[Silver Ash] - Become The Strongest In Another World
CHAPTER 241: Contract (5)

...****************...

Getting that question from Tian made Noelle instantly stare at Felice.

Felice, however, only smiled faintly while looking back at him. "You seem like you really want to make a contract, so last night I called Tian and told him about this."

Noelle didn't know whether to take this as a favor or not. Indeed, he had the intention to make a contract, but his decision was still uncertain.

He heard the many negative sides of the contract from 'He Who Loves Fairy Tales and the Past'. That made him rethink all his decisions.

After all, Noelle had too many secrets that she did not even want any god to know about.

Despite that, getting the initiative from Felice and Tian made him rethink all that.

Noelle was silent for a moment, then raised her face again and looked at Tian.

"That's right. I have an intention for that. Can you help me? "

"I couldn't help much, but .. "Tian stopped and brought his right hand to his chin. Then, he continued, "I can replace Dolf to give you permission."

"What does that mean … "

Tian nodded. "Noah, make a contract. Don't worry it will fail or succeed. But, if you succeed, you'll have to do some extra work."

This is the first time Noelle has heard of it. Noelle looked at Felice for a moment, and soon realized that the girl had turned her face the other way.

He completely forgot to say that to Noelle.

"From what I've seen, it looks like Felice hasn't told you. Don't worry, this extra work won't be heavy. You'll only get extra work when the church needs it. The jobs you'll get usually include investigating or being a bodyguard."

" … I understand."

Tian looked at his own pocket watch, then immediately stood up from his chair.

"I'll leave the rest to Felice. Let me know after you've finished making the contract."

Saying that, Tian then turned around and left from the staff room.

"Alright, I think we can rule that out for later. The bar still has to be opened, and it's just the two of us now."

Noelle, who had finished changing her clothes, was now behind Felice, looking closely at the girl as she folded her coat.

...****************...

The bar opened a little late today, but it didn't matter because there weren't any customers.

Even after nearly 20 minutes of waiting, Noelle and Felice simply kept silent behind the table while waiting for the clanking of bells at the door.

(Is there a newspaper or magazine here? )

Noelle drowned her face at the table while playing the pen. Then, he lifted his face upwards and looked at Felice in confusion as if he wanted to ask something.

"Elis, about the contract .. How can I make it? "

Noelle who suddenly spoke made Felice instantly shrug her shoulders in surprise. Obviously, he was not focused.

"Ah .. That .. You can do it in the altar that is underground. I'll take you there later."

"All right."

After the short conversation ended, the bells on the door rang, and a group of customers who seemed to be students came over.

They were busy chatting, and naturally took a group seat in the corner.

Noelle stood up from her place, carrying a menu list, and was intent on giving it to them.

Even if they are regular customers, giving out menu books is part of the professionalism that every waiter should have. At least, that was what Tian said.

"Good morning, can you name your order? "

After working here for a few days, Noelle was already quite used to serving others. Noelle herself did not expect it, but she was quite a match for this job.

After all, it is a job that requires patience and emotional control as well as good expression. Noelle had reached the expert level for all of that, so she could do this job smoothly.

The group of customers kindly answered Noelle and mentioned their orders without looking at the menu. Afterwards, Noelle returned and told Felice about her order.

While watching Felice work, Noelle inevitably thought about the previous customers.

They are all students from local universities, and their age is likely to be 19 or 20.

Felice is 19, but why is she busy here, while everyone her age is in college.

For Noelle, she didn't really care about that. Indeed, he had never felt a real lecture, but he already had a deep understanding for every material studied at that level.

(What's the cost issue? Or .. )

Noelle could not imagine this country having a caste system. Unlike the Kingdom which greatly exalted the 'Blue Blood', the Republic was a free country that all its inhabitants could get access rights to many facilities, and one of them was an educational facility.

If in the Kingdom there is an academy, then in the Republic there is a Public School and University. There are no specific restrictions other than the absolute rule stating that only genuine Republicans are allowed to register there.

