Chapter 2: God of the Underworld

Lavia possessed a talent for ice magic, which was a derivative of water magic among the four elemental systems.

Such an extremely rare magical talent was a testament to her noble bloodline.

Whenever she learned a new spell, Lavia would be eager to show it to him. Harvey, in turn, could always suggest interesting ideas that even her tutors might not have considered, which she found incredibly refreshing.

As time passed, she even began to feel that Harvey knew more than she did. That was likely the result of him soaking in the private library all day long.

Lavia “appreciated” this effort. At the very least, she could never personally handle such tedious hard work.

The Duke was constantly immersed in magical research, so within the mansion, Harvey was often her only listener. He was the only one who stayed by her side, the one person she could completely trust.

Lavia enthusiastically drew the **Mana Sensing Array**. Unfortunately, she still had to attend a private tutor’s lesson shortly, so she could not demonstrate the magic to him directly. Even though it was currently a holiday, as the Duke’s daughter, she had to accept a stricter education even while enjoying her honors.

Looking at the newly drawn magic circle, Lavia revealed a self-satisfied smile.

“That’s it! Hehe, it’s absolutely perfect.”

After speaking, she handed the drawing to Harvey with an expectant look.

The item he had long desired had come into his hands so easily.

Harvey tucked the magic array Lavia had drawn into his robe with an unchanged expression and spoke gently. “It is almost time, my lady.”

Lavia pouted. “That wasn’t what I wanted to hear.”

“My lady, the Academy’s return day is only a few days away. You will need to undergo an assessment then,” Harvey reminded her helplessly.

Hearing the word “assessment,” Lavia glared at him with dissatisfaction.

“What a mood killer. How hateful.”

She then lifted the hem of her skirt and rose gracefully. Harvey respectfully watched her leave.

The entire morning’s work was finished, and there was still a long time before the servants’ lunch. Taking advantage of the fact that no one was watching, Harvey returned to Lavia’s private library alone.

The private library was located inside the tower of the Duke’s Mansion and was her personal property. It was perfectly reasonable for him to appear here.

The metal door was engraved with a magical seal by the Duke himself; only those with the crest granted by Lavia could enter.

The tower was constructed directly through earth magic. The Duke was a High Magician who had mastered three systems of magic simultaneously: water, earth, and wind. In the entire Kingdom of Rune, such figures could be counted on one hand.

The light inside the tower was slightly dim. Layers of bookshelves spiraled up along the walls, packed with all kinds of magical classics.

Harvey spread the paper with the magic circle in his hand, then took out a magic pen from the library and began to draw on the floor. The library itself was equipped with a protective array that could isolate mana fluctuations, making it the most suitable place for an experiment.

He lowered his body and followed the structure on the paper, outlining the runes stroke by stroke. Precious magical materials were not rare in this library.

The symbols extended outward from the center of the draft, spreading in layers as fine as a spider’s web.

A magic array.

A basic element-sensing array constructed with runes. As long as one could resonate with the elements, the formation would glow with light. That was the starting point for all magicians to step onto their path.

However, mana sensing had always been regarded as a privilege of the nobility, and there were no records of the relevant arrays in any public books. Therefore, he could only find another way.

Harvey held his breath and pressed his palm into the center of the formation. Long-held focus and desire caused his heart to beat so fast it was almost erratic.

However, a long time passed.

Only the flickering candlelight remained in the air; the runes stayed silent and lifeless.

There was no glow. There was no response.

Harvey tried again and again, his expression shifting from anticipation to panic.

‘I really have no magical aptitude.’

At that moment, resentment and despair rushed into his heart together. Harvey stared at the array on the ground with eyes that were burning yet desperate.

He did not give up.

The transcribed magic array was nearly perfect, which meant there was nothing wrong with the formation itself.

‘Is it because there is no mana to drive it? Can I use life force instead?’

Life possessed power, and it could similarly resonate with magical elements. This was written in the young lady’s *Introduction to Mana Elements* and *Elementary Element Tutorial Vol. 1*. As for exactly how to use it, there was no complete guidance.

Harvey thought for a moment, then bit his finger and tried to trace the magic array once more.

The moment his finger touched the array, his blood seemed to be pulled, immediately winding down along the grooves of the runes. The mysterious symbols suddenly lit up.

It worked!

Harvey’s face brightened with joy, but a sudden wave of dizziness hit him, and he nearly fell.

The light from the magic stone lamps suddenly dimmed and then went out completely. The entire library seemed to be swallowed by something silent, falling into a deathly stillness.

