I became the Goth-Loli professor's summon
I became the Goth-Loli professor's summon
The place I was summoned to was inside a lecture hall. Students wearing identical uniforms were each decorating their uniforms with sparkling accessories.
Among them, the most eye-catching was none other than the silver-haired Gothic Lolita girl beside me. All the students were looking at the girl and calling her Professor-nim.
'No way, this girl is the teacher who's going to give me sex guidance in spirit arts?'
The moment I saw the girl, the word "loli" popped into my head.
She was so short she only reached my chest, and her chest and pelvis were underdeveloped. As an ordinary, upright Korean man, this is a body I absolutely cannot touch.
I remembered that I had omitted "voluptuous and curvy" from my reward request, but to be matched with a Gothic Lolita girl with such a delicate body like this—I was filled with regret.
"Um... I think you summoned me. How can I assist you?"
"You just need to help with my class."
"If I'm helping..."
"Stay still."
"..."
I was told to stay still. So I stayed still. She was seriously a Gothic Lolita girl teaching a class. She paid me no further attention. She didn't seem to have much interest in me, and I appeared to be nothing more or less than a necessary tool.
"As I said last time, the basis of blood magic is the movement of blood. Depending on the method, it can easily change like water, become a shield harder than steel, or become a spear that pierces the enemy's heart."
Red blood formed on the girl's palm, and as the class progressed, that red blood created a red shield with a cross drawn on it, just as she described, and also formed a sharp spear of blood that she sent flying into the air.
"This class will focus on the method of invoking blood magic with the help of a summoned creature, so concentrate."
""Yes! Professor-nim!""
All the students in the lecture hall looked at the girl with sparkling eyes. They were looking at her with anticipation, as if she were some famous academy instructor. Naturally, I, who was standing there, received those gazes as well. I didn't feel particularly good about it. How should I put it... it felt like being a polar bear trapped in a zoo. Like a supporting actor making the lesson fun.
"Question here. Portri Liang, what is the primary reason for using blood magic through a summoned creature?"
'That surprised me.'
I was startled when the girl's red stick swung and pointed at me, but I tried my best to stay still as if nothing happened.
"We use blood magic in order to assess the summoned creature's abilities and control it well!"
Using the red stick like a teaching baton, she continued her explanation, moving back and forth between the students and me.
"That is correct. But the most important thing is to build a good relationship with the suddenly appeared summoned creature. Now, look. You can see that this summoned creature has come to a world it's seeing for the first time and is bewildered. If the summoning occurred mid-battle, there would be no time to explain the urgent situation or even to have a conversation."
"That's right, Professor-nim."
"This is why blood magic is necessary in summoning arts. Imbuing information into my blood and sending it to the summoned creature. Just knowing this method alone can help you overcome a crisis."
The blood flowing like water through the red stick clung to my face and was absorbed. My whole body tingled briefly, and I felt like something had connected inside my head.
-Introduce yourself to the students.
"Introduce myself to the students...?"
-Don't repeat what I say. Introduce what kind of summoned creature you are.
"Ah... My name is Park Ja-geun. I'm 23 years old. My occupation is student."
-The reason you were summoned by me?
"I came because I want to learn spirit arts."
-Spirit arts... That's a technique I haven't heard in a while. Of course, it's a familiar art to me who has lived for hundreds of years. You've come to the right place.
It was fascinating to hear a voice coming from the Gothic Lolita girl who kept her mouth tightly shut.
"What I just did was to communicate with the summoned creature through blood magic."
"Wow..."
The class atmosphere was elevated thanks to the Gothic Lolita girl. She demonstrated blood magic techniques so astonishing they earned her the title of professor. After that, the class proceeded through me. That is, centered on a lesson that used blood—true to the name of blood magic.
'It's fascinating and fun.'
The teaching style involved showing things directly to the students through blood magic, so the class was never boring. Even I, who had just come to this world, could easily absorb the lesson content.
"Time has flown by so quickly. Next class, I will explain how to strengthen a summoned creature, so make sure you preview the material well."
""Yes! Professor-nim!""
Blood magic class ended. The Gothic Lolita girl—no, Professor-nim reconnected a red droplet of blood to me.
-Pack up all books and teaching materials.
