The enormous creature gracefully descended from the sky.
Unlike the unicorns, it didn’t even need to walk in the air.
Instead, it simply... moved, like a fish through water.
Theo remained rooted in place.
’What...?’ he thought, eyes wide.
The closer the Kirin came, the more unreal it seemed.
Space itself seemed to distort around its body. Wherever it passed, faint cracks silently appeared before healing again an instant later.
Theo unconsciously held his breath.
’Why... is there a Wind Kirin here?’ he thought. ’There’s no way I should be able to summon something like this!’
The Kirin finally came to a stop a few dozen yards away from him.
Its massive emerald eyes slowly settled on Theo.
For a moment, Theo felt as though every secret he’d ever possessed had been laid completely bare.
His system, his affinities, even his very soul.
Nothing seemed capable of escaping that gaze.
Cold sweat dripped down his forehead, feeling like his death was imminent.
’Insane,’ he thought. ’What kind of level is this Kirin even at?’
Only one creature had ever made him feel this insignificant.
And that was the primordial being of lightning.
’Is it—?’
Suddenly, a strange noise echoed through his mind.
It almost sounded like... a chuckle.
Theo’s body stiffened.
The Kirin’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
’’You compare me to a Primordial Being,’’ a deep, ancient voice rang out inside his head.
Another amused chuckle followed.
’’I am honored.’’
For a moment, everything fell silent.
Theo’s pupils shrank as he realized.
’You can read my mind.’
Just then, the Kirin slowly shook its enormous head.
’’I cannot,’’ it said, a hint of amusement in its tone. ’’Only your surface thoughts.’’
Theo pressed his lips together.
That alone was terrifying enough for him.
There’d only been one other being who’d been able to do that so effortlessly. And it had almost obliterated him, even with the system’s protection.
Now, he stood in front of an insanely powerful creature... without any protection.
The Kirin’s deep emerald eyes remained fixed upon him.
"You needn’t fear," it said calmly. "I have no interest in prying into the secrets of your soul."
"It is merely difficult not to hear thoughts shouted so loudly."
Theo blinked for a moment.
’Shouted...?’
The Kirin let out another faint chuckle.
’’You possess a very noisy mind, child.’’
Theo couldn’t help but feel slightly embarrassed.
After taking a deep breath, he finally gathered enough courage to speak.
’’Why are you here?’’
The Kirin quietly observed Theo for several moments.
Then, it finally spoke.
’’I came here... because I sensed something interesting.’’
A deep frown appeared on Theo’s face.
’’Something interesting?’’
The Kirin gave a small nod, its long body gently weaving through the sky behind it.
’’Yes,’’ it answered. ’’I sensed you.’’
Theo stared blankly for a moment.
’Me?’
The Kirin’s emerald eyes remained fixed upon him.
’’Your potential intrigued me enough to answer the call.’’
For a brief moment, Theo simply stood there.
That’s when it finally dawned on him.
In the summoning manuscript, it clearly warned that powerful creatures wouldn’t answer the calls of the unworthy.
It wouldn’t even surprise him if it worked the other way around too.
Theo slowly looked back at the Kirin.
’’So... you came here because of the ritual?’’
’’That is only half correct.’’
The Kirin didn’t even hesitate.
’’The ritual opened the door to my descendants. I merely chose to step through it instead.’’
Silence fell between the two once more.
Theo could hardly believe what he’d just heard.
Such a creature had chosen to come here for him?
For a moment, a single thought went through his mind.
’Does that mean... I can make a contract with it?’
His heart pounded faster and faster.
Every part of him warned him not to ask something that could offend the creature in front of him.
Even so, Theo completely ignored it.
He looked straight up into the Kirin’s eyes, everything else fading away around him.
’’Then... would you be willing to form a summoning contract with me?’’
Silence fell around them.
Some of the surrounding creatures raised their heads slightly, somehow having understood Theo’s question.
Even the Galehorn Unicorns in the sky looked at Theo in surprise.
Suddenly, a faint chuckle rang out.
A moment later, deep laughter echoed through the grasslands.
’’You are a rather fearless child!’’
Its eyes narrowed with amusement.
’’Or perhaps... you’re simply brazen.’’
Theo didn’t even know how to respond.
He simply scratched the back of his head, praying the creature in front of him wouldn’t kill him.
After a few seconds, the Kirin’s laughter gradually began to fade.
It quietly observed Theo, then glanced up at the sky.
’’So this is what your fortune desires.’’
The ancient creature slowly closed its eyes.
’’When I answered the call... I did not expect such a request.’’
It opened its eyes once more and glanced at Theo.
’’But...’’
’’If fortune itself has guided me here...’’
’’Then maybe, it is time I followed where it leads.’’
Theo’s eyes widened.
The Kirin gave a slow nod.
’’I accept your request.’’
Theo’s breathing came to a halt.
His request had been absurd.
He’d expected countless different answers and outcomes.
But this?
This had barely even crossed his mind.
Before Theo could think any further, the Kirin slowly turned its gaze toward the floating emerald soul fragment and the other resources.
’’I have accepted your request.’’
’’But there remains one final matter.’’
Theo followed its gaze.
The tiny Galehorn Unicorn still floated quietly within the crystal.
For the first time since the Kirin had arrived, it stopped galloping and jumping around.
Instead, it calmly met the Kirin’s gaze.
Neither of them spoke.
Yet Theo could somehow feel that they were communicating.
Several long seconds ticked by.
The little Galehorn Unicorn suddenly lowered its head slightly.
A gentle emerald light began radiating from its body.
Whoosh!
Its figure disappeared from inside the crystal.
The Wind Kirin slowly looked up, a warm kindness appearing in its eyes.
’’It has accepted as well.’’
Theo glanced at the Kirin, confused.
’Accepted what?’
A brilliant emerald light suddenly erupted in the sky.
Deep within that light, a small shadow gradually took shape.
Each and every creature knelt down at once, immense respect in their gaze.
’’It stood only a single step away from becoming one of my kind,’’ the Wind Kirin said. ’’That wish shall not remain unfulfilled.’’