As I entered, a girl with a sharp expression, just like last time, was sitting there.
Kanna Temrane Shiodore.
They say she’s a noble lady since she’s the daughter of a duke. On top of that, I heard she’s a bit of a limp.
She seems like a highly likely candidate for the harvesting period.
“Hello.”
“You really are consistent. Come, sit down.”
Following her invitation, I sat across from her, just like last time. Her clothes were different this time, notably with long legs and made of a translucent material.
Definitely hiding her legs.
Because the students I saw at the Royal Academy were flaunting their thigh meat without a care. Even those in relatively high ranks didn’t care much about modesty, so it seems like dressing here is quite free or in fashion.
I don’t have enough information yet, so I can’t say much.
Aurora is the one with the highest rank among the candidates, but she collapsed last year, so she probably doesn’t know much about the current trends.
There are others who lived in the upper class of Bern City, but either they’re too old or just little kids, so they lack knowledge about the fashion currently in the capital.
Just as a side note, about ten years ago during my time at the Royal Academy, even in summer, they wore dresses that went down to their ankles, yet with their backs cut low down to the waist.
I heard some bold ones wore outfits that showed off their butt cracks; it seems the desire to show off is universal.
It’s only a possibility, but now I can judge.
If I turn the person in front of me into a harvesting candidate, I will know.
I waited for her to speak, thinking that way.
“I heard last weekend you went to the slums and changed many people.”
That just happened two days ago. Thinking of the people I healed there, is she now ready to become a harvesting candidate?
“Yes.”
“Was that at the royal family’s command?”
The royal family?
It wouldn’t be strange for a duke’s daughter to keep an eye on the royal family, but still, when you think of simple orders, she shouldn’t need to be so cautious, right?
“No. That’s what they wished for.”
Only part of that is true. Everyone there wished for it after seeing the first person changed. That first person never wished for such a thing.
They just wanted to enjoy the act of procreation.
As the saying goes, “One slip of the tongue can ruin you,” contracts are powerful. Though they are verbal agreements, once you accept, there’s no turning back.
Of course, even if I say that, I wouldn’t change unless I give myself, but how could I not give myself?
Giving up warmth?
Right in front of me. All I have to do is clutch my hand, right?
That’s impossible.
“That blessing means you can use it as you wish.”
A blessing.
Sounds like something you’d read in a newspaper. At least as far as I know, they don’t use the term “blessing” in broadcasts. The newspaper only prints about saints and divine miracles, featuring my picture in big bold letters on the front page.
So she read that.
“Do some people truly wish to receive what they call a blessing?”
Since I don’t think it’s a blessing, I asked by adding an explanation. It seems they want me enough to call it a blessing.
She stares at me. I stare back at her.
Kanna Temrane Shiodore.
Taller than me. But it’s not that she’s tall; I’m just short. Average height. Her golden hair, more on the yellow side, is cut just slightly longer than shoulder length. And atop her head, round ears poke out.
In the faded memories of my past world, she would be considered a beastkin, but here, she’s treated closer to a family background than a race.
Of course, blue-skinned harvesters are considered very alien, so there are many who think that way.
Though she may appear small, it’s just because her posture is hunched. I now understand the purpose of the luxurious cane next to the chair I once thought of as just furniture.
It’s probably for walking support.
Clearly, her body’s balance is skewed.
When I didn’t know her condition, I couldn’t see what was hidden. She asked me in a low voice.
“What do you want?”
That’s a question about what she seeks in return. Right. At this point, there’s no goodwill without reason. She must be aware of that.
But that’s a mistake.
“The one who seeks a contract is you. If you want it, we can proceed, if not, we won’t.”
I’m just pretending to be the one listening. So if I were to ask what I would lose, I’d say warmth.
Gradually, she looks filled with a desire to become a harvester, so I asked her this.
“I’ll give myself to you. But afterward, once you’ve wrapped everything up, I’ll take all that you have. How about that?”
A contract document.
I’ve asked this same question every time. That’s why it’s in newspapers and broadcasts. Once someone answers the question they heard, they become a harvester.
At least those who’ve encountered me through the media know this.
There’s no clause about healing here, and it states that I’ll take what I have after I die. While alive, nothing will be taken from me.
This works well for those who live day by day or have nothing to lose…
“Taking everything I own once I die seems like getting too much, right?”
People like this, who have a lot to leave behind for future generations, would hesitate. Should I demonstrate through the trick of turning stone into gold that material resources mean nothing to me?
Hmm…
No.
That would be too much of a desire-driven display. It’d make me look like I’m trying to persuade her into a contract, right?
To keep contracts high with influential individuals in the future, the contract itself shouldn’t become something I desire.
“This is a contract document. If you don’t want it, I won’t do it.”
