“Isn’t this… a bit dangerous?”

I-han trailed off, reluctant to form a contract with the spirit.

The spirit didn’t seem too keen on the contract either. Its shape wavered, glaring at him menacingly.

Though it was subdued now, its attitude suggested: *“I’ll bide my time, and one day, I’ll stab you in the back!”*

I-han, having just speared it repeatedly with his lightning weapon, didn’t feel too inclined to get friendly either.

“Huh?”

Siana Priest looked at I-han, puzzled by his hesitation.

“It’s dangerous, don’t you think? Just look at the trouble it caused in the forest when it escaped.”

Illendil tried to defend the spirit, looking forlorn.

“It doesn’t have a bad personality. It’s artificial, so it doesn’t really have a sense of good or evil…”

Yonir, who had been listening, found it hard to understand.

“But it did escape, didn’t it?”

“I overloaded it with dark energy, causing it to go berserk… It’s calmed down now…”

“......”

“......”

Yonir felt his respect for Illendil diminish slightly.

“But Wardanas,” Siana Priest said, still looking confused.

“Don’t you actually prefer things that are a bit dangerous?”

“...What? No!” 

I-han looked at Siana, shocked. Where on earth had she gotten such an idea?

Was this some sort of slander campaign from the White Tiger Tower?

“Well… You do carry a basilisk around your wrist, so I thought you preferred dangerous creatures…”

“A basilisk?”

Illendil, caught off guard, repeated in disbelief.

A basilisk was hardly a creature a first-year student should be carrying around.

If a first-year was walking around with a basilisk, they had to be either insane, highly skilled, or both.

“What are you talking about, Siana? Don’t say things that would give the wrong impression.”

I-han quickly clamped a hand over Siana’s mouth.

Even though Illendil seemed kind, I-han didn’t want to risk tempting an alchemist with something as valuable as basilisk venom.

‘Yonir.’

‘Got it.’

Yonir hurriedly covered Siana’s mouth and whispered.

“The basilisk is an exception. I-han doesn’t actually like dangerous things.”

From within his sleeve, the basilisk let out a small, sad whine.

“Senior, why don’t you take the contract yourself?”

Quickly changing the subject, I-han redirected the suggestion to his senior.

After all, Illendil clearly cared for the dark spirit.

Having created and nurtured it himself, it was only natural that he’d feel a bond with it.

“I can’t.”

The dryad hybrid looked downcast.

“I tried several times, but it just wouldn’t contract with me.”

“Oh.”

Yonir and Siana both thought the same thing, but they wisely decided to say nothing.

“Hm.”

I-han was tempted to say, *“Why don’t you give it a stab with a spear?”* but remembered the curses Illendil had uttered earlier and held back.

He also recalled how the senior had restrained the dark spirit with trees in an instant; I-han knew he could just as easily be restrained.

“It really is a fine spirit.”

“Yes…”

“Do you know how rare dark spirits are among spirits?”

“Yes…”

“Originally…”

Illendil went on about how precious and useful a dark spirit was, sharing touching stories of his time raising it. He lamented that if I-han left it, the spirit would return to its original dimension, which he found unbearably sad.

“Fine, I’ll contract with it,” I-han sighed.

“Really? Thank you!”

Illendil looked deeply moved, his appreciation clear.

---

Once the mark settled on his hand, the dark spirit stabilized.

It took the form of a sphere about the size of a small stone.

Tears glistened in Illendil’s eyes as he watched.

“Be happy, alright?”

“......”

I-han felt incredibly awkward.

“If I’d taken better care of it…”

“If we meet again, I’ll summon it for you,” I-han said politely.

“Really?”

Illendil, eyes brimming with tears, took I-han’s hand tightly.

“You’re the kindest person I’ve ever met.”

“But, Senior, doesn’t it seem like that spirit is glaring at me?”

Even though the spirit had no face, I-han felt a prickling sensation, as though it was watching him with resentment.

Illendil closed his eyes and nodded to himself, as though conversing with the spirit.

“No, it’s not.”

“It isn’t?”

“It says it’s grateful to you for snapping it out of its frenzy.”

“......”

I-han cast a suspicious look at Illendil.

If he weren’t a senior, I-han would have instantly replied, *“Don’t lie to me.”*

‘That doesn’t look like gratitude.’

The tingling on his back and the back of his neck felt as oppressive as a hungry Gainan lizard eyeing a meal.

“Isn’t it like the White Tiger Tower students?” Yonir whispered cautiously.

“The White Tiger Tower?”

“They always say thanks even after you hit them.”

“...Ah, someone might misunderstand if they heard that.”

I-han quickly covered Yonir’s mouth.

But he understood the sentiment.

Hey! Over there! Stop dozing off. Didn’t I just tell you to stay awake?

- Agh!

- Do you think I want to attack you? Just stop dozing off. How many times do I have to say it?

- Urgh…

- I hope you’re not getting mad at me for helping you study.

- N-no, I’m grateful, really.

…Like the students in White Tiger Tower, this dark spirit seemed to be grinding its teeth while muttering, *“Thank you for snapping me out of it.”*

‘This just keeps getting worse.’

No matter how rare or useful it might be, I-han vowed to avoid summoning this dark spirit unless absolutely necessary.

