Quest of Automata King

Contract With the Devil

Robert lean himself in front of the table as his finger dancing with the pen, with paper as their ballroom. His reading glasses reflecting the flicker of lamp at the top of the table, that used to help him read better during the night. He opened the book at one side, and note at the other, writing down everything that is important.

He is in the zone, his mind is focused to the material that he studying, but then his focus shattered as he heard grumbling sound coming from beside him.

In this room, Robert is the only student of ‘three big class’ for the first years. Meanwhile, rest of his rommates are students of the worst class of the pack. Class F.

Therefore he feels normal for the people that not as smart as him to doze off quickly. Robert don’t know if they have homework that due tomorrow, it is their problem after all.

Another snore come again, and this time is right next to him. Raul, the rich boy from that perfume company is not that different from other low-tier students, thought Robert.

At first before coming to this school he thought that the competition will be hard and strict. As only a appreantice of healer witch, he is worried that the effort his mentor would be in vain, and at some point he will be placed at the bottom of the barrel.

But looking at his rank that still placed at the second best, maybe he thought lean back a little and revise his strategy to be more healthy.

Trying to get rid of his friends snores and the voice of his head, he is back to focus on doing his homework. Robert eventually shift his focus to know the time that he have spend studying and doing homework.

He looking for his wirst watch on the table, but can’t find it. Turns out he is too focused on his study, untill he did not realize that his watch is drowning under the sea of papers.

“...It’s half past eleven,” said Robert, he turn his head toward Mui’s bed and table, but there is totally no sign of him.

Weird, thought Robert. If there is anyone in this room that showing promise, Robert will point at Mui. Althought Human and Devil relation were never improved after ten years have passed, this is the first time that he felt sense of rivalry coming from race that he known as a loser from the previous war.

“Where the hell is he? If he caught up breaking the curfew, he might get a detention,” said Robert. He did not taking attention of what he just said, and when Robert realize it, he shakes his head. “What are you talking about, Robert? You did not have time to worry about someone else! Focus! You have homework and studying for the class tomorrow! Don’t let your mind get distracted!”

Robert talking to himself and realign his seat and vision for the books on his table. His and finger started to dancing again across the paper, but 10 minutes after that, the door’s room is violently opened.

“Wha-!?” Robert shriek and turn his body toward that voice. As expected, the door is opened, and there is a figure of a person standing in front of him. That person is shrouded in some kind of cloak, and Robert have reached his desk to take out a folded knife.

“Who are you!? Stay back!” he shout. That commotion is enough to make Karas and Raul get up.

“What? What happened?” asked Raul while yawning. Karas on the other hand, rubbing his eyes as he come to.

That cloaked figure is wearing hoodie that blocking the sight of his face. Because Robert did not know who he is, he unsheath his knife and aim it to that person.

“Who are you!? Get out or I will alert the whole building for intruder!” said Robert. His right hand is grabbing the knife, while his other hand is gathering mana from his body and produce fire.

“Uh... Robert, what is happening?” asked Karas, crouching at the side of his bed.

“Isn’t it still too fast for the prank festival?” Raul clearly shown that he is not fully awake yet.

Suddenly, gust of wind appear inside the the room. It was big enough to make three of them closes their eyes, and to extinguish Robert’s fire spell. They are all confused since the window have been closed, there is no way that the wind could appear out of nowhere except someone controlling it with wind magic.

“Damn it! Don’t retaliate!” shout Robert. He jumped toward that person with the blade of his knife pointing forward. But sudenlly he stopped when the winds are blowing through that person’s hoodie, revealing the owner inside.

“...Mui?” said Robert. He stopped in his track while his knife is already halfway toward Mui’s stomach. Either Robert, Raul and Karas already familiar with the face of his roommate, beside who could forget the only student in this school with sheep horn on his head?

Althought being called, Mui does not answers. He did blink, but only one or twice. His eyes are empty, and almost half-opened. It giving the sensation that Mui is walking on his sleep, or someone else controlling his body.

