Chapter 223 Contract Slots
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
With the successful finalization of my contract with Rias, a new skill appeared in my skill bar:
[Soulmate]: A contract-type skill; cannot be unbound. Current cap: nine.
As the name suggests, following the mutation, this contract is no longer a simple Master-Servant arrangement. Calling it a “Partner Contract” or “Dual Cultivation Contract” would be far more fitting. The restrictions haven’t changed much: once under contract with Aki, absolute loyalty and obedience are mandatory. Should those terms be violated, a curse is triggered, inducing an unimaginable, aphrodisiac effect. Unlike the Master-Servant contract with Maria, this state cannot be relieved by any means other than my own personal pacification. Using any other method won’t just fail to soothe the condition—it will only exacerbate the agony.
Beyond the original effects, two new ones have been added. First, once a contract is signed with me, the efficiency of Dual Cultivation is vastly amplified.
Second is the “Soul Link.” As long as I am alive—or, more accurately, as long as at least one person with whom I share a contract survives—the others retain a shred of their true spirit, kept intact. This spark of true spirit resides within the souls of the living, lying dormant, waiting for a chance at resurrection.
However, there is a side effect: every time a contracted partner dies, the souls of the survivors are wounded. This is especially true for me, as the contract is centered on my own existence—my importance goes without saying. If a contracted partner’s soul isn’t strong enough, my death could potentially lead to the complete annihilation of their own. By the same logic, every time a contracted partner falls, my soul suffers immense damage, with the remaining strain distributed among the survivors. If, for example, there are three of us—Aki, Rias, and Akeno—and Rias and I perish, Akeno would have to withstand the soul-shock of both deaths just to harbor our true spirits within her own soul. From there, she would slowly accumulate the power and resources necessary to resurrect us one by one.
Currently, my soul’s strength only allows for nine such contracts, and these slots cannot be filled haphazardly. It’s not just about raw power; their potential must be significant. I’m unsure if the number of slots will increase as my own soul grows, but even if it does, I suspect the gain will be minimal. Every single slot is incredibly precious. Achieving nine slots as it is—the result of my soul’s unique nature—is remarkable. An average SS-rank powerhouse would be lucky to have one or two. Well… given that others lack the [Soul Covenant] and [Dual Cultivation Talent], they wouldn’t be able to sign a partner contract anyway.
Once signed, it signifies an eternity of inseparable connection. Either we exist in eternal life together, or we perish together, our spirits dissipating into the wind.
I didn’t hide anything from the girls in the clubroom; I explained the new contract in detail. I plan to fill the remaining eight slots from among them. Of course, that depends on whether Akeno and the others are willing.
”Aki-chan…” Yuuto looked troubled. “I want to sign the contract, but it requires Dual Cultivation at the end…”
I felt a headache coming on. Maria’s Master-Servant contract didn’t have gender restrictions. But after the mutation, it requires internal completion to successfully finalize. This effectively limits the target to females, and given Yuuto’s current, unique physical state, even if we were both willing, it’s currently impossible.
”We’ll start working on fixing your situation immediately after the Three Factions Talk,” I replied.
We really do need to speed this up; if things continue this way, Yuuto will be completely sidelined. If she suddenly loses hope, who knows if she’ll head down a path of darkness? I’d much rather she… well, return to being a girl.
Setting Yuuto aside, there were exactly eight other girls present: Akeno, Koneko, Asia, Raynare, Mittelt, Kalawarner, Mio Naruse, and Maria. The six girls of the Occult Research Club (ORC) didn’t hesitate for long before nodding their agreement.
”Ara ara, even Buchou has signed a contract with you~” Akeno smiled, sidling up to me. Her snow-white, delicate hand slipped into my crotch area, teasingly. “As Buchou’s peerage, of course, we will follow our Master~”
The white-haired loli’s ears twitched adorably, and she nodded solemnly, fully supporting the Vice-President’s sentiment.
”Oh my~ am I finally going to cross the threshold into adulthood with Aki-sensei…?” the little blonde nun murmured to herself, blushing and covering her face, filled with anticipation.
The Raynare trio looked at each other. Finally, Mittelt and Kalawarner turned their eyes toward Raynare.
”Rute, Vana, we stopped being superior and subordinate a long time ago,” Raynare sighed. “Small cliques are a bad idea, and I genuinely want to integrate, having been part of Rias’s peerage for so long.”
