I Possessed the Heroine’s Teacher

“You are…”

The Iron Spirit King looked genuinely startled to see me. But I had never met him before. Could it be that he recognized Werner’s face? Werner was fairly famous, but would someone like a Spirit King take a personal interest in him? Even if Werner was extraordinary, Spirit Kings typically had no interest in the affairs of humans.

“Do you know me?”

“Do you not remember who you are? Or perhaps… you were never aware in the first place?”

I frowned instinctively at the cryptic nonsense he was spouting. I know myself better than anyone else—who was he to act as if he knew me better?

“I am who I am. Do I need any further explanation?”

“It seems you have no memory.”

“And who exactly do you think I am?”

“…You are the son of the one we owe our allegiance to.”

“What?”

I couldn’t believe it. All records described Werner as an orphan with no family ties. The most that had ever been said was that he escaped from a dark past after being captured by wicked people. And now this Spirit King was claiming that Werner was the son of someone so great that Spirit Kings themselves were sworn to serve? It was a ridiculous joke. If Werner’s parents were so extraordinary, they wouldn’t have let their child grow up an orphan.

“That’s absurd…”

“Do you think your ability to wield magic of every element is merely by chance?”

Indeed, being born with even one elemental affinity was considered a blessing. So much so that magical families arranged marriages specifically to produce children with dual affinities. Yet Werner was gifted with every element. It was unusual, but miracles do happen.

“You still don’t believe me, do you?”

“Of course not. Suddenly showing up and claiming my parents are some awe-inspiring beings—how could I not be surprised?”

But there wasn’t time to dwell on this nonsense. If I didn’t hurry back to the battle, Lorcha would be in danger. Gawain’s abilities, despite his decline, were still fearsome, and Carahes was nearly impossible for a mage to counter.

That meant I had to deal with them, even if it meant losing a limb or two in the process.

“You’re leaving so soon?”

“Yeah, I have more urgent matters to handle right now.”

The Iron Spirit King’s condition was dire, but my friends came first. I had to focus on Lorcha and the others, who might already be in trouble. Save who I could, and worry about the rest later.

“In that case, why not borrow my power?”

The Iron Spirit King spoke calmly, without anger or annoyance. It was almost unnerving to hear such a proud, arrogant being offer its power so willingly. But overly sweet offers always come with thorns.

“What’s the price?”

“Your descendants will automatically inherit a contract with me.”

So he intended to entangle my descendants in this as well. I didn’t like it. Everyone deserves the freedom to live their own life. I didn’t want to ruin their futures with a decision I made. For all I knew, centuries down the line, one of my descendants might suffer because of this choice.

“I refuse.”

“But isn’t the situation urgent?”

He wasn’t wrong. Conventional magic wouldn’t work on Carahes. The only effective option was steel-element magic, and without access to grand spells, my only hope was the Spirit King’s power.

Suddenly, I remembered Lorcha accepting a contract with the Spirit King to save me. She must have thought the same way I was thinking now. She wouldn’t have wanted to bind her descendants either, but she made the choice to protect me. No one in recorded history had ever contracted with the Water Spirit King. For her to make such a monumental decision—it was for my sake.

“Tsk… Fine, I’ll accept.”

If she was willing to make sacrifices for me, I had to do the same for her. Even if my descendants ended up resenting me for this decision, I couldn’t just stand by and let Lorcha fight alone.

Yes, sparing my descendants from such a fate would be the right choice. But ignoring what was in front of me for the sake of the future wasn’t much different from sacrificing the few for the many. I would save what was right in front of me.

“Understood. I will gather the last of my strength to form a contract with you. You do know how to establish a contract with a Spirit King, don’t you?”

“Don’t take me for a fool. I know the basics.”

I only needed to imitate what Lorcha had done earlier. Extending my hand toward the Iron Spirit King, I began the ritual.

“I, Werner Alten, hereby establish a contract in my blood and that of my lineage. This contract shall endure for generations.”

“I, Armadura, Iron Spirit King, by the laws set forth by the Primordial Mother, grant you my power.”

