Chapter 240.2

“Khahaha, it worked out well, didn’t it? Now, Bookworm, go ahead and make a pact.” (Eldmed)

“A-A pact? You mean… with them…?” (Naya)

Naya timidly glanced at the Keepers.

When the red eyes of the Keeper of Death, Atro Ze Sistava, appeared, she shuddered and flinched.

As if trying to flee, Naya hid behind Eldmed’s back.

“I-I don’t think I can do it…” (Naya)

“No, no, you can do it. You should be able to. After all, you’re my student. These Keepers are, so to speak, my children. I’ve given them proper instructions. There’s no way they won’t accept your pact. Now, just give it a try, even if you think it might be impossible.” (Eldmed)

Naya nodded fearfully and pointed the Pledge Jewel ring at the Keepers.

“W-What should I do…?”

“These guys don’t understand words. Just pray. Make a pact with them to make them your divine summons. They might give you some conditions, but for now, just agree to whatever they ask.” (Eldmed)

“…I-I understand…” (Naya)

Naya took a few steps forward and talked to the Keepers while praying.

“…I-I’ll do whatever you ask, so please, will you become my divine summons?” (Naya)

There were a few seconds of silence.

Then, with a crackling sound, an enormous amount of magical energy began to rise from the Keepers.

Accompanied by a bright light, the outlines of the four G.o.ds distorted, they disappeared from their spot as if they were being called back to the heavens.

“…Um, w-what just…?” (Naya)

Naya stood there in a daze, unable to comprehend what had just happened.

“Khahaha! It worked! Now, try summoning them.” (Eldmed)

Naya nodded and poured magical power into the Pledge Jewel ring.

“L… …!” (Naya)

A flame ignited within her Pledge Jewel ring.

The three-dimensional magic circle for inscribed inside the ring began to summon the Guardian G.o.ds with whom she had formed a covenant.

With a crackling sound, four lights gathered before her.

“W-What is this…?!” (Bishop))

The bishop, who seemed to have exhausted a lifetime’s worth of shock in just one day, was once again taken aback.

“My word… Not only has she formed a pact with four G.o.ds, but she’s summoning them all at once? That’s something only the Selected Eight, chosen by the Selection G.o.ds, should be able to do… And shouldn’t a Pledge Jewel only be capable of summoning one Keeper at most? Any more, and the stone should shatter under the strain…!” (Bishop)

Contrary to the bishop’s expectations, the light materialized quickly, and before Naya’s very eyes appeared the four Keepers with whom she had made a pact.

“…A miracle… O G.o.d… How many miracles will you show me in a single day… Oh… Ohhhh…!” (Bishop)

As if he had received a divine revelation, the bishop once again burst into tears.

“…D-Did I succeed…?” (Naya)

“I see. I see, I see, I see. I’ve figured it out, Bookworm!” (Eldmed)

Eldmed looked more lively than ever and pointed his cane at Naya.

“W… What have you figured out…?” (Naya)

“It’s your potential. It’s true that you lack magical power. If we consider your source as a vessel and magic power as water, then your vessel is practically empty! Not a drop of that water overflows from your source, which should naturally be br.i.m.m.i.n.g!” (Eldmed)

“…Right…” (Naya)

Naya looked dejected and lowered her head.

The Conflagration King put his hand under her chin and forced her face up.

“Khahaha! Why do you look so down? Don’t you get it? I’m praising you! It’s true that no magic power overflows from your source. But that vessel of yours is incredibly wide, vast, and of the highest quality. Even after summoning four Keepers, there’s still room left!” (Eldmed)

“Um…”

“I’m saying you’re well-suited for summoning magic. Your own magic power may be scarce, but with such a vessel, you can fill it up from the outside.” (Eldmed)

Just as the Conflagration King said, it seemed that here in the Underground World, the key to summoning magic lies in the capacity of one’s source.

Hence, when I summoned the dragon earlier, adjusting my magic power didn’t bring any significant change.

Because the size of my vessel did not change.

When using and , the part of the source that wasn’t filled with magic power, or its empty s.p.a.ce, was filled with the pact between her and her divine summons, and the spell formula used to summon them. However, most people didn’t have that empty s.p.a.ce, so they used the Pledge Jewel as their vessel instead.

The more pacts they made, the more summons they had, the less empty their vessel became.

