Chapter 165
After hearing Leo’s account of what happened in the library, Kalian and Lieven wore grave expressions.
“If what you say is true, that was a ‘Curse of Isolation.’”
“Curse of Isolation?”
“That’s right.”
Kalian nodded.
“It’s a curse that creates a sealed-off space. It’s used by high-ranking demons from Tartarus when they infiltrate.”
It was a curse Leo hadn’t known before.
‘They’re evolving, too.’
“Were they after the Hall of Heroes for the same reason they targeted Luna’s world—to destroy the Hero Record?”
Muttering grimly, Lieven looked to Kalian, who nodded.
“That’s probably the case.”
“But why the Hall of Heroes? The Hero Record isn’t there.”
Lieven was right.
The Hero Record was kept in the Forbidden Archive.
And the Forbidden Archive was a space no curse could invade.
With layers of protective and anti-curse magic, it was not a place Tartarus could ever dare to touch.
“Even if the Hero Record isn’t there, the ‘key’ to open it is. That’s what they were after.”
At Kalian’s words, Lieven nodded.
“They’re being very bold about it.”
With six hundred outsiders entering the school, it had been expected that there’d be some attempt at infiltration.
‘Even if they got into the Hall of Heroes, there’s no way they could take the relics.’
Musing inwardly, Kalian looked at Leo.
‘To notice a Curse of Isolation… He’s got remarkable instincts.’
A first-year had thwarted a high-rank demon’s curse of isolation.
This student was always surprising in some way.
Curious, Kalian rested his chin on his hand and asked,
“Leo. That demon should’ve been too much for your current level. How did you stop them?”
“It was thanks to Pegasus.”
“Pegasus?”
Kalian’s eyes widened.
He’d already heard that Leo was the Phoenix’s contractor.
But this was the first he’d heard of Pegasus.
Lieven was equally surprised as Leo explained how he’d come to summon Ahti.
“Impressive,” Kalian said, nodding in admiration.
Lieven looked at Leo, recalling Melina’s words.
‘Please help Leo Plov as much as you can.’
‘Did Lord Melina already see his potential?’
Looking at Leo, who seemed born to be a hero, Lieven spoke.
“Leo Plov. You know, but please keep silent about what happened.”
“Yes.”
“And do you want anything? You stopped Tartarus. I think you deserve a reward.”
If Leo had caused trouble in the library for no reason, it would be another matter.
But he’d stopped a demon, and that deserved a reward.
“Nothing really comes to mind… Oh.”
“What is it?”
“Could you support my club?”
“Your club?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. I’ll see to it.”
Lieven nodded.
“It’s late. Go on, we’ll handle the rest.”
With that, Leo left the principal’s office.
Once the two were alone, Kalian said,
“As expected, they made a move.”
Lieven responded,
“Should we cancel the joint classes?”
“No. Even if we send the other schools’ students away, it’s already too late. And if we do, they’ll just try to make contact with any agents inside Lumene.”
Kalian curled his lips into a smirk.
“Didn’t we already identify all the names?”
“That’s true.”
“This is the perfect chance to wipe them all out at once.”
—
Leaving the principal’s office and exiting the Hall of Heroes, Leo found Shasha waiting on a bench by the entrance.
Shasha stood up as she saw Leo.
“How did it go?”
“I was just warned.”
“Was it because of me?”
“No, it wasn’t.”
Looking worried, Shasha let out a small sigh of relief.
“But you really summoned Ahti. How did you do that?”
Shasha, who hadn’t imagined Leo could summon Pegasus with his meager spirit power, was at a loss.
Leo raised his hand.
Flash—!
A summoning circle appeared above Leo’s hand.
Shasha’s eyes widened.
“Wait! That’s…!”
It was Ahti’s summoning circle, hovering over Leo’s hand.
Through summoning and fighting together just before, Leo had taken control of the contract.
As Leo began the summoning, the circle opened and polymorphed Ahti poked her head out.
With snow-white hair fluttering, Ahti glared at Leo.
“You pushed me into the summoning circle without even asking?”
“It was urgent.”
“You’re a little rough, aren’t you?”
Muttering, Ahti stepped out of the circle with her arms crossed.
Unlike before, Ahti was now wearing a white dress instead of armor.
Arms crossed, she glared at Leo, then waved to Shasha.
“Hello, Shasha.”
“Ahti! What’s going on? Why is Leo the contractor now?”
Ahti sighed deeply at Shasha’s flustered question.
“It’s a long story. But the main point is that this guy took over the contract you inherited from the first emperor.”
“W-What!”
Shasha’s face went pale.
Ahti was an heirloom of the Lordren royal family, passed down for generations.
But as a sentient Pegasus, she couldn’t be forcibly bound.
She’d only remained with the Lordren family all this time because of a promise to the first emperor.
But now, that contract had been passed to Leo.
Leo smirked at the shocked Shasha.
“You said you’d recognize the contract if I succeeded in summoning Pegasus, didn’t you?”
“Oh my, Shasha. Did you just sell me to this guy?”
Ahti widened her eyes.
“T-That’s…! I…!”
Shasha looked from Leo to Ahti, tears welling up in her eyes.
“Leo! I was wrong! I’ll do anything you ask—please give Ahti back!”
“Not interested.”
Leo replied bluntly and began to walk away, Shasha clinging to his foot.
“Please! I’m begging you!”
The future crown princess of the empire was bawling as she pleaded.
