The air felt heavy around them. The tension radiating from their locked stares had created an invisible force before my eyes, a force that crushed me with an intensity that kept increasing with every passing second.
"So then, what are you waiting for?"
The gray-haired stranger spoke with a distinctly provocative tone.
And then...
BEEP!
Suddenly, the cube's light began to blink while a beeping sound rang out in intermittent intervals.
BEEP!
This alarmed me, because the cube had never done that before, but the Necronian grenade had.
BEEP!
-Oh, right! An explosive... that should've been a clue...
I thought, as I began to accept my end.
"Huuuaaaahahahaaha..."
-I'm going to die...
BEEEEEEP!
I closed my eyes, hoping I wouldn't feel what was about to happen.
"..."
But after a few agonizing seconds, nothing happened.
"Huh?"
I opened my eyes in confusion, because by that point I had already assumed I was going to die.
When I looked up, I saw the cube moving erratically through the air, while the gray-haired man laughed in a much friendlier way. All at once, the tension in the air disappeared, along with that invisible force.
"Fufu, what a funny reaction."
"Mm...?"
The gray-haired man turned his gaze toward me.
"..."
Silently, he looked me in the eyes while maintaining that same curious expression as before, similar to that of a child seeing a stranger for the first time.
-What's wrong with this guy?
I thought. At the same time, the gray-haired man turned his attention back to the cube and, with a quick movement, caught it with one hand.
[Huh?! What's happening?]
The cube reacted in a strange way, acting as though it had just awakened from a long sleep. It suddenly started shouting as it struggled to break free from the stranger's grip.
"Give us some privacy."
The stranger said this just before throwing the cube. It shot through the air at an incredibly high speed, so fast that in less than a second it had already traveled so far that it disappeared from my field of vision.
FWOOOOOSH!
"Agh...!"
I was about to shout the cube's name, hoping it would answer my call, but I immediately realized that it would be pointless, since it was already far too far away.
-Where is it?!
I quickly searched for the only weapon that wasn't in the cube's possession: the axe. I soon spotted it. It lay on the wooden floor, at a relatively short distance from where I was.
I stretched out my arm, trying to reach the axe, but to my misfortune...
"Nngh... aagh... come on, please..."
My arm refused to obey any of my commands.
"Damn..."
To be more specific, my arm could move, and it did every time I ordered it to, but not in the way I wanted. The movements my limb made were erratic and random, similar to the motions of a serpentine monster.
"Mmm..."
My attention shifted back to the stranger, who was still staring at me. I didn't know who this man was, nor did I know his intentions, and worst of all, no matter what I did, I couldn't defend myself.
"You... really look terrible."
Those were the words the stranger directed at me.
"..."
I refused to answer. The reason was simple: I wanted to be very careful with the words I chose, because I didn't want to sound like a threat or a nuisance.
"Relax."
The stranger said as he sat down on the wooden floor.
"I'm not here to hurt you. I was hoping to hurt someone else."
-Is that supposed to be a good thing?
I wasn't sure how this conversation would end, but at this point I had no choice but to see it through, so with the calmest voice I could manage, I asked:
"Who are you?"
"My name is Nathan. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The stranger... Nathan spoke with a friendly voice.
"What's your name?"
"Robert..."
"So, Robert. You're a rookie, aren't you?"
"Apparently I am... it's my first day on the job."
"Fufu..."
Nathan laughed again.
Now that I was less tense, I was finally able to get a better look at the person in front of me. The gray-haired stranger wore an elegant black formal suit, making his white shirt and bright red tie stand out. Draped around his neck was what looked like a white cape, though it seemed more like another suit, similar to the one he was already wearing.
"Why are you... like this?"
"Like what?"
Nathan's expression changed to one that revealed a hint of pity.
"Most of your body is completely wrecked."
"...!"
I was stunned, because most of my injuries were internal. Very few had left visible marks on my skin, and my clothes also helped conceal them. With that in mind, I couldn't help but wonder: can this person see beneath my skin?
"Crushed bones, torn muscles, severed tissue... Doesn't it hurt?"
He can. He definitely can.
"I... took adrenaline."
When the gray-haired man heard my words, his expression shifted from pity to bewilderment.
"You... don't tell me you went into debt on your first day."
"..."
"Wow... you're really terrible at this job."
His words struck a chord in my pride, a pride I hadn't even realized I had.
"It's my first day..."
"That's no excuse."
The stranger rebuked me with an authoritative voice... in retrospect, he reminded me of a teacher I had back in school.
"I've seen kids your age reach this point in less than twenty minutes without suffering a single injury like yours..."
