Freedom is precious to everyone.
That’s why she wished for a life of freedom. A romantic life where she could travel the world, using a suitable person as a host to savor her freedom. Even though she had a role to play, that was always the secondary priority.
She had been trapped for far too long.
When you’re stuck in a frustrating box for years, it’s only natural to crave freedom.
‘To catch a dragon, you have to enter the dragon’s lair!’
Recalling a proverb buried in the back of her mind, she carefully rolled her eyes and surveyed her surroundings. Scouting was a must before executing her plan. She avoided the intense gaze of two red eyes fixed on her as she checked the room.
A room filled with shelves packed to the brim with books.
The place she was laid upon was a table piled high with various books and notebooks. The placement was designed to thoroughly monitor her and discourage any escape attempts. The tentacles, feeling the unyielding watchful eyes, took a fleeting glance at the red-haired girl who held great interest in her.
A girl untouched by mind control magic.
Every time those curious red eyes stared at her, the pain from yesterday resurfaced, causing the tentacle book to tremble. It was the first time she had faced such humiliation since her creation.
‘I have to endure… If I can’t endure, there will be no freedom!’
Enduring while waiting for the right moment. The only option she could resort to. If she does it right, she could find a breakthrough through a ‘precontract.’
“Millia, you need to focus on your studies, alright?”
“But it’s too hard…”
“To attend the academy, there are basics you need to learn. You said you wanted to go, right? So, you have to work hard. If you don’t study hard, Johann will dislike you. Is that right?”
Karina and Johann’s eyes met. Johann nodded, missing the message in Karina’s gaze, and chimed in.
“If you want to make friends, you have to put in the effort.”
The boredom on Millia’s face vanished at Johann’s words. Noticing her simple expression, Karina smiled gracefully, finding Millia adorable.
“I’ll work hard!”
‘So simple.’
The tentacle, repeatedly suppressed by this simpleton, thought.
As the atmosphere shifted back to studying with notebooks scribbled on, the nameless tentacle book began to subtly scan the room. Stuck in the middle of the table, it was hard to escape, but if it remained calm, an opportunity would surely arise someday. It waited, holding its breath for that chance.
5 minutes.
10 minutes.
30 minutes.
1 hour.
“Millia, let’s go to the bathroom together…”
Karina’s gaze briefly lingered on Johann before returning to Millia. It seemed she felt shy about speaking loudly in front of a boy.
“Okay! Let’s go!”
Millia jumped up at Karina’s request and grabbed Patrasche’s handle. Johann, leaning against the door, noticed the commotion and uncrossed his arms, intending to approach, but it was thwarted by Millia’s intervention. Even though she was quite reckless, she had that much awareness.
“I’ll be right back!”
‘Tagging along feels awkward. But I need to guard them…’
Seizing the moment, Johann slyly picked up the wet, or rather tentacled book that had started creeping toward the table’s edge. The tentacle was obediently caught in his hand. Johann looked suspiciously at the differing response from before, but the tentacle just lay there like a gentle lamb, only glancing at him.
“Hmm? You’re coming too, Johann?”
“I’m fine not following…”
“Don’t worry, I won’t follow you in.”
“…It’s still embarrassing.”
“I think it was quite like this on the deserted island.”
“Th-That was then, and this is now…”
Puff!
“Relax your expression, Millia.”
Johann poked Millia’s puffed cheek with his finger. Millia looked up at him with her cheeks still pinched. He chuckled and ruffled her hair. Even though her soft locks became tousled under his rough touch, Millia shut her eyes, enjoying the affection.
“Hey, hurry up…”
“Ah, my bad. Let’s head out now.”
Jealous…
Is this what it feels like to be cherished in life?
For the first time, the tentacle felt envy.
—————————
“Today’s study is over!”
“Good job, Millia.”
“Hehe.”
Millia clung to Karina like a puppy.
It was the usual occurrence when studying ended, so Karina naturally embraced Millia and stroked the red-haired girl’s head gently. Feeling her face buried in Karina’s chest made Millia happy. It wasn’t just the end of the tedious studying; she really enjoyed Karina’s touch.
In a different way than Johann’s.
“It’s almost dinnertime.”
“We should rest a moment until the maid comes.”
“Well then, I’ll play with her!”
“The magic book is not a toy, Millia.”
“But it’s so obedient! I’ll only take it for a walk in the library-”
“…Just play with it on the table.”
“Okay!”
‘Any regular mind control would be easily undone by Karina, so it should be fine.’
Johann looked anxiously as Millia reached for the tentacle on the table.
He had always been on the receiving end of Millia’s antics, so the danger seemed considerably low. Still, in this world, you never know how things might turn out.
