Chapter 123 : Chapter 123
Chapter 123. The Lost One (1)
The final exam period approached.
Radel had gathered the first-year students in the Black Falcon Dormitory lobby and was announcing the final exams.
“I will tell you in advance that this exam is different from the midterm exam.”
“How is it different?”
Friends' questions poured in.
Based on the information Radel knew, he answered one by one.
“They say we will fight using what we learned during lecture time.”
Originally, it was something the professors should have informed during lecture time, but this time Radel took charge of explaining.
It was because Professor Marianne had requested him to explain well so that the first-year students wouldn't be confused.
Since he could feel the professor's heart worrying that a student might fail, Radel quietly accepted the task.
There was also a reward promised from the professor if the final exams were completed well.
‘The condition is that not a single failing student comes out of the Black Falcon Dormitory, though…….’
Radel was confident he would receive the reward this time as well.
It was a matter that would be solved if he guided his friends well like last time.
In the case of practical skills, since they were skilled enough to enter the Academy, he wasn't worried at all.
“Everyone takes different lectures. But how are we all taking the practical exam together?”
“Because Combat Magic is a required subject. It seems they will do the final evaluation with Combat Magic by applying what we learned in other subjects.”
The timetables of the first-year students were naturally all different.
Most of them were taking the five basic subjects they took in the beginning, but there were many cases where they left out one or two subjects they really disliked.
Nevertheless, Alchemy and Combat Magic were major required subjects, so everyone was taking them unavoidably.
Well, since they were magicians in name, it would be troublesome if they couldn't make potions or couldn't fight.
“How is the written score reflected this time?”
Inette raised her hand and asked.
“Written 30, practical 30, final evaluation 40.”
“What? Then we have to take the written exam, do the practical, and even do the final evaluation?”
“That is right.”
Isn't that obvious for a student?
Radel answered as if asking what the problem was, but Inette was falling into despair.
“To think I have to go there again…….”
It seemed she was thinking of that spirit whose name couldn't be spoken due to the restriction.
Not only Inette, but the expressions of a few friends also darkened.
‘Was the spirit of the library that bad?’
Although its personality is a bit eccentric, it is a thankful existence that raises grades.
It was Radel thinking something that would freak out other students if they heard.
* * *
“Now, everyone draw following this magic circle.”
Professor Marianne floated a magic circle in the air.
It was a magic circle that opened the door to the spirit world.
It was a preparation to call spirits, which one would commonly think of when mentioning summoning magic.
No matter how high the spirit affinity was, one had to visit the spirit world first to make a contract.
The first-year students diligently drew following the magic circle with the expectation that they could finally meet spirits.
“Right, this is summoning magic. I want to contract with a cool spirit like the Professor too.”
Inette looked at the spirits following beside Professor Marianne.
The wind spirit in the shape of a bird looked cool.
The water spirit sparkling receiving light also felt mysterious.
Then Gusto, who was drawing the magic circle next to her, asked.
“Just like people have elements that match them well, isn't it the same for spirits?”
“Probably? Since each person's spirit affinity is different.”
“Then the spirit that will contract with the Princess seems to be decided.”
At Gusto’s words, Inette opened her eyes sharply.
“How do you know the spirit that will contract with me? I haven't even said which spirit I would contract with yet?”
“I haven't said anything yet either.”
The two engaged in a war of nerves for a while and then focused on drawing the magic circle again.
Radel also looked at the magic circle floated in the air and drew it exactly on the floor.
Perhaps because he had drawn a magic circle when making a magical tool last time, it wasn't difficult.
“Your drawing speed is fast. Have you used a magic circle before?”
Professor Marianne, passing by, saw Radel’s almost completed magic circle and showed interest.
“Yes, I drew one when making a magical tool last time.”
“There wouldn't be a magical tool production class in the first semester of the first year. Your passion is amazing.”
Professor Marianne looked at Radel, who found and studied even what wasn't taught on his own, with admirable eyes.
She decided to teach a few more words to the disciple with excellent enthusiasm for learning.
“This will be different from the magic circle used for magical tool production. It is a magic circle that allows dimension travel. Although it moves the soul, not the body.”
“It only moves the soul?”
“Yes, spirits have no bodies. Then the spirit world would be the same too. The physical body of reality is unnecessary to visit there.”
Listening to Professor Marianne’s words, the formula of the magic circle drawn on the ground seemed to catch his eye again.
If it was moving the soul, he, who had Status Effect Nullification, could cross over without a problem.
Professor Marianne, who saw the light of intelligence reflected in Radel’s eyes for a moment, smiled slightly.
“It seems you understood a little. Then try stepping on the magic circle soon.”
Radel stepped on the completed magic circle.
As Radel stood on the magic circle, Professor Marianne took out her staff and infused magic power.
“When you arrive in the spirit world, there will be many spirits. I hope there is a spirit that matches you there.”
“Can there be no spirit that matches me?”
“Although rare, yes. But if you try hard, you will be able to gain a spirit's heart somehow. Keep in mind. In this final exam, if you fail to contract with a spirit, you fail.”
