Contracting is Like a Debate

"Mmhm~" Grant groaned as he slowly stirred awake.

He felt his body lying upon something soft and comfortable to the touch. And immediately he tensed up and tried to move.

Clink Clink Clink~ Tinkling sounds of chains sounded out from underneath the bedsheets whenever Grant struggled. Instead of panicking any further he calmed down and took a deep breath.

His muscles flexed while the chains grew taut under his sheer strength.

But sadly, the chains didn't break and they only kept him pinned down unto the soft, plump bed. Covered in a warm fur blanket.

His lips formed a wry smile before looking awkwardly at someone who was amusedly watching him while sitting on a wooden chair. It was the blonde-haired woman with beautiful deep blue crystal eyes.

A pair of blue eyes and golden eyes stared at each other blankly. Grant's eyes seemed to be begging for his release, it looked cute.

"Ahahaha~" Looking at Grant's helpless appearance, the woman couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle. She was witnessing something new. A summoned human looking at him with such a cute and helpless expression.

Where did the pride that otherworlders had possessed gone to? Aren't they strong enough to be able to fight against the demon lord and prevail?

Her expectations had been dashed as she let out a soft sigh. In the end, these summoned humans are still human. Not the absurdly powerful monsters of war that she had heard of and imagined.

"Why did you stop struggling? Come on continue~" She coyly teased Grant while crossing her right arm under her chest and having her left arm be supported by it.

She cupped her left cheek before tilting it and gesturing to Grant to continue his antics with slightly narrowed eyes.

Grant's eye twitched in response. He felt attracted to the woman despited just meeting her a few moments earlier. He felt weird since he had no experience in dealing with or talking to women. But he grew calm and managed to ignore that attraction.

'I guess it's just best to be brutally honest...' Grant didn't know what to do since it was his first time to be unable to break out of his restrains.

"It's of no use... The only way for me to get out is to be released by you."

He kept a straight face and his golden irises locked with blue eyes. The woman merely stopped cupping her cheek and stared at him with a blank look.

"What makes someone such as you think I would let out a dangerous brute?" She snorted before shifting her vision to the side and pouting annoyedly.

"You need me don't you?" Grant's lips curved upwards while he gave the woman an all-knowing look.

And just as he expected, she flinched before opening her mouth to say something.

"You must be mistaken? Why would I need you?" She shot back at Grant coldly yet her initial reaction had already blown her cover.

"Hahahahaha!" He laughed as if seeing the silliest thing to exist before his golden irises turned hollow once more. In one second, the air of warmth and reliability that the girl was feeling turned into something malicious.

Grant started giving off a feeling of a chained monster. Causing the girl to flinch once more before reaching towards her scabbard to hold her sword.

"No need for any violence. You know of my strength and you wish to use it for your own needs. I won't judge you, just state your offer."

Eyes still hollow, Grant softly spoke to the woman in a wispy voice. Earning a look of wariness and distrust from her.

"You know you would be used but why do you not feel any anger or remorse towards me? Tell me Grant. Why?" She questioned him only for Grant to snicker and his eyes looked even more dull for a brief second.

It caught her attention.

"I am used to it. There are only two reasons why people keep me alive after capturing me. It is to either use me or the fact that they can't kill me so easily."

Grant lived a tough life since being abandoned. Naturally, such a life for a young boy was the cause for him to be broken.

It was hard to deal with all the sufferings he experienced. To the point that he fell into a state of fear and panic.

He had to lock away his emotions and think logically. For if he doesn't, he will lose his mind.

"Stella White..." At a loss, Stella gave Grant her name to mellow down the atmosphere.

The boy was damaged inside and she knew not to keep digging further lest she suffers his retaliation.

"Can't you think of a better Alias? Your naming is quite... Unique..." Grant's eyes returned to their normal state and he couldn't help but comment on the Stella's name choice.

"Shut up! So what if it's a bit off for your taste?" Stella countered with gleaming narrow eyes, silencing Grant who was smiling ever so wryly.

He knew that wasn't her real name but he chose to not continue pestering her. Or else they won't get anywhere.

"Never mind. So Ms. Stella White what business proposal do you have for a humble brute such as I?" Grant cheerily closed his eyes and his lips curved up a slight bit. Giving him the appearance of a smug little child.

"Just call me Stella..." Stella felt mocked by her captive's choice of speaking. She muttered something in a low tone and a blue crystal-like semi-transparent screen appeared for both of them.

-----

[Stella brightfield wants you to become her servant. Do you accept? Y/N]

-----

"A servant huh? Typical..." Grant sneered before looking at Stella again who was raising an eyebrow at him.

"This feels like a scam. Give me some benefits as well woman. Don't make me lose out..." Grant boredly narrowed his eyes at Stella who sighed before giving her reply.

