Ren didn't stop Roswaal from leaving. He wasn't interested in someone who didn't even have their own will.
After all, none of the other person's magic could affect him.
Ren turned to look at the twin girls.
The blue-haired girl glared at him with anger, while the pink-haired girl remained unconscious.
But young Rem couldn't do anything.
Even Ren before ability sync could handle her, let alone now.
After knocking her out, he carried one over his shoulder and left.
In the Watergate City of Priestella, in a courtyard.
Ram woke up.
She saw the ceiling of a large room and recalled everything that had happened that night.
The one responsible for her clan's destruction.
Her sister lying beside her brought a gentle smile to her face.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Footsteps approached slowly.
Ram's aura turned cold, and her eyes filled with hatred.
Although Roswaal was the Lordmind, the one who actually acted was undoubtedly the Witch Cult.
And this presence was far beyond what the Witch Cult could normally produce.
The door creaked open.
Ram could even hear her own heartbeat.
She had lost her horns and was now like a phone that would die without charging, limited to using magic only three times.
Before her stood a man with a lazy expression, silver-white hair, and a slight curl at his lips.
But it wasn't a smile—his normal expression was like this.
A chill ran through her heart.
The strong witch aura made her unsure how to fight him.
Thinking of Rem, she forced down her anger.
Rem, awakened by the disturbance, sat up in surprise, her face also filled with rage as she stared at Ren.
"Good morning, young ladies," he said.
"After last night, I suppose you harbor deep resentment toward me."
Rem's Oniic horns appeared as her emotions began to spiral, ready to charge and kill Ren.
"What does the Witch Cult want?" Ram asked, holding Rem back, her expression serious.
"Allow me to introduce myself first," he said.
"I am Ruvia Ren, Sin Archbishop of Pride in the Witch Cult. Just call me Ren."
"As for your question, I'm not here to do anything. The reason I went to the Oni Village is simple—I sensed the presence of some fools from the Witch Cult and decided to check it out."
"Witch Cult!"
Rem rushed forward, but it wasn't in vain. Ram stopped her with magic.
But now Ram had now lost her horn, and this time, she spat blood.
"Sister." Only then did Rem regain her senses, rushing to hold Ram.
"Cough… as you can see, I'm just useless now." Ram's face was pale, and her strength was weak. She hadn't bet on defeating Ren, but rather on him bringing them back instead of killing them.
"The Oni horns can absorb mana from the atmosphere. Oni who lose their horns cannot absorb mana. Once their mana runs out, they die from overconsumption of mana," Ren explained casually.
Rem stared at her sister in shock. That night, she had shamefully thought it was good that her sister lost her horns. Now she realized that thought was a curse against Ram, and it filled her with unbearable pain.
"You both want the other to live, right? Work for me, and I can make a contract with you."
The sisters hesitated. Ren was part of the Witch Cult, and even if he hadn't directly participated, he was still their clan's enemy. But they truly didn't want the other to die.
Thinking of her earlier selfish thoughts, Rem knelt on the bed. "Please save my sister. I'll obey you."
"Rem, no." Ram knew her own condition. Only pure magic crystals or someone with strong mana could restore her.
Ram didn't have much mana. She didn't want her sister to risk everything for such an uncertain goal.
"True sisterly love, huh? For each other, you're willing to risk your lives. I am a ceremonial bishop, not as infamous as others. If we make a contract and it succeeds, I will let your sister live." Ren's expression remained calm, unreadable.
"Rem, don't agree to him. He's part of the Witch Cult." Ram said firmly. The Witch Cult was a group of lunatics; they could never be trusted.
Ren didn't respond. He went to the courtyard. It was a small Western-style castle, empty of other people.
Ren lay on a chair, wearing scientific glasses, fiddling with them.
In this world, this device was overwhelmingly advanced. It could even store location data and create electronic maps.
"It seems like I'm going to have to run around the whole world again," Ren murmured.
At noon, there was a knock at the door, and soon several women entered.
They placed the dishes on the table and then stepped aside, waiting for Ren to start eating.
Ram was supported by Rem as she arrived, following that strong witch aura.
Ram's expression was not good; it seemed Mana was depleting faster than she had imagined.
"Sit down and eat. This is on the house," Ren gestured for them to take their seats.
At that moment, Rem helped Ram sit down and was about to sign the contract with Ren.
"Lord Ren, I will sign the contract with you," Ram spoke first. She wouldn't let her sister do this for her.
"Sister."
"Rem."
Ram's tone carried the strictness of an older sister, and Rem swallowed her words.
"Alright, the contract terms: you will serve me for twenty years, and once it ends, you are free."
"The terms: I will serve you, but you must heal me, otherwise the contract is void."
They reached an agreement, signing one of the most important contracts in this world. In this world, contracts were extremely binding, and once agreed upon, betrayal was nearly impossible.
Cough, cough.
As the contract was signed, Ram coughed up blood again, her face turning even paler.
"The contract is signed. Please save my sister quickly," Rem said, growing anxious.
"I can naturally heal your sister, even restore her to her peak," Ren said.
"That's impossible," Ram was the first to doubt it. She knew her own condition well, which was why she didn't let Rem sign the contract—this might have been a contract of servitude.
So she hurried to sign it beforehand.
"Nothing is impossible. Just like you can't kill me, who says the Oni clan must rely on horns to absorb mana to survive? They can survive like everyone else." Ren's words sounded like a game.
"Talking nonsense about impossibilities again. Ram is disappointed that you signed such a contract." Ram looked at Rem.
These words made Rem calm down. At this moment, she felt like a kite cut loose. She now understood that she had been desperate and reckless, choosing to trust the Witch Cult.
"You think it's impossible because it exceeds your vision and understanding. So you instinctively resist. Accepting new things means admitting that your long-held beliefs might be wrong. And people often have a flaw: it's hard to sincerely admit their own mistakes." Ren rambled on.
In the next moment, the mana in the air gathered around Ram, quickly filling her. Even without horns, her mana grew immense again, restoring her Oni God power.
Sensing Ram's overwhelming presence, Rem rushed into Ram's embrace. Ram held Rem and softly comforted her.
**********
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