The Geisha had seen countless people.
The arrogant, the desperate, the timid, the naive, the crazed, the violent, it had seen them all. In fact, it had killed and happily toyed with so many that it had long lost count. But Damon’s shameless approach was a first even for it.
"Collateral? My future!" He confidently declared.
“Future? Honey, that’s incredibly worthless, isn’t it?” The Geisha scoffed, fanning themselves.
In a world of Magical Beasts and Dungeons, a word such as “future” would often end up in a monster’s belly. Something like that could not be used as currency; it was simply empty.
“Is that so? How about this, then?” Chuckling, Damon flicked something at the Loan Shark.
The shine of Amber, the cold touch of the metal, the subtle traces of Mana... those were enough to identify it: an Amber Academy Badge! This was the proof of one belonging to the prestigious school.
“T-This?! ARE YOU SURE?!”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
The two stared at one another, seemingly in a mental joust.
Future was such an unreliable thing, was it? Perhaps not as unreliable for someone who had been accepted as a student at the Amber Taming academy. Actually, the implications were even greater...
- Pawning one’s Academy Badge? It was an insane move. It wasn’t just a matter of pride, but it could get one kicked out. What did Damon need so badly that he was ready to risk it all?!
- The way he had thrown it also revealed so much. He had done so with such calm and composure. It was as if getting and repaying the crazy loan he wanted was merely a formality in his mind.
- Then, there was the matter of beating himself up and running across the entire district to meet the one known as the Cruel and Merciless Geisha. It was even more peculiar! What gave him the balls?
The being focused some more on Damon. Calm, way too calm. No way in hell should a youngster have such control! But so what? The Geisha was an experienced foe. They turned toward the nearby cat.
A Fortune Neko…with very low magical power. Either it was sealed, or a fake, but that didn’t matter just yet. What it wanted out of it wasn’t its power, but to use it to rattle the youngster’s psyche and poker face!
“Your master’s ready to gamble, but are you? No Academy, no training, forever remaining a weakling…” They chuckled, their cold voice meant to instill fear into the beast.
Beasts weren’t as scheming.
As long as it panicked, it would affect its master’s mind!
“Miaow?” (Is that a yes or not?)
Doubt? NONE! The cat’s intelligent eyes didn’t waver in the least. Was it the trust in its master? Was it confidence in their potential? This Cat was going places! The Geisha couldn’t help but be taken aback.
“You’re that confident?! That sure is a surprise…”
Little did they know that the cat didn’t care for one reason, and one reason only…. it wasn’t their Badge in the first place! It was useless to them! Luckily, it didn't know the punishment for stealing one either. Thus, it successfully impressed the Geisha.
“Fine! You’re interesting, so you've got yourself a deal… as long as it’s reasonable. Tell me, how much do you want? 20% interest, of course…” The Geisha magnanimously presented its dainty hand, making a Credit sign.
Damon gave a warm smile as he enumerated...
"Gloom lillies. Everdark Berries. Darken Carrots. Corpse of a Bronze Deathcock, features included. Lava Chili. Cain Grains. Sugar Rush. Crying Mandrake. Masnaless Darkness Vial. Light Crunks. Thermo–"
The list went on and on, making less and less sense as it went. Poisons? Cooking Ingredients? Essences of conflicting elements? Straight-up drugs and illegal materials? Heck, some of those didn't even exist in the Blue Zone and hailed from the Green Zone!
"Y-You... why do you need all this?!"
"You can't get it? I guess I expected too much..."
The loan shark shook their head, amused. This kid, he was taunting them! He had to know that they were a smuggler, and he probably knew about their collection, too. As for how a kid like him had obtained such knowledge... it was so enticingly unexpected.
Damon watched the Geisha smile as they drew an X̅ sign in the air...
Ten thousand Credits? He had expected as much.
"Fine with me."
