Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!
Why is the timing this awful? I already suspected I would meet Kael, but isn't this too fast? This must be the scene where Kael kills all the members of the Ziert party except Eve.
Kills them?
I'm not going to let that happen…!
I kept running as fast as I could. My breath hitched.
"Lei! Fall back!"
I could hear Eve's shout from here. That explosion earlier must've come from their fight.
Just a little more…!
The reason I loved the novel wasn't because of the touching romance, but Kael's brutal nature in annihilating enemies without mercy. To me, he looked incredibly cool every time he swung his sword.
But that doesn't mean I condone it!
"Stop! Kael!"
I stopped at a distance far enough, but I was sure he could hear me.
"If you kill them, you won't survive the second Cataclysm!"
As expected, he reacted to my words and halted his execution.
"Who are you…?!"
Kael's aura shifted drastically. His gaze locked onto me completely.
Oh my god, he's looking at me! My heart feels like it's going to explode! Is this what blessings feel like?
Too bad he's too far for me to see his face clearly.
Kael.
Just Kael.
The male lead with a terrible personality at the beginning of the story. He trusted no one and killed anyone who did not align with him.
Until he eventually met the female protagonist, Elena, the person who slowly turned him into a "real" human being.
But I'm not the female protagonist who can soften him instantly. Kael might kill me the moment he wants to.
"If you want to clear the second Cataclysm in the eastern region, you'll need their strength! Especially Eve's poison magic!"
"What…?! How do you know about my magic?!" Eve gasped.
I know this is sudden. But to stop his execution spree, I have no choice but to provoke him.
"I can win without their help."
"No. You won't be able to."
Kael fell silent and slowly walked toward me. Every step radiated an overwhelming pressure. Paired with his murderous gaze, anyone would tremble.
[Special Skill 'Reader's Protection' activated!]
I felt nothing at all, just like when Lei tried to threaten me.
"You're no ordinary person. You must be their leader."
Kael drew his sword, flames engulfing its blade.
Shit…! Stop shaking, Sohyun.
[Special Skill 'Reader's Protection' activated!]
Kael kept approaching. Even though I couldn't feel anything thanks to the skill, I could see the miniature storm stirred by his aura.
"Kim! Get away from him!" Eve shouted.
Sorry, Eve. But only I can tame this man.
"Do you think killing everyone will make clearing the Cataclysm easier? Not everyone is evil! Stop thinking you can fight alone!"
Kael stopped. He was shocked, I'm certain of it.
"You…!"
The flames around his sword flared even fiercer. Kael grew angrier. He stepped toward me again, this time with even stronger magical pressure.
What the…?
[Special Skill 'Reader's Protection' activated!]
Did it fail? Damn it. I take back my words. The only person who can tame him is Elena, the true heroine.
Kael suddenly vanished before my eyes. I flinched, but it only lasted a second before he reappeared right in front of me, grabbing my throat.
"You talk too much."
Bastard.
"Kim!"
"Stay away from her!"
"Don't come!" I shouted to Eve and Lei, stopping them from moving forward.
[Special Skill 'Reader's Protection' activated!]
"Kael, if you kill me here, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
Kael frowned slightly. "How do you know my name?"
"Of course I know. I know everything about you."
His grip loosened slightly. Is he starting to react?
"Kael, how about we make a contract?" I smirked.
His grip tightened immediately.
"Urgh…!"
Damn it.
"Why would I do that with someone who's about to die?"
So he really plans to kill me?
"I guarantee this contract won't harm you. If I break it, I'll die. You know the Temple God's oath, right?"
Kael looked startled.
The Temple Gods were divine entities that maintained the world's balance. They weren't creators or rulers of nature; they were cosmic judges ensuring every oath spoken within their domain could never be undone without consequence.
They favored no one. They upheld law, not mankind. Every vow made under their name bound the soul. Breaking it meant forfeiting your life.
"What are the contract terms?"
Good. The final blow.
"I'll help you clear all the calamities."
Kael fell silent.
[Kael's trust in you: 0%]
Wow, is the system mocking me?
Kael didn't trust anyone, only himself.
The reason was simple: betrayal.
Humans were cunning creatures. Cornered, they would betray anyone just to survive. But what I offered wasn't a flimsy promise, it was a divine oath, one that couldn't be broken.
After a long moment, Kael exhaled and released my neck. I collapsed, coughing hard. It hurt terribly.
"I hope it's not a pathetic contract." Kael sheathed his sword. His magical pressure vanished.
I gave a bitter smile. "Of course."
"You have quite the nerve for a woman without any magic."
I stiffened. He was right, I had no magic at all. Yet I survived their pressure. I knew it was thanks to the system skill, but the effect was insane.
"Think of me as a lucky creature."
"Lucky, huh." His gaze suddenly turned cold again.
He was my favorite character. But why is he so cold to me? My heart hurts, seriously.
"I suggest we move somewhere more comfortable. I want the contract to be very detailed."
___________
_____
+
[Main Quest Appeared!]
Goals : Convince Kael to join your side.
Reward : 20 Points, 5000 Gold
Failure : Death
+
One of the reasons I wanted the contract was because of this quest. Luckily, I understood the basics, this was like an RPG filled with quests to raise stats.
If the reward was points, then I could raise stats. And gold must be for buying items. Probably.
"You can use this place," Eve said.
Kael and I decided to go to the main tent. I was sure Eve hated Kael's presence, but there was no avoiding this.
"Only the two of us will enter," Kael said.
"You—!"
"Eve." I cut her off, shaking my head. Her expression hardened before she walked away.
"Let's go in." Kael entered the tent, and I followed.
Kael drew his sword and stabbed it into the ground. I felt magic flowing from it.
"No one will hear us. Speak."
I pulled a chair and sat down. "You should remember this, the contract won't harm you, but it won't harm me either."
Even without the system, I would still make a contract with Kael. Because that was the only thing that could bind him.
[Kael's trust in you: 0%]
Haha, shut up, you damn system.
"I'll help you clear every Cataclysm, but there are conditions."
"Conditions?" Kael leaned against the table, arms crossed.
Oh god! He looks insanely handsome in that pose! If I had a phone, I'd take a hundred pictures!
Focus. Focus.
"First, you are not allowed to kill anyone without my permission. Of course, I won't put evil people by your side. Second, you must also help me clear the Cataclysm. I'm not asking you to protect me, but you have to work with me."
"That's all?" Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Of course not. The last condition." I stood and approached him.
"Kael, trust me—no, trust the contract."
Kael's eyes widened.
The one thing Kael no longer had was trust. Before the catalysme, he had been a swordmaster. He joined the Holy Fortress Knights and fought many wars.
But he was betrayed.
That was why he trusted no one and accepted no partner. At least, until he met Elena.
And as a devoted reader, a dedicated fan of Kael, I refused to let my favorite character suffer like that.
[Kael's trust in you: 0.1%]
It went up by 0.1%? Should I cheer?
Kael suddenly stood and left the tent.
"Kael!"
He stopped and replied without turning back. "I accept the contract."
…Huh?
Before I could say anything, he vanished. Suddenly, a large burst of energy wrapped around my body. The energy shrank and formed a necklace around my neck.
I understood. It was the symbol of our contract.
A necklace, huh?
It looked romantic, but if I broke the contract, it would decapitate me instantly.
[Main Quest Complete!]
[Reward Received: 20 Points, 5000 Gold]
"He didn't even tell me his conditions… what a kid." I smiled.
[Special Skill Unlocked!]
Huh?
[You have acquired the skill: 'Character Examine']