(Yahh, whatever it is .. I don't think it has anything to do with me, right? )

As long as Noelle thought about it, Felice had already finished all the orders. Noelle picked up the tray that contained a few cups of coffee, then smoothly delivered them to the customers.

...****************...

"I don't think today we're getting a lot of customers … "

After all the shifts were over, Noelle immediately put up a signboard lid on the doorstep, and began to clean up all the tables.

When compared to the previous days, the customers that came today were not so much.

"They've heard the news that we're going to close early, and there's a schedule change for some of the companies around. You recall? Most of our customers are students and workers from various companies around this neighborhood. The change in the company's schedule made them unable to come here as usual."

"So so, yes … "

This was something Noelle had understood from the beginning, but it was only the first time she saw the influence of the environment on the quantity of customers.

(I usually just go to the cafe for a free breakfast with Shion, so I've never seen anything like this. )

"Fortunately there is you. Otherwise, I'd really be alone, and this bar had to be closed for a while."

A sigh of relief came out from Felice after she said that. Then, he continued to clean the wet table due to the coffee spill.

Noelle who heard that so clearly could only give a wry smile in response.

After finishing the cleaning session, Noelle and Felice were finally able to sit down in relief in the staff room.

Even if the customer is not as much as usual, it is still a bit tiring because there are only the two of them there. Many things must be done, one of which is to fill out a financial book.

They have split the task fairly, but bookkeeping is arguably difficult because one small mistake can be a fatal problem.

Noelle used a wet towel to compress both her eyes, while Felice tiredly stretched her body.

After being satisfied to stretch, Felice then looked at Noelle and smiled.

"Noah, we're going to the altar now. Are you ready? "

Noelle lifted the towel that closed her eyes, then replied in a voice, "Yes. Take me there."

...****************...

Normally, it would take a long time for a new member like Noelle to get the right to make a contract with a god. However, since everyone's trust in him was already at an almost maximal level, they easily gave him permission.

Currently, Noelle was walking down the stairs leading underground with Felice's guidance in front of her.

As he had expected, this staircase leading underground was a path that could deliver him wherever he had the right to access.

If one did not have the right to enter any room, then he would simply continue walking down the stairs without finding another room.

Of course, they could get to a certain room if they followed someone who had the right of access, as had happened before.

"We're up."

Before long, a door appeared right beside Felice, and Noelle could only stare at the door with a stiff smile.

Felice casually opened the door, and stepped her foot inside. Noelle followed that and naturally began to look around her.

The door behind him began to close on its own, but that was no problem. When they come out later, they will be directly in the special staff room.

There was not much to see from the room. The room was almost empty with the arrangement of mossy stones as its walls.

The most striking of course was at the end of the room. A strange structure was built by making basins inside the walls. The size is not too big, but it is enough to include all the beautiful decorating units.

A crystal clear water pool with a small shower, and a beautiful ritual altar with many light blue glowing crystals around it.

"You can stand there. Once you're ready for the ritual, you can calm down and channel your magic energy into every line where it's on the altar." Felice began to explain while pointing at the altar.

Noelle subconsciously walked up to the altar, and began to stand on it. From there, he could see hundreds of flashing light particles as if they were interacting with him.

Felice only looked at it from a distance, without disturbing Noelle in the slightest. If he could, he wanted to help Noelle, but unfortunately making a contract with a god was something that only the would-be contractor could do on his own.

Noelle's concentration is rising. He began to focus on himself and the altar beneath himself. For a moment, Noelle felt her mind become a bit slow, but somehow she managed to recover her own condition after taking a deep breath.

Noelle looked down, precisely at the line of magic circuits scattered throughout the entire altar.

all of those lines were connected to each other, and led directly to a small pillar with many crystals embedded on its surface.

Noelle closed her eyes, and released her magic energy through the legs, which then propagated throughout the altar.