But seeing her two loyal companions, she couldn’t bring herself to be too blunt. Mittelt and Kalawarner knew it, too. In fact, they had integrated into the group faster than Raynare. Mittelt, Koneko, and Asia had formed a “loli trio,” and they got along famously. With the addition of the succubus Maria, it seemed to be evolving into a quartet. Kalawarner wasn’t one for many words, but she was gentle and efficient. Rias and Akeno often asked for her help, and with her tall, slender build and her role as a consultant, she was becoming the group’s unofficial third-in-command. In contrast, Raynare, who was obsessed with getting stronger, hadn’t integrated well, apart from her sparring sessions with Yuuto. That’s why Mittelt and Kalawarner were always worried about her, creating that “clique” feeling on purpose.
Raynare sensed it, but everyone has their own personality. It would take time for her to fully melt into this large household. Thinking this over, she made her decision. She nodded at Mittelt and Kalawarner. “We’re in, too.”
I wasn’t particularly blown away by the potential of the Fallen Angel trio, but one shouldn’t look at things purely through the lens of profit. Besides, bloodline potential isn’t something that can’t be changed. Raising an SSR is easy and comfortable, but personally nurturing an R-card to an SR, or even an SSR? That has its own unique thrill.
With a nod, I looked toward the Naruse sisters. I knew the chances were slim, but I couldn’t help but hope. Mio’s potential goes without saying—the main heroine, the daughter of a Demon King, a textbook example of a favored child of heaven. And the succubus loli is no slouch either—a heroine, descendant of both a Demon King and a Succubus Queen. Her potential is one in ten thousand.
”Hmph, you pervert! Exhibitionist! Who would ever sign a contract with you?!” Mio stomped her foot, her face flushing, and she turned and stormed out of the clubroom in a huff.
She knew exactly what kind of scene was about to happen here; she was annoyed, but couldn’t stop it, so she chose to simply not look.
”Ah, Lady Mio, wait for me~” Maria hurriedly followed. As she went, she looked back, stuck out her little tongue, and whispered, “I’d love to sign the contract with Aki-nii, but since Lady Mio isn’t willing, I have to regretfully decline.”
I shrugged. I knew exactly how much damage I did to succubus-types, especially considering Maria hadn’t taken her eyes off Little Aki even once. If Mio had nodded, she would have agreed in a heartbeat. Mio’s refusal was expected, yet still disappointing. A tsundere1 is already hard enough to conquer, let alone getting them to voluntarily and honestly express their feelings. Plus, with me already being involved with so many other girls and us having known each other for such a short time, it would be a miracle if she agreed.
During their time here, Mio and Maria had realized that my relationship with the other girls was far from ordinary. It wasn’t until just now that it was fully confirmed, giving them a deeper understanding of my [Dual Cultivation Ability] and Yuuto’s situation. Rias and I never treated them as outsiders, but there were some things we couldn’t just blurt out; we had to let them observe for themselves.
Shortly after the sisters left, Rias returned to the clubroom wearing a semi-sheer lace nightgown.
”Looks like everyone understands,” Rias said, scanning the room. “Let’s continue with the contracts while the full moon is still up.”
The mutated contract is time-consuming, and because it must be performed on the night of a full moon, there’s no way I’ll be able to get through everyone in one go, regardless of how uninhibited I am.
As I drew the magic circle, the girls decided on the order. First up was Akeno.
—
Summary:
Aki successfully evolves his contract system into a powerful soul-bonding ability, which necessitates intimacy for its activation. He explains these mechanics to the women in the ORC clubroom, leading to a complex series of negotiations and reactions regarding consent and integration into his household. While most of the girls agree to the terms, Mio Naruse and Maria represent a point of resistance and ongoing development. The group prepares to proceed with the rituals as the night of the full moon continues.
—
Trivia:
The contract system requires internal completion via Dual Cultivation, effectively restricting the target demographic.
Contractual death results in soul-shock damage shared among the survivors, with the intensity decreasing as the soul of the survivor grows stronger.
Raynare is actively trying to integrate into the peerage, having moved past her previous leadership hierarchy, but still feels isolated.
Mittelt and Kalawarner are actively fostering connections within the club to protect the cohesion of their group.
Mio’s potential is noted as being among the highest, potentially equal to a Demon King’s heir.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Rias – An elegant, voluptuous SS-Rank devil heiress with long crimson hair and green eyes, she is the next head of the Gremory family and President of the Occult Research Club. She authoritatively leads her peerage through family duties and Rating Games while bearing the weight of leadership, a forced engagement to Riser Phoenix, a soul-bound contract with Aki, and her role as the primary love interest.
