"Welcome. Oh my, this is the first time I've seen you on Mule."
"Well, with so many players coming and going daily, it's bound to happen that there are players you haven't seen before."
"Hahaha, that's true. Anyway, welcome. Lately, most players have been flocking to Babara or Khan, so things have been rather slow here. It's nice to see someone new. What brings you here?"
"Well, this is a temple after all. Of course, I had to come here. I'm here to deal with jewel appraisal and contract drafting issues. Also, I came to submit an exploration report while I'm at it."
A male player wearing a priest's robe greeted me with a cheerful smile. The moment I mentioned contracts, his face lit up with a bright grin. Perhaps the prospect of some money coming in after a long time excited him, as he quickly excused himself, saying to wait for a moment, and dashed inside.
Vivienne, meanwhile, seemed engrossed in exploring the area around the temple. But with just a hint of magic, I could tell her attention was entirely on the elixir in my possession. Amused by her cute behavior, I stood quietly, a faint smile on my face, waiting for the priest.
Soon, from the staircase leading to the second floor, I heard a loud commotion and the sound of someone rushing down hurriedly. The temple was one of the few places where players and residents coexisted on equal footing. Residents generally acted as messengers for the angels, while most of the actual work was handled by the players. The issue was that the residents often meddled in the players' tasks.
A female player came barreling down the stairs, nearly tripping in her haste. Panting, she stopped in front of me and quickly started speaking in a flustered tone. Following her, the male priest appeared, wearing a bitter expression. Was the temple that desperate for money these days?
"Ah, welcome. You said you're here about a contract?"
"Yes, and also to submit an exploration report…."
"The temple's been busy lately, so there's no one to process exploration reports. So, you don't need to worry about that. For now, what kind of contract are you referring to?"
Not processing exploration reports? I frowned slightly at her words. It seemed like another consequence of the Golden Lion Clan's influence. Skipping exploration reports—no wonder they never improve. Deciding to quickly get what I needed and leave, I responded to her question.
"Between a human and another human... to be precise, between a player and a resident," I replied.
The female priest briefly glanced at me and then at Vivienne standing behind me, nodding thoughtfully.
"Hmm. If it's between a player and a resident, such contracts are generally valid. Have you thought about the terms of the contract?"
"If you hand me the contract now, I can write it up immediately."
"That sounds good. Min-Cheol, hand this gentleman the contract right away."
The male priest, referred to as Min-Cheol, promptly handed me a sheet of paper and a pen he had been holding in his right hand. Taking a moment to think, I began writing. The contents I was about to draft were simple on the surface, but far from straightforward in reality. In essence, I was planning to write up what could be called a slave contract.
I wrote smoothly on the paper and then carefully reread the completed text to ensure everything was in order:
The player, Kim Su-Hyeon, will provide Vivienne with one payment of her choice. In return, Vivienne agrees to adhere to the terms specified in this contract.
The resident, Vivienne, shall obey the player, Kim Su-Hyeon, and listen to his requests. While she retains her free will, she prioritizes the player's requests above all.
The resident, Vivienne, will provide both material and emotional support to Kim Su-Hyeon and his companions (henceforth referred to as An Hyun, An Sol, and Lee Yun-Jung) and will never act in hostility toward them.
This should suffice.
I flashed a dangerous smile as I handed the contract to Vivienne to review. She skimmed through it hastily, her face showing a mix of urgency and resignation, before nodding and signing it in a rushed scrawl. Handing it back to me, she avoided making eye contact. I signed the document as well and returned it to the female priest. Everything had proceeded smoothly and quickly.
The female priest took a moment to read the contract before suddenly stifling a laugh, covering her mouth with one hand. After chuckling quietly for a moment, she removed her hand, though one corner of her mouth remained lifted in amusement as she looked at me. I met her gaze and gave her a wry smile in return.
"Oh my, hohoho. Are you sure you want it like this?"
"Hahaha, yes, and please make the terms as ironclad as possible."
"Well, who am I to argue?"