The stranger paused briefly before continuing and asking:
"How much time do you have left?"
"Uuuh, more or less... about... three or four minutes..."
After hearing my answer, Nathan fell silent. In fact, I think that for a split second, his gray eyes turned a pale white, like those of a corpse.
"What an unfortunate kid."
"...I did what I could."
I said, making it clear that I had already accepted my fate... or rather, my possible fate.
"Don't give up so easily. You've still got a couple more minutes thanks to the Ka'li."
"Huh? What did you just say?"
Nathan cleared his throat as he crossed his arms.
"On this floor there's a Ka'li, an interdimensional being that, by its mere presence, distorts space and time in the same way a dimensional rift does. It's almost certain you'll have a couple more minutes if time slows down."
"R-Really...?"
"Who knows? When your little friend comes back, you can ask him."
"Ah, that's good..."
This is strange. I've only exchanged a few words with this guy, and yet he already seems slightly more trustworthy than the cube or Luci...
-I almost forgot... I need to ask him that too...
"Mr. Nathan."
I got the gray-haired man's attention, trying to sound as polite as possible.
"What is it, Robert?"
"Are you an ally or an enemy?"
"...."
That simple question was met with a deep silence that, contrary to my expectations, left no trace of that invisible force that had been threatening to crush me for a while now. Instead, I felt a breeze, one that made me feel... strangely at peace.
"Does that matter?"
Nathan asked.
"If you were my ally, you'd help me."
"Help you?"
"Yes. As you can see, I can't move..."
"..."
Nathan didn't say anything. He remained silent for a couple of seconds while smiling.
If the situation were different, there's no way I'd speak to this guy so directly. I would have been much more cautious about doing so, because the mere fact that he could stand in a place as terrifying as this and still keep smiling didn't say anything good about him. However, at this point, I had nothing to lose, and I was out of ideas.
After a long silence, Nathan asked,
"Do you want my help?"
At this moment, when I was unable to move, out of ideas, out of options, and with no one left to turn to, all I could do was say,
"Yes..."
The air around us felt strange again. Its temperature had dropped unexpectedly.
"Let's make a pact."
Nathan said.
"A what?"
"A pact."
Nathan repeated.
"It's a type of magical contract."
Magic.
That single word echoed through my mind. The fact that Nathan had said it so naturally confirmed two things. The first was that the person standing before me was a superhuman, and not just any superhuman. He was a sundrel, a magic user, and that led to the second thing: Nathan was someone I should fear.
"A magical contract..."
I spoke cautiously.
"I've heard about them."
As the name implied, a magical contract is an agreement between two or more people. In it, both parties accept the conditions imposed by the contract in exchange for a reward or the promise of one. If the participants refuse to fulfill those conditions, they will be violently punished by the magical power of its creator.
"...What are your conditions?"
At this point, I couldn't turn down an offer like this. If I wanted to complete this mission, I first had to adapt to the phenomena life kept placing before me.
"Good, I suppose you already know the basics."
Nathan said as he lifted my right arm and examined it carefully.
"Magical contracts are usually used for recruiting soldiers or hiring people for high-ranking government positions. In most cases, the instructions are simple. For example, I remember reading one that said things like, 'Don't betray me, don't screw up, and don't be late. Do all that and you'll earn a good salary.' Things like that. But a pact is different."
CRACK!
"!"
Nathan did something to my arm. Suddenly, I began hearing loud cracking sounds coming from inside my limb, while at the same time I watched multiple small objects moving beneath my skin through every part of my arm.
"What the hell did you do to my arm?"
I said with a horrified expression, while inwardly thinking:
-It definitely looks like it hurts. Thank goodness for adrenaline.
"Relax. Everything should fit properly now."
"Fit properly in what sense?"
"Try moving your fingers."
I followed Nathan's advice and, with all my mental strength, forced my fingers to curl into a fist. To my surprise, it happened almost instantly. That's when I realized that my arm, the same one I had broken less than a minute ago when I entered this floor, had recovered as if by magic.
"Good. Now you'll be able to sign."
Nathan cleared his throat and continued.
"As I was saying, a pact is different. It's much stronger."
During this sentence, Nathan placed clear emphasis on the words "much stronger," perhaps expecting me to focus solely on that part and ignore the rest.
"Stronger? How is that possible?"
Regardless of what I thought, I wasn't in a position to complain.
"It's a magical agreement in which only two participants can take part. Both agree to obtain the same thing from the other, along with one additional condition."
Nathan extended his hand toward me.
