After hours of walking, Sakyo finally reaches the raid site where both Reika and Garm are still waiting. As soon as they see the boy approach, they both run at full speed towards him.
[Reika/Garm] Sakyo/Master!
Reika gets to him first, picking her son up with ease. She scans his body all over, making sure he's not injured.
[Reika] You're ok, right? You're not hurt? No injuries? Why do you have a tiger with you? Where have you been all night?!
[Sakyo] Slow down, I can't answer all your questions when you talk so fast! I'm ok, you can put me down.
With reluctance, she puts him back down.
[Sakyo] I'll explain everything on the way back, but first I gotta ask, where is everyone?
[Reika] I sent the knights back to the capital with everyone that was rescued. I was going to go after you if you didn't return. I told Garm to go back with everyone, but he insisted on waiting for you here.
[Sakyo] I see, then we should probably catch up with everyone.
...
After a long days journey, everyone finally returns to the capital city. The knights lead all of the rescued women and children into their cafeteria for a meal. Reika oversees everyone involved in the illegal slave trading business, making sure they all get to the prison.
Once she returns, she calls Sakyo and Garm to the meeting room to discuss the raid. Taking a few minutes to listen to Sakyo's recount of everything that happened, she begins to tell her side of the story.
[Reika] After you two went into the tunnels, we were able to successfully subdue everyone involved with their business. After everyone was restrained, Garm brough the captive women out. That's when we heard that loud roar.
[Sakyo] Yeah, I got to listen to that roar up close.
[Reika] After that, the two of us ran to see what was going on with you. That's when you rode off on the back of a Midnight Tiger and we didn't see you again 'til morning.
[Sakyo] That pretty much sums up everything (Aside from my new {Miasma Absorption} skill). Although, there's still something that's bothering me. When I was fighting that tiger, I heard a voice in my head that wasn't the system.
[Garm] What kind of voice?
[Sakyo] It was kind of raspy, almost like a loud whisper, and it only talked with one word at a time.
[Reika] Did anything happen when you heard that voice?
[Sakyo] Yeah, I got a new title. [Status Open].
Sakyo Wolfen
Age: 6 Years
Element: Darkness
Power: 3
Magic: 1
Vitality: 2
Speed: 2
Trick: 10
Titles:
R̷̵E̴͘D͡͝A͝C̴̴T͠Ę̢D̷̛"
R͘Ę̕D̷A̵͘C̡͏T͞E̷̡D̸̢.̸̢.̛.͠
R͡E̴̡D̢͠A̷͝C̴͘T̛͢E͟͟D̴͏
{Diabolos' Apostle}
Bloodline Ability:
E͞R̸̵R̵O͡R̸̡.̡͞.͞.̵͞"
Skills:
{Poison Resistance (Passive)}, {Swordsmanship (Intermediate}, {Indominable Will (Passive)}, {Devil's Deal}, {Miasma Absorption}, {Beast Tamer}
Both Reika and Garm stare in bewilderment at Sakyo's new title. {Diabolos' Apostle}, an unknown title given by an unknown being.
[Reika] I don't know what to say. I've never even heard of a god named Diabolos.
[Garm] I am sorry Master, but my knowledge on the gods is very limited. I too have never heard of such a god.
[Sakyo] What do you think this means?
[Reika] Well, "apostle" is a title only given by a god themselves. They're already rare enough as it is, but to think there's really a god no one's ever heard of.
[Sakyo] So we've got nothing. I wish there was a way to look into this skill more, like some kind of {Appraisal}.
As if hearing his request, the system opens another small window in front of Sakyo's status screen right before everyone's eyes.
{Diabolos' Apostle}
A title given to the one who carries the will of {The One Beyond the Stars}.
Subskills:
{Divine Resistance}, {Beyond Limits}, {Appraisal}, {Untouched Phantom}
Once again, the silence in the room is deafening.
[Sakyo] Maybe I should've wished for a million gold instead.
[Reika] What did you just do?
[Sakyo] I think I used one of the skills this title gave me. I'll try it on these other ones.
{Divine Resistance}: Grants user resistance to negative effects from Karma: Divine Energy.
{Beyond Limits}: Grants user the capability to improve all stats and abilities beyond their maximum limitations.
{Untouched Phantom}: Grants user a fragment of Diabolos' power, allowing them to become intangible when used.
Reika continues to look on with puzzlement while Garm seems to be filled with a sense of pride at his master's growing abilities.
[Garm] As expected of Master.
[Reika] Wow, I never knew titles could come with so many subskills. (mumble) Even mine only comes with one.
She says with a small pout, her curiosity being slightly overtaken by jealousy.
[Sakyo] Well, as cool as this is, there's still no clues to who Diabolos is or why I got this title.
[Reika] Yeah, looks like we'll have to give up this investigation for now. In the meantime, we have other business to discuss. You can come in now!
After finally hearing those words, Kaya and Ren enter the room. Ren immediately walks over to Sakyo's side, placing herself between him and Garm, while Kaya looks a bit annoyed.
[Kaya] Finally, I've been standing outside that door for half an hour. I thought you said you'd call me right in.
[Reika] Sorry, I didn't think my son would show me some unknown title from a god no one's ever heard of.
