Chapter Sixteen: Magical Contract
“Lady Karen, his lordship requests your presence.”
“Father, is he back? I wish I could see him too.”
Helfried seemed to be away at work frequently, making it difficult for Sieg to schedule a meeting. While being glared at enviously by Sieg, Karen followed Butler Volker.
“This is his lordship’s study. Please, come in.”
“Excuse me…”
Wondering why she was summoned, Karen entered the room. In a sophisticated and calm atmosphere surrounded by clearly expensive furniture, a man stood by the desk at the far end, wearing a gentle smile. Blonde hair, with upturned gray eyes that gave an impression of nervousness. He was supposed to be Julius’s brother, but Karen felt his features were more similar to Sieg’s than Julius’s. Despite his smile, he was incredibly intimidating and terrifying.
“Sieg has been under your care. I am Helfried Ehlertt, Sieg’s father.”
“F-First time meeting you, my lord. I am Karen, an alchemist.”
“Take a seat.”
“Pardon me.”
Guided to the sofa, Karen sat down stiffly.
“I’ve heard reports about you. You handle potions made from non-magical materials. Did you have an opportunity to learn about materials somewhere? Based on your background, it doesn’t seem like you had such opportunities. Did you find a good teacher at a public school?”
“I-I’m self-taught…”
She momentarily considered lying but realized it would be pointless to deceive a nobleman who had already investigated her. If she were caught in a lie, it might hurt her more than the truth.
“In that case, be careful when handling them. Even you might not know the unexpected effects of non-magical materials, which could cause tremendous calamity.”
“Should I refrain from using them on your son?”
“Standard healing potions don’t work on the Bloodline Blessing. So, I’m grateful for your new potions. I just want you to be careful when handling them.”
It was essentially a threat: understand what might happen if something goes wrong. Karen nodded repeatedly. But she wasn’t particularly worried. Using materials she knew from her previous life, nothing strange should occur.
“And it seems you’ve invited Sieg to collaborate in your research.”
This was just moments ago. Noting how quickly he’d heard, Karen nodded.
“Yes, though I haven’t received his response yet—”
“If Sieg dies during that research, I’ll have you killed. So be careful in your research.”
Helfried continued smiling, so Karen initially thought she misheard. But seeing his unchanging smile even as she showed her shock, the reality gradually sank in.
“I understand that Sieg is in a state beyond normal help. That’s why I’ve never blamed the previous healers who gave up after examining him. They were paid for their efforts. But listen, Karen.”
Helfried approached Karen’s sofa and sat opposite her, looking her directly in the eyes.
“I’ve punished those who tried to profit by using Sieg. Let’s say you experiment on Sieg’s body and fail. But in research, failure can also be considered a result. I have no intention of letting you triumph with such a result.”
“I-I have no plans to experiment on Master Sieg…!”
“You invoked the Ehlertt Earldom’s honor to provoke Sieg. Sieg is a brave child. Even if it costs his life, he would choose to cooperate with your research to ensure it could be seen as a contribution to the family’s honor.”
Helfried predicted that although Sieg was hesitating, he would ultimately choose to collaborate with Karen.
“Having staked the Ehlertt Earldom’s honor, you must put your life on the line to accomplish this.”
Helfried kept smiling. Karen’s heart pounded so hard she was drenched in cold sweat.
“U-Um, I apologize—”
“What is there to apologize for? Just help Sieg. As you promised him.”
His eyes, previously like thin threads, slowly opened wider.
“Or are you planning to break that promise?”
“Absolutely not!”
“Then it’s fine. Place your hand here.”
Helfried placed a paper on the desk. Magical characters were geometrically drawn—an area of magical artifacts Karen had only superficially studied in public school and never truly understood.
Karen swallowed nervously at the sinister dark reddish ink but obediently placed her hand as commanded.
“Um, what exactly is this…?”
“A magical contract.”
The moment Helfried placed his hand over Karen’s, the magical characters glowed golden.
“Alchemist Karen, if you fail to save Sieg, you will die. Understood?”
“Y-Yes, understood.”
Karen, nearly crying, accepted Helfried’s order. The magical characters began to move and rearrange beneath their hands.
When Helfried removed his hand, Karen’s hand bore the same dark reddish geometric pattern from the contract, which now stated: “Alchemist Karen accepts death if she fails to save Sieg Ehlertt.”
“How convenient, an automatically generated contract.”
“You’re quite strange to have such a reaction to a life-staking contract.”
Helfried looked at Karen with an expression of disbelief.
“Are you not scared, Karen?”
“It’s scary, but this is a good idea.”
“A good idea…?”
Oblivious to Helfried’s change in expression, Karen smiled and raised her hand, showing the blood-colored contract mark.
“If I remain composed with this mark, Master Sieg will find it easier to believe he’ll be saved. Then my research will—oh, never mind! Um, has Master Sieg already learned about magical contracts?”
“Ah, y-yes—”
“Then I’ll go show him right away! May I be excused?”
“… You may go, Karen.”
“Excuse me.”
Karen bowed her head and left the room with a surprisingly sprightly step. Helfried watched her back, eyes wide.
“Volker… what was that?”
“Lady Karen, the alchemist. She’s quite unusual, but the servants in the east wing speak of her not unfavorably.”
“…Could Sieg actually survive?”
Helfried had intended just to warn Karen off. He meant to punish her for manipulating Sieg for her own advancement. However, her reaction was completely unexpected.
To Helfried’s words, Volker laughed, his white mustache shaking.
“Ho ho ho. It seems, my lord, that you’ve already fallen for Lady Karen’s strategy. Surely, Master Sieg will also begin to believe in his survival.”
Helfried looked toward the east wing. The blue sky spreading outside the window was blindingly bright.
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