I Died and Became a Noble's Heir

Chapter 674: Would you wear this? [Golden Ticket - Bonus]

Jack approached Loryn’s workbench without responding to Faye’s declaration.

On the surface lay a partially formed metallic band. It was silver-grey and unfinished, waiting for the final steps to complete it. It was the kind of piece that a master artisan might shape into a bracelet or circlet, something elegant and refined.

Jack placed his hand directly against the metal.

His palm began to glow a deep purple.

The dark mana flowed from his core like thick, oily ink, forced directly into the metal’s atomic structure. It didn’t burn the piece or char it.

Instead, the dark mana rewritten the very nature of what the metal was. The silver-grey transformed to midnight black. The surface rippled and warped, groaning under the pressure of his will.

The sensory experience was terrifying and beautiful to watch.

The dark mana moved through the metal like a parasite. Creating patterns that seemed almost organic.

Waves of purple light danced across the surface as Jack’s will carved his vision directly into the material. The metal reshaped itself. Edges curved inward, the band narrowing into a sleek shape. A clasp formed at one side, creating an elegant piece.

From her position across the laboratory, Faye watched in absolute awe.

"It’s so beautiful," she breathed, watching the dark mana dance across the metal. "What is it? What are you making for me?"

The metal settled.

Jack lifted his hand away, and the item fell quiet. No longer glowing or shifting. A sleek, midnight-black choker, elegant and refined, pulsing with a faint, hypnotic dark mana signature that seemed to breathe with its own internal life.

And then the system notifications cascaded.

[Notification: You have transmuted an item for the first time!]

[Major Achievement Unlocked: Transmute Shop]

[System Note: The unique ability to reshape physical matter directly according to the unyielding will of your thoughts and mana has been granted. Access the Transmute Shop through your system interface to view available transmutation recipes.]

In the observation point behind the false stone, Loryn felt a tremor of absolute ecstasy run through his ancient form.

’A new power,’ he whispered, his skeletal hands pressed against his chest. ’Young Master has transcended yet again. He no longer simply wields power. He creates it, shapes it, remakes the very foundations of reality according to his vision.’

Jack stepped behind Faye, the dark choker held between his hands.

She tilted her head forward instinctively, her soft hair falling away from her neck to expose the delicate curve of her collarbone and the graceful line of her throat.

She was trembling with anticipation. Not from fear, just the overwhelming emotion of the moment.

Jack fastened the choker around her neck.

The moment the clasp clicked into place, the collar shifted. It adjusted itself with micro-precision, tightening to a perfect, snug, utterly unyielding fit. It was cool against her skin, and the faint pulse of dark mana within it created a subtle vibration that made her shiver.

Faye touched the cold metal with trembling fingers, feeling the smooth surface beneath her touch.

To her, this was the ultimate validation. This was her "hubby" making a formal claim on her, marking her as his in a way that transcended words and simple affection. She turned to face Jack, her eyes shining with tears of joy.

"I love it," she whispered. "I love you. I’m going to wear this forever. Never, ever take it off."

Jack activated Flawed Sight without responding, his golden-orange eyes flickering to purple as he read the item description floating in his vision.

[Item: Legendary Dark Choker]

[Quality: Legendary]

[Description: A masterwork of dark transmutation, forged from raw mana and will. The wearer experiences a profound bond, both psychological and physical, with the crafter. The choker ensures the wearer must always prioritize the crafter’s best interests above all else. The wearer is unable to speak, act, or execute any command that would place the crafter or his domain in a precarious position. Restrictions manifest as physical compulsion; attempted violations result in paralysis of the relevant motor functions.]

Jack processed the information with absolute clarity.

The description wasn’t explicit; it didn’t say "Faye cannot speak of demons" or "Faye cannot reveal the Spire." But it didn’t need to.

Any attempt to disclose information about Jack’s castle, his demons, his dark mana affinity, or his presence in the Spire would place him in a precarious position.

If Caeloria’s authorities discovered he was a Soul Warden of Floor 25, if word spread that he could transmute items and cultivate dark mana, if anyone learned about Loryn or the other demons, all of it would create complications.

And the collar would prevent Faye from creating those complications.

If she opened her mouth to speak of demons, her vocal cords would lock. If she tried to write information down, her hand would freeze mid-word. If she attempted any action that threatened his domain, the collar would paralyze her before she could carry it out.

The trap was perfect, with no escape in sight.

’Tharaxis,’ Jack thought, projecting his consciousness toward the dragon bound to his soul. ’What do you make of this?’

There was a long moment of silence.

Then the dragon’s ancient voice resonated through Jack’s consciousness. ’You have bound a sentient being. You have removed her agency and autonomy. This is a significant step, Young Master. One that carries implications beyond the immediate practical benefit.’

But Emberion’s presence erupted with enthusiastic approval.

’This is genius!’ the magma dragon practically roared through their bond. ’You have taken the Chosen One’s absolute devotion and weaponized it perfectly. She will never betray you because she cannot physically do so. And she will love you all the more for it, because she will never suspect the cage she wears. This is true dominion, not through force, but through the inability to even conceive of resistance.’

’Take her,’ Emberion continued, his aggressive nature pushing Jack toward predatory action. ’She is marked as yours now. She wears your collar. She belongs to you in every meaningful sense. The time for hesitation has passed.’

But Jack smiled at Faye, his expression warm and genuine, and pulled her close.

"You look perfect in it," he said softly, running his fingers along the dark metal at her throat. "Like you were always meant to wear my mark."

Faye pressed herself against him, her bubbly nature completely overflowing. She was crying happy tears, trembling with the overwhelming emotion of being claimed by the man she’d decided to love.

Faye’s cheeks turned rosy red, and she felt a warmth creep up from her lower regions as she felt his hand on her neck.

To her, the collar was the most beautiful thing she’d ever worn. It was his love made manifest, his power expressed as something she could touch and feel.

She had no idea it was a leash.

Jack informed Faye that it was time to return to Caeloria, and her separation anxiety vanished instantly.

She was finally leaving with him, becoming visible at his side.

As they approached the spatial gateway that would open back to Caeloria’s upper districts, Jack’s internal thoughts continued their relentless analysis.

Faye had mentioned the blood drug during their earliest conversations. The combat enhancement that harvested blood essence from somewhere within Caeloria’s population.