Book 1 Chapter 709

709.

That evening.

The atmosphere in the Clock Tower dormitory was vastly different from the awkwardness of the morning.

"Don't you dare come over here! I warned you!"

"You guys better not even think about crossing over!"

In the common garden, the first-year students drew a line and growled at each other.

They were students from the Summoning Department and the Magic Department.

Kal, watching them from the common garden, clicked his tongue.

"They've really become enemies in just one day."

As Kal clicked his tongue, Eliza, who was sipping tea in front of him, replied.

"Because Leo Flov wanted it this way."

"How was Professor Yura's class?"

To Kal's question, Eliza curled the corners of her lips.

"Are you trying to gauge the trends of the Summoning Department through me?"

"Information is important. I intend to continue interacting actively with students from other departments as much as possible."

"Really? Good luck with that."

"So? How was Professor Yura's class?"

"Hmm? For free?"

As Eliza shot him a sidelong glance, Kal pulled out a small bundle from his pocket and placed it on the table.

Upon checking the contents, he found a small glass bottle containing glass beads.

"Crystal fruit?"

Eliza also showed a slightly surprised expression.

It was a favorite food of magical beasts, which increased intimacy with them, making it a highly sought-after fruit among summoners.

However, it was an extremely rare item that could only be found in deep forests where nature's energy was concentrated, making it difficult even for Eliza, the successor of the Hergin family, to obtain easily.

"I got it in Lumelia City."

"That seems quite expensive for the price of information?"

As Eliza showed a suspicious expression, Kal shrugged his shoulders.

"I wanted to make a good impression on you."

"What?"

Eliza was taken aback by the sudden remark.

Seeing Eliza flustered, Kal smiled.

"Our shop opens next month. You have to do me a favor then, right?"

"……"

"But no matter how I think about it, you might get angry afterwards and hit me."

Kal said with a serious expression.

Last year, Eliza had made a promise with Kal that he would grant her whatever she wanted within his means when she advanced to the third year.

What Kal had asked of Eliza was simple.

Kal's shop.

That is, to become a clerk at Kal's General Store, which was opening in Lumelia City.

There were quite a few students who went to Lumelia City for part-time jobs on weekends.

This was because there were many expenses to cover while attending Lumern.

One of the most representative part-time jobs was private tutoring.

Every year, aspiring students poured into Lumern from all over the world.

As such, there were many people who wanted private lessons from students already admitted to Lumern.

Of course, given Lumern's academic culture, which emphasized continuous self-development and competition with other students, not as many students as expected spent their weekends teaching others.

However, it was a preferred part-time job because it could earn a lot of money.

In addition, there were students who undertook quests that did not make their way into the Lumern Academy.

Students from the Knights Department would take on subjugation or escort quests.

Students from the Magic Department would take on assistant roles for famous wizards.

Students from the Summoning Department would take on quests to pacify spirits or magical beasts that were harming humans out of anger.

The fields were diverse.

However, it was rare for students to work as shop clerks.

"……"

Seeing Eliza's silence, Kal took out another beautifully wrapped bundle.

"And this."

"What is it?"

"Our shop's uniform. I designed it myself."

"What do you even think of me, the successor of the Hergin family?"

"Heh. The part-time employee I'll have to serve as my superior from now on?"

Kal gave a thumbs-up.

"If you work as a clerk, the publicity for the shop will be immense."

"Isn't just you being the owner enough?"

Kal was already a world-famous figure.

"Eh. Is one person the same as two? And you're pretty, aren't you? Because of that, a lot of customers will become regulars."

"……Why did I make such a foolish promise?"

Eliza grumbled.

"Well, since my business is done, I'll be going now."

"You're leaving?"

"We're in a department war, so if we keep talking, people will look at us strangely."

"Did you call me here just to deliver one simple message? You could have sent a letter. Do I look that free?"

"Yes."

"I don't have time to spare for you, do I? I should give you some compensation."

"Then how should I compensate you?"

Eliza pointed her finger at the restaurant located in the center of the garden.

It was a high-end restaurant that was too expensive for most students to frequent.

"Please go easy on me."

Kal put on a tearful expression, but Eliza didn't even blink an eye.

"I know you have a lot of money."

At that remark, Kal sighed and led Eliza to the high-end restaurant.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, as expected, there were no students.

A waiter guided the two inside.

Eliza, seated by the window, looked at the menu.

Kal silently gazed at the garden scenery.

Then, he suddenly realized something.

"Eliza."

"Why?"

"You've been to that maze in the garden too, right?"

"Yes."

A maze made of garden trees.

The place, called the Tree Maze by students, was incredibly complex inside.

Mana could not be used inside the maze, making it very difficult to escape.