The Geisha wordlessly waved their hand, a bluish contract appearing in mid-air, before diving straight at Damon and... penetrating his chest?! Now, if he failed to repay, he wouldn't just lose his life, but his freedom too.
[Established a Magical Contract!]
[You've Wagered Your Future!]
[Current Debt: 10 015 Credits!]
That sum was going up by the second, even now.
Then, they rummage through their pockets, taking out a music-box-like item from their robe. As soon as they cranked it... – DROP! DROP! DROP! – Items started plopping on the ground in a messy pile.
"Here, take your loot and scram, kid."
"Sure thing!"
Damon happily dived in, grabbing oodles of loot and sending tons of it to his System Storage directly… about 1% of it. This left a huge pile just laying on the floor. He turned to his Pet.
“Grab your side, we’ll carry the rest!”
“Miaow!” (Right away, Master!)
– PLOP! PLOP! PLOP! –
The scene of a human and cat crafting a makeshift tramp’s bundle and struggling with their loot looked so comical. It was a stark contrast to that badass negotiation… and not a good one.
“Sigh…here take this.”
Seeing them struggle, the nearby loan shark couldn’t help but sigh as they threw them a small wooden horse, all the while making a mental note that Family Background wasn't Damon's source of confidence.
The latter happily grabbed it, as if rain in a desert.
[Received Storage Toy Horse! Appearances Can be Deceiving!]
[Increases Inventory Limit by 50! Current Storage Used = 10%!]
“Thanks, brother! See you later!” Damon made the loot disappear, skipping away in joy and leaving a bemused Geisha behind. Brother? Was it a coincidence, or had he known for sure that he was actually a guy under all that makeup?!
As for Damon, he was far too busy rejoicing: first Storage Item! Actually, his previous inventory space would have been sufficient, but with a little acting he had received it for free as a perk!
“Miaow?!” (What now, Master?)
Hearing the question, Damon turned stern, remembering what he had to do next. His next plan had a pretty high chance of success but an even greater chance of creating unwanted collateral issues.
“You’ll see soon…” He ominously declared, his mind clearly preoccupied.
On the way home, the colorful scene of the Red Light district seemingly had lost its shine, the Amber streets felt like an omen of death, and their new house seemed incredibly grim. He had to drag his feet to enter their dwelling.
Damon barely looked at the cat. The easygoing personality that he usually possessed was gone, and a glint of madness appeared in his eyes as he got to work, taking material after material out and mixing them together.
[Attempting Alchemy. Failed!]
[Attempting Alchemy. Failed!]
[Attempting Alchemy. Failed!]
[Attempting Alchemy. Failed!]
[Attempting Alchemy. Failed!]
[Attempting Alchemy. Failed!]
[Attempting Alchemy. Critical Failure! You’ve created an Abomination!]
That’s when he stopped, eying the end result, a goo-like, dark yet glistening weird substance that smelled even worse than the lair of the Rat King. Heck, the thing seemed to want to escape its jar as if alive.
“It is done.”
This result would definitely get any Crafter banned from a guild. Yet, he was satisfied with it. As they say, a man’s trash is another man’s first step toward world domination.
He, who had barely reacted as he had handled the Rat King’s Corrupted Heart, now found his hands shaking. Steadying them, he poured the liquid straight into the floor, drawing a reversed pentagram.
The Abominous liquid wobbled, satisfied; it liked the shape.
“Miaow?!” (M-Master, What’s this?!)
As the liquid wriggled, even the cat could feel its malevolence. This thing shouldn’t have existed in this world! Somehow, it felt even hungrier, greedier, and more baleful than the Specters from the train!
Now was the time to activate it...
Damon couldn't help but chuckle dejectedly...
“Follow me, and you’ll become stronger than most magical beasts.” Damon took a huge pause, staring sorrowfully in mid-air as if reminiscing.
"Miaow." (Master?)
“Actually…I lied. The world is a shitty place. A regular cat growing strong enough to beat a real Magical Beast? That’s bullshit. Power of friendship? Efforts paying off? Life isn’t all rainbows and sunshine.”
