"What... is it?"

Hanon felt like he had stepped onto a landmine.

"Nothing..." Teren slightly leaned forward, "I didn't realize that I would find your weakness so soon."

"!!!"

"No, don't worry. I will use this weakness as allies, not as an enemy."

Teren said to comfort Hanon but the latter didn't feel much better.

"I have no idea about your background. Your Spirit of Vision is easily one of the rarest ones out there. If only it had fewer setbacks, it would've been standing in the league of Great Spirits. If you became my enemy, it would be a bother."

He didn't hold anything back on saying the words out of his mind. What bothered Hanon the most was the fact that Teren would only see him as a bother if he did go against him.

"I can't have you betraying me any moment. Fortunately, your value is more than what I would get by what I planned to do with them."

Although Hanon stepped onto a landmine, in exchange, he gained hope in saving his students.

"So what do I do?"

"I can't really gain your loyalty by this. So let's use a Spirit to establish a relationship."

Hanon was surprised by this. Yet, it perfectly fits Teren to have something like a Spirit of Contract now that he thinks of it. Would he take it?

"But there's a catch." Teren said, "The reason why I don't always do this is that the signer has to be willing from the bottom of their heart. I haven't found anyone who can fulfill this requirement but maybe you can. You seem passionate about us, your students."

"Bottom of my heart?" Hanon was doubtful. He was just a teacher for about a month so... is he eligible?

"Is there a consequence if... I signed even though it's not from the bottom of my heart?" he asked. What he said might sound ridiculous to others who do not know the context. But Teren found that phrasing very fitting.

"Of course, the contract will half-fail and half-succeed."

"Ah?"

"Since I'm the owner of the Spirit of Contract, I have the advantage. For example, the contract will be that I will not harm any of your students in any way possible, and in exchange, you will never betray me. If you signed half-heartedly, you will still have to obey but..."

"You don't have the obligation to restrict yourself from harming my students." Hanon now fully understood the mechanics of this contract.

The big question is: Can he sign full-heartedly?

"Do... I have time to think about this?"

"Until after lunch."

Hanon nodded before taking deep breaths and regaining his smile. He raised his hand and called for Eline which she complied. She was both anxious and curious about what they were talking about but because of her long eye contact with Hanon earlier, she had her mind occupied with daydreaming.

"Sorry for making you stand up for so long."

"It wasn't that long, Sir Hanon."

Eline replied with a sweet smile, different from her usual intimidating expression.

"Alright, so I asked you here because I want both of you to hear that as classmates, you should care for each other."

Hanon could only spout some bullshit he just made up to cover up the real reason why he called them.

Teren was already wearing his indifferent expression but there was a tint of anticipation across his eyes. He was first to go after Hanon said a few more words.

Eline just thought that Hanon knew what she did to him so she didn't think much.

'He's not going to punish me for sabotaging Teren's exam?'

Her mood became gleeful, thinking that Hanon was exercising favoritism on her. Afterward, Hanon asked her about what happened why she seemed down. Of course, she hid the true reason since if she told him about Iesa, Iesa might do something to her.

After words of consolation, he was let go too right after. Her mood was good, almost forgetting that later on, they will be put into a dangerous place.

But as she exits the faculty room, Hanon looked at her future two more times.

'If I don't sign the contract...'

He looked once... the vision didn't change.

'And what if... I signed?'

The second time, the vision...

The third and fourth periods just went by quickly. It was already lunch and Hanon received a message from Teren where they should talk.

Hanon agreed and several minutes later, he was at a popular cafe near the plaza downtown. According to Teren, he wants to use this chance to eat somewhere good.

It's not like Hanon can't understand him since, from what Teren told him, this is the first time that Teren will use his Spirit of Contract. He must've felt the need to make it formal.

'If that's the real reason why he chose this place... I guess he still has a normal side on him.'

Since he received a message saying that he should get a seat and order the most expensive meal as soon as possible, he did so in response.

He sat with his back on the wall to feel a sense of security at the very least and to have an advantage. Hanon couldn't but be overly cautious. He's about to meet the devil, after all. Even if they're going to meet in public, there's no telling what Teren will do.

Soon, Teren entered the cafe. He looked around, seemingly amazed at the internal design which made him excited to eat here.

'Is this really the Devil Himself?' Hanon's eyes squinted.

Teren then spotted Hanon on the right side and sat opposite him. With a grin, he spoke.

"This is the most expensive place I could find. I hope it's worth it."

"Most expensive?" Hanon first didn't know what it got to do with anything but soon, he realized, "A-ah... you're taking advantage of me..."

He didn't mind at all. He sort of understood it when Teren made him order the most expensive meal on the menu.

"I don't have this chance that often. Also, this is near the place where we would meet up with others."

'Somehow, he doesn't cease to surprise me... one way or another.' Hanon thought.