Chapter 553

"Isn't it a bit danger... ous?"

Yi-Han trailed off his words because he didn't want to make a contract with the opponent.

The opponent also didn't seem to want to make a contract with Yi-Han very much.

The way it glared while flickering in its amorphous form was very fierce.

It felt as if it was saying, 'I'm submitting now because I was beaten, but if I get a chance someday, I'll stab your back!'

And Yi-Han also didn't want to get friendly with the opponent he had stabbed as if to kill with the lightning spear until just now.

"Huh?"

Priestess Siana was puzzled by Yi-Han's words.

"It's dangerous. Look at what it did by escaping into the forest."

Ilendil became crestfallen and stepped up to defend.

"It's not a bad-natured kid. It was created artificially, so it doesn't have goodness or evil in the first place..."

Yonaire, who was listening next to them, couldn't understand well.

"Didn't it escape?"

"It went berserk because I injected too much dark element... Now that it has come to its senses..."

"..."

"..."

Yonaire felt her respect for the senior slightly diminish.

"But Wardanaz."

Despite hearing the explanation, Priestess Siana still had a puzzled expression.

"Didn't you originally like dangerous things more?"

"...No, I don't!?"

Yi-Han was startled and looked at Priestess Siana.

Why was she having such nonsensical thoughts?

Could it be a slander by the White Tiger Tower guys?

"Uh... Since you carry the basilisk around your wrist, I thought you liked dangerous summons more..."

"Basilisk?"

Ilendil asked again, doubting her ears.

A basilisk was definitely not a monster that a 1st-year student should be carrying around.

If a 1st-year student was carrying a basilisk, it was either because they were crazy or truly outstanding in skill. Or both.

"What are you talking about, Priestess Siana? The senior will misunderstand."

Yi-Han quickly covered Priestess Siana's mouth.

Since basilisks were very tempting poison generators to alchemists, Yi-Han didn't let his guard down even with a kind-looking senior.

'Yonaire.'

'Got it.'

Yonaire quickly covered Priestess Siana's mouth and whispered.

"The basilisk is a bit of an exceptional case. Yi-Han doesn't usually like dangerous things."

The basilisk in Yi-Han's sleeve made a sad crying sound.

"Senior. What if you make a contract with it?"

Yi-Han quickly changed the subject and turned the arrow towards the senior.

Apparently, Ilendil cherished this dark spirit very much.

Come to think of it, it was natural for her to be fond of it since she had created and raised it herself.

Moreover, (unlike Yi-Han) she was close to spirits...

"It's too much for me."

The dryad mixed-blood senior spoke gloomily.

"I tried several times, but it doesn't want to make a contract with me."

"Oh."

Yonaire and Priestess Siana simultaneously had a thought cross their minds, but they decided not to say anything.

"Hmm."

Yi-Han was about to say to the senior, 'Do you want to try stabbing it with the spear once?' but he hesitated, recalling the moment he had cursed earlier.

Come to think of it, the senior had instantly bound the dark spirit with wood, so Yi-Han could sufficiently bind it like that too.

"It's a really good spirit."

"Yes..."

"Do you know that dark spirits are extremely rare among spirits?"

"Yes..."

"Originally..."

Ilendil spoke wistfully about how rare and useful dark spirits were, how touching and moving moments she had while raising it, and how regretful and sad it would be if this spirit returned to its original realm as it was.

"...Then you should make a contract... I'll make a contract now."

"Really? Thank you!"

Ilendil was deeply moved.

It was a truly kind junior.

***

As Yi-Han accepted the sigil, the form of the dark spirit stabilized.

Into a sphere the size of a small rock.

Tears welled up in Ilendil's eyes next to him.

"Be happy."

"..."

Yi-Han felt very burdened.

"If only I had treated you better..."

"I'll summon it for you if we meet again."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Ilendil grabbed Yi-Han's hand tightly with teary eyes.

"You're the kindest person I've ever met."

"But senior. Isn't that spirit glaring at me?"

Although it didn't have a face in its spherical form, somehow it felt like the dark spirit was glaring at him.

Ilendil closed her eyes and nodded her head, making 'hmm, hmm' sounds as if communicating with the dark spirit.

"No, it's not."

"It's not?"

"It says thank you for making it come to its senses."

"..."

Yi-Han looked at Ilendil with very suspicious eyes.

If it weren't for the senior, he would have blurted out, 'Don't lie.'

'No matter how I look at it, it doesn't seem grateful.'

His back and the back of his head felt prickly as if it was pressuring him like Gainando who hadn't eaten snacks for three days.

"Could it be like the White Tiger Tower kids?"

Yonaire whispered cautiously.

"White Tiger Tower?"

"They also say thank you when they get hit."

"...Ah, no. Someone might misunderstand if they hear that."

Yi-Han hurriedly covered Yonaire's mouth.

But he could understand what she meant.

-Hey. You there. Don't fall asleep. Hey, you bastard, I told you not to fall asleep.-

-Ack!-

-I don't want to attack you either. I told you not to fall asleep. Why have you been like this since earlier?-

-Ugh...-

-You're not getting angry at me for helping you study right now, are you?-

-Ah, no. I'm grateful.-

...Like the White Tiger Tower students, the dark spirit could also say, 'Thank you for making me come to my senses,' while gritting its teeth.

'It's even more concerning.'

Yi-Han firmly resolved not to summon the dark spirit unless it was absolutely necessary, no matter how useful and rare it was.

Tap tap-

"?"

The squirrel spirit tapped Yi-Han's shoulder and pointed to the side.