That's when he turned truly grim, the friendly facade slipping off, revealing the darkness that hid behind the young and "innocent" face.
"Tomorrow, I'm heading to the Academy..."
"Did you know, I have no talent for Taming? I'm as worthless as you are. That's why I can't take any chance. I need to grab every fucking opportunity. I'll lie, cheat, take shortcuts, and sacrifice my soul and body if necessary. That’s my resolve."
"What I need isn't a companion but a demonic slave, one from which I can draw power. That's where you come in; you just happen to be the perfect sacrifice. How is it? Are you shocked? Are you despairing yet? How does it feel?"
The cat felt like the whole world was crumbling apart because of its master's current state. SACRIFICE?! Yet, that wasn't what shocked it the most. Weak? Was its master actually weak? Had it all been a front from the start?!
Damon watched the flickering emotions in his companion's eyes. This cat was prime sacrifice fodder. Smart, filled with chaotic desires and pent-up emotions that would erupt once it realized the betrayal. Any moment, it would try to escape with its life.
Damon almost felt like letting it go. What if he got another sacrifice instead? He had actually grown quite fond of the little critter. Yet, in the back of his mind, he knew. He was running out of time. Missing the entrance exam would mean waiting a full year. He couldn't.
Except the cat didn't escape. Running away from a tiny ritual? IT WOULDN’T!
It flicked its tail, getting closer to the ritual with each subsequent miaow:
“Miaow!” (Endless Struggle)
“Miaow!!!” (Eternal Despair!)
“MIAOW!!!!” (The Most Pitiful Death!)
As it reached the center of the circle, it gave one last glance to the master that had allowed it to dream. As it raised its paw to give one last salute, there was no fear in its eyes, there was only that fiery light.
“Miaow!” (Don't be sad, Master. That's what you promised me from the start. You go on and show them all!)
"Miaow!" (Thank you. for everything....)
Damon's vision became blurry. At that moment, it started raining.
Sorrowfully mad chuckles escaped him as he pointed to the critter's eyes, eyes still so full of life. "This Flame. Never let it extinguish." Then, without a word, he threw the Rat King's Heart into the ritual, hoping.
[Activating Unknown Ritual! ERROR! ERROR!]
[Corruption Detected! DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!]
The black goo swarmed the poor cat, latching onto it. No air, no light, no feeling, it would steal everything from it... everything, from its body to its soul, all to summon a Demon in its place.
“Mute the warnings.” Damon sat cross-legged next to his friend. At that moment, he didn’t care about the ravings of the System, or the fact that the whole building had begun shaking.
He found himself in the middle of an explosive, bloody, miasma storm.
His entire body felt like it was being corroded, yet he stayed motionless.
In another life, he would have been a better Master. In another life, he wouldn’t have needed any sacrifice. In another life, he could have been a Chosen from Heaven with godlike talent for no reason…
The least he could do was accompany his first friend in this world and share the suffering. He moved the little lifeforce he could still muster, gathering it into a ball and sending it inside the storm as more fuel.
[Spent Vital Essence! All Stats Reduced by 60%!]
[Warning! At This Rate You Will Die!]
Yes, he would.
.
.
.
Damon felt himself weaken.
If the ritual succeeded, he’d live, else he’d die.
He was merely a husk, one that couldn’t possibly move by itself.
His vision faltered, engulfed by the Demonic storm, and his limbs failed him.
But just as he was about to kick the bucket, he felt it. Something reached out to him, something positively Demonic, something that had just been born from the ritual, something that shouldn’t ever have existed.
[Unranked Pride Demon Wishes To Establish a Contract! Accept?]
Yes. Damon willed it, Then with the last of his strength, he gave it two orders. “Protect my life, and also protect yours. You don’t know the cost that was paid for your birth…”
“Miaow! Eh– I mean, YES MASTER!”
