Rana Heytald (1)
The Student Council Hall was the heart of Tianis Academy. All the conveniences, starting with the student cafeteria, were clustered around it, and the academy's layout was designed with this central point in mind. A prime example was assigning departments to the four cardinal directions: Knight Department to the east, Magic Department to the west, General Department to the south, and Craft Department to the north. This setup was due to the academy's vast grounds and for the students' convenience. As a result, it took just 15 minutes to reach the Student Council Hall from any department site.
"So this is the Student Council Hall..."
A towering 10-story building loomed before me. I'd seen it rendered in webtoons and games, but facing it in person felt entirely different—far more majestic.
"Guess I should head in."
I wanted to gawk a bit longer, but as the central hub, it was swarming with students. Having just eaten, I didn't want to risk indigestion, so I pushed forward.
A refreshing scent greeted me as I stepped inside. Breathing in the calming aroma, I scanned for my destination: the administrative office on the fifth floor. Spotting the stairs, I headed up.
The reason I'd come here was to receive my punishment—community service. In essence, it was a penalty for student misconduct. But in this day and age, it was little more than a name. To get community service, you'd already have to receive a warning first. Three warnings led to expulsion. I'd hit three warnings, so expulsion was fair game, but the princess and my family's influence had landed me this instead.
"Two thousand hours is brutal."
Even dedicating eight hours a day, that's 250 days—assuming no weekends off. But things never go according to plan. Today's classes ended in the morning, but usually, there were afternoon sessions too. On top of that, I was broke and needed a part-time job. And this damn academy was packed with events—about a third of the year went to those. Realistically, evenings were all I had. Assuming I worked till midnight...
"Six hours max."
On days with leeway, maybe ten hours, but even then, it'd take over 300 days. Pointless math, since the suffering was all mine anyway. By then, I'd reached the fifth floor. This was where they'd tell me my assignment for the foreseeable future.
Fifteen minutes later, I slipped on a bracelet-shaped magic tool and headed to this week's worksite—solo, of course. Elraim trailing behind went without saying.
The academy's facilities were mostly internal, but Tianis Academy also had several external plots. Among them was a space for one branch of magic—summoning. Known as the Contract Land.
It teemed with beasts, familiars, spirits, and other creatures drawn to the abundant mana, a place that arranged meetings and forged bonds. And since it was external, that meant leaving academy grounds. In short, I'd trekked all the way out here for even more grueling labor.
"I'm beat... dying here. Right?"
I asked Elraim, who hadn't broken a sweat, but silence was her only reply. Feeling awkwardly embarrassed, I eyed the entrance to the Contract Land. A two-story log cabin stood at the sole gateway, surrounded by a transparent barrier—a ward against intruders.
Inside the building, an old man came into view. Seated in a rocking chair, he stroked his thick beard, gazing blankly into space as if the world held no interest. Looks could deceive; he was the caretaker here.
"What brings you?"
At his question, I pulled out the paper from the administrative office.
"I've been assigned here for community service."
"Ah, yes, I got word. Hand it over."
I approached and passed him the paper. He scanned it.
"Kyle Arden. Two thousand hours of service? Must've done something real rotten."
The old man crumpled the paper into a drawer and pulled out a sack and a map.
"Five hundred magic stones inside. Swap them with the ones marked on the map."
"Got it."
Sounded simple enough on paper.
"Oh, right—precautions."
He spoke in a gentle tone.
First, don't harass the land's creatures. Injure or kill one, and you're on your own—even if it kills you. They won't bother you if you don't provoke them first.
Second, no slacking. The bracelet tracks your actions and deducts time accordingly. So no laziness—get to work.
"Do well, and I can cut your hours with my authority. Buckle down."
"Thank you."
I bowed in gratitude, grabbed the items, and headed for the door to the Contract Land. Elraim followed, but...
"And where do you think you're going?"
"Pardon? But the academy already approved full access..."
"That's for inside. Not out here."
"B-but it said any location..."
"Never heard that. Want in? Get proper permission."
The old man was immovable. No words or documents swayed him.
"......"
Elraim glared at me, suspecting I'd caused this. Total misunderstanding—I was the aggrieved party. That old man was beyond my influence anyway.
"Then I'll be off."
"Work hard."
He waved me off. Enduring Elraim's piercing stare, I flung open the door.
Stepping into the Contract Land, I marveled at the ambient energy filling the air.
"Knew it from the lore, but seeing it firsthand is something else."
The mana was pure and clear, visible in glowing motes everywhere—exceptional purity. The central lake cradled a World Tree sapling, its harmony with spirit creatures purifying impurities and creating this phenomenon. Just looking at it was healing.
