Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 458: Bonding

"Surprised?" the Emovira asked as it stared at Finch’s expression, its own face wearing an unmistakably amused look.

"Is there anything you can do to heal?" Finch asked. His gaze lingered on the bleeding injury, his eyes narrowing slightly as he wondered just how long the Emovira had been carrying such a wound. Judging by its state, it did not look recent, and that alone unsettled him.

"You do know that is a dumb question, right?" the Emovira replied, letting out a low, almost lazy chuckle. "If there were really anything I could do, I would have done so already instead of just sitting here, admitting these walls as my prison."

"So there really isn’t anything you could do..." Finch said quietly. This time, however, it was not truly a question. It was rhetorical, spoken more for himself than for the Emovira. A heavy feeling settled in his chest as the realization sank in. His usual wandering through the forest had finally led him to something extraordinary, yet now he was being told that the being he had come into contact with was destined to die in merely two days.

Finch did not even consider returning to the Whale Manor to ask for healers. The thought barely crossed his mind before he dismissed it entirely. He already knew it would not work. Many healers had tried in the past, according to the stories surrounding Emovirae, and none had succeeded. There was no reason to believe this situation would be any different.

"Why do you suddenly seem so sad?" the Emovira asked as it stared at Finch with its pitch-black eyes. The question sounded casual, almost curious.

Finch did not reply. In truth, he did not know what to say. Words felt inadequate, useless even.

Seeing this, the Emovira continued, its tone shifting slightly. "If you truly are worried, there is another method," it said. A calm smile appeared on its face, one that felt strangely reassuring and unsettling at the same time. "But are you willing to risk your life for it?"

At those words, Finch’s saddened expression vanished almost instantly. He had heard about risking one’s life before, countless times, in fact, but he did not dwell on that part just yet. Instead, his focus sharpened, narrowing onto a single point: healing the Emovira. If he could do that, then this encounter might become something far greater than mere chance. It could be an opportunity.

"What method?" Finch asked, his black eyes locking onto the Emovira’s equally dark gaze.

The Emovira stared at him for a long moment, as though weighing his resolve, before replying, "Bond with me." Its tone was serious, stripped of its earlier amusement.

"Bond with you?" Finch repeated, confusion evident in his voice. He knew Emovirae could be tamed, just like monsters and beasts, but bonding was something else entirely. They were tamed through submission, through force or will, just like every other creature in existence. This was the first time he had ever heard of bonding being mentioned.

"It seems you don’t know about it... well, that’s understandable," the Emovira said with a sigh. "You’re just a Rank 2 human. What could you possibly know?"

Finch’s lips twitched at the remark. He wasn’t sure whether the Emovira was merely stating a fact or subtly insulting him for his lack of knowledge.

"Yes, humans tame other creatures, monsters, beasts, and even my kind," the Emovira continued. "But there is another method that goes beyond simple taming, where you merely force your opponent to submit. That method is the bonding I was talking about." Its expression remained calm as it spoke, as though explaining a mundane truth.

"You said I’d have to risk my life for this... how?" Finch asked. He wasn’t exactly afraid, but he needed to understand where the danger lay.

"In bonding, our existences are tied together," the Emovira explained. "We essentially become one. If I die, you die as well. And if you die, I follow you." As it finished speaking, its lips curved upward into a dangerous smirk.

Finch immediately frowned. Yes, he was prepared to risk his life, but this sounded less like a risk and more like a guaranteed death. The Emovira had already said it would die in two days. Wouldn’t that mean he would also die alongside it once that time came?

’Could my Good Luck have finally turned into bad luck?’ The thought crossed his mind despite himself.

The Emovira continued smiling as it observed Finch, clearly curious about what he would say next. But Finch said nothing. He remained silent, choosing not to voice his thoughts. Silence felt safer than words. After all, who was to say the Emovira wouldn’t try to forcefully bond with him if he reacted poorly? It only had two days left to live. Desperation could drive anyone to extremes.

"Don’t you have anything to say?" the Emovira asked, clearly seeking some kind of reaction.

Still, none came. Finch merely shrugged, maintaining his silence.

The Emovira shook its head and clarified, "Relax. The moment we bond, my remaining lifespan won’t affect you. Instead, your existence, one that isn’t influenced by that woman’s ability, will influence mine. The effect on me will vanish completely, and I’ll be able to heal myself within a week or so."

Finch nodded slowly at the explanation, though he still didn’t speak.

The Emovira chuckled softly at his continued silence. "I know what you were thinking," it said. "That I might forcefully bond with you. Sorry to burst your bubble, but that’s impossible. Bonding requires mutual consent. If it didn’t, I would have simply headed to the nearest human settlement, kidnap a Rank 4 Adventurer, and heal myself that way. Why would I risk my life bonding with a mere Rank 2?"

That explanation finally eased Finch’s tension. He let out a quiet sigh of relief. "I see..." he murmured.

Bonding meant their lives would become one. If that was true, the Emovira would naturally want to bond with someone far stronger, someone whose survival was more assured. The fact that it hadn’t already done so said a lot.

’So this is why bonding isn’t popular... or even talked about,’ Finch realized. ’No one would willingly tie their life to another. The risk is too great, and the gain is no different from standard taming.’

Even so, Finch found that he didn’t mind. If his Good Luck ability had led him here, then he was willing to stake his life on it. His Good Luck had never betrayed him before. And if this worked, he wouldn’t just save the Emovira, he’d gain a Rank 5 bodyguard as well.

"Is there anything else I should know about the bonding process?" Finch asked, wanting to be absolutely sure. "Anything about bonding itself?"

The Emovira fell silent for a moment, appearing thoughtful. "Bonding only works with Emovirae," it finally said. "So don’t bother thinking it applies to monsters or beasts." It paused briefly before adding, "Most humans can only bond with one of us. The soul is fragile, after all. Of course," it said with a faint smile, "if you want to die faster, you could always try bonding with another Emovira."