Chapter 91
Toure's body was temporarily prevented from collapsing when Cyril grasped his fingertip and poured mana into it. But this was only a temporary measure. It did not address the root of the problem.
"So the function for absorbing mana through the body's surface is damaged? Oral intake is still possible?"
"Oh, so that's why eating my carrot made Toure feel a little better!"
At Cyril's mutter, Raul smacked a fist into his palm.
The severed end of Toure's finger was filled with white light, from which particles of light spilled and fell. In other words, it was an exposed wound. Pouring mana in through the skin would not heal it, but if mana was poured directly into the wound, it could barely absorb it.
But leaving the wound exposed like this would not solve anything.
"If he kept eating mana-infused food, couldn't he recover considerably?"
Raul pulled a troubled face at Cyril's suggestion.
"The amount of mana you can imbue into a material is limited. He'd have to keep eating a ridiculous amount of food nonstop."
That was certainly true. When Cyril fell silent, Ashelpike quietly cut in.
"Rather than going to the trouble of imbuing food with mana, it would be easier to supply it directly, mouth to mouth."
"So Cyril just needs to kiss him!"
"When that happens, I'll make you do it too."
Cyril glared at Raul's carefree face, then began to think.
Supplying mana orally would serve as a temporary recovery measure. But it would not be a solution.
As Cyril and Raul groaned over the problem, Ashelpike tilted their head, wearing the expression of a child asking an adult a question.
"Humans don't supply each other mana mouth to mouth? Why?"
"It isn't impossible, but it can have adverse effects on the human body. For that reason, it isn't recommended."
If humans took in a large amount of mana all at once, they were prone to mana poisoning. That was why mouth-to-mouth mana transfers were not recommended.
Of course, spirits and dragons, which possessed high mana resistance, could absorb a large amount of mana all at once.
(But the White Dragon's wound isn't the sort that can be healed all at once by absorbing a large amount of mana. Natural healing will take at least ten years... We need a way to supply mana continuously over a long period, until the wound heals.)
Even in a mana-rich mountain, absorption through the skin was impossible. Mana supplied mouth to mouth by a spirit would not harmonize with Toure's mana. Even if a human gave him mana mouth to mouth, it would only be a temporary measure.
A long-term, continuous supply of mana... That brought one thing to mind: a magical device.
"For example, if there were a magical device that could absorb mana from outside the body and draw it into the body..."
At Cyril's mutter, Raul shook his head.
"That won't work. Unlike magical devices from the old era, modern magical devices aren't compatible with magical creatures. If you left one attached to a higher-ranked dragon for long, it would definitely malfunction."
Only a very few magical devices from the old era remained in the modern age, and all of them were national-treasure-grade artifacts. They were not something that could be obtained immediately.
Cyril mobilized all his knowledge in search of a clue to solving the problem.
There were not many books containing records of higher-ranked dragons to begin with. Apparently, there had once been examples of humans and dragons coexisting, but in the present age, higher-ranked dragons had almost vanished, leaving their ecology shrouded in mystery.
(No, wait... That's right. There was a record in an old-era story of a mage who had contracted with a dragon...)
Apart from humans who worshipped dragons as gods, there was supposedly a mage who lived alongside a dragon as a partner.
One who forged a bond with a dragon. That way of life was said to have already been lost, but...
"For example, could we adapt the contract between a spirit and a human into one that supplied a human's mana to a dragon?"
Raul's eyes widened at Cyril's suggestion.
A higher-ranked dragon was rare to begin with. Raul had probably never even considered forming a contract with one.
Cyril had a constitution that caused him to absorb excessive mana, and he was always left with mana to spare. If he could transfer that mana to Toure, Cyril would not suffer from mana poisoning, while Toure would receive a regular supply of mana.
Raul folded his arms and furrowed his brow.
"Hmm... In theory, it might work? But we'd need a contract stone, and a gemstone of high enough quality to serve as material for a first-class magical device."
"Um..."
The frail voice came from Monica, who had been resting against Melissa.
Monica slipped her uninjured left hand into her pocket and took something out.
Resting on her small hand was a brooch of gold filigree set with a large sapphire—the one Cyril had received from the Marquis of Hioon.
Apparently, Monica had picked it up for him.
"If we overwrite the magic formula on this... I think it would work."
Having said that, Monica lowered her head and furrowed her brows.
Then, as if regretting having spoken, she continued in a mumble, stumbling over her words.
"But this is... something important to Cyril-sama..."
Monica knew that Cyril was attached to this brooch. That was probably why she was hesitant to make the suggestion.
Cyril knelt before Monica and took the small hand holding the brooch in both his hands.
"I don't mind."
The Marquis of Hioon had given Cyril this brooch after excessive training caused him to develop mana overabsorption syndrome.
Magical devices were extremely expensive. At worst, one could cost enough to buy a house in the royal capital.
Cyril had insisted that he could not accept something so splendid, that he was not worth being given such a gift. The marquis had told him in a gentle voice:
'Your efforts deserve to be rewarded. Think of this as proof of that.'
That was why this brooch was both a source of pride and a treasure to Cyril.
