Chapter 53

What a joke—I summoned him just three days ago! How’s his memory worse than a monkey’s?

[…You should at least be thankful I summoned you! Now, come over here.]

[What is it? You want me to burn that?]

[Do you want to die? If you so much as touch the edge of this book, I’ll toss you into the water.]

[Cheh! You humans treat your supposed masters so poorly.]

As Adol approached, the area brightened instantly.

Adol was, after all, a spirit that emitted his own light.

Come to think of it, I had named him incorrectly.

I thought the summoner who created Adol’s summoning circle was named Ador, so I named Adol after him. But according to the book I read earlier, his name wasn’t Ador—it was Ardo.

Well, it’s not like it’s my name, so it doesn’t matter.

Turning back to the book, I flipped through the pages to find the section that followed what I had read earlier.

Here? Bingo! Found it.

*“Instead of crafting it into a summoning stone, it was made into a bracelet.

To be precise, the summoning circle was engraved onto a crystal, and that crystal was embedded into the bracelet. However, the bracelet was purely ornamental—it held no beneficial powers.

I suggested turning it into a summoning stone, but Bemurim seemed satisfied with just that.

Perhaps he wanted to ensure the summoning circle wouldn’t be revealed, or maybe he hoped it would be rediscovered one day by preserving it as a bracelet. Who knows what goes on in his mind?”*

A bracelet?

This ancient book was written over 8,000 years ago.

The odds of that bracelet still existing were slim.

A summoning stone, imbued with mana, would have endured much longer. But if it were merely a crystal, it would be almost impossible to find unless it was exceptionally well-preserved.

As much as I regretted it, I reassured myself with the knowledge that four summoning circles remained.

[Cheh! That one’s a loss, then.]

[Hey, Master, I think I’m getting cramps here.]

[Then spit on your nose three times and rub it out.]

[I don’t even have a nose!]

How does something without a nose get cramps?

Ignoring Adol, I continued reading.

*“The most enigmatic person of all was Renen Gagenail.

He took the summoning circles for the Spirit of Screams and the Spirit of Protection.

While the Spirit of Protection was understandable, the Spirit of Screams was utterly useless.

Why he contracted it and even turned it into a summoning circle remains a mystery.

In fact, Renen seemed more attached to the Spirit of Screams than to the Spirit of Protection, even going so far as to call it his lover. He’s truly an oddball.

To me, the Spirit of Screams just looked like a crow.

Renen claimed he would inscribe the summoning circles at his home, specifically on the hallway floor for the Spirit of Protection and on his bedroom floor for the Spirit of Screams.”*

A summoning circle etched directly into his home?

Why not do something neat, like making it a family crest, as I did?

*“The summoning circles I claimed were for the Spirit of Space and the Spirit of Fortune.

These are the best spirits, in my opinion.

With the Spirit of Space, there’s no need to rely on wizards for warp or teleportation spells.

The Spirit of Fortune ensures good luck for all living beings, which, in a way, also serves as personal protection.

With Fortune enhancing luck, you could avoid nine out of ten sword strikes.

I combined the two circles to create a complex emblem, which I’ve adopted as the new crest of my noble house.

My previous name was Sergeino Marcio.

My new name is Sergeino Tetron, a surname I chose to mark my decision to break away from my odd family and create a new lineage.

Tetron, the name of the mythical bird said to carry the gods to their sanctuary.

I am Sergeino Tetron, the last summoner of the Spirit of Space in this era.”*

“Phew!”

After reading through the section, I exhaled the breath I had been holding.

How could I tear my eyes away from this?

The book detailed how five summoners created exclusive summoning circles for the spirits they contracted.

And Tetron… That name sounded familiar.

I’d definitely heard it during a noble genealogy lesson.

The sanctuary of the gods, a legendary bird—it all rang a bell.

What was it, exactly?

[Master! Someone’s coming!]

[What?! But I’m not finished yet!]

I hurriedly flipped through the remaining pages, hoping to find more useful information.

However, the rest of the book was filled with Tetron’s autobiography.

Skimming the pages, I quickly shut the book and returned it to the shelf.

As I rushed toward the ladder, a thought struck me.

