The sound of steady footsteps echoed through the night.
“Freshmen going camping with sophomores? What luck. They sure are enjoying school life, aren’t they? I’m jealous.”
Jin muttered under his breath.
Lil tilted her head at his comment. “Is that what enjoying school life is?”
“Of course. Back in my day, it was nothing but training.”
Jin shuddered at the memory of his school days.
Seeing his reaction, Lil looked impressed. “So that’s why your name is on the Hero Record! That’s amazing! I want to emulate that part of you!”
“Reputation and achievements are great, but you should enjoy your school days too. It’s advice from a senior. Maybe try dressing up a little. You’re pretty now, but you’d be even more beautiful if you dressed up.”
Lil blinked at Jin’s words. “Is that true? Do you think so too, Leo?”
“Yeah, enjoying your teenage years is good.”
“Well, you’re a comprehensible junior.”
Hearing Leo’s words, Jin smirked. “So, why is a hero whose name is on the Hero Record even here? Shouldn’t active heroes be either at the forefront of the battlefield against Tartarus or tackling dungeons?”
Leo nodded at Jin’s question. “That’s right. I was originally at the southern front of Tartarus.”
The southern front of Tartarus, where the Lumern Hero Guild operates.
The commander-in-chief of the southern front is none other than the head of the Lumern Institute and the head of the Zeruon family — Altech Zeruon, also known as the Infinity Spellcaster.
“There was recently a Hero Gathering at Lumern.”
At this, both Leo and Lil looked astonished.
“People involved in important confidential missions or dungeon raids didn’t respond to the gathering, but I bet most heroes who have spare time did.”
‘Hero Gathering. So the principal’s mention of visitors referred to heroes.’
One of the reasons why Lumern, along with other hero academies, has such a massive influence on the world is precisely due to these Hero Gatherings. Lumern’s authority to call upon heroes who have made it onto the Hero Record is an absolute power. Just having the ability to summon someone of such renown, someone who can change the world’s trajectory, is itself an enormous power.
“It’s because of the Ruse Tournament.”
“That’s right.”
Hearing Leo’s words, Jin crossed his arms. “This time the Ruse Tournament is held at Seirun, right? Given that, the school administration has to be concerned about both the students participating in the tournament and those supervising them, which could leave the school empty.”
Not too long ago, there was an attack from Tartarus.
The Lumern side didn’t want to weaken their defenses unnecessarily. Thus, the Hero Gathering was organized — summoning active heroes to protect the school.
“Well, some of the heroes who were summoned will probably accompany you to Seirun.”
“To Seirun?”
“Yeah. The principal said so. There must be a reason.”
While saying this, Jin wore a meaningful smile. Leo understood the implications of that smile well.
‘Seirun isn’t much different from Lumern.’
Leo recalled the mid-term exams from the previous semester.
Rauta, a sophomore from Seirun, was a traitor acting under the command of the Demon King.
It wasn’t likely that Rauta was the only traitor in Seirun. Though the school hasn’t revealed this due to reputational concerns, they are discretely identifying the infiltrators.
‘But it won’t be easy.’
Even Lumern couldn’t pinpoint their infiltrators until Tartarus began to move. Even Leo, experienced in dealing with Tartarus, faced difficulties.
It’s unclear how much internal tracking Seirun has managed.
‘Probably just precaution for any unforeseen situations during the Ruse Tournament.’
An attack on the combined forces of the two schools would be a reckless plan even from Tartarus’ perspective.
‘But who knows what schemes that man has concocted.’
Leo furrowed his brows as he thought about the Demon King, Hel Kaiser.
The most terrifying monster in the world as long as Erebus remained sealed — a chilling calamity.
“So, you’re still set on going to Zerodia’s Keep?”
“Of course. The target of this mission seems to be the Spirit of the Abyss.”
At Jin’s question, Lil nodded.
The task was to escort a distinguished guest from Zerodia’s Keep to Lumern. If the entity present there is the Spirit of the Abyss, then the guest mentioned by Lumern would undoubtedly be the Abyssal Spirit.
‘Lumern could easily invite a Great Spirit as a guest.’
The issue is that this Spirit of the Abyss dislikes humans. Even if it agrees to come, there’s no guarantee it won’t change its mind.
That’s why Lil was sent.
Spirits instinctively feel attracted to outstanding Spirit Masters, and among the Spirit Masters, there might be none better than Lil to invite a Spirit that dislikes humans. Lil realized this and planned to carry on with the mission.
“Still, I suppose I should meet the Spirit of the Abyss.”
Resting his chin in his hand, Jin responded to Lil’s statement.
“In that case, let me help.”
Lil’s eyes widened upon hearing Jin’s words.
