Chapter 134: Refusal
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 134: Refusal
After tossing out a sudden threat, Riyal looked away as if her business was concluded.
What a considerate way to end a conversation—saying her piece and then just cutting it off. So lovely.
Lovely enough to make me want to smack her on the back of the head.
If she weren't Shin Minha's summon, I would have thrown a punch without a second thought.
I considered tattling on her to Shin Minha, but a much better idea flashed through my mind.
“Professor.”
I walked up beside Shin Minha, who was leading the way.
She had been surveying our surroundings with a blank expression, but now she tilted her head.
“Is something wrong?”
“Not at all. It's just that I have a question about summoning magic, if you don't mind.”
“...What about it?”
Her expression remained unchanged, but her voice rose ever so slightly.
“I noticed earlier that Riyal's speed was abnormally fast. It didn't seem like the kind of output a mage of your level could produce.”
Let's say a 1st Circle summoner managed to form a contract with an S-rank monster.
Of course, it was doubtful such a stroke of heavenly luck existed in the world, but even if it did, the mage wouldn't even be able to summon the creature.
Everything a summon does, from breathing to moving, consumes the caster's own magic power.
Naturally, just maintaining the summon also drains magic, so there was no way a 1st Circle mage could handle an S-rank monster.
Shin Minha was a 4th Circle mage. It was likely thanks to her abilities that she could maintain a high-level summon like Riyal for extended periods.
It seemed she minimized her magic consumption by having Riyal's physical body remain in the Phantom Beast Realm during normal times.
But that alone didn't explain how I'd lost track of Riyal's movements a moment ago.
To move at such a speed, Shin Minha would have had to expend a considerable amount of magic, yet she showed no signs of fatigue.
“Is your magic capacity just that large, Professor?”
“...No. Objectively speaking, my magic capacity is on the smaller side.”
For a brief moment, Shin Minha's brow furrowed.
“Normally, support magic can only be used on oneself, but summons are an exception. Because they are connected to the caster by soul, they can be the target of support magic.”
“Ah, so then...”
“Yes. I cast speed-related support magic on Riyal. It consumes a bit of magic, but it's better than having Riyal use her full power.”
While enthusiastically answering my question, Shin Minha was also subtly promoting the advantages of summoning magic.
I was a little taken aback by her uncharacteristic reaction, but it wasn't entirely incomprehensible, considering she had suddenly offered me a teaching assistant position and a transfer to the Summoning Department.
Separate from that, however, the fact that support magic could be cast on summons was a little fascinating.
I was planning to summon Noel soon, so I decided to test it then. I deliberately stuck close to Shin Minha's side and asked her various questions.
She didn't seem to think of me as a potential romantic interest at all, showing no reaction to our close proximity. I thought she might at least blush or something.
It was a little disappointing, but I was satisfied, having already achieved my initial goal.
-Human, do you wish to die?
“Ah, I see... Summoning magic really is incredible.”
“Hmph, hmph...”
Pleased by my continued flattery, the corners of Shin Minha's lips began to twitch.
-Get away from her, now. If you ignore this warning again, I will separate your upper body from your lower body.
“So you and Professor Lee Chaewon were in the same class. No wonder you two seemed close.”
“...Although I don't particularly like her.”
-...I'll give you three seconds. 3, 2...
“Oh? You have something on your shoulder. Let me get that for you.”
The moment my hand was about to touch Shin Minha's shoulder, a dense wave of killing intent washed over me.
But because she was so agitated, she failed to control it. That was her mistake.
Shin Minha's gaze shifted toward Riyal.
“Riyal?”
Sensing something was off, Shin Minha stared at Riyal with a strange expression. Though I couldn't see Riyal's face at all, I could feel her flustered state as she shot intermittent death glares at me.
So what? What are you going to do about it?
“Is something wrong, Professor?”
I placed my hand on Shin Minha's shoulder.
At the sight, Riyal's body flinched, but she didn't reveal her hostility or emit killing intent like before.
It was obvious she was watching Shin Minha's reaction.
“...It's nothing.”
Quickly composing herself, Shin Minha glanced at Riyal with an indifferent look before turning away.
The moment she did, Riyal's head snapped back toward me.
-...I will make you regret this.
The voice echoing in my head was so absurd that I let out an involuntary, dry laugh.
She still hasn't learned her lesson.
I had originally planned to end it here.
After all, a summon might not understand human etiquette.
But her insolent attitude, refusing to know her place, was infuriating.
“Excuse me, Professor.”
How dare a mere summon threaten me?
I subtly turned my head so only Riyal could see and gave her a sly smile.
“Yes?”
“Would it be alright if I held your hand?”
The instant I spoke, Riyal's hand moved toward the daggers hanging from her waist, but that was as far as it went.
“My hand...?”
A question arose behind Shin Minha's emotionless eyes as she looked at me.
“Ever since my accident, I've felt uneasy whenever I'm near a Gate. To be honest, I'm pretty nervous right now...”
I put on a pained expression, feigning hardship with a bitter smile.
I knew lying was despicable, but Shin Minha herself had told me to let her know if I was ever struggling. Besides, she bore some responsibility for not managing her summon properly.
“...Alright.”
Contrary to my expectations, Shin Minha readily offered me her hand.
It was a beautiful hand, long and slender like a pianist's.
I gently took it, interlacing our fingers. Contrary to her cold impression, her hand was smaller, warmer, and softer than I'd expected.
-?!!
The moment our hands touched, Riyal's sharp eyes, which looked like they could stab daggers into someone, went wide.
“Hmm...”
In contrast, Shin Minha's reaction to holding hands with another man was completely unremarkable. She simply looked back and forth between our joined hands and my face with a curious expression, like a mage conducting research.
