Chapter 31. Contract
"I burned out completely..."
"I don't think I can do it again if you ask me to."
Wow.
Sitting in the makeup room of the PR department, I looked into the mirror.
I feel really bad saying this, but I can't tell what's changed.
"Everyone's going to be shocked at this, right?"
"Hurry up and go out. I can already picture the chairman and the foreign students' surprised faces. Hohoho."
"Ah, okay."
If you hype me up like that, my confidence is going to skyrocket. Am I actually insanely handsome?
Is this some kind of magical makeup that only makes me look good to women?
After tidying up my outfit neatly in the mirror, I left the dressing room.
On the couch in the PR department office, an angel was sitting naturally.
No, not an angel—it's Elise.
The scene of Elise's first appearance in the game suddenly came to mind.
[How should I describe her as she ascends the stage during the entrance ceremony?]
[Her golden hair, arranged along the graceful curves of her figure, seemed to illuminate the surroundings.]
[Unrealistically fair skin and delicate features.]
[Her beautiful face and the cadet uniform seemed to symbolize purity, yet her calm expression carried a hint of allure.]
[In the brief moment she climbed the three steps of the podium, her image was deeply engraved in my mind.]
"Staring at someone like that is rude, you know."
"Ah, ah. Sorry."
Without realizing it, I had been staring intently at Elise's face.
"Do you have something to say?"
"Uh... You look really pretty."
"...Thanks. But why do you look the same as when you went in?"
Wait, you guys said it would be a big deal. What happened?
Or maybe they're just embarrassed to show their reactions.
"Ahem, well, I guess that happens."
"If you're done, hurry up and come out. The chairman is waiting outside."
Elise left the PR department office after saying that.
If that was acting, she could switch to being an actress.
Damn it, the makeup alone took over an hour. What a useless struggle.
"…Junior, you look absolutely insane."
But Moon Surin, who had been waiting outside, reacted a bit differently.
"Come on, I look the same as usual. What are you talking about?"
"I really don't know how to describe this… You're just insane! Seriously."
So, am I really at this level?
Receiving Surin's compliments and seeing her sparkling eyes lifted my mood again.
"Let's take a picture with the student council in the background!"
A cheerful-looking male photographer suggested a photo.
I made an awkward expression and formed a V-sign with my left hand.
"Come on, the male student looks too tense. What a waste of a handsome face."
"S-Sorry."
Tap tap.
Someone tapped me from the side, and when I turned, I met Elise's eyes.
"Copy me."
Elise folded her arms and turned her body about 45 degrees, showing her back to me.
Oh, that pose.
I also turned my body about 45 degrees and pressed my back against Elise's.
"Oh~ Nice pose, nice! Have confidence!"
Click, click.
"It turned out amazing. Let's move to the next location!"
*
"Okay, taking the shot."
Click, click.
"Next, we're moving to the academy library."
I've lost track of how many times we've moved already.
Surin, who had been watching from the student council, disappeared, saying she had a lot of work to do. But honestly, I think she just ran away because she found it bothersome.
Elise also looked a bit tired. Physically, she's fine, so she must be mentally exhausted.
"Let's take a shot of you both sitting and reading books."
This guy's got serious passion. Is he getting paid a lot?
Click, click.
"Alright, next… Oh wow, look at the time."
Finally, it's over! Three hours of shooting…!
"Let's have lunch and meet again at the Victoria Academy central fountain by 1 PM."
Damn it.
The photography team left, laughing as they headed to eat.
Elise and I were left alone in the library, staring at each other like abandoned ducklings.
"Do you have plans afterward?"
"Not really."
"Then want to have lunch together?"
"...I guess."
At least she's willing to eat with me.
Elise gave a short response and started walking ahead.
*
"…"
Elise walked ahead and entered what looked like a restaurant.
I quickly followed after her.
When the waiter came to take our order, I looked at Elise. She let out a deep sigh and said, "I'll have the same as him."
Genius. I should have done that too.
After the waiter left, I quietly observed the surroundings.
