Editor : Amethyst00



"Evoking a spirit is similar to sensing mana."

Artienne, seated in front of the cross-legged Leo, explained.

"Now, close your eyes."

Srrk—

Leo gently closed his eyes.

"Take a slow, deep breath and focus on your breathing. Slowly… slowly…"

Like teaching a child.

Artienne kindly explained everything from the basics.

Leo breathed just as Artienne had instructed.

Even Leo, the All-Class, had abilities he couldn't use.

One of the prime examples was Spirit Evocation.

Furthermore, Spirit Evocation had not awakened some hidden power within Leo.

It was literally a power granted by Lysinas.

Though he had used Spirit Evocation several times unconsciously until now, strictly speaking, even that wasn't truly Leo's unconscious act.

'It was Lysinas's unconsciousness.'

When did Lysinas's spirit dwell within him?

'…When I entered Lysinas's world.'

After defeating the Gluttony King Jormungandr in Lysinas's world, Lysinas appeared before Leo through her past self as a medium.

After conquering that world, Leo received the essence of Lysinas's mana as a reward.

It must've been then that he acquired the ability of Spirit Evocation.

From that moment, Lysinas had become a spirit and resided within Leo.

But Leo still couldn't properly use that power.

Let alone mastering it, he hadn't even grasped the clue to control it.

'I have to start from the very beginning.'

He focused his mind while breathing deeply.

As he waited for Artienne's next words…

The summoning circle drawn on Leo's body began to glow.

At the same time, spiritual power started to flow through his body.

It wasn't Leo's own spiritual power.

It was Artienne's.

'I see.'

Artienne had drawn the summoning circle on Leo's body using her own blood to show the flow of spiritual power.

Leo concentrated as much as possible on the flow of Artienne's spiritual power running through the medium of blood, tracing its movement.

'So this is how Professor Artienne manipulates spiritual power during spirit evoking.'

A moment later.

Artienne's spiritual power disappeared.

And with that, Leo opened his eyes.

"How was it?"

"I think I'm starting to get the feel."

"You're already getting the feel for it? As expected of an honor student."

Artienne clapped her hands.

She smiled brightly and said, "At this rate, you might unexpectedly master Spirit Evocation in no time."

"I doubt it."

"Huh?"

"It's harder than I thought."

"You're modest."

Artienne gave a soft chuckle.

But Leo was being sincere.

'It might take me a lifetime.'

Leo had, through endless effort, managed to imitate the skills of his former comrades to some degree.

In terms of magic, Leo's unique magic system, the Bible, could theoretically house every existing magic formula.

Thanks to that, he could mimic Luna.

Aaron's howling and breathing could also be reproduced with the power of the All-Class, and he could use Dweno's flames to wield strong fire abilities.

Lysinas's summoning arts too—he could imitate those.

Lysinas's illusion magic or elemental summoning, for instance, could be mimicked.

But Leo could only copy techniques within the domain that he was born into as an All-Class.

Beyond that domain lay abilities unfamiliar even to Leo.

Just as he couldn't replicate Luna's unique spells, Aaron's martial enlightenment, or Dweno's handcrafting skills—

Spirit Evocation, which hadn't been granted to Leo from the start, was something he had to learn from scratch.

And the original owner of the spirit evocation power Leo obtained was Lysinas.

If it had been a typical spirit summoner's power, Leo would have had no problem copying it.

But Lysinas—the very Wise Queen—was the origin of the spirit evocation Leo possessed.

A figure hailed as the greatest summoner in history.

The reason she earned that title was simple.

In beast summoning, elemental summoning, and even spirit evoking—

She always remained at the top.

Generally, summoners fall into two categories:

The first summons powerful beasts or spirits and draws out their abilities to the fullest.

The second summons an overwhelming number of summoned creatures.

Such summoners were like commanders of armies of summoned beasts.

Lysinas was an all-rounder who mastered both styles.

'She could summon powerful creatures and massive numbers all at once.'

Even though the Great Heroes were severely outnumbered compared to Tartaros, they were able to win battles—

Luna's power contributed greatly, but before that, it was Lysinas who balanced the numbers.

And in that large-scale battle, it was Lysinas's spirit summoning that truly shined.

She summoned powerful spirits and numerous ones simultaneously.

And that applied not only to beasts or elements, but to spirits as well.

Remembering Lysinas summoning countless spirits, Leo sighed.

'Will I ever be able to do that?'

"Alright, shall we try calling a spirit?"

Artienne smiled as she spoke, and Leo closed his eyes to concentrate.

Then, just as Artienne had taught him, he began to stir spiritual power.

Vwooooooom—!

Spiritual power began swirling from Leo's body.

'Wow… I knew Leo had spiritual power of multiple colors, but… during spirit evoking, it manifests as black.'

It didn't feel ominous or foreboding.

It was dark and deep, but strangely comforting. Seeing the jet-black spiritual power, Artienne spoke.

"Amazing. To reach the level of basic spirit evoking with just one explanation…"

Artienne admired him.

"Then, Leo! Let's try evoking a spirit now!"

"Evoking?"

"Yes. Call out to someone strongly in your mind. A spirit will respond to your voice and be summoned."

At those words, Leo took a deep breath and called Lysinas.

'Hey. You con-artist lizard. Get over here. Now.'

The moment he said that—

BOOOOOOM—!

"Whoa?!"

Artienne flinched in shock.

The power of Leo's spiritual power grew even stronger.