“Is something wrong?”
“No, it's just... I was thinking it's big and firm.”
“That's how most men's hands are.”
“...This is the first time I've ever held hands with someone of the opposite sex.”
“Ah.”
Did I just take another virgin's first?
-Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill.
Please keep the commentary to yourself.
“It's no big deal, right?”
“...I suppose not.”
“...”
Isn't this the part where she's supposed to blush without a word?
*
A good while passed, but we still hadn't let go of each other's hands.
Like a couple on a date, we strolled leisurely through the forest with our fingers interlaced, collecting sap from Ent corpses and herbs from their colonies.
Riyal's glare seemed to be reaching its limit, but that wasn't my problem.
I raised my senses to their peak in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances. If she moved with the same speed I saw when she dealt with the Ent, I could more than handle it.
“Shall we start heading back now?”
Having filled her water bottle with sap and her bag with herbs, Shin Minha took out a compass.
It was a magic tool that located a Gate's exit. The compass needle spun wildly before settling, pointing in a specific direction.
I walked silently, following Shin Minha's lead.
-...If you let go of her hand now, I can pretend this never happened.
Being inside a Gate really did feel like it cleansed your lungs.
It was a place untouched by human feet, so of course there was no pollution.
-If you wish, I can introduce you to a human-type female phantom beast from the Phantom Beast Realm. They're quite capable, so forming a contract with one would be helpful in many ways.
Ah, what should I have for dinner tonight?
Unlike the old days when I'd survive on a single pack of ramen for a week, I could now spend as much as I wanted on food.
Of course, I didn't have the time to go to hard-to-book places like fine dining restaurants or omakase spots, but it seemed like it would be nice once in a while.
-Do not ignore me!!
Ugh, seriously.
-?!
I was starting to get annoyed. How could she talk nonstop for nearly an hour?
'Cut the chatter. How long are you going to keep making these pointless offers? If you've got a problem, then come at me.'
-...I didn't think you were a mage capable of telepathy.
'It's called a Telepathic Message, you bitch.'
I had learned the trick from Cheon Yeo-hwa a while back, but it was too difficult to use.
However, thanks to this crazy woman constantly sending telepathic messages that made my head ring, I'd finally gotten the hang of it.
-If we can communicate, this will be quick. Let go of that filthy hand at once.
'No.'
-...
Grind. I thought I heard the sound of teeth grinding from somewhere.
-Huu... How long do you think I will tolerate your arrogance?
'And if you don't? What can you do about it?'
-I could plunge a dagger into your throat while you sleep.
Her casual threat made me scoff.
'Why don't you try coming to my house? But be warned, the moment you cross my doorstep, I'll fuck you like a dog. So you'd better be prepared.'
-...What?
At an insult she had never heard in her life, Riyal's expression went blank, a look so stunned it was visible even through the shadows.
-Y-You vulgar bastard...!!
'Now that you know, stop messing with me. Unless you want a front-row seat to your master's deflowering.'
I had a magical onahole that would grant any wish.
I had no ill will toward Shin Minha, but just as a pet owner has to pay the medical bills and settlement money if their pet bites someone, the pet's mistake was as good as the owner's.
Perhaps deciding she couldn't win against my counter-threat, Riyal finally shut her mouth.
Of course, she still glared at me as if she wanted to kill me, but I could easily ignore that.
After walking for a while longer, our hands became slick with sweat. But Shin Minha's face showed no sign of discomfort.
She just kept walking in silence, holding my hand.
She was the type who didn't easily show her emotions, except when things didn't go as she expected.
After about thirty minutes, the Gate's exit came into view.
An Association employee would be standing on the other side, and I had no desire for strange rumors to start because of some scandal, so I let go of her hand.
“Ah...”
“?”
I thought I heard a small sigh from somewhere, but looking around, there was no one here who would have made such a sound.
“First, we need to show our IDs to the Association staff, so please take them out...”
“Professor.”
It might have been rude, but I cut her off, hoping she would lose even a little interest in me.
“I'm very sorry, but I have no intention of changing my department.”
Suddenly bringing me to a Gate, actively having Riyal engage in combat, and enthusiastically answering my questions.
It was safe to say that this entire outing, from start to finish, was designed to show me the advantages of summoning magic.
Thanks to that, I knew her offer wasn't just a casual suggestion but a sincere one.
But what's not right is not right.
“The condition of your contract with Riyal... it's that you can't contract with any other summons, right?”
“...”
If she had truly intended to persuade me to transfer by showing me the merits of summoning magic, she would have summoned various creatures to emphasize its versatility.
But she never summoned anything other than Riyal.
As I thought, summoning magic had clear disadvantages that made it unsuitable as a primary focus.
That must be why it was always overshadowed by spirit magic.
“This was a very good experience. I'll see you in the next class.”
I gave a slight bow and walked out of the Gate.
*
Shin Minha stared blankly at Kang Hyun-woo's back as he disappeared beyond the Gate, then crouched down on the spot.
“M-Master?!”
Startled to see her bury her head between her knees, Riyal rushed over, letting out a rare, audible voice.
But Shin Minha simply held up her palm, signaling that it was nothing.
...My face is so hot.
She had personally brought him to the Gate, yet Kang Hyun-woo had rejected her without a second thought.
He'd done it before she'd even made the formal offer.
Anyone would see it as a clear, insulting remark.
It wouldn't have been strange for her to be angry.
But more than that, her face was so hot she couldn't lift her head.
Her palm was slick with sweat, yet strangely, it wasn't unpleasant.
Shin Minha could only furrow her brow at the unidentifiable emotion.