Chapter 8 8: The First Contractee, and the Returning Loki Familia

It was Drake's first time using the [Contract] ability, so he didn't know what would happen either.

Using the palum girl in front of him as a test was perfect.

The moment he activated the skill, a streak of golden light bloomed in Drake's eyes.

As if stunned into submission, Lili's fearful expression gradually grew vacant and dazed.

[To form a contract, one of the following conditions must be met:]

[1: The target willingly enters into the contract.]

[2: The target is in a near-death state.]

A few lines of text appeared before Drake's eyes, and he instantly understood.

"So that's how it works."

"The contract still isn't complete, which means Lili still has resistance in her heart."

Drake gave a cold snort and pressed his weapon against Lili's throat.

"If you keep resisting, I'll throw you down into that pile of goblins below."

At the thought of being bitten and torn apart by monsters, Lili shuddered and had no choice but to accept Drake's contract.

The moment the contract was completed, a flood of information poured into both of their minds.

[You have successfully completed a contract.]

[You may now view and manage the status of your contractee.]

[The contractee will obey you absolutely and never betray you.]

After digesting the newly acquired information, Drake nodded in satisfaction.

He had originally been a little worried that Lili might tell others about what happened today.

Who would have thought the contract itself came with the effects of absolute obedience and never betraying?

Didn't that mean that as long as he could successfully form a contract, he could do whatever he wanted with the contractee?

At that thought, Drake couldn't help looking over Lili's petite body.

Only then did he notice that the wounds from the shuriken were still bleeding.

"Forget it. You're one of mine now anyway, so use this."

Without a second thought, Drake took out a pale red potion from his inventory.

Just like the Cloud in a Bottle, this was also an item he had gotten from a treasure chest.

[Lesser Healing Potion (White): Instantly restores 50 HP and inflicts the "Potion Sickness" status for 60 seconds.]

This was the lowest-tier healing potion in Terraria.

Drake didn't know how effective healing potions were in the DanMachi world, but this bottle could instantly restore about half of one's health in the early game.

Used on a low-level adventurer, the effect should probably be about the same.

And it was instant recovery, with no waiting required.

Drake had gotten four Lesser Healing Potions from treasure chests, so using one didn't hurt at all.

After all, like torches, this was a cheap consumable that could eventually be purchased.

Still, no matter how many healing potions one had, they couldn't be used infinitely.

While the Potion Sickness status lasted, healing potions wouldn't take effect.

That timer could be reduced with certain accessories, but that was another matter entirely.

"Th-this is… a potion?"

Taking the bottle of red liquid from Drake's hand, Lili looked incredulous.

"Can I really use something this valuable?"

Just like the high-quality equipment produced by the Hephaestus Familia, magical potions such as potions and elixirs with special effects were also highly sought-after goods in the adventurer market inside Babel Tower.

A potion capable of quickly restoring stamina or recovering one's condition could sometimes reverse the tide of battle and even save an adventurer's life.

Because they were consumables, potions weren't as expensive as equipment— but they were still luxuries not every adventurer could afford.

Looking at the healing potion in her hand, Lili wore a complicated expression.

"If I told you to use it, then use it. Don't question me."

Drake crouched down and pinched the palum girl's soft cheek.

"Hurry up and heal your injuries. Don't waste time."

"O-okay!"

Lili nodded hard and, gathering her courage, drank the potion in one gulp.

In no time at all, the wounds on her legs healed at an astonishing speed.

The pain vanished almost in the blink of an eye—so quickly that even Lili herself barely had time to react.

"The effect of this potion is probably even better than the elixirs made by the Miach Familia…"

"Is that so?"

Hearing that, Drake asked curiously,

"You've used other potions before?"

"No…" Lili quickly waved her hands. "I've only heard about potions before."

A bottom-tier supporter like her could never afford to use something like that.

For the rest of the time, Drake patiently cleaned up the goblins from before with his shuriken.

Lili also worked especially hard to clean up the battlefield—after all, those enemies had been deliberately lured there by her.

...

"That's enough exploring for today. Time to head back."

After killing all the monsters, Drake wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at the system interface.

In another half hour, the death penalty would disappear, and he'd be able to explore Terraria again.

"Okay, um…"

After putting the last magic stone fragment into her backpack, Lili hesitated, as if she wanted to say something.

"After we leave the Dungeon… what arrangements does Master have?"

"First, don't call me 'Master.'"

Drake looked at her and corrected her.

While the title wasn't wrong, it would draw far too much attention in the DanMachi world.

If word got out that a member of one Familia was calling another Familia member "Master," it might spark a Familia War.

"Just call me Captain like before."

"And also… do you have somewhere to stay in Orario?"

Lili lowered her head and answered a little embarrassedly,

"No. I used to be able to afford a cheap inn, but lately I really haven't had any money, so…"

And that was why she had made a move on Drake—only for him to turn the tables and form a contract with her instead.

"In that case, perfect. You can stay with me from now on. Though at the moment, there's only the storage room available."

"Once I move to a bigger house, I'll consider giving you your own room."

"And besides… hm?"

Drake suddenly frowned, as if sensing something.

From deep within the labyrinth passage, near the entrance to the second floor, came a steady rhythm of footsteps.

A moment later, a party of high-level adventurers radiating powerful auras entered the sight of the two of them.

The moment she saw the faces of several of those adventurers, Lili tensed up and whispered, "Captain, they're…"

"I know. Those people are the Loki Familia."

Drake reached out and patted Lili on the head, then lifted his gaze to meet the many eyes now turning toward him.

At the front of the group was the blond palum adventurer Finn, captain of the Loki Familia.

Close behind him was the elven mage known as the city's strongest magic user, vice-captain Riveria, the famed Nine Hells.

Then came Gareth, the "Elgram," the Amazon twins, the ferocious wolf Bete, and…

Just as this party of adventurers, who looked as though they had just returned from an expedition into the Dungeon, was about to pass by Drake, he suddenly raised his voice and called out.

"Miss Wallenstein, would you be interested in visiting the Molten Festival two days from now?"

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