"Perfect spot for mana cultivation."
The Contract Land saw little traffic outside classes or special cases—no interruptions. And with Elraim sidelined, conditions were ideal.
"Not right now, though."
Duty first. I unfurled the map. Closest site: northwest. Clutching the sack tight, I set off.
"Have some tea."
The old man slid a cup across the table to Elraim. She eyed the rising steam with conflicted emotions before asking,
"Is it money?"
"No idea what you mean."
"Or... blackmail?"
"Speak plainly, please."
Elraim was frustrated by his denial. What leverage could make him react so coolly?
"Whatever the young master said, invoking the Arden name..."
She calmly tried persuading him. She needed to catch up now—god knows what mischief that damn young master might cause.
But the old man sipped leisurely.
"Mmm~ Nicely brewed this time."
Satisfied, he set down his cup.
"Don't twist my words to suit you. Bad habit."
Her cheeks flushed at the gentle rebuke, realizing her obsession had made her rude.
"I've heard the rumors, even out here. Arden's troublemaker, they say."
"You knew and still..."
"But he doesn't strike me as a wastrel."
"......"
Elraim was speechless. She knew that already, which made it harder to argue. Kyle had changed these past few days. No allowance, yet he chopped wood for food instead of rampaging. He ignored deliberate slights with mere curses. Today's classes showed diligence too.
But she knew the truth.
"This is just an act."
"How can you be sure?"
"...I've known him since he was little."
Having grown up in the Arden household thanks to her talent, she'd seen plenty of Kyle. She knew him best. When cornered, he'd play pitiful—then revert once the foe let their guard down. Outsiders only realized later, after being duped.
"If he's that sort, leaving him be benefits everyone. Why chase?"
"That's..."
She hesitated, thoughts swirling, then answered.
"Just my duty."
The old man nodded, which she took as approval—her face brightened.
"Don't misunderstand. Unrelated. Want in? Get formal permission."
Her expression soured, reminiscent of that damn young master.
"Thanks for the company, though."
His grin tugged his mustache, feeling like mockery. She seethed but couldn't snap at a frail elder. Consoling herself that she'd done a good deed, she gulped the tea. The burn cooled her anger with the heat.
Calm at last, she thought of the young master—probably causing chaos or working inside.
He wasn't like this as a kid...
Memories surfaced: an innocent, playful, hardworking little brother figure. But that child had vanished, alienating even her after years together.
"Haa..."
She wanted to swing her sword all day, but duty bound her. Elraim waited impatiently for that damn young master.
An hour passed. I'd swapped 20 magic stones, finishing the outer perimeter.
"...Break time."
I slumped against a nearby rock. Dirt smeared my clothes, but I lacked the energy to care. To recover, I sharpened mana into needles, threading them through my muscles for stimulation.
Already aching, this doubled the pain.
"Fuck... gonna die."
Mindless groan, but dead serious. Extreme fatigue dulled reactions sometimes.
"My own technique, but it's such bullshit."
Post-needling, muscles twitched. Different method, same agony. No stopping, though—accumulated fatigue would mean illness tomorrow otherwise. Proven effective too.
Recovering, I checked the map.
"Inner areas left."
As a key episode spot, I knew the Contract Land well—layout, secrets, inhabitants. Deeper in, work wouldn't be easy. Hostile terrain aside, those glowing eyes in bushes and trees were the issue.
"Scram, you lot!"
I waved them off, scattering leaves. They regrouped soon enough.
"...Fucking pests."
This land arranged meetings. Summoners sought partners; creatures sought friends or lifelong mates. Humans drew aggro—they swarmed, circling intriguingly if interested.
But I wasn't here for that.
"Scared? Then leave!"
Shouting did nothing. They feared me yet persisted.
"What the hell do you want?"
Beast, familiar, spirit—impossible to read. Low affinity blocked communication, and I hated them anyway. Frustrating as hell.
"Can't just beat 'em off."
I could, but no confidence in fallout. Thanks to the caretaker.
Ratral Heytald. With him around, no touching.
An 8-circle summoner on the cusp of transcendence. Incurring his wrath? Suicide express.
"...Sigh."
Heavy sigh, then onward. But a thought struck.
Wait, if Ratral's here...
Two caretakers rotated. But sometimes Ratral covered off-schedule—when his granddaughter visited.
"Nah, no way."
Burying anxiety, I pressed on. Thirty minutes later...
I thought,
"Hi!"
God might be dead, even if I didn't fully believe.
"I'm Rana! Nice to meet you!"
My meeting with the story's second lead was sealed. Ah, fuck my life.