Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: 5. Welcome to the Summoner's Academy. (5)
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“Summoner aptitude is outstanding. How about joining our Yuglasia Academy?”
-M-Master, are you insane? This girl was your disciple! Basically, anyone who calls themselves your disciple is either a would-be murderer stabbing you in the gut or a would-be pervert slapping chains on your neck— we should be running away, but you're approaching her first! Master really is a pervert!
While dodging and fleeing from people clinging here and there, I spotted a familiar back of the head, grabbed it on a hunch, and struck up a conversation— and sure enough!
Unlike typical novel protagonists, I didn't have facial recognition disorder.
By the way, Iron Bat, you seem pretty flustered?
Her voice was excited unlike usual, a bit scary, but since it's close to the truth, I'll let it slide here.
“Huh? Oh. Sure?”
No. 17, whom I'd grabbed, also looked flustered.
Yeah, suddenly a guy who looks exactly like the one who used to grind her down shows up— of course she'd be flustered!
-But if this girl attends the academy, you're fated to meet someday! No, she probably saw you during the speech already. In that case, striking first before she suspects you is one way to make it harder for her!
-Huh? You'll do that, huh. Bet my little sister you end up getting preempted and counter-preempted someday!
-Huh? Wooden-head would've gone to Rain already.
-Argh! Right! Poor little sister! Sold off to sparrows because of Master!
By the way, what's a counter-preempt?
Does she know that great saying too— if you don't land the preemptive strike, it wasn't one?
-Master grinning like that is creepy. As expected, turning my voice loli means Master's tastes are loli too? She's ambiguously loli, but targeting a kid not even 20 yet?!
-Hmm, she got a lot prettier in the last few months, but not my type.
Maybe because I'd often seen her in grimy clothes, unwashed during training, always looking shabby— now at the midpoint between girl and lady, it's nostalgic, but definitely not my type.
Just, what... clothes make the woman?
“Um, do you really sense summoner talent in me?”
No, a guy who can't even sense mana— how would he know that.
I just knew she contracted with Surtr, so I struck first.
But say that outright and it's instant high-speed imperial jail time.
“Yes, a powerful fire aura emanates from you. You've contracted with something at least an upper-grade fire spirit or higher.”
“As expected, Lord Niserwin's reputation is no exaggeration!”
An uncle nearby made a shocked face like he'd heard something huge.
Hm, not her dad, maybe a cousin or from a branch family.
“Ah, forgive my rudeness. I am Viscount Helade, her uncle.”
“Ah, the younger brother of the famous head of the Nermia family. Even in the elven forests, I've heard much of the five Nermia brothers.”
“Hahaha, we have always heard the legends of Lord Niserwin ourselves.”
While they exchanged greetings, No. 17's eyes flashed.
Heh, to think I'd see such an amateur.
Using scrying magic on instinct is good, but showing it off like that is a bad habit.
One more year of training and she'd learn the pro angle where it doesn't sparkle when using scrying.
But the attempt is commendable.
No plastic surgery, sure, but in a world full of transformation magic that slaps plastic surgery— no, triple somersault, step on opponent's shoulder, aerial flip, wall-run three times, then poke vital spots.
In a place where makeup isn't advanced for a reason, scrying that pierces transformation magic is essential to avoid face-fishing.
But I'm not using transformation magic. Just added some wrinkles to look older, whitened the hair, and used elven natural hair growth potion for a bit of beard.
Of course, mimicking the so-called flower field smile full of dreams and hopes from pure, kind elves who haven't entered human society is the key!
Oddly, all the elves I know can't make that smile!
-Little kid fell for Master's concept!
-This is the so-called kindly great sage cosplay!
Too bad I couldn't procure an owl.
A great sage needs a white pigeon or big owl on the shoulder.
“Really, my talent is that great?”
“Hoho, yes. But relative to the talent, you don't handle summons well. Likely because you contracted a high-rank being beyond your level.”
“Exactly!”
Ooh, reacting so enthusiastically it's like he works for that info broker from earlier. What was his name again.
Hel-something Viscount! That reaction's drawing even more eyes.
-Advertising while scouting talent! What a great method!
-Even so, normal people wouldn't go to Master.
Yeah, right. Not because of me, of course.
She's from the Nermia family.
Of course she'd go to Marsis? To sabotage that, I decided to use the shopkeeper tactic welcoming a computer-illiterate for repairs— pretend a simple part swap is a serious issue and push for a full PC repurchase.
“Contracting an upper being at such a young age. That's why the intense fire aura leaks so much I can sense it. A summon mismatched to the soul's rank can harm the user. Summoning is the promise of soul to soul. But if one soul is too big or small, the other can't properly wield the power. No, the summon could even harm the user.”
