Hollow

Hiroshi stood there, utterly baffled, as Hayate materialized a piece of parchment from what appeared to be a void. This phenomenon was inexplicable, as it contradicted the known laws of science. Magic — which made sense considering that this demon had introduced himself as a "Magic Caster" before. It was the only conceivable explanation.

He had witnessed that inexplicable occurrence, where memories magically vanished, men floated helplessly, chains materialized from Hayate's hands with mere gestures, and a sense of oppressive dread gripped him the moment he stepped into the room. That' had further reinforced his belief that Hayate knew magic.

At that exact moment, Hiroshi felt a happy that he hadn't challenged Hayate. He had chosen the path of submission, avoiding any confrontations that could have potentially disastrous consequences. Without knowledge of the full extent of Hayate's abilities, his submission, though perhaps unwise, had spared him.

Hiroshi considered the possibility of rebellion against Hayate but for now any form of defiance would be futile. He hadn't the faintest idea about the extent of Hayate's capabilities or power.

Thus, for the time being, submission became his only viable option.

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Upon retrieving the scroll from his inventory, Hayate held it in his hand, observing its contents.

"A blood contract, hmm..." he mused.

He felt some nostalgia welling within him. It had been quite a while since he had used this thing

This would also serve as a perfect method to bind Hiroshi. Hayate had a habit of being overly cautious. Even if the other party pledged allegiance, it wasn't uncommon for them to turn traitorous halfway. A blood contract was a full proof way, guaranteeing one's loyalty.

Hayate scrutinized the scroll in his hand, his gaze thoughtful. Of the five possible contracts available, the soul contract was the one he needed. However, this was a one-time-use ie consumable item.

Utilizing it would cause it to disappear, and Hayate didn't want to expend a lessor legendary-ranked item, especially since he had no notion of where to locate similar items on Earth; he didn't have the inclination to deplete his inventory unnecessarily.

He possessed a few items capable of duplicating objects, but their reliability was questionable. Given his current supply level, he resolved to conserve the items for necessity. His mana was gradually replenishing just as it did in the original 'Hollow.' Within the game, Hayate's mana refill rate stood at one point every minute; his artefacts boosted this rate to one point every 27 seconds so for now.

Taking a brief moment to exhale, Hayate's eyes wandered upon the rings adorning his fingers. All of them achieved the status of legendary quality, and one of them was called 'The Ring of Envy' with the exclusive capability to duplicate any item of a rank below legendary 4 times on a daily basis.

Hayate remembered the origins of that particular item. It had been awarded as a reward for successfully completing an 'A' ranked dungeon, an event dungeon dedicated to the Halloween season in the year 2023.

His team had been the inaugural raiders and since they all had just graduated out of school they had a ton of free time. After they had finished their raid, they had all received loot boxes, and within his was this ring alongside a 2,000,000 gold coins coupled with an additional item.

Hayate gently touched the ring, Hayate's mind went back to the day they had successfully conquered the 'A' ranked dungeon. It was a time when they were at levels of 70-80, without access to proper gear. However, those times had since vanished, leaving behind nothing but memories. "Ah, those days. I miss you all so much." Hayate murmured.

Hayate let loose a chuckle. Those times had truly been his glory days, his friends had been his greatest pride and joy. However, none of them would be alive in this world.

He would never hear their voices again.

Hayate closed his eyes momentarily, a wave of melancholy washing over him. After a minute of silent solitude, he opened his eyes again.

He had let himself get carried away. Dwelling on the past was useless, he knew that very well. Even his friends wouldn't want him to mourn them for the rest of his life but he couldn't help himself.

After a quick shake of the head, he returned his focus to the moment at hand. Hayate needed to keep his mind clear. The present was his reality now, and while dwelling too much on those memories wasn't productive, he couldn't completely rid himself of the longing.

Still clutching the scroll in one hand, he glanced up to see Hiroshi standing nearby in a submissive pose, waiting for instruction. Hayate felt a pang of something akin to pity, but quickly shook it off. He couldn't afford to get soft.

Hayate, with a heavy heart, brought the scroll near the ring. He mentally recalled the ability's name

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"[Envy's Want]" Hayate muttered, and in response, a bright, emerald-green light materialized from the ring. The light enveloped the scroll, and suddenly, in Hayate's other free hand, an identical replica of the scroll appeared seemingly from thin air.

Hayate placed the original scroll back into the black portal and uttered "[Inventory close]." The swirling black hole vanished.

Hayate positioned the scroll in front of both himself and Hiroshi as it floated in mid-air. "Alright," Hayate began, "once I outline the conditions, you'll be obligated to adhere to them."

Hayate laid out the terms of the contract.

"First and foremost," Hayate intoned, "you must never tell anyone you saw me kill someone. Secondly, you will comply with any demand I issue. Lastly, under no circumstances must it be acknowledged that the two of us (you and me) are engaged in a collaboration."

It was somewhat akin to a master-servant relationship, albeit not an exact match.

Hayate's gaze fixed on Hiroshi, who responded affirmatively with a simple nod. As Hayate outlined the terms, they magically etched themselves onto the scroll in the language they were speaking (Japanese). The previous words faded away in turn.