From the place where the spirits had fled earlier, a pure energy began to swirl along with light.

Yi-Han suddenly felt an ominous feeling at that energy.

"...Senior Ilendil, who is close to spirits? What phenomenon is that now?"

"The spirits are returning to their home."

Ilendil spoke in a voice filled with gentle emotion.

It was rare for spirits summoned from another realm to return on their own.

Most of them returned only after their power was exhausted, and conflicts often occurred in the process. It was rather fortunate if it was resolved through persuasion.

But now, the spirits were trying to return to their own dimension, satisfied with each other, without anyone having to go first.

Expressing gratitude to the mages who risked their lives to help them.

The unique light emitted by the spirits fell from the sky like raindrops.

"It's beautiful..."

"Truly."

Priestess Siana and Yonaire were overwhelmed by the splendid symphony of nature created by the spirits and blinked their eyes.

It was a rare sight that could only be seen by genuinely moving the spirits, not through conflict or persuasion.

Seeing this, the hardships they endured today suddenly felt rewarding.

Paaaaaaah!

The last spirit disappeared beyond the other realm, expressing its gratitude.

The drops of light flickered, and the forest returned to its original state.

Priestess Siana, Yonaire, and Ilendil deeply inhaled the light left behind by the spirits.

It felt as if the spirits' energy was filling their entire bodies.

Thud!

The sound of someone collapsing came from the side.

Yonaire was startled and looked to the side.

Yi-Han was kneeling on the ground, looking devastated.

"..."

"..."

He looked so sad that Yonaire couldn't even bring herself to speak to him.

Tap tap-

The squirrel spirit and the basilisk comforted Yi-Han as if to say they were there for him.

***

Professor Uregor, who had caught all the ungrateful disciples, returned to the original spot.

Of course, the 1st-year students were nowhere to be seen.

If it were other students, he would have been terrified and gone to find them.

Even normally, it would be dangerous to enter this deep into the forest, and now there were even contaminants swarming, right?

But Professor Uregor was calm.

Because Wardanaz was among the group.

'They must have moved first because they didn't want to wait. That impatient kid.'

Professor Uregor followed the traces to find them.

"Hey, you guys! Why did you go first on your own... Why is Wardanaz like that?"

"Professor. The spirits have returned."

"What?! Such a joyous occasion...!"

Professor Uregor was startled.

If they sincerely moved the spirits and sent them back, the spirits' reward would surely come someday.

Of course, it was very rare since it was not easy to satisfy the eccentric beings from another realm, but for it to happen today.

"You guys are really lucky!"

"Uh. Professor."

"Wardanaz is..."

Yonaire and Priestess Siana tried to interrupt Professor Uregor's tactless remark while being mindful of Yi-Han.

However, Professor Uregor continued speaking without paying attention.

"It's something you might see once in ten years. No wonder the scent of spirits was so strong... It will be a great help to you guys too. In the end, spirits don't forget kindness."

"Professor. Professor."

"??"

Only then did Professor Uregor notice Yonaire pointing at Yi-Han.

"Why is he like that?"

"Because the spirits have returned."

"What does that... Ah!"

Only then did the dwarf professor recall why Yi-Han had gone through all this trouble today.

He had gone through all that trouble, but the spirits had returned.

Professor Uregor was at a loss for words, seeing how devastated his back looked.

"Uh... But how did you move the spirits?"

"We caught the artificial spirit that caused the problem and subjugated it."

"Who did???"

Yonaire pointed at Yi-Han again.

Professor Uregor was truly appalled.

He had heard from the disciples he had caught earlier, but the rampaging artificial spirit was no pushover.

The spirit itself was young since it hadn't been born long ago, but wasn't it in a state of rampage due to elemental overload?

No matter how much he wanted to be popular with spirits, to risk his life and rush at such a thing.

"You caught that???!!"

"The senior did help, but..."

"?"

Only then did the professor notice Ilendil.

The brilliant disciple was diligently healing the damaged trees and grass on the side.

"...Ilendil."

"Ah. Professor."

Ilendil, who only then noticed Professor Uregor's arrival, stood up, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

"You're here?"

"Do you have anything to say about this situation?"

"I'm sorry..."

Ilendil bowed her head deeply.

Professor Uregor, who was looking at her with mixed feelings, sighed once and spoke.

"...Alright. If you're sorry, that's enough. You must have tried to do well too. Don't do that next time."

"?!"

Yonaire was startled.

The person who had been jumping up and down earlier, trying to catch the other seniors and make them pay the price, why was he so lenient to senior Ilendil?

"Why are you doing that?"

Professor Uregor asked Yonaire, perhaps sensing her gaze.

"Uh, did you forgive the other seniors too?"

"What nonsense that would make my beard fall off? They're going to the punishment room."

"Then is senior Ilendil going to the punishment room too?"

"No."

"...?"

Understanding the 1st-year's question, Professor Uregor spoke awkwardly.

"Ilendil does a lot of work usually, so she can't go to the punishment room."

Ilendil, who spent more time in the forest than in the school buildings, was one of the most diligent people among Professor Uregor's disciples.

If such a disciple went to the punishment room, who would take care of the forest?

"Of course, it's not because I'm lazy to send her. I'm taking into account the work she usually does out of respect."

"Ah, yes."

Yonaire didn't believe it but roughly nodded her head.

And she looked at Yi-Han.

"...Could it be that Yi-Han can't go to the punishment room now either?"

"What are you talking about?"

Professor Uregor snorted.

And he became lost in thought.

A moment later.

"...He might not be able to go..."

"..."