Book 1 Chapter 662
662.
Leo showed a bewildered expression at Artyan's words.
"Spirit?"
"Yes. Do you have any idea?"
Spirit.
It refers to a being summoned by a spirit sorcerer who was a hero who died long ago.
However, a spirit is not a soul.
To be precise, it is a fragment of memory left in mana.
Mana is the power that flows in nature.
And the stronger the power and will of a being during their lifetime, the deeper trace they can leave in mana.
Spirit magic was like the memories of heroes carved into such mana from their living days.
And among those heroes, those who have strong lingering attachments to the present world are summoned to the present world as spirits.
'Luna could also come to the present world that way.'
However, the reason Luna was able to appear in the present world as a spirit was because there was a medium called Cometos.
'No matter how great a being is, their presence in mana will disappear after 5000 years.'
The reward for conquering the hero's world and Leo's spiritual power reacted, and Luna appeared in this world as a spirit.
Then…….
'Lishinas can also appear as a spirit.'
After conquering Lishinas's world, Leo inherited Lishinas's mana.
'I met Lishinas's spirit then.'
At the last moment of Lishinas's world disappearing.
The foolish one in the hero's world met the King of Wisdom, who faintly resided in Leo's mana.
And then he stood before Leo, inheriting the memories of his future self.
If Lishinas's mana left a trace in Leo's mana then.
'It wouldn't be strange for Lishinas's spirit to remain around me.'
Moreover…….
'Chelsea said Lishinas, whom she met in Nightmare, got angry after being called ugly.'
From then on, he suspected Lishinas's presence, which might have been within him.
But now, after hearing Artyan's words, he was convinced.
'Lishinas is in the spirit state, residing in the mana of the person I inherited.'
Leo clenched his fist and looked at Artyan.
"I have some idea."
"As expected."
"Can you perhaps summon that spirit?"
Artyan was a spirit sorcerer with great abilities.
He thought that if he could sense the existence of a spirit, he could summon it.
To Leo's question, Artyan shook his head with a troubled expression.
"It's difficult."
"Why?"
"If the spirit resided in the original power you possess, Leo, summoning it might have been possible, but I don't think that's the case. The presence of the spirit you feel around Leo is very faint."
"Faint?"
"Yes. It's as if it's not a spirit residing in you. When the presence is this faint, it's often a spirit residing in the reward for conquering the hero's world, not in you."
"A spirit in my conquest reward?"
"Yes. But that's strange. The feeling is similar to a spirit obtained through inheritance, but the target of this spirit's emotions is clearly Leo. Hmm."
Artyan pondered, tilting his head, then clapped his hands.
"Ah. Do you happen to have spirit magic among the hero's power you inherited, Leo?"
Leo was surprised by his words.
'Can you infer even that?'
"I think it's a spirit that manifested when Leo acquired the power of spirit magic. I didn't sense any sign of a spirit from Leo in his first year."
At his words, Leo stared intently at Artyan.
Spirit sorcerers are very rare.
But that doesn't mean they are completely unseen.
After becoming the student council president of Lumern, Leo had met a few spirit sorcerers.
However, none of them had sensed the presence of a spirit within him like Artyan.
"Is there something on my face?"
"Professor Artyan, you are also a genius."
"What?"
Artyan looked bewildered by his sudden remark.
"I guess I'll have to be the one to summon it."
"Yes. But it will be very difficult. It's true that a spirit resides in Leo, but it's not in an awakened state. Awakened spirits are asleep. Moreover…"
"Moreover?"
"If you are not a born spirit sorcerer, it will be very difficult to handle the ability of spirit magic even if you acquire it."
At his words, Leo stared intently at Artyan.
"Professor."
"Yes."
"Can you teach me spirit magic?"
"To Leo?"
Artyan tilted his head, then said,
"It's not difficult, but if you're a complete novice in spirit magic, you'll have to learn late at night. The spirit's energy becomes stronger at night."
"That's fortunate. Since I'm the student council president."
"What?"
Artyan, who had a puzzled expression, brightened up.
"Ah! Leo, you use the study room."
Artyan clapped his hands.
"Heh heh, it will be no problem if I go to Leo's dormitory room every night."
"You're enthusiastic."
"Of course, it's Leo who asked me for private tutoring, not anyone else."
Artyan's eyes widened slightly.
"As a professor, it is a great fortune to teach a student like Leo."
"Then please take good care of me."
"Just trust me."
Artyan lightly hit his chest with his fist and made a determined expression.
"I will teach 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 and the others are not skilled enough. It's just that these three people are specialized for this mission."
"That's right. Shasha. Don't be too discouraged."
Chelsea also comforted Shasha.
"Still, you're the only pure mage, senpai Chelsea… Shouldn't I be able to join?"
Juane, standing next to them, spoke with a resentful face, and Kale pointed at Duran and Eliza with his fingers.
"Even though they are from the Knight Department and the Summoning Department, the Prince and Eliza are walking time bombs. Not just in personality, but also in skill."
"You don't have to express your desire to die like that, do you, Kale Thomas?"
"What did you say about my personality?"
"Kegegegegek!"
Duran asked with a chilling smile, and Eliza strangled Kale's neck with her whip.
"Still, it's frustrating."
As Juane clenched his fist, Kale, who was barely released, touched his neck and said,
"Well, missions have their own specializations…"
"Hmph. Being expected by seniors is also a burden."
"Were you always like that, Little Prince?"
