Chapter 193
Tap, tap—
That night.
“A first-year going camping with a second-year senior, huh? Must be nice living the easy life. Really making the most of school, aren’t you? Jealous.”
Jean grumbled.
Lily tilted her head at his words.
“This counts as enjoying school life?”
“Of course. Back in my day, it was nothing but training.”
Jean shuddered at the memory of his school days.
Seeing him like that, Lily admired him.
“So that’s how you made it into the [Hero Record]! You’re amazing! I want to follow your example!”
“Fame and accomplishments are great, but enjoy your school life a little. That’s my advice as your senior. Dress up now and then too. You’re already pretty, but if you put in some effort, you’d be even prettier.”
Lily blinked at his words.
“Really? Leo, do you think so too?”
“Well. Your teenage years are meant to be enjoyed.”
“A junior who gets it.”
Jean let out a chuckle at Leo’s response.
“So, what’s a hero recorded in the [Hero Record] doing in a place like this? If you’re an active hero, shouldn’t you be out on the frontlines against Tartarus or clearing dungeons?”
At Leo’s question, Jean nodded.
“Yeah. I was stationed on the southern front of Tartarus.”
The southern front where the Lumene-affiliated Hero Guild was currently active.
Its commander-in-chief was none other than the chairman of Lumene and head of the Zeron family, Altech Zeron—known as the Infinity Speller.
“But recently, Lumene issued a Hero Summon.”
Leo and Lily’s expressions turned surprised at that.
“Those involved in top-secret missions or major dungeon raids didn’t answer the call, but most who had a bit of leeway did.”
‘Hero Summon. So the guests the principal mentioned were heroes.’
One of the reasons Hero Academies like Lumene wielded such tremendous global influence—
Was the Hero Summon system.
The absolute authority to summon heroes who had their names inscribed in the [Hero Record].
The power to summon those who could change the world’s balance of power—that alone was an incredible form of influence.
“It’s for the Lumeiren Selection Match, isn’t it?”
“Exactly.”
Jean crossed his arms at Leo’s reply.
“This year’s Lumeiren is being hosted by Seiren, right? With students and staff traveling there, Lumene was bound to worry about school security.”
Tartarus had just launched an attack not long ago.
Lumene didn’t want to leave its defenses lax.
So they resorted to the Hero Summon.
Calling in active heroes to guard the school.
“Well, some heroes will be traveling to Seiren too.”
“To Seiren?”
“Yeah. Don’t know the details, but that’s what the principal said. I’m sure there’s a reason.”
Though Jean shrugged, there was a meaningful smile on his face.
Leo knew exactly what that smile meant.
‘Seiren isn’t much different from Lumene.’
He recalled last semester’s midterms.
Seiren’s second-year student, Rauta.
He was a traitor acting under orders from the [Necromancer King].
And it wasn’t likely that Rauta was the only one.
To protect the academy’s reputation, Seiren had kept that fact hidden and was secretly hunting down the traitors.
‘But that won’t be easy.’
Even Lumene hadn’t been able to catch on until Tartarus had made a major move.
Even Leo, who had grown used to killing Tartarus agents, had struggled with it.
There was no way to know how well Seiren had tracked its infiltrators.
‘They’re preparing for any worst-case scenarios during the Lumeiren Selection Match.’
Of course, attacking a location where both academies’ forces are concentrated would be a reckless plan—even for Tartarus.
‘But who knows what they’re planning.’
Leo narrowed his eyes as he thought of the [Necromancer King], Hell Kaiser.
A terrifying calamity.
Now that Erebos was sealed, he was the most dangerous monster left in the world.
“Anyway, you’re still planning to head for the Zerodia Ruins?”
“Yes. It seems the target of this mission is the [Spirit of the Abyss].”
Lily nodded at Jean’s question.
The mission was to escort a VIP from the Zerodia Ruins to Lumene.
If the [Spirit of the Abyss] was the one currently occupying the ruins, then that VIP had to be them.
‘A place like Lumene could easily invite even a Great Spirit.’
The problem was that this Great Spirit hated humans.
Even if they had accepted the invitation, there was no telling when they might change their mind.
That was likely why they sent Lily.
Spirits are instinctively drawn to excellent spirit arts users.
For inviting a human-hating Great Spirit, there was no better choice than Lily.
Realizing this herself, Lily was determined to carry out her mission.
“In any case, I must meet the [Spirit of the Abyss].”
Jean rested his chin in his hand.
“In that case, I’ll help you.”
Lily’s eyes widened at Jean’s words.
