Became the Contractor of the Favorite Character (3)
'Isn't there even a single line of explanation?'
Although we used the term "contract," it was simply a choice of YES or NO without any listed conditions. Even as someone who had reached the end of Academy's Hero, I had never made a contract with a devil, so I couldn't help but panic.
"Don't you know anything about the contract?"
"Hmm… the book said I would give up my soul in exchange for receiving power from the devil by signing a contract."
Asami picked up the book again, turned the pages, and showed me. It was written in a difficult and complex way, but to sum it up simply: humans and demons can make one request of each other. However, in most cases, humans want strength and power, and the devil inevitably demands a human soul.
'A soul… that's a bit creepy, isn't it?'
According to the book, you can ask for other things, but the devil always receives the soul. It was fine to sign a contract with Asami, but taking her soul was a bit much. I'm not even a devil in the first place.
"Hmm… are you asking for strength from me?"
"Yes."
She clenched her fists and looked at me with a determined expression, as if she were prepared to gain strength even if it cost her soul.
"What do you want from me?"
There was a hint of hesitation in Asami's voice when she asked. Was she afraid I would take her soul? Of course, since I'm not a devil, what would I even do with a soul? Even if I were a demon, I wouldn't want to take hers. In fact, if it were a reward for her, I'd be willing to go to great lengths to help.
Though, the "reward" I had in mind was a bit lewd.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to say anything outrageous like asking for your soul. After all, I am human."
Phew…
At my words, Asami sighed in relief. Was she relieved that I didn't ask for her soul, or was she relieved that I was human?
"But if you're not a devil, how did the contract ritual succeed…?"
"I don't know."
"…All right. Then what do you want?"
After thinking about it for a while, Asami asked me again, raising her eyebrows as if realizing she wouldn't get a clear answer about my nature.
"Nothing."
"Yes?"
"Nothing."
I really didn't want anything. Under the pretext of the contract, the desire to have intense sex flashed through my mind, but that wouldn't mean anything in this situation. What I want is a woman who loves me, not a sex doll.
"But then we can't sign a contract."
Asami was taken aback by my answer. Only I could tell how cute she was when she stuttered while embarrassed.
"Ah, that's right."
Come to think of it, I also had to ask her for one thing to finalize the contract.
'Hmm…'
All sorts of thoughts crossed my mind. Most were sexual fantasies, but as I said before, I had no intention of executing them. But this was a wish that would grant me anything. Honestly, it felt like a waste to use it on something simple like asking her to fetch water; I'd need the spiritual discipline of a saint to pass up a real request.
"Kiss me."
In my life, except for elementary school, I had never experienced dating. I've never even kissed, let alone had sex. However, isn't it natural for a man in his prime to be curious about exchanging saliva and the feeling of tongues entangling after seeing it all over the internet? I didn't know how the contract would help her, but this was far better than asking for her soul.
"…All right."
Embarrassed by my request, she held her breath and pondered for a moment. Finally, blushing deeply, she leaned closer to me, inch by inch.
One step… I could see her hair. Now we were close enough to touch. She must have washed recently, as the fragrant scent of cherries drifted over me.
"…Pervert."
Ashamed of my gaze, she averted her eyes and muttered shyly in a small voice. I wanted to tell her how much patience I was exercising, but she looked so lovable that the words died in my throat.
"Close your eyes, please," she said, placing one hand over her chest. I followed her instructions and closed my eyes. I thought about the kissing methods I'd learned from dramas, pornography, and manga.
Peck.
A soft sensation touched my lips for a moment and then disappeared.
"Is… is that okay?"
I was panicking, thinking something had just passed by, but her voice made me open my eyes. She had pulled away, and her entire face, from her ears to her neck, was dyed red.
"…? What?"
"A ki—I mean, a kiss!"
She couldn't bear the embarrassment any longer, so she lowered her head and covered her face with her hands.
"Asami. Do you know the difference between a peck and a kiss?"
"Yeah… that's the difference between doing it on the cheeks or on the lips."
Haha…
I couldn't help but be flabbergasted by our different definitions. It seemed she didn't know that a real kiss involved saliva and tongues mixing lewdly. While she wasn't technically wrong, it felt unfair.
