My Measurement: The Villain Desires a Satisfying Payback

The pause of silence on the other side of the phone was deafening, but Minami soon responded.

[...Your wish? I had thought we already sorted that matter out, Truthseeker...]

Her timbre sounded wary, rich with prudence. I expected her to act like this; as if it was something long and gone.

Of course, even if she didn't realise it, the reality was different.

[Really? I recall otherwise. When exactly did I make my wish? What exactly did I wish for? You tell me, Minami Mochizuki.]

Indeed, we eventually came to work together as business partners through a contract, but that was separate from my wish, was it not? I had yet to claim the promised wish, and that was exactly my purpose this time.

Another brief period of silence passed before I heard her voice again; this time, in a tone most grave.

[I see. If that's the case, I naturally have no intention of turning you down. Unless, of course, your request is something preposterous?]

It seemed like she was exhausting herself merely talking to me over the phone.

[Well. Whether or not my request is something acceptable may be subjective. What I can say is that if you consider it too absurd a wish to grant, then I will simply refer to our contract.]

[...Alright. Truthseeker. What is it you want?]

The condition that she had to listen to anything and everything I said for one year; that she had to obey any and all commands without resistance.

Needless to say, this condition was still in place. Everything I had used it for until now, however, could be considered child's play.

[Give me Selina.]

The moment that sentence left my mouth, I moved the phone away from my ear. Immediately after, she shouted.

[Don't tell me, you...?! No, of course I refuse! We've already discussed this matter during the contract signing process, Truthseeker.]

She was right.

When we went through the contract, one of the conditions included a restriction that I was not allowed to interact with Selina or mention her existence to any one.

[True. That's why, I'm asking for permission to have a connection with her.]

Without waiting for a reply, I continued.

[Name a price, Minami, and I will give that to you here and now. I will also include my wish in this deal. Surely, with all of this we can come to an accord?]

No more than thirty seconds passed before I finally heard her firm voice return on the other end of the call.

[...Alright. So long as you agree to sign an Absolute Contract, Truthseeker, then we have a deal. I will send a copy of the contract to you post-haste.]

Three days later, the Absolute Contract was finalised and I had secured a link to Selina.

❖─────❖─────❖

Not long after I arrived at a facility I had never seen before, Minami led me through an ornate and vibrant hallway lined with vivid red carpet; Emir was walking just behind her left side.

I call it a facility, but to be honest, it would be more correct to call it a house.

"There's not a lot of people here."

"Do you expect there to be a lot of strange people in my house?"

"Touché."

A surprisingly small house with few servants―despite the owner, Minami Mochizuki, being a woman of vast opulence, it was a rather humble abode in comparison. Not only the size, but the decorations, too, were not overly gaudy nor garish, and could in fact be considered tasteful.

Of course, I knew that the reason for the lack of servants in this absurdly rich person's household was to reinforce security. The more people entering and exiting the property is directly proportional to the amount of risk that someone unsavoury will find their way into the house, after all.

"I hope you remember the conditions of the contract you signed."

"I do. Well, it's an Absolute Contract anyway, so I wouldn't be able to worm my way out of it even if I tried."

"Good."

As we walked, there were multiple periods of silence; likely a result of Minami's ever-increasing tension. It didn't last too long, however, as we soon reached our destination.

"...Here it is."

Eventually, after a couple of twists and turns, a door stood in front of us. It was a completely standard door you would expect to find anywhere else in this house, but for some reason, Minami gulped as she nervously raised her hand towards the wood.

Knock, knock-!

Knocking with the back of her hand twice, she grasped the handle and opened the door, revealing a large bedroom that seemed to belong to an adolescent girl.

I mean, of course it looked like that―that's what it was, after all.

"Mother...? Oh, are these...?!"

An ordinary-looking girl of 14-years-old with balayage ash-brown hair and wearing sophisticated clothes one might expect of someone belonging to a wealthy family.