Like a black hole.

Everything around started being sucked into Leo.

"Uhhh?"

Panicking, Artienne flattened herself to the floor to avoid being pulled in.

Shwwshww—Whoooo!

But even books, items, and large furniture were being sucked in, and soon Artienne's body lifted into the air.

'Just how powerful is this spiritual power!?'

What Artienne had taught Leo today was a basic initiation spell.

Such spells contain a force of attraction.

Not just for spirits, but even physical objects.

That's why sometimes there are slight physical effects when using initiation magic.

But for it to reach this level—affecting the surroundings so drastically—was a first for Artienne.

'Just how powerful is the spirit being summoned?'

"Leo? Leo! Stop… Kyaaah?!"

Artienne cried out urgently.

Eventually, unable to resist, she floated and was flung toward Leo.

As she tried to stabilize herself using spiritual power-

Leo opened his eyes.

Eyes gleaming with black light.

Understanding the situation instantly, Leo stood up.

And caught the flying Artienne gently.

BOOM—!

The furniture being pulled by the force of Leo's initiation spell crashed to the floor.

"Uwoaaaahhh…"

Held in Leo's arms, Artienne gasped.

"Just… just how powerful a spirit were you trying to summon?"

"…I tried to summon a pretty impressive one. But I failed."

"Failed?"

Even with such powerful initiation magic, he failed?

"Yeah."

"Hmm. I wonder what went wrong?"

Leo gently set Artienne down.

While she was lost in thought, Leo looked around the room.

Sighing softly at the mess.

'Maybe we should've done this outside…'

bl

Late at night.

The central hall of the clock tower dormitory.

Bustling during the day, but eerie and deserted at night.

Eliza, sitting with crossed legs on a sofa in the central hall, took out a pocket watch and checked the time.

Bathed in faint moonlight, the time was nearing 1 a.m.

'He's late.'

Just as Eliza's eyes twitched—

DONG— DONG—!

The clock tower's bell chimed throughout the building.

Not a sound heard from the dorm rooms.

The chime echoing at such a late hour felt unnecessarily chilling.

Eliza's expression twisted in annoyance.

Tap tap—

Someone tapped her shoulder from behind without a sound, and Eliza flinched.

"Mmgh?!"

As she instinctively prepared to scream, Carl quickly covered her mouth.

"Hey hey. Eliza. It's me. Carl."

Hearing Carl's voice, Eliza calmed her trembling heart.

Then glared behind her.

From seemingly nowhere, Carl pulled off his cloak.

It was an invisibility cloak crafted by Dweno's alchemy.

"You scared me! And why are you so late?!"

Eliza snapped, and Carl scratched his head.

"Well, I tried to come early. But the others kept asking me to go on an exploration. Took some effort to shake them off."

"How?"

"I told them I had a date."

"Funny."

"Kidding. I just said I was taking the night off and slipped away quietly."

"Your invisibility cloak alone wouldn't fool the other students."

She had a point.

Though the cloak was impressive, it didn't erase presence.

Some students in the magic department, as part of combat training, constantly used detection spells.

Evading those wasn't easy.

"I borrowed another item for that."

"An item?"

"Technically a company secret, but…"

Carl smirked and showed her the bracelet on his wrist.

"A gift from Dweno."

Still a secret due to the ban on discussing Dweno's world, but Eliza, who also received a gift during that conquest, knew what it was.

"Mine hides presence."

It seemed like a simple function, but for Carl—who had to stay near the battlefield to observe combat flow despite not fighting—it was essential.

CLACK—

"Hm?"

At that moment.

The sound of metal scraping echoed.

CLACK— CLACK—

Carl and Eliza looked at each other.

The sound was approaching.

Carl donned his cloak again and said,

"Get in."

"Why?"

"If it's a professor or another student, we'd have to fight. Your summoning might expose us. Better to hide under the cloak."

Clicking her tongue in disapproval, Eliza slipped under the cloak.

And pressed close to Carl.

"You don't have to get that close, you know?"

"You could've said that earlier."

Frowning, she put a bit of distance between them.

Still too close, but Carl didn't bother complaining.

They both held their breath under the cloak.

CLACK— CLACK— CLACK—

Moments later.

Someone appeared from the shadows.

And the sight was shocking.

A knight wielding a bastard sword in one hand.

Dressed in full plate armor, drenched in blood.

"Huff— Huff—"

As the knight exhaled roughly, Carl and Eliza froze.

In the dark, gloomy atmosphere, the knight's horror-like appearance was enough to make hearts race.

"Huff— Kill… huff…"

The knight muttered in a voice filled with murderous intent.

"Kill… magicians… summoners…"

CLACK— CLACK—

After showing his bloodlust, the knight vanished into the darkness again.

Moments later.

Eliza muttered in disbelief.

"What the hell was that?"

"Beats me. Seems like the knights' department is roleplaying."

With so many eccentrics at Lumene, it wasn't impossible.

"Anyway…"

"What?"

"Eliza, were you scared?"

Carl grinned mischievously.

When the knight released his killing intent earlier, Eliza had instinctively grabbed Carl's arm tightly.

"Our dear Eliza's secretly soft-hearted…"

WHACK—!

"I'm sorry. I take it back."

Seeing Eliza draw a whip and yank it taut, Carl immediately bowed in apology.

Watching him grovel, Eliza spoke.

"Let's go raid the Tree Maze."

"Got it."