I pulled the book back off the shelf and tore out the parts that described the whereabouts of the Spirit of Darkness and the non-elemental spirits.

Even though someone else might have already read it, I couldn’t risk future readers finding it.

Rip. Riiiiip.

[I thought you were only reading it?]

[It’s just a few pages—it’s fine. Probably.]

Think of it like those people who rip out important sections from rental books.

Sure, they’re awful, but I was already sneaking around. My conscience could take the hit.

I hastily stuffed the torn pages into my pocket. A glowing orb floated toward me.

[Master, am I done here? Can I go play now?]

[Oh, right—you’re still here? That’s enough for today. Go back.]

[What? How can you dismiss me like this—]

Forcing Adol into unsummoning mode, I climbed the ladder.

But now I could hear footsteps approaching from my section of the library.

They were light, likely belonging to a woman or a child.

Pressing myself flat against the top of the shelf, I held my breath.

I had assumed there was only one person, but as they drew closer, I realized there were two: a child around 15 years old and an adult.

Who are they?

Coming to the library at this hour—how rude!

And sneaking in too? Maybe I should report them.

[…Master, did you seriously just call them rude?]

[How did you know?]

[They say even a snake that’s been around an academy for three years can recite proverbs.]

A snake quoting idioms? Really? And don’t use irrelevant ones!

[What does that have to do with reading my mind? Stop throwing around mismatched proverbs.]

[Oh, is it mismatched? Oh! Here’s a fitting one, Master: “The pot calls the kettle black.”]

[Wait… isn’t that an insult aimed at me?]

[Not at all! It’s a compliment, Master. I admire your audacity for sneaking in, tearing pages from a book, and then criticizing others for being impolite intruders. Truly admirable!]

That sounded like an insult from start to finish.

I wanted to throttle Rai, but the situation demanded composure. Sighing, I turned my attention back to the two unwelcome visitors below, creeping through the library like cats.

Come to think of it, I’m technically an intruder too.

“Hm, it should be here somewhere! Start looking, Mogi.”

“Yes, Princess. The book’s title was *Royal Family Genealogy Special Edition*, correct?”

“That’s right! The test on it is tomorrow, and you went and returned it! What’s wrong with you?”

Princess?

I squinted at the girl who’d been called a princess.

She didn’t look like much. Maybe it’s because I’ve seen kings and emperors before? Honestly, her attendant was far more interesting.

The servant walked with unnervingly light steps—she was probably trained in martial arts.

“But Princess, you told me to return the book…”

“Oh my! I meant the book I left on the shelf! I kept *Royal Family Genealogy Special Edition* in a special place!”

“…It was sprawled out on your bed.”

“That’s a special place! Are you talking back to me, Mogi?”

Leaving important things on the bed… that habit was oddly familiar.

A weird sense of kinship welled up within me as I observed the oddly named servant, Mogi. She seemed well-trained for combat, probably doubling as the princess’s bodyguard.

Still, if her name is Mogi (Mosquito), does she have a sibling named Pari (Fly)?

Of course, the name might not mean an actual mosquito, but it was amusing nonetheless.

“No, Princess. I wouldn’t dare. You misunderstood me.”

“Hmph! Backtalk again, and I’ll have your little brother, Beetle, dismissed! Then your family will starve!”

Well, I was wrong. Not a fly.

The revelation made me chuckle, and Mogi seemed to sense the movement, snapping her head in my direction.

I ducked quickly, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d already seen me.

Why? Because our eyes had met.

[Master, Mogi is looking this way.]

[Cheh, do you think she saw me?]

[I’m not sure. Oh, but now it looks like they’re leaving.]

I heard the rustling of clothes and the faint sound of footsteps.

“Princess, perhaps it hasn’t been shelved yet. Would you like to check the scribe’s desk?”

“That’s a good idea. Scribes do like to pile up books.”

Great! Yes, go!

Hurry up and leave!

If Mogi had seen me, I’d need to escape while they were gone.

As soon as the two moved away, I stood and scanned the area. Confirming it was clear, I prepared to make my exit.

The window I’d used to enter was at least a meter above my height—too high to reach easily.

[Rai, come here. Transform into a dog!]

