Chapter 125 : Chapter 125
Chapter 125. Failure Risk Group
Radel was sitting in the dormitory lounge.
It had been several tens of minutes since he sat like that.
His worry was only deepening.
‘I am a failure risk group?’
Because the unbelievable reality had struck Radel.
It hadn't been many days since he clearly heard Professor Marianne’s request that no one should fail this final exam.
Honestly, he had thought of it easily.
Since he resolved it well during the last midterm exam, he thought it wouldn't be difficult this time either.
Failure, my foot.
He had thought such a thing would never happen, but to think he, not anyone else, was in the failure risk group.
“Isn't this something that can't be done even with studying.”
Practical?
Just set up a good plan and repeat practice.
Written?
Just open the book and study the exam range.
However, he couldn't figure out how on earth to contract with a spirit.
‘Although your spirit affinity is low, it is not very bad. I also do not know the exact reason why spirits do not come to you.’
Professor Marianne’s words didn't solve Radel’s problem.
It only plunged him further into worry.
Even after that, Radel visited the spirit world a few more times.
Fearing that he might fall into the Demon World if he had the black key, he left the key behind and prepared thoroughly.
He drew the magic circle leading to the spirit world so much that he could memorize it even with his eyes closed.
However, it was the same even if he kept trying.
Spirits did not come near Radel.
He heard that even the big friend who danced a courtship dance for the spirits succeeded in contracting with a spirit of dance.
There weren't only element spirits.
There were very diverse spirits in the spirit world.
Spirits to contract with, such as the spirit of joy or spirit of sleep, were limitless.
However, no spirit listened to Radel’s words.
“What should I do.”
Radel touched his head.
If he didn't contract with a spirit until the final exam, summoning magic was a failure.
Inette, who discovered Radel lost in thought unlike usual, quickly approached.
“What, are you worried about failing now?”
Inette’s mouth corners crept up.
“I knew it from the time you kidnapped people saying they were failure risk group last time? You didn't know it would be your turn, right? Taking me to the library after conspiring with Tunia!”
Inette’s voice grew louder as she spoke, seemingly getting excited.
“It must have been very fun back then, but now the tables have turned? If you are having a hard time too, why don't you go to the library? Just like I did, maybe the answer is there?”
The moment Inette said that, a light bulb turned on in Radel’s head.
‘Why couldn't I think of that?’
Radel jumped up from his seat.
“You are right, Inette. I have to go to the library right now!”
He thought no spirit approached him, but that wasn't true.
There was a spirit Radel hadn't thought of.
The spirit of the library!
To think he didn't recall the spirit he could meet just by going to the library and opening a book.
It wasn't something to worry about that spirits avoided him in the spirit world.
He was searching from afar while leaving a spirit nearby.
“What does that mean?”
Radel headed to the library leaving the bewildered Inette behind.
* * *
“Hmm, hm hm.”
The spirit of the library was flying around fluttering book pages in its own space.
It was scheduled to become busy soon because the final exams were starting, but it was quite free now.
At times like this, one should enjoy leisure as much as possible.
It was still not relieved from anger when thinking of its own unfortunate story of being bound to the library by a fraudulent contract not long after the Academy was created, but…….
Sometimes living as a spirit of the library wasn't bad either.
“Kuhehe, above all, because schools have vacations.”
The spirit of the library, who was happy while thinking realistically, suddenly straightened its face.
“No! What vacation! I would be a free body if it weren't for the contract in the first place!”
Thinking about it again, it was dumbfounding.
To think a great spirit like itself was trapped in a mere human world and satisfied with something like a vacation.
This all happened because of a lack of stimulation.
If it always looked after the studies of Academy students, it was bound to get tired of the same content.
“No fun, no emotion! Boring, boring!”
Isn't there anything interesting?
The spirit of the library fluttered its pages and tried to recall stimulating events it experienced in the past.
Among humans, the only one somewhat interesting seemed to be the Great Sage.
Although it got tied to an unlucky contract thanks to him.
Just then, someone pulled out a book.
“What kind of idiot is it this time.”
The spirit of the library grumbled and flew into the world inside the book.
* * *
Radel was standing in front of the library.
‘Knowledge is not allowed to those who are unprepared.’
The phrase written at the library entrance still welcomed him.
Just in case, he packed a sword and snacks too.
Because he didn't know what would be needed to persuade the spirit of the library upon meeting it.
What Radel did next was simple.
He roughly approached a bookshelf that seemed to be the exam range this time and pulled out any book.
As soon as the book was pulled, Radel’s soul moved to a space white on all sides.
Soon, the spirit of the library in the form of a giant book appeared.
“What are you?”
“Hello. It has been a long time.”
The spirit of the library recognized him seeing Radel’s sword.
“What, you are that strange guy who uses a sword? Did you come to study again?”
No matter how many students the spirit of the library met, it was difficult to forget a student who showed swordsmanship until it got sick of it.
“No. I came to make a contract.”
