A couple of hours passed after Elisa had made it back to the Final Floor.
Mark was seated with his back against the tower made of bricks.
Around him, his Underlings.
'I still have to figure out how I want to use my Skill Points. But for now...'
Mark's eyes glanced over his Underlings.
Levi, Krista, Light, Fiery, and Grey.
'Three Underling Evolution Pills...'
The Items had been kept for a while, and Mark was glad to have them now.
'Who among you should I have Evolve...?'
[Your Title "Gaavah's Follower" is waking up from its slumber.]
'Sooner than I thought.'
[Your Underlings won't Evolve after consuming the Underling Evolution Pills.]
'Huh? Why not?'
[Their strength is high enough that the power held in an Underling Evolution Pill won't be enough.]
'You're kidding me?'
[Three Underling Evolution Pills might be enough to make one of them Evolve.]
[Apart from the ant.]
'You mean Fiery?'
[That one will probably Evolve from 2 Underling Evolution Pills.]
'I guess I have made Fiery and Krista Evolve using one each. Light has Evolved multiple times. Grey's from this Floor, and Levi was the Guardian from the Third. Plus, he changed after becoming my Guard...'
Mark brought a hand to his forehead.
'Well, shit... That's not something I wanted to hear.'
[I thought it better to inform you.]
'Yeah, you were right to.'
[Your Title "Gaavah's Follower" falls into a silent slumber.]
'Means she's watching closely, huh?'
Mark stared at the message for a bit.
'A Demon Lord's Follower... I'm not sure how to feel about that. And I don't think I can ask Elisa about it now. About anything really...'
He stood up.
'No matter how much I tried, I couldn't revive a single Monster. Maybe the issue will resolve itself once I leave the Dungeon, just like for the Stats and Ranks...'
The Moonlit Feline walked up to Mark.
'I guess the time has come. Can you call her?'
Nod-
The Moonlit Feline entered the tower and walked up the staircase.
'My safest bet is with "Superior Kinetic Vision". My eyes are my strong point when it comes to my senses. Always has been. Plus, it'll probably help when paired with the "Berserker". If my vision is better, focusing will get easier. Probably.'
Mark called out his Inventory and took out a spike made of bones.
He drew an eyes symbol on the ground.
'The second option might be strengthening my "Earth-Shattering Tail Flick" and upping its damage but... Is making more damage my issue? Then perhaps my "Impenetrable Barrier"? It's been lacking for a while. It doesn't hold well against blunt attacks. A stronger version of the "Wind Blast" Skill might be enough to bring it down... Other than these, the only choices I can think of are-'
[Your Title "Gaavah's Follower" is waking up from its slumber.]
'This is happening a bit too often now.'
[It would be better not to strengthen Skills involving Mana or Aura.]
'Involving Mana? You mean Magic Skills?'
[Skills such as "Mana Manipulation" or "Aura Manipulation".]
'Why not?'
[Those Skills will change once you exit the Dungeon.]
'They'll change? You said my Skills' Ranks would change, not anything about-'
[Many things will change.]
[The System will inform you in due time.]
Mark stared at the floating words for a bit.
'You just love leaving the explaining to others, don't you?'
[Your Title "Gaavah's Follower" falls back into a silent slumber.]
Tsk-
'If that's how it is, then-'
"You called?" Elisa asked as she made her way down from the window to the ground. The Moonlit Feline between her arms.
Mark found the ability to step on air as if it were a staircase both interesting and fancy.
Elisa's feet gently landed on the ground.
[Yeah.]
[It's time to leave this place.]
[A bit later than what you originally wanted, but-]
"Let me stop you right there."
She lowered her body and let go of Krista.
"Before we go into that, I need to ask something."
[What is it?]
Elisa scratched her head as she talked.
"I... Have an issue with... I can't... Huh. I have a problem trusting that..." She obviously struggled to find the right words.
[You want to sign that Contract?]
"Yes! Yes. That's... That's it. Yes. I would feel... Buch better. If we did that."
Mark stared at her for a bit.
[I don't mind.]
Elisa's eyes seemed to light up.
If he's willing to sign a Mana Contract, then perhaps I can-
A digital Scroll appeared before each of the two.
"I've made some modifications, I'm sure you'll notice."
[
Contractor: Elisa.
Contractee: [Fill up the missing information].
Contract Clauses:
Clause 1: Each Party swears on the Mana that fuels their bodies not to attack or injure the other Party intentionally.
Clause 2: The attacked Party has every right to defend itself.
Clause 3: The Contract can be terminated at any time, provided both Parties agree to its termination.
Clause 4: The Contract's Expiration Date can be pushed back, provided both Parties agree.
Clause 5: The Contractee agrees to hear the Contractor's Request once both Parties exit the Dungeon they are currently in.
Additional Information(1): The Contract takes Effect the instant both Parties have agreed to it and signed it.
Additional Information(2): The Contract expires once both Parties exit the Dungeon they are currently in.
Additional Clauses and Information can be added in the future, provided both Parties agree on the Additional Clauses.
Contractor's Signature: [Present]
Contractee's Signature: [Link your Mana to the hereby Contract if you wish to enter it].
]
'So she agreed on the intention part... Good. Request?'
Elisa stared at the Monster with wide eyes.
[Request?]
"Yes."
[I'm going to need more than that.]
"I'm not asking you to fulfill that Request. Just to... Hear me out. Once we're outside."
The Monster raised its gaze towards the sky for a bit.
[I guess I could do that.]
Elisa's eyes shined.
[Under two conditions.]
"And they are?"
[Clause six: If I have a Request of my own, you hear me out.]
"Done."
[Also, I'll need you to tell me something.]
"What do you need?"
[I've seen how you fight, and it would benefit you to learn from me.]
[Is what you said earlier.]
Elisa scratched her head.
"I was in a bad mood. Don't... It's just that I-"
[Tell me.]
"Huh?"
[Tell me about it.]
"What about?"
[What I should learn from you.]
"Sure."
She smiled.
"I'll be happy to."
The two walked a bit closer to one another.
'We can't hurt each other. We can only terminate it if we agree to. The worst that can happen is we each go our separate way.'
A small amount of Mana appeared at the end of Mark's index finger.
He placed it on the Scroll.
[You have entered a Mana Contract with the Contractor: Elisa.]
[You can check the Contract's Details at any time.]
"Mark?"
Nod-
"So the Monster does have a name."
[He does.]
"You should have told me earlier?"
[I should have?]
"Well, yes. Of course. Names are really, really important things."
Sleeping always helped keep the Corruption at bay.
It's not like Elisa's doubts and fears had suddenly disappeared.
But with this, her mind was at ease.
At least, for a bit.
The Monster had a name.
And it wasn't a scary one.
In a way, that name made the Monster seem a bit less scary.
He wasn't just a Monster anymore.
He was Mark.
Still a Monster, of course.
But Elisa felt there was a slight distinction to be made.