"Why the maze all of a sudden?"

"Have you ever been to the center of that maze?"

"I haven't."

"Have any students claimed to have been? As far as I know, none."

"……"

Eliza remained silent.

Kal was a known informant among students.

He was privy to all sorts of trivial information.

If even Kal hadn't heard of it, it meant that no student had yet reached the center of the maze.

"It seems we're thinking along the same lines?"

As Kal grinned, Eliza lowered her gaze to the menu and said.

"Tomorrow, there will be a commotion about conquering that maze."

"Let's conquer it, just the two of us."

"What?"

Eliza looked back at Kal.

"Students will realize it soon. Let's conquer it before then."

"Why do I have to conquer it with you? I can just do it with the students from the Summoning Department."

"If many people find out, we'll have to compete fiercely. And we'll face a lot of opposition."

Kal shrugged his shoulders.

"If that happens, the students from the Knights Department will also notice. Imagine a crowd of people. Can we do it properly? Instead, let's form a temporary alliance and conquer it, just you and me. What do you say?"

To Kal's question, Eliza nodded.

"Not bad."

"Then, meet me tonight under the score board in the central hall at 1 AM."

"Understood."

***

Night fell upon the dormitory.

The interior of the dormitory was quiet as it was past curfew.

Tick-tock- Tick-tock-

Amidst the silence, the sound of someone walking echoed down the corridor.

The person who reached the room took a deep breath and opened Artian's door.

Click-

"Student Leo. I'm here."

Artian opened the door and entered Leo's room.

Late at night.

Artian's reason for visiting Leo's room was for the promised 영령술 (yeongryeongsul - spirit\/heroic spirit summoning) tutoring session.

"Hello, Professor."

"It feels new to be with a student this late at night."

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Yes. I'll teach you everything."

Artian, giggling, clapped his hands.

"So, first."

"First?"

"Take off your clothes."

"……"

Leo stared blankly at Artian.

Seeing Leo like that, Artian pointed to his own top and said.

"Take off your top, student Leo."

"Why?"

"You've already mastered the theory of 영령술, haven't you? I think we can move straight to practice."

Leo wondered if it was necessary to take off his top for practical training, but he didn't know much about 영령술.

As Leo obediently took off his top, Artian stared intently at him.

Then, admiringly, he poked Leo's abs.

"I expected it, but student Leo, you have a great physique."

"Because I train."

"That's right. Still, I've seen quite a few male bodies, and there are very few people with physiques as good as yours."

"Did you have many opportunities?"

"Yes. I have a lot of experience due to 영령술."

Artian smiled faintly and took out a brush, a dagger, and a plate from his bag.

"Student Leo, could you sit on the floor?"

At those words, Leo sat on the floor.

Artian, sitting behind Leo, cut his own palm with the dagger, creating a wound.

Then, he collected the flowing blood in the plate.

A moment later.

After stopping the bleeding, Artian, with practiced movements, dipped the brush in his own blood collected in the plate.

"It will be a little itchy."

Artian began to draw a circular pattern on Leo's back.

"Even before coming to Lumern, I taught summoning techniques. Many people wanted to learn 영령술."

Artian said while drawing a summoning circle.

"I conducted classes like this back then too."

"I see."

After completing the summoning circle on Leo's back, Artian moved.

Although the summoning circle on his back was complete, there were still many places to draw on his body.

Artian approached Leo's chest with the brush and chuckled.

"Student Leo, you were thinking something strange, weren't you?"

"You said it in a strange way."

"I haven't even dated once in my life yet. Everyone says I'm scary."

'He is scary.'

Leo didn't say it, fearing he would hurt Artian's feelings.

After completing the summoning circle on Leo's body, Artian sat in front of Leo and said.

"영령술 is actually quite simple."

"Simple?"

"Yes. You just close your eyes and summon."

'Professor Artian is also from the Arion department.'

Even those with innate talent rarely master their abilities perfectly from the start.

They are geniuses of the type who think, 'Why can't you do this?'

Artian, licking his lips, said.

"Well, even if you have a talent for 영령술, many people can't do it like me. So I've done a lot of research."

Fortunately, he seemed to know that others couldn't do it like him.

"Has anyone been able to use 영령술 after learning from you, Professor?"

"Regrettably, all the people I taught lacked the talent for 영령술. However, I told other 영령술 practitioners about the method I researched, and some succeeded in summoning spirits by training with that method."

This meant that Artian's training method was at least effective.

"What I will teach student Leo today is the introductory stage."

"The introductory stage?"

"초혼술 (chohon-sul - preliminary summoning)."

Artian said, making eye contact with Leo.

"I will teach you the technique of summoning spirits in an unconscious state."