Chapter 447: Proof of Existence (35)

0% Senior Elsie’s breathing was ragged after barely escaping from combat.

The focus in her eyes had begun to blur. Having faced the monster’s attack without even catching her breath–it would’ve been stranger if she wasn’t struggling.

She probably survived due to her numerous combat experiences.

The trail of blood trickling from the corner of her mouth was pitiful, and the small amounts of blood seeping out between her irregular breaths was proof that her injuries were quite serious.

It was a relief that she was the first to make it out.

Yuren and Celine still seemed to have some leeway. Of course, as time passed they would start to lose ground, but the important thing was that they could hold out for now.

Against the monsters who moved almost choreographically, the two of them were working in perfect unison. While Yuren’s performance was expected, Celine’s impressive showing was a surprise.

She really had improved a lot.

As I caught my breath, I caught a flash of indignation in Senior Elsie’s blue eyes.

It seemed that she couldn’t suppress her anger.

Her small frame stood up with trembling legs. Electricity crackled between her hands, sending off sparks.

“You dare make a fool of Elsie Rinella……!”

A spear made of lightning gradually grew larger. I couldn’t tell its power, but it was clearly a spell she was putting a lot of effort into preparing.

She must have wanted to land a hit somehow.

But Senior Elsie’s wish couldn’t be fulfilled.

“DON’T!”

At the urgent shout, Senior Elsie’s body flinched.

Both our eyes turned toward the voice. There stood Yuren, swinging his sword like a flash of light while blocking limbs covered in pitch-black mana.

“The ‘contract’ must be fulfilled! Don’t interfere, you don’t know what will happen otherwise!”

From the shadows, a sticky, crescent arc materialized.

The girl, bathed in blood-red light, waited for me with her arms spread wide. The shimmer dancing in her golden eyes created an ominous atmosphere.

After hesitating for a moment, Senior Elsie’s eyes met mine.

I shook my head slightly. In response, she clicked her tongue and rummaged through her pockets.

It looked like she was searching for a healing potion.

The girl’s languid proposal continued.

“Come on, you need to fulfill the contract, no? You have to hug me ‘sincerely’ for more than one minute.”

A groan leaked from my mouth.

An annoying condition was attached. ‘Sincerely,’ of all things–since I had volunteered the condition myself, I couldn’t even take it back.

In the end, I had to drag my feet toward the girl.

Clang, clang, clang!

The sound of clashing blades rang continuously from the side. It was Yuren and Celine’s weapons blocking the monsters’ attacks.

By the time I was face to face with the girl.

The girl asked a question with an unwavering smile on her face.

“Will just one be enough?”

My body flinched.

My gaze filled with complex emotions turned towards the girl. She was a criminal who had committed terrible acts, but on the other hand, she was also my long-lost sister.

Our abandoned family member.

She had been captured by the Dark Order, for God’s sake. Of course, she must have endured all sorts of terrible experiments. Otherwise, she couldn’t possibly wield such power.

As if pleased by my conflicted gaze, the girl asked again with blazing eyes.

“Is it okay not to save those two? We could add more conditions to the deal……”

“Don’t listen, Ian!”

It was Yuren’s scream again.

Even while gasping for breath, he was constantly focusing on the conversation between me and the girl.

“That woman is a merchant! A merchant wouldn’t make a deal without profit… Kugh!”

Of course, as soon as the girl snapped her fingers, his words were cut off.

Crimson threads danced around Yuren like living ribbons of blood. As threads began to attach to the faceless monster’s limbs one by one, the speed of its punches and kicks became incomparably faster.

The power behind them must have increased as well.

I had no choice but to hesitate again.

Certainly, Senior Elsie alone wasn’t enough. There was almost no possibility of me turning the tide of battle alone.

Should I add more conditions?

BOOM! An explosion echoed from somewhere.

My startled gaze turned toward a certain point. There, a faceless monster was trembling with its arms crossed.

Overwhelming it was an axe of such intimidating size that just looking at it felt oppressive.

A Battle Axe.

With bloodshot eyes, Celine swung her axe repeatedly with all her might.

BOOM, BOOM, BOOM!

Kueogh, kek, kraaaaaagh!

The monster’s body, which appeared to be holding out at first, began to sink into the ground. After four or five more axe strikes, half its body was buried like a stake in the ground.

The monster flailed its arms, desperately trying to escape.

But Celine wasn’t one to stand by and watch as a refreshing strike soon followed as if batting away an incoming ball.

Thwack!

