Chapter 4: In Search of a Contract Spirit
“Finally, things have calmed down, huh?”
“Yeah…”
Sitting side by side on a bench in the courtyard, Gareth and I exchanged those words as we absentmindedly gazed at the academy buildings.
Several days had passed since the attack, and the academy had finally regained its composure. Classes and the ranking matches had resumed, and everyday life was gradually returning to normal.
As for the damage, there were injuries among the disciplinary committee members, but no fatalities. All the injured had already recovered thanks to the treatment provided by Chairman Minnea and the teachers, and they had returned to their duties.
Of course, what awaited them upon their return was the grueling training regimen under the strict supervision of Loxley, the head of the disciplinary committee.
“Still, it seems like you’ve been through a lot lately, huh?”
“Yeah, seriously, things have been rough.”
I responded to Gareth’s remark while looking up at the clear blue sky. Lately, I’ve been targeted by some shady individuals, and every time I get into a fight, I end up getting beaten to a pulp. I really wish they’d cut me some slack.
“Ah, if only I could just form a contract with a spirit…”
“If regular spirits are out of the question, why not try making a contract with a evil spirit?”
“That’s not a funny joke…”
I leaned back against the bench and sighed in response to Gareth’s teasing remark. Normally, I’d laugh it off, but right now, I couldn’t even muster the energy to brush it aside.
—You’re just like us, aren’t you?
“…………”
What do you mean, “just like us”? Are you kidding me?
The words of Haunted flashed through my mind, and I couldn’t help but frown. I internally grumbled about it.
That comment probably meant that I had the potential to form a contract with a evil spirit, but I couldn’t understand it at all.
Why, if I have the potential, can’t I form a contract with a spirit? And more importantly, what did he see in me that made him think that? I have no idea.
“What’s wrong, Rourke? Are you still in pain?”
“No, I’m fine…”
Apparently, I must have made a more serious face than I intended. I reassured Gareth and sat up straight.
“By the way, about the gargoyle spirit statues stationed around the academy during the attack—it seems like they didn’t do much fighting.”
“Seriously? So they’re really just statues, huh?”
The gargoyle spirit statues are placed around the academy to monitor, detect, and intercept intruders.
They’re under a simple contract to serve as security for the academy, but according to Gareth, they didn’t fulfill their role during the recent attack.
“Well, because of that, they’re apparently reviewing the security system.”
“That’s a good opportunity, isn’t it? This academy leaves too much to the students…”
The current academy prides itself on its free-spirited culture, but honestly, they’ve been relying too much on the students. I hope this incident will make them take a more supportive approach.
“Good for you. With this, the student council will be busy for a while, so your participation in the Grand Spirit Martial Festival will probably be postponed, right?”
“Yeah, that’s likely. I should be fine for a while, but… huh?”
As I rested my chin on my hand and stared blankly at the courtyard, I noticed a familiar trio of juniors coming into view.
“Ah, Gareth-senpai and Rourke-senpai!”
“Hey, everyone. Heading to class?”
“Yes!”
Meili greeted us while holding her textbooks, and Gareth raised a hand in response.
Beside her, Akari looked exhausted, her head occasionally drooping as if she were about to fall asleep.
“Hey, are you okay?”
“…Y-yeah…”
Akari’s response made it clear she wasn’t fine. Meili shook her shoulders, trying to keep her awake, but it was obvious she’d pass out during class if this kept up.
“By the way, what’s up with Valhart?”
“Huh? Oh… nothing.”
Gareth suddenly turned to Leia, who had been hiding behind the other two, and asked with a puzzled expression.
Leia insisted it was nothing, but her behavior was suspicious. Every time I looked at her, she’d quickly avert her gaze. I couldn’t figure it out.
“…Well, you two, class is about to start. Let’s go.”
“Ah, Leia-chan! Sorry, we’ll be going now! Come on, Akari-chan!”
Meili pulled Akari along as they hurried off to their next class, with Leia following close behind, her silver braid swaying. Gareth and I silently watched them go.
