REAPER SCANS
[The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student]
[Translator – Aine ]
[Proofreader – Ash ]
Chapter 20
“Sign a contract with you?”
{Yes. Reina declined when Ellen and I offered to repay the favor. It’s lingered in my thoughts, and it now seems fitting to ask you.}
Phirina grinned.
{Being a summoner doesn’t equate to being eligible for a Phoenix contract. However, the Zerdinger family’s power originates from the Phoenix flame.}
‘But I never expected a phoenix to propose a contract with me.’
The phoenix, with its strong pride, never initiated contracts.
{Still, I’m not asking you to sign a contract now. I’ll give you time first to develop as a summoner…}
“Can we do it now?”
{What?}
No matter Phirina’s willingness, Leo’s current lack of power made signing a contract impossible.
Nevertheless, Leo was confident.
Regardless of others’ doubts, he had been the one to end the era of disasters and had faced formidable summons in his past life.
‘Though, I’ve never signed with a phoenix before.’
Even during Kyle’s lifetime, he had aspired to sign with a phoenix.
After all, contracting with a powerful summons inherently enhanced a summoner’s abilities.
However, Phirina hesitated.
{I understand your determination, but you can’t sign with me now. Recklessness could cost you your life.}
Forming a contract with a phoenix was an exceptionally challenging task.
It was beyond just using a catalyst.
“I know, but I believe in myself.”
‘He really does resemble Reina, fearlessly trying to tackle the impossible. But I can’t endanger her son.’
After much deliberation, Phirina proposed an alternative.
{If you’re serious, I’ll find you a contract to sign. However, I won’t be the phoenix you contract with.}
“What?”
Crackle
A crimson flame appeared before Leo.
As the flame dissipated, a golden egg the size of a fist materialized.
‘A phoenix egg?’
{This egg is about to hatch. It’s my offspring. Tame it.}
Taming an unhatched phoenix egg would naturally establish a contract.
Since it was still in the egg, there would be no risk in attempting the contract.
However, taming it even in egg form would be just as challenging as taming the highest-level summons.
‘A phoenix’s egg. To tame it is an impossible ask.’
Leo chuckled as he received the golden egg.
‘For an average person, that is.’
Crackle
Leo’s Aura surged, and the egg responded with a crimson flame of its own.
Feeling the intense heat, Leo gritted his teeth.
‘Even though it’s weak, the spark of a phoenix is not something a young human boy can easily handle.’
Phirina thought Leo was on the verge of giving up.
But Leo persisted, closing his eyes and focusing intently.
His consciousness drifted further and further away.
When he reopened his eyes moments later, he saw that darkness had enveloped him.
He was in a new realm of consciousness, a test given to him by the summons.
Here, a contractor’s worth was decided.
In the world of the yet-to-be-born Phoenix, there was nothing, save a single fiery crimson blaze.
Without hesitation, Leo reached out.
In response, flames engulfed him, burning fiercely.
The phoenix’s flame consumed itself, emitting a formidable firepower.
Pain surged endlessly through Leo.
Yet, in exchange for that pain, the summons offered unparalleled power.
The bond with a summons was forged through shared suffering.
Understanding the phoenix’s agony was crucial for this bond.
Thus, a contract with phoenix proved exceptionally challenging.
Leo grimaced in agony from the burning sensation.
Only someone with a resilient mind could endure such a trial.
Phirina’s eyes widened in disbelief.
{Could it be…?}
Crackle, crackle, pop!
His fiery flames funneled into the golden egg.
Crack, crack, split
The egg’s surface cracked.
Phirina looked astounded.
{You succeeded?}
Whoosh
As the flames were absorbed into the egg, Leo’s eyes opened.
For a moment Leo’s red eyes flashed crimson.
Crumple
He slumped down onto the ground, utterly exhausted, breathing heavily.
His entire body was drenched in sweat.
Yet, a smile adorned his face.
“The contract is complete.”
{Hahaha!}
Phirina erupted in laughter.
{That’s incredible! Leo Plov! You’re a prodigy!}
“It’s not talent… only determination.”
{If taming a phoenix egg at your age doesn’t signify a genius, I don’t know what does! You possess the essence of a great summoner!}
Leo struggled to rise, watching Phirina’s genuine delight.
{What does the young phoenix look like?}
Even during Kyle’s era, he had never seen a baby phoenix.
Caw! Caw!
{My child!}
The crack on the surface of the egg extended all the way across the shell.
Snap!
The egg’s golden fragments scattered like shattered glass.
Leo’s expression shifted upon seeing the newborn phoenix.
‘A hatchling?’
The newly born phoenix resembled a baby bird.
Crackle, sizzle
Phirina, now in human form wreathed in flame, gently placed the hatchling in Leo’s hand.
{This little one’s name is Fiora. Leo, you may have formed a contract, but he’s still quite young. I’ll care for him for now.}
“Alright, but I need to get confirmation from the professor about the contract I made during the exam.”
{I’ll leave that to you then.}
With a smile, Phirina perched Fiora on Leo’s head.
Though just born, Fiora, brimming with vitality like any other phoenix, pecked at Leo’s head a few times with its tiny beak.
