Chapter 31: A New Way
Kaian was dumbfounded.
After squeezing out every last bit of strength he had to seal the residual mana, what?
He would die if he didn't escape Twofold Lake within three minutes?
Kaian shrieked.
"Finn! You should've told me something that important sooner!"
"Hmm. I missed the timing at first. Then I forgot. Maybe you should've calmed down and moved a little more carefully!"
Instead of apologizing, Finn shamelessly turned the blame back on him.
Kaian was so stunned that he couldn't even speak.
How could someone be this shameless and confident about it?
Were all the residents of Eldergrove like this?
...She definitely takes after Eldarin.
Kaian felt a bone-deep loneliness, the kind only a sane person surrounded by lunatics could understand.
Unfortunately, he wasn't old enough to put such complicated feelings into elegant words.
All that reached the tip of his tongue was something his second brother used to shout all the time.
Damn it!
Kaian let out a deep sigh.
"Haah... Fine. Let's deal with the problem in front of me first."
His physical body was still unconscious.
There was no sign of it waking up.
That meant the only option was to cast magic from inside his Imaginary World and somehow escape.
Just as he had done during his battle against the residual mana, Kaian regulated his breathing and tried to materialize Twofold's mana.
But no new wooden blocks appeared in the room.
"...Huh? Why isn't it working?"
It wasn't simply that nothing was appearing.
The wooden blocks already inside the room were disappearing one by one.
On top of that, his mind was growing hazy and strength was draining from his limbs...
Kaian finally understood what was happening.
He screamed.
"Finn! Twofold is stealing my mana matter!"
Finn was still casually looking out the window.
"Oh, that old lady is pretty fickle. She saves people who are dying, but kills people who are alive."
"What?! What is that even supposed to mean?"
"You borrowed her mana, sealed the residual mana, and survived, right? That means you're safe now. So the old lady has decided to personally kill you. What a strange personality, huh?"
Kaian's mind went completely blank at Finn's carefree explanation.
But who was he?
He was the future hero who had crossed the volcanic region and survived the Silver-White Vein.
He calmly asked Finn again.
"Aaaagh! Then what am I supposed to do?! I used almost all the mana matter I made earlier to restore my outer world!"
...He had at least tried to ask calmly.
"Finn, you really can't use any magic?"
"I told you. A spirit absolutely can't use magic without a contractor. Oh, but I won't die even if I fall into Twofold! Amazing, right?"
Kaian fell speechless again at Finn's cheerful answer.
I see. Thank you for letting me know I'll be walking into the afterlife alone. How thoughtful of you.
The mental damage dealt by his own ally was tremendous.
Even Kaian, who had already crossed the line between life and death several times, squeezed his eyes shut.
At that moment, Finn flew over as though she had been waiting for exactly this reaction.
Flutter.
She whispered into his ear.
"Actually, it's not like there's no solution."
Kaian's eyes snapped open.
That news sounded as sweet as an oasis in the middle of a desert.
"There is a way! What is it? Hurry up and tell me, Finn!"
"Think about what I said from another angle. A spirit can't use magic without a contractor. Doesn't that mean a spirit can use all the magic it wants as long as it has one?"
Kaian tilted his head, still not understanding.
"That's... true? So?"
Finn thumped her chest as if wondering how someone so clever could suddenly become this slow.
"I'm saying you can make a contract with me!"
"..."
Kaian narrowed his eyes.
A strange sense of déjà vu came over him.
He had definitely experienced something similar before.
Right.
This was exactly how he'd been tricked by a crazy goat-horned elf into casually signing a contract to become a hero.
And he hadn't known Finn for long, but she was already proving herself to be just as crazy as Eldarin.
Now she wanted a contract?
Kaian's eyes filled with suspicion and distrust.
"Finn... what magic can you use?"
Finn let out an incredulous laugh at his attempt to check the terms first.
"Ha! What's with that attitude? I'll have you know I'm a highest-class water spirit! You don't even need to check my abilities to know they're incredible!"
"...So what are your abilities?"
"Hmph. I can transform into any shape my contractor desires. You'll never meet another spirit with an ability like mine for the rest of your life."
Only then did Kaian look slightly interested.
Even so, the distrust in his eyes hadn't completely vanished.
"So you're asking me to become your contractor?"
Finn lifted her chin proudly.
"Get it right. I'm choosing you. It's extremely rare for a spirit to make a contract with a human. Even if humans get on their knees and beg us, most spirits won't even listen."
"Then why would such an amazing spirit agree to contract with me?"
"My goodness. You really don't know anything, do you?"
Finn flew closer to Kaian's face.
Flutter.
At that moment, Kaian noticed the intense greed in her eyes.
It was a look he had never seen from her before.
Finn spoke in an almost enchanting voice.
"There's only one reason a spirit makes a contract with a mage. Mana that suits our taste..."
She stared directly into Kaian's eyes.
"Kaian, I like your mana. Share it with me."
Kaian had no idea how to respond to that unexpected confession.
"Uh... I guess... th-thank you?"
Finn snickered at his foolish answer.
What did he think?
Would a spirit date a mage?
Marry one?
From the very beginning, Finn had only wanted one thing.
To stay beside Kaian and monopolize his mana.
