I was offered a contract to help introduce the Sea Dragon Tribe youth to my ship.
I accepted his offer and signed the contract. The writing from the strange-shaped pen I borrowed from the youth shone brightly.
“Hahaha, that’s the way it should be. Now, bring your companions.”
Though I didn’t quite understand, I returned to everyone as instructed. I felt bad about waking them while they were sound asleep, but I had no choice but to rouse them all. Nina rubbed her eyes, her brow furrowed.
“What is it? Waking me up in the middle of the night. Is it an enemy attack?”
“No, it’s not. Um, I found a way to go to another world. Everyone, come with me.”
“Can’t that wait until tomorrow?”
After somehow persuading my grumbling companions, I returned to the Sea Dragon Tribe youth.
“I’ve brought my companions. Now, guide us to where the ship is.”
“Hold on, Arisugawa. Who is this?”
I explained the situation to Sharin, who was looking at me with sharp eyes. Hearing my explanation, her eyes grew even sharper.
“A contract…? What is that? Your life force?”
“Ah, well, it’ll return to normal, so it’s fine.”
The youth looked at my companions and counted them.
“Hmm, eleven people. Are you ready to pay the price, Arisugawa Hiroaki?”
“W-Wait! Not yet. Show me that contract!”
Sharin frantically pressed the youth. He scowled and stepped back.
“What is it? Don’t come near me. The contract is already made. I’m going to execute it.”
“But before that, I want to ask something. Arisugawa, how much do you have to pay as a price? Tell me!”
He let out a sigh as if it were a bother.
“I don’t know about that. Well, as long as you live, right? Then, let’s go.”
As the youth said that, the seawater stopped undulating and began to gather around him. The water rose as if it had a will of its own. I had a bad feeling about this. Wasn’t he supposed to guide us to the ship?
“Is this okay?! If a wave like this comes, we’ll all drown!”
“Ah, that’s right. You guys can’t swim. That’s a shame. The ship is underwater. I live in the sea, so naturally, right?”
The moonlight was blocked by the towering wall of water. In the shadow, I could see those purple eyes smiling. From the beginning, he never intended to put us on the ship. I was too hasty! I shouldn’t have trusted such a strange guy from the start.
“Everyone, run! Piyo, Pauline, get back quickly!”
On my signal, everyone started running all at once. I had to escape quickly too, and as I started to run, something grabbed my leg, and I fell. Looking down, I saw shackles attached to a chain tangled around my leg. It extended from a tall wall of water that had appeared behind the youth.
“Don’t think you can escape. You will pay the price.”
I was dragged mercilessly across the sandy beach.
“Arisugawa! Everyone, wait! Help me!”
Sharin’s hand grabbed my arm. But without regard, the sea grew closer and closer.
“Sharin, don’t mind me, just run away quickly!”
“Gah, I can’t do that! Damn it, I have no choice. A contract! Make a contract with me too, and revoke all of this.”
As if waiting for her words, the shackles disappeared, and the lifted seawater crashed down and returned to the sea.
