Book 1 Chapter 662
662.
At Artian's words, Leo made a bewildered expression.
"A Spirit?"
"Yes. Do you have any guesses?"
Spirit.
It refers to a hero who died long ago, summoned by a Spirit Summoner.
However, a Spirit is not a soul.
To be precise, it's a fragment of memory remaining in mana.
Mana is a force that flows in nature.
And the stronger the power and will a being possessed during their lifetime, the deeper they can leave their trace in mana.
Spirit Summoning was like the living memories of heroes etched into such mana.
And among those heroes, those with strong lingering attachments to the present world are summoned to the present world as Spirits.
'Luna could also come to this world that way.'
However, the reason Luna could appear in the present world as a Spirit was because there was an intermediary called Cometes.
'No matter how great a being, after 5000 years, their presence remaining in mana is bound to disappear.'
In response to the Hero's World Conquest reward and Leo's spiritual power, the being named Luna appeared in this world as a Spirit.
If that's the case…
'Lysinas could also appear as a Spirit.'
Earlier, after conquering Lysinas's world, Leo inherited Lysinas's mana.
'At that time, I met Lysinas's Spirit.'
At the final moment when Lysinas's world was disappearing.
The foolish one in the Hero's World met the King of Wisdom, who faintly resided in Leo's mana.
And stood before Leo, inheriting the memories of his future self.
If Lysinas's mana left a trace in Leo's mana at that time.
'It wouldn't be strange if Lysinas's Spirit remained around me.'
Furthermore…
'Chelsea said she got angry when she heard that Lysinas, whom she met in the Nightmare, was ugly.'
From then on, he had suspected the presence of Lysinas, who might have dwelled within him.
But now, hearing Artian's words, he became certain.
'Lysinas is residing in the mana of the one I inherited, in Spirit form.'
Leo, clenching his fist, looked at Artian.
"I have a guess."
"As expected."
"By any chance, can you summon that Spirit?"
Artian is a Spirit Summoner with incredible abilities.
He thought that if she could sense the Spirit's presence, summoning it would be entirely possible.
At Leo's question, Artian shook her head with a troubled expression.
"It's difficult."
"Why?"
"If it were a Spirit dwelling in student Leo's original power, summoning would be possible, but it doesn't seem to be the case. The presence of the Spirit felt around student Leo is very faint."
"Faint?"
"Yes. As if it's not a Spirit dwelling in student Leo. In cases where the presence is this faint, it's often a Spirit residing in the Hero's World Conquest reward, not in student Leo's mana."
"A Spirit residing in my conquest reward?"
"Yes. But that's what's strange. The feeling is clearly similar to a Spirit obtained through inheritance, but the object of this Spirit's emotions is clearly student Leo. Hmm."
Artian, who had been pondering with a tilted head, clapped her hands.
"Ah. By any chance, is Spirit Summoning among the powers of the hero student Leo inherited?"
At those words, Leo was surprised.
'She can deduce even that?'
"I think it's a Spirit that manifested when student Leo obtained the power of Spirit Summoning. During his first year, I didn't sense any trace of a Spirit from student Leo."
At those words, Leo stared intently at Artian.
Spirit Summoners are very rare.
But it's not like they're impossible to see at all.
After becoming the Lumern student council president, Leo had met several Spirit Summoners.
But no one had sensed the presence of a Spirit dwelling within him like Artian.
"Is there something on my face?"
"Professor Artian, you're a genius too."
"Huh?"
At the sudden remark, Artian was puzzled.
"It seems I have no choice but to summon it myself."
"Yes. But it will be very difficult. It's true that a Spirit dwells within student Leo, but it's not in an awakened state. Awakened Spirits are dormant. Furthermore…"
"Furthermore?"
"If you're not a born Spirit Summoner, even if you acquire the ability of Spirit Summoning, it's very difficult to wield it."
At those words, Leo stared intently at Artian.
"Professor."
"Yes."
"Can you teach me Spirit Summoning?"
"To student Leo?"
Artian tilted her head and then said.
"It's not difficult, but if you're new to Spirit Summoning, you'll have to learn it late at night. The spiritual energy grows stronger at night."
"That's fortunate. Since I'm the student council president."
"Huh?"
Artian, who had been making a puzzled expression, suddenly brightened.
"Ah! Student Leo uses a single room!"
Artian clapped her hands.
"Hehe, if I go to student Leo's dorm room every night, there'll be no problem."
"You're very enthusiastic."
"Of course, student Leo, of all people, asked me for private lessons, didn't he?"
Artian's eyes widened slightly.
"As a professor, being able to teach a student like Leo is a great stroke of luck."
"Then I look forward to your guidance."
"Just trust me."
Artian lightly tapped her chest with a fist and made a determined expression.
"I'll teach student Leo everything I know."
***
The next morning.
"Why can't I go?! Is it because I'm not good enough?"
Shasha asked Leo with a tearful face.
"It's not because you or the others lack skill. It's just that those three are specialized for this mission."
"That's right, Shasha. Don't be too disheartened."
Chelsea also comforted Shasha.
"Still, senior Chelsea is the only pure mage… shouldn't I be able to join?"
When Juen spoke with an indignant expression next to him, Karl pointed to Duran and Eliza with his finger.
"They're from the Knight and Summoning departments, but the Prince and Eliza are walking, large bombs. Not just in terms of personality, but also skill."
"You don't need to express your death wish that way, Karl Thomas?"
"What did you say about my personality?"
"Kegegegek!"
Duran asked with a cold smile, and Eliza mercilessly choked Karl's neck with a whip.
"Still, it's frustrating."
As Juen spoke, clenching her fist, Karl, who had barely been freed, rubbed his neck and said.
