“Wow.”

Rox was genuinely astonished after hearing everything that had happened.

To think such a significant event occurred just three months after reincarnation, not even half a year.

“So, the contractor has only been reincarnated for three months?”

“That’s right.”

“Wow.”

The same reaction echoed back.

To have grown this much in just three months.

Back when the contractor was Min Hae-jun, they only had mana at the level of an ordinary person. Their magical creativity and talent were unmatched, but their mana was still at a mundane level.

But now?

The mana Rox sensed was more powerful than anyone she had ever encountered.

“And I became a Great Spirit!”

“…?”

Rox glanced at Cynthia incredulously.

A Great Spirit? That was absurd.

“It’s true.”

“?!”

Unbelievable. Cynthia had grown even more in her absence. And Gemut, though still reserved, had clearly grown as well. It was only natural, given the contractor’s increased mana.

“Contractor! Do it for me too!”

“Huh?”

“That! Make me a Great Spirit! I can do even better!”

Rox was brimming with enthusiasm.

“Right now…”

In truth, what Lee Jaesang had used on Cynthia was a temporary transformation into a Great Spirit. The problem was that as Lee Jaesang’s mana grew, Cynthia’s transformation persisted, consuming a significant amount of his mana.

“Handling two is too much.”

“Come on, be a man and tough it out! You can do it, contractor!”

“Impossible.”

“Damn it!”

Rox kicked at the stones on the ground in frustration at the contractor’s firm refusal.

“Cynthia! Don’t think you’ve won! I’ll catch up to you soon enough!”

“Well, even if another transformation becomes possible, it probably won’t be you.”

“What do you mean…?”

Rox suddenly realized there was someone who had re-contracted before her.

[…Next is me.]

Gemut’s unusually firm tone.

Rox despaired at the thought that her turn was still far off.

“Are we done talking?”

“Yeah.”

“Then let’s get moving.”

Adrian, who had been waiting for the conversation between the spirits and Lee Jaesang to end, took the lead.

The maze-like ruins opened up under Adrian’s guidance, revealing paths hidden by spatial magic and illusions.

“No wonder we couldn’t find our way. Right, Liz?”

“Yeah! It’s not our fault!”

Kim Ina and Liz were still perfectly in sync.

“Adrian, are you sure it’s okay to give all of the World Tree’s mana to our contractor?”

“He’s your contractor, so it’s fine.”

“What do you mean?”

Adrian smiled sheepishly at Rox’s question, as if there was something more to it.

Kim Ina whispered to Liz.

“That’s definitely it, right? Adrian’s afraid of Rox…”

“Yeah, for sure.”

Liz whispered back confidently.

“He’s definitely scared of Rox.”

“?”

“To a little fairy, spirits must be terrifying. And the teacher has even stronger spirits.”

“Oh, right. Let’s go with that.”

Kim Ina closed her mouth.

“We’re here.”

After navigating through illusions and space, they finally arrived.

Before them stood a massive World Tree, so large it was hard to believe it was underground.

“Wow…”

Everyone was awestruck.

“Is this… really the World Tree?”

“It is.”

“But how? I’ve never heard of a World Tree outside the spirit realm!”

Cynthia’s question was met with Adrian’s explanation.

“Well… it’s a long story…”

Adrian tried to condense the lengthy tale.

The conclusion was that this World Tree was the original, and the one in the spirit realm was its offspring.

“How is that possible…?”

“This tree has been cherished and nurtured since the fairies were in the human realm.”

Adrian looked sorrowful as he spoke.

“Even after all the fairies left for the spirit realm, I’ve continued to protect this tree.”

“Alone?”

“Yes. But I think it’s time to let it go.”

Adrian recalled the roots that were dying despite his care, the branches that no longer brimmed with mana, and the leaves that fell and scattered like dust.

“If the World Tree had been whole… I could have saved Rox sooner.”

The World Tree’s incomplete mana had prevented him from saving Rox. It was a deeply saddening realization for Adrian, knowing someone else had saved Rox instead. Though grateful, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret.

“Whatever the case.”

Lee Jaesang stepped forward.

