Time really flies by in an instant. "Am I pushing myself too hard these days?"

The thought suddenly crossed my mind as I juggled my activities on that mysterious dungeon, hunter missions, and studying. But, well, what's wrong with being busy? It's much better than lying in a hospital bed.

Moreover, I can feel my abilities improving significantly these days. I closed my eyes and tried using telekinesis, smirking at the result.

Telekinesis is naturally difficult to control. Dealing with a power that even I can't see with my own eyes is no easy task. So, I tried thinking outside the box.

"Let's not rely on my eyes at all."

I am like a blind guy grasping at things using the sensation at my fingertips. At first, I accidentally smashed things here and there, but... suddenly, I felt the sensation expanding, and my control over the ability noticeably improved.

I was now able to add a sense of touch to telekinesis. From then on, while I could still drop things, I didn't crumple them anymore.

"Was my vision blocking my progress?"

It's hard to believe, but I couldn't help but entertain the thought for now. However, there must be other factors at play.

Other telekinetics probably attempted this too. As it was time to study the language of the Lesser folk, I sat down at my desk. Soon, I heard the courteous voice of Herban.

[My one and only master! I am at your service today as well!]

"Is the compilation of magical texts going well?"

[Groan... I consider it the greatest task of my life! I'm truly honored that you asked! By the way, I have a question. What is your attribute, Lord Rowan?]

"Attribute?"

"Was I some kind of Pokémon?" My voice sounded both confused and displeased, prompting Herban to hastily explain.

[It's a more traditional classification method than you might think!]

[I apologize if it was displeasing to you.]

"No worries. However, I don't fit into any specific category."

Listening closely, it seemed like a classification that hunters often used. As a telekinesis hunter, if I had to be defined, I would be considered non-attributed.

Herban seemed greatly satisfied with my answer.

[Your greatness, my lord. I have been foolish! Ah, speaking of which, I'm running late. The whole world is filled with your name and glory as you bestow amazing mercy. I am once again overwhelmed by the immeasurable significance!]

Herban is a clever young man, but these days, there are more and more complex words for me to understand. Nonetheless, I don't want to discourage him. It must be the power of praise at work.

"These adventurers must be the ones I saved last time."

They are well-known top-class adventurers. The fact that they returned to me defeated is excellent publicity in itself. And if you take a closer look, I had my grievances too.

"I ended the war with minimal casualties."

I did kill the summoner king, but... a king who summons foreign beings and makes such requests would be better off not existing. Surely, they were a notorious warlord. Moreover, thanks to me, the loss of life due to the war was significantly reduced.

"But pointing that out one by one isn't the manner of a foreign being."

Feeling wronged and eager to speak out, I held my tongue. Composure was vital for an outer god; grievances had no appeal. We don't show weakness, fear, or make excuses. We communicate through actions and results.

"I must say, I endured it very well."

Uttering unnecessary words at that time would have greatly diminished the dignity of an outer god.

Considering that Asoka cannot be summoned due to its defeat... it's essential to manage the image of the outer god. Lately, I've even been practicing how to smile eerily in front of the mirror.

Today, as I once again tried to learn the daily life language of the Lesserfolk, a very peculiar voice echoed in my mind.

Most voices these days are blocked by my mental barrier... but this one broke through and lodged in my mind. Moreover, this guy isn't speaking in English!

[Help me, please... Rowan, my lord... ]

"What's going on?"

They're calling me about the most basic topic imaginable. Still, I can't completely ignore it since it broke through my mental barrier. Besides, the voice is fading away again.

'I can't grasp the situation at all.'

I immediately stood up from my seat and grabbed my equipment.

"Herban, I'll be back in a moment."

"Yes, my lord!"

As soon as I entered the portal that opened right after, I was greeted with a scene more dismal than any other time.

The place was filled with collapsed huts and barns lined up. Herban's forest village, which was his headquarters, is like a temple compared to this place.

The residents seemed to have suffered to death, with wrinkles and age marks covering their faces... even that looked annoyingly distorted. Some who noticed me late gasped and grabbed pitchforks or axes. Though I have become quite familiar with the smallfolk language, their dialect is too hard to understand properly.

"Wha, wha-what! It's a giant!"

"Guards! Call the guards!"

"When... why?"

"Hee-heek... h-help us!"

It seems like these guys didn't summon me. 'Isn't my body quite big now?'

Amidst my confusion, I noticed a small figure squirming at my feet. As the figure struggled to stand up, I could tell it was a person.

"Please..."

"What did you say?"

My interpretation skills were still lacking, and my voice fundamentally lacked strength. It was too soft to be heard.

In the meantime, the villagers rushed towards me, making me uneasy. The mud-covered summoner barely managed to squeeze out his voice and said,

"Burn... please. Everyone."

"Everyone?" I repeated in disbelief.

It was the most extreme request among all the summoners who had called upon me until now. In the meantime, the villagers belatedly realized the situation and started to panic.

"It's a witch! The witch summoned the giant!"

"Throw stones! Throw stones to them!"