Following the girl's instructions, I headed to the podium. There lay a familiar five-pointed star shape, with a book spread open.
'This is the Summoning App.'
It was now certain that Professor-nim had summoned me through the Summoning App, just like Selina-ssi.
-Pack them up and come out quickly. The students are waiting.
I gathered the Summoning App book and a nearby briefcase, then followed the girl out. As we walked down the corridor, the sound of her footsteps—ttogak-ttogak—echoed, and other students emerged from the classroom behind us.
"Where are we going now?"
"To my mansion."
"Then... is today's class completely over?"
"Once in the morning, once in the afternoon. My classes are noble, so there's no need for many."
"Ahaha..."
I tried to strike up a conversation several times to get closer, but Professor-nim just answered without much reaction.
"So, is my work done?"
"There is still work to be done at the mansion. Once you help with that, it will be over."
Because I had written down two rewards, perhaps the tasks I had to do were also two. The first was helping with the class. The second seemed to be the task at the mansion.
"During class, I just stood still. Was that helpful?"
"There are many who can't even stand still. Sometimes beast-like creatures that cannot communicate are summoned, or arrogant barbarians with high intelligence but too much pride."
"Indeed... summoned creatures are all random, so that must be inconvenient."
"It's not just once or twice. It would be nice if only the needed ones were summoned... Killing summoned creatures with my own hands is not a pleasant thing."
"K-kill them?"
"A summoned creature that doesn't listen to its master is worse than useless weeds. Among them, the ones that don't listen are the most irritating."
"Haha..."
The Gothic Lolita Professor's disposition seemed very much like a typical chaebol family member or aristocrat. I thought that my top priority should be to avoid getting on her bad side. After all, she said she would eliminate a summoned creature immediately.
I followed her quietly until the end of the corridor. When we stepped outside, a black-suited elderly butler and a carriage decorated with splendid golden patterns and curves were waiting.
"You've arrived, Master-nim?"
"Yes, Alfredo. Put the luggage in the back and get in the carriage."
"Understood!"
First, I decided to recall my days as a private and put on a display of -showing effort to be seen working hard-.
As I raised my voice and ran to the back of the carriage, Professor-nim watched me with a snort.
The gentleman called the Professor "Master-nim" even as she created stairs of blood and boarded the carriage. Seeing the title change—she had been called Professor-nim at the academy—I became certain that I had been summoned by a truly dangerous person.
For now, I resolved to move busily and act as useful as possible.
"Summoned Creature-nim, if you have finished loading the luggage, please come to the front."
"Understood!"
"No, Alfredo. Tell him to ride inside the carriage."
"Understood, Master-nim."
"Come this way."
"Yes!"
I looked at the spacious interior of the carriage, climbed the stairs of blood, and boarded.
"Sit there."
The girl pointed to the opposite side as I entered. Watching her sit, I took a seat as well.
"We will depart, Master-nim."
-Dalgeurak.
As the carriage departed, the only sound was the wheels rolling. Already sitting face-to-face, it felt somewhat awkward.
Selina-ssi at least had been warmly receptive at first. This girl, by my standards, was going to be hard to get close to.
'Let's just secure the rewards.'
Giving up on getting close due to the cold, aloof atmosphere, I pulled the phone out of my pocket as if I were just riding a bus.
"What is that?"
The girl looked at it with curiosity. I thought, "Oops," but actually, I figured it wouldn't be a problem even if she saw it.
The phone wasn't a weapon like some kind of blood magic, and the only special thing about it was that the Summoning App was installed... Of course, the Summoning App wasn't special in front of the girl either. It wasn't a privilege only I had; I had seen Selina-ssi and this Gothic Lolita girl also have it in book form, so I didn't pay it much mind.
"It's called a phone, a machine... In my world, it's like a book."
"A phone... That's something I've never seen before."
"It's nothing special. The amazing thing is... well, it has a summoning function, I guess."
"So the Summoner's Book is inside that."
"Summoner's Book?"
"A pentagram drawn based on five pillars. That is the Summoner's Book. You didn't know?"
"Yes, that Summoner's Book thing suddenly flew to me too."
"Let me have a look."
