Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!
Why is the timing so terrible? I expected to run into Kael, but isn't this too soon? This might be the part of the story where Kael kills every member of the Ziert organization-except for Eve.
Kill them?
I won't let that happen...!
I kept running as fast as I could. My breath was catching in my throat.
"Lei! Fall back!"
I could hear Eve shouting from here. The explosion that just happened must have been the result of their clash.
Just a little further...!
The reason I loved this novel wasn't for the heartwarming romance, but for Kael's brutal nature-the way he ruthlessly wiped out his enemies. To me, he looked incredibly cool whenever he swung his sword.
But that didn't mean I condoned it.
"Stop! Kael!"
I stopped at a safe distance, though I was certain he could hear my shout.
"If you kill them, you won't survive the Second Cataclysm!"
Just as I expected, my words got through to him, and he halted his attack.
"Who are you...?!" Kael's aura shifted drastically. His gaze locked entirely onto me.
Oh my god, he's looking right at me! My heart feels like it's going to explode! Oh, God. Is this what a blessing feels like?
Unfortunately, he was too far away for me to see his face clearly.
Kael.
Just Kael.
The male lead who starts the story with a dark, twisted nature. He trusts no one and kills anyone who stands in his way. That is, until he meets the female lead, Elena-the person who slowly transforms him into a "real" human being.
But I'm not the female lead who can melt his heart in an instant. Kael could kill me in a heartbeat if he wanted to.
"If you want to resolve the Second Disaster in the eastern region, you need their power! Especially Eve's poison magic!"
"What...?! How do you know about that magic...?!" Eve was startled.
I know this is sudden. But to stop his mad crusade of judgment, I have no choice but to do this. I have to draw him out.
"I can win without your help."
"No. You won't be able to win."
Kael fell silent and slowly stepped toward me. Each step radiated immense pressure, compounded by a murderous glare that made people's skin crawl.
[Special Skill 'Reader's Protection' activated!]
I felt nothing, just like when Lei tried to threaten me.
"You're no ordinary person. You must be the leader." Kael drew his sword, which was already wreathed in flames.
Damn it...! Stop shaking, Sohyun.
[Special Skill 'Reader's Protection' activated!]
Kael drew closer. Even though I couldn't feel the pressure thanks to my special skill, I knew it was immense, I could see it in the small storm swirling around him.
"Kim! Get away from him!" Eve shouted.
Sorry, Eve. But I'm the only one who can tame him.
"Do you think killing everyone will make it easier to resolve the disaster? Not everyone is evil! Stop thinking you can fight this battle alone!"
Kael actually stopped. He was stunned-I was sure of it.
"You...!"
The flames enveloping his sword flared up. Kael was growing angrier. He stepped toward me again. This time, his magical pressure was even stronger.
Huh...?
[Special Skill 'Reader's Protection' activated!]
Did it fail? Damn. I take it back. The only one who can tame him is Elena—the protagonist.
Kael suddenly vanished from my sight. I was startled, but the shock lasted only an instant before he reappeared right in front of me, his hand clamping around my throat.
"You talk too much."
Bastard.
"Kim!"
"Get away from her!"
"Don't come any closer!" I shouted at Eve and Lei, warning them not to come any closer.
[Special Skill 'Reader's Protection' activated!]
"Kael, you'll regret it for the rest of your life if you kill me here."
Kael frowned slightly. "How do you know my name?"
"Of course I know. I know everything about you."
His grip loosened a little. Was he starting to waver?
"Kael, how about we make a contract?" I gave a crooked smile.
His grip suddenly tightened.
"Urgh...!"
Damn it.
"Why would I do that with someone who's about to die?"
Damn... So he really intends to kill me?
"I guarantee this contract won't disadvantage you. If I break the contract, I die. You know about the Temple Gods' oaths, right?"
Kael was taken aback.
The Temple Gods were divine entities that maintained the balance of the world. They were neither creator gods nor rulers of the realm, but rather cosmic arbiters who ensured that any oath sworn within their domain could not be broken without consequence.
They took no sides, what they upheld was the law, not humanity.
Any promise made in the name of the Temple Gods bound the soul. Breaking it meant forfeiting one's life as the price.
"What are the terms of the contract?"
Good. The final blow.
"I'll help you resolve the entire catastrophe."
