Chapter 64: Chapter 64

“What do you mean it was excessive!” Elgard protested.

However, Professor Delphineso continued coldly, “Let’s be honest. No matter how talented, do you think it makes sense to summon a 3rd-rank summons and then immediately tell a student to subdue it?”

“It’s just… there were so many compliments written on the letter… and it turned out well, didn’t it?!”

“Yes, it went well. He will probably go down in history as a great talent who subdued a 3rd-rank summons using spearmanship, swordsmanship, magic, and summoning—in that order.”

Professor Delphineso glanced at Dane and continued speaking.

“But what about you, Chairman? Anyone who looks at the situation… will remember you as someone who gave an unreasonable test in order to fail a student.”

“P-Professor Delphineso, I definitely put safety measures in place!”

“Such a person just stood still when they confronted each other head-on earlier.”

“Th-that’s…”

Professor Delphineso smiled coldly and stated, “I will not tolerate this, Chairman.”

Eventually, Elgard could make no more excuses. Everyone was looking at him with strange looks.

‘Damn it!’

In the midst of this, Dane’s voice rang out, “The summons is in a lot of pain. Shouldn’t we quickly reverse summon him?”

It was a voice filled with guilt.

Elgard was startled and made a reverse summoning sign, and Antares, already hazy, completely scattered and disappeared. He returned to the world he lived in.

At the same time, Elgard vomited some blood.

There was a price to pay for summoning such a summons. If the summons was injured, its summoner shared the burden.

Everything was a mess. If things had gone as planned, Elgard would have stopped the test at an appropriate time, declared that Dane had failed the test, and returned in high spirits.

What the hell was this?

‘Shit…’

The test ended, and the dome-shaped shield that had surrounded the entire auditorium was immediately lifted. At the same time, cheers were heard as if they had been waiting for it.

“Really… he really passed? I’ve never seen anyone pass the special selection test before!”

“Really… What is talent? I couldn’t even summon a 6th-rank summons properly during my entire third year…”

“If there were students from the Magic, Swordsmanship, and Spearmanship Departments in addition to the Summoning Department, it would have been a mess…”

The students’ reactions were generally ones of surprise or disbelief. Talent had to be at a certain level for others to be jealous, but if the talent was that overwhelming, they couldn’t even feel jealous.

The examiners, excluding Elgard, were in a state of shock.

“The test is one thing, but how can this be…?”

“I thought it was unbelievable even as I watched.”

“How on earth does House Sogres educate their children?”

“Spearmanship, swordsmanship, magic, summoning… What should we call such a talent?”

Professor Kelthas, who was watching, came to a conclusion in his mind.

‘A genius of talents.’

Professor Kelthas thought back to when Dane had taken up arms and clashed head-on with Antares. He didn’t know what kind of magic it was, but Antares staggered for a moment, and Dane took advantage of the gap to swing his sword, stabbing him in the chest before leaping away.

That series of actions could never, ever be attributed to a fourteen-year-old.

It was as if… as he had felt before. It felt as if he was watching a seasoned knight.

“I need to teach him better.”

Professor Kelthas had no formal disciples because he thought it was too much of a hassle. But now, he thought a little differently.

“How high will he go?” Professor Kelthas muttered as he watched Dane put his spear and sword back into his subspace.

“As expected… What a great talent.”

Meanwhile, Professor Delphineso was finally able to smile.

How anxious had she been throughout the exam? But he did it—with tremendous skill, at that. One fact became more certain.

‘I must bring him to our department no matter what.’

But then doubts began to grow.

Was it really possible?

“Dane!”

Just then, the auditorium door opened and two women came running in.

Arabella Sogres.

Clare Sogres.

Dane’s two older sisters.

The two ran over and hugged Dane tightly.

“Little brother, are you okay?” Clare examined Dane first.

“I heard fighting Antares was your test! What kind of crazy bastard would do such nonsense…?!”

Arabella, as was her nature, shouted first. Thanks to this, Elgard was left staring blankly at the sight without any time to react.

“That… that…”

Regardless, Arabella looked over Dane, not minding the people from the Summoning Department at all. She sighed in relief when she realized that he was completely unscathed.

“Thank goodness. You’re really not hurt, are you?”

“Yeah, this is nothing. I’m just a little tired. Thanks for coming, sisters.”

“I would have liked to have observed the test… but family isn’t allowed.”

Naturally, to prevent cheating, family members weren’t allowed to observe the test. Still, Clare felt very sorry about that fact and was stroking Dane’s head.

“Hey, sorry to interrupt your family reunion, but can I borrow your little brother for a moment?”

“Oh, professor.”

Professor Delphineso approached at that time. She looked at Dane with a grin.

“We have to award the sign.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Dane’s two older sisters step back, and Dane finally approached Elgard.

He was shaking violently. However, what was even more pitiful was that even though he was shaking, he tried to keep a calm expression on his face.

“In accordance with Article 56 of the Summoner Association Rules… Dane Sogres, the eldest son of House Sogres, who passed the special selection test… is hereby granted the official status of Summoner and awarded with this insignia…”

With that trembling declaration, Dane was finally granted a sign, a golden one given only to those who passed the special selection test.

The surface was slightly warm, as if it had just been engraved, and the golden mark was engraved with Dane’s name and his unique code as a summoner.

Dane accepted the sign calmly.

“Thank you.” Then he asked Elgard, “Would you mind if I gave it a try?”

Elgard nodded in bewilderment. “S-sure.”

Dane walked slowly toward the center of the auditorium, holding the sign in his hands.

‘I guess the code was just registered now… What is he going to do?’

Elgard’s doubts were fleeting.

“Answer my call.”

Flash!