[Krrngh, Master! You’re doing it too? I’m a wolf, not a dog!]

[Dog, wolf—what’s the difference?! Hurry and transform; we need to get out of here!]

[Che-che-cheh.]

Using Rai as a makeshift step, I clambered out of the window.

Once outside, I quickly transformed Rai back into a snake and slung him over my shoulder. I summoned Undain and cloaked her with invisibility—it was essential to avoid her telltale bluish glow giving us away.

I wanted to leave as discreetly as possible.

The problem was whether Mogi had seen me earlier.

[Undain, guide us out of the castle like before, carefully.]

[Yes, Master.]

I tightened the black hood covering my golden hair and secured the string to ensure it wouldn’t come off. My entire body was concealed in black clothing, gloves, and a mask, leaving only my eyes exposed.

As long as I stayed cautious, even if they realized someone had snuck in, they wouldn’t be able to find me.

Blending into the night, I ascended into the air. There was no way they could spot me now!

[Master, there’s a barrier 10 meters ahead.]

[What? That’s…]

Thunk!

BEEEEEP!

Before I could respond, my forehead collided with something, followed by my face and body slamming into an invisible force.

An ear-splitting alarm blared.

A barrier?

“Ugh!”

This barrier seemed designed to block living beings while allowing wind and rain to pass. Naturally, Undain, a spirit, moved through it effortlessly.

I, however, was not so lucky, getting thrown off her back as she continued forward.

Barely managing to grab onto one of Undain’s fins, I dangled precariously as the shrill alarm hammered my ears.

Damn it!

BEEEEEP!

[I warned you, Master.]

[Don’t start! Ten meters isn’t a warning; it’s a trap! I’ll deal with you later. For now, just pull me up!]

[But Master, the barrier appeared suddenly! I’m innocent!]

Using Rai’s tail for support, I hauled myself back onto Undain’s back. My shoulders screamed in protest as I finally settled in.

There had been no sign of a barrier when I first entered, and even the guards hadn’t been paying attention to the skies.

Now, however, six guards had gathered near the barrier, pointing fingers at me.

Pointing? At me? How dare they?!

[Rai, find a gap in the barrier!]

[Hmm, no luck. It’s a full dome-shaped barrier—they’ve got us trapped.]

Did I underestimate the royal palace?

I was 99.9% sure Mogi had something to do with this.

She must’ve realized I was there and taken precautions while escorting the princess away.

Using Undain, I circled the library, searching for a breach in the barrier, but there was none.

Clearly, an emergency protocol had been activated.

Ridiculous! They were treating me, a harmless intruder, like a dangerous criminal!

Outside the barrier, the guards followed my every move, pacing around as I tried to find an escape route.

“What are you gawking at? Buzz off, you Mickey Mouse wannabes!”

I felt like a fish in a bowl.

Frustrated that things had gone so wrong, I yelled every insult I could think of, but the guards didn’t seem to hear me.

Testing the barrier, I knocked on it lightly.

Thunk.

BEEEEEP!

It felt firm yet slightly elastic, like a solid piece of rubber rather than metal.

This type of barrier was designed to let inanimate things like water or air pass through while blocking living beings.

In my experience, breaking such barriers was tricky. It required precise slicing rather than brute force.

For a moment, I considered using Rai, transformed into a sharp weapon, to cut through it.

But no matter how sharp the weapon, I lacked the skills to slice through something this advanced.

[Master, I can break this.]

[How?]

[If I transform into a Minotaur.]

[Hmm…]

I hesitated. A Minotaur…

It was Rai’s most destructive form, a colossal figure that boasted unparalleled brute strength. When I prepared the cauldron to summon a Minotaur’s essence, it had taken up an entire room in the Magi’s Chamber.

With the body of a towering monster nearly 5 meters tall and the head of a bull, the Minotaur was rumored to surpass the strength of an Ogre. While it wasn’t as fast, its raw power placed it among the top-tier monsters of the forest.

According to Magi, Ogre meat was delicious.

If I had to choose between eating a Minotaur or an Ogre, I’d pick the Minotaur—it’d likely taste more like beef.

[What are you thinking about, Master? Can I transform? And hey, we could stomp those humans for fun while we’re at it!]

