Chapter 2
[Res Limen]
The name of the city where I currently reside.
It means “The Threshold of the World.”
As the gods vanished, the mysteries of the world disappeared as well.
Yet, something has reawakened those mysteries, and we revere that bottomless abyss of endless enigmas, calling it the Abyss.
Res Limen is a city built atop that very Abyss.
The Seal of the Abyss. The Heart of the World. The Centre of the Continent. The City of Cities.
If there is a way to return to Earth, it would undoubtedly be here.
Dimensional travel is the pinnacle of all mysteries.
And since the Abyss is the source of all mysteries in this world…
If not the Abyss, then nowhere else would hold any clues to dimensional travel.
‘And it’s also the place where people like me can finally be considered normal.’
Res Limen, where people like me gather, is the largest city in the world, the place with the highest population and the most circulating funds.
Even an Outsider like me can blend in as one of them in this melting pot of races and species.
In this city bustling with all sorts of people, the absolute core of it is…
The Explorers’ League.
The core organization of Res Limen that oversees those who explore the Abyss.
The institution that supervises the overall management and control of the Abyss, as well as the guilds formed by the explorers, and is also responsible for issuing explorer licenses.
And it’s where I am right now.
“I’m here to acquire an explorer license.”
“You’re applying for the training camp, correct?”
“Yes.”
Without an explorer license, entry into the Abyss is strictly forbidden.
Unless you want to become a fugitive.
Graduates from the training camp receive basic equipment and support from a mentor.
It’s like killing two birds, or perhaps even three birds, with one stone.
“Could you tell me your name, please?”
“Rohman. I’m Rohman Sun.”
“Roh…man. Yes, I’ve got it. I believe you already know this since you’re here for the explorer license, but the training camp currently accepting applications is for mages. Even if you complete the course, only mages can receive the explorer license.”
“I’m aware.”
When I nodded willingly, the clerk quickly moved on to the next question, as if it were just part of the formal procedure.
“What’s your class?”
“Demon Summoner.”
Me, a Demon Summoner.
The clerk’s expression suddenly turned cold upon hearing my class.
The unintentional “Ah…” sigh that slipped out was proof of society’s perception of the Demon Summoner class.
But I stood my ground with confidence.
And for good reason.
‘I’m different.’
I don’t say that lightly, I truly am.
Unlike what people believe, I’m not like the other Demon Summoners.
The biggest reason Demon Summoners are despised is due to the price they have to pay for borrowing a Demon’s power.
Because that price is often too fatal.
But I don’t have such a price.
Simply by existing and breathing in this world, I fulfil the Demon Contract conditions with the Demon, Saire.
That’s right.
The value systems are different.
Earth and this world.
Even on Earth, currency and prices change drastically as you cross a national border. When you consider dimensions, the disparity is on an entirely different level.
Like sending workers from a poverty-stricken country to South Korea.
Like when a poor South Korea once sent miners and nurses to Germany to earn foreign currency.
Like how the citizens of oil-rich nations live worry-free about money for their entire lives!
In this land of abundance, just breathing and being alive is enough to cover the cost demanded on the barren Earth.
Essentially, I have unlimited magic power with zero risks.
There’s no reason to feel inferior.
The problem is, I don’t know how to control it.
‘That’s what the training camp is for.’
The Demon Summoner is the number one class avoided by guilds.
As a Demon Summoner, rejected by everyone, there’s no place to learn except the training camp.
But since I have plenty of magic power as fuel, I can figure things out through trial and error.
From now on, things will really start looking up!
***
I used to think that way, once upon a time.
“The first part of the training is team formation. Each team will consist of three people. Begin.”
The moment I heard the details of the training, I realized…
‘This… is not good.’
Teaming up from day one?
‘Not easy.’
It’s not about my personality.
It’s about my class.
Demon Summoner.
To mages, that’s the class of heretics.
Once the very foundation, but now considered an obsolete relic of a bygone era.
No wonder Demon Summoners proudly take the top spot among the three lowest-ranking mage classes.
‘And why does it have to be three people?’
Are explorers supposed to be like detectives or something?
Facing one target as a team of three?
‘Still, I have to give it a shot.’
Whether it turns out well or terribly, I have to try, right?
Some people seemed to have known in advance and were already forming groups.
Meanwhile, many others, like me, were looking around in confusion.
I approached one of them and spoke.
And then…
“Demon Summoner, huh… no thanks.”
Got rejected immediately.
Alright, onto the next person.
“A Demon Summoner talking like they’re a mage? Get lost right now!”
Got chased away.
“What? You’re 20 and just starting out? And as a Demon Summoner? Hahaha, you’re an interesting one.”
“So?”
“No, I mean you’re interesting. Since you’re of no use here, why don’t you head over to the entertainment troupe? I hear they give jobs to amusing folks like you.”
Got mocked.
“There are still people like you appearing these days? It’s been a while, so I’ll give you some serious advice: Forget about being a Demon Summoner. The price you paid for the Demon Contract is unfortunate, but consider it a sunk cost and cut your losses. Just pretend it never happened.”