Kael fell silent.
[Kael's trust in you is currently 0%.]
Damn, is this system mocking me?
Kael is someone who trusts no one; he relies solely on himself to resolve the entire catastrophe.
There is only one reason for this-betrayal.
Humans are cunning creatures. When cornered, they will betray their own allies just to survive. Yet, what I'm offering isn't some half-hearted promise, but an unbreakable bond-a divine oath contract.
After a long moment, Kael sighed and released his grip on my throat. I immediately broke into a fit of coughing, it was excruciating.
"I hope it's not a pathetic contract." Kael sheathed his sword. The magical pressure he had been exuding vanished along with it.
I gave a wry smile. "Of course."
"You've got quite a lot of nerve for a woman who possesses no magic at all."
I was startled. He was right, I didn't have a shred of magic. Yet, I had managed to withstand their magical pressure, which was incredibly potent. I knew it was thanks to a special skill from the system, but the effect was truly remarkable.
"Just consider me a lucky person."
"Lucky." His gaze suddenly turned cold again.
And to think he's my favorite character. Yet, he treats me so coldly. It really hurts, you know.
"I suggest we move somewhere more comfortable. I want to draft a very detailed contract."
....
...
+
[Main Quest Arrived!]
Quest : Convince Kael to join your side.
Reward : 20 Points, 5,000 Gold
Pinalty : Death
+
This main quest was one of the reasons I wanted to draw up a contract. Fortunately, I understood the general idea; it was a lot like an RPG filled with various quests to boost one's stats. If the reward is points, that means I can raise my stats; and gold would surely be used to buy something. Items, perhaps?
"You two can use this place," Eve said.
Kael and I decided to head to the main tent. I was certain Eve detested Kael's presence, but it was unavoidable.
"Only the two of us are going in." Kael spoke up.
"You-!"
"Eve." I cut Eve off immediately and shook my head at her. Her expression hardened, and she turned and walked away, leaving us behind.
"Let's go in." Kael entered the tent, and I followed him.
Kael drew his sword and drove it into the ground. I could sense magic radiating from the blade.
"No one will be able to hear our conversation. Now, speak."
I pulled out a chair and sat down. "You need to remember this, while this contract won't disadvantage you, it won't disadvantage me either."
Even without the system, I would have made a contract with Kael anyway. After all, a contract was the only thing that could bind him.
[Kael's current trust in you is 0%]
Haha, shut up, you damn system.
"I'll help you resolve all the disasters, but there are conditions."
"Conditions?" Kael leaned against the table, crossing his arms.
Good grief! He looked so handsome in that pose! If only I had a phone-I'd take a hundred photos!
No. Focus.
"The first condition, you aren't allowed to kill anyone without my permission. Naturally, I won't place bad people by your side. Second, you have to help me resolve the disasters. I'm not asking you to protect me, the point is, you have to be willing to cooperate."
"Is that all?" Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Of course not. Here is the final condition." I stood up and stepped right in front of him. "Kael, trust me—no, trust this contract."
Kael was startled, his eyes widened in surprise.
The one thing Kael lacked was trust, or perhaps it was something he had cast aside. Before the Disaster struck, Kael had been a swordmaster. He had joined the Holy Fortress Knights and fought in numerous battles.
Unfortunately, he was betrayed.
That was why he trusted no one and accepted no one as his partner. That was, of course, before he met Elena. And as a devoted reader of the novel-and a fan of Kael, I certainly didn't want to let my beloved character suffer like that.
[Kael's trust in you is now 0.1%]
It went up by 0.1%? Haha, should I cheer?
Kael suddenly rose from his spot and walked out of the tent.
"Kael!"
He stopped abruptly and answered without turning around. "I agree to the contract."
Huh?
Before I could even speak, he had already dashed away. Suddenly, I felt a massive surge of energy enveloping my body. The energy gradually shrank until it formed a necklace around my neck.
I understood. It was the symbol of our contract.
A necklace, huh?
It may seem romantic, but if the contract is broken, this necklace will immediately behead me.
[Main Quest Completed!]
[Reward Received: 20 points, 5000 gold]
"He even agreed to the contract without telling me the terms. That kid." I smiled.
[Special Skill Unlocked!]
What?
[You have acquired the skill: 'Character Analysis']