The girl pretended to be indifferent and managed her expression, but in truth, she seemed curious as she asked this and that.
"You touch it with your finger like this to move it, open things, and check things."
"The principle is unique. And it looks quite difficult."
"It's not that hard."
I stretched my phone forward and worked my fingers.
"See this icon? It looks just like the Summoner's Book drawing, right? If you press this, you can view it like a book."
Having used it for years, operating it was naturally easier than flipping over a rice cake in bed. Of course, the girl's surprised reactions to those simple movements were quite cute.
"To turn page by page with a finger without touching the book... it's more convenient than magic. Does this phone machine have other abilities besides the Summoner's Book?"
"Um... do you happen to like music?"
"I don't particularly like it. The ringing in my head is annoying."
"Then something else..."
"I'm bored, so play it once."
"...Understood."
Telling me she dislikes it, then telling me to do it. As expected of a Gothic Lolita girl.
'But... what song should I play?'
For a haughty girl like her, the song choice seemed more important than anything. Depending on the song, my future image could become better or worse. One or the other.
First, mainstream K-pop was out. My parents always told me that current songs aren't real songs and that they make your head ring. I figured the girl would be the same. I chose a song that tugs at emotions rather than something exciting.
Euu-eung~~
"It really does make sound."
And all the while, she had been doubting my words. If what I said earlier had been a lie, it wouldn't have been a death sentence, would it? Just thinking about it sent chills down my spine.
~~
The music flowed, and the lyrics, melody, and the singer's voice harmonized. Professor-nim remained silent, gently closing her eyes.
-I love you forever... I love you..
As the song neared its end, it quietly left a lingering emotion. I glanced at the Gothic Lolita girl and saw a single tear trickle down from the corner of her eye.
"This rhythm and voice... I've never heard anything like it. Are there other songs?"
I laughed inwardly at the girl's reaction. Didn't she say music was annoying? She was a somewhat calm, tsundere-like Professor-nim.
-You... you are.
"What do you think of this style?"
"Hmm... It's not bad."
Seeing that she liked it but wasn't being honest, it was clear she was a tsundere. The tension eased a little, and I smiled as I looked for another song.
The second song. The third song. They passed. And she listened intently, whispering the lyrics one by one.
They were songs that had ranked in the top 10 on the nationally broadcast King of Singer, so even I, who didn't know much about music, felt something that tugged at my heart. For the girl who was experiencing it for the first time, the impact must have been huge.
"Everything so far is good, but the first song we heard earlier is to my liking. Play it again."
"You mean 'Forgotten Love.' Understood."
"The title is 'Forgotten Love'... Hmm... Not bad. Who is the owner of that voice?"
"The singer Kang Mi-hwa."
"Kang Mi-hwa. What an excellent person. I would like to meet her sometime."
"If I get the chance, I'll take a photo."
"Photo?"
"It's like a portrait."
"Good. Do that."
Unintentionally, I had succeeded in drawing attention with an interesting object. If she had seen me merely as a tool needed for class, now I was at least worth glancing at to some degree.
"You said you wanted to learn spirit arts, right?"
"That's correct."
"Hmm... You look like you have absolutely no magic power. It will be difficult for you to handle spirit arts."
"Magic power...? Is that absolutely necessary?"
"Spirits are also summoned creatures. What spirit entities primarily demand is their master's magic power. They use that as compensation to answer a summons."
"So that's why they don't summon me, since I lack magic power."
The married woman Selena-ssi came to mind. At first, there had been gazes and reactions without wariness, but when I gave her the reward, she was extremely flustered. Just as spirits give their masters magic power as compensation, she must have thought she just needed to give me magic power too.
"Magic power is a formless force contained within the body. I sense no such power from you. By ordinary methods, it will be difficult."
"Is there another way?"
"You could learn blood magic. If not magic power, there is a method of summoning by consuming one's own life force."
"Life force... I wouldn't die from using it, would I...?"
"If you summon something above an intermediate spirit on your first try, you might die."
Crazy. She was actually saying I could die.
"Will you learn it?"
Whether to use my life force to make a spirit clean a dirty room, or to move myself and clean the room.
After a short deliberation, I immediately shouted.
"I want to learn! Because I came here to learn spirit arts."