“But I’m actually okay with it…”
“Enough, kid. I’m guessing you think you’re still young, but it’ll all blow up in your face if you’re not careful. Ugh, what’s the point in talking? Anyway, go look for someone else.”
Got pitied.
“What nonsense are you spouting? Who’d want a Demon Summoner on their team? Do we look like we want to get stabbed in the back?”
Got ignored.
‘Is this the reality of a Demon Summoner?’
I knew it in my head, but experiencing it firsthand was utterly devastating.
The instructor said this was the first stage of training.
If I can’t form a team, I automatically fail.
I’ll be out.
‘This is a problem.’
Why team play from the start?
‘Isn’t there really anyone?’
The training camp opens every quarter.
If I get kicked out, I’ll have to wait another three months.
I have no choice.
I’ll just pick two people like me who are standing alone.
‘It’d be troublesome to drop out right here.’
[It’s certainly a difficult trial for someone without friends.]
I almost let out a scream in shock.
Barely managing to swallow it down, I spoke internally.
‘Please give me a warning before showing up like that.’
[Warning? What’s that?]
You know about modern technology but not about warning signals, huh.
‘I mean, don’t just suddenly start talking.’
[Hehe, were you surprised?]
‘Yes. So, please…’
“Excuse me…!”
“Ah!”
Damn it.
I couldn’t hold it in this time.
A simultaneous attack from both inside and outside… how could I possibly endure that?
I quickly turned toward the sudden voice.
Standing behind me was a figure with a hood pulled down deeply, concealing their face.
“Uh, um, by any chance, d-did you… f-find a team yet?”
“Hmm, not yet.”
Although I couldn’t see their face, I somehow got the vague feeling that they were smiling underneath that hood.
“Then! Would you like to team up with me?”
“I’m fine with it, but are you sure? Just so you know, I’m a Demon Summoner.”
“Huh? Ah, yes. It’s fine! I-I’m a Spirit Mage, too… hehe.”
Ah, I see.
So, you also couldn’t find a team, huh.
Whether it’s a Demon Summoner like me or a Spirit Mage like them, we’re pretty much in the same boat.
The three lowest-ranking mage classes.
Spirit Mages also hold a proud spot among them.
“Why don’t we introduce ourselves? I’m Rohman Sun. As I mentioned earlier, I’m a Demon Summoner.”
“Ah! I’m Leaf. Leaf Yousglimt.”
“A Noble?”
“N-no, I’m not.”
When I asked, curious about the unique surname, Leaf quickly shook their head, causing the hood to sway.
With the movement, strands of hair slipped out from under the hood.
Straw-like dirty blonde hair.
I couldn’t see the face clearly due to the hood, but judging by the voice and the wrists I caught a glimpse of earlier, it seemed like she was a girl.
Even though it was still warm during the day with lingering summer heat, the way she was all bundled up left quite an impression.
‘Well, that’s one person down.’
She seemed timid from the way she spoke, but approaching me first and asking to team up showed some surprising determination.
Being a Spirit Mage was a bit concerning, but it can’t be helped.
And who knows?
Maybe Leaf is also a Spirit Mage with some kind of cheat ability, like me.
“Well, now we just need to find one more person…”
Let’s see…
Someone who’s standing alone, like us…
“You.”
“…Me?”
“Yeah.”
Combination of a Demon Summoner and a Spirit Mage.
I was already worried about how to recruit the last member for this dreadful team, but to think someone would approach me first.
‘But why is it another hooded figure?’
Shorter than Leaf.
Even though the voice was a lower pitch compared to Leaf’s, it was still full of youth that couldn’t be hidden.
Something feels off already.
The second hooded girl spoke abruptly.
“Are you a Demon Summoner?”
“…Yeah, so?”
Is she here to pick a fight?
Her tone seemed rough, so I had a feeling she wasn’t here with good intentions.
I was already getting negative thoughts before even speaking properly.
Maybe I’m just paranoid because of all the bad experiences earlier.
“Let me join.”
“…You’re saying you want to join even though I’m a Demon Summoner?”
“Yes. Got a problem with that?”
We didn’t have a set timeframe, but I didn’t think recruiting another person would make much of a difference.
It might be better to go with someone who knows I’m a Demon Summoner and approached me willingly.
“Leaf, would it be okay?”
“Ah, yes! I’m fine with it.”
That’s what she said. Your name is…? I’m Rohman, and this is…
“I’m Leaf Yousglimt! A Spirit Mage.”
Even though she didn’t seem very sociable, the second hooded girl responded without hesitation.
“Ray. Battlemage.”
If the introduction had been just a little longer, I would’ve been a bit more touched.
But right now, what caught my attention was the second part of her introduction.
‘A Battlemage, huh…’
A Battlemage isn’t a class with a specific magic system.
Rather, it’s more like a mishmash of various magical disciplines, making it hard to find any consistency.
They are mages who treat magic not as a scholarly pursuit but as a tool for combat.
Their magic is solely specialized for fighting.
In the society of mages, Battlemages are seen as heretics and are subtly ostracized.
