Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: Spirit Sorcerer Leo - (2)
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The appointed time with Isolde was exactly thirty minutes before midnight.
Academy outskirts, deep in a secluded forest rarely visited by people. The woods shrouded in darkness felt chilling.
The one saving grace was that Isolde's mana-ignited light faintly illuminated the surroundings.
"Was there really a need to meet at such a late hour? I heard supplementary classes end before evening."
"There's a reason. Midnight is when all energies amplify. Magical rituals or spirit contracts are often done then."
"Hmm."
Indeed.
Archbishop Balua had performed his ritual right at midnight.
Was it the magic world's unwritten rule?
"Then, shall we begin?"
"Yes."
Isolde removed her drab Faculty of Magic robe and neatly folded it aside.
Under the moonlight, her casual attire was thinner than expected. A blouse revealing her collarbones and a long skirt. Fashion that unabashedly showed her figure. It was the outfit from the original story.
"How should I do it?"
"Give me your hand."
"Yes."
I clasped hands with Isolde.
"Priest, have you ever felt mana up to now?"
"No."
"Hmm... What about holy power?"
"I can use basic Heal spells."
"Ah, then no problem. Just feel the sensation of wielding holy power."
I nodded at Isolde's words. Thanks to recent lessons with Elise, I was confident manipulating holy power freely.
"Before we start, let me explain more. Mana Link mixes our Ods. I send my mana into your body to forcibly connect the blocked circuits."
"Understood."
"Yes. Then we'll begin. It might feel a bit hot."
"Hm...?"
As I tilted my head, Isolde took a small deep breath and tightened her grip on my hand.
At that moment.
—Whoosh.
Something hot and sticky flowed through my veins. It wasn't physical. Similar to holy power. But a more violent energy.
Isolde's mana flowed into my heart, spreading through my veins across my body.
"Focus on the sensation. Ignore any discomfort as much as possible."
"Yes."
The feel wasn't much different from when Elise infused holy power into me. Eyes closed, I controlled the energy coursing through my body. Then my pulse synced to Isolde's heartbeat.
Wait, heartbeat?
"...".
I opened my eyes. That's when I realized why I could hear Isolde's heartbeat.
Before I knew it, Isolde was practically clinging to my body.
"Eut."
A faint moan slipped from Isolde's lips. Her face flushed from exertion, our clasped hands trembled faintly.
It looked like lovers pressing together, sharing body heat.
Of course, it wasn't.
"...Hm."
Indeed.
I could see why Isolde had been reticent in front of Otilie and chosen this secluded spot. It was a ritual too embarrassing to show others.
After a short while, Isolde pulled away from my body.
"...It's done. How does it feel?"
"Hm."
I placed a hand on my chest. Heat lingered. Traces of mana. The mana that entered my body evaporated quickly, but the sensation remained.
"Strange feeling. Like my body isn't quite my own..."
"That's sensory synchronization. A classic side effect of Mana Link."
"Side effect?"
"Yes. Well, among adult mages, it's often used for... impure purposes."
Isolde slyly turned her head away. Her ears were red.
"...Aha."
I got the gist.
A side effect for those kinds of things.
"You're... not very priest-like, somehow."
Isolde muttered plaintively at my relaxed demeanor.
But what could I do?
I'm neither pure nor devout. I'm a quack priest, after all.
"Eut, ahem. Now that Mana Link is active, let's do the spirit contract for real."
Isolde fanned her face and radiated mana toward the sky.
Before, I could feel mana but not see it. Now was different. I clearly saw the flower-like mana traces blooming from her fingertips.
"Like this."
And soon after, Isolde swept her hand broadly.
Then...
"See? Pretty, right?"
"...".
In the original work, the spirit sorcery skill tree interface was depicted as constellations.
I finally understood why, now that I was possessed.
"Beautiful."
Spirits embroidered the night sky, shining in vibrant colors.
Blue lights, red lights, green lights. A scene like thousands, tens of thousands of stars descending to earth.
"Spirits are actually always near us. With measures like this, you can see them right away. There are especially many now. Your affinity drew them in."
Isolde smiled shyly, pleased by my awe. She pointed to a red dot in the air.
"That's a lower fire spirit, Ignis. Fiery temperament, but fiercely loyal to its contractor."
"Hmm."
"That's Sylphy. Often takes bird form, but grows into a childlike prankster spirit. Cute, isn't it?"
"Cute."
Listening to Isolde's explanations, I pondered.
Right now, I could only choose one lower spirit.
Mid-tier spirits, even upper ones, appeared due to my affinity, but I lacked the mana to bind them to this realm.
To contract more spirits later, I'd need to strengthen the Mana Link with Isolde. But that apparently took a long time.
'Well, even a lower spirit has plenty of uses.'
Far better than my half-baked holy magic.
I reached out a hand.
The spirits reacted, wriggling closer. A soft texture brushed my fingertips.
'Let's think.'
In the game, lower spirit skills were classified by four attributes.
Fire, water, wind, earth.
Higher skill trees unlocked light and darkness, but that wasn't an option now.
I needed the best performer within my limits.
'Water spirits are usually the most versatile...'