"I'll heal your injuries and save your life. In return, when the time comes, you'll have to save mine. The additional condition is that you won't be able to involve yourself in anything that directly affects me or helps others do so. Do you agree to that?"
That sounded pretty specific and... honestly, it also sounded like a bomb that would soon explode in my face. Even so, I didn't have to think about it for long. This was my only chance to survive, perhaps my last.
"Yes."
We clasped hands in a firm handshake, and immediately afterward a blue aura enveloped us both. That energy stirred a familiar feeling within me. At that moment, I realized I had experienced something similar a couple of months ago. It was impossible for me not to recognize it, because this energy was unlike any other, even the darkness and the interdimensional energy emitted by the rift. It was intense and crushing, yet also warm and protective.
This was magic.
Fffuuuuaaassssh!
As quickly as it had appeared, the magical aura vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving the two of us in a rather unsurprising situation.
"Done."
Nathan spoke with a voice filled with happiness.
"You can let go of my hand now, Robert."
"Oh, right."
I let go of his hand...
"..."
After that, I didn't know what else to do, so I remained silent for a couple of seconds.
But then, out of nowhere, Nathan said:
"You can stand up now."
"...!"
"Are you serious?"
I asked skeptically.
"Of course. That was the deal."
Still astonished by Nathan's words, I adjusted my body using the strength of my arms, which now moved properly, obeying every command my brain sent them. At the same time, my legs pushed against the floor to lift the rest of my body.
"Agh..."
It took some effort, but I finally managed it. I had stood up. I was thrilled. I wanted to jump and celebrate such a simple act, but deep down I knew what I had to do, and I was going to do it.
The very first thing I did after my body was healed.
"Thank you very much..."
That was all I could do to thank the stranger who had helped me.
"Seriously, thank you..."
I couldn't deny the gratitude I felt toward Nathan at that moment. But I also couldn't stop distrusting him.
Before Nathan could say a word, I picked up the axe and prepared to explore the area, aware that I had to stay alert for the imminent threat posed by both the Ka'li and Nathan himself.
"!"
But in the next instant, I was completely dumbfounded by what I was seeing.
Before my eyes stood a sacred palace straight out of a fairy tale. Its walls were so white that they seemed to glow, unlike the lower floors, where darkness and shadows were ever-present. A few meters away, I caught sight of a massive statue of what appeared to be a golden beast rising from the ground, and around it, beautiful plants decorated the area, making it stand out even more.
"Well... that's excessive."
I turned my gaze away to stop being dazzled by that statue, which I'm ninety percent sure is worth more than my apartment and maybe all of my organs. But when I did, I found something else: a hallway. Yet instead of being eerie and claustrophobic, it was bright and incredibly wide. Not to mention the beautiful red carpet covering the floor, or its white walls decorated with bright golden patterns that followed an elegant wave design.
"Wow...."
I turned once more, this time toward the direction from which I had entered the floor. The first thing I saw was the small hole my body had made upon entering, which, by the way, had small bloodstains around its edge. The second thing I saw was a magnificent ballroom with multiple tables covered in what looked like expensive food... just like everything else on this damned floor!
"I hate this damn building..."
"Really? I think it's quite beautiful."
"Mmm..."
I turned my head from left to right several times.
"What are you doing?"
Nathan asked.
"Which direction did you throw the cube?"
"I don't remember."
"Damn it. Without him, I won't be able to find the Ka'li."
"Don't worry, I didn't use much force. I'm sure it'll be back in less than a minute."
"A minute is a long time for me."
"Fufu, I suppose it is..."
Nathan looked into the distance. He didn't seem to be looking at anything in particular when he spoke again.
"You've got time..."
"I don't know that. Only the cube knows."
I protested, but Nathan immediately replied.
"I can assure you. You have plenty of time. More than enough..."
"...If you say so."
I said sarcastically.
"So... what do I do now?"
Not knowing what else to do, I had no choice but to turn to Nathan again.
"Hey, you..."
"I have no idea."
He answered so quickly that I didn't even get the chance to ask my question.
"You were going to ask about the Ka'li's location, weren't you?"
"Uh... yeah."
".... Hypothetically speaking, if you found the Ka'li, what would you do?"
-What kind of question was that?
I thought, but then I realized I couldn't answer it, because I honestly had no idea what to expect from the final mission. So I simply said the first thing that came to mind.
"I'd use a powerful whim. If I concentrated hard enough on what I wanted, maybe I could defeat the entity by channeling darkness into my Necronian weapons, just like I did with the entities below."
".... I didn't understand a single word you just said."
"Huh?"
Now that was strange. Doesn't he know anything about the Specter and its abilities?
"You said you'd use... a whim. What does that mean?"
