I WAS The Rank–1 Hero-Chapter 79: The Contract

The scroll hovered between us.

It has dark brown rolled paper wrapped around a silver handle.

The scroll started unbound itself in the air.

All of it seemed so magical to me.

As it did, the atmosphere turned cold.

The floor beneath me froze.

A thin layer of ice formed under my feet.

And I understood one thing about this, it was not because of the scroll.

My Ice Elemental was reacting to it.

Is it because of the affinity of the scroll… was it Ice Essence?

The scroll unbound itself completely.

A contract that would kill one of us if broken.

Lilith’s voice echoed, as she explained. "The contract requires four terms. Two from each side. If any party breaks them, their soul will be destroyed."

I gulped.

I narrowed my eyes. "State the terms."

Nathalia placed her finger on the plain brown paper.

The ink moved tracing Nathalia’s fingers.

The first term appeared.

[First Condition – Nathalia’s Side]

"I, Nathalia, The Welder of Dreams, vow to return Holder of Paradox and his companions to the Human Continent within the next three hours."

I read it twice.

"Hmm?"

Three hours? Not immediately.

I clicked my tongue. "Why not now?"

Nathalia met my gaze. "I need time to prepare a stable teleportation. If I rush it, you could all be scattered across the world."

Fair point.

I didn’t ask further.

Still, if she was bound by the contract, she couldn’t lie.

Not unless she wanted to really die.

I exhaled. "Fine."

The ink shifted once again, as the next condition appeared.

[Second Condition – Nathalia’s Side]

"I, Nathalia, vow that I will not cause harm to the Paradox or any of his companions under any circumstance."

I studied the words carefully.

There was a loophole in it.

She wouldn’t harm us…

But that didn’t mean she wouldn’t allow someone else to.

Smart move.

But I could play that game too.

Nathalia’s side was over. Now it was my turn.

I placed my hand on the scroll’s surface.

I concentrated my thoughts on the terms I had it ready in my head.

The ink moved itself once again.

[Third Condition – My Side]

"I, Paradox, Child of Ylthea, vow that I will not take direct action to harm Nathalia unless she first breaks the contract by any means."

If she played safe, so would I.

This way, she couldn’t use the contract to manipulate me into attacking her first.

Is all about balance.

It’s a fair contract.

Now for the final terms, I had it planned too.

The ink moved again, as I formed the—

But before I could finish, Lilith stopped me.

"Wait..."

I turned my head to her direction, only to meet her blood-red eyes.

"What?" I asked.

She hesitated before adding, "This contract is a great chance for you to learn more about gods and demons, and my master Nathalia didn’t put any terms to teach you all that… Don’t you want to learn more about this world?"

I went silent for a moment.

I almost forgot about that.

’Was she helping me?’

I turned toward Nathalia. She didn’t seem bothered by it. Her hidden eyes didn’t even waver by Lilith’s words.

"Then what should I demand?" I directed the question to Lilith.

She moved closer, her presence was calming, a sweet cherry scent lingered in my nose.

"Let me write it instead."

She held my hand, her soft palm pressing lightly against mine.

She guided me.

I watched the ink move.

The final condition came to my view.

[Fourth Condition – My Side]

"I, Paradox, the Child of Ylthea, vow that I will trust Nathalia only if she guides me in navigating the Divine Conflict and will not act against her unless she first betrays me."

"What?"

I looked at Lilith. "Define ’Divine Conflict’."

Her red eyes flickered. "The ongoing war between gods. You are the Child of Prophecy. This war concerns you more than you think."

She told me all that with the most innocent, worried expression.

And for some reason, I believed she really meant it.

And I did have a few questions I wanted to ask her too.

I exhaled. "Fine."

Lilith nodded. "The terms are set. Do you both accept?"

Nathalia was the first to place her hand over the scroll.

"I accept." She declared.

A golden light shimmered around her.

Then it dimmed down.

Lilith gestured to me to come forward.

It was my turn now.

I hesitated for a moment.

I looked toward Sera. She nodded, assuring me that everything will be fine.

Once I placed my hand on that contract…

Then, there was no turning back.

My soul would be bound to her.

If I broke it, I would die.

I didn’t know if my Immortality skill could resist soul destruction.

But this was the only way forward.

I pressed my palm onto the scroll.

"I accept." I declared.

The contract pulsed.

Fuaaa!

Black tendrils shot out, wrapping around my wrist and Nathalia’s too.

I shivered witnessing it all.

Cold Ice crawled through my veins.

The scroll ignited into black flames.

Then—

It vanished.

The temperature in the room returned to normal.

My gaze fell to my wrist.

The first thing I noticed was—

A ring-like tattoo had formed around it.

It was a symbol of—

Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freewebnσvel.cøm.

The symbol of Goddess Ylthea. And somehow I instantly recognised it.

A bracelet-shaped tattoo wrapped around my wrist, dark and intricate.

It looked like a miniature universe, swirling with tiny stars, planets, and tiny glowing figures. Faint trails of energy—almost like aura threads—connected them, weaving them into a pattern which to be never connected, as if it was an illusion.

My gaze shifted towards Nathalia’s wrist, unlike mine the pattern of her tattoo was all different.

I glanced at Nathalia’s wrist.

A crescent moon rested at the center, surrounded by butterflies with shimmering wings. Thin, flowing lines extended outward from each butterfly, forming a shape that resembled a dreamcatcher or a human mind.

It must be the symbol of God of Dreams.

"The contract is over." Lilith declared, bowing her head towards both Nathalia and me.

I clenched my fist.

It was finally done.

The contract was complete.

Nathalia smiled slightly. "Now, let me prepare the teleportation."

To be Continued…