The Summon Personality Theory
Noah, her entire body shattered, was admitted to a private room. Thanks to the healing summons, her physical injuries were fully mended, but humans weren't creatures who could just bounce back after treatment. They were fragile beings who needed to worry more about a broken spirit than a few snapped limbs.
Noah was enjoying a lavish daily life, receiving treatment she'd never experienced before—top-tier care and psychological counseling.
And so the days passed—
"I'm truly sorry."
"Ah, no...! Please lift your head, Principal. Wait, this scene feels kinda familiar."
Catherine, the principal of Canopus Academy, visited Noah once more and bowed her head deeply. Noah tilted her head at the déjà vu, but managed to get the principal to straighten up.
"I have no face to show you. To let a student get hurt twice—once because of my own mistake, no less."
"Wh-why is that your fault, Principal? You didn't do anything..."
"Right. I did nothing."
Catherine gave a wry smile at Noah's unwittingly sharp words, gazing at her. The principal had devised the plan herself, yet while the teachers risked their lives against the demons, she'd been sipping tea with Ian Clark in her office, chatting idly.
Word was, a rare noble-class demon had appeared on the enemy side. If she'd known, she should've gone herself—instead of sipping tea in her office, assuming the summoned beasts would handle it.
"Once more, I'm sorry."
"It's really fine..."
"For making you go through the same ordeal twice, I sincerely apologize."
True apologies couldn't end with mere words. Reflecting deeply on the incident, Catherine offered Noah two forms of compensation.
"Regarding this matter—the academy will pay compensation amounting to hundreds of millions of credits."
"H-hundreds of millions!?"
Noah couldn't even fathom how much that was. She knew her father earned about 1.2 million credits a year from farming. It was an unimaginable fortune for an ordinary farmer in a lifetime.
"H-how can you offer so much money...?"
"That much? You'll realize later it's not that big once you're in our position."
"R-really? Do summoners earn that well?"
"Of course."
Catherine nodded and revealed the second reward.
"And... unprecedented as it is, we've decided to open the academy's vault to you."
"...The vault?"
"More precisely, the treasure vault."
She thought of the academy's vault—filled with heirlooms left by unknown sages, relics and essences from deceased summons. A repository of countless summon-related treasures, its estimated value exceeding tens of trillions.
Noah's jaw dropped at the words, hanging open.
"T-t-tens of trillions..."
"Anything you want from there. We've decided to grant it to you."
"To me!?"
All she'd done was get ambushed on the street or happen to save some teachers. Suddenly receiving such treatment left Noah dumbfounded. But the reward felt too enormous, and soon she calmed down conversely.
No matter how she thought about it, she didn't deserve it.
"...Principal."
"Yes?"
"Um, there's something I'd like to ask..."
Bang bang bang!
I woke to the door being pounded like it might break. Checking the time, it was early morning—sunrise, before even the attendance check rewards arrived.
Who the hell on a weekend...?
Vowing to punish whoever ruined my sleep, I opened the door.
The pounder burst inside the moment it swung open.
"...Who're you."
"Hey! You—! What the hell happened!?"
"...Stella. Shoes first, then talk."
I shoved out Stella, who'd stormed in without removing her shoes, and shot back.
"What?"
"What happened to Noah."
"Why Noah?"
"She suddenly gets hospitalized, refuses all visitors!"
"Isn't absolute rest the basics for patients?"
Pointing out the obvious, I stared at her. She groaned as if she'd overlooked it, stepping back.
Seizing the chance, she kicked off her shoes and came in. Seeing her in uniform on a weekend morning, I wondered what she was rushing about.
"So? What do you wanna know?"
"...What happened to Noah?"
"Why ask me?"
"Hmph, think I'm an idiot? You summoned a summon in the academy the other day. Even trashed the girls' dorm with it. Kids said your summon was looking for Noah. Still denying it?"
Plus, no punishment for summoning indoors—that was another clue. She pressed me hard.
Hearing it, I realized I'd left quite the trail for her to come straight here.
But it was unavoidable. 3-star summoners were rare, and their summons had distinctive looks—easy to identify.
I sighed lightly and told her the truth.
"First off, don't tell anyone."
"You think my lips are that loose?"
"A sheltered lady running around barefoot? Your ass looks pretty light."
"Ugh—! Th-this! ...How could I not worry when a friend's hospitalized?"
"Since when are you two friends?"
Amazed at how quickly she'd bonded with a commoner like Noah, I explained the other day's events.
"Remember our date?"
"D-date? When did we ever...!"
"Couple weeks back, at the teahouse."
"...Oh, that."
She recalled our first meeting with Noah then, firing back instantly.
"That wasn't a date!"
"Does it matter? Anyway, Noah got ambushed then."
"...Yeah."
"How, though? This is the academy."
"—You said it yourself. There was a tunnel. Even I didn't notice."
She remembered that too? Ex-top student, sharp memory as expected.
I continued from there.
"School investigated the tunnel and found demons targeting the academy."
"...Demons?"
"Yeah."
Humanity was at war with demons, summoners on the front lines. Demons invading their cradle? No small matter.
"Gotta report to the family now...!"
"And then? What happens?"
"What do you mean? They'll act immediately to prevent repeats."
"Academy staff already handled it. You'd just be kicking a finished fence to 'inspect' it. More hassle, no gain."
I pictured army division commanders swarming every incident, eyeing her.
Stella glared back like what's the problem.
That's nobles for you...
Anyway, no dice. I shook my head, repeating my first words.
