Published: July 26, 2025
“Here you go, master.”
“Ah.”
Mark had prepared the contract magic. The contract papers laid out on the table and the strangely designed ink pot containing special ink were familiar to me.
Benno dipped the pen into the ink pot and smoothly wrote the contract details. The ink wasn’t black, but blue, just as I remembered. I stared at the letters being written on the contract.
“The right to sell products made at the Myne Workshop belongs to Lutz.
If a representative is appointed, approval must be obtained from Myne, Lutz, and Benno, and reported to the Merchant Guild.”
“What is this clause for?”
When I pointed to the contract, Benno lifted his eyebrows slightly.
“It’s insurance. Since this contract is only between children, there might be people who try to forcefully cancel it through violence or kidnapping. To prevent fraud as much as possible, get me and the guild involved. When making contracts like this, it’s best to involve a third party on your side. Remember that.”
“...Thank you.”
Not only did he suggest such a complicated contract magic, but I didn’t expect him to get involved willingly as an ally.
I took the pen Mark handed me and signed. Next, Lutz wrote his name, and finally Benno signed and stamped the blood seal.
“Lutz, please.”
He closed his eyes tightly and extended his hand. Lutz swiftly cut his fingertip with a knife. The red blood slowly oozed out, and he pressed it firmly onto his signature.
The moment the blood was absorbed, the blue ink turned black, just like before. Then, as with the previous contract magic, after all signatures were done, the inked areas began glowing, burning through and expanding, causing the contract paper itself to disappear.
I watched the glowing ashes dissolve like sparkling dust, and Benno exhaled slowly.
“With this, even if Myne is taken into the Noble District, there’s a legitimate reason to sell the products, allowing Lutz and Myne to meet face-to-face. To prevent such situations, Myne, you must learn to protect yourself.”
“I’ll do my best.”
I clenched my fist, but Benno, Lutz, and Mark all shook their heads with very worried expressions.
“But this method only works with those who see value in the products Myne creates.”
“Huh?”
“If the other party only needs mana, they’ll likely say they don’t care about buying or selling products. Fortunately, I think there are very few nobles in this city rich enough to ignore large sums of money coming to them. Also, as I said before, this contract magic only works within this city. Be careful.”
“Yes.”
Afterward, we exchanged a contract with the same content on ordinary parchment. This was to report to the guild and, while it wouldn’t intimidate nobles much, it could show that a contract was already in place in case something happens in another city.
“Let’s complete the procedures today. We’ll head straight to the Merchant Guild. Register the Myne Workshop as a workshop and make Myne the workshop master. Doing this will ensure there’s no issue with product sales. Showing that there are options and ways to earn outside the temple should give you some confidence in negotiations.”
“Yes.”
Since the Merchant Guild was on the way home, finishing the procedures there would at least give us peace of mind.
Benno hurried us along, telling us to move quickly, while Lutz ran upstairs to the storage room he used as a changing room.
I looked up at Benno and asked,
“How can I make negotiations go in my favor?”
“Well... first, imagine the best possible outcome for yourself. Then figure out what concessions you need to extract from the other party, what you can offer, and what they want.”
Listening to Benno, I tried to visualize what I wanted.
What I wanted was permission to enter and read in the library. To achieve that, I wanted to enter the temple in a position other than the gray-level shrine maiden apprentice, which requires labor. What I could offer was mana and money. According to Benno’s info, the other party wanted mana and money too.