IWMHWD 90

Chapter 90 – Contract with the Devil
2024.01.29

“What more do I have to do?!”

In that brief moment, Cordelia saw magic power gathering more and more intensely around Lydia. Desperate to break free from her, Cordelia tried to shake off Lydia’s grip on her wrist.

But somehow, that slender arm had a strength that defied reason. Lydia’s grip was stronger than that of a grown man, and no matter how hard Cordelia shook her arm, she couldn’t pull away.

The magic power swelled rapidly, to the point where it was beyond control.

It’s going to explode!

Cordelia instinctively realized what would happen next. Lydia wouldn’t be able to control that magic power. Forcing herself to stay calm, she made a quick decision. First, she called out to the man nearby who had come to warn them.

“Run! Quickly!”

“What—what’s going on?”

Sensing the danger in her tone, the man quickly backed away. Cordelia raised her voice to warn everyone else around them.

“Everyone, back away!”

At the same time, she cast a defensive barrier.

It took less than three seconds to calculate the magic flow, distribute it, and manifest it. If her master had seen her at that moment, he would have said, “Finally, you’re doing it properly.”

“Ugh—!”

“Ahhh!”

Lydia’s unstable magic finally burst forth. It wasn’t as powerful as when Dilroana’s territory had been destroyed, but it was strong enough to send the nearby dining table flying.

Cordelia panted for breath. She looked around—tables and chairs had been blown away, leaving chaos in their wake. Fortunately, thanks to her warning, no one seemed to have been injured.

“What was that? Magic power out of control?”

“Isn’t that woman from Elfenbaum?”

People whispered in shock. Lydia’s crushing grip on Cordelia’s hand weakened, then vanished completely.

“Lydia!”

Lydia’s body swayed and collapsed to the ground. Startled, Cordelia half-caught, half-held her. She was completely unconscious and didn’t respond even when shaken.

“Is there a doctor—no, anyone here who knows healing magic?!”

At Cordelia’s urgent cry, several people rushed over to help. Together, they moved Lydia to the infirmary.

Fortunately, her condition wasn’t too serious.

By the time Leonard, who had heard the news, hurried into the infirmary, Cordelia was sitting quietly in the corner. The moment she saw him, she jumped to her feet.

“Master!”

“Are you hurt?”

“…Huh?”

“I said, are you hurt? Turn around—let me see. Your arms? Did you twist your ankle again?”

“Wait—ah, Master!”

He didn’t give her a chance to speak. Acting with extreme fussiness, Leonard thoroughly inspected her arms, ankles, and even tilted her chin up to check her face for scratches.

“I’m fine. It’s Lydia who collapsed.”

Still holding her chin, Cordelia pointed to the bed where Lydia lay.

“I heard. They said she had a magic power outburst.”

“Yes, so we should check on her—”

“And you were right next to her when it happened.”

Once Leonard confirmed she was unharmed, he finally met Cordelia’s gaze. She could see the concern in his eyes, and she smiled faintly.

“I didn’t get hurt at all. I blocked it with the defensive magic you taught me. And besides, the explosion wasn’t even that big.”

“You’re absolutely sure you’re not hurt? Honestly, I can’t take my eyes off you for a second. I send you out to fetch lunch and you end up in a magic outburst.”

“It’s not like I knew Lydia would suddenly do that. Oh, right! I completely forgot your lunch—sorry. You must be hungry, right?”

“That’s not the issue here. Sigh. Maybe I should just lock you in the lab. The second I look away, you get into trouble.”

“It’s not like I caused it—just got caught up in it by coincidence. Anyway, I’m fine, so let’s go check on Lydia.”

“She’s not dead, so that’s good enough.”

He said it carelessly, but let himself be dragged over to Lydia’s side.

Lydia still hadn’t regained consciousness. A mage who had examined her stepped forward.

“As I reported earlier, Lady Elfenbaum suffered a magic power outburst. Fortunately, the duration of the outburst was short, so there shouldn’t be any lasting harm to her body.”

“Then why hasn’t she woken up yet?”

“That, I can’t say for certain. Everyone’s body responds differently. But I believe she will wake soon, since there’s no sign of serious injury.”

After a polite nod, the mage stepped back. Leonard crossed his arms and looked down at Lydia indifferently.

