A memory from long ago came flooding into his mind. What he remembered most clearly was a woman. Before he was sealed, she was the first and final person he made a contract with. However, she wasn’t just someone he formed a contract with. She was the first being he met right after his birth, his precious friend, and someone who showed Nowem a whole new world.

Yet, their ending was tragic.

In his desire to protect and form a more special relationship with her, he unconsciously formed a contract with her. However, a magical beast’s special mana was the same as poison to a normal person. Succumbing to the immense power of the earth, she began to grow ill like cracked, dry soil; and because her body rejected his mana, she began to lose her mind and went out of control from time to time.

Soon, she became a symbol of fear among humans. However, it was impossible to break the contract. It was an absolute contract, decided from his birth, and it could only end if one of them died. Still, she didn’t resent him.

On the other hand, Nowem tried to kill himself many times. He thought he should be the one to die if one of them had to die, but she stopped him. She threatened him and said that if he died, she...