A silver diagonal slash cleanly severed its neck and continued upward. Along it’s line, the monster’s head and blood sprayed into the sky.

Amidst the falling droplets of blood, Celine shouted.

“WE’RE FINE!”

Right after, Celine’s body, which had struck the ground, shot towards Yuren.

The corner of the girl’s eye twitched with dissatisfaction as she watched this.

“Ah, that was a toy I was fond of……”

“No new deal is needed.”

This was the opening Celine had created for me.

I couldn’t let it go to waste, so I declared again with a firm voice.

“Let’s fulfill the contract as it is.”

Tch, the girl clicked her tongue softly. Yet unable to hide her anticipation, she spread her arms again with slightly flushed cheeks.

“Then hurry up and hug me.”

I let out a deep sigh.

It was my sister, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. I never thought we’d have such a “touching” reunion like this.

Did I even have the right?

I hesitated for a moment, but at this point, asking such questions was meaningless.

Quietly, I firmly embraced the girl.

I could feel her pounding heartbeat. Since the condition of ‘sincerity’ was attached, I decided to think of her as my sister, at least for now.

It must have been painful and difficult.

That was why she was so obsessed with family. My heart ached seeing her craving my love while simultaneously hating and resenting me.

I could almost understand why she accepted my deal.

Perhaps the word ‘sincere’ had a decisive impact on her emotions.

She was a child who had never received familial love even once.

She couldn’t believe in love and affection. It was the kind of thing that could be fabricated at any time.

Therefore, the condition of ‘sincerity’ had to be added.

Unlike people, contracts would be trustworthy.

In the silence, the girl’s delicate body completely filled my embrace.

Haa, haah.

The girl’s breathing became somewhat rough. With dreamy eyes and a flustered face, she seemed unable to identify these emotions herself.

Like that, a minute passed.

Was it long? Was it short? I couldn’t properly sense the passage of time as I slowly pulled away from the girl.

She had been in a daze for a while now.

Her slightly flushed cheeks, unfocused gaze, and heated breathing were the only indications of her state.

At the very least, she didn’t seem displeased.

Before the afterglow of the hug faded, the girl muttered blankly.

“……This won’t do.”

Before I could ask what she meant.

The girl took a step forward. With her hands behind her back, she stared up at my face with those golden eyes–a shade boiling with intense desire.

To the point where the expression ‘madness’ might be more fitting.

Every time I unconsciously stepped back, the girl would take a step forward to maintain our distance. From then on, a monotonous muttering began.

“I-I must have you… I can’t be without you, Oppa, I want you, want you, want you… By any means necessary… That’s it!”

The girl’s face brightened as she clapped her hands.

It was as if she had come up with a brilliant idea. In reality, her pupils were still intensely consumed by desire that not even shadows could be seen in them.

“Let’s make a ‘contract’!”

My brows furrowed at her cheerful proposal.

It was absurd. And if I was the object of the deal, it wasn’t even worth discussing.

I immediately shook my head.

“No matter what you say, I can’t make another contr–”

“I’ll spare them!”

As if doing me a favor, the girl smiled brightly and placed her hand on her chest.

“All of them! In exchange, you become mine.”

As if our fates were already decided.

If I didn’t accept this proposal, only death awaited.

That was what the girl was saying.

*”Ian… thank you. Your sacrifice shall not be forgotten.”

“Cut the crap.”

A brief respite gained by my acceptance wasn’t something I could decide alone.

When I returned to the group, Yuren pretended to wipe away tears and placed his hand on my shoulder. From the conversation, it sounded like my sacrifice had already been decided.

Of course, I dismissed it as a trivial joke.

Honestly, I thought about getting angry, but Yuren’s body was covered in blood and dust. He too, had been buying time on the front lines.

No one wanted to raise their voice at a comrade whose back they had to trust and rely on.

Rather, it was Celine and Senior Elsie who exploded in anger.

“Are you crazy, senior?! Even jokes have a time and place……!”

“My master?! Absolutely not! Don’t you see that look in her eyes?”

At Senior Elsie’s words, the group’s gaze slightly shifted.

The girl was staring at me with dreamy eyes.

She was like that ever since I hugged her..

Senior Elsie shuddered as if just imagining it gave her goosebumps.

“Master will be eaten up, it’s too dangerous……”

Despite the two’s opposition, Yuren only let out a groan.

He said in a somewhat tired voice.

“Then what do you suggest? Objectively, our combat power is no match for that woman. She is one of the ‘Seven Deadly Sins.'”

“Seven Deadly Sins?”

It was a phrase I had heard many times in the past.