「Allen: … But I won’t agree to just any condition thrown at me.」

I will not! I resolved myself.

Violet took out an empty sheet of paper and a pen.

「Violet: Very well, let’s discuss the contract terms. This will be an official agreement between you and the Kingdom.」

I nodded.

「Violet: As I said, I want you to work alongside our military enchanters to aid in the development of magical weapons and tools. I’m only making this proposal because Khalkear values your knowledge highly, therefore I’m willing to trust you.」

He does? It would be nice if he said so to my face, so I can gloat and be an insufferable student.

「Allen: I see. But what will I get in return, besides the knowledge of Proxy Magic?」

I renewed my grip on the armrests. I so didn’t want to lose out on the deal. I wouldn’t let her cleavage subdue me this time. So I used Resolve on myself.

「Violet: Of course, you’ll be also given a stipend. 25 gold coins every month.」

「Allen: 30?」

「Violet: 26.」

「Allen: 27.」

She stared at me unblinking for a few seconds.

「Violet: Deal.」

I felt proud of myself for the successful haggling.

Violet scribbled it down then shot me another gaze.

「Violet: Then there’s the matter of the dark god. We can’t risk someone in our ranks to be corrupted and manipulated by him. The Demon God ExFeras, no less.」

My brows lifted up a little. Demon God? Perhaps it was time I read about Gods and Goddesses.

「Allen: Uh… yes, I tried asking in warding shops, but no one would help me.」

「Violet: Since you haven’t mentioned it, can I assume you don’t want to seek aid in the worship of one of the Light Gods?」

She hit right on the spot.

「Allen: No. I don’t want anyone intruding my spirit. Once was enough.」

I said flatly. She took a deep breath.

「Violet: I see, that complicates the matter… no other option is feasible, I’ll have to teach you how to close off your spirit.」

「Allen: Does that involve aura control?」

She gave me a calculating gaze.

「Violet: Hmm, you already know about it?」

So I was right! I nodded.

「Allen: I heard about it and tried figuring it on my own, but…」

「Violet: Show me.」

She demanded, her eyes lightening up with mana while I attempted to seal off my spirit, but, as in my previous attempts, the moment my attention shifted to another area the previously sealed part would unravel, making my efforts vain.

「Violet: You’re doing it wrong.」

She pointed out unhelpfully. Well, thanks. I really needed to have the obvious pointed out to me.

「Allen: What am I doing wrong?」

I prodded for more.

「Violet: We’ll discuss that once you’ve signed the contract.」

Her eyes returned normal.

「Allen: I see.」

「Violet: Let’s return to the main topic…」

She picked up the pen again.

「Violet: I want you to stay within the confines of the city unless otherwise authorized.」

「Allen: What? But I hav–」

I began complaining but was cut short.

「Violet: This is not negotiable. I won’t have you be kidnapped, killed or tortured while in possession of sensitive state’s secrets.」

I sighed. I was really hoping to get myself killed in my misguided attempts to manage my stress. Jokes aside, being confined didn’t sit well with me.

「Violet: You will issue a formal request directly to me if needs be. It’ll be within my discretion whether to allow it or not.」

「Allen: I don’t like it…」

She ignored me and continued.

「Violet: Next, the duration of the contract. I want you to cooperate for the duration of the war.」

「Allen: This is too unclear, it could last anything from months to years!」

I complained spurred by Resolve. Violet narrowed her eyes slightly.

「Violet: I see… What about two years at the end of which we will discuss the terms again? If prior Demon Wars are to be taken as a reference, it’ll be unlikely for it to last more than that.」

Two years was better. A clear goal. Not too much to scare me off, but enough to give me time to grind my skills and, hopefully, become independent.

「Allen: Fine.」

Violet wrote it down on paper.

「Allen: What about my work hours and duties?」

「Violet: Since I value your dedication in attending our magic classes, I was thinking 152 Reposes of work to arrange according to your discretion and schedule, and eight free days you can fully dedicate to resting.」

It was approximately the equivalent of working half a day and I would get five-something golden coins for each Repose. Time-wise it was more efficient than adventuring. Also safer.

「Violet: As for your duties, you’ll be required to work according to your specialty. No one will force you to explain your process in details, as long as you can produce results. Know that I will know if you slack off and deliver appropriate punishment.」

She warned me, hardening her glare. I started wondering if I was really up to the task.

「Allen: I agree with those terms. Will I have to fight in the battlefield?」

She shook her head slightly.

「Violet: No, unless you wish so.」

I took a mental sigh of relief. No way in hell.

「Allen: Who will be my superior? Who will I report to?」

「Violet: You’ll report directly to me for all matters. If I’m not present you’ll delay any directive not previously contemplated.」

「Allen: Okay.」

We straightened the few remaining details and Violet transcribed the terms in fair copy.

She reread the document one final time and pushed it to me alongside the pen.

「Violet: I shall impart you with the knowledge of Magic Generators the moment you sign the document.」

She promised. I nodded and grabbed the pen, staring at the document. Am I making the correct choice?

