It’s an Old Friend

[Do you truly no longer need us?]

“It’s not a matter of needing you, but rather… there’s no longer any necessity. You should understand.”

[Indeed, there is no longer any need. Since you have lost your fighting spirit and only seek peace, a contract with us would only burden your flesh and spirit.]

“Ha… though I’d rather not admit it, it’s true.”

I sighed with a bitter smile, turning my head to gaze at the wilderness below the hill. The cold wind swept across my face, and within its gusts, it felt as though countless tiny hands clutched at me, unwilling to let me go.

But I had to leave.

I had to do this.

To completely bid farewell to the past, to no longer return to the battlefield, to cease pursuing power, and to no longer live under the dazzling spotlight.

This would be better for me, and for them.

[So, you still didn’t get to passionately ‘fence’ with this prince, huh?]

“Haha, what a pity indeed.”

[Bzzzzzzzzzzzz…]

“I’m sorry, I won’t be able to find you delicious food anymore.”

[Hiss… a… war…rior… sh-should… die on… the battlefield…]

“That doesn’t sound bad, but right now, I just want to live a peaceful life.”

[0110010101000111001001010101100101010110]

“I don’t understand binary…”

[…Corvus, if you ever miss us, you can always re-sign the contract.]

“Of course. Though… that day may never come.”

I waved my hand at them, then leaped from the hill, never once looking back.

This world harbored many powerful beings, countless extraordinary powers. Dangerous entities lurked in other dimensions, and great wisdom lay buried within the currents of history.

These beings possessed immense strength, unbound by common sense. Ephiel was one such entity.

These powerful high-dimensional beings, these monsters beyond human comprehension, were such that an ordinary person needed only to form a contract with one and fully wield its power to dominate the world.

Those who left their mark on history, such as ‘Demon Swordsmen contracted with Abyssal Demonic Swords,’ ‘Mighty Fairy Users contracted with the Fairy King (Kikiraru),’ or ‘Mecha Warriors contracted with Ancient Super Civilizations,’ were all prime examples.

Generally, however, forming a contract with merely ‘one’ such entity marked the limit of human capability.

No matter how powerful, a person could not transcend the boundaries of humanity itself. This was a limitation inherent to humans as a species, unrelated to innate talent or acquired effort.

Yet, I was different.

‘Forced Contract’—the emphasis wasn’t on ‘forced,’ but on ‘contract.’

Through Forced Contract, I could establish complete agreements with multiple high-dimensional beings, freely wielding their powers as long as my body and mind could endure it.

More than dominating humans, manipulating matter, or controlling elements, this was the true value of my ability.

And the Warp demon, Ephiel Astarte, was my very first contracted entity, even though I severed all ties with my contract beings after leaving my position.

‘That day may never come’—that’s precisely what I told them when they tried to persuade me to stay two years ago.

No longer holding a high position or fighting on the front lines, I simply had no further need for these contracted beings. Thus, I decisively dissolved our contracts, granting them freedom and myself liberation.

Alas, man proposes, God disposes.

I never dreamed I would reunite with her here.

She felt the same.

“Hey, hey, hey, Ephiel, two years and you’ve learned to play the mysterious deity, have you?”

[……………………………………………….E-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-eh??? Corvus!?]

That voice, described as ‘ancient, ethereal, simultaneously male and female, elderly and youthful, with every syllable imbued with a majesty that transcended humanity,’ abruptly shifted.

It became sharper, softer, tinged with a sexy rasp—the voice of a young woman my own age.

The murky, gray space reverted to its original dimness. After all, it had merely been a little trick of hers, a grand entrance effect.

She still harbored a fondness for such meaningless theatrics.

[Corvus… is that you? Is it really you!?]

“Nonsense, have you been cooped up so long you’ve gone blind?”

I dispelled the disguise I’d maintained through body manipulation. My height returned to its original 1.8 meters, my hair lengthened, and both its color and my eye color shifted.

My facial structure and features underwent subtle changes. It had been a long time since I’d shown my true face.

Hmph, I was well aware of my own handsome appearance.

[It really is you! Ughya!!!]

The mysterious radiance enveloping her finally dissipated, revealing her true form.

Her appearance suggested an age somewhere between a high school student and someone newly entered into the workforce.

She possessed long, lilac-purple hair, with lengthy bangs partially obscuring her eyes. The tips of her bangs were streaked with a darker purple, as if highlighted.

Her twin eyes were a translucent violet, with pupils shaped like horizontal red rectangles. Staring into them for too long, one felt as though they might be completely drawn in.

Her lips were rather thin, tinted a pale pink that suggested a slight lack of vitality.

Her chest was a magnificent H-cup. Since her energy-formed body was unaffected by gravity, it was remarkably prominent, almost resembling artificial breasts.

Behind her head were curled horns, very much befitting a demon. From her temples, curved, sharp horns extended forward then upward. A headbutt from her would undoubtedly be excruciating.

From the base of her spine extended a two-meter-long tail. It appeared as a slender, uniformly thick black tail, forking at its very end to connect to three black, triangular barbs arranged in a pyramidal shape. The parts closer to the center gradually faded into purple.