The golden sign in Dane’s hand was engulfed in light, and the air split apart to reveal a summons.

“D-damn…”

“That’s his first summoning, right? His first summoning with a sign?”

“How does that make sense? I mean, what the…?”

The one who appeared, to everyone’s astonishment, was the 4th-rank summons, Altemar. Although it looked like a small and cute rabbit, it was a buff-type summons that greatly increased the overall physical abilities of its summoner.

“Kiyung?”

Dane had done a tremendous job on his first summoning.

Professor Delphineso looked at the sight and smiled.

‘It’s only a matter of time before word spreads around the academy.’

Rumors spread incredibly fast. Everyone who passed by recognized me.

“Is that the boy who passed the special selection test for summoners?”

“Damn. What kind of house is House Sogres?”

Gossip was commonplace, and invitations to join clubs were also common.

“Dane, if you join our club, you will have all the privileges that only the president can have…”

“I guarantee you 20% of the profits from the school festival!”

Of course, when they heard I had made a club, they all got sullen and left.

Thankfully, I decided to create a club.

Of course, it wasn’t all joyful.

Professor Delphineso. I became more wary of her. Professor Delphineso probably thought highly of me, but I didn’t think so.

Her intentions were so obvious. It also seemed like I was used in her conflict with Elgard.

I had no intention of being dragged into anything.

“Leila, I just can’t understand… how is this possible?”

“Just don’t try to understand. It’ll get easier once you get used to it. He’s just a person from another world.”

In the midst of all this, Ernest and Leila’s reactions when we met the next day were also worth seeing. Leila seemed almost liberated, and Ernest would make a puzzled expression whenever he saw me before eventually making this comment.

“Maybe it’s not the ruins I should be investigating but Dane?”

Well, it had a really strange nuance depending on how you hear it.

Anyway, I got my sign, so I achieved my goal earlier than expected. It was my second sister’s suggestion, and the test was more ridiculous than I thought, but I passed it anyway and proudly received the sign.

My family was very happy and I felt proud.

On the other hand…

It was fun. It really was a good decision to choose the Autonomous Department.

“Oh, Dane. I’ve deciphered half the map.”

“Really?”

In the midst of all this, I got this good news.

“That’s great, Ernest.”

“Yes. It wasn’t as difficult as I thought.”

“I couldn’t tell even after looking at it, but as expected of you.”

Ernest smiled shyly at my compliment, and Leila chimed in, “How did you decipher that? I don’t think I could do it in a hundred years.”

I had a feeling that our club’s first meeting would be sooner than I thought.

“Then, as soon as you’re done deciphering the map, let’s have our first club meeting.”

“Alright.”

“Then I’ll try faster!”

They both happily agreed to my suggestion. I was a little excited, too. What on earth was that treasure map for? Decoding the map didn’t mean you’d find treasure right away, but it was fun to try.

“I will work harder too.”

Leila suddenly made a promise. Why was she acting like this?

“So suddenly?”

“Yes. I heard you clashed with Antares head-on with a sword in hand?”

Ah.

Look at her. It seemed like she was secretly concerned.

Anyway, I thought she would be glum, but instead, it seemed to have ignited her fighting spirit.

“Honestly, it’s a bit unfair. But because it’s you, I’m more motivated.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Of course. It’s a huge compliment. Just wait and see. I’ll surprise you.”

I smirked at the passionate promise and replied, “Alright, I look forward to it.”

In the midst of all this, my crystal ball began to vibrate.

Whoong.

“Wait a sec,” I said and answered the call.

⸢Dane? Where are you now?⸣

“Professor.”

It was Professor Kelthas. He was someone who found most things annoying, but the fact that he called must have something to do with the test.

“I’m outside. I was just finishing class and was heading back to the dorm.”

⸢Then stop by my office for a moment. I have something to say.⸣

I wondered what it was about. Well, I’d find out when I got there.

“Yes, professor.”

I said goodbye to the other two and then turned around, heading to Professor Kelthas’s lab/training room/lodgings/office—or, in other words, the ‘multipurpose room’.

By the way, I made up that nickname.

No matter how I looked at it, since the professor did all of his business there, it could only be called a multipurpose room.

“You’re here?”

Professor Kelthas stood up from his seat as soon as I entered. He looked at me blankly and then nodded suddenly.

“You’re fine. As expected.”

“What do you mean?”

“The skill you showed in the test back then. Antares is a formidable creature. I remember having a hard time when one of the Drenik Empire’s summoners summoned two of them.”

Those words brought back a memory. In my previous life, when I was a member of the Drenik Empire, I witnessed the might of a summoner.

“I lost dozens of soldiers that time up against just two summons. I also lost more than three knights.”

It remembered that. In my previous life, Professor Kelthas and I were on the same battlefield.

“Several others and I came late and subdued them, but… my memory of that time is still vivid.”

I thought I knew what Professor Kelthas was trying to say.

“But you subdued him without getting a single scratch.”

“I was lucky.”

He chuckled, “Sometimes humility is poisonous. Like right now.”

“By using various methods, variables are created.”

“No.” Professor Kelthas shook his head. “In my opinion, your swordsmanship was a decisive move.”

In fact, at the time, the skill I was most confident in and used to deliver the final blow during the test was swordsmanship.

Of course, there was help from assassination and spearmanship… The basis of the movement, the counterattack, and the thing that stabbed Antares in the chest and made him kneel was my swordsmanship.

As expected, he wasn’t just a bum.

“You’re fourteen years old, but your swordsmanship is beyond compare, both bold and skilled.”

Professor Kelthas asked me with a serious look in his eyes that I had never seen on his face before, “So, I ask you. Would you like to learn swordsmanship formally from me?”

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