CHAPTER 104: DEAL

"I can sense the deceptiveness in you from the very start, you know..." Lukas said through gritted teeth, his eyes not showing even a hint of emotion—contrasting the mental breakdown in his heart.

Johan didn’t reply, just stared as Lukas’ face grew more desperate by the second. He lost the mask entirely as the time stretched.

"...How?" he asked on his own, his voice barely above a whisper. He didn’t have any other option. The spell couldn’t be extended forever, and the moment he went back, he would become as cold as before.

"I will not pretend to pity you, or that I’m doing this because I feel some stupid connection with you. I gain something, and you gain something. Besides that, we can always slowly become actual friends. All my friends are people I traded with, after all..." Johan said with a soft smile, his brows furrowed.

Lukas’ eyes twitched, narrowing in the silence, as if asking Johan to explain himself.

"I will make a contract with you. The conditions will be that you teach me Fell Hex, don’t harm me or my loved ones ever again, and stay with me till I master it.

In return, I will use my spell to ’defuse’ the corruption in your mind—you’ll become like your normal self again. But the risk is, you may become a bit weaker... since you won’t feel as strong negative emotions as before. What do you think?" Johan flashed his usual cunning grin.

Lukas closed his eyes, his face thoughtful.

The silence stretched for more than three minutes until his lips barely parted—then closed again, as if trying to choose the words carefully.

He was just a low-ranking knight. Never had he dealt with a man as manipulative as Johan. He had always hated the people who made these utilitarian plans for the most efficient output—because people like them were the reason he ended up in this position to begin with.

So, he had to take his time to make sure he wasn’t making a mistake. After all, these people had been trying to kill him using his emotions.

"Add a condition that you and your people can’t harm me either. Never." he finally said—indirectly also confirming that he had agreed to the contract.

Johan nodded with a glint in his eyes.

’He is very naive, but that’s better. At first, I wanted to kill him here with just sweet words, but after realizing his mentality, it would be better to use him as a teacher who can give me a power that can significantly increase my chances of surviving Leor.’

He had finally made up his mind to comply with the contract terms completely—and try to treat Lukas well.

The potential value from such a technique was far more worthwhile than revenge for Orihime. And with a body that was one with God Tree, getting corrupted due to the body not being able to handle the power would be very hard. And feeling strong emotions—very easy.

Sebastian and Orihime observed very closely as Johan created a purple sheet of paper out of thin air—then mumbled something to it, and made it fly toward the curious Lukas.

’So that’s why Velmire is so adamant about helping Johan... Johan must’ve made some kind of exploitative contract, forcing him to do such risky things. But what kind of helpless situation was Velmire in to be forced into this?’

Orihime’s mind raced with countless thoughts, making her decide to ask these questions when she met him.

Lukas, taking one look at the contract, and another at Johan and the group—confirming they weren’t lying—touched the glowing purple light of the paper.

Instantly, the paper exploded into countless particles, creating a beautiful spectacle.

"Orihime, you can end the spell now. Don’t push yourself too much..." Olivia said in a commanding tone. She had been watching Orihime closely from the beginning, and had noticed how pale her face was slowly becoming.

Olivia smiled warmly, tension easing a bit from her heart. She clapped both her hands after gulping down the entire bottle of wine directly—making her throat and stomach burn intensely with an ecstatic expression.

The lavish room glowed—and instantly, everyone’s minds went blank. The smell of blood and rotten flesh filled their noses. The intense cold crept deep inside their bones, making them shiver violently after the warm bonfire heat of Orihime’s dream spell.

Johan, before he even opened his eyes, deactivated the [Eternal Flames] on Lukas. He couldn’t risk harming him, which could accidentally activate the contract’s penalty—who knew how brutal that would be.

Lukas’ entire body glowed. The hatred from the pain he felt in his physical body—and the pain from regeneration increasing his negative emotions—he was trying his best to calm, but his instincts were overwhelming him.

From the pit, he stared up at Johan with pleading eyes—as if silently begging for the help he’d promised. He didn’t want to hate anymore.

Johan, also realizing the situation, immediately jumped right next to him. With the contract’s protection, even if Lukas lost control and tried to attack, Johan was sure he wouldn’t be harmed.

Instantly, a six-foot-wide midnight-black magic circle with thousands of minus symbols and numbers—designed in a lotus shape—beautifully manifested over Lukas’ helmet from Johan’s palm.

Dark purple light instantly seeped out of it, tearing a hole through the dungeon’s invisible roof—not physically destroying it, but defusing it like it had never even existed.

The magic circle still floated in Johan’s hands. The blue lanterns diminished as the bright purple light overwhelmed their dim glow.

The air got thicker—almost difficult to breathe. Lukas’ hatred, fears, desires, wrath, greed—everything—manifested in a physical pressure that killed most of the monsters in a thousand-meter radius.

Olivia, Sebastian, and Orihime were only safe because of the [Divine Protection] that didn’t let its cursed Aether enter their bodies.

Johan’s lips curled upward in a small smile. "We had very similar lives, I guess..." He had seen most of Lukas’ memories—and barely suppressed his emotions. He had made up his mind to try to win Lukas’ trust... and make him a part of his family.