“Hey, Rourke.”
“What?”
“Did you do something to Valhart?”
“No, not really…”
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I honestly couldn’t think of anything. In fact, I’ve been nothing but kind to her. But lately, it feels like she’s been avoiding me.
“Come on, you must’ve done something. People don’t act like that for no reason.”
“Seriously, I haven’t! If anything, I’m the one who wants to know why she’s avoiding me!”
She’s my first junior, and I’ve been trying to treat her well. Apart from a rocky start, I thought we were on good terms. But suddenly, she started avoiding me out of nowhere.
“Well, it’s not really my business, so it’s fine.”
“Then don’t bring it up. I’m actually kind of bothered by it.”
I muttered as I exhaled, and Gareth gave me a surprised look before breaking into a sly grin.
“Huh, I didn’t expect you to care about something like that.”
“If a junior you were getting along with suddenly started avoiding you, anyone would be bothered.”
What does he even think of me?
As I grumbled with a dissatisfied expression, Gareth lightly tapped my head.
“Yo.”
“Hey, Lily.”
Turning around, I saw Lily raising her hand in greeting, so Gareth and I both raised a hand in return.
“Hey, isn’t it class time now?”
“It got canceled.”
Lily answered Gareth’s question as she sat down in the empty space between us and turned her face toward me.
“Hey, Rourke, you fought the intruders, right?”
“Yeah, I clashed with them the other day. I think you fought them too, didn’t you?”
“Yeah. Though, mostly, it was Professor Kyle who did the fighting. I just summoned a mirage and set up a barrier…”
“That’s plenty. In fact, I’d say it was great support.”
From my perspective as someone who fought directly, focusing on support was the right call. If Lily had tried to fight, given Haunted’s strength, it would’ve been tough for her to win.
“Were they strong?”
“Yeah.”
“Very.”
Recalling my encounters with Haunted at the academy and the Biblia Ruins, Lily and I answered the question. I really hope I never have to face them again.
“What kind of spirit did they have a contract with?”
“A evil spirit.”
“Huh?”
“I said, a evil spirit.”
Gareth looked stunned by my answer, as if he hadn’t expected the intruders to have a contract with a evil spirit. Lily, on the other hand, looked like she had suspected as much.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I wish I were.”
If it were a joke, I wouldn’t be so troubled. Unfortunately, there was no doubt that the spirit they had a contract with was a evil one.
“…… I knew it.”
“You noticed it too, Lily?”
“No, I wasn’t sure. But I had a feeling from their aura.”
Thinking about it, Lily hadn’t directly fought them. Haunted had been suppressing their aura, so it was natural she couldn’t be certain.
“But I can’t believe they had a contract with a evil spirit. They didn’t seem mentally unstable.”
“Well, they weren’t exactly normal, but they didn’t seem insane.”
They did say some nonsensical things, but that seemed more like their personality than the influence of the evil spirit. Besides, they clearly fought strategically, and I doubt someone who’d lost their mind could move like that.
“……”
After hearing my words, Lily fell silent, lost in thought.
“Lily, what are you thinking about?”
“If it’s possible to form a contract with a evil spirit without issues, I’m trying to figure out the reason.”
Lily spoke without looking at Gareth, her gaze fixed on some distant point.
“…The reason, huh?”
As I listened to Lily, Haunted’s words echoed in my mind again.
If I could figure out the reason why someone could form a contract with a evil spirit, maybe I’d understand why he said I was the same.
“Trust from the evil spirit? Or maybe mental strength? Or perhaps something about their physical constitution?”
“Honestly, it’s probably too hard to analyze. In history, the only spirit master who could properly use evil spirits was Ivan.”
“From what I’ve heard, he controlled dozens of evil spirits, right? Is he even a good reference?”
Controlling multiple spirits is already a huge burden, but Ivan supposedly controlled 72 evil spirits. He’s an exception among exceptions.
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