"I don't know why you came here, but you're out of luck. You'll die here. Hehe-"
The demon surgeon sneered and raised his hand.
At the same time, Leo released the spell he had completed in his mind.
The most powerful lightning spell Leo could currently use struck the surface of the lake.
A tentacle extended from the demon surgeon's sleeve and wrapped around his body protectively.
The storm of lightning brutally tore the tentacle demon apart.
"To think that a demon armor could be torn like this."
The demon surgeon looked up into the sky.
"Indeed, you are worthy of being the strongest in Lumern's Summoning Department."
[What's that winged calf?]
Leo answered Kiran's mutter.
"It's a summon of your level."
The demon surgeon dipped his hand into the lake.
The lake water began to bubble, and the clear lake started to emit a strong toxicity and a foul odor.
Polluted lake water surged.
A massive, dark gray slime emerged from the lake.
It was the most powerful known monster in the slime category.
Kiran and Pioara were horrified.
Despite the fact that the Death Slime, one of the most vicious summons, could poison and kill just by its presence, Uta remained calm.
"Demons are never a lovely sight. Aria, let's get rid of this wretched thing."
As Uta spoke, lightning struck from the sky.
The lightning fell on the horn of the Pegasus Uta was riding.
The Pegasus's body glowed gold.
It wasn't just because the Pegasus was one of the strongest summons that such power was displayed.
It was the boundless spiritual energy Uta possessed.
A storm of lightning surged.
In a single attack, the Death Slime was completely obliterated.
The demon surgeon, who had retreated to the shore to avoid Uta's attack, shouted.
"Interesting! How about this one then!"
"Ah? Will you still find it amusing when you're dead?"
At that moment, Yura appeared beside Leo and said in a menacing voice.
"How dare you create a Chimera using a summon?"
As Yura summoned her spiritual energy, a massive summoning circle appeared on the ground.
Seeing the enormous summoning circle that covered the area, the demon surgeon hurriedly summoned his next demon.
A giant one-eyed demon appeared.
The terrifying demon giant, standing at 4 meters tall, was one of the fears that had taken root in the front lines of Tartarus.
"Hahaha! I don't know what you'll summon, but my Cyclops won't be easy, Professor Yura! What summon did you bring?"
A mouse poked its head out of the summoning circle.
[You drew such a large summoning circle just to summon a single mouse?]
Kiran said with a look of disbelief, but Leo immediately recognized the mouse.
It was the most vicious summon Leo knew.
"Oh? Indeed, the top student of the Summoning Department! You recognized it right away?"
"I'm not a student of the Summoning Department."
Yura put Leo in a headlock.
An enormous number of Predator Mice began to summon at an alarming speed.
"Devour him completely, bones and all!"
Following Yura's command, the Predator Mice began to rush towards the Cyclops.
The Cyclops, one of the most vicious demons, let out a scream.
The Predator Mice started to tear into the Cyclops's flesh mercilessly.
The Predator Mice eventually climbed onto the Cyclops's head and rushed towards the demon surgeon.
The demon surgeon hurriedly pulled out a teleportation scroll from his robes.
Lightning from the Pegasus surged in his hand.
The lightning spear pierced the demon surgeon.
Even as he screamed, the demon surgeon managed to tear the scroll.
Uta clicked his tongue and flew towards where Leo and Yura were.
The summoning of the Cyclops was canceled, and the Predator Mice, now without a target, returned to their original places at Yura's command.
"Brat! Why did you enter the restricted area?"
She had announced that while they could go anywhere on the island, the restricted area was off-limits.
Yura glared at the Phoenix sitting on Leo's head.
"How can you be so small and brave! Fine! If Pioara wanted it, there's nothing I can do!"
Seeing Yura forgive him so easily, Uta spoke in a different, colder tone.
"Professor Yura. Are you going to forgive a student who broke the rules for such a reason?"
Uta looked at Leo with a cold eye.
"To think you would try to avoid a crisis by selling your summon. You should be ashamed, Leo Flaubert."