“I-Is that so?”
Ah, of course not.
That's for normal cases, but she slave-contracted a great demon.
Contract limits Surtr's output to very little.
Plus, pride-wounded Surtr from the slave contract won't obey No. 17's orders anyway.
So No. 17 is very safe.
The harm I described happens when a small-vessel summoner takes the dominant position over a mighty summon to contract it.
Dominant No. 17— Surtr can't do squat to her.
“Then what should I do!”
-Flutter flutter! Big fish, Master!
The flustered whatsit viscount charged at me like if I said 100,000 gold now it'd be solved, he'd pay on the spot.
Good. Your rough thoughts and anxious eyes— this body shall resolve them!
“This child has the qualities to inherit all I have. Likely gifted in magic too. But study at Yuglasia now, learn magic from the Nermia family after graduation— she'll become a history-making summoner and grand mage.”
Already sprinkled summon bait everywhere, now emphasize 'inherit all I have.'
She'd be a genius succeeding with just the info I know, so that's worth a combat operative blasting at least 10 enemies minimum at the Imperial Tournament over 4 years!
-Now, go!
-Really? Finally free!
Naturally, the Iron Bat coiled as a bracelet on my wrist till now glowed and began shifting to a little girl.
“Uuung~ You shouldn't listen to Master, okay?”
Tilting her head slightly made her hair, long enough to touch the floor, sway.
Her sparkling silver eyes glistened with a bit of moisture. A innocent girl around 10— even non-lolicon would find her cute— drew weak cheers from around.
Of course, the contents are not pure spirit but evil Iron Bat!
But no one around knows that!
“A spirit coming out on its own to aid its master!”
“As expected of Niserwin. Impressive.”
Spirits rarely emerge without incantation or command.
They serve by contract, so voluntary appearance might incur penalties.
But sometimes when master's life is at risk or hearts unite perfectly, summons move on their own— signifying high summoner rank.
Of course, this one's different.
“What do you think?”
“Hoho, if you say so...”
The viscount looked troubled at No. 17.
But No. 17 already seemed decided?
Come on. You have to come.
This much and you don't— that's abnormal.
You can learn magic at home, right? All the world's summoning knowledge awaits you!
“Hmm, it's intriguing, but I should check with the family first, Uncle.”
“Ah, right.”
But No. 17 bowed apologetically, tugged her uncle-whatsit viscount's sleeve, and left.
Hmph, your family will choose Yuglasia too!
I believe it!
And shortly after.
-Master, that saying you like fits perfectly. The axe you trust chops your own foot?
Iron Bat's delighted voice echoed!
Damn, cursed! No. 17, you applied to Marsis right after meeting me?
I'll make you regret not coming!
***
“So many.”
“A lot.”
“Insane.”
“Didn't expect this many...”
-As expected, Master makes things way too big.
What I saw was a mountain of documents.
Even taking fewer students than usual and raising tuition, it's over twice the normal Yuglasia applications.
Now check them all, select first-round passes, interview those, then final selects.
-Master, what's your criteria?
-Obviously what I said before.
-Kids with summoning talent?
-How would I know?
-No criteria then!
-What nonsense! Family prestige!
-Argh! As expected of my master! So materialistic!
In Howling, I knew how scary geniuses are.
Of course it'd be great if some are here, but I can't tell.
So first priority: face-savers for promotion.
-Famous noble heirs or nobles themselves for “Even this noble joined!” hype. Then people who want to brag “I attended with them!” will flock, raise tuition per vibe— academy finances flush! My balance flush!
-Master? Your balance gets flush from raise, right? Not skimming secretly?
What obvious nonsense.
Obviously raise makes balance flush, then skim for even more abundance.
Of course not just that.
-And pick desperate commoners or low nobles to balance ratios— perfect.
-Why the desperate ones?
-They can't complain even if beaten.
Two quick power-up secrets learned as instructor.
One: Hit with bat, they get strong. Survival makes 'em.
Rain and Sia’s class skyrocketed when Iron Bat appeared, early-graduated out.
No reason this academy's students can't.
-Wow! Means I can attack directly?
-Yeah, rampage freely!
-Master, cool! So cool!
Lisp voice rang in my head.
She seems really excited.
Of course, secretly feed her magic stones for mana sustain. Fail 3 times, succeed 1st try— skim 2 stones.
Others average 1/10 success, make 'em 1/3— academy profits!
Everyone, this isn't fraud!
Path to all happiness!
-As expected of Master! Master of self-justification! So cool!
With Iron Bat's cheers, we began battling the document mountain.