"Then what do you want? Power? Wealth? Women or do you desire... Me." Her eyes glared at Grant like daggers and her tone for the last part became grim.

The past few months, she had been subject to sexual harassment by wealthy playboys after they found out about her true appearance after taking off her disguise.

"No. What I want is to bee freed from these shackles. And when I am working as your servant you shall not mistreat me or one day you'll find your body lacking a head." Grant listed off his desires before Stella cut him off in an excited manner.

"Well, that's simple! Hurry up and agree already!" She was excited. Having an otherworlder as a subordinate would make her journey more smooth sailing.

"I'm not finished yet..." Grant coldly dragged down Stella from her enthusiastic mood, causing the beaming girl to frown.

"Once I help you fulfill whatever you desire you have to award me with a huge sum of wealth to ensure that I get to live peacefully for the rest of my life. And you have to help look for a certain someone."

Stella silently weighed the pros and consequences before asking him one last thing.

"Who is this someone you are referring to?"

She inquired only to widen her eyes upon hearing the answer.

"My Father. Hector Xindam Simmons." Grant could only close his eyes after mentioning that name. He needs to find that man no matter what.

"That's impossible!" Stella roared as she found the possibility of finding an otherworlder's missing parent to be truly impossible. She does not even know which world Grant came from now how was she supposed his missing father? She snorted after losing her composure.

"You don't have to worry. I am pretty sure that he is in your world." Grant casually mentioned as if talking about the weather before Stella became speechless.

"Your father, an otherworlder like you. Here?" The stunned woman was at a loss. If the father of this brute is in this world then shouldn't she get in trouble for taking his son as a servant?

"Don't worry and don't even think about getting in trouble for subordinating me. It is my choice after all. You only just have to agree to my conditions and I can immediately start working under you." Grant trailed off as if having read his captor's mind and he glanced at the world outside the room's window.

He saw a familiar-looking multi-colored bird resting on a tree branch. Its feathers gave it a fat and plump appearance. That bird was something his father had painted before. He was sure of it.

Grant may lose his composure and show irrational emotions from time to time but he possesses an unfailing memory. He can never forget.

'That explains why even after having burned that huge sum you left for me, my agents still couldn't find you no matter what.' Grant was never poor to begin with unlike what his classmates had thought.

He merely invested the one billion dollars left to him to organize a global manhunt for his father Hector. Quickly burning millions and billions of cash throughout the years before he became poor.

"How are you so sure about your father being here?" Stella skeptically asked. She needs proof before believing something. Especially when talking to a complete stranger.

Grant gestured to the window using his eyes and Stella glanced at the window before returning her gaze to Grant who was patiently waiting to be set free.

"Five colored fluffy robin. That thing does not exist anywhere nor was it recorded on any history books back on my world. Yet why was my father able to draw it in complete detail down to the last feather and give me a detailed description?"

"Alright. I'll believe you. For now, that is..." Stella conceded. She was still skeptic about Grant stating that his father was here but they aren't going anywhere if she keeps asking.

'The name Hector does ring a bell... I'm sure I've heard of it before somewhere...' Stella pondered while tweaking the contract. Adding rules and limits according to Grant's desire and her needs.

In this world, contracts were made using the system governing it so that no one would be able to break free of it. Stella was sure that the system won't allow even an otherworlder to break the contract.

-----

[Stella brightfield wants you to become her servant. Do you accept? Y/N]

Conditions:

(Grant)

-Stella would not harm nor mistreat the servant Grant.

-A hefty sum enough to be able to last throughout a person's lifetime would be granted to Grant upon fulfilling all of Stella's terms.

-Grant would be given freedom to act as he sees fit but will have to follow if Stella commands him

-Stella would do everything within her capability to look for Grant's father, Xindam.

(Stella White)

-Grant would have to help Stella in diving into [The Dungeon of Arus]

-Grant would do his best to safeguard Stella

-Grant would not betray Stella nor harm her

-The shackles restraining Grant would be broken upon agreeing

-----

Both sides accepted the contract and the two shuddered.

It felt as if a lock had bound their souls together.

Clink~ Clink~ The chains binding Grant to the bed slid off and he was freed. He stood up, left the bed and stood before Stella. He kneeling down unto one foot, Grant greeted Stella in a formal way.

"I, Grant Simons hereby pledges allegiance to you. Master." Grant smiled slightly and Stella was stunned upon witnessing Grant greet her like a knight.

She was dazed as she remembered the time's knights would greet her with respect when she was royalty. She smiled bitterly for a second before moving forward and cupping Grant's cheeks with her soft dainty hands.

Flick~ Stella flicked Grant's forehead, making youth smile wryly.

"Get up Grant. You aren't my knight. And Stella would do." She softly chastised the man who was teasing her by acting in a humble servantly way.

"So before we get things started... How dangerous is the so-called dungeon of Arus?" Grant asked curiously.