“Because you protected this place, Rox was able to come here. The ruins remained, allowing me to meet Rox.”

His words were devoid of emotion, yet they provided Adrian with unexpected comfort.

“…Anyway. I don’t want this World Tree to die.”

Adrian looked at Lee Jaesang.

“So I found someone to pass the World Tree’s mana to.”

“And that’s me?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“A fairy’s intuition.”

A fairy’s intuition.

Fairies like Adrian, who had lived for a long time, developed a sense. A sense to distinguish between good and evil, and to foresee who might become a hero.

This intuition, honed over centuries of experience and fairy knowledge, was more akin to insight than mere feeling.

“So I know. As Rox’s contractor, you’ll use this mana wisely.”

Even though his mana had increased to an unbelievable extent, more mana was always welcome. Unless it was too much for his core to handle, there was no reason to refuse, especially when his core expanded with each influx of mana.

“If you’re offering, I’m grateful.”

“But I have a request.”

“What is it?”

Adrian hesitated, glancing at Rox before looking back at Lee Jaesang.

“Take good care of Rox.”

“? Of course. She’s my spirit.”

“No, more than that. Make sure she doesn’t feel neglected…”

“Uh… sure, I guess.”

Lee Jaesang found Adrian’s reaction puzzling. What was he trying to say?

‘Oh, could it be?’

As he alternated glances between Rox and Adrian, Lee Jaesang made a guess.

‘Hmm. Rox has made a good friend.’

Though his guess was off the mark, Lee Jaesang nodded, satisfied with his conclusion.

“Alright. I’ll pass on the World Tree’s mana.”

The small fairy approached the World Tree. As Adrian’s hand touched it, the tree shuddered, scattering mana in all directions.

The sight left Lee Jaesang speechless.

The concentration of mana was unbelievable for a dying, ancient World Tree. If he could obtain all this mana, he might rival a dragon in power.

‘With this…’

He would surpass the theoretical limit of mana a human could possess. This meant he could use several spells he had prepared. Moreover, his expanded mana circuits could hold countless spells, making them akin to casting without incantations.

‘I could face Arion, Min Hae-jin, anyone.’

Lee Jaesang watched the tree intently.

Then suddenly.

‘…?’

Something felt off.

“Wait. Adrian. Stop.”

“Huh?”

Adrian withdrew his hand at Lee Jaesang’s words.

“Why?”

“This is the World Tree, right?”

“Are you doubting me?”

“No.”

Lee Jaesang spoke with a serious expression.

“I sense black mana.”

“…What?”

Adrian was taken aback.

Black mana from the World Tree? It was unthinkable.

“…Oh?”

Adrian suddenly sensed the black mana too. As did Liz.

A vile stench began emanating from the World Tree.

The blue mana that had been scattering turned black, and the black mana spread rapidly.

“What is this…!”

[Laughing…]

An old man’s laughter echoed.

Lee Jaesang immediately recognized the voice.

“Could it be? You’re still alive?”

The old man they had fought earlier. The archbishop of the dark mages.

[Did you think it was over just because you dealt with my body? How naive… That’s young mages for you.]

The old man’s mocking voice filled the air.

[Archbishop Zares. That’s my name.]

“Aaah…!”

As the archbishop’s name resonated, Rox clutched her head and screamed.

“Rox…! Ugh!”

Adrian, who rushed to her side, was also affected.

Black mana began to seep from both of them.

“Damn it.”

Was it because they had directly received the World Tree’s mana?

Rox was turning into a dark spirit, and Adrian was foaming at the mouth in agony.

[Well then. I’ll be off. Thanks for the World Tree’s mana. Oh, I should leave a gift.]

As the old man’s sinister voice faded, a monstrous roar echoed.

A massive flower emerged from the World Tree, its petals gleaming like blades, each blade lined with teeth, descending rapidly to the ground.

[Now I’m really leaving.]

The voice vanished, and the World Tree, drained of mana, lost its luster and withered.

Before them stood a colossal plant, clearly a creature born of dark magic.

“What is that?! What do we do?!”

Kim Ina, holding Adrian in her hands, was in a panic.