The spirit of the library stopped fluttering pages for a moment at the unexpected answer.
“I want to contract with you. What should I do for that?”
Hundreds of years living as a spirit of the library.
It was the first time a student spouted such absurd words.
The spirit of the library couldn't hide its bewilderment and asked back.
“What?”
“I went to the spirit world but spirits do not come close. If it goes like this, I cannot contract with any spirit and cannot avoid failure. The only spirit I know is you. Please contract with me.”
Well, the spirit of the library was indeed a spirit.
Even so, asking for a contract?
Not an archmage, but a mere first-year Academy student?
“S-Saw such a stupid guy. Do you know what kind of spirit I am!”
The spirit of the library shouted abruptly.
“I know that you are a great spirit. Still, I thought there would be a chance for me. If there is no other human contractor, please contract with me.”
Even when the spirit of the library shouted fluttering pages, Radel didn't blink an eye.
At Radel’s attitude acting as if he only knew straight forward, the spirit of the library felt its non-existent heart beating.
It really made no sense, but this kind of stimulation was the first in a long time.
* * *
Radel, who attended the Grade Representative Meeting, had no energy.
Although it didn't show much outwardly, it was somewhat different when seniors saw it.
It was rare for Radel to have no energy to this extent.
The seniors who knew the usual Radel decided to check if the recent rumors were true.
Anesha and Pasion approached Radel and asked.
“Junior, why do you have no energy like this?”
“Is something wrong perhaps?”
Shartea, who was drinking tea and reading a book sitting by the window, also pricked up her ears.
For Radel, who solved big problems nonchalantly, to have no strength like that.
Something must have gone wrong.
Then it was proper to give help as seniors.
Amidst the seniors' interest, Radel opened his mouth.
“A certain spirit won't contract with me.”
Anesha and Pasion exchanged glances quickly.
Certainly, the rumors circulating among the first-year students seemed to be true.
The rumor that among the first-year students taking summoning magic this year, only Radel failed to contract with a spirit.
Since he was Radel who always produced good grades, the shock must have been quite big.
Spirit affinity was something innate.
Among seniors, there were people who hadn't contracted with a spirit yet.
Even so, it didn't hinder using magic, so having low spirit affinity wasn't such a serious matter.
Rather, listening to Radel, didn't it seem there was a separate spirit he wanted to contract with.
Maybe there was a spirit he insisted on even though the compatibility didn't match.
Anesha probed Radel.
“Did you go to the spirit world? What element spirit won't contract with you, Junior?”
“It is not an element spirit. Although I went to the spirit world, there was no spirit showing interest in me either.”
Anesha also knew well what the atmosphere of the spirit world was like since she had taken summoning magic.
Spirits couldn't hide or fake emotions as much as they were pure.
While they chased after people they liked, they didn't even glance at people they weren't interested in.
Unfortunately, Radel must have been the latter.
Pasion grasped the situation and asked Radel.
“Oh dear. What spirit do you want to contract with?”
“It is that unspeakable existence in the library.”
At Radel’s answer, the three seniors held their breath for a moment.
Because if it was an unspeakable existence in the library, there was only one.
‘It is that thing in the library…… right?’
‘Right. If it is because of the restriction, it is certain.’
‘Since he says spirit, it seems correct.’
The seniors finished the conversation quickly with glances without words.
And they burst into laughter, exhaling the breath they held.
He was truly a junior who always exceeded expectations.
Anesha asked with her shoulders shaking.
“Pfft, really? You asked to make a contract?”
“Yes, I proposed seriously. Was I lacking something perhaps.”
Here, Pasion also couldn't hold back laughter.
“No, that would be difficult probably. It makes no sense for a first-year student to contract with a Great Spirit.”
Pasion caught his breath for a moment and added to Radel.
“I am not ignoring your skills, Junior. It means the Great Spirit is that strong.”
“Great Spirit?”
Pasion was double majoring in Transmutation Magic and Summoning Magic anyway.
As a Summoning Magic major, he knew a lot about the spirit of the library too.
“So to speak, they are beings born together with the spirit world. Among spirits, they should be considered close to gods. Usually, spirits can only communicate simply, but Great Spirits possess high-dimensional consciousness. The fact that the existence in the Academy even teaches students allows the guess that it is a Great Spirit.”
To think the spirit of the library was such an existence.
Radel was surprised by the identity greater than he thought, but his mind didn't change because of that.
“I see. Even so, since it is a spirit, there might clearly be a way to contract. If there is anything you know, Senior, please advise me.”
Radel bowed politely and asked Pasion for help.
Pasion was slightly flustered but felt Radel’s sincerity.
This interesting junior really thought this was the only way for him.
Of course, since a Great Spirit is also a spirit, it wasn't that there was no way to contract.
Pasion opened his mouth half out of curiosity, half seriously.
“Junior is right. It is not like there is absolutely no way.”
Everyone here didn't know yet what result that advice would bring in the future.