[Later That Day]

"Huu"

Releasing visible breaths from his pursed lips as he sighed, Rey dropped the book he just finished reading on his desk as he rose from the chair where he sat.

'It's been months since I last read, but it takes me a few minutes to finish a whole book now. And that's even when I'm being slow.' He proceeded to his bed and collapsed on it, covering his face with his hand.

'How am I supposed to read with Alicia if I'm just faster than her by such a degree?'

Rey knew his worries were misplaced. Rather than agonizing about these thoughts, he ought to think about ways to lift her curse first.

'Curse, huh? Who would have thought it would become such a troublesome thing' Closing his eyes, he remembered what Brutus told him and his classmates earlier that day.

The brutal consequence for breaking the Binding Vow.

'A curse befalling all of the Alliance Is something of that scale even possible by humans?'

There were millions of humans living in the Western Continent. It was difficult to estimate their numbers, due to many factors, but based on the last recorded census, and the events that Rey just caught up on after reading a few books just now, he placed the number at five to six million.

'The Capital itself houses over a hundred thousand people. Some regions have a higher population, and recently the South has been saturated with higher numbers than before.'

From what Brutus said, this curse would be inflicted randomly on the people of the Alliance. Rey didn't know the details of what that meant, and it seemed Brutus was also unsure of it.

'Could it be that less than the total number of people in the Alliance will be affected, but those chosen will be random, or maybe everyone will be affected.'

He wasn't even sure if he and his classmatesas Otherworlderswould be targeted by this Curse or not.

'I know I'm safe from it, but what of the others?' It seemed like a careless deal to be made over some unity between nations, especially since it had to do with wagering the lives of unsuspecting people.

'Those were desperate times, so I can see how it might have seemed like a good deal back then.' After all, the Royal Council had to unanimously act, using the resources of the Alliance at their disposal, before the Binding Vow could be broken.

This wasn't an easy thing to do, so as long as one person in the group wasn't stupid, everyone was safe. Besides, even fools valued their lives, so they weren't going to take any action that put their lives at risk.

All in all, the entirety of humanity under the Alliance was being held hostage by the Binding Vow, and most didn't know it existed at all.

'I guess this is what happens when you give someone the power to rule over you.'

The major issue on Rey's mind when all of these questions were asked was this:

"How in the world were you able to make such a deal?!"

Apparently, it was due to a devicesimilar to the Oculuswhich was able to record and enforce binding vows with a curse.

'I guess it sort of tallies with what Ater told me. Even humans can bring about powerful curses in this world if the consequence is that significant.'

The world was the one who delivered the curse, so it would be pretty much irreversible by Rey with his Healing Magic.

'I really need to get a Skill that deals with this stuff.'

But, he didn't even know where to begin when it came to that search. At this point, Rey felt very blind and confused on what path to take.

'I thought the Enchanted Item that Brutus mentioned could help me, but apparentlyin order to preserve the vowit was divided into various parts and split among the biggest factions at the time.'

The one that was in the Royal Council's possession existed within the Treasury, but there was no real way to determine where the others werenot without breaking the vow itself.

'Technically, the curse won't be activated if an agent of the Royal Council acts in the same way prohibited by the vow, or maybe even a third party.'

The best option presented before him was to look for all the pieces by himself and see if they could stop the curse of the vow, while also hoping it led to some cluesor preferably some kind of Skillthat would save Alicia.

'All of this is operating on some heavy presupposition and assumptions, but it's my only clue at the moment.'

According to what Brutus told him, there were seven pieces in totalone in the custody of the Royal Councilwhile the others were split among the most powerful Nobles in the Alliance.

'Finding them should take a while, but'

~VWUUSH~

A dark silhouette formed close to Rey's door, causing the boy to sit upright in order to see who was making their entry into his room.

He instantly knew as soon as he sensed the presence.

"Ater where have you been?" Rey asked, a slight smile tugging at his lips the moment he watched the man in black suit emerge from the dissipating darkness.

Ater's red hair danced as he smiled at Rey, swiftly making a slight bow upon entry.

"Just running an errand or two. I thought a little about a current problem, so I had to go fetch a few things."

"A few things?" Rey raised an eyebrow.

Right before his eyes, six shardspieces of a construct of some sortappeared right in front of Ater.

'No way! Is that?!'

They floated before the Familiar, resonating with each other while being shrouded by some form of darkness. Ater raised his hand, and a final piece appeared atop itlike a core of some sort, which gleamed with dark purple.

"This is the Dybbuk. Apparently, there was a time when ah, from that look on your face it seems you already know what it is." Ater stopped midway through explanation and made a grander smile.

"As expected of my Master."

"H-how did you get all of those? They're supposed to be with various factions!"

"Ah, so you already know that much. Indeed, and they were kept in quite obscure and precocious locations. It took me all day to gather all of them, after which I went to the Treasury to obtain the final piece."

'All day? This is barely evening, though'

"I hope you aren't upset I acted in such a manner, especially breaking into the Treasury, Master. I was just following your order regarding the wellbeing of these people, which you left in my care."

Rey could feel all sorts of emotions rush through his body, but he did his best to suppress them.

"No, not at all." He laughed a little. "You did well."

"Really? That's perfect, then. I thought we could kill two birds with one stone with this item."

'Two birds? Is he thinking about the same thing I was considering with Alicia? If Ater also has the same idea, it must be legit!' Rey could feel excitement bubble up within him.

"Firstly, we'll get rid of that annoying binding bow of the Royal Council. Then'

Just as Rey expected, Ater had thought ahead this entire time. But, what about the second? Rey already knew what it would be.

It was

"... We'll finally be able to bind your Absolute Beast and make it a loyal slave."

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Thanks for reading!

Well, make your guesses, everyone. Which Familiar is Rey getting this time?