Chapter Two: The Powers of the Spirit Contract

“Roland, right? Your Japanese is really impressive… Have you lived here for a long time?”
“Yes.”
“That’s amazing. So young, yet living independently in Fuyuki City. You’ve worked part-time before as well. Most young people would probably prefer the big cities—don’t you find it hard to adjust to a small place like Fuyuki?”
“It’s fine,” Roland paused, as though realizing his answer might be lacking, and added, “The place where I lived before was a small town called Morioh. Compared to that, Fuyuki City is already quite something.”
This was a simple interview. The manager of the convenience store chatted casually with Roland as he observed him: neat attire, healthy complexion, an upright and proper sitting posture. Despite his youth, the boy before him possessed the kind of poise that could only be cultivated through good upbringing.
The manager trusted his instincts—this was a good kid.
“Well, one last question—can you start work today?”
Roland donned the long apron and began to familiarize himself with the store under the manager’s guidance.
Leaving aside the matter of the Holy Grail War, if one wished to live in this world, a suitable identity was essential.
Contrary to what most might think, situations requiring formal identification weren’t all that common in everyday life in this country. As long as one could solve the matter of income, with Roland’s current capabilities, blending in here was as effortless as a drop of water merging into the sea.
For that, he needed a job.
Although the aftermath of the economic bubble’s collapse would continue for a long time—the so-called “Lost Decades” had only just begun, companies were laying off workers en masse and the economy was bleak—it was hardly the best time to look for work.
But perhaps because Fuyuki wasn’t a large city, and the new city revitalization plan had acted as a stimulant for the local economy, life here remained relatively calm. Of course, wages weren’t particularly high.
As Roland expected, with his fluent Japanese and attention to detail, the kind-hearted manager didn’t mind his lack of identification, assuming instead that he was a young man who had moved from a small town, striking out on his own due to some difficult circumstances.
“Yes, that’s exactly how it should be arranged. Sorting and stocking goods is very important… Impressive. There aren’t many young people as diligent and capable as you nowadays.”
Seeing the manager’s praise, Roland merely nodded, unconcerned. To him, this was only natural.
There were still some unsatisfactory aspects, but in the end, he had drawn a good card.

Roland glanced at the Key of All Souls in his hand, and its information automatically surfaced in his mind.
—Contract Spirit: Yoshikage Kira (Contracted)
He had once been the nightmare hovering over Morioh, but after being torn apart in a back alley from which there was no return, even reincarnation was denied him. The remnants of his existence had been twisted into a power fueled by obsession. As long as that obsession was erased—regardless of who accomplished it—the power would permanently belong to them.
Manifestation: Your fingernails grow at an abnormal rate; the greater the mental stress you experience, the faster they will grow.
Effect: You inherit Yoshikage Kira’s infamous hand fetish, and will develop an intense craving for a peaceful, orderly life. Any change, good or bad, to such tranquility will make you extremely anxious and unsettled. During the contract, you will become highly self-disciplined.
Granted Abilities:
The Secret of Third Place: Your knowledge and work skills are boosted to the level Kira had in life. You know how to keep a proper distance from those around you, perfectly hiding yourself without being underestimated.
Killer Queen: You gain the Stand, Killer Queen.
Fortune: Your luck far surpasses that of others; in times of hardship, you always find the chance to turn things around.
Digestive Requirement: Remain in the contracted region, living by the principle of inner peace, for over a month.
In Roland’s eyes, the contracted spirit of Yoshikage Kira radiated a pale yellow light, indicating a second-tier level.
According to the Key of All Souls, there were five ranks for contracted spirits: white, yellow, blue, purple, and red. The ranking wasn’t determined solely by the strength of their abilities.
The relationship between a contracted spirit and its summoner was not equal. After all, these spirits were the products of the Key of All Souls, most of them pitiful existences trapped between life and death, devoid of even self-awareness, save for a special few.
The contract was meant as a means to better utilize the spirit. Naturally, the stronger the spirit, the higher its tier in Roland’s eyes, but that wasn’t an absolute rule.
As the master of the Key of All Souls, Roland knew that depending on the price to be paid, the color of the spirit could change when the contract was truly completed. The strictness of the cost determined how suitable the spirit would be for him.
Based on the information provided by the Key, the danger levels associated with each color were roughly as follows:
White: Virtually harmless, very easy to contract and fulfill the requirements, but the abilities tend to be limited.

Yellow: Requires a certain price, but nothing beyond the realm of reality. The upper and lower limits of abilities are both high.
Blue: May have specific demands on the contractor, such as personality or willpower. The abilities are often excellent, but the requirements for assimilation are harsh.
Purple: Unique spirits with incalculable costs; the price could be either extremely high or low, and their benefit to the contractor is the most specialized.
Red: Extremely dangerous, surpassing the contractor’s limits. The abilities granted are often the spirit’s greatest power, but the price can leave the contractor irreparably twisted.
As a second-tier contract spirit, Yoshikage Kira’s abilities and costs were quite reasonable, and the impact on Roland himself remained within acceptable bounds. The only thing that gave him pause was the peculiar hand fetish.
Setting that aside, this spirit had solved Roland’s urgent needs. The Secret of Third Place might seem insignificant, but it perfectly addressed his current predicament. As for the Stand, it was an excellent choice for urban life.
While it couldn’t compare to rule-breaking Stands like Star Platinum or The World, among the myriad of bizarre Stand abilities, Killer Queen was still one of the most outstanding.
Moreover, the requirements for assimilation were very simple—for a novice like Roland, it was ideal.
After the manager left, Roland stood at the counter, idly admiring his hands.
His nails were neatly trimmed, his knuckles distinct, the proportions perfect—long and pale.
“And, this experience isn’t bad at all. Who would have thought that an ordinary person like me would have such beautiful hands? What a flawless pair…” Roland’s lips curled into a smile as he glanced sidelong at the pink figure beside him. The figure’s face was expressionless, feet just off the ground, a belt with a skull emblem cinched around his waist, accentuating streamlined muscles that appeared powerful rather than bulky.
The combination of these traits meant that even while standing in a somewhat flamboyant pose, nothing seemed out of place. Upon hearing Roland’s words, the figure didn’t reply, merely turned its feline head, gazing at Roland with those chilling, slit-pupiled eyes—like an enormous pink cat.
“You think so too, don’t you, Killer Queen?”