Chapter 102: Walking on Thin Ice

"You’re back here so soon?"

Hearing a voice behind him, Regis turned around and saw Vanessa.

However, instead of replying, he squinted his eyes in confusion as he noticed the obvious weakness on her pale face.

"What happened to you?"

"Oh? Are you concerned about me? I’m really, really touched if that’s the ca— Ow!"

Unable to bear her antics, Regis flicked her forehead, "Shut up and just answer my question please."

"Argh, fine! This is nothing though, really. I just kind of overexerted myself when I used my gift in this state."

Vanessa replied with a shake of her head.

However, her words made Regis raise an eyebrow, "You were able to use your gift?"

"Yes, it was what I used to forcefully wake you up earlier." Answered Vanessa with a nod.

"Thank you for that by the way."

"Why the sudden gratitude? Your mood swings are really unpredic– I’ll stop. I’ll stop. Don’t flick me anymore."

Vanessa pouted as she covered her forehead while staring at Regis’s hand.

"Anyways, maintaining this form is really taxing. I feel like I’ll fall asleep at any given time. So what did you want to talk about earlier?"

Remembering the solution that he might have gotten through the strange red space, Regis spoke, "You see, I was able to get an evil craft called Soul Contract Creation. I was wondering if we could use it in some way to settle the situation with you and the others..."

"What..." Vanessa couldn’t help but look at him with a stupefied expression, "You’re really collecting evil crafts like it’s nothing, huh?"

She felt shocked at the fact that he seemed to get a new evil craft more often than should have been possible.

"Oh well..."

Shaking her head, Vanessa decided to not think about it anymore and stared at him.

"What is the information that came with the evil craft when you got it?"

"It said that it is an evil craft connected directly to the Devil of Death and Extinction. Besides that, this evil craft seemed to not have any restrictions as long as it was agreed upon by both parties."

"Wow... That vague, huh?"

"I know..."

The two of them couldn’t help but have a helpless expression on their faces.

"Still, the more vague it is, the better." Vanessa said as she began to ponder.

However, Regis scratched his head and responded, "Is that really the case?"

After a minute of thinking, Vanessa raised his head and stared towards Regis with a knowing look on her face.

Noticing this, Regis raised his brow, "Were you able to think of a way to utilize this?"

"Of course..." Vanessa sighed, "...not."

"However, I can feel that my time is almost up."

"Are you finally going to die?"

"No- Wait, what do you mean finally? Anyways, I feel really, really sleepy so I think we should just go for it."

Vanessa wanted to call out his snarky words but didn’t have the energy to do so.

Understanding this, Regis nodded and chanted. [Soul Contract Creation]

SHIIIING—

A glowing piece of paper instantly appeared in between them.

Shiiiiik!

It was then suddenly ripped in half before each one went to them.

Looking at the glowing piece of blank paper, Vanessa lethargically asked, "What now?"

Regis racked his brain, knowing that they were running out of time. The interval between her waking up was becoming longer.

"Let’s just state something random to test the effects"

"Mmkay..."

After a moment, he spoke, "I will let you, Vanessa, get the necessary nutrients from me in order for you to be able to form a new body."

WIIIIING—

As he spoke, a magical scene unfolded before their eyes.

Words suddenly started to appear on the blank glowing piece of paper like it was being burned right on it.

Party A: Regis

Party B: Vanessa

Party A is willing to give all the necessary nutrients until Party B is able to form a new body of her own...

"Woa— Hey, wake up!"

PAK—!

Just as Regis was amazed at the phenomenon that happened, he saw that Vanessa was starting to close her eyes.

Therefore, he immediately went ahead and slapped her on the face.

But even this was only enough for her to open her eyes slightly, "Wh...at should I do?"

"I don’t know. Just give me anything!"

"Okay..."

"In return, I, Vanessa, will give everything to you..."

"Wha—"

Regis’s mouth parted in shock as he couldn’t believe what he just heard.

WIIIIING—

Nevertheless, the soul contract didn’t give him any time to think as words began to be burnt.

