Surviving in my Own Unpublished Failed Novel

'Soul Contract?'

Ayleen Mayfield — who was still standing from the side — fell into curiosity as she heard the unusual words that came out of a 15-year-old girl.

Various reactions were painted on each of everyone's faces; Vice-Chancellor Dexter Rainfall constricted his eyes as looked at the young girl with confusion with a mix of cautiousness; Chancellor Alexander had a smirk on his face, finding the situation interesting, especially with Artorious involved, and Artorious himself remained cold, but curiosity — just like how Ayleen was feeling — fell on him.

"Basically, if Sir Artorious breaks anything that's about to be written in the Soul Contract, he'll die."

Russell interjected and answered in Freya's stead.

<F*ck, if this attempt fails, we're running.>

Although running away from someone with an average overall stats of at least 5 digits was more than impossible, they could only try by trusting their Trait: Nihility.

It would be a lie if Russell wasn't feeling nervous at this moment. The dropout decision that they told Ayleen was merely a facade to get Artorious' attention in some way, but their true goal was to make him sign a Soul Contract, which would make their parents certainly safe based on their prepared conditions.

The atmosphere turned serious upon hearing Russell's words because what these renowned people knew, even though it's been more than 40 years since the Emergence, was only a Mana Contract that's considered a Miscellaneous item.

"Artorious, do you think this is very interesting? A young girl has access to something we didn't know anything about.

"When I heard from Dexter about the problem, it seemed like your previous actions didn't make any sense at all, kidnapping kids. I thought you have gone mad.

"But with what's presented to you or us right now, these kids just indirectly told us, that even though they keep withholding information about how they truly stumbled on the first Micro-Strayed Dungeon, they're not ordinary in some ways."

Chancellor Alexander said thoughtfully while considering in his mind the possibilities of grooming the three students who bravely came forward for their family's sake.

'Well, I'm just grateful that all of you are not using a Status Appraisal Skill right now as you deemed our status as not worth looking into.'

Russell lampooned inwardly. Apart from the seemingly friendly rivalry between Alexander and Artorious; another reason they requested Alexander's presence was to show him their potential, not because he's interested in them, but rather, he'd be interested in the knowledge that Russell, Freya, and Amelie knew, but wasn't telling.

Artorious, standing highly in front of puny students, fell into deep thought. Then, Alexander spoke again.

"Artorious, the first opening of a Close Mystery Tower might have affected you in some ways in discovering what happened a few years ago. The times are indeed changing, but do you think forcing these students to spill something they might not know, and getting them to overthink about their family's safety based on the first thing they wanted as compensation would suffice in discovering the truth behind the dis—"

"Stop."

Artorious raised his right hand, telling Alexander to stop before he looked coldly at the three students who were standing in front of a long couch, waiting for his decision.

"Where did you get that something called Soul Contract?"

He asked with an unrelenting cold emotion; he wanted to know some things before he decides on something.

...

Russell, Freya, and Amelie looked and then nodded at each other upon hearing the well-built man's words.

"Sir Artorious, about that... we apologize, but we can't tell you. We decided that it would be a part of the conditions in the Soul Contract if you agree to sign this with us.

"By the way, we will tell you our conditions first."

Russell looked at his younger sister, who then nodded at him.

On Freya's will, the Soul Contract flew midair, a dark aura emanated from it, and left some dark aura traces in the air as it hovered, which continually dissipated.

Although this type of thing was normal especially when a person was a high-rank player, it's not something that one could normally see in a first-year student except the TOP students of A-1 class.

"First, you will promise that any form of harm through any means; personally or by other people you can mobilize; will not be tolerated against me and my older brother's family, as well as with our connections like Amelie's Personal Attendant and her family.

"Second, you will grant us a Player License without us taking an Obelisk Player Association Licensure Exam, and will permit us to leave the academy premises whenever we want.

"Third, we are not required or shall be forced to answer any questions you or any Obelisk Organization's personnel have. You will also leave us on our own business."

At that moment, after the somewhat composed Freya said the conditions that she, Russell, and Amelie had talked about last night after Ayleen left them, the Soul Contract that was floating in midair reacted and automatically write the revised version of the words that Freya had said.

Artorious gray, glass-like eyes constricted, while the other had different reactions.

Although the Mana Contract had the same way of the process, they felt that it was really different as their doubt about the Soul Contract's validity seemed to gradually vanish.

"By the way, Sir, it will be unfair for you as it should be an equivalent exchange. Just like a Mana Contract, you can give conditions that we need to abide by, as long as it won't contradict the conditions we gave beforehand."

Russell spoke, waiting for Artorious' response.

'Please, f*cking agree with the conditions.'

Due to the unexpected behavior that Artorious had previously shown, Russell felt like this man could switch off anytime soon, especially with his echoing silence.

...

After some time, Artorious said the conditions, which somehow came as a shock for Russell and his Chaos Companions.

'Hmm... So, it'll depend on circumstances, huh.'

Russell thought as the Soul Contract itself had finished transcribing the conditions, which everyone in the Vice-Chancellor's Office had silently read.

...

Soul Contract:

– Party A: Freya Moon, Russell Moon, Amelie Rose Merveil, Amery Blight

Party A's Conditions:

1. Any form of harm from Party B and his "formal connections" will not be tolerated against Party A's Freya and Russell Moon's family; Amelie's Personal Attendant and her family, and Amery Blight's orphanage connections.

2. Player License will be granted to Party A by Party B within a week after this contract is signed.

3. Party A will not be required and shall not be forced to answer any questions Party B has, and Party B and his "formal connections" will let Party A do their own business.

