Misfit At Magic Academy: They Wanted a Godly Summon, Got Me Instead
Chapter 9: Salazar Doesn’t Blink, Even When You Insult His Hair

Chapter 9: Salazar Doesn’t Blink, Even When You Insult His Hair

Ashmourne—second-year student at the Academy.

One of the most popular faces on campus, involved in every event, every competition, every headline.

The fact that someone like me caught her attention?

A bloody miracle.

Lots of people are crazy about her—even though she’s no angel. They idolize her, put her on a pedestal.

And yet...

"Wanna kiss?"

E-eh?! Was that a question?

Hell yes, I want.

But wait. Something’s off here. Ash isn’t the kind of girl to just hand out kisses.

"What’s your game?"

"Hmm?" She gave me the dumbest look. "I just want to thank you. You boys always think there’s a catch."

"C’mon, cards on the table. You really think I’ll just go along with this?"

"Oh, not at all, darling," she smiled sweetly. "I think you’re smart and well-educated. Unlike the rest, you’re the only one who actually deserves this kind of treatment."

Hah. Nice words.

This little fox is definitely planning something.

Her spiral pupils... they’re manipulative. Hypnotic.

"Fine, fine," she sighed dramatically. "What a dummy you are—I was just joking. I do need something from you. More like a favor."

A favor, huh?Here it comes.

"Be my servant—ah, I mean, my friend! We’ll always be together, and your reputation at the Academy will soar. Fair trade, right?"

"Why me?"

"Well, you know," she said with a hint of pride, "when a girl has a close male friend, the creeps tend to back off. Not that I don’t have male friends, but you get it."

Nah. You can’t hide that anxiety from me.

You’re feeling uneasy. I can tell.After the stalker incident, you stopped believing you could protect yourself. Everyone feels like a potential threat.

Ashmourne—the girl who always put on a strong front—turns out she’s just a girl with real problems too.

She turned her eyes away for a moment, lost in thought.

"Ash," I said, snapping her out of it. "I’m a loser here, and I like it that way. Life’s easier when no one pays attention. So why the hell aren’t you ashamed of me? I could ruin your image. Why not pick someone else? Like, I dunno, Saddler?"

"Huh?" A visible question mark hovered over her head. "Ugh... who am I kidding? I don’t have any guy friends. You think I just hang out with anyone?"

"I get it," I said, folding my arms. "So how many messages like that have you gotten? You know what I mean."

"Oh, way more than you’d think, sweetheart. Most confess their love. Some get... disturbingly obsessive. I’m used to it."

No, you’re not.

That shit’s messed you up more than you let on.

So now I’m the hero? Her white knight?

"Well?" she asked, hopeful. "What do you think of my idea? Will you do it?"

Be your friend?

I leaned against the window. The breeze blew the curtains and ruffled my hair. I stared into the distance.

Lirael. I’m her summon.

I don’t even know how long I’m bound to protect her. Maybe until the day she dies. Maybe longer.

It sucks. But it’s my duty. And honestly—it’s a fair trade.

I was given a second chance at life... and I plan to live it freely.

"No way," I smirked, looking back at Ash. "You knew my answer the whole time, didn’t you? I remember catching your eyes last year during class.

Hard to forget those."

Ash paused, then chuckled softly.

"You’re funny. You remember stuff like that? Still, I had to ask. Otherwise, I’d never get my answer. Thank you. You really are a good guy."

She smiled warmly and dipped her head.

And for the first time... I saw her real face.

"Alright then. See you around!"

She gave me a cheerful wave.

Felt like that might be the last time we talked.

But that’s fine. I think I did what I could.She looked happy.

I’m no hero. And I probably never was.

Helping people? Only if it’s urgent—and even then, only if it benefits me.

Class time.

Every now and then, I caught Lirael glaring at me. And not just any glare—the kind that screamed, "You’re beneath me now."

When our eyes met, she even let out a sharp little scoff. Just enough to make sure I noticed my place on her invisible shit-list.

"Dictation time! Everyone, open your notebooks."

And just like that, we were copying down whatever the teacher droned on about.

I glanced at Lirael from the corner of my eye. She was, as always, deadly serious when it came to her studies.What did I expect?

The youngest daughter in a prestigious line, burdened with expectations.She probably trained for years just to master Supreme Summon—and when she finally did...

Her parents weren’t impressed. Because, well, they got me.

"B-but Father! Please, hear me out... I did it! I summoned a high spirit, just like you asked! He’ll serve with loyalty and strength for the rest of my days. So please... give me another chance. Papa..."

But no one listened.

Poor girl. She never truly wanted to summon some high spirit.She just wanted her parents’ damn approval.

She has two older sisters—one’s already a fourth-year student, the other a full-fledged Archmage working in the Grand Archives. Both ridiculously powerful. The kind of prodigies the world fawns over.

I get it. Lirael doesn’t hate me. She hates that I wasn’t the shining trophy her parents wanted.

And you know what? They deserved that disappointment.A dragon-god? Please. They’re lucky they didn’t summon a fart in a bottle.

I was mid-sentence in the dictation when someone let out the loudest yawn in the history of ever—right behind me.

"Atheron, you again?" the teacher sighed and facepalmed.

...Excuse me?

How is that my fault?

I squinted back at the culprit.

Long, jet-black hair that could be mistaken for a girl’s. Drowsy green eyes. Skin pale as powdered snow.

Salazar il Tsugihara.

The quiet type. Already declared a national prodigy at sixteen. Master of both High Magic and Destruction.

He looked like some fragile weirdo—but I knew better.He can be absurdly strong.

I wanted to fight him.I needed to fight him.

Because only by challenging someone like him could I hope to reach the level of those beings I saw through the portal.

Break time.

"Hey."I approached him, hands in my pockets.

Salazar yawned, raised his sleepy head, and started packing his things.

"I’m talking to you."

"Hm? Did I hear a squeak?"

...This bastard.

My eye twitched. Rage level: boiling kettle.

"Don’t pretend you can’t see me. Come on, fight me. Let’s find out who’s stronger."

His face barely changed. Just a bored blink.

Then he stood up, turned toward the door, and walked.

"I don’t fight those weaker than me. There’s simply no point."

Cold son of a bitch.So I’m not even worth your time?

"Bet I could wipe the floor with Raigetsu Kurogane!" I barked.

I grinned, full of arrogant bravado.

If I had divine sponsors, they’d be calling me a lost cause and filing a resignation.

Salazar paused.

Even with his back to me, I felt the flicker in his aura. That hint of curiosity.

Slowly, he turned around.

Pretty boy bastard.

"Yeah, him. I’ll smash him to bits."

Come on. I know you’re curious now.