no time, a strange voice echoed from the scales. To which Daphne responded with a solemn voice.

“We aim to forge a bond of master and disciple.”

“Name please.”

“Master Daphne Iris.”

And then Daphne glanced at me.

After a moment of consideration, I tactfully chimed in with her.

“Disciple Camel.”

Then, a scarlet-lettered inscription started to appear above the scales sited at both ends. It was Daphne and my names.

“What do you offer?”

“I, Daphne, will impart swordsmanship and magic to disciple Camel.”

The scales tipped towards the side where Daphne’s name was engraved as Daphne rattled off.

“What do you desire?”

“I demand that disciple Camel shall not be mesmerized by the power of the evil god Bulginess, no matter what.”

“And the price?”

“Death.”

Daphne said so and then started to look at me with a very serious expression.

‘So that was it.’

Facing her gaze, it made sense instinctively.

The effort gone into getting a single disciple, the reason for even summoning scales.

‘Either this or that, I am a vessel of sin after all.’

Telling me to not harbor the sin.

Not to become a disaster.

And would teach swordsmanship and magic in return.

Daphne was demanding my death as a guarantee.

“Give your consent, contractee Camel.”

The Scales asked me, if I would agree to Daphne’s demands.

‘There’s no need to contemplate.’

Because to become evil, killing countless people causing disasters was not an option for me.

I am, rather, in the situation where I need to prevent the disasters.

And yet, Daphne was summoning the scales to give me a promise. That she would teach me swordsmanship and magic.

“I agree.”

So I replied without hesitation.

Then, the scale, which was tipped to one side, began to move slowly and then balance itself.

“Do you agree, Contractee Daphne Iris?”

“I agree.”

As the scales inquired and Daphne replied, a dazzling golden light exploded out from the scales.

“The contract is established.”

Blinded by the glare, I briefly shut my eyes. When I opened them again, both the magic circle and the scales had vanished as if they’d never existed.

“Carmel.”

A voice seeping into my ears like faint moonlight.

“The reason I went as far as calling upon the heavens, binding you and the priest together.”

My head turned reflexively.

Daphne stood there, looking different than before for some reason.

“I thought you would understand. Isn’t that so?”

“Thank you.”

I bowed my head in response to her beauty.

“From now on…”

Daphne, who had come closer before I realized.

“I hope you call me master.”

She said and gently embraced me, starting to carefully stroke my head.

“Yes.”

I’m not sure why.

There was a moist feeling…

No, I felt strangely touched.

Was it because we simply established a priestly bond? What is this odd feeling?

As I was engrossed in this unnameable emotion, a notification arrived.

[The hidden quest ‘Master’s Obsession Like the Sky’ begins.]

[Learn Daphne’s swordsmanship and magic. (Progress: 0%)]

Yes, it was time for a quest.

‘Huh?’

Something feels ominous, as if a word is out of place.

[Before progress reaches 10%, you cannot proceed with other quests.]

[Before progress reaches 10%, you cannot get away from Daphne.]

What?

****

A undeniable, clear reality.

Time always flows at the same rate.

However, there are occasions where time feels to pass very quickly.

‘I am in that state now.’

It feels like just the other day I built a priestly bond with Daphne.

Immersed in learning swordsmanship and magic, before I knew it, summer and autumn passed, winter has gone and new spring approached.

Short yet long, two years.

I received many things from my master.