"You pervert! How dare you peek at me while I'm bathing!! I'll turn you into charcoal!!"
The red-haired, red-eyed girl flushed with embarrassment, gritted her teeth, and glared at Leon. Raising her hand, she shouted to the air:
"Guardian of the Crimson Flame, keeper of the Immortal Hearth!
Now is the time to fulfill our blood contract—come forth and obey my command!"
The moment her words left her lips, a long whip of fire materialized in her hand.
It looked delicate, almost fragile, but the instant she snapped it, the air cracked with a sharp crack, accompanied by burning flames.
"Ohh~ So she's a Spiritual Elementalist?"
Leon's eyes lit up as he commented.
He had already gathered information about this place before coming, and he quickly realized this was different from the magicians of his homeland, who manipulated elements directly to fight, or from magical swordsmen who used magic to enhance themselves in battle.
In this far western kingdom, it was common for people to sign contracts with beings known as spirits, then fight alongside them.
He hadn't expected to see it firsthand.
Leon was mildly surprised.
"Let me see what you can do. Hmm… how about this? If you can make me take even a single step back, you win."
"Hmph! Such arrogance. You're really underestimating me! I'll definitely burn you to ashes!"
Furious at Leon's smug tone, Claire swung her whip of fire. Wherever it lashed, flames roared to life.
Whoosh!
But just as she was about to strike Leon—
"Well, the temperature's about right."
"What? You grabbed Scarlet!? Want your hand burned off? Let go!" the girl shouted.
Leon easily caught the blazing whip, the scorching heat having no effect on his hand.
Claire quickly tried to yank it back, but how could her strength compare to Leon's?
"Why is a child playing with a whip anyway? Well, I suppose Alpha would be far more fitting to handle something like this."
"Oh really?"
"Yes. You should give it a try."
As he spoke, Leon tugged the whip free from the girl's grasp and handed it over to Alpha to test.
Alpha raised an eyebrow, glancing at the girl on the verge of tears, before giving the fiery whip a casual flick.
Crack!
"Ah, this feels perfect."
Leon's eyes sparkled as he made the remark.
Compared to the undeveloped little loli who looked like a mischievous child wielding a toy whip, Alpha was completely different.
With her mature and elegant beauty, the sight of her holding the blazing whip carried an entirely different weight.
With her appearance, Leon imagined countless perverts screaming, "Your Majesty, whip me harder!"
"Damn it! You stole my real weapon… Scarlet, it's time to hunt!" the girl shouted.
The next moment, the whip in Alpha's hand morphed into a fireball, then reshaped itself into a crimson cat wreathed in flames.
This was the true form of her fire whip: the adorable yet powerful fire spirit beast, Scarlet.
"Scarlet, burn that man to ash!"
"Nyaaah!!"
"Haha, I love cats. So please, be merciful this time."
Leon's eyes narrowed slightly, and suddenly a terrifying, oppressive aura erupted from him.
Even Alpha's eyes widened in shock.
She could feel Leon's draconic power several times stronger than before. Even though it wasn't directed at her, the pressure was suffocating.
That was his true strength.
Not to mention the little fire cat spirit and her pitifully small master.
"What is this pressure!?"
"Nyaa…"
Claire trembled all over, as though she were being stared down by a fearsome dragon. Her cheeks went pale, and she lost all her earlier rebellious bravado.
Her fire cat spirit reacted even more strongly, thanks to its sharper instincts. Scarlet could clearly sense the overwhelming power Leon held—if he wished it, neither of them would survive.
Terrified at the mere thought of dying along with her master, Scarlet immediately abandoned resistance. The fiery cat collapsed before Leon, lowering its head in submission under Claire's stunned gaze.
"Miaaau~"
"Scarlet!? What's wrong with you, Scarlet!?"
"Mew, mew, mew."
The fire cat shook its head at Claire. To oppose or flee from the boy before them would be utter stupidity. The wisest choice was to beg for mercy.
"Ah? What a cute cat."
Looking at the fire spirit bowing in surrender, Leon smirked. Clearly, this cat was far smarter than its master.
He scooped the cat up.
As he stroked and petted it, a look of satisfaction crossed his face. Why bother with an ordinary cat, when you could pet a spirit cat?
He had to admit, it felt wonderful in his hand—warm all over.
"Nyaaa~~"
"Scarlet, you traitor!!"
"Mew."
Claire burst into tears.
What was this supposed to mean? You nasty cat, did you forget who brushes your fur every night?
Scarlet tried to explain itself. It didn't want to betray Claire, but… that human's technique was just too clever and comfortable!!
Every touch landed exactly where it wanted most. If not for its contract with Claire, Scarlet might actually wish to follow Leon.
"You're that comfortable? You've never shown that face when I pet you."
"Mew mew mew~"
The spirit cat nodded seriously.
Yes, it was that comfortable.
His techniques are a hundred times better than yours, Master. You'd better observe carefully and take notes. Bring a notebook if you have to.
Among the countless books stored in its mind was the "Feline Ecstasy Master's Manual," said to be the sacred text of cat-petting, authored by the legendary Supreme Cat Slave.
"Hmph~ As if a mere little girl could compare to me. My cute little one, why don't you follow me from now on? I need a darling pet like you."
"Myaaau~~"
Scarlet wagged its tail helplessly. What was it supposed to do?
---
(End of Chapter)