Contract

The Boss' identity was something Aria had encountered in the past.

As she thought, it was a spirit type creature as well. A 'Dealer Spirit'.

Someone who exchanges an equivalent price for the asker's wish.

In this case, the Spirit was set up for a meeting with the goblins by the 'Creator'.

In exchange for a home, the Dealer asked for their life force. In order to mobilize the dungeon, the goblins had to share their life force.

Of course, it wasn't like they would die. On the Dealer and the goblins' contract, it was stated that the 'reward' would be to provide them with a home: and that the Dealer themselves couldn't kill the goblins.

The goblins' wish had to be fulfilled, or else the contract would be breached and the spirit would suffer.

The dungeon was unexpectedly sustainable.

The goblins' fertility rate was crazy high. This was used as a stimulant for the continuous life force supply, as the newborns would also be a sufficient target for life force extraction. This was how the spirit was able to keep the dungeon running, and even threaten Aria's safety by mobilizing the traps that it had set up.

It was a mutual symbiosis between the two parties.

After understanding the story, Aria fell deep in thought.

'Then, wouldn't the Creator be the most suspicious here?' 

To bring a hungry spirit towards goblins who needed a home, and further entrapping them within the spatial membrane called 'Dungeon Gates'.

'Who the hell is this Creator?'

Not once had she heard of such a title.

The problem was that, when she asked the spirit for information on the Creator, it was unable to provide her with concrete, defining facts.

"So then, you're telling me that you are a gullible spirit that got tricked into being trapped inside this dungeon?"

In summary, the spirit really was too naïve.

"Erk! No..." The spirit refused to accept Aria's claims.

"You trusted a sketchy being who you've never met, who offered you a 'deal' in exchange for running the dungeon... Isn't that just a scam?"

"I was desperate! On the verge of death! People like you won't understand!"

Aria wanted to say that she was probably a hundred times older than the spirit, but refrained from doing so.

Sighing, she sat down in the darkened space.

Contrary to the once wide dungeon, everything was significantly smaller now. This was the real size, the real space that was given to the spirit to manage.

The spirit was nothing but a measly bug now that all the goblins had died under Aria's hand.

"So, what do you want to do from now on? At this point, you've lost to me.. Do you have any last words?"

"N-no! Wait a minute! I can aid you in many ways! I'm a great spirit, after all!"

"By great spirit, you mean that you are high-ranked, right? I find it hard to believe, but even if that was the case... I have to get out of this dungeon by killing you."

The spirit stopped its struggle, knowing that her words were true. It showed clear unwillingness to die a pitiful fate like this, but what could it do?

It was getting ready to say goodbye to the world, resigning itself to the cruel fate.

Looking at the downcast spirit, Aria mused in interest.

"It's not like I can't save you..." Aria had an idea.

Because the boss was a spirit, she could potentially bring forth a contract. In theory, a Summoner-Summon pact is possible here.

In theory, that is.

She didn't know if things were different with monsters inside the dungeon. Moreover, she didn't possess the Summoner title, according to the System.

The thing with Dianthe was strange. She managed to contract her without the necessary qualifications for the System.

She wanted to test if her summoning skills were exclusive to spirits or anything like that.

Although, as far as she was concerned, her current situation was different. The Earth Spirit in front of her was already summoned out, just not contracted. Dianthe had to be called out, but if it was this spirit..

'It might be possible.'

The spirit also seemed to have noticed that Aria was able to command Dianthe, a fellow spirit.

"H-hey! Aren't you a Summoner? The spirit is you summon, so you can form contracts with spirits, right? Then, form a contract with me!"

Aria merely smiled.

"I am a very strong Earth spirit!" After noticing Aria's silence, it twirled in the air and raised its hands, as if trying to convey that it had enormous power inside the tiny body.

"Then how did you get tricked this easily?" Aria looked at it with bored eyes.

"I just.. I needed energy!"

By the side, Jin-kyung was standing in shock. She wasn't able to understand the Spirits' language, but Aria was conversing in it fluently.

The woman got more mysterious with each action she took. Jin-kyung wondered where Aria came from.

"Well.. I'd like to contract you... But I probably can't."

"Why not?!" The spirit cried in distress.

"The time with Dianthe.. I think that was a fluke. Or perhaps I just had special connections with her. I can't replicate it, most probably."

"Guh- this dungeon is different. Ever since you stepped into the dungeon, the boss battle had started. Without beating me, there is no way to leave this dungeon!"

"Your point? That only proves why I should eliminate you right now."

The spirit was now in a vulnerable, disadvantageous position. There was no way it could win.

"Uuuuu," The spirit grumbled.

"It's not like there's no other choices... If you were truly desperate for it, then you could opt for another contract. One that doesn't necessarily require high Summoner skills.

The spirit jumped in fright.

It knew what Aria was talking about.

A way to brute force through the rules and create the bond.

The contract of submission.

"I- I will.. Damnit! I will form a submissive contract with you!!!!" In a pinch, it wanted nothing more than to salvage its life.

A submissive contract was nothing but a disaster to the spirit.

But to the boss, it was a matter of the contract or death.

Since it was desperate to live and Aria couldn't set up a proper summoning ritual, it would have to suffice with being the 'submissive' party.