LGHTNOVELBOOK 1 - Sum★moning
I don’t know how much time has passed.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I’ve traversed the realm of asuras.
Below my feet, dense fog lingered. Those sharply protruding mountain peaks were known to the world as the Ten Thousand Mountains.
Once, the ignorant fools of the righteous martial arts sects attempted to cross this territory, but it was all in vain.
Before I could even lift a finger, the Great Protector, along with the left and right Protectors and the forces of the Divine Sect, completely annihilated them.
Of course, we didn’t kill them all.
That would have been unbearably tedious.
In this world devoid of proper entertainment, continuously elevating one’s level of mastery and competing against worthy opponents were perhaps the only two true pleasures.
Thus, now I…
Was about to experience the supreme pleasure that no one in the entire martial world had ever tasted. My long robe fluttered incessantly. The energy I couldn’t fully contain within my physical body materialized and spread throughout the surroundings.
Boom!
Lightning struck somewhere beneath the thundering sky. And also in my mind.
“Even the heavens aid this celestial play. But they are mistaken. They should prostrate themselves and pay tribute.”
They say that flattery and false reports from subordinates confuse the mind of a ruler, but that too was irrelevant to me.
Currently, I was about to ascend to what they call the realm of transcendence… No. An even more supreme realm that not even the first Heavenly Demon of the Divine Sect had achieved.
The Boundary of Life and Death.
I would transcend the boundary between life and death to become a Martial God.
Woong!
The energy that immediately responded to my will was released from my dantian, endlessly surging up through the middle point and to the upper point. A sensation as if everything was connected from the tailbone to the crown of the skull.
Light streamed from my mouth and eyes. The entire world was being dyed in brilliant light. The peaks of the great mountains grew hazy, the Demon Training Grounds disappeared from view, and the presence of subordinates who were prostrating themselves to pay homage to the sect’s mythology…
[Please!]
Hmm?
Suddenly, someone’s telepathic voice reached me. Having already stepped into the realm of higher dimensions, this was no ordinary being.
Judging by the delicate voice, could it be the Sword Empress? Or perhaps the Snow Frost Lady?
No. They shouldn’t be here. They would still be recovering from the internal injuries sustained during the great battle between righteousness and evil.
Above all, they are beings who pursue the righteous path of martial arts. This place is not the immortal realm that Taoist practitioners so loudly proclaim. If one were to trace its origin, it would be the chaotic mix of good and evil known as the Water Immortal Realm…
[Please come…! This time, please, this time!]
Such a pitiful voice.
Almost crying and begging, isn’t it?
I have always held the principle of not harming women unless they first attempt to take my life.
Not for any moral reason, but because they need to exist for new beings to be born and become worthy opponents.
As the supreme absolute being, should I respond to this plea? Or should I wait for more desperate begging? As I was contemplating this,
I couldn’t believe my ears.
[Ah… fuck, really.]
What, what the hell?
[Just be summoned, you bastards! You parasites draining my mana, why are you being so picky? Hey, hey, the contract’s done, so just get summoned. How great must you think you are to ignore me like this?]
It was vulgar cursing at a level I hadn’t heard even from the lowest ruffians in the marketplace—shameless, low-class, and utterly inferior.
I hadn’t heard such language in decades.
At least not since before I was called to this place.
Along with a slight, indescribable sense of familiarity, emotions I had long forgotten began to stir within me.
Even amidst this, the voice echoing from all directions of this dark realm didn’t stop. Rather, it was becoming clearer.
[What, are you chickening out? All you summoned creatures are the same. Fine, forget it. I’m done with you. Am I ugly? Is my family not good enough? Summoning, what’s the big deal! Forget it, get lost!]
“I see.”
I realized.
This was the work of a heart demon trying to interfere with my ascension to the Boundary of Life and Death. Now, an even greater providence was trying to suppress the supreme Heavenly Demon whom even the heavens couldn’t control.
But I am not one to fall for such shallow tricks. I’ve long forgotten the futile emotion called anger.
I clenched my fist with a cracking sound. Immediately, the being, whether a celestial emperor or moon goddess, exclaimed in surprise.
[I-I can hear a response?]
A clearly flustered expression. That arrogant and haughty creature suddenly pretended to be respectful. So obviously.
[S-Summoned One! Please! Please come to me! Please, just this once, make a contract…!]