“When you covet something that isn’t yours, you pay the price.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“A magic outburst happens when you lack the ability to control the power you possess. Lydia only gained that power a few days ago—it’s natural she can’t control it yet.”

“Now that you mention it, it is strange… How could she become so skilled at magic in just a few days?”

“You still haven’t figured it out? How Lydia got her power?”

Leonard turned his head to look at Cordelia. The moment their eyes met, she realized what he was implying.

“…She made a contract with a devil.”

“That’s right. There’s no other explanation.”

“But why? Why would she make that choice? Why would she even need that power in the first place?”

Even knowing the answer, Cordelia was full of questions. Lydia was the only daughter of the most prestigious Elfenbaum family in Ersche. She could have anything she wanted without lifting a finger. Why take the risk of gaining power through a devil’s contract?

“No idea.”

Leonard had no answer either. Deep in thought, Cordelia asked another question.

“When someone makes a contract with a devil, does their personality change? Lydia feels… different from the one I knew. Oh! So that’s why—”

“Why what?”

“That’s why your personality is such a mess—it’s because you made a contract with a devil!”

“A mess?”

The corner of Leonard’s mouth curled upward. Cordelia quickly changed her words.

“…Of course not. A warm and beautiful temperament like yours can only be natural-born.”

“You’re getting better at toying with your master, my dear disciple.”

“My defensive magic skills have improved too—all thanks to my great and admirable master. Without you, I’d have probably broken an arm or two by now. Wow, my master is the best!”

“Hmph.”

Leonard snorted at her shameless flattery.

A few days later, Rozenbler arrived at the Lopal Magic Association. Covered in dust, he rushed straight to Lydia. His eyes were red.

“Lydia!”

The moment he saw her, he pulled her into his arms. People were puzzled at how overjoyed he seemed to see his younger sister, but they were used to hearing about the siblings’ unusually close relationship, so they let it slide.

Lydia, however, only gave him a faint smile after nearly a month apart. That smile was unnaturally beautiful—almost inhuman.

“Blay, how have you been?”

“How have I been? Do you know how worried I’ve been?! Never mind—at least you’re safe. Come on, let’s go back to Evodelim. Uncle’s been so worried about you.”

“I’m not going back to Evodelim.”

“…What do you mean?”

Instead of answering, Lydia conjured flames of magic. The manifestation was so natural that Rozenbler’s eyes widened. That level of control put her at least at the rank of a mid-tier mage.

“How… how is this possible?”

“I’m a mage now. That’s enough reason for me to stay here, isn’t it?”

But instead of being happy at his sister’s incredible feat, Rozenbler’s expression darkened. He knew all too well what it meant for someone to suddenly gain such power.

“Lydia, what happened while you were gone?”

“What do you mean? My magical talent finally bloomed, that’s all.”

“That’s nonsense! You quit magic more than ten years ago, and now suddenly you can wield it freely?”

“Why is that so strange? Is it so odd that I have a talent for magic? Look—beautiful, isn’t it?”

She smiled as she spoke, but to Rozenbler, the sight of those flames was heartbreaking.

“Don’t tell me… you made a contract with a devil.”

“No.”

“You’re not even going to ask me what that means?”

Her quick denial only made him more certain. Rozenbler rubbed his face harshly with both hands.

A contract with a devil was a double-edged sword—sometimes a great weapon, but more often than not, it ended with the blade turned against the one who wielded it.

“Lydia… I’m on your side, no matter what you’ve done or what you want to do. So just tell me the truth. What did you pay in exchange for the contract? Which devil was it? What are the terms?”

“I told you, I didn’t make a contract with a devil. This is pure talent. Why can’t you believe me?”

“Talent? What talent? You disappear without a word, and after a month you show up with the skills of a mid-tier mage—and I’m supposed to believe that’s just talent? Lydia, what’s wrong with you?”

The joy of finding his sister again quickly faded, replaced by rising frustration. His questions were justified—what Lydia had achieved was nothing short of a miracle. Others shed blood and sweat for decades to reach such heights, yet she had done it in a single month.

But Lydia glared sharply at him and retorted,

“When Cordelia learned quadruple magic circles in just a month, you called it extraordinary talent. But when I use magic, it must mean I made a deal with a devil?”

“Cordelia is different from you.”

“How is she different—how?!”

Lydia’s voice rose in a shout. Her reaction was so unfamiliar that Rozenbler was momentarily at a loss for words.