Originally, Yujin wouldn’t have made such a decision without a moment’s hesitation. After all, there was no way for him to verify whether what Tiamat had said was entirely true.
Frankly, even if she were trying to deceive Yujin who knew nothing, there wouldn’t have been much he could do about it. Naturally, he would have had to approach this cautiously.
However, at a point where there was no clear way to leave this place, he decided that spending time agonizing over it was a waste.
What choice did he have if the only way out was to form a contract with her and become a dragon? Even if, in the worst-case scenario, this turned out to be a ploy to deceive him, there was little he could do about it.
And if she were lying? What other option did he have? It wasn’t as though she would reveal a way out if he refused.
Expecting to escape on his own was unrealistic, especially considering that, even within the game, there was no way to escape from a trap room through one’s own efforts. If that was the case, then he had no choice but to proceed.
[Are you really sure about this?]
“I wouldn’t want to sit around here and waste time, after all. Even if I’m going to die someday, I’d prefer to go peacefully.”
[Hmm…]
At those words, Tiamat found herself unsure whether to laugh or cry at his seemingly modest reasoning for wanting to make the contract. But then again, was it really modest? After all, this was a matter of survival.
“And besides. I personally want to help you, Lady Tiamat. You said your goal is to free the dragons trapped in the tower and restore their original status, correct?”
Hearing that, Tiamat responded.
[Yes, that’s what I said. At the very least, even if restoring their status is secondary, I want to free my children.]
“Personally, I found that sentiment moving. The love of a parent for their children is… always a beautiful thing.”
Yujin recalled his own parents, who had worried about him until their final moments, and spoke with a hint of emotion. Tiamat seemed to be flustered and replied awkwardly.
[Ahem, ahem… I-I see. Of course, they’re not exactly my biological children…]
“…Oh, I see. So dragons don’t engage in typical biological reproduction?”
Thinking about the process of handing over a heart to create dragons, Yujin wondered if dragons, in general, didn’t reproduce conventionally. When he voiced his curiosity, Tiamat quickly clarified.
[N-No… that’s not quite it. Dragons do engage in reproduction, but… how should I put it? The periods during which we can lay eggs are incredibly short compared to our overall lifespan, and the intervals between them are extremely long. Also, the chances of successful conception are very low. To begin with, for beings like us transcendents, having children is extraordinarily difficult.]
“Ah, I see.”
[A-And, well, I understand that you’re young and innocent, but asking such questions is still a bit awkward for me. I’ll have you know, I’m a maiden.]
“…I see.”
The leader of the dragons must have lived an incredibly long life, and yet… she claimed to be a maiden? Or was it perhaps that she had missed her timing and, due to being old, couldn’t find a suitable partner?
[Are you by any chance thinking something terribly rude right now?]
“Haha, of course not.”
Yujin denied it with a calm and smiling face, though he felt a chilling sense of doom as though he might die if his thoughts were exposed. Concealing his emotions was his specialty.
[Suspicious…]
“By the way, how exactly does this contract work? And you mentioned reconstructing a body using your bones; how is that done?”
Yujin quickly decided to change the subject. Fortunately, there was a relevant and necessary topic at hand to bring up.
[…Hmm, right. Let’s start with the contract, shall we? First, try pouring your mana into my heart.]
“…Understood.”
Yujin, for what it was worth, was an awakener who had awakened his mana. Specifically, he was of the magic-type awakeners, known for their skill in manipulating mana to perform feats.
For him, channeling mana into an object was not particularly difficult.
However, there was a brief moment of hesitation.
What if Tiamat is scheming to take over my body?
It wasn’t a possibility he hadn’t considered. In fact, he thought it was plausible.
But Yujin soon dismissed such thoughts from his mind.
In any case, it’s better than starving to death here without food or water.
After all, his choices were to die of dehydration and starvation or to risk losing his body. The latter seemed the less painful option.
Of course, the situation could change drastically if Tiamat suddenly revealed an evil nature and attempted to torment his soul for eternity as punishment for daring to compete with a transcendent.
But there was no answer to be found in mistrusting everything to that extent. Didn’t some scientist once say:
—To doubt everything and to believe everything are two equally convenient solutions that save us from thinking.
While this quote originated from the realm of scientific hypotheses, it was equally valid in the domains of logic and reason.
What could be accomplished if one doubted everything? At the very least, one must distinguish between what to trust and what not to.
At the very least, he decided it was right to trust the kindness and goodwill she had shown him so far.
With that, Yujin channeled his mana into Tiamat’s heart.
[My heart is a repository where my mana is endlessly condensed and stored. When you channel your mana into it, our mana will mix together… and the fused mana becomes a medium that connects the two beings.]
“…I see.”
Yujin could feel it too. Even with his eyes closed, he could sense the overwhelming mana that radiated immense power.
Compared to this, his own mana felt so crude, small, and pitiful. But Tiamat seemed completely unbothered by the crudeness of his mana.
[Right now, you and I are no longer merely conversing through the medium of our hearts as before. We are now spiritually connected. Open your eyes.]
At those words, Yujin cautiously opened his narrowed eyes and expanded his field of vision. And then…
“……..!”
[How is it? Can you see me now?]
Before him stood a truly beautiful woman.
Her black hair flowed with an almost otherworldly sheen, and her red eyes which sparkled like the purest rubies were fixed on Yujin.
Her faintly wistful smile contrasted with her voluptuous figure. It was both seductive and delicate.
She was a woman who exuded a paradoxical kind of beauty.
One thing was certain though: she was incomparably more beautiful than any woman Yujin had ever seen before.
