I was at a loss for words.

For something he described as “slightly” putting them to sleep, the guards were sprawled all over. Since there were no injuries, it seems he really just touched them.

“What would you have done if I hadn’t come out before the banquet ended?”

“Then I would have quietly gone back in.”

“……I thought you had a plan, but you were just reckless.”

“Sometimes no plan is better than having one.”

Well, he’s good with words.

“I learned all this from you, Master.”

Stop reading my mind. He really doesn’t listen.

I shook my head resignedly and said to Zeno.

“……Just lead the way quickly.”

We stopped in front of the building housing the divine beasts, located at the back of the imperial palace.

A space made like a cage with iron bars was revealed.

“Grrrr.” (We meet again.)

The first to reveal itself from the darkness was the dragon.

Was this my third time seeing it?

“……Wait, Zeno. Is the contract method the same?”

I clutched the nape of my neck as I looked at the dragon. If a dragon bites my neck…… won’t I die?

Am I going to die today trying to make a contract?

“Don’t worry. Each divine beast has a different contract method.”

I was relieved at Zeno’s words. As I approached the iron bars, the dragon rested its head against them.

‘I will give you my scales. Contractor.’

“Won’t it hurt?”

‘You possess healing abilities anyway.’

“Are you saying we can contract without removing the binding spell?”

‘Of course. The emperor won’t sense the presence of a contractor anyway.’

Indeed, if father had known earlier, he wouldn’t have left Zeno alone.

I reached out my hand and plucked one of the dragon’s scales.

‘Here, take this.’

What was in the dragon’s mouth was a branch with holy power.

When he said there was a reason, it seems he was planning to use this power to make a contract. As I held the dragon’s scale in my hand and grabbed the branch in his mouth, light burst forth.

So bright.

Power surged through my entire body, making me feel more energetic than before.

“Hmm, my body feels different somehow… I’m overflowing with power.”

Is it really okay to make contracts with multiple divine beasts, not just one?

“Do you think such opportunities are given to just anyone?”

Zeno snorted. Being able to communicate with divine beasts was already an incredible ability.

They only opened their hearts to those who could connect with them, and I was the only one capable of that.

In truth, while divine beasts prefer being free without contracts, there was no guarantee that people like my father wouldn’t appear again.

After the dragon, I completed contracts with the eagle, the white tiger, and the golden lion in order.

The four divine beasts transformed into human form. Well, they each had different hair colors, making them easy to distinguish.

“A contract with a human, now I’ve lived long enough to see everything. My name is Sakin.”

The white tiger came easily through the iron bars, fluttering his silver hair.

The eagle had grayish-brown hair, the dragon had deep blue hair, the white tiger had silver hair, and the golden lion, true to his name, showed off his golden hair.

They each told me their names.

The dragon’s name was Kalanzheld, and the eagle was Herchi.

Somehow feeling they might get angry if I couldn’t remember their names, I quickly committed them to memory.

“Kalanzheld, or actually, I’ll call you Kal for short. Can you always move in and out of here like this?”

“It’s temporary. The binding is momentarily loosened because the contract has been established.”

Kal, who seemed well over two meters tall, stretched widely.

“Then we don’t have much time to talk. I heard the airship is complete, so prepare to leave this place soon.”

“Strange, the emperor shouldn’t have been able to build an airship yet.”

“I’m planning to sell him the airship I made.”

No matter what my father tries, it would be difficult for him to obtain the magic stones needed to build an airship. Father was trying to acquire magic stones through illegal routes.

Even so, it would be difficult to gather enough magic stones.

‘The nobles would revolt if they found out.’

Since their money was being used too. Although father hadn’t touched the national treasury, he had raised funds through other means.

Namely, taxes. He was collecting excessive taxes from everyone, nobles and commoners alike.

“But I wonder if the emperor would buy an airship. He’s a man who calculates profit. He might find it too expensive to pay for an airship.”

Kal seemed to have stayed here for quite some time. He seemed to understand what kind of person the emperor was.

“Normally that would be true, but after today’s events, father will be more anxious. When you say the binding has loosened, that means father must have felt it too, right?”

Kal was intimidating even with just a slight downward glance. I supported my stiffening neck with my hand and swallowed hard.

“Judging by your eyes, you seem trustworthy, so why not set aside our doubts?”

The eagle Herchi said with a shrug.

“I should go back now. The banquet seems to be ending…”

“Master, you must come back soon. I don’t really like it here.”

Zeno whined, clutching my arm. I nodded and tapped the choker around his neck.

“You said you didn’t like this, so why are you wearing it?”

“…It’s a symbol. A symbol that I have a master.”

Zeno grumbled, tapping the bell with his fingers. The jingling sound made me feel as if Zeno’s tail was wagging.

“Alright, just be patient a little longer. Please don’t cause any trouble!”

Zeno nodded. As he reluctantly held onto my fingers, he suddenly jerked his head up.

“Master, I think we need to leave quickly?”

Noticing the change in Zeno’s eyes and realizing the urgency of the situation, I immediately ran back the way I had come.

❖ ❖ ❖

The emperor felt the binding power weakening. During the banquet, he abruptly turned his head and stared in the direction of the divine beasts.

‘The binding couldn’t possibly break.’

Isabelle, who possessed the ability, was here.

Something felt wrong to just dismiss it as a mistake. The emperor became anxious and could no longer enjoy the banquet.

‘I should go check.’

It shouldn’t happen, but if the divine beasts had escaped again…

His head began to throb with pain.

“Your Majesty, you don’t look well. Perhaps you should retire for the night?”

Duke Shalom, seated beside the emperor, suggested carefully.

“I think I should. Something seems to have gone wrong, so I need to check. Please take care of things here.”

He tried to stand up. However, Isabelle, noticing this, grabbed his arm with a sad expression.

“Father, just a little longer. If you leave, I’ll have to leave too. This is a rare banquet, and I want to enjoy it more.”

“…Isabelle. Unfortunately, something urgent has come up, and I must go. You can stay and enjoy yourself, don’t worry about me.”

“How could I do that? If you’re not feeling well, it’s my duty as your child to accompany you.”

Isabelle stood up, unable to hide her disappointment.

‘She was always willful, but lately it’s gotten worse.’

Irritated by Isabelle’s behavior, which seemed designed to hold him back, the emperor shook off her hand.

“How can I tell my grown daughter what to do? Stay and enjoy the banquet more with your lover, Sir Benjamin.”

The emperor pressed down on Isabelle’s shoulders, forcing her back into her chair. Killing intent was evident in his golden eyes.

“…I was just worried.”

It’s uncomfortable being with others. I don’t know what to say.

Having read Isabelle’s thoughts and finding nothing suspicious, the emperor put on a gentle smile.

“Yes, how could I not understand your feelings.”

“The night roads are treacherous for Your Majesty to return alone. I will follow you.”

“…Is the Grand Duke offering to escort me?”

Cedric nodded as he rose from his seat.

To the emperor, Cedric was more dangerous than any treacherous night road. He looked at the emperor with an expression that revealed nothing of his thoughts.

Meeting his gaze, the emperor didn’t miss the opportunity.

‘I really can’t tell what he’s thinking.’

His impassive expression and blue eyes felt like an unfathomable ocean.

The emperor used his ability to read his thoughts.

‘If I leave this place quickly, I can see Claire. I’ll use this as an excuse.’

‘I want to see Claire.’

‘She didn’t eat well earlier, should I bring her some snacks?’

‘I want to see Claire’s beautiful face.’

‘I want to hold Claire’s fair hands.’

‘Claire’s…’

The emperor decided to stop reading Cedric’s thoughts.