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Translator: Vine
Chapter Title: The Lightning Caller
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Another week passed since the team competition was announced.
I have a reason why I absolutely must achieve a high score in the team competition.
That is to catch the eye of a certain individual.
One of the Empire's pillars, and a figure who will greatly influence the scenario later on.
'They'll definitely come to this team competition.'
So, I must achieve a good result in the team competition, no matter what.
"Senior, your stamina has really improved lately."
Early morning.
Aisha, running alongside me, praised my stamina.
Just as Aisha said, my stamina is still growing.
Vikamen's potential is limitless.
The speed at which my stamina builds up is astonishing, even to myself.
"It's thanks to you, Aisha."
"What did I do? Senior, you're the one who worked hard."
Aisha speaks so beautifully.
"Still, it's not enough."
Both my stamina and skill have increased tremendously in a short period.
This must be thanks to my efforts.
But even so, it's not enough to achieve a good result in the team competition.
'Is it time, then?'
Following Iron Skin and Magic Imprint.
The time has come to find a new card to navigate through the scenario.
Lucas could get through it with just his Flame of Fighting Spirit.
But for me, without the Flame of Fighting Spirit, it's impossible.
"You seem to be deep in thought again."
Perhaps because I often get lost in thought in front of Aisha.
She noticed that I was lost in thought while running.
"Senior, it's dangerous to get lost in thought while running. Should we take a short break instead?"
"No, it's fine. Maybe because I always run. Now, it feels more awkward not to run."
A body that has become accustomed to running.
I've become a strange body, even to myself.
Aisha smiled.
It seemed she was happy that I had gotten used to running.
Aisha always wanted someone to run and train with.
Perhaps because I filled that role, Aisha cherished me greatly.
"Aisha, what do you think are the chances of a person being struck by lightning in their lifetime?"
So even when I asked Aisha a strange question, she pondered it seriously.
"Hmm, it's extremely rare, isn't it? At least, I haven't seen anyone around me who claims to have been struck by lightning."
"That's right. But there was one person who lived their entire life accompanied by lightning."
"There was such a person?"
"Yes, a person destined for a life of misfortune in many ways."
Aisha showed a puzzled reaction.
But for me, this was a figure absolutely necessary for the future.
'The problem is.'
That person has already been struck by lightning and died.
***
Lightning.
It's an electrical discharge phenomenon that occurs between clouds and the ground.
The probability of being struck by lightning is 1 in 280,000.
It's a number that suggests anyone struck by lightning in their life can be considered extremely unlucky.
However, there exists a person in this world who was struck by lightning.
And there exists a person who was struck by lightning a total of 108 times in their life.
The Lightning Caller.
That was the name given to him.
He eventually met his death after being struck by lightning for the 107th time.
The final, 108th lightning strike that fell upon him.
It was lightning that struck his grave after he had been buried.
A person for whom it was unclear whether he was loved or hated by lightning.
That is the Lightning Caller.
But he is dead.
So how exactly will I find the Lightning Caller?
The answer lies in the Department of Special Studies.
Special Studies.
A department established for those who have mastered various disciplines that cannot be categorized as martial arts or magic.
There are Special Studies students suited for combat.
But there are also Special Studies students who wield powers separate from combat.
Among these Special Studies students, there is a second-year student known by a peculiar nickname.
He is a person whom even his fellow Special Studies students find unsettling.
His nickname is Little Ossuary.
He, who originally wears a skull for a head instead of a normal one, is also considered an odd character in the Flame Butterfly arc.
One day, he might suddenly set out food on the academy building's rooftop and talk to something.
Another day, he might start a fire in the forest near the academy, causing a disturbance.
In the Flame Butterfly arc, his eccentricities often lead to spooky events.
It turns out, the spooky rumors circulating in the academy were all because of Little Ossuary.
To meet such a Little Ossuary.
After class today, I packed a bag and headed up to the Special Studies building.
The item in this bag is why I'm annoyed, getting teased by that Card guy for no reason.
"「Wangnon, heheh, so you were a guy after all! I knew you had a thing for older women, but I didn't realize it was *that* much.」"
Damn him.
Next time I see him, I'll punch him.
I sighed and looked up.
The Special Studies building came clearly into view.
Perhaps to respect the diversity of its students.
The Special Studies building was decorated with all sorts of items everywhere.
From unfamiliar types of weapons to ornaments and glass crafts.
If you called it cluttered, it was cluttered, and if you called it unique, it was unique.
I felt like I had entered an antique shop.
There weren't many students in the hallway.
Special Studies students often stay behind to study for their respective majors, even after classes are over.
Because of that, I saw students gathered in the classrooms as I passed by.
Among them, I saw some guys researching dangerous things.
So I just quietly walked past without making eye contact.
There were many eccentrics in the Department of Special Studies whom it was better not to get involved with.
After walking for a while, the hallway suddenly began to feel eerie.
An inexplicable chill ran through my body.
It was the kind of unknown chill one feels when visiting a cemetery.
But this was the hallway of the Special Studies Department.
Normally, such a chill shouldn't be felt here.
I didn't stop walking even amidst the chill.
