Chapter 662

Upon hearing Artian’s explanation, Leo displayed a look of utter confusion.

“A Spirit?”

“Precisely. Do any possibilities come to mind?”

A Spirit.

It signifies a champion of antiquity, called forth by a master of Spirit Summoning.

Yet, a Spirit cannot be equated to a true soul.

Strictly speaking, it is merely a residual piece of recollection preserved within mana.

Mana represents the energy pulsing throughout nature.

The more immense the capability and determination a person wields before death, the more profoundly they imprint their mark upon this natural energy.

Thus, Spirit Summoning resembles the enduring recollections of such champions carved into the fabric of mana.

Consequently, among those legends, the ones tethered by profound lingering attachments to the mortal realm can be pulled back into existence as Spirits.

‘Luna was able to manifest in this era through that exact mechanism.’

Nevertheless, Luna’s manifestation as a Spirit in the current era was only possible due to an intermediary link known as Cometes.

‘Even for the most extraordinary entity, after five millennia, their impression left in mana is bound to fade away completely.’

Triggered by the Hero’s World Conquest reward combined with Leo’s own inner spiritual energy, the entity named Luna had materialized in this world as a Spirit.

Following that logic…

‘Lysinas could likewise manifest as a Spirit.’

Not long ago, upon completing the conquest of Lysinas’s world, Leo had become the successor to Lysinas’s mana.

‘During that encounter, I crossed paths with Lysinas’s Spirit.’

At the precise moment when Lysinas’s world was dissolving into nothingness.

The reckless traveler in the Hero’s World met the King of Wisdom, who faintly lingered within Leo’s own internal mana.

Standing face-to-face with Leo, he accepted the recollections of his future incarnation.

If Lysinas’s mana had indeed etched an impression into Leo’s energy back then.

‘It is entirely plausible that Lysinas’s Spirit has been lingering by my side.’

What is more…

‘Chelsea (Chen Sia/Chen Xia) mentioned her irritation upon hearing descriptions that Lysinas, whom she encountered within the Nightmare, was unsightly.’

Ever since that moment, he had harbored suspicions regarding the presence of Lysinas, who might have been residing within his inner self.

Now, listening to Artian’s assessment, his suspicions turned to certainty.

‘Lysinas exists inside the inherited mana, remaining in the state of a Spirit.’

Leo balled his hand into a fist and focused his gaze on Artian.

“I have an idea of who it might be.”

“Just as I suspected.”

“Is it within your power to call forth that Spirit?”

Artian possessed extraordinary talent as a Spirit Summoner.

He reasoned that if she could detect its subtle residue, bringing it forth into reality should be well within her capabilities.

In response to Leo’s inquiry, Artian gave a negative shake of her head, looking troubled.

“It is quite complicated.”

“For what reason?”

“Had it been a Spirit rooted directly in student Leo’s inherent capabilities, summoning it would pose no issue, but the situation appears different. The trace of the Spirit drifting around student Leo is incredibly dim.”

“Dim?”

“Indeed. It is as though it does not truly belong to student Leo’s personal energy. When a presence is this faint, it typically indicates a Spirit anchored to the Hero’s World Conquest reward, rather than student Leo’s personal mana.”

“A Spirit tethered to my conquest reward?”

“Yes. Yet that is the perplexing part. The impression is undeniably akin to a Spirit passed down via inheritance, but the focus of this Spirit’s sentiments is unmistakably directed at student Leo. How curious.”

Artian, tilting her head in deep thought, suddenly struck her palms together.

“Ah. Could it be that Spirit Summoning is numbered among the gifts of the champion student Leo inherited?”

Hearing this deduction, Leo felt a wave of astonishment.

‘She can piece together even that detail?’

“My theory is that this Spirit emerged the moment student Leo unlocked the art of Spirit Summoning. Throughout his first year, I never detected the slightest hint of a Spirit surrounding student Leo.”

Hearing her words, Leo fixed a steady gaze upon Artian.

Masters of Spirit Summoning were exceedingly scarce.

However, they were not entirely unheard of.

Since ascending to the position of Lumern student council president, Leo had crossed paths with several individuals of that discipline.

Yet, none among them had ever perceived the inner Spirit dwelling beside him the way Artian just had.

“Is there an issue with my appearance?”

“Professor Artian, your brilliance is truly remarkable.”

“Pardon?”

Caught off guard by the sudden praise, Artian looked utterly bewildered.

“It seems I must be the one to invoke it myself.”

“Yes. However, the task will prove immensely challenging. While a Spirit definitely resides beside student Leo, it remains unawakened. Unawakened Spirits are completely dormant. Moreover…”

“Moreover?”

“If one is not a natural-born Spirit Summoner, even if you manage to obtain the capacity for Spirit Summoning, mastering its execution is incredibly difficult.”

At that statement, Leo maintained his focused gaze on Artian.