(Even so, surely my adoptive father would say: 'Tools are meant to be used.')
This brooch was not a medal meant to display Cyril's pride.
Cyril looked straight into Monica's eyes and told her,
"I want to rewrite the magic formula engraved on this brooch into one that will let a dragon and me form a contract. Will you lend me your strength?"
Monica pressed her lips together, then nodded firmly.
＊ ＊ ＊
To tell the truth, Monica had hesitated just a little when she brought up Cyril's brooch.
Using this brooch might make it possible to complete a contract between Cyril and the White Dragon. But it would definitely place a burden on Cyril.
Even a contract with a higher spirit entailed a considerable burden. Monica had never heard of anyone contracting with a dragon on top of that.
Monica could have chosen to remain silent until the White Dragon disappeared.
But that would have been... dishonest toward Cyril.
(All I can do is do everything in my power to live up to Cyril-sama's expectations.)
Monica gripped the brooch and steeled herself.
She would use all the knowledge at her disposal to make this contract succeed.
To do that, she needed to rewrite the magic formula engraved on the brooch.
As Monica concentrated, preparing to rewrite it at once...
"Monica-chwaaaan? Did you forget your promise to Big Sis?"
A syrupy-sweet yet strangely menacing low voice sounded beside Monica's ear. It was Melissa.
Melissa's hand dug into Monica's shoulder as she jolted.
"I told you not to use mana, didn't I? ...If you pass out here, I'll leave you behind and go home."
Melissa was completely serious.
When Monica faltered, Melissa let out a weary sigh through her nose and took the brooch from Monica's hand.
"So you're going to use the contract formula for a higher spirit as a base and adapt it for a dragon. What is the White Dragon's mana-element arrangement?"
"I-I checked it when I was swallowed... I-I think it should be okay."
"Good. Explain the necessary formulas aloud. I'll memorize them at once. I'll create the formula."
As she spoke, Melissa examined the formula on the brooch and called out to Raul.
"Raul, you've got mana to spare to a ridiculous degree, so act as the intermediary for the formula. If you shoulder the mana required for the contract formula, it'll reduce the burden on Cyril-sama and me."
"The intermediary formula only needs to go through the sixth section, right?"
"All the way through the thirteenth. Do it properly."
"Ugh, that's rough... But yeah, I have to go the extra mile for a friend!"
Raul nodded repeatedly as he began calculating the necessary formulas.
Ashelpike, who had been watching the scene intently with violet eyes, murmured in a small voice.
"...Will that save Toure?"
At the anxious question, Melissa narrowed her green eyes and glared at Ashelpike.
"I'll save him. But there's one condition."
"...A condition?"
"The contract formula will include a master-servant contract. That White Dragon will become Cyril-sama's servant."
Ashelpike's expression stiffened slightly. Toure, however, merely wore a vacant expression.
Melissa looked back and forth between the ice spirit and the White Dragon, then snorted.
"Nonhumans cause harm without meaning to, so this is absolutely necessary. If you can't accept that condition, I won't perform the contract ritual."
Nonhumans causing harm without meaning to—Melissa was right.
Human common sense did not apply to nonhumans. That was why Ashelpike had abducted Cyril, who had been uninvolved, forced a one-sided contract on him, and tried to offer him as a sacrifice to the White Dragon.
There was no guarantee that Toure would not do something similar. That was precisely why Toure absolutely needed restrictions.
Ashelpike fell silent with a troubled expression, but Toure gave a drowsy nod.
"Okay. That's fine."
"But, Toure..."
Ashelpike pressed the issue, but Toure smiled softly at them.
It was not the fleeting smile of someone heading toward death. It was the smile of someone looking toward the future.
"Together with Pique. I'm happy."
That one sentence settled it.
Ashelpike nodded once and said, "I understand," then silently watched Monica and the others work.
Monica calculated the magic formula for a contract between a human and the White Dragon and dictated it aloud, while Melissa memorized it and wove the formula together.
Raul intervened in the formula Melissa had woven, sharing responsibility for maintaining it and reducing the burden on Melissa.
Brilliant magic formulas appeared in the air around them, swimming through it like bands.
The 〈Ice Spirits' Snow Lanterns〉 were drawn to that mana, filling the area with dazzling light.
Melissa glanced sidelong at Ashelpike and smiled fearlessly.
"You spirits think humans are weaklings who can't handle mana unless they use magic formulas, don't you?"
It was true that humans were far inferior to spirits in both the amount of mana they possessed and their skill at manipulating it.
That was precisely why humans had learned to weave formulas using only a small amount of mana and developed techniques for controlling it.
Melissa lifted the corner of her lips and declared proudly,
"By weaving formulas, we create new possibilities. That's human 〈Magic〉. Remember that."
With that, Melissa elegantly swept up the hem of her skirt and bowed to Cyril.
"Cyril Ashley-sama, leave this to us. After all, there are three of the Seven Sages—the finest mages in the world—here!"
"Big Sis is a former one, though."
Melissa smiled sweetly and threw a backfist at Raul from an angle Cyril could not see.