Project: Create a Pet
“Welcome! Oh, a new face in Muel, I see.”
“With so many people coming and going every day, it’s bound to happen.”
“Haha, true enough. Anyway, welcome. Most folks have been flocking to Barbara or Khan lately, so it’s nice to see someone here. What brings you in?”
“Well, it is a temple, after all. I’m here for a gem appraisal and to draft a contract. Plus, I thought I’d report on my latest expedition.”
A man in priestly robes approached me with a friendly smile. As soon as I mentioned the contract, his face lit up, clearly excited at the prospect of some business. He asked me to wait a moment and dashed inside.
Vivian seemed absorbed in exploring the temple surroundings, but I could tell her attention was really on the elixir I had. Her cute antics made me smile softly as I waited for the priest to return.
Soon, I heard a commotion from the stairs leading to the second floor, followed by the hurried footsteps of someone rushing down. The temple was one of the few places where users and residents coexisted as equals. Generally, residents conveyed the words of angels, while users handled other tasks. The catch was that most of the users’ work involved interference from the residents.
A woman, nearly tripping over herself, came to a stop in front of me, panting heavily before speaking in a hurried tone. The male priest followed her down with a slightly bitter expression. Was the temple really that desperate for money these days?
“Welcome. You’re here about a contract?”
“Yes, and also to report on my expedition…”
“The temple’s too busy for expedition reports right now, so you can skip that. What kind of contract are you looking to draft?”
No expedition reports? I frowned slightly at her words. It seemed like the influence of the Golden Lion Clan. Skipping reports like this… no wonder they never progress. Deciding to get straight to the point, I replied to her.
“Between a user and a resident, to be precise.”
The female priest glanced at me and then at Vivian behind me, nodding thoughtfully.
“Hmm. Contracts between users and residents are generally feasible. Have you thought about the terms?”
“If you give me the contract, I can draft it right away.”
“Great. Minchul, hand this gentleman a contract.”
The male priest, Minchul, quickly handed me a sheet of paper and a pen. I pondered for a moment before writing down the terms. What I was about to draft was simple yet anything but simple—a so-called slave contract. I wrote swiftly, then reviewed the completed document carefully.
User Kim Su-hyun will provide Vivian with a reward of her choosing. In return, Vivian agrees to adhere to the terms specified in this contract.
Resident Vivian will listen to User Kim Su-hyun and not oppose him. While she retains her free will, she will prioritize his requests.
Resident Vivian will assist User Kim Su-hyun and his party (An Hyun, An Sol, Lee Yoo-jung) in every way possible and will not act against them.
This should do it. I showed the contract to Vivian with a dangerous smile. She skimmed it quickly, nodded, and signed it before handing it back to me. I signed it as well and passed it to the female priest. The whole process was seamless.
The female priest glanced at the contract, then stifled a laugh with her hand. After a moment, she removed her hand, but a smirk lingered as she looked at me. I returned her gaze with a grin.
“Hohoho, are you sure you want it like this?”
“Hahaha, make it as binding as possible.”
“Of course.”
We shared a friendly laugh, and she winked at me before turning to Vivian.
“Are you really okay with this?”
“Huh? Oh, yes. I just have to listen and help, right? No need to be hostile. But does it always take this long to finalize a contract? Please hurry.”
The female priest shook her head with a sympathetic look at Vivian, who was still urging her to proceed. Then, with a solemn voice, she spoke.
“I, User Lee Min-hye, hereby certify that both parties have read and signed this contract of their own free will.”
As she finished speaking, the paper in her hand began to glow brightly, accompanied by the sound of fireworks. It was the process of the contract being approved. Vivian was momentarily captivated by the spectacle, but I noticed two users whispering to each other through the light. I quickly enhanced my hearing.
“Sister Min-hye, isn’t this a bit too rushed?”
“Who cares? It’s been ages since we had a big contract like this. It’s practically top-tier.”
“But still…”
“If the residents find out, they’ll reject it immediately. Anyway, I feel a bit sorry for that female resident, but it’s not our problem.”
Though they spoke quietly, my keen ears caught every word. I was glad I had left it to the users. Watching the contract’s completion, I smiled contentedly. I couldn’t wait to see how Vivian would be of use.
As the bright light faded, Lee Min-hye deftly caught the paper that fell from the air. Contract drafting usually took time, but seeing it done so quickly, I widened my eyes in surprise. Noticing my expression, Lee Min-hye smiled and placed a scale on the table.
“Don’t worry, it’s not a rush job. As you can see, priests handling contracts in the temple have special authority. Of course, that authority vanishes the moment they stop doing this work.”
I nodded as she placed the paper on the scale. The weight it indicated would determine the payment I owed. When the result appeared, both Lee Min-hye and Minchul gasped in amazement.
As expected, the contract’s weight was substantial. The scale spun around once, then twice, and nearly eight times in total. I wasn’t surprised, having anticipated this, but Vivian looked worried. Her concern wasn’t about the contract being a mistake but rather whether I could pay the unexpectedly high amount. After examining the scale closely, Lee Min-hye approached me with a satisfied expression and whispered.
“User Kim Su-hyun, do you know the power of a contract between a user and a resident?”
“Roughly. Contracts between users have many restrictions, but residents aren’t bound by
Trailing off, Lee Min-hye gave me a knowing look and handed over the contract.
“Exactly. Residents aren’t affected by
“Haha, that’s not why I did it. Please don’t misunderstand.”
“Oh, come on. Your intentions are clear. Anyway, it’s 789 gold, 417 silver, and 216 bronze. You know the temple doesn’t do installments, right?”
I brushed off her teasing and paid the amount promptly. Acquiring a skilled companion for less than 800 gold was a bargain. Vivian, initially shocked by the sum, looked at me with a touched expression as I handed over the money without hesitation. At that moment, the contract took full effect. Of course, I still had to fulfill the terms I had specified.
