My Skill Creation System

"Nathan, take this."

Marco threw a small roll of paper on the ground.

Nathan took the scroll, opened it, and read its contents.

[Soul Contract Scroll Tier 3]

[This Agreement Between:]

[Party A: Marco Frey]

[Party B: Nathan Gardner]

[The Parties Agree and Follow:]

[Party A will follow Party B, be loyal, and do whatever Party B asks and commands.]

[Party B is responsible for freeing Linda Frey, sister of Party A, from Bastien Brian's residence.]

[Party A will carry out its responsibilities as soon as this contract is signed. If Party A betrays or deliberately does something that endangers Party B, he will receive the death penalty.]

[Party B is not entitled to fulfill its responsibilities and will be exempt from any penalty.]

Nathan read slowly and tried to understand Marco's offer. He realized that this agreement was more to the detriment of Marco himself. He shook his head slowly.

"Yes, it's only a Tier 3 Contract Scroll. It only works on hunters for a maximum of Tier 3, or level 150. However, we can renew the contract once it is about to expire. And the orders you have over me could even lead you to ask me to kill myself, and I won't be able to refuse them." Marco explained slowly.

Nathan looked at Marco, trying to think of how he should act.

"I told you not to easily trust other people. This is one way that you can collaborate with other people. Implement a contract with a life at stake in it. And I'm showing you this way right now. Please help me with what my life is at stake for you, Nathan."

Nathan was still silent. Luna floated slowly in front of him.

"Master Nathan, what Marco said is true. If you sign the contract, he will be completely under your control. You will also not receive any penalty if you cannot fulfill your responsibilities. It's really a one-sided contract and very unfair to Marco himself." Luna explained, then shook her head.

"I really don't understand him." Luna pointed at Marco. "Didn't he just say not to trust other people? Then why would he make such a big gamble with you?"

Nathan shook his head slowly, still silent.

"Nathan, listen to me carefully. I know what I'm about to say sounds absurd. But hear me out." Marco said with difficulty. It was difficult to speak with the golem restraining him so physically.

Nathan turned to the golem and gave a signal with a shake of his head. The Golem then lifted its body and away from Marco.

"Thanks." Marco lifted himself up and sat down, no longer on Zander's corpse. He looked slightly lower than Nathan's gaze.

"I always thought that I was a smart person, someone who knew where things were going. I seem to be able to guess what was the end of any event happening before me. In the end I was regretful and relieved at the same time that the thing I thought ended up really happening as what I had thought." Marco explained, trying to catch his breath.

"I learned from my mistakes and tried to live life the best I could. This happened while Linda and I were in Bastien's protection. However, an unexpected thing happened, which brought us both to the situation we are in now."

"You know Nathan?" Marco lifted his face higher and looked at Nathan.

"I used to think that I was the main character. I'm used to being in poor condition. I hope one day I will receive a great blessing that can change my life or even change the world. Yes, that's how I really think." Marco slowly put a smile on his face.

"But as time went on, reality said otherwise. I'm not the main character or whatever I thought I was. I ended up being a slave, afraid of losing the only person I care. I don't have the guts of a main character. I just have a smart brain that I don't know how to use. Because of what? Because my guts aren't as big as yours, Nathan. I'm afraid of bad things that will happen, so I always put off deciding. Even though in the end all the roads I took always ended with disaster. Yes, that's how bad my life is." Marco ended his words with a low nod.

"However, I have found you."

"What kind of person do you think I am?" Nathan answered Marco's words. "I'm not playing this kind of role game thing you said, Marco."

"You are someone who will be the main character in this marvelous story. I am sure of it. All the characteristics of the main character are in you. You enjoy fighting and adventure. Someone who thinks hard and compensates with even more effort. You are not the least bit afraid to face the challenges that are in front of you. You have a charisma that will make many people follow you. Yes, I'm sure about it." Marco ended his words more firmly when he saw Nathan was about to cut him off.

