I Became the Academy’s Genius Shikigami Summoner – Chapter 224

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟐𝟒

“I want you to be the one to end me.”

“What do you mean?”

“The other forms of myself that exist in other mazes are mere projections of thought, meant only to convey knowledge. But I am a little different.”

A quasi-spirit, with most of her will and memories intact despite her lack of a physical form.

That was how Verdi defined herself now.

“So, by ending you, you mean. . . . . . .”

“Yes. I will eventually fade away, and once my purpose is fulfilled, it is only right that I return to the soil.”

At length, Verdi revealed to me the unadulterated purity of her heart.

“Originally, I intended to pass on all my knowledge to my successor and then have them take over. . . . . .But now I have changed my mind.”

Verdi’s eyes, as they met mine once more, had returned to the moment she had first spoken to me.

“I would like you to be the one to end me, and to bless that end. If that were to happen, I am certain that I would be more than satisfied.”

It was not a matter of logic or theory, but simply instinct.

Although she was surely unaware of the truth of my identity, her own advanced nature had led her instinctively to this choice.

I considered all this, my expression hardening with a complex mix of emotions.

「. . . . . . .」 

Verdi is quite special to me, even now.

In a way, she is truly a trace of what I have left behind, unlike anyone else in this world.

That is why I wanted to accept her request, but on the other hand, I hesitated.

Sensing my inner turmoil, I soon realized the source of my hesitation.

「. . .𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩.」

There are times when players in a game scheduled to end their service will delete the characters they have nurtured, both physically and emotionally, with their own hands.

If something is going to disappear anyway, they reason, it is their duty to do it themselves.

However, surprisingly, most of these players experience a period of great hesitation at this final stage.

Even though they are mere data fragments, the time and affection they have invested in them is undeniably real.

Perhaps the emotions I was feeling now were similar,

However, since this was taking place in reality, the degree was even more intense.

After giving the matter much thought, I turned to Verdi and gently expressed my refusal.

“I can’t do that.”

“. . .Why not?”

“Because that is my true wish.”

Verdi’s expression clouded with doubt at that.

However, I ignored it and continued speaking.

“Is it really necessary for you to disappear?”

“It is the natural order of things for what comes from the soil to return to the soil. Besides, I have nowhere left to go.”

Having lost her physical form, her very soul was gradually fading away. Furthermore, there was nothing left in this world that connected to her.

I could understand her feelings to some extent.

“There is a way.”

Before her, I held out the Sun Stone and Moon Stone that I had received as a reward for clearing Blinding Mountain.

Verdi seemed to guess my intentions and opened her mouth in surprise.

“Surely. . . . . . .”

“Yes. With these, I can create an object that will allow your soul to remain. Since it contains the essence of the sun and moon, it should be compatible with you.”

Although my reasoning was sound, Verdi quickly shook her head.

“That object is meant solely for my successor. And for me to go out into the world again would go against the grain. I will gratefully accept your sentiment alone.”

However, at Verdi’s response, I smiled wryly and continued speaking.

“Aren’t you usually a more forthright person?”

“. . . . . . .”

At that, Verdi looked at me with a slightly surprised expression.

The way she had presented herself to me up to this point had been the very image of a benevolent and compassionate witch clan successor.

However, as I had said before, Verdi’s true nature, as the creator of this strange maze, was not so different.

“This is the last remaining task of my clan. It is only right that I approach it with the utmost sincerity and truthfulness. . . . . . .”

“You can do it any way you like.”

“. . .Why are you so meddlesome about everything, young as you are? Do you know me that well?”

Finally, seeing a glimpse of her true self, I gently changed my approach.

“I do. Perhaps better than you think.”

“. . . . . . .”

Unable to conceal her wavering expression for a moment, Verdi quickly regained her composure and delivered her final declaration.

“That is not right. I am a being who should have perished long ago, together with everyone else. It is the proper course for me to return to nothingness once my task is complete.”

To that, I also replied to her with all my sincerity, for this one time.

“In the grand scheme of things, such matters are not so important.”

Just look at the Kruger clan’s devil, who has continued to live for hundreds of years by constantly replacing his physical body. Or the leader of a certain group that seeks to throw the world into chaos.

Even I, knowing the future of this world, am currently interfering in it to change it to my liking.

Compared to such immoderate actions, the customs and principles that Verdi sought to uphold were truly insignificant.

“You can do whatever you like. If any problems arise from it, I will take full responsibility.”

“. . .Is there really any reason for me to remain in this world?”

