Chapter 28: Yandere!
Leo turned his attention to the ethereal beast, which stood patiently, waiting for a command like a well-trained German Shepherd in the attention position. But the beast's already ethereal body seemed to be fading with each passing second.
He also noticed something else.
Mana - 4/54 → 3/54
"Looks like there's a time frame in which such summoned spirits can retain themselves," he muttered, rubbing his chin. "And it even drains the user's mana… about one unit per minute."
By the time he finished, Lily had already slipped out of his grasp and was listening closely to what he was saying.
"Retain? Unit? What are you even saying?" she asked curiously, tilting her head in confusion.
He explained that the spirit she had summoned was temporary and would disappear forever after some time and that if she wanted to keep it permanent, she had to form a contract—a bond that would permanently tie the beast's soul to her own.
"How do I do it? I want to keep my first summoned spirit with me," she said quickly, almost pleading.
"Are you sure, though? Because it will be irreversible," Leo warned, narrowing his eyes.
Lily thought for a while, her gaze flickering between the fading beast and Leo.
"I know that beasts have something called bloodline rank, which determines their maximum growth potential… but how do I know this wolf's bloodline?"
Leo's eyes gleamed faintly.
System, is it possible for me to increase the bloodline rank of spirits that Lily has through my talent?
< Host's soul is strongly connected to the individual 'Lily', making it possible to increase the bloodline rank of her spirits. >
"That's good," he thought with a smirk. "Now it won't matter what she contracts."
"If you're worried about bloodline rank," Leo said aloud, his tone reassuring, "I'll make sure it improves with time. You can go ahead with the contract."
"Thank you, Leo! I really want this beast… as a memory," she said softly.
She headed toward the beast, then suddenly paused. Slowly, stiffly, almost akin to a robot, she turned her head back toward Leo and gave a smile, like a child asking for sweets.
He couldn't help but chuckle.
"Let me guess—you jumped in without knowing how to jump, didn't you?" he teased. "Hehehe… just raise your hand forward and focus on your talent."
He repeated the same instructions the guard had once given him at the Beast Hall.
Lily nodded, determination filling her eyes, and did exactly as he said.
Fortunately, forming the contract required only a negligible amount of mana for the imprint and signatures, allowing Lily to completely form the contract even with her mana reserves nearly drained.
A soft, radiant glow gathered over her hand and flowed toward the Spirit Beast. The beast accepted it without any resistance, and the bond was sealed.
Once all was done, Leo quickly checked her interface.
*****
Name: Lily
Race: Human (24)
Soul Rank: Rare
Talent: [Spirit Caller]
No. of Contracted Beasts: 1
Status Interface
Vitality – 3.4 → 5.8
Strength – 3.3 → 5.9
Agility – 2.9 → 5.5
Stamina – 3.9 → 6.2
Intelligence – 1.8 → 9.3
Mana – 2/54 → 227/279 [Intelligence*3(Rare)*10]
*****
"Holy—what kind of stat boost is that?!" Leo exclaimed inwardly. "It's like 50% of the beast's stats got added to her… and 150% of intelligence!? Fuck… why am I feeling jealous?"
A faint, self-mocking smile crept on the corner of his face, though it softened as he reminded himself that as his bond ranks increased, he too would share more of his strength with his beasts.
Heh. Just you wait, girl. You won't be able to pin me down, he thought smugly.
Lily slowly opened her eyes. The world around her felt sharper, clearer; her body felt lighter yet seemed to be coursing with newfound strength, as if energy flowed freely within her veins. More than that, she could feel it, a connection to the wolf standing before her.
With the small thought, she tried to dismiss the beast. In the next instant, it dissolved into a streak of blue light, vanishing as if it had never been there, ready to be summoned again anytime, anywhere.
Just like that, she had stepped into a higher tier of society—one where she would no longer be treated badly.
All because of one person. Her beloved Leo.
Tears welled in her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Not when he was looking at her with that gentle warmth, the kind that just melted her heart.
Yes… he is the one. Leo. I love you. I love you so much. Please be mine… Please love me more…
Her steps grew slower, heavier with emotion, as she walked toward him.
Leo, who had been giving her space to relish in the feeling of her newfound strength, noticed her gaze. It was filled with warmth and filled with a genuine feeling of unspoken love—but then he saw it.
That faint pink glow in her eyes.
That same unmistakable glow he had seen before, when she killed Arnold. The same unsettling, possessive light that didn't want Leo to be with anyone else but her, only her.
"Shit," he whispered under his breath. "Her Yandere persona… what do I do to calm her down? At this rate, she might actually eat me—literally!"
His eyes flickered to her lips—soft, pink, and dangerously inviting. He gulped down hard.
I think this might be the only way… or else she'll keep showering me with god-knows-what until she's satisfied.
He braced himself; this was going to be his first kiss… and ironically, it was because… a Yandere was madly in love with him.
As Lily approached, her face flushed deeply, the pink glow only deepening. Her eyes locked onto his lips as her hands slowly rose, wrapping around his neck.
Damn… I'm done, Leo thought.
Just how much does she love me to have a whole other personality built in her brain? Well… on the bright side, at least someone loves me for real. Back of Earth, that would've been nearly impossible.
He opened his arms, welcoming her in his embrace.
But before Lily could lead the situation, he took control.
His one hand slipped around her waist, pulling her closer, while the other rested gently at the nape of her neck. Then, without hesitation, he gently pressed his lips against hers, soft and carefully.
This was it, his first kiss gone.
And somehow… it felt perfect.
He pulled back slightly, breaking the kiss for a moment, just enough to check for any negative reaction from her, only to see her eyes glowing even more intensely, her lips parting slightly as if inviting him back.
He didn't get a chance to think more.
Lily closed the distance again, pulling him into a deeper kiss.
In the blur of the moment, they somehow ended up lying on the bed, Leo on his back and Lily on top, both completely lost in each other.