Unlike before, Uta displayed his authority as a fifth-year student.
"Tell the truth. Why did you break the rules?"
Sighing, Leo added a lie to the truth.
"Pioara really wanted to eat a mana stone."
"Just for that reason, you broke the rules?"
In reality, Pioara had eaten all the mana stones over two days.
Uta placed his hand on Leo's shoulder with a dignified expression.
"Leo, you truly care for your summon. I'm moved. Yes, what's a school rule when it comes to your summon? I'll forgive you this time."
Leo burst into a hollow laugh as he watched Uta, who was holding up his thumb to forgive him.
[Are all Lumern summoners idiots?]
Kiran, who had been hiding, asked seriously.
Thinking of the summoning department students, Leo had a sympathetic look.
'But he's the most respected professor and senior.'
"Alright, let's stop the jokes here."
"Leo, what was the demon surgeon doing here?"
Seeing the sudden change in Yura's demeanor, Leo spoke seriously.
"He was after the mana stones."
"Mana stones? Just for that, he invaded Lumern?"
While mana stones were valuable, it was foolish to invade Lumern just to steal a few.
"Perhaps he was trying to contaminate the mana stones?"
"Contaminate the mana stones?"
"Yes. I think he anticipated that the summons would eat them."
Yura's face hardened at Leo's words.
"Come to think of it, that guy! He was using summons to create a Chimera."
A summon that ate contaminated mana stones would either die or turn into a demon.
"This is more serious than I thought."
If the summons in the Forest of Summons were to eat the contaminated mana stones, it could lead to serious consequences.
This place was also where the summons of Lumern's summoners stayed.
If something went wrong, they could lose a significant number of their summons.
"I need to see the headmaster. Uta! Watch the kids until I get back!"
Yura summoned her Black Wyvern and quickly took off.
Leo narrowed his eyes as he looked at the spot where the demon surgeon had been.
'Sure enough, there was a traitor in the Lumern leadership.'
The timing was too perfect, coinciding with the moment Piri was administering a sub-dean's test.
This couldn't be a coincidence.
"By the way, Leo. I didn't know you were the Phoenix's pact holder. And…"
Though it appeared empty, Kiran was there.
"Indeed, that's the case."
Uta smiled, seemingly having noticed the fairy, but didn't press further.
At that moment, the Pegasus approached Uta.
Compared to its size during the battle, it had shrunk.
The Pegasus's appearance earlier was due to Uta drawing out its potential.
The Pegasus with pure white wings hid behind Uta and looked at Leo.
"Is this your senior's Pegasus?"
"Yes! Aria! Why don't you introduce yourself to Leo?"
Despite Uta's words, Aria only observed Leo silently.
After a moment, Aria cautiously approached Leo.
"I'm Aria. Nice to meet you, Phoenix's pact holder."
The summon Leo had contracted in his past life was a Pegasus.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Leo Flaubert."
Leo smiled and stroked Aria's head.
Aria flinched at his touch.
"Leo. Pegasus doesn't like being touched by strangers. Don't touch it… huh?"
Aria, who had initially tried to resist Leo's touch, soon seemed to enjoy it and leaned into his stroking.
She even rubbed her neck against Leo's hand, as if asking for more.
"Ho? Leo. Have you handled a Pegasus before?"
Leo smiled and continued to stroke the places the Pegasus liked.
'This brings back memories.'
Leo smiled, thinking of his past pact holder.
"Aria is usually very shy, but seeing her warm up to you so quickly makes me feel good! But Leo."
Uta's expression changed as he approached Leo and patted his shoulder.
"I understand you're very skilled, far beyond a first-year student. But this matter is too big for you to get involved in."
"Let's head back to the eastern part of the island for now."
Leo followed Uta and glanced at the lake.
'If the guy earlier was a traitor within Lumern…'
Recalling the demon surgeon's skills, Leo narrowed his eyes.
'The probability is high that it's a professor, not a student.'