The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower-Chapter 316

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Chapter 316: Companion (5)

“……”

Even though a Spirit King had proposed a contract, Fran couldn’t bring himself to say a single word.

Instead, he kept glancing nervously around, like a puppy that had just shattered its owner’s favorite porcelain.

Although she was invisible, he could instinctively tell that Silaphrion was in a very bad mood.

—What do you think you’re doing right now?

In fact, she spoke in a cold voice she had never used before.

Ignious responded calmly.

—As I said, I wish to form a contract with that human.

—I can’t allow that.

—You’re acting as though you have the authority to decide that.

—I wouldn’t say I don’t. At the moment, I’m his guardian.

She glared at the shameless colleague who had barged into her domain and tried to take Fran away.

After all the effort she had spent—watering him, giving him sunlight, carefully nurturing him—how dare he try to snatch the fruit at the last moment?

—I’ve asked you several times, haven’t I? To let me meet him.

—And I’ve told you just as many times to wait.

—I did wait. But my patience wore thin, and I eventually came here myself.

—Do you think the others are just standing around because they’re fools?

—Or are you the one who thinks we’re fools? Sticking close to him under the pretense of helping him grow, building a bond, and then trying to secure a contract through that relationship—did you really think we wouldn’t notice?

Silaphrion flinched, having been hit right where it hurt.

Still, she replied without showing it.

—What do you take me for? Once Fran reaches the point where he can properly perceive us, I was obviously going to arrange an introduction.

—As if.

—……You’re really picking a fight, aren’t you?

—Ah, my apologies in advance. As you can see, my patience is in rather short supply.

Neither Spirit King was willing to yield an inch.

Just as Fran nervously fidgeted with his fingers—

He felt a scorching gaze land on him.

—Human. Speak for yourself. Do you not wish to contract with me?

“Uh, well……”

Frantically thinking, Fran answered honestly.

“It’s not about liking or disliking it. It’s just… too sudden.”

—Hmm.

—See? I told you it was too early.

As Silaphrion grew visibly smug, Ignious responded.

—Very well. Since it was a sudden proposal, time to think is only reasonable. Would one hour suffice?

“That’s… a bit too short.”

—Exactly. Humans take longer than that just to decide on a newspaper subscription.

—Tsk.

Clicking his tongue, Ignious relented.

—I’ll give you one week. That should be sufficient to decide. No longer than that.

Fran felt like arguing any further would turn him into a pile of ashes.

He nodded frantically.

“Y-Yes! One week!”

—Good. Then we’ll meet again then.

But instead of leaving, Ignious’s presence grew even more overwhelming.

—However, I’ll leave you with a fragment of power to aid your deliberation.

—Wai—

Before Silaphrion could stop him,

A scorching, violent force pierced straight through Fran’s body.

At the same time, the surrounding atmosphere changed.

‘No… it’s not the air.’

What changed wasn’t the surroundings—it was his senses.

Through those altered senses, he could literally see and feel everything.

“……”

Fran stared at the back of his own hand in awe.

Beyond it, he could see mana circuits glowing—mana flowing inefficiently within them.

A blazing force surged through his body, seizing control of that mana and restructuring it into a perfectly efficient system.

‘Ah.’

Instinctively, he knew it.

With this, the body of the mage Fran Sirius had become complete.

He couldn’t even imagine whether it was possible to reach a better state than this through effort alone.

—This is the most basic change you would feel after contracting with me.

Ignious’s voice was calm.

That calmness made it more convincing—far more than sweet, seductive words ever could.

—I could even guide you down the path of a mage rather than a spirit contractor.

Fran’s breath wavered slightly.

His heart pounded as a strange exhilaration welled up deep inside him.

‘It’s comfortable.’

Like lying on the finest bed crafted by a master artisan.

It felt as though he could cast any spell at 100% efficiency.

And that wasn’t just a feeling—it was undoubtedly reality.

—Of course, this is merely a secondary effect.

At those words, an overwhelming power boiled up inside him.

An indescribable fullness surged through his being.

“This is……”

—The Essence of Fire. A power you can wield with nothing but your will.

“…….”

Fran felt an intense urge to unleash the power dwelling within him.

It felt as though he could burn the entire world if he wanted to.

Just as that thought began to frighten him, Ignious spoke again, still calm.

—I promise you this. If you contract with me, whatever choice you make will always become the correct one.

A power so absolute it could turn every choice into the right answer.