[Kaya] Forget it, I'm over it. So, why'd you call me here?
[Reika] Before that, who's this little girl?
She asks, pointing at Ren, who's slowly trying to push Garm further away so she can be closer to Sakyo.
[Kaya] That's Ren, she like a little sister to me. Ever since your son saved us, she's been crushing on him. Now, will you finally tell me why I was called here?
[Reika] Right, I called you here because I've been told you are a leader of sorts for everyone who was rescued. I would like to discuss how we plan to deal with all of you.
[Kaya] I'd like to know that too. We don't have any homes to return to, and most of our families were murdered when we first got captured.
An awkward silence fills the room with a heavy atmosphere. Despite wanting to, no one can bring themselves to say anything until Kaya breaks the silence.
[Kaya] There's no point glossing over it. I've already come to terms with what happened a long time ago. I just want to know what's gonna happen to everyone.
[Reika] Alright, at a previous meeting, we decided that it would be best to relocate all of you to a new village. That way, you'll all be able to restart your lives and be self-sufficient. However, there is one problem that arises with this solution.
[Kaya] Our slave crests, right? If we leave them the way they are, we'll all just be recaptured and enslaved all over again.
[Reika] Exactly, that's why we're offering a solution, though I'm not sure you'll like it. You all will become owned slaves.
[Kaya] What?! You're telling me we were freed just to be enslaved again!
[Reika] I know it sounds bad, but just here me out. This is the best course of action to ensure you'll all be safe.
[Kaya] And how am I supposed to trust you? How do I know you won't just give us to some random lord who'll just use us?
As the two women continue to argue, the boys and Ren stand to the side, having become nothing more than thin air.
[Sakyo] I guess they forgot about us.
[Garm] It would seem that is what is happening.
[Sakyo] Let's just stay out of this catfight.
[Garm] Hm? I do not see any cats in this room though?
[Sakyo] It's a figure of speech.
[Ren] Sakyo, are you going to leave us?
Sakyo is surprised by the sudden question, as well as Ren suddenly holding onto his arm as if she never wants to let go. Even though he barely knows this girl, Sakyo can't help wanting to tell her everything will be ok. Before saying anything, his hand finds its way to pet her head.
[Sakyo] Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.
Ren blushes under his touch, enjoying the feeling, while Garm looks on with jealousy as his master pets a head that isn't his. Meanwhile, the two women arguing next to them only grow louder.
[Reika] I know this is hard to accept, but you need to trust me!
[Kaya] I don't trust you! I don't know you! I'm not gonna become a slave again to some random lord! The only one here I can even remotely trust is Sakyo!
[Reika] Well that's good because Sakyo is the one who's going to become your new master!
[Kaya] Well that's great! I'm sure everyone will accept the kid who rescued us!
[Reika] I'm glad we're finally in agreement!
[Kaya] So why the hell are we still yelling at each other?!
[Reika] I don't know, it just felt appropriate!
After their yelling concludes, both women take a few moments to catch their breath. Sensing that the argument is finally over, Sakyo finally interjects.
[Sakyo] So, are you both done?
[Reika/Kaya] Yeah.
[Sakyo] Good, then can we continue with this meeting?
[Kaya] Yeah, let's get on with it. Basically, we'll all become Sakyo's slaves, but I assume we'll still keep our independence?
[Reika] Yes, Sakyo will be your master in name, but all of you will have your free will.
[Kaya] I see.
[Sakyo] If you need some reassurance, I might have another way to put your mind at ease.
[Kaya] How so?
[Sakyo] Let's make a deal. I have a skill that let's me make contracts that bind to a persons soul. Put simply, you'd be able to guarantee the safety and prosperity of all of your people.
[Kaya] In other words, I'd be selling my soul to you.
[Sakyo] If that's how you want to think about it, sure. All I ask is that no one plots to harm me in any way. In return, I'll find a place where you all can live safely without having to worry about enslavement again. I think all of your souls is a small price to pay for that.~
Kaya contemplates the offer. On one hand, she and everyone she considers family would be granted a new village to call home and they wouldn't have to worry about being enslaved again.
On the other hand, she wouldn't just be selling her own soul, but the souls of everyone involved. This wasn't an offer she could make lightly, but something inside her steels her resolve as she faces Sakyo once more. Seeing the look in her eyes, Sakyo holds out his hand.
[Sakyo] So it's a deal then?
[Kaya] Yeah, it's a deal.
With one shake of their hands, the deal is made, binding to their souls.
System: [Notice: {Soul Contract} has successfully been established. You have obtained ownership of 104 souls. All physical abilities and skills will receive a permanent 1% increase for each individual soul.]
[Sakyo] (1%? But I got 2% for Raven's soul and the Midnight Tiger's. Maybe it's because I absorbed their souls instead of just gaining ownership of them.) With this, our deal is made.
[Reika] Sakyo, when did you get a skill like that?
[Sakyo] During the raid, a lot happened.
A worried look crosses Reika's face. She can't believe how much her son has grown and changed in such a short amount of time, and how much more he's beginning to resemble his father.
[Kaya] So, what happens now?
[Sakyo] Now we'll have to tell everyone what happened here. In order to protect all of you, I'll need to form a slave pact with everyone. (sigh) This is gonna take forever.