Chapter 19: Review and preparation are thorough Part 2

“Well then, I hope everyone does their best.”

Having just finished my advanced lecture on mana design, I left the auditorium with those final words.

Maybe it was because I had covered all the necessary material before the Trial of Ascension began, but I felt refreshed.

Now, there was only one thing left to do.

Finishing the construction of the exam site where my students would put what they had learned into practice.

Well, calling it “construction” made it sound grander than it actually was.

We were just setting up a structure modeled after the “Tower of Destruction” on a small forested plot.

The more important part wasn’t the size of the structure but the challenges inside.

Since students from the basic to the advanced classes would all be taking the test in the same place, I also had to add difficulty-adjustment options.

“Hmm, it’s starting to take shape.”

I quietly admired the completed exterior of the tower as I entered the designated site for the Trial of Ascension—a place that had been noisy with construction for quite some time.

As expected of the continent’s greatest academy, the scale of this event was impressive, despite it being temporary.

Now, all that remained was to install the challenges I had designed inside the tower.

With that in mind, I prepared to step inside with the various magical tools I had brought.

But then—

“I was worried at first because you looked so delicate, but that was completely unnecessary. You’re really strong.”

“Haha, thank you.”

Several unfamiliar voices and one very familiar one reached my ears.

Before I realized it, my gaze drifted toward the source of the voices.

And there—

“Oh, we meet again.”

—stood my very first student, completely at ease among a group of rugged-looking workers.

***

I instinctively tensed and gave him a wary nod.

“…Hello.”

Then came a warm, friendly voice.

“Those look heavy. Want me to carry them for you?”

Pointing at the magical tools in my arms, Karian took a step closer.

But I had no intention of letting him tag along, so I subtly stepped back and declined his offer.

“They’re delicate tools. If they get dropped, it’ll be a disaster.”

“Hmm, but I wouldn’t drop them.”

“It’s fine. Well then, I’ll be going.”

With that, I turned and began walking toward the tower, glancing back only to confirm that Karian had returned to the workers.

‘I sighed. Just what was he up to?’

‘It doesn’t seem like he’s recognized me…’

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out why Karian was pretending to be a worker.

The only silver lining was that he didn’t seem to have discovered my true identity.

If he had, there was no way he would have dared to ruffle my hair like that.

To Karian, Asher and Letter were entirely different people.

That was why he treated me like a child.

The problem was, aside from that, there was nothing reassuring about the situation.

Every time I saw Karian, it felt like watching a ticking time bomb, one that could explode at any moment.

‘It’s not like I can just straight-up ask him what he’s scheming…’

I had no clue why Karian had come to Primus or what his goal was.

It wasn’t as if Aritha had given him a hint—after all, I had personally erased Aritha’s memory.

‘…Maybe I should ask Orphion.’

Even as I stepped into the tower, my thoughts remained tangled in worry.

For now, until I found a way back to my original form, I had to stay hidden from my students.

But first, I had to set up the tower’s challenges for the Trial of Ascension.

***

When I finally reached the top floor of the tower, I started drawing a massive summoning circle on the ground.

A full 30-meter radius.

I meticulously filled the outer edges with inscriptions that connected this world to another.

Then, at the very center, I added a stabilization formula to prevent mana reflux.

• Whoosh!

“There.”

A burst of flames ignited in the empty air.

More flames followed soon after, linking together one by one until they formed a massive ring of fire.

Slowly, the ring began to rotate.

• Drip, drip…

『…It has been a while.』

Sparks scattered around me as something took shape within the flames.

Moments later, I found myself face-to-face with one of the few beings I could call a friend.

『So, Contracted One, what do you need this time? What shall I burn to ashes?』

I naturally tilted my head back to look up at him, given our considerable height difference.

It felt strange, seeing him from this angle.

Last time, I had summoned Ikarte on an open plain, which had been manageable.

But here, in the enclosed space of the tower, the heat surrounding us was suffocating.

‘I did put some restrictions on him… Is he just excited because it’s been a while since I summoned him?’

That being the case, I decided to lower Ikarte’s heat a little.

If I left him in this state to guard the top floor, the students who had worked so hard to reach it wouldn’t even be able to breathe properly.

“Aqua.”

• Whoosh!

[ ?! ]

Ikarte coughed as he was suddenly doused in water.