I might have a habit of killing people, but I drew the line at slavers. Unless circumstances demanded it, I avoided harming others.

Even when killing was necessary, I preferred it to be clean and decisive—not messy or excessive.

[No, I think it’s better to summon Adol.]

[Huh? What about me?]

[The situation isn’t desperate enough to warrant your transformation. You’re my trump card, Rai.]

Rai’s power was reserved for extreme cases—like facing a dragon. Being trapped inside a barrier wasn’t enough to justify revealing him.

[Oh, is that a good thing?]

[Of course! It’s the best. Undain, back up a bit—quite a lot, actually.]

[Yes, Master.]

With graceful movements, Undain retreated. I still had enough presence of mind to admire her elegant tail fin.

“Ador!”

[Cack-cack-cack! Hmm? What is it, Master? I was in the middle of a date, you know.]

A date? Spirits date now?

They’re genderless!

More surprising was Adol’s reluctance to be summoned and his bizarre laughter during his so-called date.

“…What nonsense are you spouting? Laugh like that during a date, and you’ll get dumped.”

[Hah! This body has never been dumped in the history of spirits. The Thunder Spirit and I are a perfect match, you see! Cack-cack-cack.]

I didn’t know the difference between Thunder Spirits and Lightning Spirits, but the complexities of spirits were beyond me, so I let it slide.

“Enough. Thunder Storm, straight ahead!”

[How strong?]

“Moderate.”

*Thunder Storm* was a spell that unleashed successive bursts of concentrated lightning in a specific area, designed to overpower singular, sturdy targets.

The version Rai and I devised was strong enough to leave someone severely injured without outright killing them—comparable to a 4-volt shock in terms of damage, akin to a 5-circle magic spell.

Unlike water or wind attacks, an electrical strike wouldn’t pass through the barrier. The barrier only allowed non-aggressive inanimate substances to pass.

*Crackle-crack-crackle!*

Sparks erupted as bolts of lightning collided with the barrier, striking it repeatedly.

The first strike left a faint crack.

The second widened the crack, creating a web-like pattern across the barrier’s surface.

Though it was holding on, the third strike shattered the barrier entirely.

*BEEEEEEP!*

The fourth bolt, now without a barrier to stop it, hurtled toward a small building and struck its upper floor with explosive force.

The top of the structure crumbled.

“…Hey! You should’ve stopped that! Now we’ve got property damage on our hands!”

[Eh? You didn’t tell me to stop. Not my fault.]

“You’re insufferable… Undain! Water Shield!”

[Master! Incoming arrows…]

*Whoosh!*

*Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!*

Arrows rained down through the gaps in the barrier remnants, but the shield blocked them all.

Peering below, I saw the number of guards had quintupled.

At this rate, knights or mages would be here any second. I had to get out fast.

“Undain! Get us out of here quickly. Adol, return to your realm!”

[Fine, fine. Oh, by the way, don’t call me next Wednesday—I’ve got a date…]

I cut off the mana flow to Adol mid-sentence.

I had no interest in accommodating his dating schedule. Besides, time flows differently between this realm and the Spirit Realm!

I’ll summon him again just to annoy him.

As I slipped through the gap in the barrier, arrows continued to fly, but the shield held firm.

I evaded the guards and flew toward the edge of the castle, determined to escape.

But my progress was short-lived.

I stopped abruptly, sensing a peculiar shift in the air ahead.

[Master, there’s another barrier here…]

“I know! Damn it, there’s more than one?”

[Looks like there are at least three or four more beyond this one, Master.]

While I’d gained valuable information, I was now facing even greater risks.

Approaching the barrier to test its properties, I hesitated.

Touching it would trigger an alarm and bring the guards closer.

On closer inspection, I realized it wasn’t a standard barrier.

This was likely a *Spirit Magic Barrier*—a defensive spell designed not only to repel but to shred anything that came into contact with it.

The swirling air currents within the barrier were chaotic and vicious, like a violent vortex.

“Wind…”

[And a highly offensive form of barrier magic, Master.]

“I know. This is the nastiest barrier I’ve ever encountered. Touching it would probably shred my fingers.”

[Pfft. My fingers wouldn’t get shredded, Master.]