After wrapping up his exchange with the Spell Scientist, Hikaru Amagi was ready to leave.
Being able to perform two dimensional jumps per month was a tremendous resource for a student like him, but even with Tierra's enhancements, his Spirit Synchronization was only six stars. Staying too long in another realm would negatively affect his ability to travel next time. Plus, the Spell Scientist hadn't prepared any new "puzzles," so Hikaru didn't intend to linger.
He planned to rest a few days, then use the Ra Yellow dorm's dimensional gate to visit "The Mountain."
Since the Sanctum of the Spellcasters was home to the Spellcaster-type spirits, Hikaru guessed the Mountain might be a place frequented by Winged Beasts, Dragons, and Thunder-types. It wasn't "Dragon Ravine," but being a field spell site for those three types, maybe he'd encounter some ancient spirits?
With that in mind, Hikaru made a quick pact with the Spell Scientist to return in two months to tackle a new puzzle, then turned to leave.
Just then, Tierra floated beside him and said, "Hikaru, don't be in such a rush to leave."
"Huh? Why?" he asked.
"A spirit's coming to find you."
"A spirit… for me?" Hikaru blinked in surprise.
In the Sanctum, if you wanted to challenge a spirit, you usually had to file a request. It was rare for a mage to come seek him out.
But when he turned around and saw who it was, he realized—
Ah. No, he misunderstood.
It wasn't a challenger.
It was a Spellcaster-type spirit wearing a blue robe and a pointy hat, panting heavily as he ran, a glowing spellbook clutched in his hands.
At first glance, Hikaru didn't recognize him.
But after a moment of memory searching, he realized who it was.
Spellbook Magician of Prophecy – Batel.
A once-top-tier card in the old Spellbook meta. This low-level monster could add any Spellbook Spell from your deck to hand—exceptionally powerful filtering.
Even in the meta before Hikaru crossed over into this world, Batel still saw play, especially for fetching Spellbook of Ice and Fire, turning into a pseudo-Pot of Greed.
A card engine in card form.
But—he wasn't a Fusion-type and had no synergy with Hikaru's deck, so clearly, this spirit wasn't here to join his roster.
"Whew… whew… forgive me… my spellcasting isn't what it used to be," Batel gasped, waving a hand to cool himself.
"Hello," Hikaru greeted politely. "Are you looking for me?"
He wasn't sure what this was about, but he treated it like a normal encounter.
"Ah, thank the stars…" Batel finally stood upright, adjusted his robes, and coughed to clear his throat. "You are the Fusion Envoy from another dimension, heir to the Supreme Alchemist—Hikaru Amagi, correct?"
"Uh… yes." Hikaru winced at the title. It sounded both grandiose and embarrassing.
"Excellent!" Batel clutched his spellbook and flipped through it. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Spellbook Magician Batel, a representative of the Spellbook Academy of Lamaison."
Hikaru nodded politely, already aware of the name, but he let the spirit continue.
"Our academy is dedicated to spreading the wisdom of Spellbooks and educating all—wait, no, wrong page—ah, here it is."
He turned a few more pages. "The reason I've come is because Lord Crowley requested it. We heard you recently visited the Sanctum of Spellcasters, so I was dispatched to deliver a message."
"Crowley?" Tierra tilted her head. "Wasn't that the name that Injection Fairy Lily said Aleister went by?"
"Yes, that's right. Crowley is Aleister," Batel smiled. "They're one and the same."
"Wait, then you're here about Professor Daitokuji?" Hikaru asked.
Batel nodded. "Yes. Lord Crowley asked me to inform you that your mentor has safely arrived in the Realm of Mages. You've been to the Warrior's Domain before, right? Then you know—it's one of the planes closest to the Underworld, guarded by the Pharaoh's sentinels."
Relief washed over Hikaru.
His duel with Professor Daitokuji had been intense. The professor hadn't used the Philosopher's Stone, and had even challenged Hikaru's friends directly. But Hikaru knew he had only done it to test their growth—see if they were ready for what was coming.
Still, if something had possessed Daitokuji—like Yubel, the Light of Destruction, or Darkness—it would've been hard to handle emotionally.
It wasn't a matter of winning. It was about hurting someone important.
"So… what's his current state?" Hikaru asked.
"Reborn," Batel answered, stroking his chin. "I haven't visited the Mage Realm myself, so I don't know the specifics. But according to Lord Crowley, your professor is on his way to becoming a top-class Mage Spirit."
Hikaru's eyes lit up.
To be reborn as a high-level spirit—without fear of possession or corruption—that alone was worth celebrating.
The higher the spirit rank, the more likely they were to retain past memories. Like Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl, who were said to remember being Mahad and Mana.
Once he got back to Duel Academy, Hikaru would be sure to share the good news. It would ease everyone's mind.
"So is that all?" he asked.
"There's one more thing." Batel pulled a card from his spellbook and handed it to Hikaru. It was a Spell Card etched with intricate, mystical text.
"This… is this the coordinate to your academy?"
Batel shook his head. "No, your own tome already records our academy's coordinate. We wouldn't dare offer it separately."
Fair enough.
"This is our official Spellbook Academy Certification Card. If you want to challenge mages or request exchanges, just show this at the local Guild. It's recognized by most mage clans."
Wow.
Hikaru was both delighted and a little disappointed.
Delighted—because this card would let him challenge rare Spellcaster-type spirits.
Disappointed—because aside from Aleister the Invoker, he didn't have much he needed from mages right now. He had already gotten Dark Magician from the Fusion Corps.
Aleister himself had said he'd only appear again when Hikaru found the Mage Realm—probably to stand watch over Daitokuji's rebirth.
Still—better to have than not.
If Hikaru ever got cards like Aussa the Earth Charmer or Gravekeeper's Visionary, he could come back for more Spirit exchanges.
But for now, he needed to return to the human world and—more importantly—visit the cup noodle company.