It reminded me of a fancy steakhouse I went to in my twenties after saving up for it.
That place was great back then, but this place has a completely different vibe.
Even the air feels expensive, like they'd charge you just for breathing.
Munch munch.
Across from me, Elise quietly nibbled on the bread, as if this place was completely normal for her.
Hmm. I've got nothing else to do—should I try making conversation?
Compliments can make even whales dance. Let's try one.
"By the way, your makeup turned out really well. I was surprised earlier."
"Why are you suddenly flattering me?"
"Uh… I was just saying what I thought… Sorry."
"No need to apologize… Haah. Just eat quietly."
"…Okay."
Why is she so prickly? Is she mad at me?
Feeling a bit awkward, I quietly ate my bread.
The meal arrived, and we finished eating.
I threw in a few topics Elise liked here and there during the meal.
Luckily, the discussion about a classic film that premiered recently caught her interest.
"Good thing I studied Elise's preferences."
Since I never know when I'll run into Elise, I memorize news about her favorite authors' new releases and classic performances.
Somehow, we finished lunch and left the restaurant.
The meal took quite a while, and it was almost time for our meeting.
"That took longer than expected. It's already 12:50. Let's hurry."
"It's because you kept talking nonsense. Good manners mean focusing on eating during meals. You don't know that?"
"But it was fun. Don't you want to see Figaro and the Pirate?"
"Well, that's true… Haah. I'm exhausted. Just follow along so we can get this over with quickly."
Elise glanced around before walking straight ahead.
"Huh, wait? Isn't it the other way?"
The central fountain was in the opposite direction.
Did she not hear me or just ignore me? She kept walking ahead.
Is she not listening?
*
"Alright, that's it for today's shoot! Great work, everyone!"
"Great work!"
"You worked hard!"
The afternoon shoot ended quickly. After only moving locations twice, it was over, which was manageable.
It would have ended even earlier if not for Elise taking the wrong route.
"If you didn't know the way, you should've said so."
"...It happens. No one's perfect all the time."
"Well, seeing your human side was nice, but I didn't expect to end up at the outer academy walls instead of the central fountain."
"..."
"Heh."
Elise's flustered expression when she found herself facing the outer walls instead of the fountain was absolutely adorable.
Then, when she quickly turned red and briskly walked in the opposite direction after shooting me a glare, it was even funnier.
"...Lee Hoyeon."
Elise called my name in a low voice.
Oh shit. Is she mad?
She then marched up to me and poked my chest with her index finger.
"There's a limit to how much I can tolerate your arrogance just because you're good-looking."
Elise gave me a warning that wasn't really a warning and then fled as if running away.
"I learned this from you, you damn woman..."
And earlier, she said I looked the same before and after makeup. Turns out I really did get better-looking.
*
"Ah, I don't want to get up."
I spent all of Saturday on the shoot, so I should be resting on Sunday, but I had something to do.
Shopping.
Not at a supermarket, but at the black market.
"An opportunity to make money has come, so I should take it."
Normally, you need to use [Appraisal] magic or an appraisal scroll to check an item's information.
But with my equipment status window ability, I can see an item's details just by looking at it.
If that's not a sign to gather all the scam-level items rolling around the black market, I don't know what is.
I had firmly decided to carry out this plan over the weekend, but getting up wasn't easy.
"Ugh. If I have to go anyway, I might as well go early and rest later."
My motto is to put off today's work until tomorrow, but I've already delayed this enough.
Starting tomorrow, I'll be back in classes and won't have time.
Forcing my heavy eyelids open, I got dressed in casual clothes and headed to the academy's shopping district.
The emergency stairs of Samro Department Store—one of the routes leading underground to the black market.
Different thugs were guarding the entrance this time.
I held out a coin, and they silently stepped aside, letting me through.
"It's been a while since I last came here after visiting the pharmacy."
I should stop by the pharmacy again. There might be an unexpected find.
Stalls were spread all over the underground area, with vendors selling their goods.