“Professor.”

“Yes?”

“Would you be willing to instruct me in the ways of Spirit Summoning?”

“Instruct student Leo?”

Artian tilted her head slightly before offering a response.

“The task itself isn’t troublesome, but if you are starting from the absolute basics of Spirit Summoning, our sessions must take place in the dead of night. Spiritual energies peak in strength during the late hours.”

“That works out perfectly. Given my responsibilities as student council president.”

“Eh?”

Artian’s perplexed expression shifted instantly into a bright smile.

“Ah! Student Leo occupies an individual private quarters!”

Artian clapped her hands together gleefully.

“Hehe, if I visit student Leo’s private quarters every evening, there won’t be any issues at all.”

“You possess great dedication.”

“But of course, student Leo, of all people, requested my personal instruction, didn’t he?”

Artian’s eyes shimmered with excitement.

“As an educator, having the opportunity to guide a pupil of Leo’s caliber is an absolute privilege.”

“Then I shall place myself under your tutelage.”

“Leave it entirely to me.”

Artian tapped her fist against her chest confidently, her expression full of resolve.

“I intend to pass on every ounce of my knowledge to student Leo.”

The following dawn.

“Why am I being left behind?! Is my ability truly that insufficient?”

Shasha questioned Leo, her eyes welling with tears.

“Your exclusion has nothing to do with a lack of capability on your part or anyone else’s. It is simply that those three possess the exact toolkit required for this specific undertaking.”

“He speaks the truth, Shasha. There is no need to be so downcast.”

Chelsea stepped in to offer comfort to Shasha as well.

“Even so, senior Chelsea stands as the sole dedicated spellcaster… shouldn’t there be room for me to assist?”

As Juen expressed her frustration nearby, Karl extended a finger toward Duran and Eliza.

“Though they hail from the Knight and Summoning departments, the Prince and Eliza are essentially walking, massive explosives. I mean that regarding both their temperaments and their raw prowess.”

“Are you looking to cut your lifespan short, Karl Thomas?”

“What remarks did you just make regarding my temperament?”

“Gaaahk!”

Duran questioned him with a chilling grin, while Eliza unceremoniously constricted Karl’s throat with her whip.

“Even with that explanation, it remains incredibly disheartening.”

As Juen muttered while gripping her fists tightly, Karl, who had just managed to break free, massaged his bruised neck and chimed in.

“Well, each assignment demands a specific set of attributes…”

“Hmph. Bearing the high hopes of our upperclassmen is quite the heavy obligation.”

“Have you always acted this way? Little Prince.”

Observing Habidan stride forward with a smirk, Karl let out a soft sigh.

Because Habidan had been under Duran’s direct mentorship during their initial year, Karl affectionately referred to him as the “Little Prince.”

Furthermore, matching Duran’s background, he was likewise the successor to a royal lineage.

“Cut the nonsense, Habidan. You were merely selected because your toolkit is optimized for high swiftness!”

“The resentment of those left behind is quite a pitiful sight.”

Hearing those words, Juen, with veins throbbing angrily on her forehead, seized Karl and began shaking him violently.

“Senior Karl! Pray tell senior Leo! Inform him that I am completely fine with being bound like common cargo and dragged along, just ensure I am included!”

“That is out of the question, Juen. Cargo is far more of an impediment.”

“Aaagh!”

“Aina. Why must you aggravate Juen in such a manner?”

“…? Am I aggravating her? I merely spoke the objective reality.”

At Luke’s gentle reprimand, Aina blinked in surprise.

She herself couldn’t participate even while in prime condition, so if one were reduced to the status of cargo, participation was out of the question.

Such was the point Aina intended to convey, but owing to her complete misreading of the emotional atmosphere, she succeeded flawlessly in enraging Juen further.

“Hmph. Cargo, indeed. A fitting description for you.”

“You are finished!”

As Habidan goaded her further, Juen snatched up a pickaxe and bolted forward.

“Peace, peace. That is quite enough.”

Karl slipped his hands under Juen’s arms from behind, hoisting her off the ground.

Juen kicked her legs frantically in midair, completely helpless.

“Senior! Unhand me! I shall demonstrate my utility by fracturing that fellow’s skull with this tool!”

“Yes, yes. Calm down. Here, have a piece of candy.”

“Do you take me for an infant?!”

“Habidan. Cease your teasing as well.”

“Understood.”

Heeding Karl’s warning, Habidan offered a respectful nod and took a step back.

Habidan, who had belonged to one of the top three elite institutions prior to his arrival, had toured Lumern well before his official matriculation.

Initially, he had looked down on Karl as a mere commoner, but after witnessing Karl’s combat performance during that visit, his perspective shifted entirely.

From that moment forward, even after formal enrollment, Habidan held Karl in high regard.

Spying Juen with the sweet treat rolling inside her cheek, Karl remarked.