For a moment, a dazzling violet light appeared and enveloped the altar. Felice who saw that from a distance could not take her eyes off, and could only admire the sight.

Noelle's magic energy managed to enter the circuit line, and it was then flowed into the center that became the core of her ritual.

Each of the crystals on the surface of the small pillar lit up with a dazzling violet light. It was a sign that Noelle had completed the first stage of her ritual.

Felice kept seeing it from a distance. Then, his eyes widened as he saw a gate of light appear and open right above Noelle's head.

The gate of light was in a horizontal hovering position, and the two open leaves had various mysterious patterns that Felice had never seen before.

(What is this ... Spirit Gate? )

Felice had already heard about it, but she herself had never seen the Spirit Gate. The only time he had ever interacted with the Spirit Gate was when he performed a ritual to make a contract with a god.

At that moment, his eyes were closed, and his awareness had also disappeared, so he did not really know how the shape of the Spirit Gate was.

The space within the Spirit Gate emitted a dazzling white light, before finally some transparent glowing tendrils began to stick all over his body.

All the tendrils were then drawn back into the Spirit Gate, but this time with something that could not be seen by the eyes.

Noelle clearly felt her consciousness slowly dissipating.

When Noelle wakes up, she quickly realizes that she is not where she was before. There was only a dazzling light here, and various deafening whispers also left him unable to focus.

Noelle tried to look around, and found seven pillars of light of different colors showing her divinity in a distant place.

(This ... Am I in the Spirit World? )

This scene was not unfamiliar to him, and he was also quite familiar with the misleading whisperings of the beings living here.

" ……… "

(What do I do now? )

Noelle waited for a while, but nothing happened. He also did not know how the process of making the contract took place, so he could not confirm it.

Noelle confusedly looked around her, but then her consciousness seemed to be pulled into another place very strongly.

The pull Noee couldn't stand. Noee could only allow herself to be dragged away by the attraction, then look back at her surroundings.

The view around is pretty much the same. There was only white light from all directions. He is still in the Spirit World.

However, it was not long before he was finally in a different place.

The sudden transition left him perplexed, but he was also no stranger to this scene.

This was a sight that aroused his trauma. Noelle could not help herself from looking the other way. However, no matter which direction he looked, there was only a thick fog covering the entire place.

Not wrong again, this is the Mist Garden that he had visited.

...****************...

The fog with the rest of the power of the Night Guard Goddess Zelica was still there, and the heavy air that eroded sanity was also still quite concentrated.

Everything was still identical to the one Noelle remembered. It was traumatic for him.

Noelle has a bad feeling about this, but she tries to calm herself down and wait for the spa to come next.

Finally, the surrounding gray fog was sucked into a single point, and slowly formed a single figure.

His bad feeling came true. Not any god, who came out before him now was precisely the most terrible entity he had ever seen.

Black hair, black eyes, and the ancient magician robe fluttered along with a widening smile on his face.

Noelle's body felt trembling, and her legs became limp. Both of his hands were preparing to do everything to protect themselves, but it did not even have the slightest exertion.

The figure standing before him, looked to be the same height thanks to Noelle who changed her appearance. Even so, somehow the tension that Noelle felt made her feel that the figure was very large.

With her voice trembling, Noelle managed to name the figure.

"Noir …! "

...****************...

The form of a grown man was, unmistakably, the same Noir that Noelle had first seen.

This time, he posed casually while sitting in the ruins of the cathedral that had been out since when it appeared there.

"During time not to meet, Noelle. You look different than I remember. Is that little bit of power I lent you that useful? "

Both Noir's eyes narrowed sharply as his smile widened.

" … What do you want? "

At a time like this, Noelle really did not dare to lower her guard. He carefully watched every move Noir made. In fact, one blink also did not escape his sight.

Noir certainly knew that Noelle was very wary of him, but that was no reason to change her attitude.

"Hehe, I'll get straight to the point. Make a contract with me."