I watched the villagers hurl stones at me, feeling dazed.

Fearlessly, they attacked the giant-like figure standing before them. I could imagine how normalized abuse and contempt towards summoners had become in this place. The summoner barely managed to stand up and was nearly hit by a stone, but I saved him using my telekinesis.

His face, covered in mud and blood, looked up at me. Meanwhile, the villagers continued to shout insults without getting tired.

"You son of a whore! Ungrateful wretch who doesn't appreciate our mercy!"

"Die, you bitch!"

The villagers' vile words reached my ears clearly. I had learned various curses long ago, which allowed me to distinguish voices cursing me from behind, but I never expected to use this skill in such a situation. Some villagers even yelled racial slurs like "Cracker" at me, revealing their deep prejudice and hatred.

"Do you even know where you are?"

"This fool thinks the giant will understand him?"

"Kill the witch first!"

At this point, I had no choice but to seriously consider the summoner's unexpected request. However, before taking any action, I needed to confirm something.

"Herban."

[Please give your orders!]

"Can you summon me alone? Without any special resources or help? At least the size of a small house."

[To be honest, with my abilities, that would be difficult.]

"If a summoner who doesn't know the language of outsiders wants to summon me alone, what should they do?"

Herban didn't hesitate for long and replied unexpectedly, [They would need the talents of a high summoner like Eicog.]

"Alright."

Indeed, this summoner is no ordinary person. I asked her one last time. If she hadn't been called a witch, I wouldn't have known she was a woman.

"Burn them all? That includes you too, right?"

"I don't... mind."

"Good."

Swiftly, I produced a lighter from my combat suit, and in an instant, the flames spread. I may not smoke, but I had prepared disaster supplies just in case. The villagers were taken aback by the sudden fire and started to scream.

"Oh my god! Fire! Fire!"

"This damn giant!"

It seemed ignorance bred bravery among them. As a service, I toppled several houses, completely blocking off the village.

"Aaah!"

"Darn it! I've worked my whole life, and now this!"

"Wahaha!"

Amidst the overlapping screams, a peal of laughter that didn't need translation erupted from beneath me. Angry villagers soon turned into dark silhouettes in front of the flames.

"Put it out! Please, put it out!"

"We can't get out!"

"Aaah!"

"Ahahahaha!"

Acrid smoke approached the grinning summoner.

The sight of the entire village being consumed by the flames was truly astonishing.

"Cough, gasp..."

How much time had elapsed?

The once-screaming village now lay in utter ruins, reduced to ashes.

The charred pillar couldn't withstand the weight and collapsed with a resounding crash.

The summoner's face was filled with bewilderment, unsure why he was still alive.

"I-I..."

"The witch burned to death right here," I finally said, a line I had contemplated for quite some time. "Is there anywhere you'd like to go?"

Confused, the summoner looked at me, and I placed a vial before her. It was initially meant for collecting rare monster blood, but I had disinfected it, so it should be fine. The creature inside the vial lay still, as if dead.

"I have no more business here."

In an instant, I returned to the living room and called for Herban.

"Herban, summon her."

"Yes!"

Back in Herban's forest, I carefully set the vial down. As a summoner with exceptional talent, she would surely take good care of the little being inside. How much mischief could that tiny creature cause?

"Take care of it. Get along well with her from now on."

"Is... this the summoner you were talking about?"

"Yes. And teach her a few things.

I considered raising her like a hamster at my home, but aside from ethical issues, there were too many potential problems with unknown germs or the effects of gravity, among other things. I knew all too well how delicate and fragile the human body could be.

"I'll accept her without a doubt."

...

The summoner looked at me with a perplexed expression but soon lowered her head and bowed.

Right now, she'll need some time to recover. I gave her a drop of blood for the moment, and she didn't refuse.

"Another one done. Should I visit the Helion Kingdom, where I created the canal? No, it's still a bit early."

As I returned to the living room, my smartphone, now connected to Wi-Fi, vibrated. When I checked the message belatedly, it turned out to be from an unexpected person. "Abigail?"

Abigail, the leading figure of the Golden Generation, the only S-rank Hunter (imported) in the US, and the owner of the White Crane Guild, had sent a message—an invitation to a college alumni gathering.

Seeing the inquiry about attending the event, I immediately replied, "Have I gone crazy? Me, attend that? Absolutely not."

No...

The idea of attending a college alumni gathering now seemed outdated. The Hunter Department at Harvard University was prestigious, so it would undoubtedly attract powerful and skilled classmates and juniors.

Nevertheless, that's precisely why I didn't want to go. I wouldn't have any face unless I achieved at least an A-rank. Besides, I can't believe someone as busy as Abigail personally took the time to inquire about this.

She must be playing some kind of role as the alumni association leader. Even though she's not known for caring for others, people would flock to her if she lent her name.

"Hmm?"

Upon rechecking the message, I suddenly noticed something surprising. The one that came up when I replied vanished instantly. They must have checked it really quickly on their end.

"She's diligent, I must say."

Putting my smartphone back into my pocket, I headed to the Hunter training ground for work.