Six Months to Sell Your Soul Again

As the trio arrived at the cafeteria, they lined up at the counter to get their plates filled.

The cook distributing the food bore a striking resemblance to Mrs. McClintock, just a size smaller. 

Unlike the grumpy professor, she had a gentle and approachable demeanor, filling their plates to the brim and even allowing seconds for those who hadn't had enough.

Settling at an empty table, Braun idly poked at his food before voicing a thought that had been nagging at him.

"It's a little eerie that we get everything for free. Food, lodging, training… No matter how much they need us, shouldn't they… I don't know, ask for something in return?"

Ashen leaned back, chewing thoughtfully on his sandwich before nodding.

"Yeah, I've been thinking the same. But maybe, for a place backed by every faction on the continent, what we see as excessive is just the bare minimum for them."

Taking another bite, he continued, his voice more serious now.

"Besides, we'll be earning our keep through those so-called missions. Don't forget that a certain amount is mandatory. That's where the real stakes probably start."

Seraphine, who had been quietly cutting her steak, suddenly perked up.

"By the way, Ash, what's the important thing you wanted to talk about? I'm really curious."

Ashen swallowed his food and wiped his mouth before leaning in slightly.

"Oh, right. Listen up, this is big. Our contracts expire in six months."

Braun, who had just taken a sip of his drink, nearly choked. "What?"

Ashen's expression darkened. "Yeah. But here's the thing… my contractor told me my term was for a full twenty years. Non-negotiable."

A heavy silence fell over the table. Braun furrowed his brows, setting his fork down. "...Mine's the same. So what, we're actually free after six months? That doesn't sound right."

Ashen shook his head. "No. From what I gathered, we won't be escaping the contract itself. We'll just be allowed to choose who we sign with after those six months. Maybe some small tweaks will be allowed, but that's about it."

The atmosphere at the table turned grim. Braun drummed his fingers on the table, a hard look in his eyes. 

Seraphine, on the other hand, bit her lip, brows furrowed in deep thought.

"...Maybe we're looking at this the wrong way." Her voice was softer now.

Ashen and Braun both turned to her. She hesitated for a moment before continuing, pressing a fingertip against the edge of her lips as she thought.

"I think the twenty-year term doesn't necessarily mean we're bound to our initial contractors. As long as we stay here and fight for humanity, every faction benefits, whether directly or indirectly."

She sat up straighter as realization dawned on her. "Ah! Maybe this is actually an evaluation period. If that's the case, recruiters will come and offer better deals to trainees who show the most promise."

Ashen mulled it over, then nodded. "That actually makes a lot of sense. I just doubt 'better deals' will include reducing the twenty-year term…" 

He tilted his head, shooting her a look of amusement. "Still, color me impressed. You've been unusually sharp with this contract talk."

Seraphine flashed him a cheeky grin, wagging a finger.

"Ash, don't forget, I'm a businesswoman. You should value me more. Hehe."

Braun, who had been following along with an impressed expression, suddenly frowned.

"Wait… you're what now?"

Ashen gave him a knowing, almost sympathetic look.

"I know, right…"

Seraphine puffed out her cheeks in mild offense. "...You guys, I'm not that bad, am I?"

Ashen quickly shook his head, smirking. "Nah, your presence alone brightens the atmosphere. Having a good head on your shoulders is just a bonus."

Braun nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I was just surprised. You seem too nice for the cutthroat business world, that's all. Don't take it the wrong way, Missy."

"Hmph. Good to know." Seraphine hummed, clearly pleased by the praise.

Her moment of triumph was short-lived. Ashen's next words cut through her smugness like a blade.

"Then again… if you're so savvy, how'd you get scammed by those contract sharks?"

Seraphine's expression darkened. "That's the thing… they don't need to spell things out. The wording's a trap." She let out a frustrated sigh. 

"My contract promised 'exclusive twenty-year access to the new continent's flora', complete with a catalog of plants 'unique to Seravelle.' " Her voice turned dry. "Turns out, 'access' meant 'mandatory fieldwork.' "

Ashen winced in sympathy. "Ah. So it's like how they roped me into 'testing weapons on wildlife.'"

Braun clapped his hands together, cutting through the gloom. "Well, no use crying over it now. At least we're still in one piece, yeah?"

"...True."

"...Yeah."

As the tension lifted, the trio dug into their food again, their earlier concerns still lingering in the back of their minds.

"By the way, how did you even find out about this?" Braun gave Ashen a curious look.

"Oh, some people are already in contact with recruiters… even though it's supposed to be prohibited at this stage."

As Ashen answered, the silence stretched a bit too long. He lifted his head from his plate, only to be met with Braun and Seraphine's worried expressions.

"...What?" He frowned.

"Ash, you're not putting yourself in danger, right? Please don't do anything reckless."

"..?" Ashen blinked, confusion written all over his face. After a moment of thought, he finally pieced together their misunderstanding.

"...Oh! Guys, it wasn't me the recruiters secretly contacted. It was that scumbag, Chris."

Seraphine let out a relieved sigh, while Braun narrowed his eyes.

"...Really?"

Ashen rolled his eyes. "Yes… REALLY."

He set down his fork and leaned slightly toward them. "On another note, that guy is actually worse than we thought. It's best to stay as far away from him as possible." His gaze flicked toward Seraphine, pointedly. "Especially you."

"...Huh?" Seraphine tilted her head, giving him a blank look. "Why me?"

Ashen exhaled, already anticipating her occasional ditziness. "Let's just say he's the kind of guy every woman should avoid."

Braun immediately got the gist. "Oh." His expression darkened slightly.

Seraphine just shrugged. "Not like I planned on talking to him anyway."

Ashen nodded in satisfaction. "Good."

As the table settled into a comfortable silence, the three finished their meal before returning to their rooms.