Since Shion was going to do this in secret, it meant it couldn't be made public. So Jiu Ming wasn't worried about the secret leaking at all. Besides... they would be leaving soon. Even if it leaked, so what?
Jiu Ming raised his hand and flung a beam of Holy Light over. Shion's body, which had withered into that of an old man due to the price of his contract ability, recovered. But in truth, he remained in an extremely weakened state, much like how Amber's body, afflicted by the contract's price, could not change through normal aging.
Shion's condition was the same. This weakness could not be reversed.
"It's useless... but if Suou comes, at least she won't have to see how frightening I looked before." Shion lowered his head and glanced at his hands before continuing, "Amber told me some things before. You probably need my contract ability. Consider it repayment for helping me conceal my physical defect. But could you leave me one final chance to use my ability?"
Jiu Ming gave Amber a surprised look. So this was what she had been talking about all along? Jiu Ming truly had little to do with Shion. He was only doing this because Amber had specifically asked him to, wasn't he? Was this payment, then?
Forget it. It wasn't as though he had never been through this before. They were both getting what they needed; there was nothing to fuss over.
"...Of course."
Shion smiled faintly and turned toward Silver. "If possible, I want Shion to have a better life."
"I'll do my best," Jiu Ming said. A Sealed Card slowly surfaced in his hand. The speed was not fast—far slower than the contractors he had faced before.
"Then thank you. Mm, we can begin."
The moment his