Time had stopped.

  Not literally, of course. The elderly priest's mouth trembled faintly, Alicia stared at the altar in shock, and even Julius, the ducal heir, had his cool composure painted with astonishment. Everyone seemed to have forgotten to breathe, gazing at just one point—the place where the silver-haired man had stood.

  But the man himself was no longer there.

  Kreis von Altona, having formed a contract with the legendary-class spirit 'Fang of Beginning' Fenrir, had turned on his heel and departed the Spirit Chamber the moment the aftershocks of overflowing magical power subsided—without addressing anyone, without even a glance.

  That indifference only made his abnormality stand out more starkly.

  This can't be real...

  I alone understood the true meaning of what had just occurred. The Silver Wolf Fenrir wasn't merely a powerful spirit. In the world of Eternal Quest, it was the very "key" forming the story's foundation—responding only to hero Leon's soul to awaken him as the true hero. A kind of mandatory event in the scenario.

  That key had been given to a completely unrelated man.

  This wasn't just scenario collapse anymore—it went far beyond that. Of course I'd been prepared for changes. But I never imagined reality would be thrust in my face so decisively.

  "...Ahem! S-silence!"

  The elderly priest cleared his throat, barely maintaining his dignity. That voice slightly thawed the frozen atmosphere.

  "We shall continue the ceremony... Next, Dylan Belmond."

  At the worst possible timing, my name was called. All eyes stabbed into me at once. What could anyone possibly do after a legendary-class spirit's descent? Gazes mixed with curiosity and pity. A different quality of discomfort from the monster subjugation practical.

  I approached the altar with heavy steps.

  When I knelt before the altar, Alicia stood before me. Perhaps still unable to shake her shock, her hands trembled faintly.

  "There's nothing to fear..."

  She spoke the ritual words, but her voice wavered. Understandable. Even for her as a saint, a greater spirit's descent must have been unexpected.

  Alicia began her chant. The floor's magic circle started emitting faint light. For Julius, a magnificent pillar of light had risen. For Kreis, blinding radiance had filled the space.

  So for me—

  ...............

  ......

  "............"

  The light grew no stronger. The magic circle flickered dimly for a while before powerlessly losing its glow and returning to plain stone floor.

  What remained was only awkward silence.

  "Unfortunately—"

  Just as Alicia was about to continue, light burst forth again—

  —All sound vanished.

  Color drained from my vision. Alicia's sorrowful expression, Oscar's worried face, the priest's confusion—everything froze like a monochrome painting. In that cool, soundless space, only my consciousness remained, isolated.

  Time had stopped.

  "...Huh? Wh-what is this?"

  My forced voice made no sound. Only thoughts spun uselessly.

  A spirit's power? Someone's magic?

  But I couldn't imagine anyone here capable of causing a phenomenon of this scale. Even Julius and Alicia were mere statues in this frozen world.

  I cautiously stood and looked around at the frozen people. Everyone remained fixed with whatever emotion they'd worn moments before.

  '—Child of man who answered my call.'

  Suddenly, a voice came from behind. I whirled around reflexively.

  There was—light. No, not quite. Light itself had taken human form.

  Long hair, graceful curves, and an aura of sanctity somehow reminiscent of Alicia.

  Yet I had no recollection of this situation in the original whatsoever. I had no idea who this figure of light could be.

  The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  —No, I had seen that form before.

  "Saint Goddess... Lumina...?"

  The statue in the academy church, quietly watching over the people. This matched that form perfectly.

  'Indeed. I am the light that nurtures and watches over this world. I am called Saint Goddess Lumina.'

  The figure of light—Lumina—gradually sharpened into focus and formed a gentle smile. That form overflowed with far more vitality than the statue, radiating a sanctity beyond what words like "divine" could capture.

  'Child of man, Dylan Belmond. Your soul resonates with truly fascinating overtones.'

  Lumina looked down at me with loving eyes. That gaze seemed to see through everything—my past, present, and even future.

  Could she know I'm a reincarnator...!?

  Shock like ice struck down my spine. But her next words differed slightly from my expectations.

  'The world has what is called the melody of fate. The movements of stars, the lives of people—all weaving together into a grand composition... However, a moment ago, discord entered that harmony.'

  Discord. That undoubtedly referred to Kreis contracting with Fenrir.

  'The Fang of Beginning, which should properly serve the soul of the hero of light, has instead chosen the soul of one not on the ordained path. This is a grave distortion that shakes the world's balance.'

  Lady Lumina's words confirmed my worst fears. This world had indeed completely deviated from the original and stepped into unknown territory.

  'Therefore...'

  Having said that much, Lumina suddenly dropped her divine aura and shrugged with an air of exasperation.

  'Man, this really has me in a pickle, honestly.'

  "...Huh?"

  At Lumina's sudden change, I could only produce a dumbfounded sound.

  'That damn wolf, I always knew he was selfish, but to actually change contract partners on his own initiative!'

  "Uh... what?"

