Chapter 4

That’s it? Lies. Just now, I felt a strong sense of unease.

Something felt off. I couldn’t hold back and questioned him in return.

“You’re saying you’ll lend your power only to me, but that’s weird. Isn’t this contract too favorable for me?”
—What?
“It’s a contract, right? That means both parties have obligations. It’s not like you’re subordinate to me. You even saved my life, lent me your power, and the contract lasts until I die? Isn’t that strange? There’s no downside for me?”

Comet stared at me, impressed.

—Hoo… You’re the first contractor to ask something like this. Wise, too.

Comet squinted at me as if trying to size me up.

—I am a divine relic made by the gods. I can’t directly state the condition for my release. …Anyway, it’s a very long story, too long to get into right now. If I must say… just continue living your life as you are, without losing your sense of justice. That’s all.

The part he emphasized… sounded suspicious. I frowned and asked again.

“Are you really saying I just have to live like this?”
—I told you. Like I said, I’m not petty or sneaky. Have you been lied to your whole life? You really don’t believe me.

“Yes. I lived in Otern’s snake pit. People from the pit never take others’ words at face value.”

—…Anyway, believe me. I swear on my power and status that I’m telling the truth. And besides, isn’t now the time to fight?

So he’s saying just that part isn’t a lie. Very suspicious.

I wanted to ask more, but Comet was right. There was no time for more questions here.

Reluctantly, I nodded, and he grinned and held out his hand.

—Well, that’s enough explanation. Berdette, I’ll be counting on you.

“Alright.”

I took his offered hand. His hand was so large it completely enveloped mine.

—Once you leave this space, you’ll return to that moment. Time in the real world has been moving slowly while we talked. By now… you’ll be facing the brute head-on. Are you ready? Do you even know how to fight?

“What are you saying? Don’t worry. I’ve been throwing punches since I was born.”

I clanged my gauntlets together, eyes sparkling.

“I’m ready. Let’s go.”

The moment I finished speaking, a blinding light flashed before my eyes. Then, as I opened them—

I saw the brute’s hand lunging toward me. Just like Comet said. While I’d been speaking with him, the man had steadily closed the distance. His eyes glinted, and his mouth twisted into a grotesque sneer.

“You little bitch, if you were gonna freeze up like an idiot, you shouldn’t have even tried running! You draining my energy?”
“Exactly.”
“What?”
“I ran to wear you down.”

I glared at him, clenching my fists. The knuckles of the gauntlets already on my hands gleamed. Maybe it was just my imagination, but it felt like they glowed faintly. At that moment, the man swung his hand toward me.

I ducked low and dodged swiftly. Being much smaller made that movement possible. As he tried to regain his stance, I slipped to his left side first. Then, I drove a clean left hook right into his ribs.

SMACK!

“GRAAAAGHHHH!”

He let out a scream of pure agony.

Huh? Wait. What the— Even I was wide-eyed in shock after throwing that punch.

I could feel it. My punch landed hard and deep. That man’s ribs must have been crushed.

…No way. There’s no way a seven-year-old’s body could generate that kind of power.

—That’s my power. Well, it helps that you know how to use it, so the impact is even stronger.

Comet chimed in, his voice laced with amusement.

But… just wearing the gauntlets makes me this strong? Even with a kid’s fist? I was still in awe when—

“You little—!”

Twisting his face in pain, the man staggered forward to attack again. He leaned heavily to the left, clearly unable to bear the pain, but still reached out with his right hand. But honestly… it wasn’t a proper punch—just flailing.

I threw my left fist at his incoming hand. The two fists collided. And then—

CRACK.

A heavy, unmistakable sound of bone breaking vibrated through my hand.

“Oh.”

His bone broke? That easily? I was shocked at the force of my own punch. Or… was it the gauntlet’s power?

—Of course.

Comet immediately cut in again.

“AAAAAAARGH! M-my hand!”

The man collapsed forward in pain. Soon, he knelt before me, arms dangling, ribs curled inward. That left just one vulnerable spot.

Even as he screamed at the top of his lungs, I kept my expression steady and looked at his center. Only one thing stood out: his groin. His most sensitive spot, completely unguarded, and positioned perfectly for a kick.

I stepped back a few paces, then drove my foot straight into his exposed groin.

“GUAAAAAAAARGHHHH!”

A scream far more horrifying than before rang out.

“AAAGH, GACK, AAAAAH!”

The man collapsed with his eyes rolled back. Yeah… that had to hurt. Guys always go down like this when you hit that spot. Now he was just twitching, foaming at the mouth. I mean, sure it’s a weak spot, but…

“Wow. That hurts that much? Even when a seven-year-old kicks it?”

—Apparently so. Fragile thing, isn’t he?

Comet replied smoothly. I shrugged.

Then the man suddenly stopped screaming and slumped to the side. Huh? Did he die?

“Oh… no. Just fainted.”
—So? Will you kill him now?

Comet asked. Of course, he deserves it, but…

“…No, I’ll conserve my strength. And my hands.”

After a moment’s thought, I shook my head. Then, I took the ribbon from my hair and tied the man’s right hand to his left foot. I moved in and searched his chest—for the communication device he had whispered into earlier. As soon as I opened his jacket, I found a brooch shaped like a hornet.

I knew instinctively. This was it. The tool he had been using.

But… how do I operate this? It didn’t seem powered on right now. Still, it was a solid clue—something that could lead me to Nad.

I clenched my fists. I’d made up my mind.

No matter what, I’m going to tear Nad down from the roots. In my past life, they used me without me even knowing. But this time, I’ll dig them up completely—expose everything and destroy them.

“Wait. How do I store this?”

Feeling around the inside of my skirt, I found a pocket, thankfully. I secured the hornet brooch tightly inside, making sure it couldn’t fall out. And just then—

“What the—?!”
“Ted?! Ted?!”

A group of men dressed like the brute suddenly burst out from somewhere. Damn. I scowled. …His backup showed up sooner than expected. And there were quite a few of them. They must be more mobile than I thought.

I swallowed a sigh. The men rushed over, then froze when they saw me and the man I’d taken the brooch from—Ted, they called him. I could feel their gazes flicking between me and the collapsed man.