After walking for a long time, I finally saw a classroom.
There was clearly no one standing by the door, yet I could faintly sense several presences.
Ignoring those presences, I raised my hand and knocked on the door twice.
"Is anyone in there?"
I asked the question with my knock and waited.
But no answer came from inside.
I had no choice but to push the door open with a creak.
Whoosh!
Then, an even greater chill than before swept through my body.
It felt as if something that had been lingering inside had just left.
"Ah, it left."
A voice filled with what sounded like regret echoed.
Inside the darkened room, with blackout curtains drawn.
In the center of that room sat a man with a skull for a head.
On the desk where he sat.
A Ouija board for spirit communication lay there.
He, who had been conversing with who-knows-what, clicked his teeth together.
Then he glanced over at me.
Within the skull's face, a light in its eye sockets gleamed.
"Isn't it rude to enter when I haven't answered your knock?"
"That's strange. I thought I heard an answer to my knock?"
It was, of course, a lie.
Hearing my lie, he tilted his head.
And then, quickly realizing my lie, he reacted.
"Heheh, I never thought someone would tell a ghost-lie to *me* of all people."
I knew it would suit his taste.
Little Ossuary.
Gran Tony, second-year, Department of Special Studies.
He is a practitioner of what is called spirit mediumship.
"Second-year, Hanon Ailei."
And he mentioned my name before I even had a chance to introduce myself.
"Heheh, I've heard that name a lot."
I don't have any friends who would tell him my name.
It's obvious where he heard it.
He must have heard it from the ghosts scattered around Zerion Academy.
"What did they say about me?"
"Congratulations. They said you're a rare kind of crazy! Seems they all like you!"
I'm not sure what they liked about that, but.
Thankfully, Gran Tony seemed to view me positively.
"And they're grateful you embraced the Empress."
I knew who the Empress was referring to.
Mystery, the Empress of Steel.
The original owner of the Mystery I possess, Iron Skin.
Mysteries are corrupt beings that failed to become gods.
They're not entirely dissimilar from ghosts, even if only slightly.
Ghosts are also beings who linger here, not disappearing due to some power.
Perhaps that's why, seeing the Empress of Steel depart, he felt something.
"Thanks for viewing me favorably."
"Heheh, that's why you're so popular with ghosts. Would you like me to introduce you to one?"
"If you're introducing me anyway, could I name someone specific?"
When I came out so boldly, Gran Tony burst into hearty laughter.
Everyone who encountered Gran Tony either became terrified or felt uneasy.
He associates with the dead, not the living.
From that point, he walked a path where he couldn't associate with the living.
In such a situation, my attitude as a living person was quite novel to him.
"Hahaha! Alright. Who is it?"
I couldn't see a window, but I felt like Gran Tony's favorability had increased.
"The Lightning Caller."
I rummaged through my pocket and pulled out a small box.
It was an item I had acquired long ago, along with the Veil Bandages.
And from the Mad Sorceress, 'Vinesha'.
It was an item I had taken from that woman, practically fighting for my life.
*Swish-*
I opened the lid of the box.
Inside, there was a small pendant.
*Stiffened-*
As if recognizing the contents of the box, Gran Tony's skull head slowly began to stiffen.
Of course.
The Mad Sorceress was an object of resentment for Gran Tony.
The Mad Sorceress.
She was the one who killed Gran Tony's master.
And the box I had just taken out contained an item Vinesha had stolen after killing his master.
"You can ask your master directly if you like."
After all, his deceased master also lingered nearby.
*Click-*
I closed the lid of the box.
To clear the Flame Butterfly arc, I had prepared everything I could before coming to Zerion Academy.
This was one of the preparatory items for the ending.
Gran Tony remained silent.
It was because he had encountered something completely unexpected.
After a long silence, Gran Tony slowly raised his head.
No emotion could be felt from his pitch-black eye sockets.
"Vinesha, how did you get this from that woman? It wouldn't have been easy, as she always keeps it on her."
Vinesha is a mid-game boss.
A boss that appears in Act 4, no less.
She's an enemy that's utterly unmanageable at a normal level.
How did I retrieve this pendant from her?
The answer was simple.
"I seduced her."
I felt a sensation as if Gran Tony, who had no eyes in his skull, was blinking.
"Once I seduced her, she gave me everything."
Love blinds people.
So I seduced Vinesha.
Vikamen didn't just become a host and seduce women in the entertainment district to make a living for nothing.
A natural talent for appearance.
I fully exploited that talent.
Vinesha has a preference for younger men.
Gran Tony stared at me with a blank expression.
"Heh, heheheh, hahahahaha!"
And then he couldn't hold back his laughter, bursting into hearty guffaws.
After laughing for a long time, even clapping his hands, he swept a hand over his eye sockets, though no tears were present.
"That was truly an unexpected answer, very amusing. Whether what you said is true or false, you brought it to me, so I'll believe you."
But it *was* true.
If I had been in Vikamen's form, he would have understood.
"Heheh, alright."
He lightly lifted himself from his seat and stood up.
"The ghost you want, I'll call it for you."
The deal was struck.