"Master-Servant Contract... You want me to be your servant?"
Adrian Blake looked at them coolly, his silver hair catching the faint light of the room. His voice was calm but firm as he immediately declined:
"If I'm the master, then fine. But if I'm to be the servant—forget it."
Maria Naruse quickly waved her hands, her expression flustered. "No, no! Of course you'd be the master, Adrian!"
"Ugh... do we really have to do this?" Naruse Mio asked timidly, her eyes darting toward the glowing magic circle on the floor. "It feels kind of... weird."
Mio's tone betrayed her hesitation. Her fingers nervously clutched the hem of her skirt as she shifted uncomfortably, uncertain whether to flee or stay.
Maria stepped beside her and gently patted her shoulder. "Don't worry so much. It's just a formality. Once the contract is in place, you'll both be able to sense each other's location, that's all."
Mio looked unconvinced, but under Maria's gentle nudging, she reluctantly nodded.
Meanwhile, Raynare sat gagged in the corner, her golden eyes burning with anger. Her limbs twitched in resistance, but the blow Adrian had dealt earlier left her too weak to summon her light powers.
"Mmmmph!!" she screamed through the ball gag, trying to say "I didn't agree to this!"
But no one paid her any mind.
Before proceeding, Adrian turned to Maria. "Teach me the Master-Servant Contract spell. I want to understand every part of it before anything happens."
Maria blinked, surprised by his cautiousness. "Of course! That's smart. I wouldn't expect anything less from you."
Had he simply agreed without asking, it would've raised suspicion. But this approach? It was meticulous. Rational.
As Maria explained the incantation and magic array, Adrian absorbed the knowledge quickly. Meanwhile, Mio stood off to the side, her cheeks pink as she watched Adrian's gloved fingers trace the symbols etched into the floor.
First he was my brother… now he's going to be my master… this is too embarrassing…
She tried to shake the thoughts from her head, but her gaze kept drifting back to Adrian. Her hands unconsciously moved to her chest, as if trying to soothe her racing heart.
It wasn't supposed to feel like this. She should've been repulsed or afraid—but instead, she felt… anticipation?
If it were anyone else, she would've run away immediately. But with Adrian... everything felt complicated.
Once Adrian finished memorizing the ritual, he stood in the center of the magic circle. His expression was calm, focused. He began to chant the incantation.
As the final syllables fell from his lips, the runes around him lit up, swirling like ribbons of energy. They wrapped around him, slowly binding to his outstretched hand.
Maria stepped forward, her voice calm but urgent. "Now a magic circle will appear on the back of your hand. Mio, you must kiss it before it disappears—only then will the Master-Servant Contract be complete."
Mio gasped, her face flushed scarlet. "You're only telling me this now?!"
"There's no time to argue! The circle's fading!"
Maria's words fell on deaf ears. Mio's heart pounded too loudly to think clearly. Her body froze.
Raynare, meanwhile, was quietly gathering her strength in the shadows, her light energy beginning to stir.
Seconds ticked by.
The glowing mark on Adrian's hand faded.
But then—a soft glow appeared on Mio's neck. A delicate pink symbol, shaped like a heart, wrapped around her throat like a choker, with a faint magical shimmer.
She collapsed to her knees, her breath shaky. "No… I hate this…"
Her body trembled, overwhelmed by a sudden and unfamiliar sensation.
At the same time, Raynare—still gagged—gasped, a soft moan escaping her lips as her body shivered involuntarily. The same pink sigil now burned faintly around her neck.
Adrian stared at them, wide-eyed. He extended a cautious hand and touched Mio's shoulder gently.
"Aaahhn!"
She yelped and fell forward, as if struck by lightning.
Adrian drew back immediately, blinking in disbelief.
What the hell was that? This power… it's way more intense than I expected.
He looked to Maria, who was now visibly nervous.
Raynare clenched her teeth and focused. A sharp burst of light shattered the gag around her mouth, and she exhaled harshly.
"What… what's happening?! This is a curse! Why is it triggering?! I never kissed the damn circle!"
Maria turned her head away, visibly guilty. "Technically… the chant itself activates the contract. Refusing to kiss the circle is recognized as a rejection of loyalty."
"The curse's function isn't just to bind—it's to punish betrayal."
Raynare's eyes widened in horror. "What kind of twisted contract is this?!"
Maria's tone shifted to something more apologetic—but not without her usual smugness.
"When our Dream Demon Clan adapted the original demon contract, we made some… adjustments. The punishment became a sensory-based curse. You know—more fun, less fatal."
"I just wanted to scare a fallen angel a little…" she mumbled. "I didn't think it would end up like this."
Both Mio and Raynare glared at her, but before they could speak, their curses pulsed again. Their eyes rolled back for a second from the intensity, robbing them of any sharp retort.
