The Academy's Only Human Summon
I don't know why I'd be a summon, but here I am at Aethernoa Academy. Beyond the enormous arched entrance stretched a breathtaking vista. The heat rising like mist from thousands of people filled my lungs. "Wow..." I couldn't help but let out a breath of amazement. The crowd that filled my vision was a riot of colors and backgrounds. Nobles in flowing silk robes were descending from elegant carriages with the attentive care of maids. Families in simpler but neat clothes held hands tightly, their eyes glistening with emotion. But the ones that really caught my eye were standing out. A long-haired silver-haired male student walked far ahead, his arm resting on a sharp-eyed, eagle-shaped summon that sat regally and threatened the surroundings with piercing glares. Some were accompanied by massive wolves, while others had mysterious shadows trailing them like ghosts. The sight of these alien creatures blending so naturally into the scene was surreal. "These people are all..." My muttered words made Yustia, standing beside me, curve her lips into a gentle smile. Her gaze sparkled with excitement rather than anxiety, with determination instead of fear. "Yes. They are all my rivals," she said, her voice carrying a subtle tremble, but her eyes gleamed like a predator eyeing its prey. "There are so many of them." I shook my head in disbelief. Yet Yustia gazed at the vast crowd with the grace of a noble lady entering a ball and nodded elegantly. "Exactly. It will be all the more fun. Only a few among these many people will survive and become the glorious new students of Aethernoa Academy." She looked up at me. "Don't worry too much. It's us who will catch those stars." Behind her bold smile stood the magnificent clock tower of the academy. Just then, a cloying voice slithered into my ear. "Oh, who might this be? Lady Yustia?" A man pushed through the noisy crowd. He was a male student dressed in overly flashy attire, with at least ten servants lined up behind him like a screen. His posture screamed superiority, yet it looked enviable. "Oh, Lucian. How have you been?" Yustia's eyebrows twitched faintly. Her tone was dry, laced with annoyance rather than joy. "It's been a while. Since the Upper Aristocratic Families' Gathering?" "Heh, indeed. I haven't seen the Chartoor family members who received special invitations since then." "Hrm... Is that so?" Lucian’s forehead furrowed slightly at Yustia’s pointed remark. But he soon smoothed his expression into a cheerful smile and casually flexed his left shoulder forward. A thick green-scaled snake coiled around his shoulder. Its tongue flicked rapidly, hissing threateningly. "Ah, I see my summon wants to greet you. This is my first summon, the Basilisk. I fed it a special potion from the family vault just for this entrance exam. It was raised with the utmost care. It's a high-grade summon judged A-rank. Honestly, I think the summoner who judged it was a bit stingy with the scores." He pretended to be modest, but the corner of his mouth curled up teasingly. It was clear he was enjoying the envious glances from nearby students fixated on his summon. "Impressive. Congratulations." Yustia answered in a lifeless tone. But Lucian didn't stop. His gaze swept over Yustia and flashed a sinister smile. "By the way... Where is Lady Yustia's summon? Did she perhaps fail the ultimate summoning ritual in a desperate attempt? In that case, she wouldn't even be able to take the entrance exam." "Empty-handed? How disappointing." Yustia lifted one corner of her mouth and shrugged lightly. "Do I really need to prove my summon to you, Lucian? I'm not even taking the test." "Huh...?" "And I wish you luck with the entrance exam. I heard the Chartoor family hasn't produced a single graduate from Aethernoa Academy. This time, you must fulfill the family's long-cherished wish." Yustia's words wrapped in kind blessings were laced with venom. Lucian's face flushed like a ripe tomato. He opened his mouth to protest, but Yustia already passed him by, treating him like a transparent human. Watching her back, I shook my head. "Wow... Can we really say that outright to nobles? This is the noble rivalry I was talking about?" Hearing my words, Yurika, who had been packing my bags, widened her eyes in mock surprise and tilted her head. "Hmm...? Taesan-nim, did you just say 'among nobles'?" "Yeah, isn't he a noble too? From the way he dresses and the servants he commands, he seems from a pretty wealthy