Chapter 9

After the joint battle with Eleanor, it seemed Silvia had come to re-recognize the importance of my magical power.

That night, Silvia invited me to her private chambers. Her usual overbearing demeanor had faded, replaced by a shadowed, melancholic expression.

Though bewildered by this change, I sensed she was about to discuss something serious.

“Yuuto… listen to an old story for a moment.”

Silvia stood by the window, her profile illuminated by moonlight as she spoke.

Her voice sounded far quieter than usual—fragile, almost.

(Silvia’s old story…? What could she possibly want to tell me…?)

I nodded silently and waited for her to continue.

Silvia began speaking haltingly, her words trickling out one by one.

It was the story of the family she’d lost in childhood.

Powerful mages—both her parents. A younger sister she cherished.

One day, they’d been caught in an uncontrolled magical accident of unknown cause. Only Silvia had survived.

“I’ve been… completely alone ever since that day.”

Her voice trembled.

For the first time, I saw weakness from Silvia—normally so arrogant and proud.

I couldn’t find words to say. All I could do was listen.

“But there is hope. I found a way to revive the lost ancient magic. If I could obtain it… perhaps…”

Silvia’s crimson eyes burned with fierce determination.

“To fully activate that ancient magic, I need an enormous—practically inexhaustible—amount of pure magical power. Far more than any ordinary mage could ever provide.”

She turned to face me then, her gaze piercing straight through to my soul.

“Yuuto, your magical power is the key.”

It was shocking. My unique power was essential to her greatest wish. Now I finally understood the true reason she’d contracted with me, why she’d relentlessly pursued my magical power. I was struck by the weight of her loneliness, the burden of resolve she’d carried for all these years.

“That’s why… I cannot let you go. Without you, my objective cannot be realized.”

Silvia stood before me and gently took my hand. It was slightly cold, trembling faintly.

“Yuuto… until now, I treated you as nothing more than a magical power source—my possession. But that will change.”

Her eyes met mine with utmost seriousness.

“I want you to cooperate with me as a true partner in my goal. Or rather… you will cooperate. This is an order.”

She’d returned to her usual commanding tone, but the coldness was gone. If anything, her voice carried a note of pleading.

Then she leaned in, bringing her face close to mine, and pressed her lips softly against my own.

It was different from any kiss before—warm, and somehow achingly tender.

Not a kiss between master and subordinate, but a new “contract’s kiss” between equals.

(Silvia…)

I chose to accept her proposal—her command.

If my endless magical power could help her achieve her greatest wish, I would gladly support her.

When our lips parted, faint tears glistened in Silvia’s eyes.

In that moment, a new and deeper bond formed between us.

Yet neither of us realized that a new threat was already drawing near. The connection between my magical power and Silvia’s objective through the keyword “ancient magic” would attract danger we couldn’t yet imagine. The ancient magic she sought to revive was powerful and dangerous. It would be no surprise if other forces sought it too.

Days later, word reached us that the guild had been attacked.

The target was Yuuto Minagata.

Assassins from a rival guild.

Chapter 10

News of my unique magical power had spread beyond Silvia’s guild to rival organizations.

They’d sent assassins to steal my power—or capture me entirely.

That day, Silvia received an urgent summons to the main guild headquarters from Guildmaster Serena. Unusually, she left without me.

It was precisely the opening our enemies had been waiting for.

“Kyaaaaa!”

“Hand over Yuuto!”

A group led by a flashily-haired female mage descended on me in the guild’s training grounds.

From the cut of their robes, they were from the rival guild Silvia constantly dismissed as “third-rate.” Yet their coordination was too precise to be dismissed so easily, and each member’s magical power was nothing to scoff at.

“Yuuto, fall back!”

“We will protect Yuuto-san!”

Fiona and Lunaria, sensing the threat, moved in front of me and engaged.

Fiona deployed her trademark short-sword technique and information-gathering skills in a disruptive strategy, while Lunaria wove healing and defensive magic to support our allies. But the red-haired female leading the enemy force was skilled—far too skilled. Fiona and Lunaria were being gradually overwhelmed.

The enemy coordinated perfectly, splitting them apart and driving them into traps.

(Damn it… I’m just a liability…)

I gritted my teeth at my own helplessness.

Without combat ability—with nothing but magical power to offer—I could only watch?

Fiona was hit by a sneak attack and crashed to the ground. Lunaria was surrounded, her movements about to be sealed.

(If this continues, they won’t make it…!)

Fear was there. But stronger than fear was the desperate will to protect my comrades.

I made a split-second decision: I’d make myself the bait.

“Hey! I’m what you want, right!? Come on!”

I shouted and bolted from the training grounds.

I watched several enemies immediately shift their target to me.

“Yuuto-san!?”

“Yuuto, that’s reckless!”

Their anguished cries chased me, but there was no time to look back.

I ran for my life, drawing them away.

Of course, someone with zero combat ability couldn’t outrun trained mages.

A binding spell fired from behind caught my legs, and I went down hard.

Pain shot through my shoulder and knee.

“Heh, we finally have you. The infamous magical power source.”

The red-haired mage sneered down at me as I lay there.

Completely cornered. Yet I didn’t surrender.

Maybe these few seconds would buy Fiona and Lunaria time to recover.

Maybe my small act of defiance would inspire their courage.

Then it happened.

“Touch even one finger on my Yuuto, and I’ll reduce you to ash.”

The words slithered across the ground like a predator, and a tremendous magical force shook the entire guild.

Silvia.

And beside her stood Eleanor in full knight’s armor.

Apparently, Silvia had sensed the attack from the main headquarters and rushed back here with Eleanor, who’d been nearby.

“Lady Silvia!”

“Knight Commander Eleanor!”

Relief flooded Fiona and Lunaria’s faces.

The tide turned instantly.

Before the overwhelming power of Silvia and Eleanor, the rival guild’s assassins were crushed like infants. The red-haired leader was rendered unable to fight by a single spell from Silvia.

“Yuuto, are you hurt…!”

Silvia rushed to me, her crimson eyes wet with concern.

Then she pressed a heated, slightly fierce kiss to my lips.

“You did well, Yuuto. Consider this your reward.”

That kiss did more than ease my pain. It brought a strange sensation—courage welling up from deep in my chest.

I wasn’t just a magical power source.

I could choose to fight. To protect my comrades with my own will.

I had to grow stronger. Strong enough to protect Silvia. To protect everyone.

“Silvia… I want you to teach me magic.”

Surprise flickered across her face for a moment, then her characteristic fearless smile returned.

“Interesting. Very well—I’ll train you myself. But be prepared.”

And so I began magic training not merely as a power conduit but as a fighter in my own right.

Perhaps it was only the beginning of my conflict with the world’s distortions.

And we still didn’t know that an even larger force might be orchestrating the rival guild’s actions.

The first act of my chaotic life in this other world drew to a close.