Seraphine's/Selene's POV

When we finished dinner, I headed straight to the moonlit garden right outside the main palace. It was filled with white rose bushes reflecting the moonlight and a beautiful blue lake with several purple lilies floating in the sides. Several cumulus clouds sailed across the sky.

Hah, I never knew grandpa could be so childish! Is the kingdom alright? Isn't it doomed already with a monarch like that?

*sfx for a whimpering animal

What was that? I didn't hear anything weird, right? Yes, it was just a figment of my imagination.

*sfx for several whimpers

I knew it, it's an auditary hallucination!

[... help me..!]

"Who. Talk..?" I asked.

[... please help me, human...]

I looked around the garden and saw a wounded kitsune behind a small bush. It was whimpering in pain and his droopy eyes were in the verge of closing.

[... help me..! I don't wanna die..!]

He had golden fur and ruby eyes. His ears were slightly elongated and there were nine divisions of his tails with red streaks.

Masaka... a nine-tailed fox? Oh my god, I never even dreamed of meeting one considering that living in a fantasy world is a luxury already.

[Yes, indeed I am. So please, help me.]

How could I even do that? You don't seriously think that I can use magic, right?

[You can, you are the amalgam after all. Centifolia-sama sends her regards to you.]

Wait, how do you know about that?

[Centifolia-sama sent me to you herself. Oh Great Amalgam, please heal me..!]

How do I even do that?

[You have Life magic. Just put your hand over me and imagine my wounds being healed. You'll know it worked if a bright light covered me.]

That's it?

[Yes, now hurry up or I'll die.]

Fine, fine!!

Just like he said, a bright light covered his entire being after I imagined him being healed. After the light dissipated, he was all right. His golden fur shined under the moonlight and I could see my reflection in his eyes.

"Greetings human, or should I say the Amalgam? How do you do? My name is Helio, High Lord of the Kitsunes." He turned into a golden haired, ruby-eyed man that looked like in his early 20s. I nodded. "Why do you respond like that? Is there something wrong with your voice?" I shook my head. "Then why??"

"Me. Lazy. Talking. Tedious." I replied that he widened his eyes.

"I think you just have to keep being mute, or he will have a hard time with the annoying bugs." I tilted my head in confusion. "Pay my previous words no heed, Amalgam-san. By the way, thank you for helping me. Can I sign a contract with you, in exchange?" I just cocked my head.

He suddenly approached me and bit my index finger. A golden light engulfed us and when it dissipated, a golden lily insignia appeared on the back of my left hand.

"!!!" I flinched at the sudden occurrence.

What the--!! What just happened?! I thought you just have to say some oath and then you're contracted to each other. Why did he have to bite me?!

"I apologize for the intrusion of your personal space Amalgam-san, I just think blood contract is more trustworthy than a vow contract. There's also a name-contract, but I already have a name." I just nodded my head in understanding.

I see, well, he has a point. B-But, he should've told me beforehand so that I wouldn't have been frightened at his sudden actions.

"It's my first time signing contract with a lesser being, kitsunes are proud creatures after all. I apologize again, Seraphine-sama!!"

What happened to 'Amalgam-san'? Why is it 'Seraphine-sama'? Will you call me Seraphine-sama in public too? Please tell me you won't..!

"I won't if you don't want me to, I am under your command after all. Seraphine-sama, I'll take my leave for now. Nehemiah-ou is probably looking for you, farewell~" He disappeared in the blink of an eye.

*slump

My body fell on the ground out of the blue. All my muscles and joints were numb that I was dumbfounded at my own well-being.

What the--?! Why do I feel so weak?!

[It's because you shortly formed a contract with a high-ranking magical beast.]

W-Who are you? Where's Meerschaum-sama?! Why is there a woman talking to me?!

[Relax my dear, it's just me... Centifolia, the goddess of the universe~!]

Eh? You're the one Meerschaum-sama was talking about! To think that you'd converse with me directly this time, I wonder what your reason is.

[Fufu~, that's what I like about you Acchan~!!]

Acchan?

[It's because of your name. It's actually Seraphine Arcana Beatrice, so I decided to call you Acchan from the name 'Arcana'. Doesn't it sound cute~?]

Wait, wait, wait, why is my name so long? I think I prefer Dulia Selene than that. Anyways, what did Meerschaum-sama mean by 'remembering something he shouldn't have' when we talked about Kaichou?

[Oh that? He remembered his past life that's why he used the most effective method to go back to this world, by dying. That's why he killed you then himself.]

That explains everything... then, why did you let me see the deaths of my parents. Isn't that cruel?

[... sorry, but are you sure they're dead..?]

Eh? How should I know?

[That's exactly why I asked. You just saw them leave your side, that doesn't mean they're gone.]

So they're still alive?! Thank the heavens~

[But Acchan, about that young boy named Max... I call him Makkun...]

Yes?

[Please don't entertain any men except him alright, or he'll wreck havoc in Walpurgis. You understand what I mean right~?]

Eh? Heh?!!

[Please..! If you do, I'll tell you the whereabouts of your parents when I have a free schedule. What do you think~?]

I'll gladly accept. But why is he involved in this conversation?

[I'll tell you that when you're ready. For now, grow healthily and beautifully~. Fufu~, I'm so excited of seeing you in the future. Okay, bye~]

"Sese-chan, where are you?!"

"Ojisama!!" He arrived swiftly.

"Sese-chan, are you okay? Why are you here alone? Don't you know that wild beasts frequent this place at night?" I flinched at his words. "But you're actually safe, which is in fact, miraculous. Retreat to your private chambers now~" I cocked my head and went straight to my room.

Hah, I'm so tired!! How long do I have to live in this place? I'm practically dying... well, I already died once. And it wasn't very satisfactory.

Kaichou, it's entirely your fault!! Who was in danger again? Maybe it was you, or your selfishness specifically. Mou, you're the worst!!

By the way, how's Max-kun? Is he okay back on Hydrange? Should I call him 'Makkun' too? Well, it's easier to say than 'Max-kun'.

[Don't worry about others, worry about yourself first.]

Centifolia-sama?!

[Hn. Go to sleep now, good night~]

B-But, I'm not sleepy yet!!

[Just sleep, hurry!! Or the other gods will visit you? It'll be very troublesome, I swear..!]

Just how troublesome?

[They won't let you sleep!!]

No!!!!!!