[I could have appeared before you in my dragon form, but that form is too big, and I thought it might feel overwhelming… So I chose to appear in this human polymorph form instead. What do you think?]
“…You are beautiful. Really beautiful.”
Without realizing it, Yujin answered in a dazed tone with his usual narrowed eyes fully opened now. When she heard this, Tiamat chuckled softly and replied.
[Fufu, thank you. Your eyes are very beautiful as well.]
“…Haha.”
At her words, Yujin finally noticed that his eyes were wide open, and he let out a wry laugh.
Then he looked at her with a more calm expression. His narrowed eyes that covered his blue irises opened slightly.
Tiamat then asked,
[Do you remember the terms of the contract I mentioned earlier?]
“Yes, I remember.”
[From now on, I will begin the process of the soul contract. After I state the conditions that I must fulfill, you will recite the conditions that you must fulfill.]
“Is that all?”
[Yes, once the soul contract is cast, that will be the end of it. Casting the contract itself is my responsibility.]
“I see… Are there any precautions I should be aware of?”
[Rather than precautions, I suppose I should explain what happens if we fail. First of all, after the soul contract is cast, the conditions that both parties must fulfill or abide by must be mutually agreed upon. If either party states a condition that was not agreed upon beforehand, the other party will not accept it, and the soul contract will break as a result.]
“Hmm, I see.”
The contract would only be executed with mutual agreement… In that case, it was almost as if there was no risk at all.
[Other than that… if the mana link is severed, the soul contract will also be interrupted. However, in such a case, there’s a risk of disrupting something like your mana circuit.]
“I’ll need to be careful.”
[As for me, I’m a dragon and currently just a heart, so there’s virtually no risk of that happening. Unless you intentionally sever it yourself, there shouldn’t be any danger. Now then, shall we begin?]
“Yes, please go ahead.”
[Then, I will now begin the soul contract.]
With those words, Tiamat started the contract.
Wooong!
The surrounding mana began to glow, illuminating the area.
At the same time, Yujin felt a fundamental part of himself… as though it was being linked to Tiamat.
[Second, I, Tiamat, shall transform the other party into a new dragon.]
“I, Yujin, will dedicate myself to freeing the dragons of the labyrinth and restoring the status of dragons to what it was before the Great War, in accordance with her requests.”
[However, my requests, as Tiamat, can be adjusted through consultation with Yujin. If any of my requests are deemed impossible, Yujin’s decision will take precedence.]
“Lady Tiamat?”
This was a clause that hadn’t been discussed in advance. However, its content was favorable to Yujin.
[I thought it was a necessary clause. After all, it wouldn’t do to force something impossible.]
“…Understood.”
It wasn’t a disadvantageous clause for Yujin and since she also considered it necessary, perhaps that was why the soul contract remained intact.
Clink!
Chains that seemed to bind the soul grew longer.
[With this, the soul contract has been established between us. We swear to fulfill and uphold each other’s terms to the best of our abilities.]
“I swear.”
Fwoosh!
The mana that had been glowing around them gradually began to fade.
“…Is it done?”
[Yes, the soul contract has been completed here.]
“…I see.”
The sensation of chains tightening around his soul had disappeared. Still, they were likely still there, just not perceptible to him.
[Then, shall we take this opportunity to finish the soul bond as well? Considering that reconstructing your body and accepting the heart would be best done afterward.]
“Ah, so the contract and the bond are different?”
Yujin had thought that the soul bond and the contract were established at the same time, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. Tiamat spoke.
[It’s true that a bond is a type of contract… but, hmm…]
“Is it somehow different?”
[…Um, Mhmm!… uh, let’s say… if you compare it to something, a bond is more like marriage. You could call it a marriage of souls, I suppose.]
“Marriage…”
When Yujin had first heard the explanation about the soul bond, the thought had briefly crossed his mind, but he hadn’t expected it to actually be so similar to marriage.
Was it because they were connected by mana? Tiamat read Yujin’s thoughts and hurriedly clarified.
[O-Of course, it doesn’t mean you and I are literally getting married! It’s just… purely a metaphorical comparison…]
“Haha, of course. I understand.”
Naturally, Yujin also assumed it was meant as a metaphor. After all, it couldn’t possibly mean a literal marriage.
[G-Good. I’m glad to hear that.]
“So, shall we begin? Do I just do the same thing as before?”
Tiamat shook her head and answered.
[This isn’t like the contract earlier, where we discussed terms. It’s a simple process of connecting our souls. So…]
With that, Tiamat extended her hand and said,
[Here, take my hand. That’s all it takes.]
“……”
At her words, Yujin reached out as if entranced and took hold of her intangible hand.
Strangely enough, it felt as though he could sense the cold touch of a woman’s hand.
[From this moment on, this person shall become my soul mate.]
Without realizing it, Yujin echoed her next words.
[And I will be his mate, and spend the rest of my life with him]
“And I will be her mate, and spend the rest of my life with her.”
At that moment, he felt the same sensation he’d experienced when they first connected.
This time, however, it was stronger and more profound. It was a bond that took the form of a red thread, coiling around their clasped hands.
Soon, the red thread began to fade and its traces gradually disappeared…
“…Is it done?”
[Whew… it is. From now on, our souls are one.]
Being united as one through their souls….it was a strange feeling. Yujin opened and closed the hand he had held with Tiamat for a moment before turning to her and speaking.
“So now…”
[Yes, it’s time to make you a dragon.]
And so, the process of transforming Yujin into a dragon began.
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