“I, Werner Alten, an unremarkable mage, hereby seal this contract.”

Then, Armadura’s body melted like molten metal from a furnace and seeped into mine. It was a peculiar sensation—a strange feeling of energy coursing through my entire body, leaving me both oddly refreshed and slightly nauseated. I wasn’t sure what kind of expression to make in response. At the same time, the incantations for the magic I could now use as a result of my contract with the Iron Spirit King flowed into my mind.

From somewhere, I heard Armadura’s voice:

[Our contract is now complete. Since the contract has only just been established, you will not be able to use all of the magic I know, but it will suffice for your fight.]

“Alright… I’ll take care of the immediate crisis first, but later, you’d better explain everything about who my parents are, from beginning to end.”

I wasn’t pressing for answers right now for a simple reason: I didn’t want anything unsettling my mind before the fight. Werner had grown up as an orphan, and there was no way his parents’ story would turn out to be anything positive.

[Understood. There will be limits on what I can disclose, but I will explain as much as I am allowed.]

I charged through the hole I had created earlier, heading straight for Carahes. He seemed to have been lying in wait, preparing to ambush Lorcha. But he had lingered too long, unable to finish her off, and now I stood between them.

“Oh? Back so soon? Have you worked yourself into a frenzy or something? If you think that’s going to change anything, you’re sorely mistaken…”

“Iron Spirit King—”

The resonance of my voice startled everyone. Carahes, Lorcha, and even that bastard Gawain turned to look at me.

“My arm will now become a god-killing spear that can even slay the divine.”

At that moment, my arm was enveloped by scales resembling rough iron. I instinctively knew it was fundamentally different from any steel I had conjured with magic before.

“Werner, you didn’t have to resort to such an unfair contract!”

“Tch… So, you managed to secure a contract with the subdued Iron Spirit King. I knew we should have killed him and dragged him back. It would have saved us this trouble.”

“Lord Gawain, steel-based magic typically relies heavily on physical techniques. A mere mage’s physical skills are hardly worth—”

The bastard dared to belittle my martial arts. Every move I had learned was a testament to the accumulated wisdom of humanity, a tower of effort built by countless warriors through blood, sweat, and tears. To insult that—Carahes was nothing less than an enemy of humanity, a Hitler-like figure.

“Well then, let’s see what you think of this ‘mere mage’s’ martial arts. Watch closely and give me your review.”

I charged straight at him.

Carahes tried to absorb my magic as usual, but he couldn’t absorb the iron enveloping my arm. His trait might allow him to devour magic, but it seemed he couldn’t handle the Spirit King’s magic, which came from the very essence of its element.

Hoeyong-style Nachal Palm. A spinning strike shattered his jaw. Blocking that filthy mouth of his, which devoured anything in sight, was the first priority.

“Ughhh!”

“Looks like you won’t be eating properly anymore. Don’t worry too much, though.”

Brocken Family Martial Arts: Berlin’s Red Rain.
Nikoryu: Vajra Form—Iron Chains.
Boxing: Pivot Blow.
Kyokushin Karate: Brazilian Kick.
Muay Thai: Kao Dode (Jumping Knee Strike).
Professional Wrestling: Kesagiri Chop.

I unleashed every technique I had seen or learned. Blow by blow, Carahes turned into a bloodied mess. While he had some skill in martial arts, his overreliance on his magic-absorbing ability left his defensive techniques lacking.

“P-please, spare me! Look at me—I’m completely wrecked! My legs are broken, my shoulders are shattered, and my neck hurts so much!”

After a thorough beating, even his arrogant demeanor crumbled. It was proof that sometimes, physical punishment is the ultimate cure.

“Now, let’s see… You bit a chunk out of my calf earlier, didn’t you?”

As the Code of Hammurabi says: an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a calf for a calf.

Blood sprayed like a fountain as I went for his eyes. The only downside to this move was the mess it created.

“AAAAAHHHHH!!!”

“Now, how should I finish this?”

Grabbing his jaw, I offered a silent prayer to humanity’s martial arts. With that respect in my heart, I twisted his neck, ending it.