That was the condition Ignious offered.

—Think carefully.

With those words, the power drained away, and Ignious’s presence vanished.

At the same time, an overwhelming exhaustion hit Fran, and he collapsed to the ground.

—Fran! Are you alright?

“……I can’t think straight at all.”

It felt as though a god had entered his body—then left.

That all-seeing clarity was gone, and his senses returned to normal.

Perhaps that was why the exhaustion felt so severe.

“…….”

Only after catching his breath for a long while did Fran resume thinking.

‘A contract with a Spirit King…’

There was no record in history of a human contracting with a Spirit King.

According to elven texts, only a handful of elves had ever done so in ancient times.

‘If top-tier spirits are said to rival level 8 power…’

Then a Spirit King would be at least level 9.

Recalling that brief taste of power, Fran’s hands trembled.

‘Which means… all I need to do is say one word, and that power will be mine forever?’

He imagined what he could do with such power.

First of all, the way others looked at him—and treated him—would change.

And not just within the White Tower.

‘The Empire… no, maybe the entire continent, regardless of race.’

No one would dare antagonize someone like that.

Then another thought surfaced.

If he became that kind of being, would the inferiority complex he’d buried deep inside finally disappear?

“…….”

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At the same time, doubt crept in.

Even if he gained that power, could he truly call it his own?

That hesitation came from experience.

‘It was the same when I obtained Wind Sovereign.’

Back then, it had drawn plenty of attention.

But it wasn’t interest in Fran Sirius—it was interest in a mage who possessed Wind Sovereign.

Before Oscar, no one had ever acknowledged his potential as a person.

In fact, in his desperation to break free from that frustration, he’d nearly been consumed by Wind Sovereign itself.

A contract with a Spirit King would be even more dangerous.

‘More than anything…’

Fran recalled how it felt when Ignious’s power filled him.

It was undeniably overwhelming—but it also felt like he was no longer himself.

Or rather, that “Fran” was no longer necessary at all.

‘Is this a choice between abandoning myself… or preserving myself?’

This wasn’t something that could be dismissed as mere pride.

No matter how long he thought, he couldn’t reach an answer.

* * *

“I'm going for a walk.”

—O-Okay, take care!

To clear his head, Fran returned to the floating island.

With no wind at all, it was the quietest place he knew.

Feeling his mind settle, he hesitated—then cast a spell.

“Wind.”

A familiar breeze gathered in his hand.

Just days ago, this wind and mana had felt like extensions of his own body.

But now, something felt off.

‘This isn’t it.’

After casting various spells for a long while, Fran reached a conclusion.

“……Hah. This is bad. Side effects.”

Whether he wanted it or not, he had glimpsed a realm far too high.

And because that sensation remained vivid in his memory, everything else now felt wrong.

His expression darkened.

‘To fix this, there are only two options.’

Reach that realm on his own.

Or give up early and contract with Ignious while the chance still existed.

Fear crept in.

‘What if I can never forget that sensation…?’

If so, every spell, every manipulation of mana, would feel wrong forever.

At that realization, certainty settled in.

‘A contract with a Spirit King is both a blessing… and a curse.’

It places you at the summit with ease—

But in exchange, Fran Sirius fades.

‘In two days, I have to give Ignious an answer.’

And he still hadn’t decided.

The scales in his heart were perfectly balanced.

‘I want to be strong.’

Strong enough to protect the people he cares about.

Strong enough to be acknowledged.

But he also wanted that strength to be his own.

That thought made him smile bitterly.

‘Am I being too selfish?’

Maybe he was just someone with lofty ideals and no ability to match.

A bitter taste filled his mouth—

“Wind.”

He cast the spell unconsciously.

As usual, he expected that uncomfortable mismatch to surface again.

“……Huh?”

But the gentle breeze carried none of that discomfort.

Fran’s eyes widened.

‘What?’

Had he finally created a perfect wind?

But suddenly?

Without effort?

He calmed himself and examined the spell closely.

‘It’s the same as always.’

Exactly the same wind he had cast minutes ago.

Yet now, there was no discomfort at all.

Then what had changed?

“It’s not something I did… huh?”

As he instinctively looked around, Fran froze.

The spirit he always encountered here was standing right beside him.

‘When did it get this close?’

Until now, it had always vanished whenever he tried to speak to it.

For the first time, the spirit spoke.

—Abnormal residual values removed. State normalization confirmed.

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