It took Ziger a good while to recover from the shock M had given him.
He had thought about what kind of people the previous contractors might be, but someone as... unique as M left Ziger momentarily unsure how to interact.
He couldn't possibly just start by whipping her a few times like Brynhildr, could he?
After Ziger recovered, M asked, "By the way, what brings you here? It can't be that Sister Hil missed me so much after not seeing me for a month that she couldn't hold back, right?"
[Lady M, I must emphasize again. I do not possess many of the physiological functions of a human. My emotional functions are also simulated based on the system. Please do not assume I possess exactly the same emotional circuitry as a human.]
[We came here because Lord Ziger has developed an interest in magic, and I deemed it necessary to inform him of your existence. Hence, I brought him.]
"Oh? Newcomer, you want to learn magic?"
Hearing the word 'magic', M's eyes lit up slightly.
"Then you've come to the right person! Among all the contractors, I am the one most proficient in magic! Coming to me is definitely not wrong!"
[On that point, I can also vouch, Lord Ziger.]
Brynhildr added.
[Although Lady M's personality is rather problematic and her hobbies leave much to be desired, her achievements in magic are truly extraordinary. Before becoming a contractor, she was a top-ranked magic master on her home planet. Even considering the abilities of all contractors, Lady M is indeed the most outstanding magician.]
[Currently, ten percent of the magic-related materials in the database were produced by Lady M.]
(Ten percent?)
Ziger glanced at the endless rows of bookshelves in the distance. Even if it was only ten percent, the quantity would probably easily reach a hundred, right?
"Actually... I don't necessarily want to learn magic. I just want to understand it. As for magic, I can use it, although only one kind." Ziger said, igniting a small flame on his fingertip.
Watching the flame flicker on Ziger's fingertip, M raised her slender willow-leaf eyebrows. "Hmm? No incantations needed, not even any hand gestures, and you can use magic? And no detectable magical fluctuations before using it—interesting."
"Newcomer, don't tell me you can use magic just by thinking about it?"
"Yeah, that's right—Also, my name is Ziger, Ziger Phil. Not 'newcomer'." Ziger corrected. "Is there something wrong with my magic?"
"Rather than wrong, it's the opposite."
M changed the crossing order of her stocking-clad legs. "Generally speaking, using magic involves several steps—using incantations, hand gestures, magic circles, and other means to establish the structure of the [Spell Formula]. Then, pour magic power into this framework called the [Spell Formula]. Finally, the magic activates."
"Among these, the preparation phase, including incantations, takes the most time. The more powerful the magic, the longer the preparation needed. The strength of a mage is basically proportional to [how much they can reduce that preparation time]."
"But your case is equivalent to skipping the preparation phase entirely. While not an exceptionally rare situation, very few people can learn it. Even the old-timers from the Mythical Age could only get infinitely close to this stage."
"Can't you do it either?" Ziger retorted.
The corner of M's mouth lifted slightly. "Who do you think you're looking down on? I'm a great magician who lived for nearly 300 years. A little trick like this, I mastered it long ago—"
[Lady M's method is slightly different from yours, Lord Ziger.]
[If Lord Ziger can use magic arbitrarily without any preparation, then Lady M prepares a vast amount beforehand and merely injects magic power when needed. In terms of grade, Lord Ziger is more excellent.]
"Sister Hil! Please save me some face in front of the newcomer. I am his senior."
[I believe the disgraceful display you just exhibited left you with no face whatsoever in front of Lord Ziger.]
Brynhildr ruthlessly dismantled every step of M's ladder.
Ziger, however, noticed another key point. "Nearly 300 years? Miss M, didn't you only contract for 88 years?"
"Huh? Oh, yes. But I was 200 years old when I made the contract." M smiled. "I also knew my predecessor. She was a quite interesting little girl. A bit of a pity she ended up betraying our Lily Alliance and ran off to live with some pretty boy—girls should be with girls!"
Ziger: "..."
Brynhildr: [Lord Ziger, please do not mind Lady M's radical statements—Also, Lady M, considering you might need it, I have brought Lord Ziger's physical examination report. As I cannot determine if there are any mysteries within, please examine it.]
"Alright, but as payment for my help, Sister Hil, could you—*Woah—!*"
Before the sly smile could fully form on M's face, Brynhildr expressionlessly gifted her another punch to the stomach.
"Mmph~~~ Th-thank you for the treat~~~ Such wonderful force, Sister Hil, you're the best❤~~~~"
[So, may you begin working now?]
"Of course!"
Returning behind the counter as if nothing happened, casually taking Ziger's physical report from Brynhildr's hand, M began typing on the board called a [keyboard] at a speed that left Ziger's eyes unable to keep up. The rapid *tap-tap-tap-tap-tap* sounds became incessant for a moment.
Simultaneously, M's expression became serious and focused, making it impossible to associate her with the pervert who looked blissful from being beaten just moments ago.
[My apologies, Lord Ziger.]
Returning to Ziger's side, Brynhildr spoke softly.
[Although her personality and hobby-related flaws are significant, Lady M's abilities are unquestionable. I ask for your understanding—If you just whip her once, she will surely get along well with you.]
"...I'll consider it."
Ziger's words were hesitant. He had truly never seen someone who willingly got beaten and even felt happy about it.
(Come to think of it, Miss M is probably from another planet, right? So she's also... an alien?)
(Could it be that all aliens are like this? Aliens are terrifying.)
Ziger, who had not yet encountered other extraterrestrials, developed a particularly large misunderstanding due to incorrect exposure.
Soon, after only a short while, the typing sounds stopped. M's ruby-like beautiful eyes looked at Ziger. After a brief moment of silence, she sighed softly. "To think I'd encounter such a rare case~~~~ Sister Hil, this is not just my personal opinion, but you've found quite a good contractor this time."
"His talent in magic might be even more outstanding than mine."