The Golden-Haired Summoner - Ch. 4
“Jini!”
Ugh… ‘It’s Geenie,’ not ‘Jini.’
“What is it?”
Still groggy from my nap, I squinted my eyes and answered in a sluggish tone.
“Let’s go return the books!”
Next time, I’ll make sure to ditch her and come alone. She was such a pain to deal with.
Grumbling internally, I dragged my small body up and followed Mia, who was practically sparkling with energy.
Yawning and stretching as I walked, I glanced around.
This library was enormous—so large that it would take two kids like us more than half a day just to circle it once.
People sometimes got lost in here, so that should give you an idea of its sheer size. For a child wandering alone, it could be downright terrifying.
We walked for quite a while.
When we reached a somewhat secluded area, Mia scurried off, saying she’d fetch a ladder.
“Yawn…”
This section housed mainly books written in ancient languages, most of which were old and worn.
Despite how easily children like us could roam around, the library was the pride of the Royal Drike Academy, funded generously by the royal family and brimming with high-quality books.
Not that it mattered to me—I was just sleepy.
Too bored to stand around doing nothing, I plopped down on the floor.
At this academy, I was known as the kid who could fall asleep anywhere if I laid my head down.
As I leaned back against the bookshelf to nap, something suddenly fell on my head as if it had been waiting for this exact moment.
‘Thud.’
“Ouch!”
This really wasn’t my day.
Something smacked me right in the face before dropping to the floor. My patience, already thin, completely snapped.
“Argh! Who’s dead meat now?!”
I rubbed my sore nose and immediately shot a glare upward, determined to find the culprit.
But there was no one. Just a book.
It must’ve fallen from above. The culprit wasn’t even alive.
Grinding my teeth, I picked up the thin book. Why on earth had this randomly dropped on my head?
I hadn’t even leaned that hard on the shelf.
Frowning, I glanced at the upper shelves before turning my attention back to the book.
As expected for this section, the title was written in ancient language. Still, reading it wasn’t too difficult for me.
“A Beginner’s Guide to 〇〇 Contracts”
It sounded like some kind of three-minute cooking recipe.
But what did 〇〇 mean?
I had never seen the term before. And I wasn’t exactly a beginner with ancient languages either.
Curious, I opened the book.
Had it been any thicker, I wouldn’t have bothered. But its slimness made it somewhat tolerable.
Flipping toward the middle of the book, I came across several strange illustrations.
There were images of things like a bird, a lizard, a fairy, and an old man.
“A picture book? No… it says ‘contract guide,’ so that doesn’t make sense.”
Beneath the illustrations, there was a caption: “The figures above represent low-grade 〇〇. Their forms vary significantly at intermediate levels and beyond.”
But what does 〇〇 even mean?!
My curiosity getting the better of me, I flipped to the first page.
On it was a drawing similar to a magic circle often used in spells.
Although I wasn’t a magic major, I’d attended enough basic classes to understand the general theory. Yet, this circle’s structure was entirely different from standard magic circles.
For starters, the symbols forming the circle weren’t runes. They weren’t even ancient script—they were something else entirely, resembling more of an elaborate illustration than text.
—
“A contract signifies the union of two souls. By providing mana, the 〇〇 will perform its own magic. This magic is superior, more refined, and more effective than that of human magicians, making it an advanced skill. However, only those chosen can wield 〇〇, as…”
—
While I was engrossed in the book, Mia returned.
Trailing behind her was a man who seemed to be a librarian, carrying a ladder.
“Sorry for the wait, Geenie!”
“Mia, what does this word mean?”
I pointed to the unfamiliar term in the title, but Mia shook her head, just as clueless as I was.
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen it before either.”
“Even you don’t know?”
“Maybe the librarian knows.”
At Mia’s suggestion, I handed the book to the librarian, signaling that I wanted it returned to the shelf.
But instead of shelving it, he squinted at the title for a moment before exclaiming, “Ah, I see!”
“This means ‘Spirit.’ It looks like a book about forming contracts with spirits. Doesn’t seem particularly advanced, though.”
“Spirit?”
“You’ve probably heard of them. They’re the fundamental beings that make up the world—water spirits, earth spirits, and the like. Then again, spirits are rare in the Kingdom of Dmitri, so it’s no surprise if you’re unfamiliar. Do you know what a spirit summoner is?”
The Kingdom of Dmitri, where I was born, was known as the land of knights. While it boasted a massive population of powerful knights, its number of magicians was pitifully low.
Because of that, I was constantly pressured to major in magic, though I refused every time. Still, my refusal had its limits.
The time to choose a specialty was fast approaching, and at this rate, I might end up becoming a magician against my will.
A profession inseparable from math—the subject I despised most!
“Spirit summoners are individuals who wield spirits. They’re incredibly rare across the entire continent. In fact, I’ve heard there isn’t a single academy with a department dedicated to spirit studies. That’s how rare the ability is.”
“I know. Spirit magic… I’ve heard of it!”
