Chapter 164

164

At Leo’s words, Pegasus Arti narrowed her eyes.

[What are you? How did you manage to wield influence over me when we haven’t even made a contract yet?]

Her return to her original form was not by her will but by Leo’s power.

A summoner can exert a certain degree of influence over their familiars, but only after a contract has been made. In this case, while Leo had indeed summoned Arti through the summoning circle that Shasha had created, they were not under any contract. Arti was still the Pegasus of the Rodren royal family. And yet, Leo had forcefully interfered with the contract and assumed command.

For a high-ranking familiar like Pegasus, it was a situation that could cause discomfort: being handled by someone other than a Vow Keeper. However, what Arti felt was more curiosity than anything else.

“Since we’re only in a pre-contract state, there’s a gap, right? I just exploited that gap.”

[It’s not impossible, but it’s hard to believe that someone like you, a mere teenage boy, managed to do it.]

“That’s because I’m exceptional.”

Leo shrugged.

She looked at him, her eyes half-closed, before nodding.

[Well, having an unusual experience like this isn’t bad. Shasha, maybe I should lend my strength to this boy for… Shasha?]

Arti looked at Shasha in confusion, her expression one of surprise.

Leo’s face stiffened as well.

Shasha remained frozen, her shocked expression fixed, as if time had stopped.

Leo muttered to himself as he examined her.

“It’s a curse.”

Even though Leo had dealt with all kinds of curses during the Era of Catastrophe, this was the first time he was encountering this particular type.

‘Could this be a newly created curse?’

Leo narrowed his eyes and rushed to Arti. Without hesitation, he mounted her saddle.

“Sorry for the inconvenience.”

[Hold on! Who said you could—]

“The situation is urgent. I know it’s unpleasant, but please understand.”

Leo reached out and gently stroked Arti’s neck.

[Hmm?]

Arti shivered suddenly.

“Ah, sorry about that. I wasn’t thinking.”

As someone who had contracted with a Pegasus during the time of Kyle, Leo felt an inexplicable sense of nostalgia at being back on a Pegasus’s back once again.

[What’s with the unnecessary touching of a lady’s body?]

“Sorry.”

Arti was surprised by Leo’s natural grasp on handling her reins.

[Have you worked with a Pegasus before?]

With countless battlefields under his belt from a previous life, his touch was incredibly familiar.

“It’s my first time in this life.”

[Then why does it feel so natural?]

Surprised, Arti introduced herself.

[Let me finish. My name’s Arti. And you?]

“Leo Flove.”

[Nice to meet you, Leo Flove. Though it’s only for a short time, it seems like an emergency, so I’ll lend you my strength.]

The irritated Pegasus pawed the ground with her foreleg nervously.

[So? Who’s the enemy? Looking at Shasha’s state, it must be Tartarus, right?]

“You’re right. They’ve infiltrated the Lumeran Grand Library.”

[Lumeran? Must be a problematic demon.]

Arti smiled slyly.

[Good. But hey, brat. Riding me is fine, but are you sure you can handle me? I wouldn’t want to trust myself to an incompetent rider.]

With her wings spread wide, Arti asked.

“Do you think you could ever handle me?”

Leo smiled.

“By the time you get used to me, you won’t let anyone else ride you.”

[Humph? Pretty confident, aren’t you? The only person who has ever satisfied me is the First Emperor of Rodren.]

Arti chuckled.

[But then again, it’s not bad to have a cocky little brimming with enthusiasm. Alright, let’s go!]

With a powerful burst, the room was filled with the sound of flapping wings.

Zzzzap-!

As Arti fully unfurled her wings, a bright white spark surged around her.

BOOM-!

Simultaneously, Arti broke through the door, exiting the room.

Zzzzap-!

A grey spark erupted from Leo’s hands.

[Lightning Aura?]

Arti was taken aback.

[Aura mastery and summoning at your age? Not bad.]

Even though he had summoned Arti through the summoning circle Shasha opened, the sheer feat made her respect him. Moreover, her estimation was that Leo had significantly less mana than Shasha. And yet, he was able to use aura techniques too?

