Chapter 139

Posted by Kuze, ? Views, Released on February 6, 2025

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From Victoria’s perspective, I heard about what happened that day.

She explained everything in chronological order, from when she left the school dormitory to when she returned to the port.

While speaking, Beatrice initially didn’t believe her at all. But as Victoria calmly described Sahaquin’s simple behavior pattern and how it allowed her to survive, Beatrice’s expression started to change. It seemed she began understanding that Victoria was recounting her actual experiences.

Her expression gradually twisted, and when she heard about Victoria getting stabbed in the thigh by Sahaquin, she forcibly interrupted to check Victoria’s condition.

“So, if you were kidnapped by Sahaquin, shouldn’t you have just tried to escape? Why did your goal suddenly shift to eliminating the culprit?”

“I told you, my side felt weird so I checked and found scales growing! And there was this contract document written in an alien language I could sort of read from a class on ancient scripts. I vaguely hoped following its instructions would help me recover.”

“That’s why you became some kind of Sahaquin executioner, huh?”

When Victoria mentioned transforming into Sahaquin, Beatrice was genuinely shocked.

But seeing Victoria reveal her side through her thin tank-top-like clothing quickly calmed her down.

Did she intentionally wear such revealing clothes?

No, checking her memories, she just wore what she normally wears since it was summer.

Anyway…

Beatrice rubbed her tired eyes with her hands, looking completely exhausted already from their first meeting.

Then she pointed at me.

“So those monsters summoned a god, and you’re saying that thing there was Bell?”

“Yeah, but apparently it wasn’t the god they were supposed to summon.”

Both their gazes turned toward me, and I nodded.

After all, Daegon was basically the sole deity in his world of origin.

“So you survived by making a contract with Bell when your life was in danger?”

“Yeah. The fish transformation is gone now, and I’ve gained these abilities. Honestly, without these powers, I probably should have died back there.”

A dark brown liquid floated out of Victoria’s teacup, forming various symbols before returning.

Victoria swung her ponytail toward Beatrice.

“This hair color isn’t dye – it’s from the contract. My skin got whiter too! Even the scar I got from a childhood bike accident disappeared!”

Laughing, Victoria lifted her leg, then carefully put it down under Beatrice’s sharp gaze.

Beatrice looked straight at me and asked in a low voice:

“Why did you make a contract with this child?”

As if saying she wouldn’t tolerate any lies…

But it’s too late for that. The irreversible river has already passed.

Therefore, I decided to simply tell the truth.

“Because she was the only living being left.”

There had only been one real living creature to begin with.

The rest were wiped out by Daegon’s security system.

At my words, Victoria blinked in surprise.

Apparently, she finds it strange that I saved her for that reason.

“Eh? So you saved me for that?”

“The ones who summoned you did so incorrectly and paid with their lives. You were the only one left.”

All true.

They killed themselves before I could do anything.

“Explain the contract terms.”

Beatrice sharply demanded.

Since it wasn’t that difficult, I recited the contract text.

Beatrice furrowed her brows upon hearing it.

“So you’re taking my daughter’s everything, huh.”

“No, Mom. If I hadn’t made the contract, I’d be swimming around as a fish in some jungle right now!”

She doesn’t seem to realize that even as a fish, I’d have died.

Thinking about how my original body was crushed like meat in a grinder, she should know she wouldn’t have survived.

“My daughter’s soul… Sounds like a demon to me.”

Yeah.

She glares at me like an enemy, clearly determined to get her daughter back no matter what.

But it’s impossible. The contract is already complete, and I can take her warmth anytime.

So I need to reassure her with the facts.

“I’m not interested in souls. When you die, I’ll just take your final warmth and that will be the end. This contract text is just the oldest one we’ve kept using because it works.”

It’s truly like that.

If we used different wording or modified the contract, things might go wrong – like losing control over descendants’ sovereignty or survival rights.

I know this old system keeps breaking because it can’t adapt to modern times…

But there’s no reason to take the risk of changing it.

“What if I make a contract too?”

Staring at me intently with suspicion, hostility, and killing intent, Beatrice asked.

She’d probably shoot me with her gun if I said yes right away.

Not that it would kill me…

Considering Soo-oh’s final words and having already produced five harvesting systems, I’ll step back here.

“You should postpone that decision.”

“Postpone?”

Her suspicion deepens. It’s neither yes nor no, but postponement implies yes in the long term.

Let me add some justification:

“A contract can only be made once per being. All wounds heal instantly upon contracting, but if you get injured after and are dying, I can only watch helplessly. Think of a contract as an extra life.”

Sounds full of goodwill, right?

But really, getting warmth is all I need. Everything else is bonus.

In friendly situations, it’s better to maintain them.

Didn’t those five attackers I lured into contracts with some religious-sounding words turn out fine?

They’ll remember me as a good person.

Even if they use their power for evil, I can always argue they chose their own path.

Standing at the edge of truth, I consistently tell falsehoods without lying.

After my explanation, Beatrice stared at me with a complicated expression before asking:

“Have you ever lost someone you couldn’t save?”

I remained silent.

Because I could have saved them.

If I had just been more bold and stepped forward to withstand the immortal’s attack and twist them…

“Yeah, got it. Bell, are you a god?”

That I can answer definitively.

“No. Just a monster.”

I replied with a “meow” attitude. Just that much. Not some omnipotent being who can do or obtain anything.

Far from perfect, I’m just a beast trembling with cold, yearning for warmth.

“Fine. Next question: Why did you follow my daughter?”

“Victoria dragged me along.”

“Huh?”

Beatrice’s head snapped toward Victoria. I can see her holding back curses because I’m present.

“But Mom, he said ‘I don’t want to go home.'”

That’s what he said. He really didn’t want to return to the lower levels.

“Mom! I’ll raise him properly!”

Do I really need to say “meow”?

Beatrice’s expression twists. Those headache-inducing words keep popping out, and the urge to beat you up is clearly visible.

“Are you even sane?”

“He’s not that bad.”

What translates as “not a bad beast,” right? Beatrice looks like an adult dealing with a child who suddenly wants to bring in a stray animal from the street and raise it.

“We’ve got plenty of space anyway! Just for the vacation, okay?”

Their house is actually quite large. Not a high-end mansion, but clearly a comfortable home.

“Alright. Just for vacation time. Haa… What am I going to do with this. Tori, we’ve got a guest room, so Bell can use that. I thought you brought a friend from school…”

With a deep sigh, Beatrice stood up from the table, walked over to Victoria, and smacked her head.

“Mom! Thank you!”

But Victoria doesn’t seem to feel any pain as she hugs Beatrice.

Pushing her away like it’s disgusting, Beatrice comes over to me.

The story has been settled.

I stood up from my seat.

“Combined human age is less than three digits. Identity: Monster.”

“Oh, that earlier question.”

Beatrice hesitated briefly while extending her hand, then extended it again with a wry smile. I shook it.

“Why don’t you state your exact age?”

At that moment, Victoria interjected. I let go of Beatrice’s hand and responded:

“It’s hard to decide which standard to use since the cycles differ.”