Zarestia's crying had Orsted feeling awkward for a minute. It was so sudden that it made him rethink about continuing to propose a new contract.
'...I never thought I would see her cry, when I think about it. She is a pushover, even naive and oblivious to many things, but not a crybaby.' Listening to Zarestia's sobbing or now, it almost felt like she was howling with sobs.
There was no sign of her stopping any moment.
Orsted had underestimated how much Zarestia's lost limbs actually meant to her.
'Did she try to get them back in the past? No, it isn't the time for that...' Orsted blocked away unnecessary thoughts.
Zarestia was crying and she was at her weakest mental state since Orsted met her. A clear opportunity shone in his eyes as he watched her gripping his cloth, near the chest.
Zarestia's head kept pushing into his chest, as if begging to be comforted.
'It's a good sign that she is trying to rely on me in hard times. I will rely on you a lot in the future too...'
Orsted initiated a soft hug, which Zarestia clung to almost immediately. Her hands locked behind him and her face was pressed flat on his chest.
"Ugh...I can get them back...it hurts...where are they?....my legs...my hands...it hurts..." Zarestia kept rubbing her head on his chest, reliving an unpleasant memory.
"Yeah, you can get them back." Orsted repeated.
"Sob..."
Her dependent state solidified the idea in Orsted mind. Taking advantage of her current state, felt natural in his mind, since from the beginning - he only wished to conquer her.
That was the very reason Orsted pulled Zarestia out of her territory - Zarestia's bed.
Bowing his head beside Zarestia's ear, Orsted said: "We originally signed a temporary contract to find your light sphere. Since we are adding your lost limbs to our objectives too, shouldn't we sign another contract?"
"Umm..." Zarestia groaned slightly in agreement, her mood recovering to a degree.
It made sense? Or so Zarestia considered in her current state.
"Then let me begin with my side of the contract." Orsted stated plainly.
"If I'm able to help you collect all the three lost limbs, I want the great spirit, Zarestia, to belong to me."
Immediately, Orsted could feel Zarestia stiffen in his hands.
"Wha...?" Zarestia took a step back, but it wasn't due to rejection - the blush on her face was a testimony to it.
Getting such a positive reaction, Orsted felt a sense of accomplishment. He had worked hard in raising her to this point.
Watching her slightly teary eyes and blushing face, Orsted lamented: 'If only she was more capable in the mental department, she would have been my type perfectly....I never thought I would think about relationships after coming to this world.'
Actually, Orsted did have an aversion to building any meaningful relationship in this world. There was no saying when he could die and get thrown back in time again. It was a gift and a curse at the same too, and he wasn't weak enough for it to make him despair.
'If I can do it once, I can do it again.'
Orsted did find a trick to get past the drawback of [Reincarnation technique]. He could change his respawn time with [Rewrite], however it did require 3,000 years of lifespan.
And if it were the case with Zarestia, Orsted had another idea.
'System, can I use [Rewrite] on Zarestia and establish a connection with my [Reincarnation technique], if I become her soul's anchor?'
[It is possible. 1,000 years of lifespan is required for the [rewrite]. Does the host wish to continue?]
'No.' Orsted smiled slightly. Even he would feel sad if all his progress with Zarestia was reset, though the chances of dying were low with his current strength. He decided to use [Rewrite] on her in the future, so she wouldn't lose her memories about him after resetting.
"Then...Then...." Zarestia fidgeted seriously.
'Oh~ Her accepting attitude really makes me want to hug her again.' He couldn't explain his wonderful mood in words, he had planned and worked hard for 5 months for this.
Orsted calmly waited for her decision. He was truly worried about Zarestia's rejection at the start, since she liked her freedom and liked showing off her free will sometimes too.
However, signing a permanent contract with Orsted didn't appear like a shackle in Zarestia's mind apparently.
"...I accept and if we form a permanent contract in the future, I only have a single condition. I want to be the only spirit you sign a contract with for eternity!" Zarestia smiled brightly towards Orsted, unlike a moment ago.
'Now she is showing her possessiveness, well, I don't mind. I feel like Subaru signed a similar contract with Beatrice too.' Orsted extended his hand towards Zarestia.
A smile tugging at the corner of his lips: "I accept."
Zarestia accepted his hand with a shine in her eyes.
A connection formed within Orsted, this time having a slight connection with his soul too. However, the contract wasn't permanent yet, he had to fulfil the requirement he announced a moment ago.
"Hey, listen to me." Zarestia spoke seriously after the contract was initiated: "My light sphere... you can have it. Even if I get back all my lost power, I don't know if your prediction is correct. I, really, really, don't want to kill you..."
If by any chance, she did attack Orsted, consumed in bloodlust, Zarestia felt like she would develop another trauma.
"Don't worry about it. It will work out somehow." Orsted didn't take her seriously after his objective was completed.
Zarestia's face soured: "Who are you? There's no way Orsted would say something like that!"
"....." Orsted still ignored her words.
It would go well, since he made it so that was the only outcome. Gambling was only for the incompetent.
"Let's go and find your lost 'limb' now." Orsted signaled her to follow, while taking out his special map.
Zarestia followed him, with embarrassment written over face. If her mood was converted into her own words, it would be - 'Don't you go thinking I'm an easy woman.'
Zarestia realized just how easily she accepted Orsted's contract. It made her pride feel slighted, however she didn't feel any regret in the end. So, she could only swallow away her pride and embarrassment, while watching his back.