We caught up to Sarah and kept going.

“What took you so long?”(Sarah)

She asked after a while. Unfortunately, Nala seemed to be in deep thoughts so I had to answer.

“Sorry we discussed a few things.”(Me)

“What did you have to discuss now of all times?”(Sarah)

“Say, aren’t you behaving a little bit strange?”(Me)

“No. That’s how I used to be before master picked me up.”(Sarah)

Acting innocently while scared and think that you are the boss when there is no danger, or have I missed somtehing?

“Wait don’t change the topic. What did you tell him?”(Sarah)

“I only ordered him not to attack you while we are traveling together, right Nala?”(Me)

Me asking Nala something so suddenly, startled him. Through his facial expression I saw that he didn’t listen at all. Luckily, he saved everything by just nodding.

“Thanks. As long as your contract is at least of 3rd grade, I have 1 problem less to worry about.”(Sarah)

“3rd what?”(Me)

“Huh? What do you mean 3rd what? What contract did you 2 form?”(Sarah)

“Does it matter?”(Me)

Sarah immediately hid behind me and watched every step of Nala.

“Y… Yes. If it was only a 2nd or worst 1st grade, he can still backstab and kill us without any problems.”(Sarah)

Nala noticed Sarah’s disconcerting behaviour.

“Don’t worry, it was 4th grade, otherwise I wouldn’t call him master.”(Nala)

“You sure about that?”(Me)

“No. I am sorry master. I would never dare to go against your orders.”(Nala)

“Hahaha. As long as you follow the orders I already gave you and those I will give you, I won’t mistreat you.”(Me)

Sarah got back to normal as soon as she decided there was nothing dangerous anymore.

“Sigh. You idiot do I have to explain everything to you?”(Sarah)

“No just tell me the difference. I already understood that there are different contracts by just listening to you guys.”(Me)

“Fine. But I will only tell you this time, because you saved me.”(Sarah)

Do I have to save you again, in order for you to tell me what the old man actually wanted from me?

“There are 5 grades a contract can get. The higher the grade, the bigger the difference of authority. For example, the weakest, 1st grade is often used when forming an alliance between 2 factions or a bond of friends, lovers, etc. Something like that.”(Sarah)

A simple instruction. I immediately understood everything.

“What is 5th grade?”(Me)

“Don’t be inpatient. Let me tell you the rest.”(Sarah)

“I can think about the rest myself, just tell me what the strongest contract is.”(Me)

“Hmpf.”(Sarah)

Sarah folded her arms turned away and ignored me. I have no idea why, but she was pissed at me.

“The strongest contract would be the 9:1. It’s like a god contracting with an ant, M… Master.”(Nala)

I was a little bit surprised hearing that from Nala, but when I remembered that he already was contracted once, it made sense that he was informed about contracts at least in some ways.

“Thanks. Now only the Master part has to be come fluently and you would have done everything right. But don’t worry, we have enough time to practice it.”(Me)

“Ahaha. Yes Master I will keep that in mind. By the way, where are we heading to Master?”(Nala)

“No idea, Sarah?”(Me)

“Just follow me you idiots!”(Sarah)

With that I had enough.

“Ok then. Let’s play 1 my favourite game. It’s called leave the freeloader behind and wait until she comes crawling back, when she realises that she shouldn’t be so bossy around me.”(Me)

“Master that’s a really long name for a game, hopefully the rules aren’t as long as the name.”(Nala)

I gave myself a face palm when I remembered that he now was my subordinate.

“Nala shut up for a second.”(Me)

“Yes Master!”(Nala)

I don’t know if it was good or bad that he now acted like my subordinate.

“Do you really think I need you? But then again the other way around, without me, you will never find out what my master wanted from you.”(Sarah)

“Fine do whatever you want.”(Me)

“Wait what?”(Sarah)

“Nala we leave.”(Me)

“Yes, but where to Master?”(Nala)

“To Sonya city.”(Me)

Said and done. We turned around and left her behind alone. In only a few seconds, the whole friendly atmosphere thing was destroyed.

“I only have 1 particular rule for you Nala.”(Me)

“Tell me master?”(Nala)

“Never tell anyone anything about me.”(Me)

“I don’t understand?”(Nala)

“Just remember never telling anyone anything about myself and we will have no problems.”(Me)

“Yes Master.”(Nala)

“Good. Now, follow that idiot in secret and save her if she is about to die. I still want to know what that old bastard wanted from me. But don’t jump in because of small issues, remember, only if she is at deaths door. I will wait for you in the next town.”(Me)

“Yes Master.”(Nala)

I instructed him as soon as we were out of reach of Sarah. Nala hid in the next tree and waited for Sarah, while I headed to the nearest, still not attacked human settlement.

I was familiar with the surroundings, because it was the same way I initially came from, so I knew exactly where the nearest town was located at. Even with boosting my body with magic and running all the time, it still took me about 3 hours. I knew I needed an inn, because Sarah would need at least a day.

After resting near the gates for a few minutes and paying the entrance fee afterwards, I entered town. I went to the nearest inn and paid for a night. I also told the receptionist that I was thinking of staying for a few more days and if I would do so, I would pay as soon as I leave.