“Just the two of you would have trouble handling a Great Spirit. You might not even get the chance to meet them before the mission is abandoned.”
“If you’re willing to join us, I’d be honored… but wouldn’t it be a burden?”
“Don’t worry. I’m also curious how strong the new generation of summoning students are.”
With a meaningful grin, Jean glanced at Leo.
“And how strong the rumored All-Class really is.”
Leo gave a faint smile at that.
“I’ll try to meet your expectations.”
“I’m counting on it.”
—
The next day.
With Jean now part of the party, Leo and Lily returned to the Zerodia Ruins.
As the oldest and an active hero, Jean trailed slightly behind the two, taking on more of an observer’s stance.
He’d said he’d help, but that didn’t mean he was going to lead the party himself.
“This is nerve-wracking. It feels like I’m being tested by a hero.”
“Don’t be too nervous.”
“You’re not nervous, Leo?”
“No.”
“You’re incredible. Even as a first-year, you carry yourself like someone far more experienced.”
Lily looked at him with admiration.
“I’ll take point.”
Leo stepped up to lead the way.
As he walked, he fell into thought.
‘A spirit that hates humans… What do you think, Elci?’
[I’m not sure. I’ve never hated humans.]
Elci shook her head.
Leo gave a bitter smile inside.
Sensing his reaction, Elci cautiously asked,
[Leo, you said the version of me you knew once hated humans, right?]
‘Yeah.’
[Because all the children at the orphanage died.]
It was impossible to imagine.
A version of herself who hated the world and despised humans.
Elci fell silent.
She had always liked people since the day she was born.
She was drawn to summoners and admired their determination.
During the Age of Calamity—
Watching Agon talk about hope to the struggling orphans had made him shine in her eyes.
She had always yearned for light since the day she was born.
She believed it was because she was a spirit of darkness.
People often longed for what they didn’t have.
So she had dreamed of stars in the night sky—something she had never seen.
To her, the orphanage children who never lost hope in despair were like stars.
‘Even if it all ended in tragedy.’
Though the world had changed in the realm of heroes…
The unchanging history saddened Elci.
But—
‘Kyle saved the world. He found the light of the world and showed me the star-filled sky.’
Now, Elci liked people even more.
She had seen many people shine like stars while with Leo.
Other spirits were probably no different.
Spirits were originally beings that loved people.
They were drawn to them and longed to watch over them—that was a spirit’s instinct.
So for a spirit to hate people…
[If that [Spirit of the Abyss] hates humans, then… they must’ve gone through something terrible.]
‘That makes sense.’
[…]
Even the version of herself that hated the world had formed a contract with Kyle to save it.
‘I must have been trying to find an answer too.’
In the end, she couldn’t bring herself to hate humanity forever.
[Leo, I want to talk to that spirit.]
Leo paused.
It had been months since Elci left the world of heroes.
And this was the first time—
That she had expressed something she wanted.
Fiora who whined for chocolate every day.
Kirran who nagged for preferential treatment.
Ahti who even bought a riding crop, asking to be treated more harshly.
Unlike those three eccentric summoned beasts, Elci had never expressed a personal desire beyond watching the night sky.
She only ever said she hoped to be helpful to Leo.
And now, for the first time, Elci revealed her will.
Meeting a human-hating Great Spirit was dangerous.
But—
‘All right.’
Leo nodded.
Knowing her past, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse.
‘Let’s set the stage for it.’
[Thank you!]
—
An hour had passed since entering the Zerodia Ruins.
There was no sign of the violent rejection from spirits like the night before.
Anyone else might’ve thought the Great Spirit had left.
But Leo, Lily, and Jean—
All were highly skilled spirit arts users.
Leo was an All-Class and former great hero.
Jean was a hero recorded in the [Hero Record] through his spirit arts.
All three sensed that the [Spirit of the Abyss]’s influence still lingered in the ruins.
“This eerie calm makes it more unnerving.”
As Jean grumbled while reaching the center of the ruins—
Fwoosh—!
Darkness suddenly spread across the ground.
Jean quickly raised his [Spirit Power] and reached toward Leo and Lily, who were walking ahead.
But before his hand could reach them, Leo and Lily were pulled into the darkness.
“Damn.”
Jean clicked his tongue and tried to follow.
But spirits suddenly appeared before him in droves.
“What, only here to see the fresh students?”
Jean scowled.
“So I’m not worth your time, huh? That’s just rude.”
Roooaaaar—!
As a wall of high-level spirits blocked his path, Jean drew his curved blade and summoned his [Aura] and [Spirit Power].
