Dark Fantasy Guide for the Summoner - Chapter 9

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 9.
The Path to the Forest II
“Who’s that?”
“Dorman. I’ve been looking after your party for a bit.”
“I see. We’re indebted to you.”
“Think nothing of it.”
The mage approached with an innocent expression and spoke.
“Dorman was aboard car number two, I’m told. He’s been making the rounds providing relief aid, and he even shared food with us.”
“Did you eat?”
“Not yet. It felt wrong to eat without Kaindel……”
At least it wasn’t the worst outcome.
I sighed inwardly, and that’s when the spirit mage came over to ask.
“…… Did anything happen?”
Anything……
There was something, but I wasn’t confident I could explain what I’d seen properly.
Besides, compared to the mess we’re in now, it hardly seemed worth mentioning.
“Nothing special. How about you two? Are you alright?”
“Yes. We’re fine now.”
“I’m okay too.”
“Good to hear. Then……”
I looked over Dorman and his companions, who were grinning ear to ear.
Four men total. All of them.
Their levels were…… naturally higher than ours, no doubt.
“You look exhausted. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Your cheeks have hollowed out. Why don’t we eat something while we talk?”
As he said this, he offered a pouch containing jerky.
I barely managed to suppress a bitter laugh.
‘Delvers.’
Those who explore unknown forests.
Of course, these men aren’t volunteers.
In fact, there’s probably no one more thorough about moving for profit than they are.
And yet they’re running relief operations?
On top of that, sharing food?
I don’t believe it. I can’t believe it.
These bastards definitely have some ulterior motive, and they’ve approached us while hiding it.
What’s strange is why they haven’t made their move yet, instead putting on this clumsy act……
“Kaindel……?”
“…”
The mage noticed when I didn’t take the offered jerky.
I ignored him and opened my mouth.
“What was the situation in the forward cars?”
“Hm?”
“There must have been other Delvers.”
“Ah, yes. They already entered the forest. We’re handling the cleanup.”
Was this true?
I got the sense it probably was.
After all, the Delvers aboard cars one and two were mostly first-rate, so they’d have no reason to scavenge like these men were doing.
“Speaking of which, your companion mentioned that a Shadow emerged here. And that you caught it.”
Doesn’t seem like he has much patience.
He’s already showing his true colors.
“I did catch it. But I wasn’t alone—I had help from these two friends.”
“…… Help?”
I nodded and spoke to the mage.
“Kajen. Not to belabor the point, but you did well. Your rear-guard support was reassuring.”
“Yes? Ah. Thank you.”
“Cria, you worked hard too. You cast Haste, didn’t you? Contracting a spirit capable of attribute buffs at your age—that’s impressive.”
Cria flinched in surprise, and beyond her bangs I caught her eyes widening in bewilderment.
Her expression said: why is he suddenly doing this……
“…”
I’d tossed a stone into still water, and now I could see the ripples spreading.
I watched Dorman’s serpentine gaze sweep over the siblings. It was the look of a man thinking, ‘These bumbling fools call themselves a mage and a spirit summoner?’—but there it was nonetheless.
Their appearance certainly supported the impression.
‘Dorman.’
A name I had in my memory.
‘Occupation: Warrior. Grade 4 Delver. Traits: Insight Eyes and Opportunist.’
Unlike Kajen and Cria, from whom I had no information, most of the survivors from cars one and two would likely be names I already knew.
I’d even worked with some of them before, so I recalled their general characteristics as well.
‘Assessment Grade: D.’
This assessment grade was my personal classification system—a measure of a teammate’s value.
Grade D meant small-time by the standards of earlier-car passengers.
So it made sense he’d been given grunt work like perimeter reconnaissance, but the truth was I couldn’t even measure up to that small-time level.
“Hmm.”
Dorman scratched his chin.
His gaze swept across me with brazen persistence, lingering finally on the leather pouch tied at my waist.
“…….”
It was mere coincidence, but that was the pouch holding the Origin Stone I’d taken from the shadow.
“So, Kaindel, was it? This place looks dangerous—why don’t you and your friends travel with us for a while. It seems your companions could use more medical attention.”
“I’m grateful for the thought, but we’re Delvers too. I’d rather not incur a debt.”
“A debt? In a situation like this? Just come along, I’ll help you out.”
“There’s no real need for assistance―”
“Hey.”
Dorman spoke through a smile.
“While I’m being nice about it, just come with us.”
The thin mask he’d been wearing slipped away instantly.
I should have known. Bastards.
Delvers didn’t start playing bandit until after they entered the forest, did they?
“Um, um……?”
Only now did the mage catch on to something being wrong, edging slightly toward me.
I looked at Dorman’s face and spoke curtly.
“Go to hell.”
“Ha ha.”
As Dorman laughed as if genuinely amused, one of the small-timers beside him spoke up.
“Should we kill them?”
“Let him keep his tongue. He might know where he’s hidden the Origin Stone.”
