Chapter 316: Contracted Magician

"..."

Meredith wasn't sure what to do.

"What's wrong? Aren't you going to eat?"

"Ye-Yes!"

Meredith quickly nodded as she wondered what she should do, and in the end, she took a cup of tea and drank it, only—

"It's hot!"

Riser chuckled as he sipped his coffee while looking at Ophis, who quietly ate a cake. Still, he looked at the girl in front of him.

Cute.

He thought.

She had auburn hair, which she tied in braids, and blue eyes, which were similar to him.

"Now that you mention it, what's your name?"

"My-My name is Meredith Ordinton, Lucifer-sama!"

Meredith was so confused at the time, wondering why she had afternoon tea with Riser, but she didn't reject him and was even happy as she thought that she was sure that everyone would be jealous of her when she knew her experience was.

"You don't need to get nervous. Also, call me by my name instead of Lucifer."

"But..."

"Call me."

It was like an order, yet strangely enough, she didn't feel like she was forced. It was like her body, lips, and everything she wanted to follow him.

"Yes, Riser-sama."

"Good."

Meredith blushed when she heard his praise.

"By the way, are you free now?"

"Eh?"

"It's my first time here. I don't know much about London, so if you are free, can you guide us around?"

"..." Meredith.

"Or, is that not okay?"

"No, no! It's okay! Let me guide you around, Riser-sama!"

"That's good. How about we go now?"

"Yes!"

With that decision, the three of them started their tour around London under the guidance of Meredith.

Unlike Riser and Ophis, who came to this city for the first time, Meredith had been in this city for as long as she could remember. She knew every corner of this city like it was her home. Frankly, this might be weird, but for her, who was a master of "Security Magic," knowing the terrain, map, and geography was necessary.

She needed to watch everything so nothing could penetrate the security.

"So, you are a magician?"

"Yes. I have been..."

It might be because Riser was a good listener that Meredith started to talk about many things about her life and how she was working, including how she worked with the royal family.

"Isn't that great?"

"Great?"

"At your age, you can be entrusted to protect the royal family. I don't think I have seen anyone who is as good as you."

"Re-Really?" Meredith was happy when she heard his praise.

"Yes."

Riser smiled. "It's my first time seeing a girl as talented as you."

As Meredith talked happily, and Riser listened patiently, Ophis stared at the two as she ate mochi made by Riser. She wasn't sure, but she didn't like to see him like this. She could see him, yet at the same time, she couldn't see him. It was as if his face was covered by a thick mask that made it impossible for anyone to see the face behind that mask.

Yet, Ophis didn't say anything and just quietly stayed by his side since she wasn't sure why he was like her, who was just swimming alone in nothingness as her life passed.

However, the thought of Ophis didn't bother the two as Riser and Meredith enjoyed their time together.

"Holy Nail?"

"Yes, this is my Sacred Gear, Holy Nail."

Holy Nail.

It is an object used to nail Jesus Christ onto the cross.

Naturally, he was familiar with it as it was one of the Holy Relics alongside the Holy Spear, Holy Grail, Holy Cross, and the Shroud of Turin, and the first three became the Longinus, True Longinus, Sephiroth Graal, and Incinerate Anthem.

So, it surprised him when he heard that she got a Holy Relic type of Sacred Gear.

Although Meredith said that her Sacred Gear was a Holy Nail, Riser didn't think so, especially when it had the shape of the legendary Iron Crown of Lombardy, which consisted of a circle of gold and jewels fitted around a central silver band.

Yet, he could tell that this crown was made from the Holy Nail.

So, did her Sacred Gear evolve like others?

Still, when he realized the power of this Sacred Gear, he couldn't help but show a gentle smile at Meredith.

---

While Meredith had friends, they weren't so close to her that she could talk about them, and they were all wearing masks every day. Moreover, they were also looking down on her as her status was much lower than hers.

If there was someone different, it would be Le Fay Pendragon, whose status was above hers, yet Le Fay treated her the same as others.

In the past, Le Fay had invited her to join her, but she refused.

Nevertheless, Meredith was glad that she refused that invitation as she knew what Le Fay played was a dangerous game. Unlike Le Fay, who had the backing of the Pendragon House, she had nothing. The moment she was involved in the criminal organization, her life was as good as death.

Lastly, the reason why she was glad to refuse Le Fay's invitation was because if she followed Le Fay, she knew that she wouldn't be able to meet Riser.

Meredith knew that it might be strange and even arrogant of her to say this, but it was like their meeting was fate. They didn't know each other, and the difference in their status was very different.

She was nothing but a commoner, and he was someone who stood above everyone.

Even God and the strongest beings would cower when they heard him.

Yet, here, he stood by his side, listening to her patiently and gently.

It was also her first time being treated especially like this, and she felt like her heart was overflowing and that they were about to burst.

However, there was nothing permanent.

Everything had to end.

"I am sorry. I need to go back."

"I-I see..." Meredith felt like her feet were stuck on the ground, and everything burst like a bubble.

Could she see him again?

She lowered her head, moving her small feet uncomfortably as she knew that it was impossible.

Who was she?

Why would he meet her again?

Yet—

"Meredith, do you believe in gravity?"

"G-Gravity?"

Meredith looked at Riser in confusion.

"We don't know each other. Our statuses are different. We even live in two different worlds, yet somehow, we met each other.

"It is as if gravity pulls us together."

Riser smiled. "It's mysterious, isn't it? I wonder why I have met you from all the people in London."

His voice was like magic; she was completely attracted to his words like she was under the spell.

"So, do you want to become my contracted magician?"

"....."

"Eh? Eh? Eehhhh?!"

Meredith was startled and couldn't believe what she had heard. "Are-Are you joking, Riser-sama?"

"I am not."

"B-But... there is nothing special about me... I-I am also just a commoner... I-I have nothing..."

"No, you are special."

Her chin was gently pinched by him as she stared into his sincere years.

"Why? Because I chose you from all the magicians in this world."

She couldn't take her eyes away from him, and her body moved closer and closer than they attached to each other.

"...is-is it really okay for me to become your contracted magician?"

"Yes or no. What's your answer, Meredith?"

"No! I-I want to! No, let me be your contracted magician!"

"Then, let's make our pact official."

Meredith blushed and was nervous, but then she closed her eyes before she let him take her first kiss and sign themselves under contract.