[You’re skilled at handling Lightning attributes, aren’t you? This might be a good match.]

Arti let out a light sigh of admiration, following Leo’s commands as they ascended to the very top floor of the grand library.

Standing high at the ceiling of the grand library, Leo narrowed his eyes and scanned below.

‘It’s similar to the Curse of Disconnection.’

The grand library itself was detached from the outside world.

However, it was slightly different.

‘The space itself has changed.’

It resembled the Hero’s World but was fundamentally different.

Whereas the Hero’s World was the creation of an entire realm, this space was merely cut off from the outside world.

‘A concept of two dimensions, perhaps.’

The technique created a small new dimension within the original world, remaining unaffected by the primary dimension but making it nearly impossible to detect any spatial leaps.

Ordinarily, only the spellcaster could enter this space, but Leo had managed to enter as well.

‘Precisely speaking, it’s not just the spellcaster who can enter this space; those who recognize the nature of the curse can enter as well.’

If Leo hadn’t recognized it, he wouldn’t have even known about this space, being trapped by the curse instead.

‘I understand the principle. But anyone capable of such a high-level curse must be quite troublesome.’

As Leo tensely surveyed the grand library, a crimson flash split off into multiple directions from behind a desk below.

Leo reacted immediately, pulling on the reins.

CLANG-!

Crimson magic projectiles shot toward Leo and Arti.

Arti zipped swiftly through the library at an incredible speed.

The fastest of all familiars, the Pegasus moved with a speed comparable to lightning itself.

Zzzzap-!

Surrounded by lightning, she illuminated the darkness with a grand spectacle.

WHOOSH-!

All the projectiles missed.

But the projectiles Leo and Arti dodged changed direction, pursuing them.

‘It has a tracking function.’

Leo glanced back briefly and eyed the path ahead.

WHOOSH-!

A large bookshelf appeared in front of him.

Leo effortlessly jumped over it.

CLANG-!

However, the crimson magic projectiles ignored the bookshelf, piercing through it as they continued their pursuit.

Seeing this, Leo said,

“Speed up more.”

[What? Aren’t we going to collide with something? I wouldn’t mind, but you’d get hurt.]

“It doesn’t matter. Just move according to my control.”

[Alright. Don’t regret it.]

With a sigh, Arti increased her speed. The overwhelming pressure of the wind became apparent. The obstacles ahead seemed to approach at an unthinkable speed.

Using the reins, Leo guided Arti’s movement, leaving her astounded.

‘His reaction speed is incredible!’

She had never imagined that anyone could give such perfect instructions at such a high speed.

‘If he’s this skilled with the reins, his ability as a rider surpasses even Rodren’s First Emperor. What kind of brat is this?’

Leo chased after the enemy’s movements within the grand library with a sharp crimson stare.

Given the strength of the curse, the enemy would be exceptionally powerful and stealthy.

However, Leo was able to ascertain their position without much difficulty.

Zzzzap-!

In a flash, a magical circle appeared in Leo’s hand. Arti, upon seeing it, shrieked in shock.

[Magic? I thought you were a Familiar Knight!]

Just moments ago, Arti had presumed Leo to be a knight who handled both aura and summons. Seeing him use magic added another layer of astonishment.

“Actually, I’m an All-Class.”

[WHAT?!]

As Arti’s expression filled with disbelief, Leo completed the spell and cast it onto her horn.

“Chain Lightning!”

Zzzzapp-!

Intense sparks erupted, causing her eyes to widen.

‘He fused spiritual power with magic!’

This undoubtedly enhanced the power of the spell dramatically.

‘This cocky brat is using me as a magical amplifier?’

Though she chuckled cynically, Arti shot the Chain Lightning toward the rear.

BOOM-!

The transformed Chain Lightning, vastly more powerful, destroyed the pursuing black magic.

“There!”

[Got it!]

With increased speed, Arti pursued the enemy.

At that moment, a massive summoning circle appeared in the air, forming a giant bl**d Golem.

[bl**d Golem? Ha! Do you really think this pathetic mass of bl**d can stop me?]

With an expression of mockery, Arti expanded her wings.