If Millia were to be harmed, Johann was ready to split the magic book in half with a shovel at a moment’s notice.
Even though he would find it regrettable, it couldn’t compare to Millia.
“Yay, gooey, hand~”
I’m not a dog…
The tentacle obediently placed its hand on Millia’s palm. The absurdity of the tentacle acting like a puppy left Johann and Karina in disbelief. Even if Karina didn’t know much about magic books, it was nearly impossible for it to behave so obediently without its master.
An unnecessarily finicky artifact in the form of a book. That was the magic book.
“Gooey, hand!”
“…It seems to be very fond of Millia.”
“Maybe it likes her?”
“Though it did keep running away…”
“Sit! Stand!”
Has it changed its mind? Or is it just being obedient for now? Johann stared at the book, filled with suspicion. The tentacle book ignored the sharp gaze on its back and diligently complied with Millia’s commands.
‘Just a little longer, and I can set up the precontract…’
Mind control magic didn’t work, but as long as the precontract was successful, it would buy time to escape using the authority of the contractor. To do so, the consent of the subject was necessary.
She didn’t mind imitating a dog to watch for a chance to escape.
For a major task, some sacrifices are needed!
“Hey, can I open you just once?”
“No.”
“You can’t.”
“But Gooey is good, so isn’t it okay?”
The moment Millia spoke while petting Gooey, it suddenly spread itself wide, revealing its white insides to her. The abruptness left both Johann and Karina momentarily speechless. Beautiful letters emerged from the pristine pages.
[Do you want to make a contract with me?]
“Contract? What’s that…”
Johann swiftly covered Millia’s mouth with his palm before she could say anything more and reached out to grab the book with his other hand. But Gooey, whose entire fate hinged on this moment, wouldn’t back down easily. Squeezing whatever remaining magic it had, Gooey blocked Johann’s attempt and tempted Millia.
[If you make a contract with me, you can use magic!]
The writing was noticeably more hasty than before.
It intentionally skipped a character, tempting Millia. This was because it had observed her keen interest in magic-related classes. The fact that she would be the easiest to persuade was also a reason for wanting to form a precontract with Millia.
Children were often easier to handle than adults.
“Really?”
“Aren’t you going to learn magic from Elisa, Millia? Dealing with dangerous items is not a good idea.”
“Hmm—maybe you’re right?”
‘If this goes on, I might really get caught and trapped forever! Come on, brain! Think!’
[I’ll also give you relationship coaching!]
“Relationship coaching?”
“…I never thought I’d see a magic book say something like that.”
Magic books from games were usually overly fussy and serious. Johann facepalmed at the self-promotion of this magic book, which was so different from what he had seen in games.
[You can make any man fall for you!]
“R-Really?”
Millia glanced at Johann while leaning towards the book. With her face shining with interest, Gooey silently cheered and quickly began writing on the paper.
[Just call my name, and the contract will be complete! My name is—]
Letters started to be inscribed on the book with a clear font that everyone could understand. Millia watched this unfold, and without realizing it, she opened her mouth to read the name. To her, the value of “being able to seduce Johann” was greater than anything else.
But there was someone who spoke faster than her voice.
“I’m Johann Quartz. I will establish an eternal contract with Rue.”
“Johann?!”
“Johann?!”
[Oh no!]
The magic book, Rue, raised its alarm as the magical contractual procedure began, regardless of its cries. Having seen the contract scenes with the magic book in games countless times, Johann executed a sneak attack. Rue felt despair as her body was forcibly bound to him.
‘Nooo! To make a contract with a guy with hardly any magic! Even if I stole the magic, it would be meaningless!’
“Not much for a magic book, eh?”
“What are you doing, Johann! Why are you snatching it away? I wanted to make a contract too!”
“You can play with it instead.”
“Really? Reallyreallyreally? You’re not lying, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Yay!”
‘I didn’t think it would turn out like this.’
Johann hadn’t intended to directly contract the magic book. It was not efficient to do so. However, due to the unique nature of the magic book that doesn’t close once opened until the contract is finalized, it was unavoidable.
“…Selling it is out of the question.”
His plan of making a hefty profit was unceremoniously tossed into the trash.
[I’m not something you can sell!]
“Oh really?”
[To have a contract with someone like this… I’m doomed!]
“Are you okay, Johann?!”
“I’m fine. Fortunately, it seems like it’s not the type of magic book that harms others… Even if it can’t use magic much.”
Still, it wasn’t completely magicless, so with tools, it could still be useful. Johann smiled in satisfaction, recalling the spells Rue had in mind.
It might actually be pretty useful.
‘I’m doomed…’
Their conflicting thoughts of elation and despair rushed toward the horizon, unable to reach each other.
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