Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2581: Using World Decree As Contract

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Central Region, Central Academic City, Morningstar University District, Brothwork Manor, Temporal Separation Array

”I have my means,” I answered, offering Jill no further explanation—only for her to scoff, ”You already tricked me to become yours; you don’t have to act mysterious around me now.”

”No, I do. At least if I want to keep you around,” I countered lightly, tipping my head back until it rested on her shoulder. She leaned in, letting hers settle against mine. The demigods still hadn’t moved against us—not yet, anyway—so I allowed myself that moment.

”You think I’m only with you because of your tricks, is that it?” Jill asked, her voice carrying a subtle chill.

That was when it hit me: no matter how open-minded a woman might be, she wouldn’t tolerate certain jokes—not ones aimed at her.

Or... maybe it was simply too early in our relationship for that kind of teasing.

”Honestly, I have no idea what you see in me. You even gave me the demonic card your father entrusted to you for your protection after the Pregnant Dungeon ordeal. You went as far as betraying his trust to warn me about the conspiracy during the Southern Capital incident. And now, after I admitted I have feelings for other women, here we are dating. If I asked you why me of all the people in the world, I doubt you’d tell me... would you?” I spoke from the heart. I genuinely didn’t understand the reason behind Jill’s unwavering devotion—devotion that had stirred feelings in me despite myself.

”No, I won’t. Because I also want to keep you around,” Jill replied, turning my own words back on me.

I guessed she finally understood what I meant. Her arms tightened around my waist, and she pressed her face into my shoulder as if trying to sink deeper into me. I turned my head, tilted back against her shoulder, just enough to gently nibble on her earlobe.

In the end, both of us were pretending we had control over this relationship, clinging to whatever comfort we could find to settle our restless hearts.

”Ahem. You two have been ambushed. Please conduct yourselves appropriately.”

A voice cut through our moment. A bearded demigod stepped out from hiding, his shadow stretched unnaturally long despite the array’s controlled lighting.

”We know that. Why else would we stop here in the middle of an array, dumbass?” Jill shot back without lifting her chin far from my shoulder, speaking to him as if he were beneath notice. She feared nothing from them—government dogs or major-family enforcers alike. None of them would dare touch her.

”Your Highness, please stay out of this. We already have authorization from Demigod Norley,” the bearded demigod said, offering a half-truth in hopes that invoking her father’s name would make her withdraw.

”I’m guessing your master didn’t tell him I was with Wyatt—just that Wyatt has captured his heir. Am I right?” Jill smirked, confident speculating.

She knew her father too well. If he’d been informed she was involved, he wouldn’t have granted them permission even if they claimed Wyatt had killed one of the founders, let alone for some excuse about retrieving an heir.

The bearded demigod fell silent, his expression twisting as Jill effortlessly exposed his lie. Inwardly, he cursed Brolock. If that fool had managed to keep Jill at the dinner table and sent their target out alone, they wouldn’t now be forced to tread so carefully with the target standing right in front of them.

”Your Highness, our orders are clear. Please don’t blame us if you get hurt,” the bearded demigod said at last, dropping the polite façade. It was a warning—leave now, or they would no longer be held responsible for what happened next.

”You’ve all gotten quite bold, haven’t you? Wait until my father hears about this,” Jill replied, summoning her grimoire. The man went pale instantly, panic flashing through his eyes. That panic turned into astonishment when I stopped Jill from actually contacting her father.

Under normal circumstances, no card apprentice inside a temporal separation array could reach the outside world. But knowing Demigod Norley, he had no doubt given his only daughter a means to do so, just to be available for his daughter at a moment’s notice, regardless of the situation’s scale. He simply wanted to be there for her—just as any father would.

”Jill, let me handle this on my own,” I said as I stored the nanomorpher hover-bike back into my grimoire. Without warning her, I shifted to my flight ability and lifted us off the ground. Jill, seated behind me, stiffened for a moment before adjusting; once she understood the change, she released her hold on my waist and hovered beside me. I took her hand in mine. Observing this, the bearded demigod responded with an exaggerated eye roll.

”Fine. But if they push too far, I’m calling my father,” Jill warned, directing a cold glare at the bearded demigod, promising that he would face consequences far beyond anything he wished to face.

”Your Highness, please rest assured,” the bearded demigod said quickly, hands raised in a placating gesture. ”We are only here to negotiate with Master Wyatt. As long as he cooperates with our requests, you may continue your date as if nothing happened.” His tone made it clear that he wanted a peaceful resolution even more than we did.

Then he summoned his diamond grimoire and unfurled a scroll. The moment Jill saw it, her eyes widened.

”World Decree!” she exclaimed.

She couldn’t believe the founders had gone so far as to use something as precious as a World Decree just to deal with me. At first, it felt excessive—but when she considered who I was, what I possessed, and what I was capable of, she realized it wasn’t unreasonable for them to bring out a World Decree to restrain me.

The bearded demigod extended the scroll toward me.

”Master Wyatt, please review the contract and sign it. If anything in the terms displeases you, speak up. My masters are more than willing to accommodate a brilliant mind like yourself.”

The moment he mentioned the Masters, the color drained from Jill’s face. She understood immediately: the only way I would be allowed to walk out of here alive was by signing the World Decree—and in doing so, acknowledging them as my masters.