household." "Oh, Taesan-nim. You're joking." Yurika covered her mouth and giggled. "Placing the Chartoor family on the same level as the Rosenharts. Becoming a noble house with a proper pedigree just by spending money as a nouveau riche? Their status is completely different." "Ah, I see. I thought you were from an amazing family." "Just some mine that blew up in the countryside and has tons of money..." Yurika, who had been chattering excitedly, suddenly fell silent. It was because Yustia, who had been walking ahead, stopped and turned her head slightly. "Yurika." "Ah... I'm sorry, young miss. I overstepped..." Yustia looked at us calmly. "It's fine. You're not wrong." "Huh...?" "But gossiping behind people's backs is unbecoming. The Rosenharts don't need to speak with their mouths to prove themselves. Actions speak louder than words, don't they?" With that, Yustia resumed her elegant walk. I patted Yurika's shoulder. "See? Keep your dignity." "Tsk, Taesan-nim was enjoying himself too." Yurika pouted and grumbled, but her eyes shone with admiration and pride for Yustia more brightly than ever. *** "Here we are, the practical exam site." In front of the enormous coliseum-shaped stadium, Yustia's voice trembled faintly. Roars of wild beasts, battle cries, and noise from all sides created a chaotic battlefield. "Are you nervous?" I asked, and Yustia took a deep breath and shook her head. "No. It's not nervousness, it's excitement." Watching the fire flickering in her eyes, I felt my chest ignite with heat. It was a familiar sensation. The adrenaline surge, the heartbeat ready to burst, the electric thrill that ran through my veins before the cage door slammed shut. When I had decided to retire and packed my bags, I thought I would never feel this warmth again in my life. I believed I had become nothing but ash, crushed by the bitter taste of defeat and emptiness. But now, standing before the fighting pit of this strange world, I felt alive again. Especially with this overwhelming power within me. My muttered words made Yustia tilt her head curiously. "Huh?" "No, just thinking to myself." I grinned and clenched my fists. The density of power in my grip was different. The wall I once thought was my limit now felt as thin as paper. I wanted to prove it with this power. That I wasn't a useless failure but a being who could shake this world. Yustia clenched her fists in response. "Let's prove it. What the Rosenhart family truly is." "Yes. Let's crush it." With resolute eyes, we stepped into the coliseum where cheers erupted. The bustling arena. "Next." A dry yet dignified voice echoed from the reception desk. Behind a towering pile of documents, an elderly professor with white hair adjusted his glasses and looked up. His gaze was sharp but tired. Having dealt with thousands of students, exhaustion was etched across his face. "Hello." Yustia handed over the documents with a clear voice. The professor habitually scanned the papers, then stopped at the name Rosenhart. "Oh?" The professor's eyes changed instantly. The boredom vanished, replaced by interest and anticipation. "The Rosenhart family. I wondered what kind of hero this famous noble house would send this time." He smiled satisfiedly and nodded. The name Rosenhart carried heavy weight even within the academy. "I see you're the Lady Yustia. I've heard a lot about you." The professor stood from his chair and looked around. His eyes naturally moved from Yustia's shoulder to the empty space behind her. "So, where is your summon?" he asked as if it were obvious. Usually high-grade summons were either too large to miss or exuded strange auras that overwhelmed the surroundings. But all he saw was me standing quietly behind Yustia. He met my eyes for a moment before shifting his gaze elsewhere, as if I were invisible or at best a bag carrier. "Do you have some kind of invisibility ability? Or are you hiding in shadows?" Watching the professor seriously pondering alone, Yustia murmured softly. "Here it is." "Huh?" The professor looked around again. "Where? My eyes are failing, so maybe I just can't see it." Yustia pointed directly at my chest without a trace of embarrassment. "This is my summon." "..." The professor's gaze slowly, very slowly, moved to my face. Then he carefully examined my fingertips, as if checking a malfunctioning machine. "..." He muttered. "Not there?" "No. This person is my summon." His eyes widened behind his glasses. "This... person?" "Yes." "I mean, a healthy-looking human male is your summon?"