“Oh, as expected of a Royal Drike Academy student. Quite clever.”
“That’s the one where you form a contract with a spirit, and then the spirit casts magic for you, right? That’s what a spirit summoner is, right?”
Magic was a deeply complex discipline. To wield it, humans needed to understand countless formulas, mana systems, and the combination of runes and ancient script.
In other words, it was a career requiring lifelong learning and study.
But spirits… spirits could use magic as naturally as breathing.
If I formed a contract with a spirit, then all I’d have to do was gather mana while the spirit handled the magic! That meant…
‘I wouldn’t have to study!’
A revelation struck me like lightning, and I immediately took back the old book I had found by chance.
The librarian, noticing the intense look in my eyes, asked if I wanted to borrow the book.
When it came to seizing chances to be lazy, I was always remarkably diligent.
—
The Kingdom of Dmitri was one of the strongest nations on the continent.
While it couldn’t compare to the central empire, it boasted formidable military power and was commonly referred to as the “Land of Knights.”
True to its reputation, knights could be found stationed throughout the royal palace. The Palace of Stars, where the king spent most of his time, was perpetually surrounded by layers of loyal knights providing constant protection.
The two knights stationed at the entrance to the king’s office were part of the king’s personal guard—a position of exceptional honor within the kingdom. These knights rarely bowed to anyone.
Yet, as they stood before the office, they respectfully bent at the waist to greet an elderly man approaching them.
“Your Majesty, Marquis Lyle Dert has arrived.”
The audience had been prearranged.
Even if it hadn’t been, Marquis Lyle Dert’s close relationship with King Dikel III of Dmitri would have made a meeting simple enough to arrange.
Soon, the king’s voice resonated from within the office, granting permission to enter.
“Let him in.”
The deep, commanding tone of the voice made it clear what kind of man King Dikel III was.
The knights opened the doors from both sides and bowed again. As Marquis Lyle Dert stepped inside, the doors silently closed behind him.
Marquis Lyle bowed deeply toward King Dikel III.
“Your loyal subject, Lyle Dert, greets Your Majesty. Have you been well?”
King Dikel III exuded an air of solemn authority.
His dark blue hair, slicked back neatly, and his steely gray eyes gave him a cold, calculating appearance.
Marquis Lyle, now over seventy years old, faced a king in his mid-thirties.
The two were far from contemporaries, yet the king greeted the elderly man with a warm gaze and a gesture for him to relax.
“Come now, Dert. Let’s set aside formalities between us for the moment and speak freely.”
“As you wish, Your Majesty.”
“There’s still much I have to learn from you.”
The relationship between these two men was simple: Marquis Lyle Dert had been the king’s teacher during his days as crown prince, instructing him in the art of governance. He now served as the headmaster of the Royal Drike Academy.
Although Marquis Lyle enjoyed the king’s trust, he was a man of such singular focus on scholarship that he had little interest in political affairs. This only elevated his stature.
King Dikel cherished the marquis, knowing full well how invaluable a figure he was in Dmitri, a land that sorely lacked intellectual leaders.
“Your Majesty is already a brilliant ruler. What could I possibly teach you?”
While Marquis Lyle bowed his head humbly, King Dikel pulled out a document from his desk.
It was a report from the Royal Drike Academy—one of King Dikel’s perennial areas of interest. The academy was filled with exceptional talents destined to carry Dmitri’s future on their shoulders.
After all, the academy was essentially an institution for cultivating the king’s elite forces.
“Your advice has never been without merit, Dert.”
“You flatter me, Your Majesty.”
“You mentioned that the academy needs a department for spirit studies.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Establishing a new department is no small matter. And a department for spirit studies? That’s unprecedented. The concept of a spirit summoner is unfamiliar to me.”
The king tapped his desk with his firm fingers, his posture so precise that it was evident he was not only a ruler but also a formidable warrior—a testament to Dmitri’s reputation as the Land of Knights.
“I included a detailed proposal alongside the report,” Marquis Lyle said.
“I’ve reviewed it. You mentioned that while spirit summoners share similarities with magicians, their methods and powers are entirely different. If that’s the case, couldn’t this child who wishes to become a spirit summoner simply join the department of magic? Is this matter important enough to warrant your personal visit?”
“It is, Your Majesty.”
“I see the child in question is of noble birth.”
“Yes, but she’s the daughter of a baron from a remote region, far removed from the central power structure.”
King Dikel nodded lightly, setting the document down in front of the marquis.
“Then this isn’t a matter of familial influence. Not that I’d suspect you of such a thing, Dert.
If you’ve come to make a request on behalf of Geenie Crowell, she must be far from ordinary.”
“She is an exceptional talent, Your Majesty. Her eyes sparkle with intelligence, and she has a maturity and fearlessness that are rare in children her age. She is poised to become a great figure.
However, she’s been a source of concern due to her lack of motivation—until now. This time, she has come to us with a goal she truly desires. Your Majesty, when a genius sets their mind to something, they always accomplish great things.”