Harvey felt cold all over. He felt that something had “responded” to him. It wasn’t a call or a sensation, but rather the illusion of being watched.

A pale glimmer gathered at the center of the formation. Its edges gradually blurred, looking like a layer of mist rising from an abyss.

In the next breath, a white, jade-like skeletal toe stepped out of the formation.

Harvey’s eyes widened, and his breathing stopped.

The figure quickly stepped out of the magic circle. Mist gathered beneath it like a prostrate servant. The figure was covered in pale bone, like a shell carved from ice and ivory.

White cartilage hung from its waist to the floor, like the tassels of a formal dress, swaying slowly like a living thing. This unknown life-form was similar to a human, yet extremely eerie. It should have been terrifying, yet it possessed a high-born nobility that brooked no desecration.

The figure walked up to him, and a long skeletal hand reached out to touch his face.

“Heh—”

“To call a god of the end here, even at the cost of offering your blood… Little one, what do you want?”

Deep blue flames flickered in the depths of the black eye sockets as if they could see through everything about him. Harvey felt his heartbeat spiral out of control. Strangely, he felt no fear; instead, it felt as though he had finally grasped something.

“I want to be able to use magic,” he stated his wish without hesitation.

The mysterious being seemed to find his wish amusing, letting out a piercing yet charming chuckle.

“Magic? What an ill-timed request.”

“My name is Hera.”

“I am the Goddess who rules the Underworld.”

“I govern the final resting place of life. There are no storms here, much less fire—only endless sinking.”

After hearing her description, the regret in Harvey’s eyes became increasingly obvious. If even a being claiming to be a god could not fulfill his wish, was it truly impossible for his desires to be realized? Would anything change if he activated the magic circle again?

As if sensing his low mood, Hera stared at him. “Poor little one. The God of the Underworld cannot give you talent for magic, but I can grant you— Authority .”

“What is that?” Harvey asked with a confused look.

Hera’s voice held a hint of seduction. “The Authority of the God of the Underworld, to be exercised by you in the human world.”

“…”

After a long silence, Harvey whispered the doubt in his heart. “…What will I become?”

He knew the other party was proposing a trade. Possessing power required paying a corresponding price—this was a consensus among magicians, written in every magical work.

Hera was a bit surprised by his calm reaction and spoke in a gentle tone. “You will become a Deity Invoker of the great God of the Underworld.”

A Deity Invoker was a type of magician who used themselves as a sacrifice to sign a contract with a god. It was a branch of the magical profession.

But the God of the Underworld…

Harvey only hesitated for a single moment before making his decision. Activating the magic circle again might not work; he had to seize this unexpected luck.

“I… I am willing…”

Looking at the young boy before her, the deep blue flames in Hera’s eyes carried a certain smile.

After Harvey performed a clumsy salute, a dark light surged forth. The aura of the God of the Underworld ebbed and flowed within the library like a tide.

A cold sensation coiled around him. From the depths of his soul, a sharp, burning pain erupted, colliding with that cold aura.

“Ugh—” He gritted his teeth in agony.

He did not know how long it lasted, but Harvey felt as if his consciousness was being torn apart.

Suddenly—

Hera chuckled softly. “How unfortunate. Someone is approaching.”

In his pain, he didn’t understand what this “unfortunate” meant. In the next moment, the library door was pushed open.

Lavia unexpectedly appeared at the doorway.

“Harvey? What’s wrong?”

Hearing the familiar voice, Harvey’s eyes snapped open.

“No, don’t come over here!”

Seeing his look of extreme pain, Lavia did not listen to his warning at all. She approached in worry.

Suddenly, her body stiffened.

The underworld aura in the library seemed to have found a new target and lunged toward her. The girl’s face turned deathly pale instantly, and she subconsciously let out a cry.

“Har… vey…”

The consciousness was instantly drained from her delicate body, and she fell straight toward the floor.

‘My lady…’

Harvey stared blankly at this scene.

He clearly felt it—the young lady’s life force was flowing into him through those dark threads. His body, which had just undergone the torture of the process, suddenly received the nourishment of fresh life force.

Vivid power surged into his bloodline, bringing an even more intense chill and heat. His soul was trembling. The erupting life force brought a pleasure that was nearly addictive.

“…No, stop.”

Harvey’s eyes bulged like a lone boat in a storm as he fought against the tide with all his might.

Hera, standing behind him, let out a joyful laugh. She looked down coldly at the scene, admiring the sinking of Harvey’s young soul.

“Poor little one, this is the teaching given to you by the God of the Underworld.”

“Feel the power of life.”