Maria winced. "Yikes. Yeah… maybe I overdid it."
Adrian sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This is getting out of hand. You should've warned me earlier, Maria."
Maria chuckled nervously, scratching her cheek. "Well, I did mention there might be side effects… I just didn't expect them to hit this hard. The curse's intensity usually scales based on magical compatibility. And you, Adrian—your affinity is… off the charts."
"That's not a compliment."
"Isn't it?"
He shot her a flat look.
Meanwhile, Mio lay curled on the floor, flushed and breathing unevenly. Her school uniform was slightly rumpled, sweat glistening at her temple. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak.
"I… I can't stand this… if it keeps going, I'll… I'll…!"
Raynare, who had finally managed to sit up, was no better. Her wings twitched behind her, and her whole body was tense, shivering with suppressed energy.
"This is torture…!" she growled. "You demons are insane!"
"Technically, we're succubi," Maria corrected cheerfully. "Well, I am. Mio's more of a hybrid."
"That's not the point!!"
Raynare's outburst ended in another jolt from the curse, making her choke on her own words. Her legs buckled under her as she clutched her throat.
Adrian knelt beside Mio, hesitating. His fingers hovered above her shoulder.
"Should I cancel the contract?"
Maria's smile vanished instantly.
"Wait—don't! If you break it now, the feedback from the severed link will backlash on both of them. Hard. Their souls aren't fully stabilized yet."
"So what do you suggest?"
Maria tapped her chin, her expression thoughtful. "We need to… stabilize the curse. Recalibrate the bond. Right now, the magic is interpreting both girls as unfaithful servants. The pain is just going to keep getting worse unless they formally acknowledge you as their master."
Adrian looked down at Mio, who met his gaze with teary, vulnerable eyes.
"You mean… she has to submit?"
Maria nodded. "Only until the contract fully syncs. After that, the curse will deactivate and everything will return to normal. No more shock therapy."
Raynare grit her teeth. "Like hell I'm submitting to him! Kill me if you want, but I'll never kneel!"
Mio, trembling, whispered softly, "I… I don't want this either, but… I can't take the pain anymore…"
Her voice cracked. She was at her limit.
Maria leaned closer to Adrian and whispered, "There is another way… a shortcut, really. You can use a magic reinforcement ritual. Kind of like a spiritual link boost. It can force the bond into a stable state, bypassing the submission clause."
"Sounds better. What's the cost?"
"You'll have to channel magic into both of them… directly. It's a little intimate. But harmless!"
Adrian narrowed his eyes. "Define 'intimate.'"
Maria grinned. "Just hold their hands. Maybe forehead contact. Definitely nothing creepy. Unless you want to go further, of course."
"I don't."
"Then it's safe! Probably."
With a deep breath, Adrian placed his palm on Mio's forehead. Her skin was hot to the touch. She flinched at first, but then relaxed under the sudden warmth of his magic as it gently flowed into her.
A faint glow enveloped her body. The heart-shaped sigil at her neck flickered… and then dimmed, settling into a passive state.
Her breathing slowed. Her hands unclenched. And for the first time in minutes, she exhaled a soft, relieved sigh.
"I… I can think again," she whispered.
Adrian moved next to Raynare, who instinctively tried to recoil—but had no strength left.
"Don't touch me," she snapped, though her voice was hollow.
"I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this to fix the mess Maria made."
She sneered but didn't pull away. When Adrian placed his fingers against her temple, she hissed sharply—but then her body loosened.
"Ugh… that's disgusting," she muttered.
"Good. You deserve it."
A few moments later, her sigil faded as well. The tension in her limbs vanished, and she slumped forward, her wings twitching weakly.
Maria clapped. "Success! See? Nothing to worry about!"
Adrian stood up slowly, brushing imaginary dust from his coat. His expression remained serious. "Next time, explain everything before starting a ritual."
Maria gave him a sheepish salute. "Yessir."
Mio sat up, hugging her knees. Her voice was quiet. "I didn't think… you'd go that far to help me."
"You're part of this now," Adrian replied simply. "I don't abandon those under my protection."
She blinked, visibly moved. Her lips trembled. She turned her face away quickly.
Maria, however, was grinning from ear to ear. "Wow… Adrian, you've got this whole dark knight thing going on. All brooding and noble. Girls eat that stuff up."
"Shut it."
"You know, back in the Dream Demon clan, they used to say that a contract made during magical resonance—especially one where the master shows genuine concern—can evolve into something deeper."
Adrian didn't answer. He turned away and walked toward the door.
Behind him, Maria's voice rang out like a teasing melody.
"Careful, Master Blake~ At this rate, you might start a harem by accident!"
He paused, glanced over his shoulder, and said flatly:
"Accidents don't happen twice."
Maria raised an eyebrow.
"But they do come in pairs."