“You two might struggle against a Great Spirit. If things don’t go well, you might end the mission without even meeting it.”
“Would having your help be an inconvenience, Lord Jin?”
“Don’t worry about that. I’m also curious about the skills of your junior classmates from the Department of Summoning.”
Jin glanced at Leo with a cryptic smile.
“And let’s see how the famous “all-class” performs.”
Hearing this, Leo smirked. “I’ll try my best.”
“I’ll look forward to it.”
The next day.
The party, now with Jin, set off once again towards Zerodia’s Keep.
Jin, the eldest among them and an active hero, took a somewhat supervisory stance, staying at the back.
Although he had promised to help, that did not mean he planned to lead the party.
“It’s nerve-wracking, like being tested by a hero.”
“Don’t be too stressed.”
“Leo, aren’t you nervous?”
“No.”
“Impressive. Leo, though still a freshman, seems very experienced.”
Looking admiringly at Leo, Lil continued, “I’ll take the lead.”
Leo stepped forward to take point.
As he led the way, Leo thought deeply.
‘A spirit that dislikes humans… Elsi, what do you think?’
[I don’t really know. I’ve never disliked humans, so it’s hard for me to understand.]
Elsi shook her head. Leo chuckled inwardly at her response.
Reacting to his laughter, Elsi cautiously inquired, “Leo once said that I used to hate humans, right?”
‘Yes.’
“Because all the orphans died, right?”
It was something Leo couldn’t even imagine.
Hating the world and despising humans— that wasn’t the Elsi he knew. Elsi had always been someone who loved people, someone who was drawn to Spirit Masters and found beauty in their efforts. During the Era of Catastrophe, she saw hope in Aphon, struggling hard to care for orphans.
Elsi was born loving the light. As an elemental spirit of darkness, she dreamed of the stars she had never seen, symbolizing the hope that the orphans held on to even in desperate times.
‘Even though it ended in tragedy.’
The world of heroes changed, but historical facts remained unaltered. Elsi wore a sorrowful expression at this truth.
But…
“Kyle saved the world. He found the world’s light and showed me the bright night sky.”
In the present, Elsi liked people even more. Among the people she had guarded with Leo, many were shining like stars.
Other spirits were likely not different from her either. Spirits are fundamentally beings who love humans, drawn to them and fascinated by their stories and nature.
That a spirit would disdain humans was unusual…
[Perhaps the Abyssal Spirit, this dark elemental spirit, has endured some terrible things.]
‘Likely.’
[…My hatred for the world didn’t change my ultimate goal of protecting it, leading me to contract with Kyle.]
‘She must have sought answers too.’
She couldn’t have truly hated mankind.
[Elsi, I want to converse with this spirit.]
Hearing this, Leo hesitated.
Months since Elsi had left the Hero’s World, and this was the first time she expressed such a wish. Unlike her lively peers, Fira who constantly asked for chocolates, Kiran who was overly demanding Elsi’s attention, or Arti who desired harsh treatment, she had always been quiet, content to merely gaze at the night sky.
But now, she was showing her will.
Facing a Great Spirit hostile towards humans was dangerous. But…
‘Alright.’
Having known Elsi’s past, Leo couldn’t refuse.
‘Let’s make some space then.’
“Thank you!”
An hour after entering Zerodia’s Keep.
There were no signs of the spirits that had aggressively repelled intruders the previous night. Had someone else come to this conclusion, they might have thought the Great Spirit had left.
But Leeo, Lil, and Jin were all excellent Spirit Masters. Jin was a hero renowned for his spirit magic, while Leeo had been the former Great Hero of the All-Classes. Even without visible evidence, they were aware the influence of the Abyssal Spirit still lingered in Zerodia’s Keep.
“Too quiet to feel comfortable.”
While muttering this, Jin frowned as the group entered the central part of the Keep.
Suddenly, darkness spread across the floor.
Realizing this, Jin quickly gathered his spirit powers and reached out to Leo and Lil walking ahead. Yet, before Jin could get to them, both had already been pulled into the darkness.
“Foolish.”
Jin clicked his tongue and moved to follow them, but numerous spirits appeared in front of him.
“Not interested in showing yourselves to these young students?”
Jin frowned further.
“To an uncle, you show no respect? Now, that’s going too far.”
Gooooo-!
Facing the large number of high-class spirits blocking the path, Jin unsheathed his blade, igniting his aura and spirit powers.
“To anyone who touches even a finger of those students, I’ll show no mercy, Abyssal Spirit!”
Shedding his casual demeanor, Jin charged straight at the spirits with blazing eyes.
Drawn into the darkness, Leo and Lil plummeted underground in the Keep.
