-464- Become my Shikigami

Shikigami Contract.

As the name suggests, it means forming a contract with a Shikigami spirit.

Similar to the relationship between a master and servant, through this contract, onmyoji can establish a spiritual connection with their Shikigami spirit, creating a master-servant relationship.

Both Rozen and Natsume possessed Shikigami, and they were particularly powerful shikigami that tested a master's abilities.

Therefore, they were not unfamiliar with the concept of a Shikigami contract.

Bluntly put, even when creating a simple shikigami, onmyoji would briefly establish a spiritual connection through a contract.

Hence, for an onmyoji, forming a Shikigami contract was undoubtedly one of the most commonly encountered things, with no suspense involved.

Even if the subject was a human, they could still form a contract.

Although the method was different, taking the Tsuchimikado family as an example, when a branch family member became a Shikigami to a main family member, they would undergo a ritual to establish a master-servant relationship.

After forming the contract, as a Shikigami possessing a physical form, the branch family member couldn't dissolve their physicality like spiritual Shikigami could.

However, all other expected functions remained.

For example, they could sense each other's presence.

For example, they could transmit spiritual energy and jutsuryoku to each other.

For example, they could intervene in the Shikigami's senses, sharing their senses, although this was relatively difficult compared to spiritual Shikigami.

Naturally, a practitioner could achieve the same when manipulating their Shikigami, but there was a difference compared to spiritual Shikigami. It was equally challenging, depending entirely on the practitioner's abilities.

For instance, although Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi and Tsuchimikado Takahiro had a master-shikigami relationship, Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi couldn't control Tsuchimikado Takahiro.

It wasn't because Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi's abilities were insufficient, but rather because Tsuchimikado Takahiro was equally formidable. If the power gap between them was smaller, it would naturally be extremely difficult.

However, even so, if Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi wanted to summon Tsuchimikado Takahiro, although he couldn't immediately summon him to his side, he could still convey the message and have him come over through a spiritual sense link.

In summary, forming a contract was highly necessary for both onmyoji and Shikigami.

Tsuchimikado Yasuzumi, Tsuchimikado Takahiro, and Tsuchimikado Chizuru left the scene during this crucial moment, leaving only Rozen and Natsume in the room.

"..."

"..."

Sitting opposite each other, the two remained silent, not even glancing at each other, lost in a moment of quietude.

The difference lies in Rozen's awkwardness, scratching his face and looking uncomfortable, while Natsume blushes throughout, keeping her head lowered, unable to look at Rozen.

The awkward silence between the inexperienced young man and woman made the atmosphere increasingly ambiguous.

Watching Natsume fidgeting, Rozen cursed inwardly.

(But it's just a contract, why is she so nervous?)

As a Master, Rozen had formed contracts with others before.

In Chaldea, Mash was Rozen's formal contracted Servant, and their contract still stood to this day.

In the singularity of Fuyuki and the singularities in France, Rozen had consecutively formed temporary contracts with many Servants.

Furthermore, within Rozen's "Throne of Souls," there were numerous absolute contracts with creatures forever loyal to him.

For Rozen, contracts were plainly one of the most commonplace occurrences, so why was he feeling so nervous and awkward now?

(Too unmanly.)

Rozen gave himself such a self-critique, finally breaking the silence.

"Cough..."

Rozen cleared his throat a few times, causing Natsume to tremble slightly all over, her body tensed, displaying an incredibly nervous appearance.

It had to be said that this version of Natsume not only didn't make people feel uncomfortable, but instead seemed rather delightful.

After many years, Natsume had grown into an elegant young lady.

Her initially tender and charming face had become exquisite, and her shy and timid nature had transformed into a composed and graceful one. Her long, bluish-purple hair cascaded down her back, exuding a kind of dignified aura.

However, Rozen knew that Natsume's personality was still as shy as before, not good at interacting with others, but she had always been very serious.

She viewed the prosperity of the family as her mission, diligently striving to do her best. In a nicer way, one could call it determination, but in a less flattering way, it was stubbornness.

Facing this Natsume, Rozen, although he knew how she would answer the next question, still asked.

"Let me confirm with you one last time, Natsume."

Rozen stared directly at Natsume and said so.

"Have you really made up your mind?"

This was the final question.

This question made the blush on Natsume's face subside a bit. Even though she still appeared shy, she didn't choose to stay silent.

"I... I have already made up my mind," Natsume said with a hint of courage. "Even though I am just an adopted daughter and don't possess the Tsuchimikado bloodline, since my parents raised me and my brother can't see spirits, unable to fulfill the family's duties, I'll take it upon myself. This is a decision I made a long time ago."

Before she became close to Rozen, Natsume had already made this decision.

Now, Natsume couldn't possibly change her mind.

"Besides... besides..." Natsume lowered her head again, barely audible. "If it's for Akikan... I... I think it's okay..."

This sentence was so faint that one could almost miss it.

Rozen was lucky to have heard it but didn't know how to react, so he continued to scratch his face awkwardly.

At this point, Rozen cleared his throat again and pretended to be serious.

"Well, since you've already decided, shall we begin?"

Upon hearing Rozen's words, Natsume hesitated for a moment but ultimately lowered her head, looking incredibly shy.

Rozen really wanted to tell Natsume to stop being like this, or he might be swayed.

The night was still young, and dreams were plenty. Rozen immediately reached out and held Natsume's hand.

For a moment, Natsume's hand trembled violently.

Rozen held it firmly and closed his eyes.

Basically, forming a shikigami contract didn't require anything special, just chanting the incantation and establishing a spiritual connection with the shikigami.

However, depending on the method used, the strength of the contract would vary.

Taking Rozen as an example, the contract he formed with Mash was a contract between Master and Servant, and apart from using command spells, there was no other way to forcibly control her.

On the other hand, an absolute contract that delves into the soul was the highest level of a powerful contract that made the familiar unable to betray or die.

Similarly, in Onmyoudou, depending on the method of the contract, the strength of the contract would also vary.

Now, Rozen was ready to use the most powerful form of contract among the jujutsu he knew.

"—In the name of Abe no Seimei, the founder of the Tsuchimikado clan, you, Tsuchimikado Natsume, shall become my Shikigami—"

While chanting the incantation, Rozen enhanced his magical power, reached out his hand, and drew a pattern on the back of Natsume's hand.

It was a pattern formed by three interconnected rings.