Chapter 45 - Contract Clash

MF's skin was burned by the searing pressure of the air from travelling at supersonic speeds without protection. Soon, her skin had cooled down through the sheer amounts of nano-machinery in her blood, elevating the healing process of her wounds. Because of the current situation, MF purposely dropped her space-pocket pouch for her to retrieve later.

'I miss Foel for being able to store my items…'

The frightened Tuli immediately conjured her armor again. Her ability piqued MF's interest, and despite the problem she brought, the hellspawn could help the Ouroboros in one way or another.

"You want another fight!?" The lady of the throne shouted. "Did you hire that naked goddess? If you have the wealth, why don't you pay your taxes!!"

Tuli's lips trembled, sweat fell from her chin as her brain scrambled for an appropriate answer. "I literally sold my soul and existence! And I'm not even the one who holds any power!"

Looking at the situation, MF felt like the skimpy woman above could be reasoned with. Her choice of words didn't mention MF to be anything impertinent or disrespectful, despite how she was naked and appeared like a weirdo. Speaking of taxes, MF now saw Tuli with lesser respect on how she couldn't pay her financial obligations.

"Milady." MF flew slightly toward the living cloud. She stored most of her blood from the sword onto her wings in a geometric pattern. Preferably, to show less aggression. "What has my new slave brought upon to trouble you, if I may ask?"

"She is your slave now!?" The lady was shocked, she unconsciously leaned her head forward with a scrunched up face before resting her back on her throne again. "Tuli, Tuli, Tuli. Why do you make this process harder?"

"It's not like I wanted to be my current master's slave!"

"Basically, that hellspawn over there hasn't paid her tax for twenty years. The higher ups on the second layer of the underworld were offering me a contract to make this specific rascal pay," said the lady of the throne as she gestured her hand in Irritation.

MF casually caressed her chin. "How much debt does she have?"

An ethereal document was spawned in front of the lady, she aimed her gaze to read the content as she spoke the content out loud. "24,672 HEL. Small information for you dweller of Neamh, 1 HEL is the equivalent of a high rank mana crystal if I'm not wrong."

'How the hell did she accumulate that amount of debt!? Not even the richest young master in prominent Citadels would even be willing to lend that amount of money!"

This was the first time that MF was genuinely reconsidering her life decisions. The tax collector seemed to come from the underworld too; an underworlder was known for their stubbornness, it could be good or bad depending on whose side they were on as they were always loyal to what the contract said.

MF wanted to punish Tuli as much as she wanted to kill Elon—despite the fact that she had given up due to how ridiculous Fortune's blessing was, but she knew that the debt would be her responsibility no matter what.

"By the way, I forgot to introduce myself." The lady smiled with closed eyes, placing one of her hands on top of her chest. "My name is Damascus Vy Clezakh, a peaceful Erinyes from the third layer of the underworld. It is unfortunate that we must settle our business on Neamh but I'm not going to back down before her debt has been paid."

"The word 'Peaceful' and 'Erinyes' definitely don't sync with each other." MF astoundedly whispered to herself.

There were numerous interpretations of Erinyes but as much as MF remembered, the sacred library described them as living turbulent people who seek vengeance against those who bore hubris against the underworlders. They are definitely not the Erinyes from Origis Greek mythology.

"M-master Ouroboros! You could easily beat her ass up, right!?" said Tuli, slowly approaching her master in cowardice.

'I haven't calculated it but I can absolutely shove a 100 meter spear up your ass with a success rate of 101%.' MF inaudibly ranted.

Ignoring what her slave said, MF showed her courtesy before introducing herself. "My name is Ouroboros, I wonder if I can just give this hellspawn's ownership to you, is it possible to transgress the 'Absolute Contract' from the underworld?"

The word 'Ouroboros' echoed within Damascus' head for a couple of seconds. Her face immediately stiffened. It seemed like she managed to catch up to what was going on—in her mind. The naked lady in front of her was definitely not someone that should be trifled with.

Both of the underworlders mistook MF for the real deal despite the self-proclaimed Ouroboros herself being alive more than ever in the mortal realm, while also not having the permission to use the name. Which was impossible but MF didn't leave any gaping holes for the infamous entity to meet her—yet.

MF knew that her bluff worked, in which she decided to pretend to be the Avatar of Ouroboros. But the more MF abused the name, the more harder it would be for her to claim it when the sentient being behind the symbol approaches her in her dream. If the myth is correct, MF had unlimited prep time before she turned herself unconscious.

'Shit, I hope this won't be the end of me.'

MF and Damascus swallowed their saliva while bearing two entirely different predicaments. The former had the pressure of meeting the manifestation of an ancient entity, while the other brainstormed more contingencies for dealing with the said entity.

The lady of the throne managed to maintain her cool, acting as if it was the usual. She must also need to respect her contract and not bow down to anyone before finishing her task.

'My life is on the line with every word I spew, but dying to the great Ouroboros will surely be one hell of an achievement to have!'

Damascus had nothing to lose. She stood up to walk onto the edge of the cloud, with the glare as domineering as her formidable posture, she spoke, "By all means, according to the Great Contract Phantasm within clause 667th, when two contracts are clashing against an intertwining goal made by the act of an abrupt change of their ownership, especially from uncooperative lifeform. The new owner has full responsibility to finish the requirements of the contract's target of the other side. Only the soul of the losing opposer can dismiss and revoke the contract clash.

"My severe condolence, Lord Ouroboros, but it's either my contractor and thee the honorable lady that should sacrifice their soul to avoid this conflict."