However, Naya had enough empty s.p.a.ce in her source to take it all without needing a Pledge Jewel.

“Naya, make a pact with me, the Conflagration King. If you become my subordinate, I will become your G.o.d and grant your wishes.” (Eldmed)

“Hmm. That’s an interesting idea, Conflagration King.” I said, stepping forward in front of him.

“Indeed, if you do that, you might be able to escape from my spell.” (Anos)

By using and , if his power became Naya’s, the Heavenly Father’s order would be hers to control.

Since didn’t apply to Naya, there would be no issue if she were to defy me.

“Khahaha! Is there a problem, Demon King of Tyranny? Even if my power becomes Naya’s, she’s still a student of the Demon King Academy,” the Conflagration King taunted, as if to provoke me.

As long as Naya didn’t betray Dilhade or the Demon King of Tyranny, there was no issue with her gaining the ability to summon the Heavenly Father’s order.

“Hmm…” (Anos)

The Conflagration King has repeatedly insisted that the Demon King needed an enemy.

He may have thought of raising Naya to be my enemy while still adhering to our contract.

However—

“Naya,” I called out.

“Y-Yes…!” Naya straightened up, tense.

“What do you think of the Conflagration King?” (Anos)

She pondered for a moment before answering.

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“I… I think he’s a very good teacher. If I follow his instructions, maybe even someone like me could eventually be of use to Dilhade…” (Naya)

I nodded and spoke to her.

“That’s right. There is no better teacher in Dilhade than the Conflagration King. Follow him with everything you have. He will undoubtedly guide you to the place you seek.” (Anos)

She smiled happily.

“Trust in him and strive as his student. And when you feel indebted to him, repay him by showing how much you’ve grown.” (Anos)

“…Yes, sir…!” Naya responded cheerfully.

Seeing this, the Conflagration King twisted his lips in glee.

“…Khaha… Khahaha… Khahahaha! KHAAAAAHAHAHAHA…!!” (Eldmed)

His laughter echoed far into the underground sky.

“Truly what I expected of the Demon King of Tyranny! Not only do you overlook my actions, but you even push me forward! Ahh, this is indeed the word of the king of the world who surpa.s.ses even the power of the G.o.ds!” (Eldmed)

He clenched his fist and raised his voice triumphantly.

“You never back down, you never cower, you confront everything head-on, and you emerge victorious. This is true tyranny! This is the true Demon King, Anos Voldigoad! Yes, yes, that’s exactly it! You are, without a doubt, the best!” (Eldmed)

With the wings of light gathered on his back glowing brilliantly, Eldmed praised me with an almost divine reverence.

“Then I, the Conflagration King, will do my best to live up to those expectations!!” (Eldmed)

He struck the ground with his cane and turned his gaze to Naya.

“Now, Naya, put those Keepers away. It’s impossible to form a pact with me while they’re still summoned.” (Eldmed)

“U-Um… G-Go back!” Naya ordered hesitantly, but the Keepers didn’t budge.

“Huh? P… Please go back!” she tried again, but her inexperience in controlling such powerful ent.i.ties was apparent.

Though she had the vessel to summon G.o.ds, her skill in handling them was still lacking.

“Allow me to bestow the words of the G.o.ds upon you, Bookworm. You can do this. There’s no way you can’t.” (Eldmed)

The words of the Conflagration King were infused with magic, and they blessed Naya.

Then, her jewel suddenly began to glow. In response, the Keepers were enveloped in light and suddenly disappeared.

“Good, now it’s done. State your wish, and we shall forge our pact.” (Eldmed)

“Umm… M-My wish…?” Naya looked down, unsure, and smiled awkwardly.

“Khahaha! Don’t be shy, just tell me. I will grant all your wishes.” (Eldmed)

“Um… Then…” (Naya)

Naya lifted her gaze to meet the Conflagration King’s eyes and asked.

“Well… In that case… Will you… be my teacher forever…?” (Naya)

Eldmed grinned.

“I accept, Naya. I, the Conflagration King, will engrave all knowledge, from the most secret truths of the world to the most useless trivia, into your mind and body!” (Eldmed)

With a grand, exaggerated gesture, the Conflagration King declared those words, then his body was enveloped in a radiant light.

As the light gradually subsided, Eldmed returned to his original form.

The pact between the Conflagration King and Naya had been successfully completed.