Even if you plead pitifully now, it doesn’t hide your true nature.
A familiar sense of déjà vu was rising from the depths of my consciousness. It seemed to be dissuading me in some way, but somehow the world was gradually shrinking.
Swoosh!
A force mercilessly pulling my entire body. A thin line connecting to the other side of the darkness was becoming increasingly clear. A light so intense I couldn’t open my eyes…
“Who are you to command me to come and go? Impudent.”
Whether it be the world or providence, nothing can command the heavens of the Divine Sect. In this world, only I can control myself.
So I made my own decision.
“Pay the price for mocking this lord.”
As I uttered these words, I took a step forward.
Crash!
The darkness shattered into pieces.
♦♦♦
[Summoner Academy]
One of the empire’s leading academies, a specialized institution where the entire curriculum focuses solely on ‘summoning.’
From freshmen to faculty, everyone here is dedicated to summoning magic, researching methods to contract with summoned creatures and freely command them—all are truly passionate about summoning.
Naturally, since the first step is summoning beings from higher dimensions or the spirit realm, innate talent plays a significant role.
And here.
“Please… please!”
The duchess ‘Ephre von Erea Gabriel,’ with red hair, green eyes, and flowers in her hair (not a metaphor, actual flowers), was today again focused on summoning.
More precisely, she was ‘attempting a summoning for a servant contract.’
Hum!
The magic circle drawn on the floor absorbed mana and emitted light. Even this was the result of pouring in several expensive magic stones, as she didn’t possess much magical power.
Originally, the academy provides magic stones, magic circles, and various other items for the first contract, but that’s only for the first few attempts.
If it doesn’t work after a certain number of tries, one had to apply separately each quarter, which involved complicated processes like required documents, signatures, and so on.
If that was too troublesome, one could rely on family power or find sponsors by putting in legwork, but…
‘It’s embarrassing!’
Ephre’s family originated from someone who provided substantial funds to the king of that time. Simply put, it was a case of ‘some rich guy who got a title for providing political funds.’
As time passed, not many people knew this history, and while few mentioned it, the label of ‘a class bought with money’ was unavoidable.
It was only a few generations ago that they finally began to be recognized as a noble family, and now to not even properly handle a summoning spell?
That would be the ultimate disgrace.
“Miss Ephre, as you know, if you can’t get past the basics like this, we may have no choice but to expel you. Summoning is the first step at our academy. Without it, even I can no longer…”
The chairwoman, that cursed woman, said with a seemingly troubled expression.
It was obvious that the Director of Planning and Financial Coordination—yes, that bitch—had whispered something. Otherwise, a woman who had even received separate bribes from her wouldn’t suddenly lose face and talk about expulsion.
“Fuck, why is it only me that fails!”
Around her, people spouted nonsense like “even summoned creatures avoid someone with a broken personality” or “the empire’s sun is preventing a calamity.” Those bastards. Where were they when they were praising her beauty?
“Arghhhh!”
Just as she was about to throw a magic stone in frustration.
Hum! Zing!
The magic circle reacted violently. This had never happened before.
Ephre’s eyes widened. Bright and pretty.
She immediately spoke respectfully, making her voice tremble as much as possible. Absolutely not because she was concerned about those lowlifes talking about her broken personality or whatever.
“Please come…! This time, please, this time!”
She begged desperately. She didn’t want to be expelled, didn’t want to face such humiliation. She wasn’t even hoping for a dragon. Just something moderately cute with spirits strong enough to put those who had disrespected her in their place…
But the magic circle seemed to calm down again, as if nothing had happened. It was entering a lull, you could say.
They say it’s more upsetting to have something given and then taken away than to never have had it at all. Tears welled up in Ephre’s eyes.
Fucking bastard. Son of a bitch. Damn them all. Summoned creatures or whatever, just eat shit and die!
Some of these thoughts transformed into sounds and burst from her mouth.
[I see.]
…Huh?
She heard it! A response from a summoned creature!
Wait, but why does it sound like a human voice? Is that normal? Oh, is this that… that thing where the summoner’s will communicates with the summoned creature’s mind?
Amidst the confusion, more words could be heard. She couldn’t understand properly because light and mist were pouring out before her eyes.
Boom!
As the void was torn apart, a man appeared. A man with a cold impression, fluttering his dark robe, opened his mouth.
“Try moving those lips one more time.”