Chapter 203: A protection contract

My expression darkened.

That statue was not just an automaton.

It was a Mage-level automaton.

That meant that all this time, I had been casually walking through an entrance protected by two creatures capable of crushing an Acolyte without difficulty.

I looked at Ruby.

She also seemed uncomfortable.

— This Tower is much more dangerous than it appears.

We continued through the corridors.

Then the second statue spoke.

— Pay a quick visit to Mage Pretel!

We stopped.

The corridor fell silent again.

We continued walking.

A few meters later, a decorative statue rolled its eyes.

— Pay a quick visit to Mage Pretel!

I looked at Ruby.

She looked at me.

— This is getting annoying.

We continued.

Then a painting hanging on the wall moved.

A shepherdess depicted on the canvas slowly turned her head and spoke.

— Pay a quick visit to Mage Pretel!

— All right! We get it already!

My scalp began to tingle.

I had completely underestimated the level of control the Mages possessed within the Tower.

Who knew how many seemingly harmless objects possessed some kind of artificial consciousness or magical connection?

And if Pretel was using all those objects to summon us...

The more important question was something else.

How long had he been watching us?

I could not detect the method.

Neither could Ruby.

And that was what truly worried me.

If we could not figure out how he was watching us, then we also did not know how far that surveillance extended.

In silence, we continued walking.

Soon, we reached the fifth floor.

Mage Pretel’s residence.

When we entered, we were led directly to the laboratory.

And that immediately caught my attention.

Pretel was preparing a potion.

The enormous table in front of him was covered with small bottles, containers, and test tubes of different shapes.

The Mage held a test tube and slowly shook it.

From time to time, he brought it closer to his eyes.

Inside the tube was a yellowish potion.

But that was not the most interesting part.

Every time Pretel moved the tube...

Small bubbles appeared.

The bubbles expanded.

And took on shapes.

A woman appeared riding a small horse.

The next instant, she disappeared.

Then a creature resembling a snake appeared.

It swam through the air inside the tube, moving its tail.

Then a small school of gray tigers appeared.

They chased one another before disappearing again.

Ruby was immediately fascinated.

I could tell by the way her eyes were shining.

She opened her mouth.

But apparently remembering that she was inside an official Mage’s laboratory, she restrained her urge to run toward the table.

Instead, she looked at me.

Moving only her lips, she asked:

— What is that?

— Blood from a natural magical prostitute of the desert.

Ruby blinked.

Her expression changed to surprise.

Only those creatures that lived in the deepest regions of the desert possessed blood capable of producing such strange illusions.

What we were seeing was not real.

The creatures were merely temporary illusions created by the energy released when the blood was agitated.

After some time, Pretel finally stopped.

He lowered the tube.

And turned around.

His eyes settled on me.

Then on Ruby.

— Moments ago, the leader of the Prokel Family filed a complaint.

— He believes your actions seriously damaged his family’s honor.

— He asked me to hand you over to them.

My heart accelerated.

Pretel tilted his head slightly.

— So tell me... should I accept his request?

Ruby frowned.

She did not answer.

She simply turned her face toward me.

It was obvious what that meant.

"You answer."

I slowly exhaled.

Then took a step forward.

I gave a deep bow.

— Respected Master Pretel, as far as I know, the leader of the Prokel Family is merely an ordinary human.

— How could a mere mortal give orders to an official Mage?

— If the Prokel Family truly wanted Ruby and me to pay for our actions with our lives, then the Mage behind the family would have come personally to make his request.

The laboratory fell silent.

Pretel narrowed his eyes.

I could feel his gaze.

He looked at Ruby.

Then at me.

A Blood Fairy.

And a Golem Controller.

Ruby was stronger than me.

That was obvious.

However...

I was the one who led our conversations, and I was the one who made the decisions.

And that had clearly piqued Pretel’s interest.

No Acolyte voluntarily followed someone weaker without a reason.

Mages were arrogant and ambitious.

And, most of the time, deeply egocentric.

When they formed groups, the strongest would normally take command.

The others obeyed.

That was how that world worked.

So why did Ruby follow me?

That question was certainly going through Pretel’s mind.

Finally, he smiled.

— Boy, knowing how to speak well won’t help you.

— The man you provoked was Lorgy.

— The member of the Prokel Family with the greatest chance of becoming an official Mage.

— I heard that because of your battle, the time required for him to become an official Mage was delayed by several years.

My heart sank.

Pretel laughed.

— Hahaha!

The sound echoed through the laboratory.

— Every member of the Prokel Family is furious. They’re searching for you everywhere.

He leaned over the table.

— Perhaps, when you leave the Mage Tower, you’ll find an entire group waiting to capture you.

Ruby remained silent.

So did I.

But I began to think.

If the situation were truly as serious as Pretel described, we probably would have already been attacked.

After all, we had just returned.

If the Prokel Family had enough people to capture us, they could simply have prepared an ambush.

Besides...

Pretel’s words sounded more like a warning than a real threat.

Or perhaps...

An attempt to push us into a trap.

I had no choice.

In front of an official Mage, two little Acolytes did not have much room for negotiation.

So I smiled.

— Respected Master Pretel, Ruby and I are only two Acolytes.

I bowed my head.

— Naturally, we are willing to follow your instructions.

— I would like to know if there is anything we can do to offer you our services.

Pretel’s smile immediately became satisfied.

— Very well.

He raised his hand.

— Show me your Golem.

I did not hesitate.

I took out the summoning cores.

And respectfully presented them to him.

Pretel picked up each one and examined it.

— Interesting.

— Were all of these personally created by you?

— Yes.

— Hm.

Pretel continued examining the cores.

Then, suddenly, he changed the subject.

— If I give you only three years to continue progressing...

— Can you become an official Mage?

...

I fell silent.

Even Ruby widened her eyes.

That was not a simple question.

Becoming an official Mage, with the path ahead completely unknown...

— There is no reason to look so surprised.

He returned the cores.

— I can only protect you for three years.

— If Lorgy becomes an official Mage before you, I will have no reason to stop him from seeking revenge anymore.

Those words were extremely clear.

Pretel was willing to protect us.

But only temporarily.

— As for the Prokel Family’s complaints, they mean nothing to me.

— You fought a fair battle.

— If a defeat like this is enough to make an entire family rise up, then the Prokel Family will already have lost all its fame and power and would certainly have disappeared a long time ago.

He paused.

And I immediately understood.

— Ruby and I are willing to pay any reasonable price in exchange for your protection.

— Is there anything we can do for you?

He seemed genuinely pleased.

— Talking to a clever boy like you really saves a lot of time.

Pretel opened a drawer.

He took out a scroll.

And placed it on the table.

— This is a low-level magical contract, but it contains no true form of slavery.

My attention immediately increased.

Magical contracts were never something I accepted without analyzing them.

— I want both of you to sign your names.

He noticed my caution.

— Don’t worry. With the strength you currently possess, I have no need to demand anything from you.

Pretel pushed the contract toward us.

— But once you sign it, you will officially become affiliated with my family.

— The glorious Nark Family.

— With the name of the Nark Family, I can offer you three years of protection.

— During this period, you will be protected from retaliation by the Prokel Family.

— And what do we need to do in return?

For a moment, the laboratory fell silent.

Then Pretel answered.

— Become an official Mage.

— After that, you, George, will represent the Nark Family in a competition.

— What competition?

— A competition in which only Controllers of Titans, Golems, or Automatons may participate.

...

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