“Where have you went? I thought you already got caught by the prefect for breaking the curfew,” asked Robert, but again, no answer coming out from Mui’s mouth.

“Beside, where did you get that worn out cloak? Did you punch a beggar to get it?” Raul’s joke appeared in a weird time. Both Robert and Karas giving him with judgmental eyes.

    Suddenly Mui moved his body to the side, and hitting Robert’s shoulder intentionally. Robert quickly seathed his knife again, so Mui would not get hurt.

“Mui, hey, you ok?” asked Robert. But again, none of the answer coming out from the Devil. Mui climbed the ladder of his bed, and then pull himself toward the bed.

And then, silent. The three of them looking at that figure that lying on his bed, did not know how to respond.

“Mui?” asked Karas, but again, no answer coming from him.

“Nah, it’s fine, now we all know that mysterious person is Mui right? Just let it be. He must be tired because of training that he had with Challender and Julius,” said Raul.

“What training?” Robert asked him with questioning face.

“I heard that some students that are passing the training ground seeing Mui sparring with Julius from class A. I heard it was hard and pretty brutal. He must be tired.”

Raul lean his back to the side of the bed, and closing his eyes to sleep. So does Karas, since his question did not get anwered by Mui. He continue to sleep.

Robert looking at Mui who is sleeping on the top of the bed. Julius is the strongest among first year in term of sword-fighting, while Challender? He don’t want to talk about it.

Robert feel some sort of pity for Mui, he didn’t know what he have been through. Robert then tidying up his bed, and prepare to sleep, until he realize one thing.

Raul is sleeping at Robert’s bed instead at the top side of the bed.

“Hey, get up! Your bed is on top!” said Robert as he slapping Raul’s face.

***

Nine hours before, at the Forbidden Forrest of Gehenna. Mui said to Goettia that he will agree with contract between two of them.

“I want to raise my status, to be a person that standing on-par with nobles and other leader of the world,” said Mui.

“That’s one of a bold request you know?” comment Goettia. “One could not become a royalty in one night... Althought it technically can, with the power of bloodline and money.”

Goettia floating around Mui, and then returned to it’s original position.

“So what? You can’t fulfill my wish?” asked Mui, a little bit mocking.

“Pfft!? Who do you think I’am!?” shout Goettia angrily. “Do not preach me about nobility, boy! I’am the top among Devils! I’am King Automata!” Goettia floating closer to Mui to intimidate him, but that boy just giving a smirk.

“Then what are you waiting for? I’ll be your host, and you will make me a noble, alright?”

For a moment Goettia did not answer. Just after that, he continue to speak.

“As i said, becoming a noble is not something you can do overnight, there is a few things that we have to do,” said it. Goettia floating around again, and then stop right in front of Mui.

“Alright! I have decide it!” said Goettia suddenly. He even surprised Mui.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Right now, my power is only enough to alter your appearance boy. With the right face, everyone will not asking about your status, but for your power, attitude, knowledge, and especially money, instead I will help you a helping hand to acquire.”

Mui starring at Goettia. He only understand a little bit from what that book is saying, Mui wanted to make sure that he did not make the wrong choice, but he remembered something.

Mui turn back toward the school building. The luxurious Magusica, a place that he supposed would never accept someone like him. If Mui wanted to succes, or more, if he wanted to show that Devils are equal with other races, he have to start from here.

And Mui will need every help he could get.

Mui turn back toward Goettia. “Alright. You got the deal,” said Mui.

Goettia floating around Mui again, as if showing joyous emotion.

“Alright then kid. Now, I need you to touch the belt of the book,” said Goettia.

“The what?” Mui takes a step back, didn’t understand what is Goettia is pointing on.

“This part! The side of the book that locked because of this belt!” shout Goettia impatiently.

Surprised, Mui quickly moved his hand into the part that Goettia pointed, and suddenly, he felt a sharp cut on his index finger.