Just as I stepped toward Klaus, my surroundings shifted violently.
Once more, I found myself standing in a moonlit meadow beneath the night sky.
Before me stood a tall, tanned dancer—Florina, if memory served. She watched me with an intrigued expression.
"Incredible! To think you actually broke through my power!"
She glided toward me, leaning in close as if inspecting a rare specimen. Then, she began to sniff me. Sniff, sniff.
What was with this woman? Was she some kind of pervert?
"Hmm, just as I thought. You have that same moldy, depressing scent as Shiunin."
Hey, Shiunin’s going to be pissed if she hears that!
"Are you an acquaintance of Shiunin?" I asked.
"I’m in a position where I can use her power."
"Heh! So that prickly woman actually...! Well, aren't you loved!"
"I’ve been nearly killed by her more times than I can count."
"That’s just how that eccentric woman shows her affection."
Laughing airily, she flicked her index finger against the underside of my jaw.
"Wha—What are you doing!?"
"Ufufufu. As for me, I think my way of showing love is stealing other women's men."
She gave me a mischievous, beaming smile.
"I’ll lend you my power. Happy?"
"...It’s not a bad offer."
That meant the power of the Tria Petal—the Funnels—would finally be mine to command. A boyish part of me was practically giddy. Funnels were pure romance!
"Mmm, Big Sister is glad you’re pleased."
The world began to dissolve. It seemed my time here was up. Usually, these encounters ended in pain, so I felt a wave of relief at the thought of returning unscathed. Maybe there were some decent people in this world after all!
"By the way, what’s your name?"
"Albert von Kronstadt."
"That’s too long. I can’t remember anything over four characters. I’ll just call you Akkun!"
"Four characters... Are you actually an idiot?"
"—Did you just call me an idiot?"
The moment her tone dropped, a dagger buried itself in my forehead. Florina had drawn and thrown the blade from her waist with lightning speed.
My consciousness plummeted into darkness.
"Watch your mouth next time. A girl’s heart is a delicate thing, you know?"
I take it back. This one isn't sane either...
My consciousness snapped back to the Present World.
Rubbing my forehead, I approached the fallen Klaus. He seemed to have regained consciousness and was struggling to push himself up, but—
"Not yet... It’s not over... I can still—ghu-eeeeeeee!"
He vomited a massive amount of blood and slumped back onto the floor. He tried to move again, but his hands could only twitch feebly.
"Ku... ah... aah..."
The effects of the Secret Medicine of Dusk had already faded. His swollen muscles, pushed far beyond their limits, had withered away, leaving him spent. His complexion was a deathly, sickly pale.
He was sitting at 1 HP now that the drug had run its course.
In a game, 1 HP meant you were still technically alive, but would that hold true here? This wasn't a simulation. On top of being on the verge of death, he was dealing with the medicine’s backlash, sheer exhaustion, and massive accumulated damage.
Realistically, he was going to die.
He had tried to kill me, and I had warned him specifically not to touch that medicine. He had brought this on himself.
It’s his own fault—
Except I couldn't leave it at that.
I needed him to defeat the Demon King as one of Hero Leon’s companions. I couldn't afford to lose such a valuable pawn here.
I crouched down and looked him in the eye.
"Hey, Klaus. Do you want to live?"
"...What... did you say...?"
"There’s a way to save your life. And as a bonus, you’ll get the strength you’ve been craving."
Whether he was confused or simply lacked the will to speak, Klaus remained silent. I pressed on.
"Become my Kin, Klaus. Do that, and everything you want will be yours."
Even in his current state, the Frenzy skill would boost his physical stats enough to keep him alive. It was the best—and only—option I could offer.
Suddenly, Klaus’s pale face flushed a deep, angry red.
"D-Don't... mock me...! I... hack, wheeze! I was trying to kill you... and you want me to be your Kin?! The Kin of the Demon King?! Gah!"
I told you not to get excited. Look, you’re spitting up blood again.
"First of all, I’m not the Demon King. You misheard."
If anything, I was the poor soul being set up as a sacrifice.
"Do you remember the day the monsters went on a rampage during the Summer Training Camp? You saw what Luna did, right? That was because she was using her power as my Kin."
"—!?"
"That’s what it did for a scrawny mage. Don't you want to see what it could do for you?"
Klaus’s eyes wavered. Good. Keep doubting. I needed him to set aside the shame of yielding to me.
Klaus gritted his teeth.
"As if I’d ever... cough! I’d rather die than be your servant."
"Being my Kin doesn't mean you can’t challenge me."
Strictly speaking, I could issue commands that were impossible to disobey—but there was no need to mention that right now.
"Take that power and come at me again. I’ll allow it."
"Stop looking down on me...!"
Even that was a humiliation to him? He really was a pain to deal with.
However, Klaus’s eyes were clearly weighing the choice. His sluggish movements stopped, his focus narrowing to a single point. His ragged, shallow breaths were the only sound in the room.
Time was running out.
"...Fine. That ridiculous proposal of yours... I’ll take it...!"
He glared at me with an intensity that felt like he was burning through the last of his life force.
"This mercy... I’ll make sure... you regret it...!"
Yeah, yeah. I get it.
I wished he wouldn't push himself so hard. He was going to pop a blood vessel at this rate.
"Just lie there. I’ll take care of the rest."
Klaus rolled onto his stomach. I picked up a discarded dagger from one of the terrorists and used it to slice away the tattered remnants of his clothes, baring his back.
Then, I cut the tip of my index finger. Bright red blood welled up.
Staring at Klaus’s scarred, well-muscled back, I recited the words of the covenant.
"By my noble blood, I command. You, Klaus, shall become the Kin of Albert von Kronstadt, and you shall obey my word. My power shall dwell within you, and your power shall become mine. Take heed, for the breaking of the Covenant shall be atoned for only by the loss of one’s own life."
Heat flared at the tip of my finger.
I traced my name across Klaus’s back. It had to be excruciatingly hot and painful, but Klaus gritted his teeth and didn't let out so much as a whimper.
I finished the final stroke.
"Klaus. This is the last step. Show me your resolve. Will you become my Kin?"
"...For now... I shall be your Kin."
The moment he spoke, the Blood Script I had drawn sank deep into his skin.
...Phew. Finally over.
In the heat of the moment, I had actually turned Klaus into my Kin. I never expected the guy obsessed with getting revenge on me to actually sign up. What now? I told him he could still challenge me, but maybe I should just forbid him from attacking me? He’d probably glare at me with the most pathetic, frustrated face...
As I was lost in thought, Klaus smoothly pushed himself up.
"—Hmph. Quite well done, I suppose."
I froze. Something was wrong.
That wasn't how Klaus spoke. Had his personality always been like this?
Klaus suddenly grabbed me by the collar and forced me to look at him.
His eyes weren't the ones I knew. A pair of brilliant, crimson orbs stared back into mine.
"It’s been a long time, hasn't it, Lowlife?"