I went straight to my room and closed the door behind me. My plan was to train rune magic while waiting for those 2. I sat down in my room and started writing all sorts of things which came to my mind with mana. If I was hungry or thirsty, I would get it out of my [space inventory]

1 hour passed and the second came. It went on and on without me minding the time. I had no window, so I didn’t even know if it was day or night. It was only me and the fire lamp to light up the room. It went on like this until I got an unpleasant knock at my door.

“Hoy open the door if you are still alive. You have guests.”(Receptionist)

The sudden knock startled me a bit.

“Ah. Coming.”(Me)

“Follow me, they are waiting downstairs.”(Receptionist)

“Ah, Yes, thank you.”(Me)

We went through the corridors and went down the stairs.

“I am sorry to demand this, but my boss is rather impatient and would like you to pay up before I guide you to your visitors.”

He said as soon as we reached the counter.

“Sure, tell me how much it is and I’ll pay.”(Me)

“Thank you. Than for 8 nights, it would be 1 gold and 60 silver coins, but it’s already late so if you decide to stay another night, it would be 1 gold and 80 silver coins please.”(Receptionist)

I wasn’t able to calm down my mind for quite a while after paying almost 2 gold coins. It wasn’t the because of the time I was able to spent alone in that room. I was even able to achieve a lot during that time, which motivated me even more.

What shocked me was that it took Sarah so much time to get to this town. Even worse, she probably received help from Nala. No she definitely did, because otherwise she would have already died.

“Ahm. Could you please lead me to my guests now?”(Me)

“Certainly.”(Receptionist)

He opened the door behind the counter and let me enter.

“Take your time, but please don’t damage anything in this room.”(Receptionist)

He said after closing the door behind me. The room was the personal room of the owner of this inn. It had some bookshelves, a desk, a dining table in front of the desk and 2 sofas next to the dining table.

The only other people present were Sarah and Nala. I stood there for quite a while staring at the 2 of them. Sarah had tattered clothes and her face showed that she went through a lot during the past days. I couldn’t see any visual damages on Nala’s clothing.

“I am sorry that it took me so much time to get here Master.”(Nala)

He said while bowing and apologizing.

“It’s ok.”(Me)

Nala sighed and sat down. I looked at Sarah and waited for her to say something.

“And?”(Me)

After a minute I lost my patient and just asked her. Her reply was only a look of sorrow and despair.

“What happened?”(Me)

I asked Nala.

“As you instructed, I saved her when she almost died.”(Nala)

“And?”(Me)

“Because we had no map, or idea where we were, we wandered around for 8 days until we finally found a human and were able to ask for ways.”(Nala)

“Really. Strange, it took me only 3 hours.”(Me)

“As expected of Master.”(Nala)

He said filled with pride.

“Fine.”(Sarah)

“Huh. What?”(Me)

“I said fine.”(Sarah)

“What’s fine?”(Me)

“You are the boss now. Happy?”(Sarah)

I sure was happy. I couldn’t say it though.

“So I decide things from now on?”(Me)

“Yes.”(Sarah)

“Good. My first decision is that we all introduce ourselves again.”(Me)

I got weird stares from both of them. But Nala came back almost instantly.

“I am Nala…!”(Nala)

“Shut up, we’ll do that in my room. It is soundproof.”(Me)

I interrupted that idiot before he could tell the whole human continent that he’s a demon and we went to my room.

Nala started his introduction. It was unnecessary, because he already did so, but he himself insisted on doing so.

“My name is Nala Timaios Ammon and as you already know, I am a demon. I am from 1 of the higher demon clans, the earth demon clan. I have 6 siblings, but because I was the weakest, no one paid me any attention. Even though, no one cared about me, I was still a higher demon and had to make a 3rd grade contract with the demon king.”(Nala)

I already expected something like that. Because of him mentioning higher demons and clans he made his introduction at least interesting. I needed to ask him about the system, which the race my family created, invented.

It took Sarah some time, but she decided to follow my “decision”. Those 8 days left a strong impact on her. Good for me though.

“My name is Sarah and I don’t have a last name because I am an orphan and no one ever gave me 1. My race and the reason my Master protected me are the same.”(Sarah)

She made a dramatic pause and Nala and I both looked at her like beasts looking at their food.

“What are you, kids?”(Sarah)

“I’m 12, so still a child.”(Me)

“I became like this because of my childhood.”(Nala)

We both instantly replied.

“Why did I even ask?”(Sarah)

“So what race do you belong to?”(Me)

“I am a Hybrid.”(Sarah)

“A what?”(Nala)

I had the same question but Nala was the 1st to ask.

“I show traits of all 5 races.”(Sarah)

“Nope you definitely look like a human.”(Nala)

“Thanks you too.”(Sarah)

At least I didn’t have to tell him how stupid his answer was.

“What exactly do you mean with traits of all 5 races?”(Me)

“Let’s say my body shows traits of all 5 ok. And I am able to learn every magic. It doesn’t matter if it’s the rune magic, chaos magic or anything else, I can learn everything.”(Sarah)

“If I ever feel like it, I will ask you to show me, but not now.”(Me)

I received a weird glare from her.

“What did I say something wrong?”(Me)

“No, just introduce yourself.”(Sarah)

“Ah, right. My name is Hikaru.”(Me)

I smiled and hoped they were ok with it.

“And?”(Sarah)

“What else is there? Hmmm. Ah right. People often refer to me as nightmare.”(Me)