Only after his heat had died down a little did I finally begin explaining what I needed from him.

“You remember helping out Atar before, right?”

“Atar? …Ah, that mad dog.”

“This time, I need you to go easier on them—just enough to singe their hair a little.”

After explaining the details of the Trial of Ascension, I firmly warned him:

No matter what, he must not go all out.

If he used more power than I had restricted, he would be immediately sent back to the spirit realm.

“And the most important thing—if the students try something, don’t interfere. Just observe.”

“You want me to make things easier for the challengers? Then what’s the point of a challenge?”

“It’s all about balance.”

***

The main idea behind my challenge was for students to gather clues from the lower floors, then face Ikarte on the top floor.

If they got wiped out before they could even apply those clues, it would be meaningless.

But Ikarte’s expression was filled with discontent.

So, I decided to mention the reward he’d get if he followed my request properly.

“If you behave, I’ll play with you for a week after this is over.”

[ …Oh? ]

“And one more thing—you can polymorph into a human form while we’re together.”

“…100 percent?”

“Yeah. 100 percent.”

Ikarte fell silent for a moment.

Then, not even five seconds later—

• Whooosh!

“Hahaha! Fine, I’ll do it!”

His laughter echoed as the room filled with heat again.

‘…Was he really that eager to play?’

But if he got too excited like this, accidents would be inevitable.

“Aqua.”

• Whoosh!

“Ack—! Achoo!!”

“Calm down, Ikarte. If the students get hurt, I’ll be the one who gets in trouble.”

“…Fine.”

I managed to lower his energy a little.

At the end of the day, safety was the top priority.

After adding a final word of thanks, I headed down to the next floor to set up the last pre-final challenge.

Yet, I had to stop briefly.

“By the way, Contractor. Your form… seems a little different.”

Ikarte had started looking at me with his worldly eyes instead of his otherworldly ones.

And sure enough—

“You’ve gotten… quite cute, haven’t you? Your face is a little more delicate, and your body lines are finer. Just where did you find a magic spell that transforms even your insides into a complete female form?”

“Th-that’s enough!”

I couldn’t just stand there listening to this nonsense.

As heat crept up my ears, I hurriedly clamped a hand over Ikarte’s mouth.

“This was an accident! A total accident! I didn’t choose to be like this!”

“I swear, I can even make an oath if you want!”

Only after making absolutely sure Ikarte understood did I finally continue downward.

“But… was it just my imagination, or did he still seem unconvinced?”

“…Maybe I should’ve summoned Rrier instead.”

‘Was it because he was a fire spirit?’ He had absolutely no filter.

An ice spirit, who was more rational, might have reacted differently.

But whatever the case, Ikarte would handle the students properly, now that I had promised to play with him.

Now, I just had to focus on setting up the challenges leading to him.

***

In a small, quiet café.

Despite the relaxed atmosphere among the customers and staff, an entirely different mood lingered at a secluded table in the back.

“The academy’s security magic has been strengthened. We’ll have to adjust our plans.”

“…Has our information leaked?”

The man’s voice grew more serious, his gaze darkening with discomfort.

A brief silence followed.

Then, after some time, the man who had raised the suspicion of betrayal took back his words.

It made sense.

After all, in their Order of the Violet Twilight, the very concept of betrayal did not exist.

“It’s more likely that the headmaster’s instincts were simply sharp.”

“…I hate to admit it, but I suppose that’s true. Even though we knew this was inevitable.”

Tok, tok.

A restless finger tapped the table, mixing frustration, resignation, and a trace of hostility into the air.

The response that followed was more of a consolation than a real solution.

“We have two individuals with divine beast blood gathered here. This kind of opportunity won’t come again.”

“…You’re right. Missing this chance would be the height of foolishness.”

Shortly after—

Click.

A girl in an academy uniform approached their table and greeted them.

“She’s the one who will lead our grand undertaking.”

“And her consciousness?”

“Of course, it’s been completely stripped away. She’s nothing more than a puppet now.”

Imagining the chaos soon to unfold, the men let out deep, satisfied laughs.

None of them noticed the shadows beneath their feet shifting slightly.

***

‘This is going to be a pain…’

Karian, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, muttered to himself as he fingered the dagger hidden inside his coat.