Chapter 1334

'Does Lady Ragesa really think this counts as a reward?'

Surprisingly, judging by Ragesa's expression, she really did seem to think it was a reward.

Lee Han shook his head.

'Don't fall for that. Still, Scylla... no, Scylla is probably bad too.'

He had been slightly tempted by the description saying it was both a monster and a spirit.

It was a sad reason even by his own standards, but he had wondered whether having monster blood mixed in might make it a little more favorably disposed toward him.

But considering that the note afterward said it was best summoned only by people who were friendly with spirits, it seemed better not to get his hopes up.

“Brat. You’re actually very interested in magic, but you’re pretending to be modest. Kihihi.”

“I’m not.”

Perhaps misunderstanding what Lee Han had been thinking about, Ragesa nodded as though she understood perfectly.

When she had first inherited this grimoire, she too had been so excited that she had agonized over what to open first.

'Where in that list did she find anything exciting?'

Lee Han decided to summon a Dark Giant first.

'...Dark Giants enjoy staying in gloomy, shadowed corners of dimensions where no light reaches...'

'They sound a little like dark mages.'

'...To make contact with them, one must discover the hidden path along the shadowed outskirts of the dimension... If one possesses the blood of a Dark Giant, it will be easier to find the path...'

A dried droplet of blood was stuck beneath the passage. Beside it was written, 'If used, do not forget to replenish it.'

“Lady Ragesa. It says here that this needs to be replenished after use.”

“Do you perhaps not know what replenish means? Has Valdrogard rubbed off on...”

“...I was asking where I’m supposed to get a droplet of Dark Giant blood.”

“Brat, you’re usually very clever, but sometimes you become strangely stupid at times like this. If the summoning succeeds, just steal a drop of blood.”

'I shouldn’t have asked.'

With a complicated expression, Lee Han peeled off the dried droplet of blood and tossed it onto the magic circle.

The droplet flared up in flames and transformed into a marker. It would serve as a guidepost within the dimension.

'...Unnecessary approaches may startle them and cause them to disappear, so one must surround oneself with the darkness element...'

“Darkness, gather here.”

The darkness element was among the rarest and most difficult elements to handle, but Lee Han used it often.

He belonged to the dark magic school as well, and...

'I have so much mana that it’s comparatively less dangerous even if I cause an accident with it, so I’ve used it often.'

If anything, Lee Han had used something as basic as the fire element fewer times.

Fire-element magic was easy, but precisely because it was easy, if Lee Han lost concentration even once, his mana might burn everything around him to the ground.

“Looks like it’s going well.”

Ragesa swept her gaze over the magic circle and nodded.

There were two ways to negotiate with beings from other dimensions. One was to visit directly, and the other was to approach remotely.

What Wardanaz was doing now was the latter. He was using a magic circle and ritual to make contact beyond the dimension.

Pop!

Instead of circling around the outside of the magic circle, the darkness element was absorbed into it. It was proof that the magic was progressing properly.

“Do you feel anything?”

“I’m not sure yet. It does feel a little gloomy...”

“Then you’re going the right way.”

Ragesa encouraged Lee Han.

With things like this, the senses of the mage actually casting the spell were the most important.

The gloomier and more shadowed it felt, the more likely he was headed in the right direction.

As Lee Han closed his eyes and concentrated on the magic, momentary visions repeatedly appeared and vanished over his eyelids.

It was a phenomenon in which the nearby scenery was temporarily transmitted into one's vision when making contact with another dimension.

'It’s dark. If Lady Ragesa is right, I don’t think I’m on the wrong track.'

But this still was not enough.

Lee Han turned to the next page of the grimoire.

'...Even if you have avoided arousing the Dark Giants’ suspicion, calling them out is not easy. An offering must be presented carefully, and one of the following offerings should be used. A giant’s candle, dark crystal, the leg bone of a Mountain-Breaking Sheep, a storybook...'

“?”

Lee Han paused when he saw the list of offerings.

Something felt strange.

'Isn’t just one of these absurdly easier than the others?'

A giant’s candle was only called a candle. In reality, it was a flame artifact the size of a massive pillar, found in ruins built by ancient giants, while dark crystal was exceptionally rare even among crystals.

The leg bone of a Mountain-Breaking Sheep looked easier by comparison, but that was a trap too.

'Giants really cherish their sheep.'

They spent all day calling them awful sheep and grumbling about them, but if even a single sheep disappeared or fell ill, giants would cry hard enough to flood an entire mountain range.

If someone were caught secretly stealing a leg bone from a grave...

“What is it? Is there a problem?”

“I was just thinking about which offering we should use.”

“The storybook would be best. Let’s see. This should do, shouldn’t it? Put this in and let’s wait for a response.”

Ragesa pulled a book titled <The Dashing Adventures of a Dashing Pirate> from the shelf. Lee Han was appalled by the lazy title.

“Wouldn’t it be better to use the Toberiz series?”

“No. No. Giants hate mystery novels. There’s a high chance they’ll get angry and ask why the answer isn’t revealed right away and keeps getting dragged out. Something straightforward and action-packed like this will suit their tastes much better.”

As he watched her offer the book as a sacrifice, Lee Han thought inwardly.

'Lady Ragesa seems to have been wrong quite a lot during this expedition. Can [N O V E L I G H T] I really trust this?'

“...Brat. I feel like you’re giving me a suspicious look. That’s just my imagination, right?”

“Absolutely. Perhaps you’re tired?”