Liz was no different.

“Contractor…!”

Cynthia was trying to slow Rox’s transformation, but complete healing seemed impossible.

“…”

In the midst of the urgent situation, Lee Jaesang struggled to maintain his composure.

The monster before him.

Rox and Adrian, who needed saving.

‘Stay calm.’

He closed his eyes for a moment.

Dark magic was repulsive.

Dark sorcerers always try to take something from you.

That’s why I’ve always hated them.

“I won’t let them take anything more from me.”

The decision was made.

I opened my eyes.

Once again, the monster loomed.

I saw those I needed to save.

“I won’t lose anything.”

Jaesang Lee stepped forward, a dagger in his hand.

“I won’t forgive any dark sorcerer.”

His eyes began to flicker with a blue light.

Mana surged through his body.

“Zares. I won’t let you escape.”

There was no response from the archbishop, as if he had already fled.

But that didn’t matter.

A low hum filled the air.

Jaesang pulled a green gem from his pocket.

A fairy’s gem, once attached to a statue.

Its function was to purify black mana into blue mana.

But.

“If I reverse the circuit…”

It could turn blue mana into black mana.

But it would be dangerous.

Could I control that much black mana?

“I can.”

With confidence, Jaesang took another step forward.

The monster’s tentacles reached out.

A barrier of water and stone formed around Jaesang, blocking them.

“I have a request, Dragon.”

Jaesang spoke to the second sacrifice.

“I need your power.”

[…]

The second sacrifice didn’t respond immediately.

“I have no reason to expend all my power here. I must protect Liz.”

That was why the second sacrifice lent its power.

Jaesang understood this well.

“I will protect her.”

His voice was filled with certainty.

“My disciple. My spirits. My world. I will protect them all.”

Was there a basis for this certainty?

No.

He was just a human, without the ability to see the future.

Yes, just a human.

Not a dragon, not an angel, not a demon.

But.

[…]

The second sacrifice hesitated.

Could he entrust the future to Jaesang?

Could he stop the danger to Liz?

“I saw the fairies acknowledge you.”

He knew well the intuition of the fairies.

He had seen them make the right decisions time and again.

Even that fairy, Adrian, had lived for centuries.

No, perhaps even longer.

The insight of such a fairy spoke.

Jaesang was trustworthy enough to be entrusted with the mana of the World Tree.

“Can you promise?”

The second sacrifice seemed to have made up its mind.

“Can you keep her safe?”

Jaesang glanced at Liz and answered.

“Absolutely.”

A promise made with resolve.

But he had the ability to fulfill that resolve.

Hadn’t he been watching Jaesang’s actions all this time?

“Understood.”

With the dagger’s response, Jaesang reversed the fairy’s gem.

In an instant, the blue mana within him turned black.

His vision shifted to a gray hue.

Rox’s scream echoed.

Adrian writhed in agony.

The second dagger, filled with immense black mana, began to unleash its power.

– Crack.

Even as it cracked, the magic didn’t stop.

For a moment, the world seemed to pause.

No, only the interior of this ruin was frozen.

In this isolated realm, such magic was possible.

The monster’s tendrils vanished.

Moments that had led to this point played in reverse like a panorama.

The trivial chatter between Liz and Ina rewound.

Everything was returning.

“Thank you.”

[…Keep your promise.]

– Crack.

The second sacrifice was covered in countless fractures.

– Shatter.

The dagger slowly crumbled to dust.

And at the end, the gray landscape rapidly rewound.

– Shatter…

The second sacrifice, having exhausted its power, scattered into the wind.

Jaesang looked around.

He stood before the pyramid.

Fallen statues lay around him.

– Bang!

A Draconic bullet fired.

A bullet imbued with soul-themed magic thudded into someone.

He had seen this scene before.

The old man would probably say something like this.

“Kids these days have no manners.”

“Kids these days have no manners.”

With a bullet lodged in his chest, the old man turned his head.

White hair and frail skin.

Everything about him was unmistakably that of an old man…

“…You…”

Zares exclaimed in shock.

“What have you done…?”

Still brimming with seething black mana, Jaesang glared at Zares.