Connections

Back when Lin Chen was Lin Ming, he was forced to sign a contract with a demon spirit as part of the experimentation process done by the demonic arts instructors.

That was how Lin Ming came into contact with the boar demon spirit, with whom he had signed a contract. The contract dictated that Lin Ming shall receive the aid of the boar demon, and in return, he shall receive a part of his soul.

But Lin Ming had died, and he was now Lin Chen in another world.

So how on earth is the boar demon here?

"Boar demon?" Lin Chen whispered quietly, waiting for the boar demon to respond to his words.

[ Didn't expect this, did you boy? ]

The boar demon's hoarse voice echoed in Lin Chen's mind, and he gulped down his saliva and squinted his eyes. This wasn't good, he thought.

The boar demon was, as its name suggests, a demon spirit. If the contract he had created with the boar demon in his previous life was still valid, then that would mean…

[ What's the matter, boy? Afraid that I'll disrupt your plans? ]

Lin Chen widened his eyes in surprise for a split second, after which he let out a bitter chuckle. Of course, the boar demon could figure out what he was thinking.

"Are you here to claim my soul, boar demon?" Lin Chen asked as he took a deep breath.

THUD!

All of a sudden, his surroundings began to warp and distort, and within seconds, Lin Chen was transported into a black void.

Lin Chen turned around and saw a bright red wave of energy that seemed to form a circular object in the air, and his expression turned serious.

[ You don't seem too pleased to see me, boy. ]

The voice of the boar demon echoed from the circular object of energy, and Lin responded with a bitter smile on his face. "Well, no one likes to have their soul claimed by a demon spirit."

[ If that's what you're worried about, then I guess you can feel joyful once again, boy, for I have come to you today not to claim your soul. ]

"What?" Hearing the boar demon's words made Lin Chen's eyes widen with surprise. He was caught completely off guard by the response he was given. As he stood there, puzzled by what he had just heard, the circular object began to shine brightly.

[ I must say, it is strange. I have never seen someone who has more than one soul before, let alone three. ]

"What?" Lin Chen was caught off guard yet again by the boar demon's words, and he clenched his chest almost as a reflex. I have three souls? How does that even work?

[ It is truly strange. I had already claimed your soul the moment you died, and yet, here you are, alive and well. ]

Even the boar demon was confused by it, Lin Chen thought.

[ And it seems like I am still bound to you, which means that our agreement is still valid and ongoing, despite you fulfilling my part of the deal. ]

"Huh? Wait, what?" Lin Chen felt like there was no end to the surprises that he had been receiving. Did the boar demon say that our contract still remains, despite it receiving part of his soul? Does this mean that…

[ It is exactly as you think, boy. Rejoice, for you shall be receiving my aid once again! And since this is the continuation of the previous contract, you do not have to sacrifice anything in return! ]

The black void began to tremble as the boar demon finished its words, and a faint smile appeared on Lin Chen's face. With the help of the boar demon, perhaps there might be a chance for him to attain B-Grade.

"But boar demon," Lin Chen asked. "How on earth were you able to migrate from my previous world to this one?"

[ I am not sure either, boy. ]

The boar demon seemed confused. I looked like he too was unaware of how he was transferred to this world.

[ But do remember that I am not a real being, like you are. I am merely a spiritual connection. A spirit that seems to have a life merely because the beings that I come into contact with have one. I may speak like I am alive, but do not be deceived, for I am not. ]

"Right.." Lin Chen nodded his head.

"Lin Chen!" A voice snapped Lin Chen back to reality, and within the blink of an eye, he was back in his room.

"Coming, mother!" He yelled out, and he looked out the window. It was already morning.

He got out of his room after completing his morning rituals, and he walked down the stairs and entered the dining room, where his mother and father were present, along with his younger sister, who was staring at her smartphone instead of eating.

"You took a while to get ready, son." His mother spoke with a bright smile on her face and pointed at Lin Chen's chair, motioning him to sit down. "Eat quickly, or you might end up being late for school."

"I know, mother.." Lin Chen listened to his mother's words and sat down to eat his breakfast. As he did so, he glanced at the surroundings for a moment.

'Such a peaceful family atmosphere..' Lin Chen seemed indifferent on the outside, but he was chuckling on the inside.

'What a joke,' he thought to himself. Peaceful my ass!

Lin Chen still remembered the day he came home after receiving the final grades. The peaceful atmosphere that he felt everyday was gone. The smiles of his parents were replaced by disdain and hatred. Berated everyday for bringing shame to his family. Reminded everyday of his failures. Even his sister looked down on him. And for what? Because he couldn't alter his inborn talent? Because he couldn't overcome the test that heavily favoured those who were naturally gifted?

They told him that they couldn't get out of their home because of shame. But he felt shameful for even being associated with them. For how they bowed down to the pressures of the society, even sacrificing the feelings of their son in the process.

In the end, he was forced to leave his home. He could still remember the expression of his family as he stepped out through the door. It wasn't that of guilt or regret. No, no. It was relief. Relief that he was gone.

'Don't worry.. mother, father, sister.' He thought to himself as he silently ate his breakfast, not making a sound. 'I know that you haven't done anything like that yet. I'm not even sure if this is the same world as my original one. Maybe this time, you might try to understand my situation, and maybe, just maybe, you'll care a bit more about your son's mental health than your reputation. Who can say for sure?'

His eyes turned serious for a single second before turning normal. "But there's always time to find out, isn't there?'