“True. But one of them’s supposed to be a mage?”
“His fingertips were trembling. Classic Mana Depletion. He won’t be casting anything dangerous.”
“Makes sense.”
So he does have Insight Eyes after all?
This bastard’s more observant than I gave him credit for.
And despite his words, he’s watching carefully and steadily closing the distance.
I drew my weapon openly now and spoke in a low voice.
“Can you cast?”
“A-a spell or two, maybe…….”
What these fools hadn’t accounted for was that a mage’s mana pool wasn’t all that large to begin with.
Since the spells she used were low-tier, the consumption was minimal—she’d regain casting capability quickly.
I gave my instructions, not entirely ruling out the possibility that they were listening.
“When I signal, cast. The same way as before—you understand what I mean?”
“Y-yes……!”
I gauged the distance between us with precision, and the moment my judgment crystallized, I closed my eyes.
“Now!”
“Light……!”
Light exploded beyond my eyelids.
“Argh!”
“Damn it! My eyes!”
The instant curses erupted from ahead, I spun and bolted.
I glanced back to confirm the spirit summoner was keeping pace.
‘Straight to the forest!’
Once we were deep enough in the woods, no matter how skilled their pursuers were, they wouldn’t be able to catch us.
If there were no other variables, we could reach the forest entrance without issue.
Yes—assuming there were no other variables.
Twang—
The sound of a bowstring?
The moment my spine went rigid, I swept the area with sharpened senses, but found nothing.
“Ahhh!”
A scream tore out from somewhere nearby.
“Cria!”
The mage bolted toward his sister in a panic.
An arrow had buried itself in the spirit mage’s shoulder.
“I had a feeling it’d come to this.”
A woman’s voice, laced with contempt, emerged from beyond the wreckage of the Train.
By her attire, an archer.
‘Someone hiding in the shadows.’
Just one? Or were there more?
“K-Kaindel!”
The mage cast a desperate look my way.
For a moment, several possibilities flashed through my mind—
‘Damn.’
It was already too late to run.
“Didn’t think you’d actually trigger a Light spell.”
“Shit! Eyes burning like hell. Don’t you dare die easy on me.”
Behind us, Dorman’s group emerged, tears streaming down their faces.
‘We’re surrounded.’
Left and right were blocked by the Train wreckage—
ahead, the archer lay in ambush.
The forest was still far too distant.
‘Damn.’
I pulled the Tentacle Whip from my pocket to buy whatever seconds I could.
The thugs who’d been about to rush me froze at the unfamiliar shape of the equipment I’d drawn.
“Oh… looks like a unique item.”
Dorman, who possessed Insight Eyes, licked his lips, greed washing over his face.
“A unique item? That’s expensive, isn’t it?”
“Varies, but you’d pull at least tens of millions of Seeds if you sold it.”
“Oh.”
And greed, like all desires, was contagious.
The thugs around him began muttering excitedly, spewing nonsense about how much each of them would get if they split it.
‘What now?’
My scalp itched with warning.
I was certain an arrow would fly the moment I made any rash move.
And I couldn’t rely on the useless siblings for help.
‘…Nothing for it but to gamble.’
My thoughts turned to the Trait Stone in my pocket.
“…!”
Something shot out from the wreckage of the Train like a bolt from a crossbow.
[Lv.19 ‘Blade Weasel’]
This thing?
“Ahhh!”
The archer shrieked.
The weasel, having closed the distance in a blink, raked its claws across her face.
“A magical beast!”
“There was still one alive?!”
As they scrambled into defensive positions, I ducked behind a nearby train car with the siblings.
“How bad is the wound?”
“I… I don’t know. Damn it, if only I still had a Potion…!”
“K-Kajen…”
Just then, his sister pulled a Potion from her pocket.
“Oh, you didn’t use this one? Good thinking!”
I was surprised too.
Even though the wound wasn’t deep, blood had been pouring from her head—I thought he’d used it immediately.
“Let’s get you treated first.”
“Y-yes…!”
How’s the situation looking?
I can hear curses and some kind of commotion, but…….
The moment I try to peer carefully around the wall—
“……!”
My eyes meet the weasel’s.
It’s the Blade Weasel I saw earlier.
On guard, I draw out the Mantis Scythe, but the weasel tilts its head and strides toward me.
Whoosh!
I swing the scythe on instinct, and the weasel darts nimbly out of the way.
I brace myself for its counterattack, but…….
Whimper…….
The weasel looks at me with sorrowful eyes.
“What the…….”
What in the world is happening?
[A Magical Beast is showing Goodwill toward you.]
[Upon completing your class change, you may bind it.]
[You have already satisfied the Hidden Condition.]
⁝
[Will you change to the Beast Tamer class?]
The phrase “Hidden Condition” caught my eye hard.
As far as I know, this phrase only appears in the System Interface during a class change in one specific circumstance.
“……A Hidden Class.”
[A certain Beast Deity watches your choice.]

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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