As for clothes… well, she certainly wasn’t wearing any. Upon closer inspection, her hands and feet possessed a translucent, ghostly quality.

As a Warp demon, a lifeform composed of spirit and energy, she had no physical body in the conventional sense, and thus no need for clothing.

“You haven’t changed a bit, Ephiel.”

[You’re the one who hasn’t changed at all! It’s been so long! Do you know how much I’ve missed you!?]

With a cry of ‘Wah—!’, she lunged, crashing directly into my arms (causing a slight spatial tremor). I spun around with her several times; it would have been quite dramatic in slow motion.

[I knew you couldn’t bear to part with us! You’ve come back to re-establish the contract, haven’t you? Haven’t you, haven’t you? I can’t wait any longer, hurry and bring it on!]

“No, no, no, how should I put it? Things are a bit complicated, honestly, far beyond what I expected. Our reunion is just a coincidence…”

[A coincidence!? Weren’t you specifically summoning me?]

“They’re the ones who summoned you.”

I gestured towards Paris and Parashana. Not only Paris, but even Parashana wore a bewildered expression; this sudden turn of events was far beyond their comprehension.

[Eh………?]

Ephiel was dumbfounded.

Then, as if it were the most natural thing, she uttered something quite hurtful.

[Summon me…? Are they even worthy?]

“Eh… eh? No, no, wait a moment, wait a moment, why do you two seem so familiar with each other…?” Parashana asked, looking utterly foolish.

“Rather, we’re too familiar…” Paris looked even more foolish than her. Was it because both their names started with ‘Pa’?

“Exactly! What’s with all the hugging and cuddling with a Warp demon!!” Jadette chimed in, too. From now on, I’m nicknaming you Padette.

As for why we were so familiar…

“[‘Because we’re old friends.’]”

“Nice synchronicity!”

“No, wait!”

Jadette roared, interrupting us, her expression utterly exasperated.

“What in the world is going on here!? The first volume is almost over, and suddenly a new character is making a strong entrance? And immediately jumping into an old married couple dynamic? What about me? What about my standing??”

[Who are you again…?]

“Hmph!?”

Jadette became even more exasperated, but Ephiel genuinely seemed to have forgotten her. Hey, hey, Ephiel, you were at least introducing her in my mind when we first met three years ago.

“That’s Jadette, the First Apostle’s daughter. Have you forgotten?”

[Oh right, your nominal main wife… So, you two have rekindled your old flames?]

“Not exactly. If I had to say… we met by coincidence, and our relationship wasn’t particularly good to begin with.”

[Alright~]

“No! So tell me! What! Exactly! Is! Your relationship, fundamentally!!!”

What relationship?

Ephiel and I exchanged glances.

Friends?

Companions?

Comrades-in-arms?

Partners?

No, ultimately, it was still…

[A master-servant relationship, based on a contract.]

“Exactly.”

[Though I’m just one of them.]

“You make it sound like I enjoy having a harem…”

[Not only do you love having a harem, but your fetishes are quite fervent. To think you’d be interested in armor and giant flies.]

“The Knight and the Fly King would definitely slap you if they heard that.”

[Eh!? Th-they’re here too?? I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I just spoke without thinking!]

“No, it’s just you.”

[Oh… oh! Is that so? Then it’s fine! Hahaha! I’m the strongest among all your contracted beings, you know that, right!]

“Yes, yes, yes, yes…”

This one…

She bore a string of glorious titles and loved grand displays in everything she did. On the surface, she was a queen-like figure, brimming with demonic charm.

Yet, on a spiritual level, she was utterly insignificant, often reduced to tears by the other contracted beings.

[Speaking of which, this place…]

Ephiel gestured upwards, where countless fragments of stone were continuously falling. The ground below constantly fractured and reformed.

The connection to the Warp had rendered the entire Sandra Abyss extremely unstable.

[If we continue to let this go unchecked, it will truly become irreversible. Given your nature, you wouldn’t just stand by, would you?]

“Of course not.”

[Then—]

“No need, I can handle such minor matters myself. I don’t need your help.”

[…Are you still feeling guilty about unilaterally severing your contracts with us?]

“……………………”

[It’s fine, you know. We all understand you. You are our best friend, and we’re always ready if you need us.]

“But…”

[Besides, the longer this drags on, the more people will die. You want to end this quickly, don’t you?]

“………………………………Alright, but let’s be clear, this is only a ‘temporary’ contract. It’s not a formal rekindling of our old ties.”

[Hmph… Say whatever you want, you tsundere.]

She extended her left hand.

I extended my right hand.

Our palms met.

A faint red line of contract extended from my ring finger, connecting to hers.

“I, the former Ninth Apostle, Corvus Archia Lupercal, in the name of this contract, demand the supreme power of the Warp from you!”

[I, Tzeentch’s Greater Daemon, Keeper of the Seal, Changer of Ways, Queen of Light and Shadow, Ephiel Astarte, shall grant you power as you desire!]