Her reaction when we entered the room was one of untamed excitement.

"Yes, these are Emir and... who I call 'Truthseeker'."

"...!!"

She appears to have been waiting for our arrival.

As if an angel's breath of life was bestowed unto her, the girl animatedly yet gracefully jumped up from her spot and approached us. Smiling cheerfully, I could feel an aura of pure vitality emanating from her every step that enveloped the three of us in a deep warmth.

It was as if she was a sun incarnate.

"Nice to meet you! My name is Selina!"

This girl was someone who didn't have many opportunities to go out and meet other people, especially kids her own age, due to Minami's fear of her safety.

Because of that lack of social interaction, little instances like this where she can socialise are rare, but coveted.

"N-Nice to meet you, too. I'm Emir."

Hm? This brat...

Why are you flushed, huh? You've only just seen her for the first time, but don't tell me...

"Wow, you're fourteen too?! Would you like to play?"

Rather abruptly, Selina took Emir's hand and pulled him to another side of the room to play a game. Turning to Minami, I opened my mouth in a questioning tone.

"I thought you said she was being taught etiquette?"

"Uh... She is, but perhaps she seems a little... Overzealous, about meeting someone her age for the first time..."

Instead of being sent to school, Selina had her own set of private tutors as Minami Mochizuki's adopted daughter, including ones for strange things like etiquette and manners.

"My, what a sheltered young lady."

"You know very well why I made this decision. Maybe if I were you then I could have made a better decision, but I can only act with what information I have."

"No, I think the path you chose wasn't necessarily the wrong one."

What matters is how you decide to pave the road later down the line, not the road you pick to pave in the first place.

Keeping Selina away from any potential risk of harm isn't something I would have done, but keeping her out of the public eye and out of anyone else's hands is the most important thing. In that regard, you could argue that Minami's decision to shelter her was not wrong.

I watched the kids who weren't even that much younger than me play for a short while before interrupting them.

"Okay you two, that's enough."

It's time to get down to business.

They looked at me with a brief glimpse of sadness before reluctantly nodding and turning their full attention towards me.

"First of all, Selina, Minami calls me Truthseeker, but you can call me however you please," I started by introducing myself.

"Then... Truth-san? It's a pleasure to meet you."

It appears her etiquette lessons are prevalent after all. In any case, I'll get started.

"I'm here because I would like something from you. In return, there are a few things I can provide you with. Emir's purpose here is to ensure the process is fair and properly managed."

Though she was only fourteen, I could see the calculating reason within Selina's eyes, most likely drilled into her by Minami.

"What I want is for you to grant me protection with your Measurement."

She listened to me calmly as I recited what each of us will receive as a result of the deal.

"What I will give you is freedom."

"...!"

Suddenly, her eyes widened.

"You will no longer be sheltered within these walls and will even be able to socialise with others of your age if you so wish. Of course, there will be a set of conditions, however, in this regard I have already discussed the details with Minami in advance."

Her gaze flickering to confirm the nod of Minami behind me, she swallowed her saliva in temptation.

It is not as if Selina was desperate to get outside, and she is very used to living an isolated life, but her core is not of that nature; her root personality is of a bright and sociable person. Instinctively, her cravings make her aware of this fact despite never having experienced that kind of life before.

"Emir."

I called the boy, who then nodded and closed his eyes. Ten seconds later, a radiant scroll materialised in his hands like magic. Handing me the scroll before going back to his previous position, I nodded my head after reading the scroll's writing.

"Selina. This is the Absolute Contract. Read it and confirm or deny your signing."

Passing the scroll to the girl, I watched as she read it slowly and carefully, as if to ensure there were no traps, obscurities or bad conditions in the contract.

Five minutes passed before her clear, yet soft voice rang out.

"...I accept the terms of the deal."

To her resolute eyes staring at my face with a hint of eagerness in them, I spoke with a smile.

"Fantastic."

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