But in Res Limen, it’s a different story.
To take on the great challenge that is the Abyss, physical power is a must, and no one cares much if you’re a Battlemage or not.
There’s even a saying that guilds prefer Battlemages over other classes.
But there’s a significant issue with being a Battlemage.
Since there’s no consistent standard, it’s hard to develop skills, and their abilities can vary widely compared to other classes.
The name ‘Battlemage’ sounds nice.
But it’s just a class cobbled together from those who are a bit better at fighting among those with no real foundation.
Do you remember the three lowest-ranking mage classes?
Demon Summoner, Spirit Mage, and finally, Battlemage.
To be precise, it only refers to those at the bottom end of the Battlemage spectrum.
They are Battlemages who are of no use outside of combat and are weak even in battle.
A strong Battlemage is sought after by the royals.
But a weak Battlemage is avoided by everyone, seen as an outcast.
So, which side does this second hooded girl, Ray, belong to?
Most would probably say she leans toward the latter.
Just her build alone doesn’t suit a Battlemage at all.
‘Hah… we really have gathered the three lowest-ranking classes.’
This team is going to be tough.
Does that make me the most normal one here?
‘I’m really carrying some dead weight now.’
***
“Enough. Those who still haven’t formed a team, move to the left.”
The ones wandering alone or in pairs grumbled as they moved to the left.
They could’ve just compromised and formed teams.
What’s so unacceptable that they refused to accept or be accepted?
‘Did they really think someone would form a team for them if they didn’t manage to themselves?’
It’s a mindset that screams dependency.
And that’s exactly what the instructor seemed to think as well.
“You’re all dismissed. Exploration is not a solo endeavour. If you can’t even form a team and insist on being stubborn, we don’t need you.”
Immediately, complaints erupted.
But those complaints were quickly crushed.
The instructor was tough.
He just shut down the loudest one at the front, and the rest of the dropouts quietly trudged out of the camp without a word.
Not even bothering to watch the dropouts leave, the instructor moved on to the next training session.
“We will now proceed with the next training.”
Maybe it was because we just witnessed them being kicked out right before our eyes.
The trainees’ attitudes visibly shifted in response to the instructor’s words.
Noticing their change in demeanour, the instructor’s lips curved slightly with satisfaction as he spoke.
“Now that you’ve formed teams, it’s time to evaluate your teammates’ abilities. We’ll be conducting sparring sessions. Team-based sparring.”
With those words, the orderly atmosphere crumbled instantly.
Murmurs and whispers spread throughout the group.
In response, the instructor’s voice rang out again.
“What were you expecting? This is a training camp. We don’t have the time to teach you everything step-by-step. If that’s what you wanted, you should’ve gone to an academy. We’re starting right now!”
The session proceeded swiftly.
Having witnessed the dropouts firsthand, the trainees moved quickly in response to the instructor’s orders.
All sorts of magic unfolded brilliantly.
The pace was remarkable, as everyone seemed to have basic physical enhancement spells applied.
The ground bulged and rose, and lightning crackled across the field. It really felt like being among true mages.
I carefully observed their magic.
I focused on the flow and structure of magic power, something I could now perceive as well, and strained my eyes to grasp even a bit more of how they wielded their magic.
After a few more teams had their sparring matches, it was finally my turn.
“G-Good luck, Rohman!”
“Thank you.”
With Leaf’s encouragement, I headed towards the centre of the training ground, now turned into a sparring arena.
I slowed my pace a little, wondering if Ray would say something as well, but she didn’t.
She made such a fuss about finding a Demon Summoner, but now nothing?
What a cold person… or should I say cold woman?
The opponent I faced on the sparring field turned out to be the very person who had pitied me and given me advice when I was struggling to form a team.
When he saw me, he said:
“You should just forfeit.”
“Hmm?”
“You’re a Demon Summoner, right? I didn’t even need to hear it to know. The magic power surrounding you is unstable, filled with an alien presence—it’s clearly demonic magic. You don’t want to pay the price, do you? If you forfeit, you won’t be expelled. Wouldn’t that be a win-win for both of us?”
He had a point.
This sparring match was just an extension of team formation.
We probably avoided expulsion just by forming a team.
After all, those who lost their matches earlier hadn’t been expelled.
There’s always a chance they’ll say, “You’re all expelled!” later on, but if they were going to do that, they would’ve done it right away.
However, my evaluation would definitely be poor.
“…You’re not wrong.”
Muttering quietly, I saw him continue speaking.
His expression showed no sign of interest.
He wasn’t trying to convince me to give up for his own sake; he simply looked at me with the same detached pity as before.
“Right? Let’s get through this without any hassle. I don’t care to hear stories about how I won a sparring match against a Demon Summoner.”
Those words came out as naturally as breathing.
The following murmur, spoken softly but loud enough to reach my ears, didn’t seem like something he intended to hide either.
“Ha, a Demon Summoner trying to crawl into a place like this… Nowadays, any riffraff thinks they can become an explorer.”
If he was really trying to persuade me, he shouldn’t have said that.
“Now that’s a punchable statement.”
—
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