The loss of freedom sucked, two years were demanding, and the work would take away part of the time I dedicated to my studies. But, I would get a fair income, the chance to indirectly fight back against the demons, and Proxy Magic plus Aura Control.

It wasn’t a bad deal.

「Violet: You can always decline if you feel yourself being forced…」

Violet said noticing my hesitation.

「Violet: But know you might never again find such favorable conditions.」

She was right, my bargaining chip would lose its value in the long run as Grohm absorbed my knowledge and spread it to others. The thing was, I needed more people with expertise in the field.

A single developer could only do so much. It sucks working alone, testing things is harder, spotting bugs is harder, making decisions is harder. It’s also much less fun.

And not only that, I will eventually need mathematicians to restore the knowledge of advanced compression algorithms, cryptography, encryption and more.

I took a deep breath, signed the contract and pushed it back to Violet.

「Violet: Excellent decision.」

She said with an icy smile while signing it herself and pressing her signet ring into melted wax.

It was done.

「Violet: Very well, come closer now and give me your hands. You already know the principles of Spell Binding so it will be easier. Prepare yourself to accept the Oath.」

I leaned forward putting my hands over Violet’s open palms which were brimming with mana. I swallowed, this was my first time ever in dealing with a magical Oath.

Suddenly I was aware of the terms and price of the Oath then I became aware of an insistent force trying to push into my spirit. The surprise made my heartbeat accelerate. Is this safe?!

「Violet: Accept.」

She repeated.

This is what I came here for. I willed myself to accept the Oath.

Knowledge not my own started flooding my mind. Proxy Magic was… like an ugly workaround, a very creative and clever one. I would have never figured it out on my own.

「Allen: Woah…」

I steadied myself, feeling a little dizzy.

If it was that easy to transmit knowledge of spells why didn’t they do it all the time here at the Academy?

Violet read my expression.

「Violet: I can imagine what you’re thinking. Why wouldn’t the teachers teach you spells this way?」

I nodded.

「Violet: It doesn’t work. Without an Oath as an anchor, the knowledge would quickly be lost. And keep this in mind, Oaths are not something to be abused, remember that they feed on your mana depending on the complexity of their conditions. You don’t want to have too many.」

She said, relaxing back in her chair.

Yes, I had read about it. Thankfully this Oath was negligible in terms of mana consumption. I was simply forbidden to transmit the knowledge in any way and form. Removing the Oath would also remove the knowledge.

「Violet: It’s best to just use Intent during the teachings and let the students learn naturally.」

「Allen: Intent?」

「Violet: Have you never noticed? It’s often done subconsciously. Of course, coming from a different world you wouldn’t know… pay attention to the difference.」

「Violet: Cold water. 【Cold】 spell. Cold water. 【Cold】 spell.」

I froze. Now that I actually paid attention I could feel something, it wasn’t just mere emphasis. No, it was like a deeper meaning buried underneath the words. For some reason, I felt like I had made a step toward my ideals.

「Violet: Did you notice the difference?」

「Allen: I did.」

I said, confirming with a short nod.

Cold, cold, cold, 【Cold】… Yes! I got this.

「Violet: Good. Now let see about your 【Aura Control】…」

She stood up and pointed to the sofa on the far right side of the room.

「Violet: Lay down there and follow my instructions.」

I obeyed and laid down. I saw her eyes lightening up again with magic.

「Violet: Close your eyes… Now, instead of focusing on specific parts of your body, empty your mind.」

I relaxed and stopped my thoughts.

「Violet: Be aware of all your body, don’t filter anything through your senses. Just feel your pure unfocused awareness.」

I did so, letting all the sensations flow in.

「Violet: Now… slowly dismiss out your bodily sensations until only the awareness of your whole spirit body remains. Remain unfocused.」

It took me several attempts but eventually, I let the other sensations gradually fade from my awareness.

「Violet: Yes… your spirit in synchrony now. Tighten your aura just like you were doing before. No! I just told you, don’t focus, surrender to the awareness…」

I did my best to follow Violet’s expectations, but it was much harder to get a grip on my spiritual surface this way. I had to stay unfocused while also ignoring the other sensations from my actual body.

「Violet: Yes, like that… 【tighten】 your aura.」

It didn’t seem like I was getting any meaningful result, though.

The private lesson continued for a good half an hour.

「Violet: Enough.」

The archmage clapped her hands and I stood up before her.

「Violet: Don’t expect to be able to close off your aura before the fourth week. It is important that you keep practicing every day as much as you can, or you will quickly lose your progress.」

Violet took a look at the calendar lying on the wall.

「Violet: You’ll begin next week, so come here the day before. I’ll check on your progress and deliver your instructions. Now leave, I have matters requiring my attention.」

She said with finality.

「Allen: I will.」

I said, bowing before walking out of the room. Violet had turned her icy gaze against the calendar so I took the opportunity to appreciate her curves as I closed the door.

I have one week of freedom.

Violet had been more forthcoming than expected.

Now that I had 【Proxy Magic】 I could finally upgrade my adamantium ring, and with 【Aura Control】 I could keep the gods away while improving my mana reserves.

I just hoped I wouldn’t come to regret the deal.