"It was my first kiss!"
Seeing her shyly screaming, my frustration vanished. Although I regretted not being able to properly taste her mouth, hearing that it was her first kiss gave me a deep sense of satisfaction.
'Okay. I can't force someone who just gave me her first kiss to do more than that.'
Even if it was different from the kiss I wanted, seeing her so fresh and innocent was enough. I decided to sit in the chair and wait for her to calm down.
"Thank you. Now that you're all right, let's sign the contract, okay?"
After a while, the blush on her face faded. She looked at me and said, "Okay."
Touching my lips and recalling the sensation, I selected [YES] in the notification window floating in my field of vision.
…
"Is there any change?"
"I think we should check the status window first."
"A status window? How do I do that?"
"…? If you just think about it, it should appear in front of you."
Asami tilted her head as if my question was strange. A status window. This wasn't a game, and there were no shortcuts or buttons. How was I supposed to check it? Still, following her advice, I focused on the thought.
'Status window.'
Name: Sora
Race: Incubus
Contractor: Asami Sato
Strength: 5 | Agility: 4 | Stamina: 6 | Endurance: 2 | Mana: 1 | Vitality: 10
Points: 0 | Essence: 27,052
Skill: X
Abilities: Drain (Lv1), Eye of Incubus (Lv1), Intercourse (Lv1)
Special Ability: Incubus Contract (S)
(NEW!) Extra points from Save File #1 have been converted to Essence.
"Fuck?!"
"Yes?"
"Oh, nothing."
Save File #1. The file that had vanished into thin air, the one I spent 500 hours on over a single month. After staring blankly at the window, one thought came to mind.
'Is this really a dream?'
Thoughts I had deliberately pushed aside while spending time with Asami came rushing back. I remembered the peck she gave me. They say everything you feel in a dream is based on experiences your brain remembers. But I, who had never even held a woman's hand, felt the touch of those soft lips and the fresh scent of cherries. It felt too real.
I pinched my leg. It hurt.
I pinched my cheek. It hurt.
I punched myself in the face lightly. It really hurt.
Asami looked at me like I was crazy, but that wasn't the point.
'If this isn't a dream…?'
Then why? Why was I inside the world of Academy's Hero? As soon as I clicked "New Game," a wave of drowsiness hit me, and I woke up in Asami's room. I racked my brain for an answer, but there was none. There is no logical explanation for supernatural phenomena.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied to her worried tone. "Has anything changed for you?"
"Yes! I finally have a special ability!" she answered with a wide, happy smile. I noticed she was very expressive with her emotions. It made me wonder even more why she ever became a final boss.
"What ability is it?"
"Incubus Contractor, S-rank!"
It seemed she had acquired an ability linked to mine.
'Status Window.'
I called up the window again to read the descriptions.
The Drain ability allowed me to obtain vitality from the opposite sex, influenced by pleasure and satisfaction. With the energy obtained this way, I could create and strengthen skills or raise my stats. Intercourse provided positive effects during sex. Eye of Incubus was incredible—it allowed me to see how much someone liked me. It was only Level 1, but it would show more as it leveled up.
Finally, the Incubus Contract. I could see Asami's stats and raise them by consuming my energy. Also, the energy obtained from my contractor would be doubled. I then checked Asami's status.
Name: Asami Sato
Race: Human
Contractor: Sora
Strength: 6 | Agility: 7 | Stamina: 6 | Endurance: 4 | Mana: 3
Ability: Swordsmanship (Lv2)
Special Ability: Incubus Contractor (S)
'Haha…'
Her stats looked modest compared to my total points, but her base stats were actually higher than mine by an average of 2.
'If we fought, would I lose?'
I had no intention of fighting her, so it was just a passing thought. Her Swordsmanship increased damage by 20% when using a sword. Her Incubus Contractor ability was mostly a mirror of my own.
"Why do you have so much Essence…?" she asked, looking at me suspiciously.
Essence. An energy gained through physical intimacy with the opposite sex. I was taken aback by her question. Having just experienced my first kiss, I was suddenly being looked at like some kind of professional gigolo.