– Party B: Artorious Hall

Party B's Conditions:

1. Party B or his "formal connections" will be granted the right to ask any "unnatural" questions to Party A, but only once a month.

2. Any businesses of Party A must not bring harm in any form or way to the Obelisk Organization unless Party A is first provoked.

3. Party A will not spread anything both in private or public about what had transpired, and Party A will take care of Azalea Vermillion about the issue.

...

[Proceed with the filled Soul Contract?]

The System asked Freya, and after confirming everything with her older brother and Amelie, she proceeded with the process.

"Proceed."

With her words, the Soul Contract formed some dark Magic Circles before they vanished midair, and evaporated.

Then, at that moment, Illusory Shadow Scythes hung on Freya, Russell, Amelie, and Artorious necks, prompting Ayleen, Alexander, and Dexter to be on guard.

"It's okay, it's part of the process."

Russell assured them, though it was only normal that they would have a look of distrust.

As the Illusory Shadow Scythes gradually dissipated, the System rang in Party A's and Party B's ears.

Ding-!

[The Soul Contract has been successfully made.]

[The Party that will not abide by the aforementioned conditions will die and suffer from 'True Death'.]

...

Artorious' gray, glass-like eyes slightly made a reaction upon reading the System's notification.

As an SSS+ rank player who went to the mysterious Trial of the Stars, he knew what True Death means.

His unusually quiet reaction garnered the attention of his connections.

"Sir Artorious, is it done now?"

Ayleen asked, quite stupefied about seeing something she didn't know anything about.

He then nodded in response before he walked towards the three students he considered a mystery or unknown in some ways.

"That's an easy thing to do, right? Artorious Hall."

Alexander said with a smile that somewhat caused repulsion to Artorious.

Without minding the Chancellor of the Obelisk Academy, Artorious looked at the three students who felt relieved as they sat on the long couch.

"Condition one, I'll have the right to ask a question once a month whether or not you'll answer it.

"But, I'll ask the question this time around.

"Is she alive?"

...

The straight-to-the-point question caused the other people inside the office to fall silent; Ayleen, Vice Chancellor Dexter, and Chancellor Alexander looked at Artorious with somewhat serious expressions, before their gazes turned to the three students who looked at each other.

'They're communicating again through telepathy.'

Ayleen guessed as she noticed their body language, as well as the look on their faces.

'Although they are mysterious in some ways, I doubt they know anything about what happened at least 10 years ago.'

"She is."

'H-huh...? W-what...?!'

She heard one of the students speak, it was the man with deep blue eyes that were sitting on the left side of the long couch.

'No, he's bluffing! He's only 16 years old, how can he answer with a straight face about something that happened a long time ago??'

She glanced at Artorious, observing his reaction because he was very sensitive when it was something about his wife.

"I see..."

Artorious spoke, but this time, his emotions seemed to contain a little warmth, and without any words, he disappeared through a mirror-like portal that he created with his Authority: Glass Reality.

...

After ten to fifteen minutes, all that remained in the Vice Chancellor's Office were the Vice Chancellor himself, and the three students.

Knock-! Knock-!

They heard a knock, causing Russell and Freya to be on edge.

"Come in."

The voice of the Vice Chancellor sounded, and then the door opened, revealing Russell and Freya's parents; Melina Moon and Arche Moon.

"Russell, what happened?!"

Without properly greeting the Vice Chancellor, Melina, their mother, spoke to her son.

"Ah... A-about that. W-we are rich!"

Their parents looked at each other forming a confused expressions.

But, Russell and Freya took the time to explain everything in detail; starting from when they came back from their missing person status; getting the rights to the Micro-Strayed Dungeon due to a certain existing law, and getting offered by Emmanuel Lyncoster to buy the rights of the dungeon; then finally closing the transaction.

"I-is it real?! W-why didn't you tell us before?? And what's with something you said that you suffered, huh?"

Melina couldn't process everything as she felt overwhelmed.

"Ah... Mom, it's actually Freya who suffered from anxiety as she wanted to tell you badly but can't find the right time. We're actually planning to tell you during the semestral break, but Freya can't help it, you know.

"So, we asked for Vice-Chancellor's advice on what should we do... and he then suggested that we pull a prank on you that we'll be dropping out."

Russell felt the death stare of his younger sister who was standing from his side.

'Well, at least the Vice-Chancellor agreed to it. Sigh...'

"By the way, Mom... Dad... we're rich."

Tap. Tap.

After Russell and Freya tapped on their respective smartwatch, the notification sounded on their parents' respective smartwatches.

"4-400...

"Mom!"

Their mother fainted upon seeing the staggering amount of money that she received in her bank account.

...

Hours quickly flew by as the seemingly unusually long day ended with the Sun swallowed through the horizon.

"Oppa, for one weak, I and Amelie will crash in your dorm, so sleep on the floor. Okay?

"And how dare you tell Mom that I'm suffering from anxiety by not telling her about the money?"

Freya wasn't furious like when she punched her older brother, but rather, she was just being cheeky and wanted to get back to him for saying such a thing.

"Well, ain't you suffering from Artorious? Well, we all are."

Russell rebutted, Amelie then chuckled before she interjected.

"It's unfortunate we got rejected with the condition of leaving the academy premises whenever we wanted, but I guess it'll be fine with just the Player License."

"Oppa... Amelie... with what Sir... No, just Artorious did... I came to hate him, I never expected that the number 1 Player will be that kind of person.

"So... I'll never regret what I did."

Freya said firmly as she was lying on her older brother's bed.

She then browsed again the certain System message she received upon successfully proceeding with the Soul Contract.

[Under the Ruler of Death's watch, the Soul Contract's conditions to abide by Party A will be nullified.]