There was no one around at this late hour, but if there had been, they’d have been stunned by the scene.
Dragging Shasha along, Leo shook her off his foot with a click of his tongue.
“Let go.”
Then he walked over to a nearby bench and tapped it with his toe.
“Kneel here.”
Without even thinking to wipe her tears, Shasha knelt in front of Leo.
The moment she did, she trembled with humiliation.
But she couldn’t go against the boy before her.
Shasha might be destined for the top, but she wasn’t there yet.
No matter how secure her position, one big mistake and everything she’d built could collapse.
And right now, her fate was entirely in Leo’s hands.
Even after all her imperial training, she was still a fourteen-year-old girl.
The fear of losing everything was enough to make her obedient.
Looking down at Shasha, trembling, Leo crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand.
“I know you’re a talented summoner. But you should’ve considered that there are plenty of people your age even more remarkable. Did you really bet your Oathbound out of pride? And you call yourself a summoner?”
Leo’s red eyes radiated pressure.
Meeting his gaze, Shasha shrank back.
Ahti nodded at his side.
“There’s a limit to childishness. As a summoner, and as a future emperor, acting rashly only leads to disaster. You’re friends with Celia and Chelsea, right?”
“Y-Yes.”
“Didn’t they warn you to be careful with me?”
“…”
Shasha bowed her head.
Leo clicked his tongue at the sight.
“Besides, that bet was a huge insult to your Oathbound.”
He looked at Ahti.
“It’s not because she’s a Pegasus. Summoners call their Oathbound ‘partners’ because it means a companion for life. Treating them preciously is the absolute basics.”
Shasha hung her head, speechless.
Seeing that, Leo gave a faint smile.
“Well, you’re only fourteen. Mistakes are natural. But if you want to be a hero—or an emperor—don’t forget what happened today.”
Bzzz—
Leo conjured Ahti’s summoning circle in his palm.
“Take it.”
“What?”
Shasha’s eyes went wide.
“Y-You’re giving her back?”
“I don’t take other people’s summoned beasts.”
Watching Leo speak so indifferently, Shasha looked confused.
‘He’s just handing her back so easily.’
Was it to avoid conflict with Lordren? It didn’t seem like it.
A Pegasus was a force powerful enough to sway an entire nation.
With Leo’s skills, any power would scramble to recruit him.
And if he was the Pegasus’s summoner?
It went without saying.
If Leo wanted, he could join any great power and not even Lordren could do much about it.
‘Is it because his mother’s side is Zerdinger? No, that’s not it either.’
Even then, he’d ask for something in return.
But Leo really wanted nothing and was just returning the contract.
‘He’s giving back a Pegasus, a treasure that any summoner would sell their soul for, without a second thought.’
Looking up at Leo under the moonlight, Shasha felt a strange emotion.
In the moonlight, Leo somehow exuded absolute dignity.
It felt as if he was looking down at her from an unreachable height.
A gap she’d thought was small now felt utterly overwhelming.
‘He’s on another level.’
Having trained to be emperor her whole life, Shasha had learned to judge people.
And she realized it instantly.
‘He’s someone I can never hope to contain.’
With trembling heart, Shasha reached for the summoning circle.
With it, she would regain the contract.
At that moment—
“Wait.”
Ahti interjected.
“Doesn’t my opinion matter?”
Looking flustered at Ahti’s sullen tone, Shasha hesitated.
Leo spoke indifferently.
“Your original Oathbound is the Lordren family anyway.”
“That’s right. I still feel that way. But—”
Ahti smiled brightly.
“Now that I’ve experienced you as a summoner, I don’t want to go back to Shasha just yet.”
“W-What? Ahti, what do you mean?”
Startled, Shasha saw Ahti grin.
“Don’t worry. Like I said before, it’s not forever. But…”
Ahti moved closer to Leo.
She sniffed near his head, tilting her head.
“How strange. The more I see you, the more I’m drawn to you.”
Ahti was instinctively drawn to Leo.
It couldn’t be helped.
‘Is it because of my Mana trait?’
Leo’s Mana was pure.
And the pure-white Pegasus was a beast drawn to purity.
In a way, Leo was a born Oathbound for Pegasus.
That’s also why he could contract with one so easily in his past life.
“I want to stay by your side a little longer, Leo Plov.”
“Just go back. If you stick with me, it’ll get rough.”
“Oh my? A dangerous contractor? That’s not a bad type.”
Ahti smiled sweetly.
“And you said it yourself.”
“…?”
“That once someone experiences your technique, no one else will do.”
Ahti’s face was blissful as she covered her cheeks.
“Just as you said. I thought you were just a spirited kid, but you’re so skilled. You’re my ideal summoner.”
Flushed, Ahti said,
“So, I want to follow you until I’m satisfied.”
“Go back.”
“I can’t. If I go back before I’m satisfied, I’ll think about your touch every night. You’re the only summoner who ever had me completely under control! I’ve waited for someone who could be my true master. Leo Plov!” (T/N: WTF. Stop my dirty mind! Stop it. HAHAHAHA)
As Ahti squirmed and spoke in a strange tone, Shasha blushed.
It was clearly about summoning, but sounded much more suggestive.
Leo pressed his temple, thinking of his other contracted beasts.
Two childish kids and one perverted adult.
‘I can’t let things get any more chaotic.’
“In that case! I’ll be in your care for now, Master!”