"To use the darkness, I need my mind and heart to unite around a single point, a..."
"Purpose."
Nathan said, interrupting me.
"No, a whim."
I corrected him, but when I did, Nathan fell silent with a confused look.
"I can't... I don't have any particular purpose. That's why I can only use the darkness when I focus on exactly what I want in that moment."
"And what... what are those whims you've used?"
"To live."
I answered almost instantly, without realizing how bad that sounded.
"That's sad."
I didn't know how to respond to that, so I decided to correct myself.
"I didn't mean it like that. Seriously, I like being alive sometimes. I mean, not sometimes, I mean... frequently."
"..."
Now that I hear them out loud, my words really do sound pretty sad.
"Well..."
After saying that, Nathan turned around and walked toward a place unknown to me.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"I'm leaving."
"You're leaving? Just like that? How are you going to get out of here?"
"I have my methods."
As he walked away, a question arose from deep within me, one I could no longer keep to myself. I wanted to know. I wanted an answer.
"Who are you?"
Nathan stopped abruptly and said without any enthusiasm:
"I'm Nathan."
"Huh?"
-Is he making fun of me?
"Fufu, relax. I'm just messing with you."
"Uh..."
Nathan turned around and looked me in the eyes while maintaining a calm smile, as if none of this situation mattered to him.
"To you, I'm neither an ally nor an enemy. For now, I'm simply the one who saved your life."
".... Then what were you doing here?"
Nathan answered immediately as he turned around again and started walking away.
"I already told you, Robert. I was waiting for someone else..."
-Someone else?
"!"
-Right, these missions in this building were supposed to belong to someone else. Was he the one Nathan had been waiting for? What is he planning to do to that exterminator?
"..."
It didn't matter anymore. It was obvious Nathan wasn't going to tell me that. But there was something else I absolutely had to confirm.
FFFIFIIUUUUSSSSSSHH!
The moment Nathan let his guard down, I hurled the axe at him with all my strength.
The weapon spun at tremendous speed as it drew closer and closer to Nathan's back, but before it could reach him...
CLACK!
Something got in its way.
It was as if the axe had struck an invisible wall, causing it to veer off course before landing cleanly on the floor.
Meanwhile, Nathan, showing no surprise whatsoever at the sudden sneak attack, turned around and looked at me with a weary expression.
"What was that for?"
I responded by shrugging my shoulders, trying to tell him something like: What did you expect?
"Don't you trust me?"
"No. But that's not relevant. I just wanted to see if the pact worked."
Apparently, I can't attack him directly, but what if...
"Hadn't I already made it clear that I wasn't your enemy?"
"You said you weren't... for now."
"Well, in the near future I could be an ally. Haven't you thought about that?"
I remained silent, because I didn't know how to answer him.
"I feel sorry for you, Robert."
-Sorry for me?
Okay, I feel like that hurt more than it should have.
"Someone like you shouldn't be here. You know that, don't you?"
"....."
CRACK!
Suddenly, a loud crack echoed throughout the entire place. Something broke, and that something was none other than space itself. In front of Nathan, a kind of portal opened, one that apparently led to a very dark place, barely illuminated by what looked like a thousand white dots as bright as the stars in a night sky.
"I've given you a gift, Robert. Make good use of it."
"A gift...? What gift are you talking about?"
Nathan didn't answer me. In fact, I don't think he even heard me. He simply continued walking toward the portal until he finally stepped through it.
CRACK!
After doing so, the portal closed behind him, reconstructing the space until it was just as it had been before it was torn apart.
"What a bastard..."
It was obvious that Nathan wasn't trustworthy at all. In fact, despite his very convincing mask of being a kind person who helped those in need, in the end, he himself was the one who made it clear that his true intentions were, at the very least, questionable. Maybe he didn't notice it, or maybe he simply didn't care what I thought about it.
"...."
Now that I think about it, his attitude isn't any different from Lucius's, or even the cube's on some occasions.
Anyway, none of that matters anymore. If I survive this mission, I'll do everything I can to stay as far away from that guy as possible.
FWOOOOSH!
I was thinking about what I should do next when a sudden gust of wind from behind me struck with such force that it nearly knocked me over, but thanks to my quick reaction, its only accomplishment was messing up my hair.
I turned around to face whatever had caused that gust.
"!"
But when I did, I found myself face to face with a black object about the size of an apple. It floated above the ground at the height of my face.
[Where is it?]
A cold and threatening voice reached my ears.
The way that object spoke made it clear that it had a profound indifference toward anything that stood in its way. I had never expected to hear the cube speak like that.