“Hmph! You’ve grown even more shameless since becoming a Valdrogard professor.”

While they waited, the offering suddenly disappeared.

Lee Han was startled as he felt the magic sent into the Dark Giants’ dimension begin to surge.

'No way. They actually liked that?'

“Looks like we’ve caught their interest. Call one out!”

“A mage humbly requests an audience with the wisest and most discerning among the giants...”

It did sound rather excessively flattering, but when summoning a being from another dimension, this much was standard.

As the smoke rising from the magic circle grew thicker and the circulation of mana intensified, everyone nearby became convinced that the summoning had succeeded.

Pop!

A giant appeared with a gloomy expression and pale, bloodless skin.

The giant looked around and showed signs of discomfort. Since a summoner had to be considerate toward the summoned party, Lee Han asked first.

“Is there something making you uncomfortable?”

-There seem to be too many people...

“......”

“......”

The pirates were dumbfounded, but they moved away for the moment.

Only then did the giant look somewhat more comfortable. In one hand, it was holding the book Ragesa had offered as a sacrifice earlier.

-It has been a very long time since a mortal from the material realm summoned me. What did you summon me for?

“We’re exploring some ruins and require the help of the giant race.”

-I see. If that is the case, I can understand. Are there more members of the expedition? I’m uncomfortable around too many people.

“Don’t worry. If you wish, we can even let you open the door alone. More importantly, is there anything you want in return?”

Ragesa asked as she looked at the Dark Giant.

These giants avoided contact and preferred seclusion, so it was better to approach them somewhat differently from ordinary giants.

-If I am to receive payment, I would like gold coins and books. Are these gold coins still in use?

The Dark Giant rummaged through its pocket and pulled out a gold coin. Lee Han and Ragesa shook their heads at the same time.

“That’s a gold coin from the Dark Age. Coins like that aren’t used anymore.”

-As long as the gold content is right, any coin will do. What about the writing in this book?

“That isn’t used anymore either.”

-I will have to learn the new script. Why do mortals change so much?

“From our perspective, you giants don’t change enough...”

The giant and Ragesa began negotiating as naturally as though they had done this more than once before.

For Lee Han, who had only ever encountered strange beings that went berserk, behaved eccentrically, or forced people into challenges, this was extremely refreshing.

'There are giants like this too?'

How nice would it have been if the one he had met in his first year had been the Dark Giant King instead of the Frost Giant King!

Then there would have been no challenge or anything like that, and they could have settled everything through a civilized conversation.

'We wouldn’t even have needed to get as far as a conversation. It probably would have said it hated being outside and gone straight back to its own territory.'

“Good! That price is reasonable enough!”

Ragesa concluded the deal in a hearty voice.

Perhaps because it had been summoned by Lee Han, who was familiar with giants, the Dark Giant did not cause any particular trouble.

On top of that, Dark Giants were far easier to talk to than other giants. Even when making contracts concerning various matters, they made reasonable demands.

-I am satisfied as well. In exchange for two chests of gold coins and a stack of books, I will assist with the exploration of the ruins. Ah. If the exploration ends successfully, may I ask one small favor? You may refuse after hearing it.

“?”

Lee Han was puzzled, but nodded for the moment.

If he could refuse after hearing it, there was no particular reason to say no now.

“What do you think it wants?”

“Who knows? Probably to be taught the new script or something like that.”

While the two whispered, the Dark Giant walked forward.

I sense the blood of giants. Who are you?

-I am a descendant of giants, of the clan that hides in the shadows.

Then enter.

The two let out sighs of relief.

The magic guarding the ruins, which had caused them so much trouble, had finally opened the path.

The pirates who had been waiting behind the corridor ran out excitedly. At that moment, the Dark Giant spoke firmly.

-Wait.

“???”

-There are too many people. Stay behind.

Despite its immense size, the Dark Giant was extremely shy and uncomfortable around other people.

The pirates were dumbfounded, but retreated again.

With a body that huge, what was it even...!

-Contractor, do you despise the habits of us Dark Giants?

“Pardon? No.”

Lee Han answered sincerely.

Compared with other giants, the Dark Giant’s quirks were actually extremely respectable.

It did not raise sheep capable of destroying an academy, nor did it chase mortals around harassing them and demanding challenges.

If they simply lived peacefully among themselves in quiet places, that was something worth spreading throughout the Empire as an example for others.

'Many problems would be solved if everyone lived like Dark Giants.'

Apparently pleased by the answer, the Dark Giant nodded happily.

The solitary giant, who disliked crowds, asked Lee Han another question.

-I sense a great deal of giant energy from you. Have you come into contact with other giants?

“Yes. I’ve met giants from the continent, as well as giants from other dimensions such as Frost Giants and Fire Giants.”

-I see. Do you have a purpose in exploring these ruins? Giant weapons would not suit you.

“I’m actually interested in microcosm magic.”

-If it is microcosm magic, I understand. You mages have always loved wisdom and visions like that.

Despite the short amount of time they had known each other, Lee Han and the Dark Giant felt a sense of affinity.

'This is amazing. I can’t believe I’ve become this friendly with a giant I just met.'

While Lee Han was marveling at this, Ragesa sneezed. Then she spoke with a triumphant smile.

“It suddenly got colder, so it looks like the sanctuary where the microcosm is stored is just ahead. We’re almost there, brat.”

“Come to think of it, what was that small favor you mentioned earlier?”

-I wanted to request a challenge from the mage.

“......”

Lee Han trembled with a profound sense of betrayal.