Chapter 9 | Breaking Every Bad Ending

Inside August’s office.

Perseline stood by the window, her fingers unconsciously tugging at her cuffs.

A few students were trickling out of the Echo Forest not far away, but Erylin was nowhere to be seen among them.

“A few failures aren't necessarily a bad thing. You know that, Perseline,” August’s voice drifted from behind her, sounding quite relaxed. He leaned back in his armchair, flipping another page in the magic book in his hand.

Perseline bit her lip and said softly, “Erylin... that girl might look cheerful and like she can let anything go, but she’s actually more stubborn than anyone. After every victory, she refuses to allow herself to fail the next time.”

Perseline sighed. “I’m worried that a single failure will make her doubt all the effort she’s put in.”

August closed his magic book and smiled. “That’s exactly what I want to see.”

“I want her to know that there will always be opponents she can’t beat, even if she gives it her all. Even if she’s hailed as the strongest by the students, there are obstacles she won’t be able to overcome.”

“She needs to learn how to—”

Before he could finish the word “quit,” August’s expression froze. He suddenly stared at the back of his hand, his eyes filled with shock.

“What’s wrong, Professor?” Perseline frowned.

“The restriction... it’s gone.”

August’s voice trembled slightly as possibilities for the restriction’s disappearance flashed through his mind.

Did a rescue instructor kill the magic wolf?

Impossible! Unless it was absolutely necessary, they would never kill any magical beast in the examination grounds!

Perseline’s eyes widened as well, and Erylin’s figure instinctively came to mind.

“The magic wolf is dead.”

“Are you saying Erylin did it?!”

Perseline’s heart pounded, and the corners of her mouth twitched upward. She truly hadn't expected her student to demonstrate such staggering talent once again.

August, however, furrowed his brows as confusion flooded his mind.

Did Erylin really do it?

Did she actually defeat that magic wolf?

Was it some special magic? Or had her magical attainment already reached the level of a Tier 5 Mage?

Boom!

Before August could sort out his thoughts, a massive sound reached his ears.

Outside the window, bolts of purple lightning crackled across the sky above the Echo Forest, the blinding glare looking as if it would swallow the entire forest whole.

Then came a second sound.

A dull roar rolled across the horizon as the purple lightning in the sky was suddenly consumed by an onslaught of flames. The fire then exploded outward, sending countless avian magical creatures fleeing toward the outskirts of the Echo Forest.

“Professor.”

Perseline had already pushed open the door.

“I think we should head over there right now.”

The doorframe let out a dull thud as she bumped into it; this door had endured far too much this week.

Perseline looked at August. The latter met her gaze and opened his mouth to say something, but then simply pursed his lips and walked quickly out the door.

“Erylin... that little girl is really giving me a headache.”

...

Ain leaned down and gently stroked the magic wolf’s head.

The magic wolf had now shrunk back to its original size. Its flank had been pierced by the flaming light, and scorched marks spread outward from the wound. Its golden pupils flickered open and shut, looking as if it might lose consciousness at any moment.

Ain vaguely remembered that in the original plot, the reason the magic wolf appeared in the examination grounds was related to an experiment by a certain organization.

As a failed experiment, it had escaped the night before it was scheduled to be destroyed and hid within the Echo Forest.

Although the game’s plot hadn't mentioned its name, Ain remembered that during the boss battle, the name “Mordred” was written in large letters above its health bar.

After a moment of thought, Ain lowered his voice and spoke softly.

“Mordred. That’s your name, isn’t it?”

The magic wolf let out a whimper.

“You had a pack, a family. You were supposed to live somewhere else, in your true territory.”

“They snatched you away, destroyed your life, and ruined everything you knew.”

“In their eyes, you’re just meat on a cutting board, a guinea pig with research value, hiding many precious organs within your body.”

“In this forest, you can only wait to be hunted by wave after wave of students, waiting to be dissected by the academy’s professors until every bit of value is squeezed out of you.”

The magic wolf lay quietly on the ground, making no sound.

“You want to live.”

Ain stared into Mordred’s eyes, a dark-gold magic circle appearing on his right hand.

“So do I.”

“I have no mana. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't even be able to complete a Tier 1 magic circuit.”

After a moment’s hesitation, the dark-gold magic circle on Ain’s hand slowly dissipated.

【MP: 987/0 (Continuously decreasing)】

【Currently usable magic rank: Tier 3】

The remaining mana wasn't enough for him to use a Tier 4 contract magic.

He would have to play the emotional card.

“I need you, and you need me.”

“Just like you, I only want to survive in this world.”

Ain stared intently at Mordred. Seeing no response, he let out a sigh.

Even if a beast’s way of thinking was different from a human’s, he had to at least try.

【Binding Magic: Fate Covenant】

【Proficiency: Pro Max】

【Rank: Tier 3】

【Effect: Slightly twists the magical creature’s will; the stability of the contract is determined by the creature’s willingness】

【Mana Cost (MP): 800】

【Current Status: Usable】

Although its binding power was much weaker than a Tier 4 spell, it would at least allow him to turn Mordred into his Contract Spirit.

Something was better than nothing!

Thinking this, a golden magic circle—different from the previous one—flashed in Ain’s hand. Before he could even recite the contract’s oath, the magic wolf in front of him suddenly bit down on his reaching hand.

“Ain!”

Three voices cried out almost simultaneously, and Erylin instantly manifested several ice spikes.

“I’m fine! Erylin, don’t worry!”

Ain turned to speak, wincing as he looked at his right hand.

Canine teeth had pierced his palm, and blood seeped from the gaps, dripping down the magic wolf’s jaw and into the glowing golden magic circle.

Following that, the magic wolf’s body gradually became ethereal, turning into a puddle of black sludge that slipped into Ain’s shadow and vanished.

A deep black claw mark then appeared on Ain’s right hand.

【Contract Spirit: Mordred】

【Trust Level: 45%】

【Rank: Tier 3】

【Abilities: Purple Lightning Magic, Mana Absorption】

【Note: Mordred believes in your promise! More importantly, it respects your strength!】

It worked!

Before he could even check the status panel, a figure appeared behind him.

“So this was your plan all along?”

“Student Ain.”

The magic circle on Silas’s chest had already vanished, and his injuries were mostly healed. He looked at Ain with a hint of admiration, his hands instinctively starting to clap.

“You knew how powerful this magic wolf was from the start, and you even knew it could absorb a Mage’s mana.”

“That’s why you prepared beforehand and used a magic tool that could grant immunity to the wolf’s abilities.”

“You knew this magic wolf couldn't possibly be a normal Tier 3 magical beast for an exam, so you were certain the academy wouldn't hold it against you for taking such a powerful wolf as a Contract Spirit.”

“You were prepared from the beginning, even going so far as to disguise yourself as a low-level student who lost his mana.”

“And we are all your witnesses—witnessing the wolf’s power, witnessing that even Erylin couldn't defeat it, and witnessing that you rightfully eliminated an outside factor to protect the order of the examination.”

Ain frowned, looking at Silas with utter confusion.

What is this guy talking about?

Silas smiled slightly, as if he had seen through the entire truth.

“Your goal from the start was never that Tier 3 mana crystal! You only made it look like you were a student who would be expelled if you didn't get one!”