CH 53.3

As if to silence Litty’s mutter, it happened. A pillar of water moved and diffused the flames.

A large fountain was released all at once and pierced the fire. Branch manager reflexively tried to guard against it with more flames, but the water easily pierced it.

“Gyaaaaahhhh!”

The water pillars that had turned into boiling water were evenly sprinkled on the branch manager.

As if performing a strange dance, the branch manager twisted and then tumbled over. Rolling around and struggling as he rubbed his entire body against the floor.

“Hooooooottttt!”

“Aqua Burst. A counter-skill against flames. I know you can handle your own flames thanks to Efreet, but not my boiling water, right?”

The flames that had covered the surrounding area disappeared, and all that remained was the flailing branch manager. His skin was blistered, and his appearance was unbearable to look at. Aquaria smiled at him.

“I thought with that much heat, I could expect it to be powerful, but…. It wasn’t that strong, it seems? Well, he still seems to be alive after all.” (Aquaria)

“Was this Kuufa’s plan from the beginning…” (Litty)

“Well, the control was still mostly me, but…” (Aquaria)

Even when she was with Litty, Kuufa was nervous. How could she not be so in front of such a large gallery?

At best, all she did was wear her water armor and activate Aqua Road. Because of this situation, Kuufa was a little frustrated, she was unable to fully demonstrate the results of her training.

“Ah, Aquaria-san, I…”

“Not ‘san’?”

“Ah, Aquaria…”

“You’re the one who declared that you’re going to get used to things little by little, right?”

Aquaria’s attitude, that was neither comforting nor demeaning, was a good match for Kuufa.

She reminded Kuufa of her original goal, and that she should keep moving forward. Aquaria herself did not know why she was so devoted to Kuufa.

Kuufa also selected Aquaria just based on a hunch.

“Shit, not yet, I’m not done yet…Efreet!”

He shouted, and everyone was startled, as he was supposed to be fully wounded. Flames flared up from one of the branch manager’s arms, and there showed a pair of glistening eyes.

Even Litty, who had little knowledge of the summoning art, knew what was going on.

[–What do you want?]

“Co, contract! Let’s change the contract! I want more power!”

While lying down, what the branch manager made to appear was unmistakably an Efreet. Even if it was not in its full form, its presence was enough to overwhelm the surroundings.

The voice echoed heavily throughout the space, making the listeners shudder. Catalana readied her phalanx, fearing the danger of being caught in a contract at this point. However, this soon became a groundless fear.

[–It’s impossible.]

“Why…?”

[–There is nothing else you can pay me.]

“So, then, those… those instructors over there…”

[–They’re not important to you.]

The aghast branch manager breathed heavily. The light of his life began to waver, partly due to the effects of the burns.

“that, that can’t be…”

[–Well, there was one thing left, I would say.]

“There is? Then take it, and give me power!”

[–Fine. The contract is done.]

Aquaria wrapped herself around Kuufa again, transforming herself into water armor.

“Hahaha… yes, now I can reverse this situation.”

It was only after the branch manager burst into flames at once that it was discovered that this was the worst thing he could have done. The flames erupted like a blazing storm, showing a moment of intense power engulfing the branch manager, but was quickly extinguished.

In the aftermath, not even the body of the branch manager remained.

“What, what happened…?”

“That idiot! Efreet demanded the old man’s soul…”

“Eeeeeh! That’s, that’s, awful…”

“This is the reason why being a Summoner can be so difficult. Contracts are not always honest…”

Mc Creed returned and walked over to where the branch manager had been. He kneeled, hands crossed in a prayer.

Litty mimicked him there, although she wasn’t sure what to think about the situation.

“I, I still have a lot to learn…”

“Myan…”

There was a lot Litty didn’t understand, but she vowed to get used to it, little by little, just like Kuufa. For some reason, this reminded Litty of the bitterness of coffee.