Some sold monster byproducts, others had beakers full of blood, and some even sold live fish.
Seeing it in person was quite the spectacle.
While some of these people might have stroke-of-luck encounters, most were failures cast out from society.
The black market was an open secret—everyone knew it, but they turned a blind eye.
The government and the association weren't fools. With so many powerful individuals around, there's no way they wouldn't notice the flow of money and goods.
This was ultimately a 'weaker' black market, where relatively weaker individuals gathered.
The 'stronger' black market was truly hidden away, reserved only for VIPs.
Over there, things crossed every line imaginable—human trafficking, human experimentation, rape, monster gladiator arenas, and more.
Even if its location was discovered, the amount of lobbying done ensured it remained untouchable.
Anyway, this was just the 'weaker' black market.
But that's exactly why hidden treasures might exist here.
The lowlifes here wouldn't have an eye for real treasure.
"If anything, it should be around here."
[Booty & Antique]
A store that practically screamed 'we collect old junk and treasures!'
It wasn't a stall—it was a proper shop, which was already a good sign.
Lifting the cloth covering the entrance, I stepped inside.
A musty smell of old items filled the air. The smell of money.
"A new face. Welcome."
An old man sitting behind the counter greeted me with a smile.
His clothes were shabby, and he was missing a few teeth—not a great first impression.
"Looking for something? I can pick something out for you."
Instead of answering, I quietly browsed the store. The old man didn't seem to expect a response and simply fanned himself with his eyes closed.
'Trash. More trash. A recipe for cigarettes? Trash.'
It was a parade of garbage.
Like finding a needle in a haystack, I was searching for treasure among the junk.
"Hmm..."
As I kept checking items one by one, the old man opened his eyes and stared at me.
What's with him? Did this crazy old man lose his mind?
Ignoring his heated gaze, I continued my search.
After about 30 minutes of rummaging, I finally found something.
────[ Hell's Delinquent Summoning Contract ]────
▶ Grade: Supreme
▶ A summoning contract imbued with hell's magic. The summoned beings are of poor quality, but the contract's magic itself is top-tier, making it a supreme-grade contract.
▶ Allows summoning and contracting of delinquent troublemakers abandoned in hell.
-────────────
What the hell is this? I can't tell if it's good or bad.
Seeing 'Hell's Summon' in the title, I quickly picked it up and checked it. Turns out, it's a delinquent summoning contract.
"This is ridiculous."
I was so dumbfounded that I muttered aloud, forgetting about the old man.
Luckily, he didn't seem to care. Running an antique shop must have trained his patience in dealing with crazy people.
'Damn, this is tempting.'
Delinquents. Abandoned troublemakers. The wording was unsettling, but it was a supreme-grade summoning contract.
It triggered something primal in a man's heart.
'No, I should look for something more reliable.'
I forcibly turned my gaze away from [Hell's Delinquent Summoning Contract] and resumed browsing.
"..."
*
"Good choice. I don't know what that scroll is, but I bought it from a robed man ten years ago. Hope it's useful to you."
"Yeah, yeah. Take care."
Damn it. I bought it.
[Hell's Delinquent Summoning Contract]!
I don't know what it does, but it sounds cool!
Excited about using the contract, I rushed back to the dormitory.
Click!
After locking my door, I pulled out the contract I had eagerly brought back.
Placing it on the floor, I slowly channeled mana into it.
Shooong—
A burst of light filled the room.
I closed my eyes against the brightness and then opened them again to see something appear before me.
--------------------------
[Hell's Delinquent Summoning Contract]
Are you the one who summoned the delinquents of hell?
Choose one of the four delinquents.
1. Lucifer, the Butcher Demon Obsessed with Flesh
2. Golden Sun Incubus, Hell Academy's Bombardier
3. Kentaurus, the 20-Year F-Rank Mercenary Veteran
4. The 50-Year-Old Spinster Web-Weaving Succubus
---------------------------
"...What the fuck is this?"
A system-like selection window appeared before me.