"Are you kidding me? "

After hearing that, inevitably Noelle became dubious of his ears. If Noir really wanted to make a contract with her, then there was only one thing Noelle could think of.

It was an insult.

"Sorry, but the one thing I hate the most is being used! "

Saying that, Noelle used her own hands to slash diagonally from top to bottom, creating a sharp gust of wind thanks to her magic, and aimed it straight at Noir.

Of course, the attack would never succeed. A strange wisp of black smoke appeared and resisted Noelle's attack as if it was just an ordinary gust of wind.

Actually, Noelle had expected this.

If his guess was correct, then he was currently definitely in the collective dreamland. Before coming here, he was merely an astral projection that entered into the Spirit World, then was pulled into this place by a power that most likely came from Noir.

Whatever attack Noelle gave off would not have been too influential, given that this was not the real world. Instead, Noir could do everything he wanted because this was a dreamland, which became his place' sealed.

"I understand very well that you hate being used. I understand that very well. Because I have the same feeling."

A smile was still on Noir's face, but somehow it looked creepy.

"That's exactly why I thought we'd fit in. If you make a contract with another god, then you will only be used by them for a small purpose. But, if you make a contract with me, this will be a mutually beneficial equal relationship."

" ……… "

Noelle really couldn't believe what she was hearing. Noir actually said all that as if it was a natural thing.

"What's your aim? "

There would be no point in thinking about the answer yourself. Noir is an unpredictable entity, so it's easier if 'He' says it himself.

Noir snorted small. "just simple. I want to be free."

After a fairly long pause, 'He' continued his words. "In addition, I want to see it. The Birth of the King."

(Birth of the King? )

Noelle wanted to ask what she meant, but unfortunately she was not given the chance to do that.

"I won't make small talk with you. I need you to make a contract with me. In exchange, I'll give you a lot of benefits."

"What benefits will I get? "

The smile on Noir's face returned to normal.

"There's plenty. One of them, the 'Domination' authority you have now will evolve along with your own development. Besides, I will also help you whenever you are in a desperate situation. After all, you're my contract partner, so you can't die."

"Why are you talking like I've accepted your offer? "

"You won't accept it? "

There was no change to Noir's expression, but Noelle could feel the air around her becoming heavier.

" … Do you think I'll accept the offer? You're the one who caused all this to happen. Because you're the one I have to leave everyone behind. I don't want them to get hurt just because I made a contract with you."

After hearing that, Noir could not help but laugh out loud. His laughter was so loud that the land on which they stood began to tremble.

"Don't worry about that. I'm not gonna touch them. It's not that I obey you, it's just that they're not so valuable that they deserve my attention."

Saying that, Noir then came down from the wreckage of the cathedral where he was sitting.

"For the record, even if they won't get my attention, you won't be able to get back at them. After all, you have goals that you have to achieve no matter what happens."

"Hows it? Are you going to make a contract with me? "

Noir raised his right hand as a deep-seated invitation, but Noelle did not even twitch in the slightest.

To be honest, he wanted to ask about the last point Noir mentioned. However, looking at the situation, there was no way Noir would answer any more than this.

A lot of time passed just for Noelle to do various considerations. After she was done with it, Noelle finally made a decision.

Noelle raised her face, and shook Noir's hand.

"I'll take your contract."

This was a choice that even surprised himself, but it didn't mean he had any other options. Whatever the reason Noir chose her, it was not a problem as long as Noelle could achieve her goal.

After the handshake was done, Noir was increasingly unable to hold back his smile.

"All right then. With this ... I, 'The Cunning and Dominating'—Noir, agree to make Izaya Canaria, Noelle Lynneheim, and Estelle Finnegard my contract partner."

Before Noelle could ask what the name Noir meant, a dazzling light along with a plume of black smoke drowned her appeared, and made Noelle's consciousness sink and return to the real world.

Above the altar, Noelle who had finished her ritual could only stare in a daze at Felice sitting beside her.

...****************...