Albert opened the door to the infested building. And the interior was a sight to behold.
Spiders, silverfish, and roaches covering every foot of space. Webs and egg sacs replaced the lights, creating a dense and repugnant atmosphere.
"All right, just have to find the queen of the hive, I was planning to kill it, but maybe I can perhaps strike a deal with it. After all, it is a post-game hidden boss." Albert mumbled to himself as he took a deep breath.
"I should simply just act like these insignificant invertebrates are citizens of a town, best not to disturb the locals." He chuckled to himself as he walked forward. Careful not to step on any bugs, he hummed a simple melody.
Soon, he reached a large cocoon, it was shaking, like it was a beating heart, it was covered in silk, so much so that it looked like a sleeping bag. Albert was shocked.
"Aw, so the queen has not hatched yet, oh well, I was looking forward to make a contract with it- oh?" Albert froze, he heard a whispering voice speaking to his left ear.
"I hear you want to strike a deal with me?" Said the whisper. Albert was panicked, but he closed his eyes and stayed calm.
"I suppose I am, I reckon you're the queen spider?" He inquired.
"You reckon correctly, it is quite rude of you to interrupted my slumber, I'm only 3 weeks away from my metamorphosis into my physical form." The voice whispered. Albert nodded. It appears that he had the advantage in the situation.
"Why not make a contract with me?" He asked, raising his hand. The rune engraved on it by the princess glowed. He heard the numerous sounds of bugs chirping and crawling.
"What do I get from this? This won't be a one-sided deal." Replied the whispering voice. Albert grinned and opened wide.
"Well I suppose the least I can do is turn this abandoned building into a shrine worthy of your hatching, but these nests take too much space..." Albert spoke, his voice trying to sound innocent. The voice sighed.
"I do not care for a shrine. But I suppose this building is rather tacky. When I manifest, I would like this building to represent the cunning, and the strength I hold. Here's a deal, I will make a contract with you only if you are willing to cover my cocoon with only the finest of fabrics."
"It's a deal, Spider Queen."
---
Lilac was having lunch with Steven and Arran. She was chewing on some pancakes, Steven giggled.
"Wow, such a chipmunk." He remarked, giggling.
"Hmmm, you are quite skilled, Lilac. You were able to cast the Tier 3 spell light shield just the other day. If you keep growing at this rate, you might even become the next saintess." Arran inquired.
"What's the saintess?" Lilac asked, unfamiliar with the term.
"The saintess is basically the leader of our kingdom's religion. They heal, and create miracles. Master of healing and holy magic." Arran said, biting into some pieces of bacon. Lilac felt a chill down her spine. Saintess? No, a commoner like her can't possibly become someone that important.
She then spotted Albert walking through the cafeteria, he was carrying a few rolls of red carpet, he seemed to be in a hurry.
"Oh hi Lilac, hi Steven, Arran. I am so glad you 3 are getting along, now please, get along faster." Albert said, serious expression on his face. Which made Lilac flinch, he can be so scary sometimes.
---
Albert went back into the infested building, carrying the rolls of red carpet, he made it back to the cocoon of the spider queen.
"Ok, these are the finest fabrics, I'm lucky I was the class president, or else I wouldn't have authority. These are the finest fabrics used to protect the footwear of royalty when they exit carriages. Please accept?" Albert said, touching his fingers together as a begging gesture.
"Acceptable, now cover my cocoon." Replied the whispering voice. Albert smiled and began to cover it gently, he wrapped it and soon, it was covered.
"Now, do we have a contract?" He asked, reaching his hand out, the rune glowing a bright purple with green flickers. And in response, a large spider leg emerged from the cocoon and took his hand.
Update - you have made a contract with the calamity entity - Spider Queen.
Update - due to your current magical energy and the combined rank of your skills, for your safety, the following unique skills, lord of vermin, Supreme light immunity, and Colossus will be locked for the time being.
You have gained the following skills from your contract - Arthropod's majesty, thermal-Night vision, battle sense, web manipulation, Absolute Disguise, and Poison addict.
