Chapter 12

Ryzer's jaw dropped, closing on his tongue. He held his mouth as he mumbled through his hand.

"Y-you want me to what?"

Nora hid behind her hands, but growled at Heinz.

"Explain!"

Heinz laughed softly as he came around the desk. He tapped Nora on the shoulder and motioned for the door.

"Please step outside. I will discuss something a little more private with Ryzer before finalizing anything."

Nora's face went a little blank, though she complied after a moment. After the door closed, Heinz tapped it with his knuckle on it.

"You should be used to the way these doors work already. We can talk easily like this."

He leaned against his desk and sighed.

"You haven't changed yet, so I will assume you didn't look?"

Ryzer tilted his head.

"Hehe. Nothing to worry about, I just know about your eyes."

He tapped his temple as he spoke. Ryzer felt a strange sense of cold fear burst in his chest.

"W-what are you-"

"Use them on me. I can tell you haven't. And no, I am not an enemy."

Ryzer could only comply, his eyes activating as he stared at Heinz. The cold fear was replaced by confusion.

"Ah. So you can see it."

[Name: Alya (Freed)

Race: Dark Elf

Age: 31

C. Lvl: 45

Class: Illusionist, Lvl: 5]

Ryzer's mouth became a straight line.

"How did you know?"

Heinz waved a hand, instantly becoming replaced by a beautiful woman. Her deep black hair was braided down her back, reaching her waist. Ruby red eyes were set behind bifocals that sat on the tip of her small nose. The soft grey of her skin felt out of place in the room.

"I... am Alya. I am also your friend that you can rely on."

She smiled brightly, her long ears twitching slightly. Alya stretched her body, as if she were stiff.

"What-"

"The original Heinz? He passed away saving some of us from hostiles ten years back. He made sure I was free and able to hold down the business."

Ryzer looked away, the strangely sensual Dark Elf leaving him confused. She could only laugh as she approached Ryzer.

"Still so innocent. Yes, I am a woman. I am also not hard on the eyes, from what I have been told. But, the thing about your eyes. Anyone from a race deeply connectss to the Demon King would feel the tug. To most Dark Elves it will feel like a comforting pull. It can feel even better if you become closer, though Demonkin will become instantly aroused if you aren't careful."

She was flirty and teasing, completely unlike Heinz.

"So you met him. That's good. I would have thought he died a long time ago, especially after hearing how he gave up. Oh, right. My ancestor knew the two of them. The story was passed down in my village, least it was. It was raided and burned down."

Ryzer clenched his fists, knowing humans were the cause.

"So those eyes, were they what helped you save Nora?"

"Sort of. They show information, like weakpoints on enemies. Or just basic information about a target. Like your age and race, as well as name and class."

Alya had a conflicted look in her eyes, but kept silent. After a moment she changed she tune and continued.

"Well, on to the good stuff! Nora. Whatcha wanna do about her?"

Ryzer scratched his head.

"I do need trustworthy people to team up with, especially after being abandoned in the dungeon like she was. I had planned to ask if I could rent her services, but I have nowhere near enough money to pay for Nora."

Ryzer began to realize the ease he had with talking to Alya. It hadn't changed, even though she wasn't Heinz.

"Payment isn't necessary with her type of contract. A normal slave contract... well yeah. You wouldn't be able to pay for that unless I gave you a discount."

Ryzer tilted his head.

"Ah, let me explain. An Earth Oni, like Nora, will leave their family once they earm a class. They will become a special type of slave that gets to choose their own master. This is based upon the personality of the Earth Oni, so Nora chose you. They do perform tasks that they wish, as well as she worked with Limited Contracts to make money for us."

Ryzer nodded. The explanation was short and made sense.

"I don't see why I can't. Was this all you wanted from me?"

Alya shook her head.

"So your new ability and attraction is kind of important. There is a slave coming in sometime soon. She is a Demonkin, the first in a long time. I... worry. A Demonkin isn't looked highly upon by, well anyone. Demon is in the race after all."

Alya sighed deeply, then used her magic to become Heinz once more. In an instant, the gentlemanly personality came back out.

"Ryzer, can I hand over this woman to you as well? I can't just give her, the same way as Nora, so it will be at a discount."

Heinz began to look through the papers on his desk for a bit before pulling out a specific document.

"You are a capable individual, delving into dungeons on your own even. I may not be sure of your abilities, but Nora is a frontliner. The Demonkin is capable of magic, so she may be of some use while you are working your way through the floors. Since you took care of one of mine, I can outright reward you with that discount. But this..."

He handed over the paper.

"If you fill this out, I can send it to her family. This will set things up with them and her. Beyond that, we can use the actual slave bonding ritual to make sure she is yours."

Ryzer nodded and quickly read over the paper, filling in the details. When he finished, Heinz took the sheet and set it to the side. As he leaned against his desk again, he gave Ryzer a soft stare.

"I know that you haven't forgotten all the rules behind the slave contract, right? None of those really apply to this contract. Since she is yours, she is literally becoming your property. You do have to take care of her, so let me go over everything again. Just in case."

A mischievous light flicked across his face as he began.

---

Thank you,

Anna Haig!