"You probably wouldn't realize right now. And you don't need to realize it either, because it's just a natural thing that you have, maybe since you were born."

Marco was silent for a moment, and so was Nathan.

"You are gifted with a power that will support you to become a bigger person. Therefore…"

Marco took a deep breath, took a few moments, and then continued.

"Whatever your goals are, I want to follow you. I will be your consultant if you need someone to do an analysis or strategy that you may not be used to, for now. I hope what I've said is enough to give you the determination to accept this contract."

Nathan lifted his body and stood up. He paused for a moment and then looked in all directions. He closed his eyes for a moment and smiled.

"Thank you, Marco, for what you have told me. However, that request you are making is the same as asking me to go to my death, right? You are asking me to break into the headquarters of someone who had openly tried to kill me."

"I'm aware of that. But I know very well the place where Linda was locked up. I can give you detailed information about the security system at the place. With the camouflage and the complete vanish skill you have, you will be able to enter and leave that place safely." Marco answered, lowering his head.

He continued, "I understand this request is too selfish, Nathan. But if Linda isn't saved, I don't know what will happen to her if they find out that you walked out of this place alive."

"Doesn't that mean Bastien will still chase after me if I make it out of this place safely? Hmmm…."

Marco was silent at Nathan's question.

Nathan raised his right hand, and then a sword appeared there. He walked towards Marco's back, where Zander's corpse was.

Marco turned his head to look at him. "Don't tell me you're going to bury this son of a bitch?"

Nathan dug at the ground using his sword. "I knew he was going to kill me before. But we also can't deny that he was a human who did this because of some humanistic motivation." Nathan answered slowly, seeming to smile slightly.

After some time, he pulled Zander's body into the hole he had dug. Nathan also did not forget to put the man's head in the proper position.

Nathan grabbed the silver necklace on Zander's chest. There was an open pendant in which a little girl's photo was visible. Nathan grabbed the necklace.

"Is this Zander's daughter he talked about before?" Nathan turned to Marco.

Marco nodded slowly at Nathan's question.

"Then why was he taking up this with me?"

Marco smiled slightly and then answered. "When I asked you to provoke him, you did badly, Nathan. I just made a few modifications to add damage to his mentality." He smiled.

Nathan clicked his tongue to hear Marco's answer. He held Zander's silver necklace and placed it in his personal inventory.

"Let's talk about this outside, Marco. I'm worried about Edna and Muramoto, who are waiting outside."

Marco nodded slowly at Nathan's request.

***

"Edna-San…" Muramoto shook Edna's shoulder. He saw a movement in the dungeon portal where Nathan and Marco were.

Edna immediately ran toward the portal. Her face looked dim, with eye bags clearly visible on her face.

"Young Master. I hope you are alright." Edna soon could not hold back the tears from her eyelids.

Muramoto stood beside her. He pulled the girl's shoulder gently back. "Edna-San, it's better for us to stand further away if…." He didn't continue his words when he saw Edna not listen to him.

Muramoto shook his head slowly. He turned his head back towards the portal. He was prepared in case what appeared wasn't what he expected.

The portal's vortex tightened even more. And after, two people emerged from the portal. The two people they had truly miraculously hoped for appeared before them.

Edna immediately ran towards Nathan, grabbed the young man's hand, and paid attention to his whole body.

"Young master, are you alright? I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

Nathan walked slowly toward her, closed his eyes, and fell forward into her embrace.

"He's exhausted. He needs rest." Marco muttered softly beside them.

Edna and Muramoto turned to Marco and realized his condition.

"Oh, Marco…. What happened to you, Marco? Here, let me help you. I will carry you…."

Muramoto approached Marco, then turned and grabbed the young man's body.

"Stop it Muramoto! Stupid! You think I can't walk alone?"

Edna stared at Marco, unable to imagine what had happened inside. She gently caressed Nathan's back, who had fallen asleep in her embrace.

Edna closed her eyes, and a smile finally appeared on her stiff face.