Miracle Summoner

"You...!"

By the time Jeanne [Alter] realized what was happening and showed a look of astonishment, it was already too late.

"Zing!"

As Rozen grasped Jeanne [Alter]'s hand, the resplendent golden ring shone brightly for the second time.

Just as Rozen had said, as long as the target's soul was completely open to him without any reservations, Miracle would establish a soul link upon contact, opening the Gate between their souls to form a contract.

Thus, the moment Miracle's radiance flared up, it signified that the contract had indeed been completed.

As it turned out, Jeanne [Alter] had long since opened her heart to Rozen, truly acknowledging him from the depths of her soul and baring everything to him without reservation.

Perhaps, in her own eyes, she was nothing more than a counterfeit, her soul a mere worthless existence, unworthy of being treasured. That was likely why she had been able to open up so completely.

As for her verbal rejection, it was merely an expression of sorrow over her own fate and an unwillingness to accept a happiness that felt too unreal.

And so, Jeanne [Alter] dissolved into a stream of light particles, flowing toward Rozen.

"You better remember this! Damn it!"

Leaving behind a voice filled with unwillingness, she merged into Rozen's body, engraving herself into his soul.

Silence returned to the scene once more.

Watching as Jeanne [Alter] was contracted just like that, Rozen wiped the mischievous expression from his face, feeling somewhat dazed.

"It was really this easy to form a contract...?"

Rozen still found it hard to believe.

Securing Hassan of Serenity was one thing, but even Jeanne [Alter] had been this easy to contract? It felt unreal.

Yet, reality does not lie. Jeanne [Alter] had indeed transformed into a record, engraved into his soul, becoming his familiar. This was undeniable proof that her soul had already opened up to him, showing a level of absolute loyalty.

This was truly...

"Too easy."

Rozen couldn't help but murmur.

"She talks harshly, but her soul had already accepted me. A textbook case of a sharp tongue and a soft heart."

He found it amusing.

Regardless, with this, Jeanne [Alter] was now his familiar, eliminating any future concerns.

"Next up is Mash."

Rozen's lips curled into a grin.

Just then...

"Oh? So this is what you've been up to in hiding? How interesting."

That voice rang out once more.

"Ugh..."

The corners of Rozen's mouth twitched.

No way.

Could he really be this unlucky?

Rozen wailed internally.

But no matter how much he lamented, facts were facts.

"I was just wandering around, and I stumbled upon such an amusing sight. Honestly, you were far too careless, failing to notice me approaching."

With those words, the Fallen King of Knights strode forward with stately steps.

Seeing this, Rozen felt as though his soul had left his body. He had no choice but to force a smile, experiencing what was perhaps the most helpless moment of his life.

Artoria [Alter] walked up to Rozen, gazing at his forced smile with narrowed eyes.

"Don't worry, I won't object to you taking that troublesome woman as your own. If anything, it's quite satisfying. Now she'll be reduced to a mere errand girl under someone else's command. I'd love to see the look on her face right now."

Artoria [Alter] looked down at Rozen from her lofty position.

"However, you've been keeping quite the secret. So that contract of yours is all thanks to that ring, isn't it?"

Her gaze shifted downward, locking onto the Miracle on Rozen's right hand.

Rozen let out a bitter chuckle.

"You really are sharp, my King."

He rolled his eyes as he spoke.

Artoria [Alter] ignored Rozen's sarcasm, merely staring at the ring with flickering eyes, lost in thought.

A moment later, she suddenly reached out and grasped the hand on which Rozen wore Miracle.

"What are you doing?"

Rozen was stunned.

Artoria [Alter] frowned slightly.

"Why hasn't the contract formed?" she asked coldly. "Didn't you say that as long as one completely opens their soul and touches the hand wearing the ring, the contract would be established?"

Rozen instantly understood what she meant.

"Wait... you..."

He was utterly dumbfounded.

Artoria [Alter] paid him no mind.

"Where's the contract?" she asked indifferently. "Don't tell me everything you said earlier was a lie?"

Her tone carried a hint of displeasure.

"It's not a lie," Rozen responded, half-laughing, half-crying. "It's just that I have to actively trigger it."

That was how it worked.

Otherwise, if a contract could be formed just by someone opening their soul and touching his hand, what would happen if he encountered an unsuitable contract candidate or an unwanted situation?

For the contract to form, Rozen had to actively invoke Miracle and open the Gate, ensuring control over the process.

"I see."

Artoria [Alter] nodded before stating outright...

"In that case, activate it."

"Huh?"

Rozen was dumbfounded again.

What?

What did she just say?

Was she...

Was she willingly asking to be contracted?

"What's wrong?" Artoria [Alter] stared at him intently, as if seeing through his thoughts. "Don't tell me you're going to say that you could contract that troublesome woman, but not me?"

A subtle killing intent surfaced in her eyes.

"N-No, that's not what I meant..." Rozen hesitated. "It's just... for this to work, the target must completely open their soul to me. Are you sure you meet that condition, Artoria?"

He wasn't being unreasonable.

Unlike Hassan of Serenity and Jeanne [Alter], Artoria [Alter] had no reason to open her soul to him.

Hassan of Serenity was destined to devote herself entirely to someone who could survive touching her.

Jeanne [Alter] had nothing—no past, no meaning—until Rozen gave her one. That was why she accepted everything he offered.

But Artoria [Alter]?

She had no reason to bare her soul to him.

That was why Rozen found this hard to believe.

What he didn't know was that, ever since the Singularity of Fuyuki, Artoria [Alter] had already decided to stake everything on him.

Watching Rozen fight for Bedivere and the Lion King, she had already acknowledged him.

And so...

"You won't know unless you try."

Artoria [Alter] gave no further explanation—she simply stated her demand.