...In return, Party B will give their everything to Party A.

Contract Finished.

Kindly abide by the rules of the contract.

Breaking the agreement will result to the destruction of the violator’s soul.

WUUUNG—

The two, glowing pieces of paper shone brightly before shooting towards Regis and Vanessa.

"W-What just happened?"

Regis’s mouth was still opened as an incredulous expression appeared on his face.

"You idiot! I said anything! Anything! Not everything!" He wanted nothing more than to slap Vanessa awake.

But looking at her peaceful expression, he barely held himself back.

At this moment, a wave of headache suddenly surged through his brain, almost making him collapse.

"Fuck!"

Fortunately, it only lasted for about a few seconds before it faded.

As he recovered, Regis couldn’t believe the set of information that had appeared in his memories as if it was already there from the moment he was born.

"This..."

However, before he could continue going through the information in his brain, he blanked out.

***

"Ugh..."

’What’s happening?’

Opening his eyes slightly, Regis looked around with a groggy expression.

Everything was still blurry, but he can somewhat recognize the beautifully adorned ceiling and walls of the room.

"Where am I?"

"Brother...? Brother!!!"

Hearing a familiar voice, Regis looked to his side and saw a pair of ruby-red eyes.

Eyes that were of the same color as his.

"W-Who are you?"

His words made the girl’s face freeze, "W-What do you mean, B-Brother?"

"I’m joking, hehe. Where are we, Pandora?"

"What..." Pandora’s teary eyes immediately seethed with anger as she struck her fist on Regis’s stomach.

Pow—!

"Ouch! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!"

Regis shouted pitifully as he begged her to stop punching him.

"You just woke up and..."

Pow—!

"Ugh..."

Regis groaned in pain as he held his stomach helplessly.

Seeing his pained expression, Pandora felt guilty and immediately hugged him, "I t-thought you’re not going to wake u... hic..."

"There... there..." Regis smiled as he patted her back, "Don’t worry, I’m all good."

While patting her back, he scanned the area where they were and immediately noticed the statue of a woman at the corner of the room.

Nevertheless, he stayed silent and only spoke when Pandora had somewhat calmed down.

"Do you know where we are?"

Pandora distanced herself a little from him before nodding, "Mhm."

She then wiped her tears with a handkerchief before speaking further, "There was a man who rescued us and brought us here."

"Who was he?" Regis started to feel something amiss.

The miniature statue at the corner, the luxurious interior of the room... everything pointed to something that he really, really did not want.

As expected, Pandora’s next words made his heart drop like a dead fly.

"Count Oprheus was really close to killing us. Fortunately, a priest from the Church of Lemetina came to our rescue..."

She kept speaking, but her words didn’t register on Regis’s mind anymore.

The world seemed to have stopped at the words "priest" and "Church of Lemetina".

’Am I fucked?’

Was the only thought in his mind.

Creak—

At this moment, the door creaked upon which made his heart drop lower.

A man wearing a priest’s robe entered the room and raised his brow in surprise upon seeing that he was awake.

Then, with a smile on his face, he approached Regis with steady footsteps.

His expression didn’t seem like he was out to get him, but Regis still couldn’t help but become nervous.

’What should I do... He’s a priest. Is it possible that he already knew about my demonic power!?’

Fortunately, all those years of acting did not go to waste as Regis was able to naturally smile in return as he spoke, "A-Are you the one who saved us, Sir?"

As if taken aback, the man paused a little before letting out a wider smile, "First of all, I’m glad that your awake. And yes, I was the one who killed that disgusting demonic human."

’What’s this? Is he deliberately saying those things that way? Does he know that I’m a demonic human? Should I just come clean?’

Countless thoughts wreaked havoc in Regis’s mind, but he only smiled on the outside and nodded in gratitude, "T-Thank you, Sir!"

"Oh, I do not think that you should be thanking me." The man’s face suddenly turned serious.

’I’m fucked.’

Seeing the man’s sudden change in expression, Regis’s heart further dropped to the lowest of the abyss.