A Contract Not Forever (part 1)
(Fred's POV)
I gaze at the status screen and blink a few times. Yes, alright it displayed two panels.
One had the name A*** B***, my actual name which I have no plans of revealing in this world.
The other read 'Frederick Raymond,' the alias I used in 'Alchemia Story.' This was the character I had created—a cobalt-blue-haired, red-eyed and ikemen guy- Frederick 'von' Raymond.
But why are there two panels?
[Hey Jenna]
[YES]
[Why are there two stat panels? Which one is mine?]
[INFORMATION IS SEALED]
[Sealed? And why are 'Fred's' stats so overpowered? Level 100+? The game's maximum level is 90!! And I can't even see his other stats! It's all ***]
[INFORMATION IS SEALED]
Let's ask a different question this time.
[What are the criteria for unlocking the info?]
[RANK 2 DEBUFF JOB MAGE]
[I see. Looks like I'll need to grind for that.]
The game 'Alchemia Story' had a job system, similar to skill classes, with three ranks: Rank 1, 2 and 3.
'Mage' fell under rank 2. And the higher the rank, the higher the maximum level capacity, making levelling up tougher.
Nevertheless, levelling up in any job would enhance your overall level and stats.
I started as a level one 'Explorer' back in the capital which was the default job. And now I am level 30, thanks to the battle with Elsa. It was a huge XP bonus going against her. At least a million or two XP I guess?
Thinking back on it, Elsa didn't pose that much of a danger to me, unlike my buff items and potions.
I had chunked down dozens of buff consumables before going at her..and on top of that, I used the Phantom Fire Sword, a 4-star weapon at level 110, which caused my body core to overheat due to an excessive mana influx.
I would've exploded if the fight went on any longer. In short, my Mana Gate would have exploded due to the overload, thus killing me and everyone around me.
Ah, how did I know about that?
Because before leaving his office, Roswaal told me to rest for at least a month to avoid a mana core/Gate explosion.
It could blow up the entire mansion according to him.
For heaven's sake!! Subaru gets a broken Mana Gate later in the story, and I get a more dangerous one this soon!!!
Was fate playing tricks on me? it was as if it was saying- 'Fred! You can proceed no more. Only failure awaits you!'
I also had a 5-star level 150 weapon which I had thought of using at Elsa. But I am never going to use it now. I would explode before being able to do anything. It was an absolute no-go.
"Fred, what are you thinking about, I suppose?" Asks the little girl before me, munching on cookies. I had completely forgotten about her.
I HAVE COMMITTED A SIN!! HOW COULD I IGNORE SUCH A CUTE…hah leave it…my thoughts are getting weirder.
"I was thinking something," I admitted. "It's not something important."
"You're lying," she responded blankly.
*Sigh*
I surrender, "You're right, you can most probably tell if I'm lying or not. Alright then,'' I clapped my hands. It was time to tell her, "I'll tell you everything I know about your mother, but I'll keep it concise to not make it boring or the readers will leave reading halfway."
"Huh? 'Readers'? What do you mean?" she asked, perplexed.
"Never mind. Why did I even mention 'reader'?" I found it rather strange.
"Forget it. Here's what I know:
- Your mother's physical body is dead.
- It's preserved in the sanctuary.
-Her soul exists as a soft copy in the sanctuary. But it's an older version of her.
- You've heard of Sphinx? She was a failed attempt to resurrect your mother, using a Ryuzu Meyer mana clone, which failed.
- There's a scarf fox spirit named Echidna, which lives off Anastasia Hoshin's odd.
- If everything goes as planned, you could meet your mother in Ryuzu Meyer's mana clone in about six months, though I don't like that part."
"You're stating it as though these events occurred, in fact," she remarked, calmly absorbing all the information without any signs of panicking like before.
"Well, they did, in a way. It's quite complicated. I'll explain slowly later on. Too much information isn't good for your mental well-being, right?" I said, placing my index finger to my lips, signalling for silence.
"It's fine. These details don't matter. You've told Betty what you knew. Now it's my turn to fulfil the end of the bargain."
"Alright, then, let's get to the main topic." I paused.
"The contract?" she guessed.
"No," that was not it. At least not any longer.
"I might have wanted it before, but not now. However, since you're stuck in this library without anyone to talk to, we can make a 'lesser contract'. I can't just leave you to suffer alone anymore." I say.
Her expression fell. I must've been her only hope for escaping the library, and now I was denying her help. She must be thinking...
"I don't hate you, Beatrice," I reassured her with a warm smile.
She raised her head to look at me, perhaps surprised that her thoughts had been read.
"Fate has other plans for you, a greater happiness which I can't probably give you. If things go alright, he'll come asking for your help in about a few months from now on. But until then, we can form a temporary contract. I'll visit you as a friend every day until I leave this mansion. Afterwards, I'll send you a letter every week. Or we can create a telepathic spell for us to stay in contact... until you find a suitable contractor. If no one comes for you, I'll take responsibility for your well-being."
Essentially, I was talking about a phone, albeit an old-fashioned one. I didn't want modern tech to invade this mediaeval world.
"I-I understand," she replied in a low voice. I was throwing her into the same hell that her mother- 'Echidna' had given her. Asking her to 'wait' for a certain somebody. But I was at least better, perhaps…
I told her that I'd come back for her if no one did. Maybe I wasn't as much of a good guy as I thought myself to be.
I felt sorry for her, but the path ahead required me to be alone to pursue my plans.
"So, the terms for our temporary contract," I said, raising my index finger indicating the number one,
"I'll give you all the items in my possession in case I die."