After bidding farewell to Lee Min-hye and Minchul, I carefully tucked the contract into my coat and left the temple. Despite the contract’s completion, Vivian anxiously followed me, her eyes pleading. I led her to a more secluded spot.
“It’s done, right? It’s really done now?”
Once we reached a quiet area, Vivian rushed to me eagerly. I smiled and handed her the elixir. She quickly snatched the bottle, her eyes trembling with anticipation.
“Whew. Whew.”
Vivian took a deep breath, clearly stressed from her time as a spider. Her strong will to live and her intelligence, despite her previous state, made her a fascinating character with much potential. As a resident, her skills were rare indeed.
I might get an earful from Seraph later, but I was prepared for that. The boss monster was meant to be captured, but I found a loophole in the records and managed to recruit her to my party. It was a decision I made of my own volition, so I had my reasons.
Vivian glanced at the elixir with a mix of love and hate. Her face showed signs of inner conflict, but her hesitation didn’t last long.
Pop!
She uncorked the bottle and downed its contents in one go. As the refreshing sensation spread through her body, Vivian shivered with pleasure. I moved closer and lifted the robe covering her, watching as her cracked skin began to heal.
But that wasn’t all. Her skin grew smoother and more radiant, her once-dull hair now gleamed with a beautiful jet-black sheen. Her pale face gained a rosy hue, and her cold body warmed to a soft peach color as if blood was circulating again.
One of the greatest advantages of the elixir is its immediate effect; it heals the body as soon as it’s consumed. Proving its efficacy, I could feel the powerful mana waves emanating from the fully restored mage before me.
But the person who could feel it most was undoubtedly Vivian herself. She looked at her hands and body in disbelief, then clenched her fists in joy. What must it feel like to regain lost power? Perhaps it’s akin to clawing your way back to the world after falling into the depths of hell.
After savoring her joy alone for a while, Vivian opened her eyes and looked at me. Her face still had that vacant, innocent look, but there was something different. Her eyes, which once seemed to only seek survival, now shone with an inexplicable confidence. Her small lips parted.
”…Suhyeon.”
“What?”
“Your name is Suhyeon. Kim Suhyeon.”
“So why are you calling me?”
“Suhyeon. Kim Suhyeon. Kim Suhyeon. Kim Suhyeon.”
Ignoring my question, Vivian kept repeating my name, and I scratched my head. My chest felt warm, as if the contract was being renewed. It was showtime. I decided to conduct a little experiment, eyeing her with a mischievous grin. Jet-black hair, silver eyes, and a face that seemed intelligent yet somehow naive. She’s pretty. Really pretty. Under the guise of testing the contract’s validity, I spoke.
“Vivian.”
“Suhyeon. Kim Suhyeon.”
“Come here and… huh?”
Just as I was about to say, “Embrace me,” Vivian suddenly lunged at me, burying her tear-filled eyes into my chest.
Caught off guard, I was flustered but tried to remain calm, patting her back. Somehow, I felt like I understood her feelings. The atmosphere was nice, but what I wanted was for her to resist, to test the contract’s terms and compulsion.
Unaware of my inner thoughts, Vivian kept repeating her thanks.
“Thank you… thank you so much… really, thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me. It’s just a contract… Hey, wait. You’re practically naked. This is…”
“I never thought I’d become human again… It’s okay. If it’s you, it’s okay. I’ll listen to you from now on. Really, I will.”
What does she mean by “it’s okay”? Her sudden change in attitude left me bewildered, and I tried to gently push her away. But the more I did, the more she clung to me, wrapping her arms and legs around me like a spider. Was she really that overjoyed?
Watching Vivian snuggle into my arms like a child, I felt conflicted. But she paid no mind to my discomfort, continuing to nuzzle against me. Feeling the undeniable presence of a woman’s body, I sighed deeply and made a silent vow. Today, I would definitely hold a woman in my arms.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Royujin.
Haha, I somehow managed to get through today. It’s been quite hectic. I tend to be influenced by my surroundings when I write, which made the process feel chaotic and lengthy. I even considered rewriting it. But since rewrites take a lot of time, I decided to push forward.
Vivian has regained her strength. Now it’s time to wrap up everything we’ve gained from this expedition and head to our next destination, the research lab. With the experience and the addition of a powerful ally, we should be able to progress quickly. :)
『 Reader Comments 』
Demodex: Thank you. You’re first today, Demodex! Congratulations. Have a happy holiday. :)
Bennett: Indeed. Ah, I was sent on so many errands today. But since I’m second in the hierarchy among those running errands, I managed to find some time to write. Haha.
Neo3: It will probably take a turn that readers never expected. Haha. Look forward to it.
GradeRown: Innocent charm, huh. Hehe. Look forward to how she changes. Kekeke(?)
hohokoya1: Thank you for the coupon. Your continued support gives me strength. Considering I wrote three chapters today, it’s all thanks to your comments. They really keep me alert.
DragonYinYang: Drum! Drum!! Drum!!! Drum!!!!
CrossDie: I corrected that right away. Thanks for pointing it out. :)
Oricon: Sigh. Indeed. At this rate, I’ll become a master pancake flipper.
HumanLife: Haha. I need to make corrections for future readers. I’ll have to do a major revision after visiting my relatives tomorrow.
Aintje: Episode 74 is coming soon! Please wait a little longer!
I always read all the comments repeatedly. Please don’t feel too disappointed if you’re not mentioned in the replies. If you’re really curious, send me a message, and I’ll respond! (Please leave lots of comments! And recommendations… ☞☜)
That’s all for today.
I hope you always read my work with a relaxed mind.
Pre-orders, recommendations, comments, critiques, and questions are always welcome.