Seven Sins System Chapter 258. Forgotten Chapter II (Patreon)

Seven Sins System Chapter 258. Forgotten Chapter II

Another crackle sounded, and the young version of me immediately turned his attention toward it. Intrigued, I watched as he cautiously pushed aside the bushes, his anticipation mingling with a tinge of skepticism. After all, his previous searches had ended in disappointment.

But this time, his expression changed. There, beyond the bushes, sat a girl who appeared to be around the same age as him. She seemed lost in her own world, her eyes filled with a profound sadness that resonated deeply within me. Her hair, a cascade of golden strands, shimmered under the sunlight, while her piercing blue eyes held a glimmer of something familiar.

"A mortal?" I muttered under my breath, my brow furrowing in confusion. The resemblance was uncanny. It was as if she bore a striking resemblance to Puriel.

While the little me said something else. "A human?" my younger self muttered, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Is a human considered an animal?" he pondered aloud, his innocence shining through his words.

I couldn't help but cringe at my younger self's lack of understanding, feeling a mix of amusement and exasperation. I turned towards him, ready to offer an explanation. "No," I interjected, my tone laced with amusement. "Humans, well, they do have some animalistic tendencies at times, but they don't consider themselves animals. They think of themselves as a separate species."

However, my words fell on deaf ears as my younger self remained fixated on the little girl before him. His face lit up with a joyous grin, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "So, that means I can bring her home as my pet, right?" he exclaimed, his mind racing with newfound possibilities.

I couldn't help but let out an exasperated sigh. "Are you dumb?" I blurted out, unable to contain my shock at his suggestion. "You can't just take a human home as a pet!” But then I paused. “On second thought, you can. But as a servant, not a pet.”

My younger self’s attention was already diverted to another thought. "Wait," he mused, rubbing his chin in contemplation. "According to Asmo and Luci, they lured their pets with food first. But she doesn't look hungry," he observed, his mind now occupied with the logistics of pet ownership.

I facepalmed myself.

A mischievous smirk stretched across my younger self's face, his brown eyes glinting with a newfound curiosity. "Then," he began, his voice filled with a hint of anticipation, "tell me, what are your desires?" As he uttered those words, his eyes seemed to darken, the once familiar brown turning a deep shade of crimson. I couldn't help but let out an exasperated sigh, realizing exactly what he was up to.

"Of course," I muttered to myself, rubbing my temples in frustration. "I was an incubus, after all. Reading a woman's desires was second nature to me."

"Ah, a friend!" he exclaimed, his eyes returning to their natural brown hue. "All I need to do is give her that."

I couldn't help but cringe at his innocence, knowing all too well the complexities that came with interacting with humans. "Oh, for the devil's sake," I muttered, my frustration evident in my voice. "You can't simply take a human as your pet unless you establish a contract with her. And trust me, you're not ready for that."

I knew all too well that making a contract with animals and mortals was an entirely different matter. While providing food and shelter might suffice to establish ownership over an animal, humans required a summoning and a formal contract, a pact that bound both parties in an agreement.

Without a moment's hesitation, my younger self confidently approached the little girl, his hand outstretched in a friendly gesture. A genuine smile adorned his lips as he introduced himself, his enthusiasm evident in his voice. “Hello, my name is El. Are you alone? Do you want to play with me?”

To my surprise, the girl gladly accepted his invitation, her eyes lighting up with excitement. They began their playful escapade, running through the forest, laughing, and enjoying each other's company. I couldn't help but let out a sigh, feeling like an invisible guardian watching over them. Well, more like an invisible nanny, to be precise. After all, they couldn't see me, but I could see every moment they shared.

I learned that the girl's name was Riri. She hailed from a nearby village and had been grappling with profound loneliness. Her parents, as well as her aunts, were constantly preoccupied, leaving her feeling isolated and sad. The arrival of my younger self brought a sense of joy and companionship into her life. She expressed her gratitude for his willingness to keep her company, cherishing the moments they spent together.

The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an enchanting twilight glow over the surroundings, Riri reluctantly announced that she had to return home. She turned to El, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness and made a heartfelt request. "Can we meet here again tomorrow, El? I don't want this to be the end of our friendship."

El's face lit up with a mix of excitement and determination. “Of course!” He reached out his hand, his words laced with an air of intensity. "Does that mean you want to be my friend forever?" The weight of his offer hung in the air. In the shadow realm, "forever" carried a different meaning—a bond that bound someone to a devil. It was a concept I had often discussed when making contracts with mortals.

I held my breath. This little devil had unexpectedly offered a contract to a mortal, disregarding the usual caution and protocol.

To my surprise, Riri's eyes sparkled with unwavering trust and sincerity. Without a hint of hesitation, she reached out and firmly grasped El's outstretched hand. "Yes!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with pure conviction. In that instant, a connection was forged, a promise made that would forever bind them together.

‘Wait… This girl is my first mortal under my contract then?’ I thought. Well, but if the contract was successful of course. But a promise to a devil was a promise. As long as it had not been broken, the promise would still apply.