• Maria – Shela’s daughter and a rare Demon King/Succubus Queen descendant, this transfer student is a Kuoh Academy member of Rias Gremory’s peerage. Usually appearing as a petite, white-haired girl to seal her mature form, she assists Aki with family-secret contract registrations. She is a playful cheerleader for the Gremorys, a tactical aide to Aki, and a protective sister to her half-sister Mio.
• Aki – A tall, handsome Kuoh Academy student and the Student Council’s sole male member, this youth is a pragmatic, protective hybrid Devil/Fallen Angel/Nekoshou and successor of the Red Dragon Emperor. An SS-Rank powerhouse pushing for SSS-Rank, he wields lightning magic, dual cultivation, and a unique Soul Network contract ability. A dominant master to his growing household, he is a key member of Rias’s peerage and the primary target of upcoming Rating Game restrictions.
• Akeno – Himejima is a tall, voluptuous raven-haired Orc-devil with red eyes and a high ponytail. Serving as Rias’s fiercely loyal, S-Class Vice-President and Queen, this elegant yet teasing, sadistic older student boasts a massive spike in lightning magic power. She handles administration and acts as Aki’s soul-bound contract partner, longing for his attention while maintaining a playful personality.
• Yuuto – An A-Rank knight in Rias Gremory’s peerage, this blonde male swordsman possesses a clear-headed, analytical mind that allows him to deduce ritual side effects. Despite his grace, a unique and restrictive physical condition bars him from full participation in the new contract system and Dual Cultivation, causing him to carry heavy emotional weight over his lack of progress compared to the group.
• Y – The first initial/part of the name Y Ddraig Goch.
• Kalawarner – A tall, voluptuous, fair-skinned fallen angel with blue hair and emerald eyes, she is an S-Rank fighter in Rias’s peerage, Kuoh Academy English teacher, and household consultant. Strict yet playful, she is deeply devoted to Aki’s cultivation as a loyal, sisterly figure. Despite her intellect, she secretly feels insecure, observing his bond with Rias while competing with Mittelt for his attention.
• Mittelt – A petite, twin-tailed blonde Fallen Angel in a black-and-white maid uniform, this sharp-tongued S-Rank fighter serves in Rias’s Gremory peerage. Radiating a jade-white-red aura, she transferred to Aki’s training group after serving Raynare and Kalawarner. She craves Aki’s physical affection and teases others, yet works alongside and maintains a playful connection with the household’s younger members.
• Raynare – Lady Raynare, alias Amano Yuuma, is a voluptuous, dark-haired former Fallen Angel training under Rias at the Occult Research Club. Shifting between an innocent schoolgirl guise and her true, darker nature, she is one of three people under contract with her mentee, Aki. This contract boosts her combat strength to high-end S-Rank, though she still struggles to integrate as a cohesive peerage member.
• Koneko – A white-haired, sixteen-year-old Nekoshou with a petite, doll-like physique, this quiet yet determined girl serves as Rias Gremory’s Rook and Occult Research Club member. Possessing immense physical strength that can reach S-Rank, her initial restraint gives way to instinctual surrender due to magical resonance. She is intensely physically affectionate with Aki and prone to clear signs of jealousy.
• Naruse – The family name carried by Mio, her sister Maria, and their parents. This significant lineage is deeply tied to the history involving Wilbert and is central to the current pursuit.
• Asia – A gentle, blonde first-year nun recently reincarnated as a Gremory peerage Bishop. Stationary at the base, this earnest, clear-headed newcomer serves as a crucial healer for conflict survivors. She shows deep concern for others, harbors hopeful anticipation for her growth within the household, and holds a naive affection for Aki, whom she once tried inviting to lunch.
• Mio – A busty, twin-tailed high school heroine with red hair and peach eyes, she is a powerful Naruse family member and Demon King Wilbert’s daughter. Possessing immense latent fire magic, this pure-blooded Devil loves her adoptive parents but is hunted by rival factions. Strong-willed yet inquisitive, she resists the household’s intimate contract and is protected by her sister Maria and Aki.
• Rute – A member of Aki’s peerage.
• Vana – An alias used by Kalawarner, a fallen angel subordinate to Raynare and a member of Aki’s peerage. She often wears mature, seductive outfits or standard human disguises.
• Queen – A devil serving Riser Phenex.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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