I reached for a water spirit.
"Ah, that's the lower spirit Secuel. Good choice. Gentle personality—perfect for taming."
In the game, the water spirit tree had top performance. Lay down a water field, then blast lightning or ice for mob control.
No matter how much I practiced spirit sorcery lifelong, my cursed constitution couldn't store mana, so strong spirits were out. Better pick one with max utility.
"This one?"
As I started to nod at Isolde—
Something entered my vision.
'That's...'
Amid the brilliant elemental spirits, one stood out.
It neither shone nor blazed. Like it didn't exist—like hazy mist, an amorphous presence flickering.
Coincidentally, I already knew this spirit.
From beyond my 24-inch monitor.
"Miss Isolde, what spirit is this?"
"...Pardon?"
Isolde looked puzzled at the gray fluffball nestled in my arms.
"I... don't know."
Isolde truly seemed clueless. She infused mana into her eyes, staring at the spirit for a while.
"The mana wavelength confirms it's a lower spirit... but its domain? Abilities? No clue. Was there ever such a spirit? It'd be in the books..."
While Isolde panicked and rummaged her memory, I'd already decided.
"This one."
"...Really? We don't even know what it is..."
"I want this guy."
Because I had a vague idea what it was.
Throne of the Academy, Act 5. A kingdom-spanning clash with the black幕.
Bigger stage meant more foes.
Not mandatory, but subquests had challenge bosses.
This spirit was one.
Served by Act 5's villain—an evil entity.
In-game name...
'Void.'
Attribute: None.
A blank white canvas.
This special spirit changed nature based on who 'colored' it.
Crack!
Boom!
Roaring echoes rang out.
Sophia Aquilova tumbled across the ground.
"Krgh."
Red blood spilled from her mouth.
Her body was a wreck. Scratches covered every inch.
Her golden-haired knight opponent, meanwhile, was unscathed. Not even winded.
"Time for a mid-lesson check."
The knight, Beatrice, approached Sophia.
"Your swordplay? Like a bitch in heat."
"Ugh..."
"You've got talent. Your potential's higher than mine, I'm sure. But it's raw savagery bleeding into your blade. Emotional swords are garbage. Not even third-rate."
"...Annoying."
Sophia gripped the Ink Sword. A magic sword of exceptional performance, prepared by her master.
Beatrice wielded a standard steel sword. The gap in weapon quality was night and day. Yet Sophia's Ink Sword hadn't touched her once.
Not in over a week of relentless lessons.
The disparity cut to the bone.
"How the hell do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"That light cloaking your sword."
"Sword aura. Different from plain sword qi. A technique infusing your body's true energy into the blade."
"...So how do you do it?"
"Figure it out yourself. I just demonstrate."
Beatrice shrugged.
That smug attitude ground Sophia's teeth.
But no helping it. She needed sword aura. Mastering it unlocked the formless sword—the realm her master described.
"...Again."
"It's late. Tomorrow. Besides, in this state, you're just going in circles."
"What do you mean?"
"Empty your mind. That's step one."
Empty her mind?
Was that even possible?
For Sophia, barely half a year into swordsmanship, it was baffling.
"Swords that kill foes differ from those that guard masters. Yours overflows with killing intent. Can't slay enemies or protect allies. Like your traitorous father."
"...You wanna die?"
"Can you even kill me?"
Beatrice scoffed.
It was undeniable truth. Beatrice could beat her without drawing steel.
Sophia's face twisted.
"Keep this up, and you'll stagnate right here."
"...".
"Lost? Ask that master who dotes on you."
Beatrice left those words and turned away.
Sophia dragged her battered body from the training ground. By the time she reached the chapel, night was deep.
Sophia let out a small sigh.
"...What the hell am I supposed to do?"
Lessons she'd thought would take days had dragged on nearly a week. She was stuck, and Beatrice wasn't some stellar teacher.
Maybe she should seek advice from her master after all.
With that thought, Sophia arrived at the chapel.
"I'm back, Master."
Unlike usual, no reply came.
The chapel was empty. Lights out, chill air lingering. No signs of life from the attic.
"...".
A dark memory flashed in Sophia's mind.
Recently, her master had been kidnapped by cathedral knights.
"No way..."
Her voice trembled.
Her heart pounded wildly. She sniffed the air.
'Smell...'
A faint scent lingered. Leading toward the forest.
Sophia snatched the Ink Sword and bolted outside.
A kidnapping.
House Kreuz remnants? Another church faction?
Whoever it was, someone had dragged her master into the woods. Sophia raced through, ignoring branches slashing her cheeks.
But her fears proved unfounded—someone approached from the distant darkness.
"...Master?"
It was Leo. Relief nearly buckled her legs.
"Miss Sophia, did training go well?"
"Y-yes!"
Sophia beamed and rushed to Leo, but...
"...Huh?"
She froze mid-stride.
A gray-furred puppy nestled in Leo's arms. Or not a puppy—no scent. Odorless, colorless. An energy clump shaped like one.
"...Master, what's that?"
"Ah, let me introduce."
Leo just grinned and held out the clump.
"Our new family member."
Sophia felt an instinctive wariness.