(A/N: Bonus Chapter).


    “…”


    Wow.


    Skullius and S were both rendered speechless.


    For real?


    Yuyui gazed intensely at Skullius, her eagerness pinching at Skullius’ skin which was rtively sensitive to this kind of thing.


    There was no hesitation in her eyes. Truthfully, it seemed that the only reason she paused before answering was because she really did expect worse than this, whatever that was!


    There was only a solid devotion to a cause that could be detected within her right now and she cared for little else.


    A delicious cause, with freedom as the side dish.


    ‘She’s crazy,’ Skullius thought aloud for S to hear.


    ‘Is she now? While leaping at the opportunity like that isn’t… dignified, I can understand it, tomato flinger. Though you should also consider that she may have hidden motives. She still has the legacy after all. Don’t let your guard down,’ S responded.


    Skullius’ opinion on Yuyui kept slurring down the disappointment hole as he once again wondered if this was worth it.


    From his point of view, the instinct in him that made him guess that Yuyui was probably as simple as she looked seemed to be selling more truth than S’s.


    But hey, at least this woman wasn’t useless.


    She was pretty much immortal from the looks of it.


    That said though, even as Yuyui had agreed to his terms very quickly, Skullius had yet to see his guidance field show that the First Task had beenpleted.


    ‘Why isn’t the Task done? Is she not fullymitted after all?’ Skullius asked S.


    ‘I’m assuming there needs to be evidence that she is willing to be enved by you, tomato flinger.’


    Skullius grimaced.


    No, he cringed.


    ‘Please don’t use such a word.’


    ‘That is essentially what’s going on here, tomato flinger,’ S said with scoff. ‘I propose using a Tie of Exchange.’


    ‘Oh,’ Skullius mentally voiced with intrigue.


    Once again, a Tie of Exchange was brought up as the solution to this problem, but another problem rose from this solution.


    ‘I don’t know how to use that. And I’m certainly not handing my body to you if that’s what you’re thinking!’


    ‘I’m not that shallow with my scheming, tomato flinger. I can would teach you how it’s done, but it would likely not work because of certain elements about you.’


    ‘What elements? What do you mean?’ Skullius asked.


    ‘The Binds of Fukal for instance. They essentially eradicate the root of what a Tie of Exchange stands for. Also, you’re not even born of the Deities. You’re a foreigner, so this poses a challenge.’


    Indeed.


    The Tie of Exchange was said to originate from the crust of Aigas, the Giants having imed to have learnt it from the Deity Quintess. As such, it was inherited from Divinity, with humans and Giants whom Quintess had a hand in creating being the prime users.


    But Skullius….


    ‘I see,’ Skullius said.


    He felt Yuyui grew more nervous as from her viewpoint, Skullius was just silently standing there with hisrge wolf keeping its eye on her.


    But she remained patient, though wondering if she had showed too much desperation.


    Perhaps she should have been subtle.


    Toote though.


    ‘What do we do then?’ Skullius asked.


    ‘Humans and Giants possess the innate capacity to use the Tie of Exchange rather easily. At least that was the case back in my day but from the looks of it, people of this age doubt so much that their belief wanes even towards the Deities,’ Sined.


    ‘So, I will do it. You just have to follow what I tell you,’ S said.


    ‘What exactly will you do?’ Skullius asked sceptically.


    ‘Rx. Just cut off a few locks of your hair and hold them out.’


    Skullius pondered for a second before doing as he was told.


    He held out the locks of auburn hair, much to Yuyui’s confusion and waited for the next step.


    A strange feeling suddenly rippled in his soul, evidently being from something S was doing. It was faint and weird, going to somehow link to the ground under his feet too as with this confusing phenomenon, a part of him became rock solid temporarily.


    Firm and immovable.


    ‘What are you doing?’


    ‘Quick! Inject your mana into the hair!’ S directed, ignoring Skullius’ anxiety.


    Skullius funnelled bit of the mana from the staff, coiling it around the lock of hair and…


    [You are initiating a ‘Tie of Exchange’. Please select the target]


    “Oh,” Skullius voiced in surprise as he saw the notification.


    ‘Don’t waste time, tomato flinger. Give her the hair.’


    Skullius gazed at Yuyui who also gazed at him.


    He didn’t know if this would work because of the array but he tried it anyway.


    He threw the bundled stands of hair towards Yuyui and thankfully, the array didn’t activate, allowing the hair tond before the woman.


    “If you agree to my terms, take that and inject some of your mana into it,” Skullius instructed ordingly.


    ‘Hmm?’


    Yuyui held the bundle of hair and looked at Skullius again, not sure what this was exactly.


    ‘Is this some kind of contract?’ she asked herself while puckering her dry lips.


    Still, she followed the instructions and inserted her mana into the hair.


    She had epted her fate already. Anything was better than this cruel, seemingly meaningless bandage.


    ..!


    Almost immediately, a powerful, unseen grip made her shudder and grunt in pain!


    Deep within her, in her soul, she felt something akin to a searing imprint get nted, the sensation being something she couldn’t shake off even after a few moments!


    It was a constant reminder that she truly had sold her soul.


    Yuyui firmly touched her chest as she breathed out, taking in this reality.


    ‘I guess this is it. I really sold my soul in the name of food,’ she thought with a hint of regret that travelled way back to more than a century ago.


    None of that mattered now however.


    Skullius on the other hand was looking at the details of the Tie of Exchange that were depicted on his guidance field.


    ~~~


    [Tie of Exchange: Hair from Festos Dawn]


    The individual Festos Dawn has pledged locks of hair coated with his mana as a medium for the exchange. He is the prime attendant for the Tie of Exchange and is not bound by any rules stipting any fair terms.


    The lesser attendant, Yuyui Yuyui Yuyui has agreed to offer herself in his service for life in exchange for freedom under Festos Dawn’s stiptions.


    ~~~


    It was done.


    This was Skullius’ third Tie of Exchange but it was different from the rest as unlike the others, he was the prime attendant. The initiator.


    Whatever S had done had not undermined the fact that the aged piece of soul was a part of Skullius and thus, the Discount Human was now Yuyui’s master.


    The moment this was finalised…


    [Congrattions, you have sessfullypleted the First Trial!]


    [You have reached LV11!]


    [You have passed arge milestone, transitioning from the Foundation Stage and into the Advancement Stage!]


    [A phenomenal change has begun…]


    “Yes!” Skullius eximed while brimming with excitement. A wide smile showed on his face as he felt a sense of achievement.


    Things were going as he had initially thought.


    A twofold progression in a single day!


    A powerful feeling rushed through his body, beginning a magnificent switch in his power when…


    [Interruption detected…]


    …!


    Skullius’ <HEART> almost stopped at this!


    In his experience, when this happened, nothing good ever came of it!


    [The ‘Luminant Seed’ buried deep within you awakens!]


    [Progression into the Advancement Stage has been postponed]


    [The ‘Luminant Seed’ begins to adjust the ‘Discount Human’ body]


    [Please wait…]


    Skullius gulped hard.


    This was far from the atrocity he expected.


    This was going to be… glorious!