Zzzzap! BOOOM!

From her body armor, intense sparks flew.

Unlike the young Pegasus Fiora and the wingless Pegasus Kiran, Arti was a fully intact Pegasus and the third of the Great Familiars.

Unlike the familiars who required Leo’s assistance, Arti’s strength alone made her a powerful familiar.

But in response to her power, massive bones began forming inside the bl**d Golem’s body, sprouting muscles across its frame.

‘A fusion.’

The Golem was based on the bl**d Golem, fused with both a Stone Golem and Flesh Golem.

‘And the materials used for the fusion… Were they from the Gigantes?’

Using the remains of the strongest monsters, Leo unleashed his mana.

Zzzzap-!

WHOOSH!

In an instant, Arti’s wings grew larger.

Seeing this, her eyes widened.

‘This kid… he awakened my latent abilities?’

Awakening the latent abilities of a fully grown familiar isn’t simple. Unlike merely developing the latent abilities of a growing familiar, this technique brought forth powers even the familiar itself didn’t realize it had — an extremely difficult and sophisticated skill. It was something only a master of the summoning craft could do.

BOOM-!

With a trail of white lightning, Arti tore through the Golem, creating a hole in its chest before charging toward the enemy’s back.

In that instant,

WHOOSH!

The Demon disappeared.

BOOM-!

The curse lifted, echoing loudly throughout the library.

“What’s going on?”

“Who’s causing a disturbance in the grand library?”

The sharp voices of librarians rang out.

[What… Who exactly are you…]

“Let’s talk about that later.”

As Leo felt people approaching, he sent Arti back to her original location.

It would be a headache if word got out that Leo had summoned a Pegasus.

After sending Arti back, Leo looked up and narrowed his eyes at the door in front of him.

’What is this place…?’

*

That night, after using his abilities in the grand library, Leo was taken forcibly to the Hero’s Tower.

Using abilities in the grand library wasn’t just a violation of school rules; it was a grave offense, one that could justify expulsion.

Fortunately, the only students studying in the grand library that night were Leo and Shasha.

Shasha, acting as a witness, accompanied Leo to the Hero’s Tower.

“Enter, Mr. Leo Flove.”

The principal’s secretary, Erena, spoke with a cold voice.

Leo glanced at her momentarily before entering the principal’s office.

Shasha tried to follow but was stopped.

“Princess Shasha, please wait outside.”

Though Shasha wore a face of discontent at Erena’s words, she soon nodded, recognizing the gravity of the situation.

’This is bad. Did he summon Pegasus and cause a rampage? But then why did it disappear outside suddenly?’

Shasha felt a mix of confusion.

Leo entered the principal’s office alone.

There were three people inside.

Principal Kalyan, Vice Principal Riven, and the stern Professor in charge of Lumeran’s Grand Library, Professor Bryan.

“Would you care to explain yourself, Leo Flove! How dare you break the rules in the sacred library and commit such an enormous offense?!”

Bryan, his beard trembling, let out a furious shout.

Seeing this, Leo scratched his cheek.

“It was an accident.”

“An accident? An accident?!”

Bryan’s eyes blazed.

Just as the agitated Bryan was about to yell again,

“Hold on, Bryan. Calm down.”

“B-bu… Principal!”

“I understand why you’re upset, but Principal Kalyan and I will first hold a consultation with Leo. Afterward, we’ll decide the punishment.”

With that, Bryan nodded and exited the room, muttering under his breath.

‘He’s the top student of the year. I don’t understand what’s going through his mind, but this is going to have a major impact if he’s disciplined.’

Whether intentional or accidental, Bryan believed this wasn’t something that could be overlooked.

After he left, Principal Kalyan stroked his beard and addressed Leo.

“Between us, I believe there’s no need for formalities. To the point, Leo.”

Kalyan narrowed his eyes.

“Is it Tartarus?”

“Yes.”

“Any idea what their objective was?”

“Not exactly, but it seems like the Hero’s World was their target.”

“The Hero’s World?”

“Indeed. The demon seemed to be aiming at the Hero’s Hall.”