  The complaint was so vulgar I could only give a deflated response. The divine being before me and the words just spoken didn't connect at all.

  'According to my plan, he was supposed to contract with the hero boy and power him up nicely. But instead he goes to some muscle-head type, so now everything's completely messed up.'

  The hero boy. Muscle-head type. Was this person—no, this deity—really Saint Goddess Lumina? The gap was so extreme that my sacred mental image crumbled noisily.

  'So while I was troubled, I found a convenient soul.'

  Lumina clapped her hands and pointed at me with sparkling sound effects.

  'Your soul has this mysterious tone unlike anyone else in this world. Not quite noise... but clearly aberrant. So other spirits didn't know how to handle you and no one approached.'

  So that was why I couldn't contract with a spirit. In other words, a drawback stemming from my soul being that of a "reincarnator"...

  'That's precisely why there was room for me to enter. That damn wolf probably sensed it and retreated immediately—what a coward.'

  Lumina's cheeks puffed out clearly in anger. Wait, so that's why Kreis left so gallantly without a word?

  '—Anyway, pleased to be working with you from now on.'

  "...Pardon?"

  'Geez, you're slow on the uptake. I'm saying I'll become your spirit.'

  Lumina puffed out her chest as if this were obvious. The utterly outlandish proposal completely froze my thoughts.

  "A spirit... you mean you? Saint Goddess Lumina?"

  '"Saint Goddess" is just an exaggerated title humans came up with on their own. I'm a spirit too. Just one with slightly more power than other spirits.'

  She stated this without shame.

  "Ah, sorry to disappoint, but I used up almost all my power granting strength to our dear hero and saintly girl, so I'm pretty much tapped out now."

  "...Tapped out?"

  'Yes. So flashy combat like Fenrir's is difficult. Actually, completely impossible.'

  Lumina spread both hands as if to say "can't give what I don't have." Her utterly firm declaration left me speechless.

  "...May I decline?"

  I proposed this at the perfect opportunity. Contracting with a spirit who had no power but exceptional name recognition had only downsides.

  "Of course you may. But are you sure? If you pass up this chance, no spirit will be able to contract with your soul."

  Lumina smiled without shame, almost provocatively. But that was undoubtedly fact.

  As long as my soul remained aberrant, other spirits wouldn't approach. Actually, even in the original, Dylan hadn't been able to contract with a spirit.

  Live the rest of my life without a spirit's blessing? Or contract with a mostly powerless ex-goddess?

  These were pathetically disappointing options to call an ultimate choice.

  'You're a noble, right? I'm sure reputation matters~?'

  Lumina floated a devilish smile teasingly. Those words gouged at my pride accurately from an unpleasant angle.

  The fact that I found myself agreeing made it even more irritating.

  "...Fine. The fact of having formed a spirit contract does have significance."

  When I said this, Lumina's face brightened.

  'You're quick to understand, that helps! Well then, let's finalize this contract right away!'

  When she snapped her fingers lightly, the surrounding scenery regained color and real time resumed. And before me stood Alicia with wide eyes.

  The altar's magic circle, which had been powerlessly fading, suddenly stabilized.

  It didn't burst with power. It didn't roar.

  Instead, a faint, pale phosphorescence—barely brighter than a firefly—wavered above the stone. It was gentle, yes, but undeniably weak compared to the blinding displays from earlier.

  Eventually, the meager light slowly converged and vanished as if absorbed into my chest.

  "Er, um... the contract appears to have been... established."

  The elderly priest somehow maintained his appearance as ceremony officiant despite his confusion.

  "H-however, the spirit's name is...?"

  "...Um, well."

  Damn, I hadn't thought that far. Before me stood Alicia looking puzzled. Giving the saint goddess's name here could cause confusion.

  "A l-light spirit, Lu... Lou."

  The name that came out reflexively. I knew it was simplistic.

  'Lou!? Hey, isn't that way too simple!? I'm Saint Goddess Lumina, you know!? There must have been more divine, cooler names!'

  An annoying voice immediately echoed in my head. Apparently forming the contract had connected us through something like telepathy.

  "The light spirit, Lou... sama."

  The elderly priest repeated my words, unable to hide his confusion. Alicia also tilted her head curiously. Whispers rose from the surrounding students.

  "Lou? Never heard that name."

  "Well, at least he managed to contract."

  "After a greater spirit, it's bound to look underwhelming..."

  They seemed suspicious but not doubtful. This way, I probably wouldn't draw undue attention.

  After that, the ceremony proceeded without incident. Several others managed contracts, but over half finished the ceremony with nothing. Oscar was no exception, ending with no contract.

  'Yaaawn... I pushed myself a bit too hard. I'm going to take a little nap, so handle things from here~'

  Suddenly, after those carefree words, the voice in my head cut off abruptly. True to her words, she'd apparently fallen asleep.

  ...This bodes ill.

  Still, for now it was resolved. Not the best outcome, but not the worst either.

  My turbulent academy life had only just begun.