BTCATL 15

Chapter 15

A brisk but clear wind whipped across my face.

Even though we had just lifted off, the ground already seemed impossibly far away.

Everything about the North that had tormented me looked so small now—like it could fit in the palm of my hand.

The reality of truly leaving made my body tingle with anticipation.

[Asila! You’re with us now, right?!]
[I’m so happy we met again!]
[Kyaaah!]
[Asila’s a contractor now too!]
[Nyx is a bit scary, but Asila’s nice!]

The nymphs, who had been wary of the butterflies just moments ago, now clung to me again like before, giggling and pressing their bodies close—perhaps reassured by Redin’s presence.

When the butterflies fluttered their wings threateningly, the nymphs screamed and dove into my hair to hide.

[You nymphs haven’t changed one bit.]
[Don’t go clinging to our contractor so freely.]
[Asila, can’t you chase them off?]
[Let’s just banish them with a reverse summoning.]

Reverse summoning.

It happened when spirits were too injured to maintain form or when the spirit user couldn’t supply energy—forcing them back into the natural world.

That wasn’t something done lightly.

Just as I, pale-faced, was about to stop the butterflies, the nymphs suddenly disappeared first.

“I figured they wouldn’t just sit back and take it,” Redin said, shrugging and glancing at the butterflies on my shoulder.

[Tch.]
[Those pests have a contractor too.]

Redin glanced briefly at Nyx, who flapped his wings in irritation, then turned toward me, locking eyes.

His blue gaze shimmered with a weighty seriousness.

“When we arrive at the Tower, you’ll get more detailed information, but Nyx is an extremely aggressive spirit. Until he learns control, it’s best not to use his power. Most people report that the spirit goes berserk immediately after a contract is made… But you seem fine.”

…Berserk?

—Boom!

A deafening crash—impossible for such a high altitude—suddenly rang through my ears.

Redin must’ve heard it too. He glanced downward with a sigh.

I followed his gaze and opened my eyes wide in shock.

Maybe it was because I’d been focused on the spirits, or because Jin’s flight had been so smooth, but I hadn’t noticed that our speed had drastically slowed.

Spread out below us was a massive snowy plain—and a towering structure at its center.

Around the tower, many buildings stood nestled in a dense forest of snow-covered fir trees.

It was a vast, breathtaking sight. The setting sun bathed everything in golden light, making the entire scene even more mysterious and majestic.

This was the Spirit Tower—an independent stronghold unaffiliated with any kingdom or empire.

As I stared down in awe, I noticed something unusual.

“…What’s that?”

Ash-colored smoke was rising from one part of the tower.

—Boom! Boom! Boom!!

The explosions grew louder, and I swallowed hard.

Was that the same noise we’d heard earlier?

“…Right now, there’s a lunatic who’s broken into the tower.”

Looking for you, most likely.

Redin’s rough language startled me—totally out of character.

“He suddenly showed up two days ago, demanding we hand over the dark spirit user. At the time, I had no idea what he was talking about and focused on driving him away, but seeing you now, I think I understand. Those who’ve contracted with Nyx are… a little different. I’ll explain more once we land.”

“Kiieee!”

As if responding to his words, Jin let out a shrill cry.

Then—

“Gasp!”

—Jin dived.

I had no time to ask what was happening. My fingers gripped Redin’s arm so tightly they turned white.

Falling at such a speed from such a great height, headed straight for the massive tower—it was not a pleasant experience.

“Asila.”

When I regained my senses, we were already at the top of the tower.

Redin landed lightly on the platform, as if it were routine. He held out a hand to help me down.

Still catching my breath, I grabbed his hand and stepped onto the tower.

His silver hair shimmered in the sunset glow.

A door leading inside the tower swung open before me.

“Welcome to the Northern Tower, Asila.”

And I’m terribly sorry, but I’ll need you to help calm that lunatic down.

His following words were a little concerning, but I shoved them aside and took a deep breath.

Seeing the tower from below and standing right in front of it were two very different things.

This was a place I never imagined I’d be able to set foot in.

Realizing I was holding my breath even though there was no real threat made me let out a soft laugh.

I had promised myself not to look back anymore—but I guess some nerves were inevitable.

“Asila?”

“…Ah, yes.”

Only when Redin called my name did I manage to move my feet.

This tower marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life. In a way, it was the first step in truly living for myself.

Something warm and ticklish began to fill my chest—a feeling I hadn’t felt in years…

—Boom! Boom!!

…But the moment we descended and faced the source of the noise directly, that tiny joy was blown away without mercy.

“…Why is he looking for me?”

My voice trembled.

Ever since contracting with Nyx, energy had surged through me. I knew how powerful trained spirit users could be.

Yes, I knew—but still…

“He must’ve sensed the energy when you made your contract with Nyx. He thinks we’ve been hiding a dark spirit user and that the spirit went berserk. That’s what’s causing this mess. We tried reasoning with him, but he refused to listen.”

—Boom!

“We couldn’t even contact the Western Tower until now because we were trying to get a handle on the situation. But now that you’re here, we should be fine.”

You’ve got so much we can extract from you, Redin added with a casual grin.

I stared, pale-faced, at the source of the destruction.

Several buildings were so damaged they were unrecognizable. Smoke and debris billowed into the air.

A thin silver barrier was barely holding back the man who was wildly blasting everything around him.

“That is…?”

“That’s the power of the Tower Master.”

Redin pointed.

Not far from the barrier, an elderly man stood with his arm outstretched.

A small version of Jin floated beside him.

“What about the other spirit users?”

“They’re not much help. Most of them don’t care if the tower burns down, as long as their personal research isn’t ruined.”

Redin’s face was surprisingly expressionless as he criticized his own colleagues.

The elderly man’s extended arm trembled visibly, even from this distance.

And the silver barrier he maintained began to crack with a shrill creaking sound.

…It wouldn’t last much longer.

—Crash!

Just as I feared, a loud sound like shattering glass rang out. The spirits beside the old man vanished as if sucked away.

At the same time, he collapsed into a fit of coughing.

I knew it instinctively.

Reverse summoning.

It didn’t take much energy to maintain a spirit’s form.

Even a novice like me could unconsciously allow butterflies to float freely with only minimal output.

But if a spirit user was too injured to maintain even that—reverse summoning occurred.

If the Tower Master’s spirits were forcibly dispelled, that meant the situation was dire.

Either the old man was too weak… or the attacker was far too strong.

And the Tower Master couldn’t be weak. So the latter had to be true.

If even I could figure that out, then Redin definitely knew.

“…Nymphs.”

Sure enough, I heard him summon his spirits.

[Yeah!]
[Let’s gooo!]

The number of nymphs around him multiplied, and soon a much thicker, stronger green barrier than before formed ahead of us.

Perhaps sensing this, the black-haired man hovering midair began to emit even rougher energy.

Black smoke-like shadows poured from his body, forming a dark sphere in his hand.

It was obviously dangerous to anyone who saw it.

—Boom! Boom! Boom!

The black orb slammed into Redin’s barrier with a thunderous crash.

Acrid smoke spread everywhere.

[He’s one of us.]
[Ugh, I hate him.]
[He can hurt Asila.]

At that moment, I felt a huge rush of energy leave my body.

I spun around.

Behind me, butterflies glimmering with crimson light were multiplying at a terrifying rate.

Soon, a swarm of geometrically patterned butterflies was writhing behind me.

And before I could even say anything to stop them—they all shot straight toward the man.

“You’ve finally shown yourself.”

Or was it just my imagination—did the corner of the man’s mouth curl upward?