This person has read newspapers. It means she knows about the contract document. Everyone after responding to that statement became a harvester, and she must know there were no exceptions.
If she can gain information from the royal family and is aware of when Aurora made the contract, she’d realize that this sentence remains the same.
I acted nonchalantly, saying that if she doesn’t wish for it, we won’t proceed. If I could grab the moment directly, that would be a different story, but if we haven’t signed the contract yet, I can afford to wait.
For the future, to continuously gather warmth.
If not, upon being summoned, I could just pour myself into this world and gain warmth in one fell swoop. But then, I’d cease to exist afterward.
If I cross that line, I won’t wait around like this again.
Once I rise above the world, I’ll immediately destroy the world and devour warmth.
Like being addicted to mental drugs, I would lose my reason and act on impulse.
The heat at that moment would be truly ecstatic…
Yes. My identity would melt away. Surely.
So, I wait in patience. Acting not on extreme pleasure, but genuinely moving for the future. I’m not so foolish as to not realize that my consciousness is intact. Yes.
This is definitely getting derailed. I’ll be forever lost in madness. Thinking in a frenzied state. But still.
With wisdom, I grit my teeth. That infinite coldness can never be felt again. An eternal chill where even without a hint of warmth, death becomes impossible.
While I redouble my resolve, the girl in front of me is in anguish.
Her expression, though she tries to hide it, is impossible to completely conceal; as a human, that’s simply innate. Breath, pulse, and skin—all are clearly visible.
Moreover, it wasn’t planned, but there’s a time limit. She must already know since I mentioned earlier during lunch that I’d have an escort.
Once the escort is assigned by the royal family, they could very well block this contract, right?
I’m truly lucky.
I waited as if I had no thoughts, just simply thinking of this as a harvesting vending machine.
And finally.
She answered.
“Alright. Let’s make a contract.”
The contract was established.
I reached out with light and filled myself within it.
Simultaneously, I acquired Kanna’s memories.
Duke Shiodore. I thought they were part of the royal family branch, but surprisingly leaned toward the northern grand duke side.
This country has a crescent shape. Meaning it’s a round shape with the left side being empty. The capital is at the top left on the map, and at the bottom left is Bern City.
So taking a ship is the fastest way. Going overland would have to take a long detour.
That’s where the duke’s family is above, that is, in the north, but it’s not a place where they meet the snow. There’s just a long border line. If it were just that, they wouldn’t call them northern grand dukes.
The family is a militaristic clan. Meaning that martial arts are valued, regardless of age. As a result, Kanna wasn’t treated as a contributing member of the family.
Her mother died during childbirth, and Kanna’s leg, almost paralyzed, was probably a consequence of that heavy labor. It’s natural to be overlooked in a martial family if you can’t use your body.
However, it wasn’t harsh. Maybe because she wasn’t a threat to her siblings, they treated her kindly. Of course, Kanna’s efforts also played a role.
Her bloodline itself is physically outstanding, but since she couldn’t move, it turned into her intelligence.
She mediated between her siblings, worked hard to create a loving family, and even succeeded.
But not being able to use her leg remained as her inferiority complex. Since she had to give up many things because of her legs since she was a child, until now.
And now.
“Really, I can walk.”
With the dust puffing off, cracking like porcelain skin and breaking like dry sand, Kanna begins to walk naturally.
Her yellow hair turned purple, and her skin became even whiter. But her broken leg was healed. Better than a body she would’ve had if it was intact.
Thud.
She jumps right up and touches the ceiling. It’s about three times my height, and she reached it with a jump.
And after trying to move her legs, which hadn’t moved in a while, she stood still.
She doesn’t cry out, but tears continuously flow from Kanna’s eyes.
The hardships she shouldn’t have overcome have vanished. It means there’s no obstacle now in her path.
Once a person tastes desire, they look for the next.
What will she do now?
Hehe.
I just quietly waited until she wiped her tears and sat down again.
“Kanna Temrane Shiodore. I hope you live while doing what you want from now on. If there’s anything I desire from you, that’s all.”
I placed the empty teacup in front of me and stood up before she could speak. Then suddenly remembering, I said to Kanna.
“When a person is happy, they should smile.”
As I approached the entrance, I grabbed the doorknob. It’s not exactly polite, but it’s only right to give her some time alone at a moment like this.
“But it’s okay to cry. If you feel resentful, no one will say anything as you let it all out.”
I opened the door and left.
Shekal was staring at me intently.
“Please give her time to wipe her tears.”
I pointed behind me while saying so and moved to leave that spot. Then, Shekal spoke from behind.
“My name is Frigia Tabakian Shekal. Thank you, Bell.”
With a cool greeting that didn’t match her face or demeanor, I waved my hand and returned to the place I call home.