At Professor Marianne’s words, Radel came to his senses.
So this summoning magic final exam practical was contracting with a spirit.
Then he had to do it by any means necessary.
Professor Marianne’s magic power swirled around the determined Radel.
* * *
When Radel closed his eyes and opened them, the surrounding scenery had changed.
“Where is this?”
Radel muttered looking at the sky covered in a color he saw for the first time.
“Something feels ominous.”
Even to Radel, who didn't know much about summoning magic, something seemed wrong.
Professor Marianne clearly said there would be many spirits when he arrived in the spirit world.
However, not a single trace of a spirit could be seen here.
Dry land and piles of grotesquely twisted weeds.
The sky Radel saw earlier and was surprised by was dyed in a dark red color.
Rumble!
Thunder was heard from afar.
Flash!
Lightning struck in the dry sky.
Soon after, dark red rain poured down.
Swoosh.
Radel panicked and looked for a place to avoid the rain.
However, he soon realized there was no need. Because not a single drop of rain wet Radel.
Only then could Radel know that only his soul had moved.
It was as Professor Marianne said.
The problem was that the place he arrived at wasn't the spirit world.
“I need to find out where this is.”
Just then, there was a rocky mountain nearby.
As Radel thought he should climb up there, his body floated up on its own.
Is this what it feels like to have an out-of-body experience.
He worried about how to move his soul, but it was fortunate that it was easier than he thought.
Radel went up the rocky mountain and looked down.
An endless wasteland came into Radel’s view.
Various monsters were swarming there.
Boom!
Along with a roar, the raining sky split open and a giant foot appeared.
It wasn't a human foot, nor a monster's foot.
The giant foot of something that didn't resemble anyone's foot suddenly appeared from the sky and crushed the monsters at once.
- Screech, screech!
The monsters became a handful of blood clots and scattered.
“How can this differ…….”
The moment Radel saw that scene, he instinctively realized.
This is the Demon World.
Hometown of all demons.
The land of Archdemons who are sealed in the human world and cannot return.
“Contracting with a spirit isn't the problem here.”
Returning alive safely from here was the obstacle.
Perhaps it was fortunate that he didn't have a body in this situation.
If his body was summoned too, he might have been discovered quickly by the monsters or demons swarming in the Demon World.
Radel, with only his soul remaining, began to wander around the Demon World secretly.
* * *
“These lowly human bastards! Move quickly!”
Slap!
A demon wearing fine clothes yelled and swung a whip.
What was hit by his whip were several humans.
“I am sorry, Master!”
“We will move faster!”
They bowed their heads and diligently pulled the carriage carrying the demon.
Since humans were pulling it instead of horses, should it be called a rickshaw.
Radel clicked his tongue watching their miserable appearance.
“Why did they contract with demons…….”
As Radel wandered around and watched, there weren't just one or two people like that in the Demon World.
Those were, so to speak, souls who had contracted with demons in their lifetime.
Their bodies had already died and disappeared, and only the souls bound by the contract remained, being endlessly exploited in the Demon World.
The humans who were running carrying the demons knelt and begged.
“Master, water, please give us even a sip of water. We haven't eaten anything for days.”
“Here, there is no need to eat or drink, right? So what is hard? Recall the time when you contracted with me.”
The demons giggled at those who were once demon worshipers.
“You said you wanted power so I gave you power! Didn't you get revenge and obtain what you wanted with that power? Then you should pay the price for it!”
At the scene showing the truth that there is nothing free in the world, Radel shook his head and tried to leave the place.
However, in a short moment, the demons who smelled Radel sniffed their noses.
“Wait, doesn't it smell like a fresh soul from somewhere?”
“Even though there are 20 years left for a new soul to come in.”
If he had his way, he wanted to sprinkle holy water on those demons, but since he only had consciousness now, he had nothing.
What Radel could do was avoid the place as quickly as possible.
“This way, it is this way.”
The demons hummed excitedly.
“We have to find it before other guys find it!”
Seven Archdemons were sealed in the human world and the Demon World lost its masters.
As the Archdemons with mighty power disappeared, it was a matter of time before the demons under them ran wild.
They ate each other to occupy higher positions.
The demons chasing Radel now were strong ones who survived the fierce war.
They liked chasing prey.
Especially fresh human souls were even better prey.
Radel sensed that the demons following him were formidable and pondered a way to escape.
No matter how much he thought, there was only one way.
‘Let’s draw a magic circle going to the spirit world!’
If he could only activate the magic circle connected to the spirit world, it seemed he could escape the Demon World.
Whether it was possible to draw a magic circle in a state with only a soul was a secondary problem.
First, he had to try anything.
Radel, who flew as far away from the demons as possible, closed his eyes and focused his consciousness.
To draw a magic circle, feeling mana was the priority.
Although it is the Demon World, since mana is everywhere, he wondered if he could feel even a little bit.
It was then.
An unfamiliar voice was heard in Radel’s ear.
- Let’s make a contract with me.