Seeing Habiden approach Kale and laugh, Kale let out a light sigh.
Habiden was Duran's mentee during his first year, so Kale called him Little Prince.
Moreover, like Duran, he was the heir to a kingdom.
"Don't be ridiculous, Habiden. You were just chosen because you're specialized in mobility!"
"The jealousy of the left behind is ugly."
At those words, Juane, with veins bulging on his forehead, grabbed Kale and shook him violently.
"Senior Kale! Tell Leo, senpai! Even if you tie me up and drag me around like a burden, please let me go with you!"
"That won't do, Juane. A burden is even more useless."
"Kyaaaah!"
"Aina, why are you teasing Juane?"
"…? I wasn't teasing. I was just stating the facts."
Aina's eyes widened at Luke's scolding.
She couldn't join even when she was in peak condition, so she definitely shouldn't join if she was like a burden.
Aina, who wanted to say that, but failed to read the mood, perfectly provoked Juane.
"Hmph. A burden. It suits you."
"You're dead!"
When Habiden teased him, Juane grabbed a pickaxe and lunged.
"Now, now, stop it."
Kale grabbed Juane from behind by his armpits and lifted him.
With his feet in the air, Juane flailed wildly.
"Senior! Let me go! I'll prove I'm more needed by smashing that guy's head with this pickaxe!"
"Now, now, stop it. I'll give you candy."
"I'm not a child!"
"Habiden, you stop teasing too."
"Yes."
At Kale's reprimand, Habiden answered respectfully and stepped back.
Habiden, who was from one of the three prestigious academies before entering, had visited Lumern before enrolling.
At first, he looked down on Kale as a commoner, but changed his mind after seeing Kale fight at that time.
Since then, even after enrolling, Habiden treated Kale very respectfully.
Seeing Juane with the candy he gave him in his mouth, Kale said,
"Don't be too impatient. I'm telling you again, it's not because your skills are lacking, Shasha, it's the same for you."
"…Yes."
"Understood."
Seeing Kale return after calming down his juniors, Eliza said indifferently,
"The juniors seem to follow you well, regardless of their department."
"Hmph. Isn't it because you have good influence?"
"Indeed, you have good influence among the juniors."
"Ing?"
Seeing Eliza's affirmation, Kale was flustered.
It would have been much easier for Eliza to calm down the juniors.
She could just suppress them with charisma.
But Kale literally calmed them down by gently persuading them.
"Well, it's a perfect method for someone as soft as you."
"That's fortunate."
"…? What?"
"I was surprised you praised me. I thought you were sick."
Pak-!
"Leo! Save me!"
Seeing Eliza pulling the whip taut, Kale quickly fled to Leo.
Duriana watched from afar, stroking her chin.
"What are you looking at so intently?"
"I think I can find an excellent model at this party."
"You'll never find one."
Arga said with a look of pity.
Leo, having confirmed that preparations were complete, said,
"Then let's depart."
*
Entering Tartarus's domain, Leo and his party began to move in earnest.
The entrance to Tartarus's domain was similar to a disputed border line.
Although it was clearly Tartarus's domain, it was a place where battles constantly occurred for recapture by the world.
There had been no armed conflict with Tartarus on the eastern front recently, but Demian and Shan, the largest powers in the eastern continent, had been consistently purging the surrounding demons, monsters, and beasts.
In other words, there were relatively few enemies at the entrance.
"Although there were countless Gigantes in the area we scouted, that was a special case."
"A special case?"
"Yes. A densely populated area."
Leo said, recalling two days of battles.
"If there were that many monsters throughout Tartarus's domain, this world would have been destroyed long ago."
Artyan nodded at Leo's words.
"Leo is right. Even in the depths of Tartarus's domain, you can't always encounter that many monsters. There must be a special reason. For example, there might be an entrance to a hero's dungeon nearby."
"So, we have to go back there eventually."
"That's right."
Leo nodded.
The party moved with tense expressions.
Since they had already finished assessing the surrounding terrain and situation, their movement was very fast.
A moment later.
Arriving at the Gigantes outbreak area, Leo narrowed his brow.
"Huh? What is it? Where did all those Gigantes go?"
Iliana said with a surprised expression.
The enormous number of Gigantes they had confirmed earlier were nowhere to be seen.
Artyan checked the map and said,
"Originally, this area was also a safe zone where no monsters or beasts could be found."
However, with the clear anomaly of a hero's dungeon appearing, it was now a dangerous zone.
Eliza and Kale, who were scouting from the sky, returned to the ground.
"It seems like the Gigantes have made a large-scale movement?"
"Large-scale movement?"
"Yes. I see signs of movement."
If a large number of Gigantes, giant monsters, moved, their tracks would definitely be left behind.
"We should at least follow the tracks…"
Gugugugugugugung-!
The surrounding area began to shake.
Everyone took a defensive stance due to the sudden situation.
Quaddudeuk-! Kwagagang-!
Finally, a giant arm rose before Leo.
"Gwooooooooh!"
"What is that monster?!"
Kale looked at the demon that sprang from the ground with a look of terror.
Looking at the giant demon emitting unusual dark magic, Leo muttered,
"Giganto."
"Leo brother, do you know this demon?!"
"He was the right-hand man of the Giant King Gias, a great demon."
Leo clenched and unclenched his fist.
"This is interesting."
"What is?"
Looking at Chelsea, who was bewildered, Leo said with a combative smile,
"That I'm killing a demon I've already killed."