"Well, every mission has its own characteristics…"
"Hmph. Receiving the seniors' expectations is also a burden."
"Were you always like that? Little Prince."
Seeing Habidan approach him with a smile, Karl sighed lightly.
Since Habidan was Duran's mentee during their first year, Karl called him "Little Prince."
Moreover, like Duran, he was also the heir to a nation.
"Don't make me laugh, Habidan. You were just chosen because you're specialized in mobility!"
"The jealousy of those left behind is ugly."
At those words, Juen, with veins popping on her forehead, grabbed Karl and shook him wildly.
"Senior Karl! Please tell senior Leo! Tell him I'll be happy to be tied up like luggage and dragged along, just take me with you!"
"That won't do, Juen. Luggage is even more useless."
"Kyaaaaaaaak!"
"Aina. How could you tease Juen?"
"…? I wasn't teasing? I just stated a fact."
At Luke's scolding, Aina's eyes widened.
She couldn't join even in peak condition, so if she were like luggage, she definitely shouldn't join.
That's what Aina wanted to say, but thanks to her inability to read the room, she excellently provoked Juen.
"Hmph. Luggage, huh. It suits you."
"You're dead!"
When Habidan teased her, Juen grabbed a pickaxe and charged.
"Alright, alright. That's enough."
Karl grabbed Juen by the armpits from behind and lifted her up.
Juen flailed wildly with her feet dangling in the air.
"Senior! Let me go! I'll prove I'm more needed by smashing that guy's head with this pickaxe!"
"Alright, alright. Stop. I'll give you candy."
"Am I a child?!"
"Habidan. You stop teasing too."
"Yes."
At Karl's admonition, Habidan politely replied and stepped back.
Habidan, who came from one of the three prestigious academies before admission, had visited Lumern even before officially enrolling.
At first, he dismissed Karl as a commoner, but after seeing Karl fight at that time, he changed his mind.
Since then, even after enrolling, Habidan treated Karl with great deference.
Seeing Juen with the candy he'd given her in her mouth, Karl said.
"Don't be too impatient. Again, it's not because you lack skill. Same for you, Shasha."
"…Yes."
"Understood."
Seeing Karl return after calming the juniors, Eliza said dryly.
"The juniors follow you well, regardless of department."
"Hmph. Isn't it because I'm popular?"
"You certainly are popular among the juniors."
"Huh?"
Seeing Eliza affirm him, Karl was flustered.
If it were Eliza, calming the juniors would have been much easier.
She could just suppress them with charisma.
But Karl literally purely soothed and calmed the juniors.
"Well, it's a perfect method for a softie like you."
"That's a relief."
"…? What is?"
"For you to actually give a compliment for once. I thought you were sick somewhere."
Pak-!
"Leo! Save me!"
Seeing Eliza pulling the whip taut, Karl quickly fled to Leo.
Dryana watched the scene from a distance, stroking her chin.
"What are you staring at again?"
"I think I can find excellent models in this party."
"You'll never find any."
Ar made a pathetic expression.
Leo, confirming that preparations were complete, spoke.
"Then let's depart."
*
Leo and his group, having entered Tartarus's domain, began to move in earnest.
The initial part of Tartarus's domain resembled a disputed border.
It was clearly Tartarus's domain, yet it was a place where battles constantly erupted for reclamation even in the world.
Recently, there had been no armed clashes with Tartarus on the eastern front, but Demian and Shan, the largest powers in the continent's east, consistently subjugated demons, monstrous creatures, and magical beasts in the surrounding area.
In other words, the number of enemies was relatively small in the initial area.
"Although there were countless Gigantes in the area we scouted, that was an exceptionally special case."
"An exceptionally special case?"
"Yes. It was a densely populated zone."
Leo said, recalling the two days of battle.
"If there were that many monsters throughout Tartarus's entire domain, this world would have been destroyed long ago."
Listening to Leo's words, Artian nodded.
"Student Leo is right. Even deep within Tartarus's domain, you can't always encounter that many monsters and magical creatures. There must be a special reason. For example, there might be an entrance to a hero dungeon nearby."
"So, we have to go back there eventually."
"That's right."
Leo nodded.
At that, the group moved with tense expressions.
Since they had already grasped the terrain and situation of the surrounding area, the group moved very quickly.
A moment later.
Leo, arriving at the Gigantes-infested area, furrowed his brow.
"Huh? What? Where did all those Gigantes go?"
Illiana made a bewildered expression.
The enormous number of Gigantes they had previously confirmed were nowhere to be seen.
Artian checked the map and said.
"Originally, this entire surrounding area was a safe zone where no monsters or magical beasts could be found."
However, with the clear abnormal situation of a Hero Dungeon appearing, it was now perfectly fitting to call it a danger zone.
Eliza and Karl, who had been scouting from above, returned to the ground.
"It seems the Gigantes made a large-scale migration."
"Large-scale migration?"
"Yes. We can see traces of their movement."
If Gigantes, colossal monsters, had moved in large numbers, traces were bound to be left behind.
"First, we should follow the traces…"
Kugugugugugugung-!
The surrounding area began to shake.
Everyone adopted a vigilant stance in the sudden situation.
Kwadeudeuk-! Kwagagang-!
Soon, a colossal arm shot up in front of Leo.
"Groooooooar!"
"What?! What's that monster?!"
Karl gawked, staring at the demon that had burst from the ground.
Staring at the massive demon emitting unusual black magic, Leo muttered.
"Giganto."
"Big brother Leo, do you know that demon?!"
"He was the great demon, the right hand of Gigas, the King of Giants."
Leo clenched and unclenched his fist.
"Interesting."
"What is?"
Seeing Chelsea's bewildered expression, Leo spoke with a belligerent smile.
"That I'm killing a demon I've already killed again."