*Tap, tap—*

“?”

The squirrel spirit tapped I-han’s shoulder and pointed.

Over in the direction where the spirits had fled, a gentle light was starting to swirl.

I-han suddenly had a sense of foreboding.

“Senior Illendil, who knows spirits well, what’s happening right now?”

“The spirits are returning home.”

Illendil spoke in a tone filled with quiet emotion.

It was rare for spirits summoned from another dimension to willingly return.

Usually, they’d only leave once their power was depleted, often after clashes and collisions. Resolving such issues through persuasion was considered lucky.

But now, the spirits seemed satisfied and were returning home, grateful to the mages who risked their lives to help them.

As if they were raindrops, the spirits released drops of light that trickled down from the sky.

“It’s beautiful…”

“Truly.”

Siana Priest and Yonir watched in awe as the spirits created a brilliant symphony of nature.

It was a rare sight, one that could only be seen when spirits were genuinely moved.

Suddenly, all the hardships of the day felt worthwhile.

With a final flash of light, the last spirit offered its thanks before disappearing beyond the dimensional veil.

As the drops of light faded, the forest returned to its original state.

Siana, Yonir, and Illendil inhaled deeply, as if they were soaking up the spirits’ energy.

*Thud!*

The sound of someone collapsing startled Yonir.

When he looked over, he saw I-han, who had sunk to his knees in despair.

“......”

“......”

I-han looked so utterly defeated that Yonir didn’t dare to speak.

*Tap, tap*

The squirrel spirit and the basilisk patted I-han comfortingly, as if to remind him they were still there.

---

After rounding up all the troublesome seniors, Professor Thunderstep returned to the spot where they’d started.

Of course, the first-year students were nowhere to be seen.

Had it been any other group, he would’ve gone searching, deeply concerned about the dangers posed by venturing so far into the forest, especially with corrupted creatures lurking about.

But Professor Thunderstep remained calm.

After all, Wardanas was with them.

‘Impatient as always, he probably went on ahead.’

Following the traces, he tracked the group’s path.

“Hey, you little rascals! Why did you go off on your own—wait, why does Wardanas look like that?”

“Professor, the spirits… they returned home.”

“What?! That’s… wonderful news!”

Professor Thunderstep was genuinely astonished.

When spirits were deeply moved and chose to return home, they often left blessings behind.

Of course, pleasing those capricious beings from another dimension was no easy feat, making such occurrences rare.

“You’re all incredibly lucky!”

“Um… Professor…”

“Wardanas…”

Yonir and Siana Priest exchanged glances, hoping to stop the professor’s tactless enthusiasm.

Unaware, Professor Thunderstep continued.

“This is a once-in-a-decade sight! I sensed the fragrance of the spirits here… Their gratitude will be a great boon for all of you. Spirits never forget favors.”

“Professor, Professor…”

“??”

Finally, Professor Thunderstep noticed Yonir gesturing toward I-han.

“What’s up with him?”

“The spirits… left.”

“What does that… oh!”

Only then did the dwarf professor remember why I-han had gone through all this trouble today.

Despite all his efforts, the spirits had left.

Seeing his devastated posture, Professor Thunderstep was at a loss for words.

“So… how exactly did you manage to impress the spirits?”

“We subdued the rogue artificial spirit.”

“Who did that???”

Yonir pointed to I-han once again.

Professor Thunderstep was genuinely shocked.

He’d heard from the other students he’d detained that the rampaging artificial spirit wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

Even though it was young, it had been in an overcharged, berserk state.

To think I-han had risked his life against that creature, all to earn the favor of the spirits.

“You actually captured it???!!”

“Senior helped, but…”

“?”

Only then did the professor notice Illendil nearby, who was carefully tending to the damaged trees and plants.

“...Illendil.”

“Oh, Professor.”

Realizing that Professor Thunderstep had arrived, Illendil wiped the sweat from his brow and stood up.

“You’re here?”

“Do you have anything to say about this whole mess?”

“I’m sorry…”

Illendil bowed his head in apology.

Looking at him with a complex expression, Professor Thunderstep sighed before speaking.

“…Alright, apology accepted. I know you meant well. Just don’t do it again.”

“?!”

Yonir was surprised.

Hadn’t the professor just been eager to punish the other seniors?

“Something on your mind?” 

Noticing Yonir’s look, Professor Thunderstep asked.

“Um… did you forgive the other seniors as well?”

“What nonsense. They’re all in the punishment room.”

“Then… isn’t Senior Illendil going there too?”

“No.”

“...?”

Understanding the first-year’s confusion, Professor Thunderstep cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Illendil spends too much time working to be in the punishment room.”

Illendil, who practically lived in the forest, was one of Professor Thunderstep’s most diligent students.

If he were sent to the punishment room, who would care for the forest?

“Of course, it’s not because I’d find it bothersome. I’m just respecting the work he usually does.”

“Uh-huh.”

Yonir didn’t quite believe him but nodded along.

Then he looked over at I-han.

“...Does this mean I-han can’t go to the punishment room anymore either?”

“What are you talking about?”

Professor Thunderstep scoffed, falling silent for a moment.

Then he muttered to himself.

“...Maybe he can’t…”

“......”