"Keep it zipped?"
"...Even from family?"
"Obviously."
How do I know there aren't traitors in your house? I held back the rest. She'd call it an insult and tattle to her family.
She bit her lip, baffled. I pressed on.
"Anyway, investigation found the demon still nearby. Teachers confronted it the other day, Noah got caught in the crossfire. End of story. Got it?"
"...Somehow."
"Then out. It's 5:50 a.m. I need my eight hours—responsible kid here."
"One thing bugs me."
"What now?"
"How'd you know all this?"
"Told you, Noah got dragged in..."
"Not that."
Stella's crimson eyes sparkled like rubies, predatory flames locking on prey.
"Even if you saved Noah from the demon, no way you'd know the full context."
Step.
She advanced.
"Info even I, lady of House Iritz, missed."
Whoosh. Flames flickered around her, sparks threatening to engulf me.
"Above all, how'd you know Noah was ambushed?"
Info beyond ducal intelligence. My slip-up.
She pounced on it.
Sleepy mistake.
Game knowledge felt unreal, so I spilled casually.
Misreading my silence, she summoned Ifrit and Salamander.
The flame-wreathed pair appeared, room turning muggy.
—What? That annoying punk from before?
—Kekek.
"Salamander, pin him."
—Keruk!
Salamander's long tongue wrapped me instantly. Flames rippled along it, but it wasn't that hot.
Actually...
Feels like a sauna. Nice.
"You find this funny?"
Spotting my smile, she scowled fiercely, ready to torch me at a twitch.
"Who the hell are you?"
I clamped my mouth shut. Warmed up from sleep, drowsiness hit hard. Best to stay silent in this haze—
"Answer."
Whoosh. Ifrit menaced with fire. No choice.
I jolted awake, deciding today's sleep was done, and spoke.
"Ian Clark."
"Not your name."
"17, eldest son of Baron Clark, 3-star summoner."
"...No intent to talk, huh?"
"Current top student."
She dragged me out like that was enough.
Splash splash. Salamander's steps echoed.
Early morning, kids peeked out at furious Stella and her summons, retreating repeatedly. Finally, we reached the principal's office.
Weekend sunrise—no way she'd be there, but...
"Principal! Coming in!"
[—Miss Stella? Wait a—]
"Sorry! Urgent!"
Bam—
Ignoring her, door flew open. There was Catherine, hastily donning a suit over underwear.
Bound by Salamander, I got a full view.
...Youthful vigor reacted easily.
"S-sorry!"
Stella slammed the door shut after glimpsing the principal's underwear, then turned slowly.
"...You saw?"
"Yeah."
"Kyaaah! What do we do! You're a spy! Admit it—even if not, just say yes!"
Forcing a peer to peep on the principal's undies. Her crimes multiplied. Dressed now, Catherine called us.
[C-come in...]
Stella peeked cautiously, confirmed safe, and hauled me in.
Silence filled the principal's office.
Stella hung her head wordlessly in shame; Catherine blushed, mortified at flashing a student. A comical duo.
"...Miss Stella."
"Y-yes...!"
"Next time, even if urgent, get permission first."
"S-sorry..."
Apologies done, Catherine eyed me, still bound.
"So, why's Ian in that state?"
"Principal, listen. Ian's definitely a demon spy."
"Oh? Why think that?"
"He knew all about the demons. Can't even explain properly."
Catherine eyed me intrigued.
"Ian, that true?"
"No way."
"He denies it. Release him."
"Principal!? We need a proper interrogation...!"
She shook her head casually.
"Remember his summon?"
"...Yes. Of course."
No way the ex-top forgot. Holy-attribute summon, the kingdom's saintly knight. Beloved by gods, savior of the nation.
"He says his summon went out and told him about the demons."
"...You believe that's possible?"
"Why not? Doesn't yours do that?"
Stella fell silent, something clicking. She glanced apologetically—why didn't he say sooner?
You didn't give me a chance. Who woke me?
Catherine chuckled at her, then spouted some absurd theory I'd heard somewhere.
"Seeing you reminds me of the summon personality theory."
"Summon... personality theory?"
What nonsense was this? Not blood type stuff—summons?
As I thought that, she explained matter-of-factly.
"For example, House Iritz has long handled the great fire spirit Ifrit, and you summoned Salamander?"
"...Yes."
"So you're hot-tempered."
"Hot-tempered...?"
"Like now—rushing in without thinking, bursting into flames. Yet sometimes a gentle hearth fire, basically not opening up easily. Fits, right?"
...Huh, sounds plausible.
Her explanation made the "summon personality theory" weirdly convincing. Stella was tsundere, not easily trusting—flames that could burn but also warm.
"S-so Ian's...?"
"Ian's is holy-attribute. Harms no one, even odd actions have good intent."
"...Yeah, that tracks."
Agreeing, Stella finally dismissed her summons.
Face red, she stared out the window. Catherine chided her.
"Miss Stella, something left unsaid?"
"...Not doing it."
"Too quiet to hear."
"...Sorry."
Blushing, she apologized to me. Dawn wake-up irked me, but apology received. Bow from her? Good enough.
I grinned, offering a hand.
"No biggie."
"...What's this?"
"Handshake after apologies. Didn't know?"
"...Fine."
I clasped her soft hand. Catherine smiled contentedly.
And then.
"Meant to tell you later, but might as well now."
"...What?"
"Ian, we're granting you access to the academy vault."
An unexpected reward dropped.