“Touch a hair on those kids and you’ll regret it, [Spirit of the Abyss]!”
The usual lightness gone, Jean’s eyes blazed as he charged the high-level spirits.
Meanwhile, Leo and Lily were pulled into the darkness and dropped below the ruins.
Swish— Thud— Thud—
Landing on their feet, they simultaneously looked up at the ceiling.
[Welcome, hero candidates.]
At the voice from ahead, they turned to face it.
There stood a young man with jet-black hair and eyes.
His face was shrouded in shadow, and he wore a dark hood and cloak over his body.
With a presence like the grim reaper from a story, Lily grew tense.
“Are you the [Spirit of the Abyss]?”
[I am.]
His emotionless, flat voice made Lily tense as she pulled out the mission scroll.
“I was sent by Lumene on a mission to escort a VIP back to the academy. Based on what I’ve seen, I believe you must be that VIP… Am I correct?”
[Lumene did extend an invitation to me.]
At his words, Lily smiled in relief.
“Hello! I’m Lily Luce. I’m here to escort—”
[Not interested.]
“Yes.”
[Lumene invited me to find a contractor.]
The [Spirit of the Abyss] stared directly at the startled Lily.
[But no matter how I think about it, I wonder if humans are even worth forming a contract with. Especially you—the human girl holding the mission scroll. You must be Lumene’s top candidate.]
“M-me?”
Lily looked shocked and pointed at Leo.
“Um… but there’s an even better summoner. He became student council president as a first-year, and me as your contract candidate? That can’t be.”
The spirit looked at Leo.
[No matter how I look at him, he doesn’t seem to have any aptitude as a summoner.]
Leo let out a soft laugh.
It was true.
In terms of spirit arts aptitude, he didn’t even come close to Lily.
[Lily Luce, the fact that you’ve come here means you’re to be tested—to see whether you can become my contractor.]
“Unbelievable… Someone like me, a candidate to contract a Great Spirit?! That must be a mistake!”
[Mistake or not, it doesn’t matter. I don’t plan to form a contract anyway. I only accepted the invitation because of my connection with Kalian and Lieven. I figured if I stayed here, they’d eventually send a candidate.]
Leo thought to himself.
‘As expected of Lumene. Even mediating a student’s contract with a Great Spirit…’
With how tense the world situation had become, Lumene likely wanted to nurture a Great Spirit contractor.
‘But he’s more twisted than I expected.’
Leo remained cautious of the [Spirit of the Abyss].
[So if a candidate came, I intended to give them my own test. I didn’t expect them to send along the Knight of Undine, though.]
Leo’s eye twitched at that.
[They must’ve sensed it would be a dangerous trial.]
Shhh—
Suddenly, the ground beneath Leo and Lily began to sink like a swamp.
Looking down, darkness slowly began to swallow their bodies.
“W-what?!”
[Like I said, I’ve prepared my own trial. I’m a spirit of darkness. I only form contracts with those who can accept my darkness.]
The spirit curled his lip.
[Let’s see if you can withstand my darkness.]
“Then I’ll take it alone! Leo came only because I asked him to—not as part of the official mission!”
Lily shouted in a panic.
The spirit replied with disinterest.
[Not my concern.]
“Leo, run! This is dangerous!”
Lily forced herself forward, trying to pull Leo out of the darkness.
But the more she struggled, the faster she sank.
“Oh no…”
Soon submerged to her neck, Lily looked at Leo with anxious eyes.
“I’m sorry, Leo… mmmph—!”
She was the first to be swallowed.
Leo glanced at the spirit of darkness.
He was already closing his eyes as if bored.
Then came total darkness.
It was like being submerged in water where no light could reach.
At that moment—Leo grasped the [Radiant Jewel] hanging from his neck.
Flash—!
A bright light burst out.
Fwoosh—!
Ignite, the [Spirit of the Abyss], flinched.
“You’re a pretty nasty spirit.”
[How did you escape my darkness?]
Leo spoke casually.
“I devoured it.”
[That’s not possible.]
To consume the power of a spirit with the same attribute required power on par with theirs.
Ignite’s power was that of a Great Spirit—the highest level among spirits of darkness.
Devouring that should be impossible.
“Normally, yes.”
Leo smirked and looked at Ignite.
“But it’s not impossible for the contractor of a spirit equal in power to you.”
[Impossible—]
[Hello.]
A palm-sized Elci peeked out from between Leo’s white hair.
Ignite’s brows furrowed.
[What are you?]
[My name is Elci. I’m a shadow spirit.]
Elci smiled sweetly.
[I’d like to talk to you.]