Arthropod's Majesty - all Arthropod entities that are not sentient will not attack you, even if you harm them.
Thermal-Night Vision - you can see the heat signature of all entities, including invisible ones, only works on those with killing intent.
Battle Sense - your sense of hearing is twice as efficient while you are fighting someone and you are immune to tier 2 or lower illusion and mental magic spells.
Web Manipulation - you can control the shapes and movements of nearby spider webs. You can't create webs though.
Absolute Disguise: Once per month, you can transform into any existing person or monster you have seen before for up to 24 hours. You gain full knowledge of their personality and mannerisms and gain their skills while in this state. If you stay in this disguise for the full 24 hour duration, when you turn back into your original form, you can keep up to one skill from them that you didn't have before.
Poison Addict: You can consume and touch poison and venom safely, and you regain mana and energy by consuming them.
As a bonus, your unique skill, Navigation Master, has been combined with a skill that would've been acquired, Divine Web, into the Unique skill, Sovereign Pathway.
Sovereign Pathway: Effects of Navigation Master. Also once per day, you can name an item or person, and then, a thread of divine spider silk will direct you in the most efficient passageway to the item, or the last place the names person was at.
Bonus - as an effect of your contract, you can now cast the following spell.
Spider Web - Tier 2 Nature Magic - Shoots a heat-seeking net made of webbing that weaps around the first living being it hits.
"Thank you for the sweet bonus. I'm sure we will be great business partners." Albert said, smiling.
"When I emerge from my cocoon, my body will find yours. And will combine so the contract will be complete. But due to some, complications, it's going to take much longer than 3 weeks." Said the whispering voice, now confirmed to be the Spider Queen's.
"I'm looking forward to that, but I have to clean out this building. You won't be needing these bugs anymore, right?" Albert asked. The entirety of thr bugs immediately frozen and turned their heads.
"You need not worry, I can influence them even in the cocoon. Since we are in a contract, they will naturally run to the forest, do what you like with the building."
Albert grinned, he then focused and thought of casting blue ember. But thanks to the neat little skill the princess gave him, he doesn't even need to say it's name.
It was like he was a galling gun that shoots blue mini fireballs. Thankfully, most of the bugs scurried, only about 1,300 of the bugs died.
"There we go, I am so glad that I'm simply an extra in this story. Or else I might not have been able to access this place for 3 years!" Albert grinned as he stared at the now clean room. Filled with books and maps. Albert is so glad he found it, the biology lab.
Albert then simply nodded, and walked off. He just needs someone to help manage and help experiment. And he knows just the one.
---
Albert walked to the infirmary. And saw exactly who he was looking for, Klarice.
Klarice has suffered intense injuries, and unless if she has to go to class. She has to recovery in thr infirmary, her abdomen is covered in bite marks and acid burns. Her bosom, while remained largely undamaged, has a scab just below her neckline. And het legs were mostly broken, she can still walk from the infirmary to class, but that's the distance she can handle.
"Hello Albert!♡" Klarice said, trying to sound joyful. She immediately started coughing.
"Guess what!? I'm going to be able to walk properly again in about 2 days!♡" she smugly proclaimed. Albert frowned.
"Well, I'm going to break your legs if you don't shut up and listen." He said.
"Ok, you faggot." She sneered.
"I just finished cleaning out the biology lab, and I wonder, would you, who's knowledgeable about monsters, like to help me study, or maybe even modify them?" He asked. Klarice immediately grinned wide, so wide her mouth seemed to strain against her skull.
"Yes! Yes! I would love to know what makes all sorts of monsters tick!" She said.
"But I only have one condition. You aren't to seduce or try to have sex with me. Ok? Though you outrank me, I am a well-respected student. May I remind you, Lucine Nocturne is my fiancee?" Albert asked. Klarice, shrugged and nodded.
"Ok, Albert! But when you do decide to fuck me, I wont go easy on you!♡" Klarice beamed. Albert walked off satisfied. Now, he gained a new subordinate.