After all, as the most promising genius of the witch clan, who had lived through such tumultuous times, it was natural for her to think that way.

However, for me, who had been an ordinary office worker, the opposite seemed all too natural.

“There doesn’t really need to be a reason to live.”

At my words, Verdi tilted her head in puzzlement.

However, for some reason, she seemed to understand the meaning of my words.

“. . .Now I don’t know what to do. Do as you please.”

With her permission granted, all that remained was action.

Clasping the Sun Stone and Moon Stone in my hands, I fell into deep thought about how to use them.

「𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡𝙨, 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚. . . . . . .」

What I was trying to create was something similar to the Blue Heart Jade, one of the three great magatama in the original game.

Just as the azure dragon currently resided in the Blue Heart Jade, I needed to complete a vessel capable of fully containing Verdi’s being.

The only problem was that these two materials were new materials that had not yet been revealed in the original game.

「𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙗𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠. . . . . . .」

If these materials required a completely different recipe than anything I knew, it would be like throwing away my chance.

Thinking of that worst-case scenario, I couldn’t help but hesitate for once.

Seeing my hesitation, Verdi let out an inexplicable chuckle and began to approach me slowly.

“You spoke so confidently, but you seem to be having quite a bit of trouble?”

“. . .I just need to think for a bit.”

“I think I can help you with that.”

Fortunately, it seemed that these materials were not so unfamiliar to Verdi. Listening to her explanation, I was able to grasp the bare minimum.

「𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙖 𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧. . . . . . .」

There was nothing I could do about that now.

Through my Mental Spellbook, I recalled the recipes stored in my mind and began to process the materials into magatama using them.

A long time passed, and soon a small bracelet of moderate size was proudly displayed in the palm of my hand.

“. . .Your craftsmanship is better than I thought. There aren’t many people in the village who are this skilled.”

Even Verdi, who had seen countless masterpieces, had such high praise for it. The finished product was more satisfactory than I had expected.

I still vividly remember the process, but to be honest, I can hardly believe that I made it.

【Sun-Moon Stone】

▶A bracelet made from the crystallized essence of the sun and moon. It contains the power of harmony and acceptance, and protects its wearer from all evil.

Checking its performance with the Appraisal skill, I found that it was flawless.

Although I say so myself, this was a perfect special-grade magatama.

「. . .𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢.」

Of course, Verdi had helped me a great deal, but even so, this was more than I had expected.

“. . .So now, all that remains is to transfer your soul.”

After a few seconds of silence, Verdi stepped forward toward the bracelet.

“Begin.”

Even though it was not her original form, Verdi’s soul possessed a vast power befitting her.

As such, the task of transferring her soul was highly dangerous.

「𝙄𝙛 𝙄 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙡, 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙟𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙑𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙞’𝙨 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙭𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙.」

Strictly speaking, it was not a task that an exorcist of my level should be able to handle.

However, the current value of my karma value, which represented my limits, would be worth its weight in gold in this situation.

「𝙄𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚.」

Even at a much lower level, I had split Gang Cheol-i’s soul and sealed it within the Blue Heart Jade.

At my current level, I should have no problem handling even the soul of the ancient witch Verdi.

With that in mind, I immediately began the ritual without hesitation. Verdi’s soul gradually began to come into contact with the Sun-Moon Stone.

However, at that moment, I encountered a major problem.

Verdi’s soul was refusing to enter the Sun-Moon Stone.

「𝙎𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙣𝙤𝙩. . . . . . .」

It was only then that I realized Verdi’s true intentions.

Despite her words, she had been agonizing over this decision countless times and had ultimately chosen the path of extinction.

She had only used this method because I would not accept it.

「𝘼𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨?」

However, my words from earlier were certainly not a lie.

In other words, within her heart, conflicting emotions were still vying for dominance.

「𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙.」

Now, in order to save her, I would have to literally force her soul into the Sun-Moon Stone.

And so, after a brief deliberation, I made my decision once more.

“. . . . . . .”

I simply could not bear to let her disappear like this.

Regardless of her own wishes, it was simply my own selfish desire.

However, that did not matter.

That alone was reason enough for me to act.

Whoooosh!

Thud!

A fierce struggle of wills ensued, and it was a close call that could have gone either way.

However, unlike my own resolve, which was firmly set, Verdi still harbored a faint flicker of hesitation.

The difference between victory and defeat was that small.

Thud.

Slide.

Soon, the waves of spiritual power that had been churning all around subsided, and finally, a bracelet in perfect condition appeared in the palm of my hand.

Its color was different from before, now a deep black that seemed to suck in all light.

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