Chapter 28: Yandere!
Leo looked at the Ethereal Beast that was waiting for an order patiently, like a German Shepherd in attention position. But the beast's already ethereal body was becoming more transparent by the second.
He also noticed something else.
Mana - 4/54 → 3/54
"Looks like there's a time frame in which called spirits can retain themselves, and it even takes the user's mana, approx one unit per minute," he muttered, rubbing his chin.
Lily had escaped from Leo's clutches by the time he was distracted and was listening to what he was saying.
"Retain? Unit? What are you saying?" she asked curiously, tilting her head.
He explained that the spirit she had called was temporary and would disappear forever after some time. To make it permanent, she had to form a contract — a bond that would tie the Beast Soul permanently to her own.
"How do I do it? I want to keep my first called spirit with me," she said quickly, almost pleading.
"Are you sure, tho? Because it will be irreversible," Leo warned, narrowing his eyes.
Lily thought for a while, her gaze flickering between the fading beast and Leo, then said,
"I know that beasts have something called bloodline rank, which decides their maximum growth potential… but how do I know this wolf's bloodline?"
Leo's eyes gleamed faintly.
System, is it possible to increase the bloodline rank of spirits that Lily has through my talent?
"This is good," he thought with a smirk. "Now it won't matter if she contracts it."
"If you're worried about bloodline rank," Leo said aloud, his tone assuring, "I'll make sure it's high. You can safely proceed with the contract."
"Thank you, Leo! I really want this beast as a memory," she said softly.
She headed toward the beast but then paused, turning her head back toward Leo in a stiff, almost robotic motion, flashing a smile like a child begging for sweets.
He couldn't help but chuckle.
"Let me guess—you jumped without knowing where to jump, huh?" he teased. "Hehehe. Just raise your hand forward and focus on your talent." He repeated the same words the guard once told him in the Beast Hall.
Lily nodded with a determined expression and did as he said.
Fortunately, the contract formation consumed negligible mana for the imprint and signatures, allowing Lily to form the contract even with her mana nearly depleted.
A radiant glow formed over her hand and flowed toward the Spirit Beast. It was accepted naturally, sealing the bond.
He quickly checked her interface.
---
Name: Lily
Race: Human (24)
Soul Rank: Rare
Talent: [Spirit Caller]
No. of Contracted Beasts: 1
Status Interface
Vitality — 3.4 → 5.8
Strength — 3.3 → 5.9
Agility — 2.9 → 5.5
Stamina — 3.9 → 6.2
Intelligence — 1.8 → 4.3
Mana — 2/54 → 77/124
---
"Holy—what is this stat boost?!" Leo exclaimed internally. "It's like 50% of the Beast's stats got added to her. Fuck… why do I feel jealous?"
A mock-bitter grin crept across his face, but it softened when he recalled that the more his bond ranks increased, the more stats he'd share with his beasts.
Heh. Just you wait, girl. You'll never be able to pin me down he thought smugly.
Lily opened her eyes, feeling the surroundings clearer, newfound strength coursing through her veins and a connection to the wolf standing in front of her. She tried sending the beast back, and it disappeared. leaving behind a blue trail. Making this beast summonable at any time, anywhere.
Now, she was among those higher echelons of society where she wouldn't be treated badly.
All because of one person. Her beloved Leo.
Small tears welled in the corners of her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. Not when he was smiling at her with that gentle warmth that melted her heart.
Yes… He is the one. Leo. I love you. I love you so much. Please be mine… please love me more…
Her steps grew slower but heavier with emotion as she moved toward him.
Leo, who was giving her space to relish the feeling of the new strength, saw her gaze towards him. It was filled with warmth and a genuine feeling of unspoken love. But he soon saw that pink glow in her eyes. That same unmistakable glow that he saw when she killed Arnold. The same possessive glow that didn't want Leo to be with someone else but her, only her.
"Shit," he whispered under his breath. "Her Yandere persona. What do I do to calm her down? She'll eat me—literally!"
He glanced at her lips — soft, pink, and dangerously inviting. He gulped down hard.
I think this is the only way… or else she'll keep showering me with god-knows-what until she's satisfied.
He braced himself; this was going to be his first kiss. And, ironically, it was because a Yandere was madly in love with him.
As she neared, her face flushed completely. The pink glow deepened. Her eyes locked on his lips as her hands rose to wrap around his neck.
Damn… I'm done, Leo thought.
Just how much does she love me to have a whole other personality built in her brain? Well… on the bright side, at least someone loves me for real. This is nearly impossible back on Earth.
He spread his arms, welcoming her in his embrace.
But before Lily could lead the situation, he took control.
He caught her waist and pulled her closer, then, holding the nape of her neck with his other hand, he gently pressed a kiss over her soft, luscious lips.
This was it, his first kiss gone. But this was perfect.
He broke the kiss for a moment to check for any negative reaction, only to see her eyes glowing more intensely and the inviting lips that were slightly open. He didn't get a chance to think more before Lily pulled his face closer and deepened the kiss. Somehow, they ended up lying over the bed with Leo's back on the bed and Lily on top.