Whoosh! Crash! Crash!
Landing on the ground, both looked up to the ceiling simultaneously.
[Welcome, future hero aspirants.]
At this voice, they turned to the front where a youth stood, with hair and eyes as black as pitch, shadows draped over his face, and donning a dark hooded cloak. His appearance resembled a grim reaper from stories, causing Lil to tense up.
“Are you the Abyssal Spirit?”
[Yes.]
The emotionless and dry tone made Lil uneasy as she pulled out the mission scroll.
“I have received a task from Lumern to escort a distinguished guest to the academy. Based on my assumption, you, being the Abyssal Spirit, must be the one Lumern invited, correct?”
[Indeed, Lumern invited me.]
Hearing this, Lil brightened her expression.
“Hello! Abyssal Spirit, I am Lil Luche, sent here to greet you…”
[Not interested.]
“Yes.”
[The invitation from Lumern was to find a contractor.]
The Abyssal Spirit stared directly at Lil upon finishing his sentence.
[But even after careful thought, I’m doubtful if it’s worth contracting with a human. Especially you, the human girl holding the mission scroll, you’re probably the one Lumern chose as the most feasible contractor.]
“Me?”
Looking startled and confused, Lil pointed towards Leo.
“But… there are much more remarkable summoners out here. The student president of the first year. For me to be considered as the prospective contractor of the Abyssal Spirit is… absurd.”
Hearing this, the Abyssal Spirit turned his gaze towards Leo.
[Even from where I stand, that fellow lacks the qualities of a Spirit Master.]
Leo smirked at this statement.
True.
In the aspect of spirit mastery alone, Leo was no match for Lil — far less impressive in comparison.
[Lil Luche, your coming here is akin to taking a type of test, to determine if you can be my contractor.]
“Are you mistaken? How could someone like me become the contractor of a Great Spirit?”
[It doesn’t matter if the assessment is mistaken or not. I have no intention of contracting anyway. Coming here was merely out of the bond with Kalyan and Riven. I anticipated you would send a prospective contractor. Hence, I planned to test them.]
Upon hearing this, Leo thought,
‘Truly Lumern, reaching a point where they plan to facilitate a contract between students and Great Spirits.’
Given the urgent global situation, it seemed Lumern wished to train contractors for Great Spirits.
‘However, things have twisted much more than expected.’
Leo remained wary of the Abyssal Spirit.
[When you send a knight of Undine as well, things become predictable.]
The Abyssal Spirit observed Leo, whose eyes flickered.
[You figured out my intention to prepare a rather dangerous trial.]
Whoosh-!
Suddenly, the ground beneath Leo and Lil started to collapse like a swamp, and darkness gradually engulfed their bodies.
“What, what is this!”
[Did I not explain already? This is a test of my making. I am a spirit of darkness. My intention is to contract only with one who can embrace my darkness.]
The Abyssal Spirit smirked.
[Face my darkness, then.]
“Then… I’ll take it myself! Leo didn’t come from the school’s instruction, but at my request!”
Lil desperately shouted, trying to pull Leo out of the dark swamp despite struggling herself.
But the more she fought, the faster she was swallowed by the darkness.
“My, my…”
By now, the darkness had reached Lil’s neck. With a worried look, she turned to Leo.
“Leo, I’m sorry…!”
Lil got fully swallowed by the darkness.
Witnessing this, Leo glanced towards the Abyssal Spirit.
The Abyssal Spirit already had his eyes closed, clearly signaling his lack of interest.
With that, the depth of darkness grew even more profound.
It felt as though they were submerged underwater without any light reaching them.
In that instant, Leo reached for the Glorious Gem hanging around his neck.
Flash-!
Suddenly, radiant light emerged around him.
Whoosh-!
The Abyssal Spirit, Ignit, reacted, his eyes flickering with surprise.
“Seems like we’ve got a rather nasty spirit.”
[How did you escape my darkness?]
Leo replied nonchalantly.
“I consumed it.”
[That’s impossible!]
To consume the power of a spirit of the same attribute requires at least the equivalent power of a spirit of its level.
Yet, Ignit’s power ranked among the uppermost tiers of dark elementals, a Great Spirit.
“It is indeed impossible, commonly speaking.”
Leo smirked again as he looked at Ignit.
“But what if the one consuming your power was a contractor of an equally powerful dark spirit?”
[Unreasonable.]
[Hello.]
At this moment, among Leo’s white hair, a small figure no bigger than a palm appeared — it was Elsi, sticking out her face.
Seeing Elsi, Ignit frowned.
[And who might you be?]
[My name is Elsi, and I am a Shadow Spirit.]
Elsi gently smiled.
[I wish to converse with you.]
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
