Cry For Help

If a Blank Contract represents 'an Illusory World without an active Protagonist'.

And if a White Contract represents 'an Illusory World with an active Protagonist'.

Then, logically speaking, 'Blank Contracts would become White Contracts when an active Protagonist emerges'. Right?

Thus, 'Blank Contracts can turn into White Contracts at any moment'――Or maybe, more specifically, the moment that the existence of a Protagonist has been officially recognised in the world, a White Contract will be generated.

Prior to the existence of a Protagonist, did the world within a Contract even exist...?

Albeit a simplified version, one that inevitably left such questions, this was more or less the Library's Contract system as I understood it. It was a simple system, and I'm sure there were still more blind spots to it that I had yet to consider, but it made enough sense for the moment.

Typically, White Contracts could be taken at any time with no risk of the Antagonist being in harm's way, at least that's what it seemed like so far.

I go in, remove the malignant tumour known as the Protagonist, and get out. All without the Antagonist even being aware of it.

Supposedly, this was done with the purpose of maintaining the Antagonist's safety during the procedure, as well as pure convenience; like putting a patient under anaesthesia for surgery, I guess.

"White Contracts, which solely indicate that a Protagonist is present and active within the represented Illusory World, have the potential to turn into Red Contracts upon meeting one specific criteria."

For that reason, it seemed to be true that many White Contract Antagonists weren't even aware that there was a Protagonist in their world to begin with, or what danger they posed.

"That criteria is..."

Red Contracts, on the other hand―

"...A direct request from the Antagonist themself."

―Meant that the Antagonist had become aware of the Protagonist's threat.

They were a cry for help.

"Specifically, a Red Contract only forms when the Antagonist sees their own situation to be 'dire' as a result of the Protagonist.

"Lest they see no other way out than with the assistance of a third-party, a Red Contract will not form... Naturally, this must be an emotion of genuine concern on the Antagonist's part."

Needless to say, unlike a White Contract, which could be postponed or accepted with relative leisure, a Red Contract indicated the situation was urgent.

Turning my attention to the blood-red screen that displayed that sort of Contract, my brows furrowed deeply.

"...So, what, I have to accept it right now? If there's no time, then..."

Despite those kinds of action-orienting words, my body hesitated.

Just how bad did things have to be for the Antagonist to be genuinely worried for their own life?

They weren't just weak-minded, were they?

Looking at the tags... No, well, I don't even know what half of them mean, but at the very least, it seemed to be a video game with a school setting. Assuming the Protagonist was a student, could it really get so bad that the Antagonist sees no possible way out...?

I could consider myself lucky that the Difficulty was only worth three stars.

'The hell...'

On the other hand, that many stars for the suggested setting was a disaster.

No matter how hard I thought, I simply couldn't fathom what led to this outcome, and I couldn't comprehend what kind of threats there could possibly be in a school of all things for the Difficulty to be 3-star.

''#Romance', '#NaiveProtagonist', '#RoyalAcademy' ... I don't get it. How is that enough to warrant 3 stars?'

The only things I could imagine being wary of were: '#Shoujo', which was a term I faintly recognised but couldn't recall the meaning of, and most of all, '#HidingTruePower'.

In fact, that one in particular was unnerving.

"Enki..."

Snapping my gaze back to the Librarian in response to her tense mutter, I blankly watched her for a moment. Taking a deep breath, I quickly looked over everything.

'...Let's not panic. There will definitely be a way to solve it, else what's even the point... I'll have a disguise, and combined with Charismatic, it's unlikely the Protagonist would be hostile to me, at least. With the Black Wisp, if it's only a student some years younger than me, I should manage without a problem...'

I only need to make sure the Antagonist stays alive and the Protagonist dies, right?

Then there was nothing to worry about.

Using the 1,100 World Stability Units I had been saving, I purchased a single Standard Health Potion from the Consumables section, costing 250 Units, sending it directly to the Storage. Just in case the Antagonist was injuried or hurt in any way, I thought it would be smart to be prepared for that possibility.

Then, with the 850 remaining, I arrived back at the dilemma from before.

To choose between Sneak or Lockpicking.

'Hurry...'

Fortunately or not, due to this hastily-made Health Potion purchase, I actually didn't have enough funds to purchase the latter, so the decision was now cut down to strictly one option.

It was better than nothing.

Skill Purchased

[Sneak] (Passive) added to Status

Thus, I was left with 50 Units to my name. At the moment, this was the best I could do.

Nevertheless.

'Alright.'

"Send me in, Librarian."

Regardless of if it was 3-star Difficulty or not.

'―Irrelevant.'

My breaths were short and light, and my heart raced as fast as it did when I encountered that magical critter―to the extent I wasn't even sure if I was about to suffer from a heart attack. Anyway, there was no time to be concerned about something like that.

There was only one possible outcome.

'No matter what, I won't let it come to a loss.'

Ironically, this feeling of unfamiliar confidence was familiar to me. I didn't have time to introspect and figure out where exactly it originated from, as all I could do was look forward and take on the obstacle before me.

If I thought about it more, surely I would have also realised that there was no explicit reason why I had to take on the Red Contract at this very moment. 

I could have waited some more, prepared some more, readied myself some more.

But, regardless, I felt like I had to.

After all, if the Antagonist themself is feeling the pressure of the Protagonist upon them, even if things were alright for the time being, it was only a matter of time before things changed irreversibly for the worse.

"Certainly...!"

The Librarian high-pitched voice rang clear, and soon, my vision transformed dramatically.

The world around me warped, dematerialised, and shifted in a way I had somewhat grown used to, yet so incredibly nauseating it forced my eyes shut and my breath to be withheld.

"Enki...! May the Blessing of the Illusory Spirit guide you! So, fret not! I will also be with you!"

Distorted echoes chimed all around me, resting in my ears. Not long after, her voice, pure as still water, resounded in my mind.

[Transporting to the Illusory World of 'May the Stars Align One Day in Drakon-Rasa'...!]

[The target... is 'Ayla Tichá, the Beloved'!]

Opening my eyes the moment I was able to, I found myself in a very peculiar place.