Chapter 308: The Pact

The two of them stood facing each other at the round table.

The young man wore a black noble’s suit. He was tall and slender, and a silver coin used for divination hung on his chest.

In the dim candlelight, he gazed at the Rabbit Clan female before him and said in a gentle tone, "Actually... regarding the matter of the Divine Hall, I can understand your concerns."

Trust is the most difficult thing to build between people.

Especially since the two of them had never had any contact before.

It was only natural for the Rabbit Clan female to be on her guard.

The young man’s tone was incredibly sincere. "Before you join the Divine Hall, I can first form a pact with you to show my good faith."

"...A pact?" Yu Zhizhi tried her best to control her gaze, but she couldn’t help but steal a couple more glances at the black beast ears on the young man’s head.

Her heart was beating a little fast—

’They look a lot like cat ears...’

’Is the temple messenger from the Cat Clan?’

’If he is, then does he have the Special Mark on his body?’

The temple messenger noticed the young woman before him sneaking glances at his beast ears from time to time. Beneath his mask, the corners of his mouth curved up slightly—

’I’ve heard that females of the Beast Clan are quite fond of cat ears.’

He had intentionally revealed his Beast Form to close the distance between them.

’Hopefully, she’ll come to ’accept’ me soon.’

"The pact is a special ritual unique to the Divine Hall." The young man spread his hand slightly, and a pattern unique to the Divine Hall gradually appeared in his palm. "After we form the pact, you will be my God Master. If one day you should leave this world, I will follow you. This is one-way; if anything happens to me, it will not affect you."

Above the round table, the Array Talisman spewed out a dark green mist. It was the temple messenger’s partner; though its form was bizarre, it possessed a beast-like consciousness.

’Damn.’

’To win over this Rabbit Clan female, Zero’s even resorted to the [Pact].’

’Is this rabbit really that important in his prophecies?’

’This is a life-and-death pact.’

’That guy Zero, he’s actually making such a huge gamble.’

The Array Talisman finally couldn’t hold back and spoke up. "Zero, you should think this over."

But the young man paid it no mind.

He had already made up his mind.

’I have to get the little rabbit to join the round table.’

"You’re the last Prophet in this world. If you die, it will be a tremendous loss for the planet."

Yu Zhizhi looked up in confusion at the talisman above the round table, which was spewing dark green mist. In the darkness, it brandished its fangs and claws like a ferocious beast.

"Don’t mind what it says."

The young man smiled. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, I won’t let you die. No one can snatch a living soul from the hands of a Prophet."

He could foresee the future, so he would know of any crisis the Rabbit Clan female might face.

As long as Miss Rabbit didn’t die, he wouldn’t die either.

Protecting Miss Rabbit was the same as protecting himself.

The temple messenger’s attitude was so sincere that Yu Zhizhi was almost moved. She lowered her head and thought seriously for a moment. "I can join the Divine Hall Alliance, but... I’d like to wait a few days."

"Alright."

The temple messenger raised his palm. "Ms. Zhi Zhi, please place your hand on mine."

Yu Zhizhi slowly extended her left hand and placed it on his right.

The temple messenger’s palm was slightly warm. He took hold of the Rabbit Clan girl’s fingers and slowly pressed her palm against his, interlacing their fingers.

"Please close your eyes."

The young man’s voice was like a clear spring in March—very pleasant to the ear.

’It’s like it has some kind of Magic Power...’

Yu Zhizhi slowly closed her eyes.

She felt herself enveloped by a holy radiance. Her palm grew hot, and their fingers remained tightly interlaced. It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation.

This was the Divine Hall’s pact-forming ritual.

When it was over, Zero slowly released her hand.

"It is done."

The young man’s voice held a faint hint of a smile.

"From now on, you are my Master."

Yu Zhizhi was still in a daze.

It seemed that after the holy light faded, everything was the same as before. The area around the round table was still pitch-black, and in the center, two candles burned quietly in a candelabra.

She looked at her palm, where the temple messenger’s warmth still lingered.

’...Huh?’

’Is that all it takes to form a pact?’

The Array Talisman hissed inwardly. ’Zero is being so reckless. Does he really trust the little rabbit not to harm him?’

As if sensing its [partner’s] thoughts, the temple messenger slowly turned to the side and glanced at the menacing Array Talisman above the round table.

They communicated tacitly through the mask.

Of course, he trusted this young woman from the Otherworld before him.

Or rather, Miss Rabbit.

In the future he could see, in those fragmented visions, he understood Miss Rabbit’s innocence and kindness better than anyone.

If he had to find a dominator for himself, the young Rabbit Clan female was the most suitable choice.

Yu Zhizhi had originally intended to ask about the *Bright Moon Diary* today, but she had somehow ended up forming a "pact" with the temple messenger in a daze?

Moreover, she had made a new discovery—

’The young man before me is very likely from the Cat Clan!’

Yu Zhizhi asked softly, "Excuse me, are you from the Cat Clan?"

Zero probably hadn’t expected the Rabbit Clan female to be curious about his clan. He smiled and nodded. "Yes, I am."

’He didn’t know if revealing his cat ears had been effective, but at least Miss Rabbit wasn’t as wary of him as before. That was good enough.’

"Then..." Yu Zhizhi pursed her lips slightly. Her feelings were complex—a mix of anticipation and worry. "Do you have the Special Mark on your body?"

Nearby, the talisman was aghast.

’This was the one question Zero hated being asked the most!’

The Cat Clan youth wore a white mask, so his expression was hidden, but one could vaguely sense that his body had stiffened slightly.

The young man slowly rolled up his sleeve. "This?"

On his arm was a faint, almost colorless Cat Clan pattern. It seemed to be innate, hidden within his skin and extremely difficult to see.

Yu Zhizhi’s eyes suddenly lit up—

’That’s it!’

’She had specifically looked up the Cat Clan totem in a book, and this was it!’

’So, the temple messenger really is the romance target she’s been looking for!’

The temple messenger slowly rolled his sleeve back down. His tone was gentle. "If you care about this, then I apologize for taking the liberty of forming a pact with you. The contract cannot be changed, but you can do with me as you please. I will not resist."

’It’s not a good thing.’

’It doesn’t signify an extraordinary talent or being different from the norm.’

’For a long time, in fact, the Special Mark symbolized curses and misfortune, bringing bad luck to those around the bearer.’

’Over the long years, he had long since grown used to it.’

’After growing up, he had hidden it well, and no one had discovered it until now.’

’But today, the [dominator] he had chosen had suddenly asked about it, which made Zero feel very conflicted.’

’Perhaps she would stay away from him, just like everyone else.’

’But...’

’...that didn’t seem to matter either.’

’As long as she was willing to join the Divine Hall Alliance, that was all that mattered.’

The temple messenger waited quietly for his sentence.

Yu Zhizhi was still immersed in the joy of having found her "romance target," but when she thought about what she needed, she grew apprehensive. "I-I have something I’d like to ask for your help with...!"

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