"At last, we are evenly matched," I said in a mocking tone.
I could see her indignant expression, like a child who had never known failure.
"What do you think you're doing unhappy, that's not fair, why did you do that!" she said as her face formed a subtle pout.
"Ha...ha...ha...hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha" I exclaimed.
"You've got to be fucking with me haven't you, I've almost died twice in the last few days, counting your attack just now and you come to tell me that it's not fair to figure out how to survive?" I said holding back my anger.
"It's not my fault I'm so weak!" I yelled at him, trying not to let tears come out of my eyes.
Quickly wiping the tears from my eyes with my arm I looked at her with a serious face and increased my grip on my sword, lunging at her.
Clink...
A thud resounded as our weapons collided, as she managed to block my attack, but pitifully for her, her spear burned again.
"I'm surprised your threads are so flammable." I said in a wry tone.
"..." she didn't say a word.
I attacked again, this time I received a thrust to the chest, which if it wasn't for my armor, I would have been with Diosito by now, but unfortunately my breastplate didn't make it.
Trying to keep my balance, I took off my broken armor and threw it away.
"It's all or nothing!" I shouted as I threw one slash after another.
On her side Eliz kept creating more spears to counter my sword fire.
"Enough!" shouted Eliz at the top of her lungs.
"Don't you know you don't stand a chance?"
"You're clinging to your life too tightly, give up and I promise you will die a painless death."
"Are you stupid! For no reason would I give my life for any reason, it's MY life!" I said indignantly at his proposal.
I kept attacking, full of anger.
I can't let someone like this kill me, I have to end this fast.
I grabbed a handful of dirt and keeping my sword I rammed it with my body.
When I was a few inches away from her, I formed a fist and aimed at her face, Eliz avoided it, but really my intention was for her to do so to throw dirt in her eyes right then and there.
"Aaahg!" she exclaimed covering herself and closing her eyes.
Moment in which I took the opportunity to take the threads that remained her pockets, I stuck my hand in, successfully stealing 2 small balls, to immediately keep them in my inventory.
When she recovered she pushed me away and recreated one of her spears.
"Agh, you bastard, how dare you."
"What's the need to throw dirt on me, that hurts, I'm a lady." she said annoyed.
"...Really, you've got to be kidding me..." I muttered to myself.
"I remind you that you started this fight!" I shouted.
The sword had less luster so there was little fuel left in the cloth wrapped around it, so I would use what little I had left to destroy more spears, so I hurriedly moved towards it.
Eliz apparently saw through my plan and instead of striking, she undocked her weapon to dodge my attacks.
Baffled that neither attack connected, I stumbled and fell to the ground, before I knew it she recreated her spear and made a cut on my left arm, leaving it disabled.
"Aaargh" I screamed in pain and let go of my sword, which went out.
I put pressure on my wound and slowly stood up, picked up my weapon and tied it to the hand that was in good condition with one of the bandages on my shoulder.
In a last attempt to win the fight I took a battle stance with my sword in front, legs intersected and spine straight.
"Wow, how persevering, now you will see the true power of demons." she said in a serious tone.
She began to swing her spear, which took on a purple aura, which stood out greatly and gave a sense of impending death.
At the same time her horns took on the same hue and a ball of energy projected from the tip of her spear.
"This is my most powerful technique, feel honored to die at my hands."
Before I let the fear take over I bit my lower lip until it bled and after I was myself again, I took a deep breath and calmed my mind.
"Nice party lights." i said mockingly.
That comment touched something in her, which made her instantly attack me with what looked like purple lightning bolts, which were actually threads imbued in her aura.
She initially launched 5 attacks of which two hit me in the right leg, which slowed my movement speed.
"That's what you get for getting in my way." said Eliz euphorically.
"Ha ha, this is child's play." I lied.
She then threw five more, which I dodged with great difficulty, taking a few hits in abdomen and after fifteen attacks in a row and a lot of blood lost, finally the glow of her weapon of faded away.
The reason I didn't attack was not deliberate, I really assumed that this attack would use a lot of her magic and then she would not be able to control her threads.
She stood in the middle of the station without moving a muscle.
So this is what happens when you use up all your mana, I'll keep that in mind.
Eliz was just looking at me and not saying a word, just standing there, but you could see a mixture of hate mixed with fear in her eyes.
I slowly approached her while a certain trembling could be seen in her body, with sword in hand I stood in front of her.
"Eliz aren't you, are you aware of what will happen now?" i said in a calm tone.
"You will murder me..." she said in a somber tone.
"Yes... well, I know what I said, but after seeing your ability I came up with something." I said with a smile on my face.
"You know, I'd like to change my part of the deal, instead of killing you, you'll have to serve me."
"Dead first." he shouted
"Well, as you wish." I said raising my sword.
"Wait!" she said scared.
"Great, if you have no complaints..." i said with a wicked grin.
"Think of this as a contract, I guarantee I'll help you, but first, tell me the truth." i said to her
"Why did you kill those guys?"
"..." he didn't say a word.
"So? You're not going to say anything?" I said dismayed at his sudden silence.