We exchanged knowing smiles, her winking slyly at me. Turning her attention to Vivienne, she then addressed her with a playful tone.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Huh? Oh, yes. All I have to do is follow instructions and help, right? There's no need for hostility or anything. But does it usually take this long to finalize a contract? Please make it quick."
The female priest shook her head slightly, giving Vivienne a pitying look. However, Vivienne remained insistent, her gaze practically urging the priest to hurry. Finally, the priest shifted her attention back to the contract and spoke in a solemn tone.
"I, player Lee Min-Hye, hereby confirm that both parties have read the contents of this contract and signed it of their own free will."
As soon as her words ended, the paper she held began glowing with a radiant light, accompanied by a popping sound like fireworks. The contract was being officially approved. The dazzling display briefly captivated Vivienne, but amidst the glowing lights, I noticed the two players whispering to each other. I quickly enhanced my hearing to catch their conversation.
"Min-Hye noona, don't you think this is being rushed a bit too much?"
"What does it matter? It's been ages since we had money rolling in. Besides, this is practically a top-tier contract."
"Still…"
"And if the resident figures out the terms, she'll reject it outright. Anyway, sure, that female resident is a bit pitiful, but that's not really our problem, is it?"
Though their words were murmured, my sharp ears caught everything. I couldn't help but think I had made the right choice by entrusting this matter to other players. Watching the contract's approval process, a satisfied smile spread across my face. I began contemplating all the ways I could push Vivienne, mold her, test her limits, and—well, never mind.
After a moment, as the radiant light faded, the completed contract dropped out of thin air. Lee Min-Hye swiftly caught it with a graceful motion. I blinked, slightly surprised at how quickly the whole process had been completed. Noticing my expression, Min-Hye smiled warmly and placed a set of scales on the table.
"Don't worry, this wasn't done haphazardly. As you can see, players working in the temple as contract priests are granted special authority over these matters. Of course, the moment we stop doing this job, that authority vanishes."
I nodded as I watched her place the contract on the scales. The weight displayed on the scales would determine the amount I needed to pay. Moments later, the scales settled, and both Min-Hye and Min-Cheol let out gasps of astonishment.
As expected, the contract's weight was immense. The scales spun once, then twice, three times, and finally came close to completing eight full rotations. While I had anticipated this outcome and wasn't too surprised, Vivienne looked worried. But her concern wasn't about the terms of the contract being unfair; rather, she seemed unsure if I could manage to pay such an enormous amount.
Min-Hye, after carefully examining the scales, approached me with a satisfied expression and whispered, "Player Kim Su-hyun, do you happen to know the true power of contracts between players and residents?"
"Roughly. Contracts between players are restricted by numerous conditions, but contracts involving residents are unaffected by , so…"
I trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid. Min-Hye shot me a sharp glance, then handed me the finalized contract.
"That's right. Since residents aren't bound by the system, the effects of a contract are significantly stronger—practically reaching the level of compulsion, even influencing their inner thoughts. Anyway, congratulations on acquiring a great slave. From what I can see, she's quite pretty, so I'm sure your nights will be... enjoyable."
"Haha, that's not why I made this contract. Please don't misunderstand."
"Come on, your intentions are written all over you. Anyway, the total is 789 gold, 417 silver, and 216 bronze. You know the temple doesn't do installments, right?"
I brushed off her teasing with a light laugh and promptly paid the amount. Securing a skilled companion who would be useful even in the late stages of the journey for less than 800 gold was undeniably a great deal. Vivienne, who had initially been shocked by the substantial sum, looked at me with a face full of admiration when I unhesitatingly pulled out the payment. At that moment, the contract took full effect. Of course, there was still the matter of fulfilling the payment specified in the contract.
After bidding farewell to Lee Min-Hye and Min-Cheol, I carefully tucked the contract into my inner pocket and exited the temple. Vivienne, who had been anxiously watching me since the contract was finalized, eagerly followed as I walked toward a more secluded area.
"It's done, right? It's really done now, isn't it?"
Once we reached a spot with few players around, I stopped, and Vivienne immediately rushed up to me. Smiling faintly, I calmly retrieved the elixir and handed it to her. She quickly snatched the vial from my hand, her trembling eyes fixed on it.