“Do not lose heart. To reiterate, this selection is not a reflection of your inadequacy. The same applies to you, Shasha.”

“…Understood.”

“I see.”

Watching Karl make his way back after pacifying the underclassmen, Eliza commented flatly.

“The younger students certainly rally around you, irrespective of their chosen tracks.”

“Hmph. Could it be due to my natural charm?”

“You possess an undeniable appeal among the underclassmen.”

“Eh?”

Hearing Eliza actually agree with him left Karl completely bewildered.

Had Eliza been the one to intervene, quieticizing the younger students would have required far less effort.

She could easily dominate them through sheer presence.

Yet Karl chose a path of genuine reassurance and gentle pacification.

“Well, it is an ideal approach for a soft-hearted individual like yourself.”

“That is comforting to hear.”

“…? What is?”

“To receive an actual piece of praise from you for once. I thought perhaps you were coming down with an illness.”

Crack-!

“Leo! Protect me!”

Sensing Eliza drawing her weapon taut, Karl bolted directly to Leo’s side for sanctuary.

Dryana observed the entire dynamic from a short distance away, rubbing her jaw thoughtfully.

“What exactly are you analyzing now?”

“I believe I can discover magnificent artistic subjects within this gathering.”

“You will find absolutely none.”

Ar wore a look of mild disgust.

Leo, verifying that all arrangements were settled, commanded.

“Let us begin our march.”

Leo and his companions, having stepped past the boundary of Tartarus’s domain, commenced their advance with purpose.

The outer perimeter of Tartarus’s domain bore a strong resemblance to a contested territorial line.

Though it undeniably fell under the jurisdiction of Tartarus, it remained a theater where skirmishes continuously broke out as the mortal realm attempted reclamation.

Of late, there had been an absence of major military engagements against Tartarus along the eastern border, yet Demian and Shan, the primary superpowers ruling the eastern continent, routinely eradicated fiends, abominations, and tainted beasts within the immediate vicinity.

Consequently, the density of adversaries was relatively sparse within this peripheral zone.

“While we encountered an immense gathering of Gigantes during our scouting path, that represented a highly anomalous occurrence.”

“An anomalous occurrence?”

“Indeed. It was a heavily concentrated outpost.”

Leo clarified, mentally reviewing the prior two days of skirmishes.

“Were such hordes of abominations distributed evenly across the entirety of Tartarus’s domain, this realm would have collapsed centuries ago.”

Absorbing Leo’s assessment, Artian gave an understanding nod.

“Student Leo’s analysis is correct. Even traveling deep within Tartarus’s domain, one does not constantly run into such dense concentrations of fiends and corrupted beasts. A specific catalyst must be at play. For instance, a gateway to a hero dungeon might reside close by.”

“Which means we are bound to return to that location eventually.”

“Precisely.”

Leo offered a firm nod.

With that understanding, the companions advanced, their expressions taut with focus.

Given that they had already familiarized themselves with the layout and general conditions of the immediate area, the party maintained a rapid pace.

A short duration later.

Reaching the sector previously overrun by the Gigantes, Leo knit his brows in a frown.

“Eh? What is this? Where have all those Gigantes vanished to?”

Illiana displayed a completely bewildered expression.

The massive horde of Gigantes they had observed earlier had vanished without a trace.

Artian consulted the chart in her hands and remarked.

“Originally, this entire perimeter was designated as a secure zone where no fiends or corrupted creatures manifested.”

Nevertheless, given the clearly irregular circumstance of a Hero Dungeon materializing, classifying it as a perilous sector was now entirely appropriate.

Eliza and Karl, who had been reconnoitering the airspace above, descended back to the earth.

“It appears the Gigantes underwent a massive relocation.”

“A massive relocation?”

“Yes. The path of their departure is clearly visible.”

When entities as massive as Gigantes travel in great multitudes, they are guaranteed to leave unmistakable paths behind.

“To begin, we ought to trace these signs…”

Rumble-!

The terrain beneath them began to judder violently.

Everyone instantly shifted into defensive positions in response to the abrupt upheaval.

Crash-! Shatter-!

Abruptly, an immense limb erupted from the earth directly ahead of Leo.

“Roaaaaar!”

“What?! What sort of abomination is that?!”

Karl gaped, tracking the colossal fiend that had shattered the surface.

Gazing upon the gargantuan fiend radiating an intense aura of corrupted energy, Leo murmured.

“Giganto.”

“Brother Leo, are you familiar with that fiend?!”

“He served as the premier general, the primary lieutenant to Gigas, the King of Giants.”

Leo squeezed his hand into a tight fist before relaxing it.

“Amusing.”

“What do you mean?”

Noticing Chelsea’s perplexed expression, Leo uttered a response with a fierce, competitive grin.

“That I get to execute a fiend I have already put down once before.”