Lackey's Seducing Survival Odyssey

Chapter 982: So all this time... everything I’ve done... I’ve just been fulfilling the contract

”From what my friend told me... the contract is supposed to be on equal grounds,” Xara muttered, her voice low but firm. ”Itʼs meant to be a mutual agreement between two individuals—not some twisted form of slavery or forced submission.”

Aetherʼs frown deepened as confusion and unease crept into his expression, ”If what youʼre saying is actually true... then why do I have a slave mark?” He rubbed the back of his neck with a restless hand, trying to make sense of it. ”That doesnʼt sound like something formed from mutual consent.”

Xara looked straight at him, ”Are you absolutely sure... itʼs a slave mark?” she asked, her voice careful and steady.

Aether blinked at her, baffled.

”What do you mean? What else could it be? I seriously donʼt get it,” he said, frustration leaking into his voice.

Xara let out a slow, thoughtful sigh.

”After hearing your backstory... what my friend told me was finally confirmed, The contract...” she said slowly. ”The connection between you and some unknown entity—something you said took interest in you out of nowhere.” She gave a slight shrug, continuing, ”Maybe that mark you saw as a slave mark is actually something you agreed to... a part of the contract you didnʼt realise you were making.”

Aetherʼs brows knit tighter. ”But... I never signed any kind of deal. Especially not with any gods. And why the hell would I ever want to make myself a slave?”

Xara gave another shrug, her tone thoughtful now, edged with curiosity. ”Thatʼs exactly what makes it so damn strange, Aether...” she nodded slowly, expression clouded with confusion. ”From everything my friend told me, the Eternal Contract isnʼt like any normal contract. Itʼs something ancient... created for dealing with powerful beings. Especially gods. Because they always find loopholes in normal contracts. They manipulate words... twist meanings.”

She leaned closer slightly. ”The Eternal Contract was made to prevent that. Itʼs a binding agreement that doesnʼt break. Not even after death. Once youʼre in... thereʼs no walking away from it. Not unless you fulfil your part. Thatʼs what my friend said, anyway.”

Aether stood still, eyes slightly widened, as he tried to absorb her words. He blinked slowly, processing everything.

Xara hummed quietly, her arms crossing over her chest. ”The only reason Velc was able to activate that contract... was because of that unknown thing that got interested in you.

Without that?

It wouldnʼt have worked at all.

No matter how much power he threw at it. It wouldnʼt have activated,” she said, her voice darkening slightly. ”Now that makes sense... Velc and Alfredʼs arcane levels were completely drained. Sucked dry just to trigger it. And if that unknown being hadnʼt intervened... ha...” her smirk grew as she chuckled softly, ”They both wouldʼve dropped dead. Iʼd have loved to see the look on his face when that plan failed... ahah...”

Aether stayed quiet, turning inward as he calmly called out, ʼOkay Log, now itʼs your time to finish explaining the details.ʼ After all, the Log always knew more than anyone.

But there was no response.

ʼTsk,ʼ he clicked his tongue in frustration. ʼSo I made a contract with this... unknown being... and somehow made myself a slave? Seriously? What the fuck?!!ʼ he screamed inwardly, disbelief spiraling in his head.

Xara suddenly turned to him, eyes gleaming with interest, smirking like a predator eyeing something exotic. ”Now... what kind of deal did you make?” she asked slowly. ”You said youʼve gotten stronger than anyone else, right? That has to be a part of the deal. Power always comes at a price. So... what did that thing want from you in return?”

Her gaze lingered on him as though he were some kind of rare, fascinating creature she couldnʼt wait to unravel.

Aether swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. A flicker of anxiety twisted in his chest. ʼWhat the fuck did I do now?ʼ he thought, dread slowly creeping up his spine.

Just when things seemed to calm down, just when he tried to live peacefully... another cursed mystery popped up to screw with him again.

Xara tilted her head. ”Didnʼt you say... you somehow made the slave mark disappear?”

Aether nodded slowly.

She frowned. ”A slave mark that vanished... hmm...” Her frown deepened, her mind clearly racing. ”Tell me... how did you get rid of it? What exactly happened?”