Then, contentedly, it settled down as if it found a cozy spot to relax.
‘Is this really a phoenix? It really does just look like a chick.’
Seeing Phirina adoringly gaze at Fiora, Leo kept these thoughts to himself.
Cheep!
‘You’re really just a little chick.’
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – Aine]
[Proofreader – Ash]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
Professor Yura produced a pocket watch.
The exam’s three-hour time limit was nearing its end.
Professor Yura had already evaluated most students’ taming attempts.
Only some had succeeded in forming contracts.
“Let’s see… Four students remain.”
They were the four that Professor Yura was most looking forward to.
Thump! Thump!
The ground trembled.
Eyes widened as a massive blue bear emerged from the bushes.
“Woah!”
“Oh my god!”
The students erupted in startled exclamations.
Some were curious to learn the identity of this blue bear.
Approaching Professor Yura, the bear lowered itself.
Chen Xia, perched on its back, jumped off and addressed the professor.
“Professor, the test isn’t over yet, right?”
“No, it’s not.”
‘Judging by the tears in her uniform, she’s clearly faced some challenges.’
“You claimed to only know taming theoretically, yet you’ve managed to tame an Aqua Bear cub. That’s a summons of intermediate difficulty.”
“I don’t know if I’d call it taming… it was more of a bond, I suppose”
Chen Xia scratched her cheek with a sheepish grin.
Truth be told, her taming wasn’t perfect.
“If you stick with it, you’ll soon master taming.”
‘I’ll make her switch to summoning. She has potential.’
Aqua Bear cubs may not seem challenging for taming, but they were excellent intermediate summons.
It was hard to believe such a talented individual was a knights studies major.
As a summoning professor, it was disheartening to see.
While Professor Yura ruminated, Chen Xia released the Aqua Bear back into the forest.
Shortly after, Walden emerged from the bushes, accompanied by a small crow perched on his shoulder.
“What kind of summons is that?”
“It’s a modest one for a captain.”
The students seemed perplexed, but Assistant Professor Carlo and his aides were impressed.
“Oh? Taming a Shadow Crow. That requires strong spirituality. Remarkable!” Professor Yura exclaimed, impressed by Walden’s choice.
Shadow Crows, like Aqua Bears, were intermediate summons, but Walden had tamed an adult, likening this to an advanced summons in terms of difficulty.
“Your talent as a summoner is truly outstanding.”
“We haven’t completed the contract yet.”
“But this achievement is remarkable.”
Successfully taming an intermediate summons alone placed Walden at the top among all first-year students in any department.
‘Although, Eliza, too, will likely excel in summoning.’
Just as she expected, Eliza soon returned.
Unlike her peers, she appeared as composed as ever, approaching Professor Yura confidently.
“Where’s your summons?”
Chuckling at Professor Yura’s question, Eliza extended her hand.
With a shimmer, a massive snake materialized.
Hissss! Sss!
“Oh my goodness!”
“Wow, it’s a snake!”
The girls shrieked and scattered as the enormous white snake flicked its tongue, capable of swallowing a human whole.
“I can’t believe you managed to contract a Gorgon Snake.”
“I saw it and thought it’d be a rare addition to our family’s collection. I decided to contract it.”
The Gorgon Snake.
A highly prized intermediate summons.
‘She certainly will be a worthy successor to the Hergin family.’
“What an accomplishment, Eliza!”
“Thank you.”
Eliza gracefully accepted her acknowledgement, lifting the edge of her uniform skirt slightly.
‘Ah, what a bountiful year this has been.’
Professor Yura, smiling inwardly, tilted her head in satisfaction.
“But is Leo Plov still far?”
Time was running out quickly now.
Gradually, students began returning with their various summons.
Feeling thirsty, Professor Yura requested water.
“Could you pass me some water?”
“Of course, Professor. Here you go.”
Accepting the water bottle from her Assistant Professor Carlo, Professor Yura glanced at the time.
Just at that moment, Leo emerged from the bushes.
“Ah, Leo. Welcome back.”
Chen Xia greeted him with a smile and a wave, then glanced at him curiously.
Taming often involved a bit off struggle, evident from the tears and dust covering the uniforms of all the students except Eliza.
However, Leo’s disheveled appearance suggested something more than just a simple taming session.
His uniform was burnt and tattered all over.
From an outsider’s perspective, it seemed as though he had accomplished something significant, and would have brought along a sizable beast to confirm those expectations. But…
‘Is that a chick?’
Perched on Leo’s head was a small red bird, chirping cheerfully.
“Pfft! Did you tame… a baby bird?”
“That’s amazing! Our freshmen rep tamed a chick!”
“Hey, keep it down. He can hear us! Pfft…”
The students suppressed their laughter.
“I was expecting him to come back with a griffin or something earlier. This is more surprising than I expected.”
Carlo chuckled, then turned to Professor Yura.
“Pfffffffffft! Cough! Cough! Cough!”
Suddenly spluttering, Professor Yura sprayed water everywhere.
Amidst the chorus of laughter and jeers, Professor Yura looked at Leo with astonishment.
‘Did that kid tame a phoenix?’
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