"Haa… Haa…"
Vivienne took deep breaths, clearly overwhelmed. It seemed she had been under immense stress since being transformed into a spider. Despite her fierce survival instincts and formidable intellect, the ordeal must have been harrowing. She was, without a doubt, a rare talent among residents.
I might get scolded by Seraph later, but I was prepared for that. After all, she had been designed as a boss monster to be defeated, but I had exploited a loophole to turn her into an ally. It was a calculated risk, and I had no regrets.
Vivienne stared at the elixir with a conflicted expression, her face betraying a mix of hope and hesitation. However, her indecision didn't last long.
Pop!
"Hngh... Gulp."
With a resolute movement, she removed the stopper and downed the elixir in one go. A refreshing sensation seemed to spread through her body as she shivered slightly, her face flushed with relief and satisfaction.
I stepped closer and gently pulled aside her robe, revealing the once-scarred skin now slowly healing and smoothing over. The transformation was unmistakable.
That wasn't all. Her skin grew shinier and firmer, exuding a healthy glow, and her previously dull hair transformed into a stunning jet-black, radiating a strong presence. Her pale face gained a rosy hue, and the coldness of her body warmed up, soft peach tones spreading across her complexion.
One of the greatest advantages of the elixir is its immediacy—it doesn't take time to heal but instead restores the body instantly upon consumption. Proving its effectiveness, I could sense the powerful mana waves of a fully recovered mage right before my eyes.
But the one who would feel its effects most keenly was none other than herself. Vivienne stared at her hands and body with disbelief, then clenched her fists tightly, her face lighting up with joy. What could it feel like to recover lost power? Could it be akin to climbing out of the depths of despair after falling into the pits of hell in my first round?
After basking in her joy for a while, Vivienne slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. Her expression still held the same slightly dazed and airheaded charm as before, but there was one notable difference. Her eyes, which once reflected nothing more than a simple desire for survival, now shone with a mysterious confidence—a vibrancy that made them truly alive. Soon, her small lips parted.
"...Su-Hyeon."
"What?"
"So, your name is Su-Hyeon. Kim Su-Hyeon."
"Yeah, but why are you saying it?"
"Su-Hyeon. Kim Su-Hyeon. Kim Su-Hyeon. Kim Su-Hyeon."
Ignoring my question, Vivienne kept repeating my name over and over. Watching her, I scratched my head. A warmth spread through my chest—likely the contract starting its effect. Now, the real show was about to begin.
With a mischievous grin, I stared at her. Her jet-black hair, silvery eyes, and a face that was both intelligent and endearingly clueless. Beautiful. By any standard, she was stunning.
Under the guise of testing the contract's effectiveness, I decided to speak.
"Vivienne."
"Su-Hyeon. Kim Su-Hyeon."
"Alright, come here and..."
Just as I was about to command her to 'embrace me,' Vivienne suddenly lunged forward and wrapped herself around me, burying her face in my chest with tear-filled eyes.
Caught off guard by her unexpected action, I froze for a moment but quickly composed myself, gently patting her back. Somehow, I felt like I understood her emotions. The atmosphere was touching, but my initial intention was to test the contract's limits by forcing her into an uncomfortable situation—not to have her willingly embrace me like this.
Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Vivienne kept repeating her gratitude over and over.
"Thank you... thank you so much... really, thank you."
"Thanks? I mean, it's just a contract... Hey, wait a second. You're practically naked right now. This is—"
"I never thought I'd be human again... It's okay. It's fine if it's you. I'll listen to everything you say from now on. I promise I'll be good."
What does she mean by 'it's fine'? Her sudden shift to being this proactive left me flustered. I tried to pry her off, but she clung tighter, like her spider instincts were still at play—using her arms and even her legs to hold onto me. Was she really that overwhelmed with joy?
Seeing Vivienne cling to me so desperately, burrowing closer like An-Sol sometimes did, left me at a loss. Her complete disregard for my discomfort only made her press herself against me more insistently. The overwhelming sensation of her physical presence left me exhaling a deep sigh, steeling myself with a firm resolution:
'I will definitely fuck her.'
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