"...I was looking for an object that was stolen from our clan."
"It's a fruit capable of breaking anyone's limit and gives the benefit of climbing the ranks more easily.'
"Those guys knew about its existence, so they went looking for it and when they came out of the forest I followed them to the station."
"I had planned to take it after I killed them, but unfortunately there you were and since you had seen everything I decided to kill you so I wouldn't leave any witnesses." he said with a sigh
"Wow, how subtle, couldn't you just steal the fruit from them and be done with it?"
"Well, it's a unique item so I figured the less people who knew about it the better."
"And I'm sorry for trying to murder you." she said apologetically.
She says it like it's nothing, it's hopeless.
You know, I think I found the fruit you're talking about." I said with an uncomfortable smile.
"I'm sorry, where is it, tell me quickly!" she said upset.
"Wow Wow Wow wait, first of all, you are in no position to demand anything and second of all..." I said embarrassed...
"...I ate it."
"WHAT?" she exclaimed surprised by this revelation.
"...No, no, no, no, what am I going to tell everyone..." she said in shock, as she fell to her knees.
"You, you have to help me!!!, if I come back without the fruit I will definitely be expelled from the clan" he said shouting...
"No" I said in a cold tone.
"It's better if I stay out of trouble for now, besides apparently he doesn't know anything about the rune that was next to the fruit". I thought to myself
"What, why!!!" she said almost in tears.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you tried to kill me?!" I said inquisitively.
"I already apologized to you, please let me stay with you while I fix my problem!" she said desperately.
"I said no!" I was starting to get angry.
"Bwuaaaa! Help me, I have nowhere to go I'll even make a contract with you if I have to!" she said whining.
The situation was already getting a bit comical, so I decided to take the opportunity.
"Okay, I'll help you, but on one condition."
"Really!? Thank you, thank you very much! And what's the condition?" she said excitedly.
"Let's make a contract" I said cheerfully.
The joy on her face soon faded, apparently she was hoping that I didn't want to do the contract, but it's too important a thing to not have paid attention to.
"Ugh, you really want to do it? You will suffer excruciating pain while your body adapts to the contract." she said
"Ugh, I didn't know that, but never mind, let's do it now." I said determined and somewhat annoyed by this revelation.
"Okay, take this and write the conditions for both of us" she said as she handed me a purple and black sheet that appeared out of nowhere.
Let's see, I'll write what I need.
『Contract』.
- Neither party shall attempt to kill the other.
-Tim Devon shall take care of Eliz Darlok for the duration of the contract.
-Eliz shall protect Tim if he gets into trouble.
- The duration of the contract will be 4 years.
- Anyone who breaks any clause of this contract will be punished.
"What do you think?" I said as I handed her the contract.
"Umm, it sounds good to me, it benefits both of us, so I agree." she said with a calmer face.
Usually the contracts that demons make are to come out more beneficial for them or that happens in novels and in my case I tried to do something fair for both of us to gain her trust.
"Well, if you agree let's sign it together" I said.
She wrote her name on the paper and it quickly disintegrated.
"Done, now to make it valid give me your hand."
"O-okay, let's do it."
I was a little nervous, it would be the first time I would hold a girl's hand and especially Eliz, who was beautiful in spite of everything.
I slowly brought my hand closer and when she took it I felt a burst of energy running through my body, I ducked my head to avoid seeing her face, but then I felt a great pain that made me fall to my knees and thinking that it was a trap by the demoness I looked forward, but then I realized that Eliz was in the same state as me.
"Aaagh." we exclaimed in unison.
After 1 minute the pain stopped.
"Ouch, how bad did that feel" I said wearily.
"How are you doing" I said as I turned my gaze towards her.
Unfortunately Eliz did not resist the validation of the contract and fainted, being there on the floor I grabbed her hands, pulled her up on my back and firmly grabbed her legs so she would not fall. Then I carried her walking slowly, because of the accumulated fatigue after the battle.
I approached some seats, placed her carefully and got ready to wait for the next train.
In the meantime I took out from my inventory the small item Eliz gave me when I challenged her to a duel.
"Analysis" I muttered softly.
A window emerged in front of me.
===Analysis===.
- Potion
- Value: 500 Credits
- Health: +50
---
Hmm, I remember in a book I read that potions were used a lot to heal and empower their bodies.
And now that I see the state I'm in, I should use it now.
I took the small vial, opened it and swallowed it.
It tasted like nothing, it was almost like drinking water.
"Let's see, my wounds." I said.
Slowly the cuts started to heal, but leaving scars.
"Great, this really works." I said excitedly.
...
Some time after that I found myself sitting next to Eliz still asleep watching the vastness of the hills in the distance.
Ah, this is so relaxing! The last few days have been so hectic, but they were also the most exciting I've ever had. I want to keep having adventures and seeing the world.
I'm not a cliché protagonist, wanting to have a quiet life or avenge a loved one.
Honestly being transported to another world is what I had longed for in my entire previous life, so I will enjoy doing whatever I please. Obviously without being someone evil.
I have my principles!
But... the truth is that I already have a goal.
I want to have a quiet life and survive this world!
...