"Now, inside that circular mark," Hayate pointed to a designated area, "you're going to ink your signature using your own blood."

Hayate assumed that this was almost certainly the correct method. Given how the game mechanics appeared to be translated into real-life scenarios. His next step would be to cast a healing spell after Hiroshi signed the contract, thereby closing the injury he had inflicted.

To inscribe his signature on the scroll with blood, Hiroshi made his way toward a nearby blade,

Though Hayate interjected, Instead, Hayate then gently ran one of his own sharp nails across the skin of Hiroshi, causing a minor cut to appear.

A thin stream of blood spilled from the small wound created by Hayate's sharp nails, causing Hiroshi to recoil in shock. He hastily inscribed the initial letter of his name, "H," within the circle, attempting to finish the task as quickly as feasibly possible.

The words Hayate had spoken were firm and unshakeable, laced with absolute authority. He firmly stated not only his conditions, but also imposed the restriction that under no circumstances should Hiroshi reveal their collaboration.

They were not equal, that was made plain.

Hayate was his Master now, though it wasn't something he intended to abuse.

This relationship was born out of necessity. They were allies but not in an equal capacity, and Hayate had every intention of reinforcing that point.

Hayate watched as Hiroshi inscribed the first letter. It was a necessary step, and he didn't feel an ounce of guilt. This was a part of the contract procedure, and Hayate had little room for sentimentality.

Hiroshi gritted his teeth as if doing everything in his power not to cry out from the pain. He was clearly uncomfortable, but he complied with the demand regardless, scrawling his signature as best as he could within the circular mark.

The moment Hiroshi retracted his hand after inscribing the initial letter of his name, a flash of purple energy emitted from it, the scroll promptly incinerated into ash, leaving no remnants of its existence. Simultaneously, A small, ominous black circle materialized on Hiroshi's hand, marking the fulfilment of the contract.

The black circle on Hiroshi's hand resembled an ominous brand that would remain there for the rest of his life, serving as a visible reminder of his agreement. Hayate observed the completed contract, a satisfied smirk crossing his lips.

"Ah, there it is," Hayate said feeling satisfied. Hayate lifted his arm, extending his hand towards Hiroshi's injured finger. He murmured the incantation, "[Heal]," triggering a tier 2 spell. The spell, though basic, had the power to replenish 2 health points for the low cost of 1 mana point. A gentle, emerald-hued energy emanated from Hayate's hand, wrapping around Hiroshi's finger. Almost instantly, the injury vanished, and his finger returned to normal.

Hiroshi held his finger up and stared incredulously at it. The injury from Hayate's nails, which had been severe enough to cause bleeding just moments ago, was now completely healed. He flexed his finger in disbelief, almost as if the wound had never existed in the first place. He couldn't help but gasp in surprise, as he observed his fully healed finger. Within a matter of seconds, the injury on his finger had completely healed. Over the years, Despite remarkable advancements within the medical field, the concept of healing wounds within mere seconds like this was uncharted territory.

Hayate silently observed Hiroshi's reaction, noticing the astonishment on his face.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The healing spell may have been rudimentary, but to Hiroshi who had just experienced the supernatural, it felt truly extraordinary.

"You can thank me later," Hayate said.

Meanwhile Hiroshi was lost in his own thought's.

"This..is magic.."

If word of this magical healing spell became public, it would undoubtedly lead to a seismic disruption in the healthcare industry. The ability to instantly heal injuries would render existing medical treatments and procedures redundant. Doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies would be the most adversely affected.

The healthcare industry would experience monumental upheaval. Demand for medical services would plummet, leading to a massive decline in industry profits. Many medical professionals could lose their jobs and the healthcare sector would face an unprecedented crisis not to mention the lengths they would go to make sure this magic can only be used by them so their trillion dollar industry doesn't fall.

It would be mayhem.

Suddenly, Hiroshi snapped out of his thoughts as the sorcerer started speaking again.

"Now that the contract is official, you are bound to it until the day you take your last breath.

Hiroshi silently exhaled, he was now bound to this contract until his inevitable end.

It was not an ideal outcome, but he took solace in the fact that he was still drawing breath.

In the grand scheme of things, serving under the man might prove to be a better alternative than meeting an early demise..

"I suppose I'm bound to this contract now. So, what exactly do you want me to do?" Hiroshi said.

Hayate considered his options carefully. Eventually he settled on sending the group back to their original destination, but with one caveat — Hayate needed to ensure that their memories of this encounter were wiped permanently. It was an essential step to prevent any potential trouble in the future but he couldn't go himself and he had tons of questions he wanted to ask Hiroshi.

"Hmm... they're supposed to go to Yokohama, their truck is stuck. Reinforcements for them come in fifty minutes..what should I do to make myself appear benevolent, oh right. I have a idea...and if I doesn't work i won't get blame on myself."

He wanted to be seen as a benevolent force, perhaps even someone deserving of praise and admiration. So naturally, he had to find a way to resolve this situation that would paint him as a hero to their eyes.

And he knew exactly what he will do to make sure it all goes well.