After putting Leroy on a chair in the corner of the room, Kei prepares himself to work.

  'Everything went better than I thought. I expected the elixir to be a basic one, not a medium one. I guess my skill was better than expected...

  To be one of the simplest elixirs to make the skill required to make a good one is quite high. I don't want to imagine what the more complex elixirs require...'

  The man starts making some basic mana and health potions.

  'For now, I will prepare some basic stuff to show that I am capable of doing stuff like this to Reiyo.'

  The man looks at the unconscious Leroy.

  'I know that I said that I would help him to gain a bit of street muscle, but... is it worth it? I am opening myself to be exposed, especially now that I showed him one of my Pacts. Yes, it was a practically fake one due to the time travel taking away all the effects that actually matter, but the presence is still there. If the Church actually discovers it, they will definitely hunt me down. The previous war against the dragons aftereffects are still kind of fresh...'

  The church also previously know as The Church Of The Truth is the biggest religion of the kingdom, it started even before the Destined Hero phenomenon began, it preaches about how the humans are the True God's favorite creations and that's why they were chosen to get the blessings that exist in the world while most other races didnt get them and especially the Destined Hero phenomenon, previously they said that they were the True God's children and venerated them as such but that changed after one of them went against the church which lead to a civil war and internal chaos, after the Hero's death they completely removed that part of the teachings and now they only consider them a tool that was send to serve humanity and stop the disaster that was to come.

  'The church... even in the previous timeline, there was one question that plagued my mind...

  Why didn't they know when the disaster would come?

  As I remember, the church has a member who could see the future... so why did they not say anything? People counted on them warning the world about when the Calamity would arrive and where but nothing... they said nothing.

  I should be careful and eventually investigate them, maybe a betrayal to humanity? No... it wouldn't make sense...

  In the previous timeline, no one on the group was related to them, so information was scarce. Eventually, we simply decided to drop the thought(for being such a large religion, the information available is low).'

  The man, meanwhile, checks a few of the materials given again to see what he can make.

  'Information... that's the biggest thing I have but also what I lack the most. For starters, nobody truly knows when or where the Calamity started, or most importantly when the Heralds started appearing and their identities...

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  And most things I know are when the Calamity was already happening, I lived a normal life and became a baker for the shop heck... I need to assist an academy I never even went to nor desire.

  Most of the things I heard of were by people who assisted the place and that is not always reliable, but it should give a baseline of things.

  Not to mention the conversation that I still do not remember.

  Why is life so difficult with me...'

  The man stops checking for materials and sits down in one of the chairs.

  'Why was I the one sent back? Why couldn't it be her? She was stronger, faster, had more influence, had actual power...

  And then there's me... probably the weakest human in the world not even smart enough to save his own ass and depending on others to survive, a stupid fucking kid who was cursed at birth...

  So why?'

  The man contemplates.

  'Maybe... maybe it's because my curse-'

  A sharp pain passes through his head as he grabs it with a pained expression on his face.

  'Uggg... Dammit... what was that?'

  His thoughts wouldn't last long as he hears someone waking up.

  "...wha...what...happened...?" Leroy wakes up with a noticeable exhaustion.

  "Good morning prince. Did you have your beauty sleep?" Kei answers with a joking question.

  "...you fucker...you didn't tell me that would happen..."

  "Sorry I forgot. Not that it matter does it? Would you have not drink the elixir?"

  "That's not the point you bastard" Leroy responds with an irritated look on his face.

  "It doesn't matter anyway. You have something to try don't you?" Kei ignores the answer.

  Hearing this Leroy starts watching his hands and a worried expression appears on his face.

  "You don't know how to do it don't you?" Kei accurately guesses.

  "...No..." Leroy responds embarrassed

  "Hey don't get ashamed. No mage is born knowing how to cast a spell or even see magic itself. Except people like the Destined Hero and the like. If you want you can later go to the local library to grab a book or two about it so that you can learn." Kei started recommending a few methods Leroy could use.

  "...I really don't trust you..." Leroy says directly.

  "And why would that be?" Kei starts packing the remaining materials and cleaning the table.

  "You know things you shouldn't, you have a Pact, you are acting weirdly, you would have never helped me before, you can do things that aren't the norm and a few other things. So yeah I don't trust you."

  'Ahhh... now I know why I am helping you.

  You remind me of my situation someone who was born lesser than the rest... also something else... you have potential, a potential to be much greater than you are. You question the things around you, including people, thats good... you can't trust a world that you don't know. We just have to work on your personality a little.'

  "You don't trust me but you will still work with me don't you? As you said I have things that aren't usual. And as I said before I hoped this would be the beginning of a fruitful relationship so let me clarify..."

  Kei extends his hand again to Leroy

  "I want us to have a business relationship. I will help you and your little group get stronger among other things, such as having a source of income, and in exchange I want you all to follow my requests. Don't worry I won't request anything that would bring harm to any of you, that I can guarantee."

  "So basically you become our boss?"

  "In simpler terms yes. But I know you don't like that term so let's just call it a... mutual beneficial relationship."

  "..." Leroy appeared in deep thought as he contemplated the deal.

  "Look... with my support I will also help you all with your problems. That includes the little problem you have with your girl."

  "!"

  "If you want to, we can deal with that fat bastard later. So what do you say? Deal?" Kei shakes his hand a little.

  "...They say that by accepting a deal with the Demon King you would get whatever you wish for... in exchange for one's soul..."

  "Does it matter if I was him?"

  Leroy looks deeply at Kei's hand until...

  "No. It doesn't matter."

  Leroy grabs Kei's hand and shakes it.