[No! You can't. Only the things you buy from the shop can be paid in demon cores.] The system denied.
"Alright." Max sighed and then asked, "Tell how many demon cores I need to collect to pay the previous debt?"
[Hm? Let's see. The demon cores of an early, middle, late and peak stage two-star demon are worth 1000, 1500, 2000 and 3000 shop points or lust points, respectively. In the case of three-star demon cores, they are worth 10,000, 15,000, 20,000, and 30,000. As for the four-star cores or higher, I believe telling that to you now would just be a waste of time.]
[Now, since you bought a grade four vitality pill for that little girl Rima which was worth 400,000 LPs and agreed to pay double, it's 800,000 and a Foundation healing pill which was worth around 100,000 after doubling the price, it's 200,000. So, in total, you need to pay a million SPs.]
[You can convert these million SPs to the demon cores according to the exchange rate I just told you.] The system explained everything like an experienced debt collector before it added, [Oh, right? I've already collected the cores of those two demons you killed before. Both were only early-stage three-star demons so now you've to pay 20,000 less.]
"Okay." Max distractedly nodded. In his mind, he was calculating how many demons he had to kill to pay back all the debt. No, only paying back wasn't going to suffice. He needed to have some extra SPs to use when needed since he couldn't afford to buy things on debt.
'But I'm not strong enough to face three-star demons and killing enough two-star demons to pay this colossal debt would take at least a few months, which I don't want or afford to waste on this damned continent.' He thought.
After a while, he snapped out of his thought and looked at Amara with shining eyes.
Amara felt shivers run down her spine under his gaze. 'What is this pervert planning to do now?' She thought.
"Hey, old man. Hurry and give me that ancient slave spell now. Let me first enslave her so she won't think of betraying me." Max said.
[Alright.] The system said.
Phew!
Max breathed out and relaxed his mind.
Whoosh!
After a slight headache, a new spell appeared in his mind. Although it had a lot of information, it wasn't too complicated.
After comprehending it, he ordered Amara, "Relax and don't resist. I'm going to brand your soul with the slave seal."
Amara's expression flickered, and the light in her eyes dimmed.
Even though she knew after becoming his slave, she could awaken her bloodline, become strong, do and achieve things she always dreamt of, she didn't feel any happiness at this moment because she won't be free and her life would be his hands.
"Don't worry. If you are obedient and honest with me, you'll realise I'm an excellent master to serve." Max said, after seeing her downcast expression. However, his words only got him a hateful glare from Amara.
"Ahem! Get ready. I'm going to start." Seeing that his words didn't have intended effect, he coughed lightly, extended his hand toward her head, closed his eyes and started casting the spell according to the instructions.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
As he circulated his mana, the mana in surrounding churned and started gathering in front of his palm.
'To cause so much disturbance, it's indeed an ancient spell.' Amara was shocked.
As the mana continued to gather in front of his palm, Max's hand started trembling and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. The spell was taking a toll on him.
"Argh!" Suddenly, he felt a stinging pain in his head, as if something had pricked his soul and he started losing focus.
Just then, the spell was completed and a small, strange looking golden seal hovered in front of his palm.
Gulp!
Amara gulped nervously. Just the presence of the seal was making her feel uneasy. Strangely, Max also felt some pressure from it.
He then controlled it and sent it flying toward Amara's head.
Swoosh!
"Ahhhhhhh…!" As the seal entered her forehead, Amara let out a loud, pained cry. Her body started twitching violently and her already pale face became even more deathly pale.
Seeing her in so much pain, although he was still angry at her for trying to kill him, he couldn't help but feel bad.
"Hey, old man. Is there any way to lessen the pain she is feeling somehow?" He asked the system.
[Hehe, you don't want her to feel pain? Sure. There is a way. You can just stop the spell.] The system laughed.
'Mm?' Max flinched when he heard this.
Interrupting a spell midway always had consequences. The stronger and more complicated the spell, the more severe the consequences. Given how difficult it was to cast this slave spell, he knew the consequences would be quite severe.
He glanced at Amara and said in his mind, 'Sigh! You just have to endure it then.'
After a few seconds, he suddenly had a strange feeling. He felt as if he shared a strange bond with Amara and felt closer to her.
At the same time he had this feeling, Amara stopped struggling and her pained cries also subsided.
"Are you alright now?" Max asked while taking out a healing pill and feeding her, even though he knew it wouldn't make her feel better.
Amara looked at him in silence for a moment before nodding her head lightly. "I… I'm fine."
When she looked at him now, her eyes didn't have the same resentment and hatred she had for him a while ago.
Noticing these anomalies, Max couldn't help think, 'This spell is really mystical.'
Amara lay weakly on the ground and, as she closed her eyes in exhaustion, she murmured in a low voice, "Senior… can you… awaken… my bloodline now?"
[Little girl. Don't worry about it. I'll certainly help you awaken your bloodline, but first, you need to rest for a while.] The system said.
Right after the system spoke, Amara felt a strange energy enter her body, which made her feel comfortable. Her wrinkled brows loosened and her pale face regained some colour.
"Thank… you. Senior…" she softly said before falling into a deep sleep.
