Starry Sky

Zach's eyes widened slowly.

[Zacharia Evandiel]

[Level 4 Summoner]

[Innate Skill: Divine Luck]

[Contract Skill: Blessed Defense]

[Contracts: Yanael]

[Yanael – S-Rank Angel *Battle Maid Variant]

At first glance, it looked like nothing had changed, not that there was much that could have changed. But Zach's level had risen by three.

'No way, is that it? Is that why I'm feeling so energetic?'

Zach wasn't wrong. It was a slight improvement, made noticeable by his quick repeated level-ups and S-rank familiar. But he had become stronger, at least a little, in a different way from merely training and lifting weights.

'Uh, but why did I level up?'

Zach had done a lot of things since he last checked his summoning interface. What was it that had led to him leveling up three times? Did it have anything to do with the field trip and how it brought him and Yanael closer?

They hadn't gotten many opportunities to talk since Zach still didn't want anyone to know Yanael could do that. But after the Giupusta Locale and the events there, Zach felt like his connection with Yanael was stronger than before. Even when they weren't talking, as long as they wanted to, they could sense what the other was feeling.

It was far too vague to be useful or as a viable method of communication. But Zach could tell when Yanael was upset or happy as long as she wanted him to. He could also feel alarm and anger when they were under attack by something powerful enough to invoke such feelings.

The incident with the chandelier during the entrance ceremony hadn't been a coincidence.

There was a supernatural connection between a Master and their familiar.

Zach narrowed his eyes.

'Maybe even talking with our thoughts will be possible in the future.'

With one clue about what had happened during his rise to level four, Zach had already started guessing what would happen if he continued progressing in the future. Since his body had already achieved a better condition than before, Zach also looked forward to what would happen in that department in the future.

'How many levels are there?'

Zach looked toward the starry sky again in wonder. He was curious.

Now, he wasn't just looking for answers about summoning and his so-called Divine Luck. He was curious about what lay beyond the stars.

'What if there isn't a limit?'

As Zach imagined the possibility of endless levels, he was hit by the realization that even if each level only gave him a grain of strength barely noticeable, he would become endlessly strong.

He didn't even know what it would look like since he had never seen any real displays of strength beyond what humans could achieve.

The knights in the mansion had been impressive. Nora's mother was impressive. Zach was pretty sure his own family was impressive, even if he hadn't seen any of them in action.

But nothing screamed endless strength or the capability of reaching the stars.

"...I love this…"

Zach had a light smile as his eyes reflected the stars. However, his murmur had alerted Violina.

Violina glanced at the others to make sure they were still asleep. She carefully shifted so she wouldn't disturb them when she talked. She walked around and sat next to Zach.

"Are you serious?" She whispered. The others needed their rest.

Zach nodded.

"Maybe not this whole dancing a tango of death with a scary tiger. But summoning, learning new things, watching the starry sky, and living. I love it." Zach's eyes didn't move from the stars as he answered Violina.

"Heh. I think I know why you managed to summon an S-rank familiar."

"Yeah?"

"Only someone who can sit in our current situation with dangerous monsters and freaky assassins after their life and look at the stars with a smile on their face, thinking they love this, deserves an S-rank familiar." Violina shook her head incredulously and joined Zach in looking at the stars.

They were beautiful, but Violina would have never thought to admire them in their current situation.

Zach gave a slight nod.

"What about you, then? It doesn't seem like you hate this. And you have your A-rank Ice Spirit."

Violina shrugged.

"I don't hate it. I even find it pretty exciting. But it's not got anything to do with summoning. It just makes me miss home." Violina's gaze grew distant.

Zach's eyes widened slightly. He hadn't thought Violina would open up like that to him.

"It's also a nice change in scenery from the boring classrooms and dull lessons. Other than Drupesch's first lesson and some of the others, it's kind of boring."

Zach raised an eyebrow and glanced at Violina.

"Pardon?"

Violina looked at Zach and realized he didn't hold the same sentiment.

"Oh, I thought…Since you get top marks basically every lesson…You don't think it's boring?" Violina's brow furrowed slightly as if she couldn't understand it.

"I mean, boring is boring. But I wouldn't call Drupesch's lessons the highlight, even if the other lessons could be a little more entertaining."

"Huh."

"Yeah."

Violina just kind of looked at Zach with a blank face. Zach shrugged and returned to looking at the stars as the conversation faded.

Then, Zach realized he had to ask Violina something.

"Hey, Violina, when did you last check the summoning interface?" Zach looked at Violina.

Violina shrugged and looked at Zach.

"I only looked at it when I summoned my familiar. I figured it was useless to look at it more than once. It isn't like it'll change by looking at it, and I already memorized everything the first time."

Zach shook his head.

"It's not useless. Look at it."

Violina questioningly raised an eyebrow, asking for an explanation. But Zach just looked at her encouragingly.

Violina sighed and listened to Zach's request. At first, she wasn't sure how to open it up again, but it solved itself just by her thinking about wanting to look at the interface. She frowned since it felt like it read her mind, with it being something foreign.

However, that thought faded, and her eyes widened as she looked at it. She looked up at Zach.

"I-I've leveled up? Is that the right expression?"