Chapter 585: The Fourth Familiar

...Am I being summoned to hell?

That’s the very thought that come to my mind as soon as I got transported instead of getting a new monster o make a contract with.

The place I’m barely standing on, because of my bad ankles, is pitch black. But it’s not like there’s no light. I can see everything is dark even though I didn’t use Divine Vision, and there’s no light coming. I can see just fine.

Is this hell? Did I somehow die?

“Are you the one who will become my master?”

All of a sudden, I can hear a voice. The one saying it says that I would be its master. Though I don’t know about that.

Although I exhausted all my Aura and unable to use Divine Vision, I can still use my Mind’s Eye. Thank god that I learned this skill.

.....

When the voice suddenly called out to me, I used Mind’s Eye and see that something suddenly appeared in front of me. Similar to Sonia who suddenly appears in front of me. Some sort of teleportation I guess.

And the one talking to me was not a human. It was a monster. A monster in the shape of a horse.

“Are you the one who will be my familiar?” I asked the horse.

“Maybe. I brought you here to ask you some questions. We haven’t make any contract yet and it’s my own decision should I accept you to be my master or not,” the horse said.

“I guess it’s some sort of interview, huh? Well, that’s fine. But let’s do it quickly. I don’t know what that guy will do if I’m not there,” I said.

Right now, Timmy should already be on his way to where we were before. And if he doesn’t see me there, he might end up fighting with Kayla and the others. They will be in danger. Just to force me to get stronger, he would endanger my friends.

They only come to watch our fight and cheer for me. But they ended up being his targets.

That’s good. At least he won’t target my home and the people there. After all those who watched my fight are at least strong enough to hold Timmy back a little.

I don’t know what to do if Timmy made a decision to go to my house. Not just the one in the capital, but also the one in Cassau. He might fight everyone instead of just those who can fight like Angela, Kayla, Spot, and the others.

It’s funny how he did this even after taking a short break to teach Jewel about beastform magic. All of a sudden he would attack other people. Just because he wants me to kill him. What a weird guy.

No, not a guy. He’s a grandpa. He’s over three thousand years old. An annoying grandpa.

“Let’s do it quick. What do you want to ask me?” I asked the horse. The pitch black horse with fiery red eyes and the mane and tail were like smoke. Not hair, but smoke. Though I have to say it’s somewhat cool.

“I am Abyss Horse. A creature closest to death and will never appear in mortal world. But somehow you were so close in summoning me. How and Why? Only those closest to death can even see me. And that’s when their lives are disappearing. But you can somehow summon me to mortal world and have the ability to make me your familiar, so I transported you here instead,” the horse asked.

Abyss Horse? That sounds cool. It would be great if he can be my familiar. Though I need to pass the interview.

I started reminiscing about my past. That must be the reason why I can meet Abyss Horse. Including the recent memory as well.

“If those who are closest to death can see you, then that would be me. Just as I felt that my life was over, I returned back in time and have a second chance. But at that time I was dying, I didn’t meet you. And then, I got another familiar who has died and got reincarnated as a slime, and a ghost as my... housekeeper. And in the past few months, I was surrounded by ghosts. Maybe that makes me even closer to death and able to meet you,” I said.

“Hmm... if that’s the case, then you’re right. I can sense a scent of death in you. I’m not a fortune teller, so I can’t tell when you will die. But it’s the death that should have been there in the past. It’s a wonder how you’re still alive,” the horse said something confusing.

...I think I took a bath this morning. Oh, right. After breakfast, I already start moving to the lake. I haven’t taken a bath today. Though that shouldn’t be the kind of scent he’s smelling.

“Someone who was supposed to die got returned back in time and got surrounded by those who have died. Interesting. Alright. I will be your familiar. It’s also my first time living in mortal world, so it should be interesting. You’re in the middle of a fight? Then I will help you,” the horse said.

“That’s good, but now its time for me to ask you questions. I have a goal I need to achieve. How can you help me with it?”

I asked what the Abyss Horse can do. Seems like he could be a great mount, but I don’t know. He just looks cool. But if it’s a mount, riding on Spot’s back could be better.

“What I can do, huh? Many things. In this space, I encounter many powerful people. All of them were unable to escape from death. The most they can do is only to stall for time. And just by watching millions of people, maybe more, passing through this place, I learned a lot. I can run fast and I’m strong. And I can lend you the power of mana or Aura. You won’t regret it to make a contract with me,” the horse said.

Lending the power of Aura and mana!? That means my already exhausted mana can be restored?

This is great! As expected, I shouldn’t think of just getting myself stronger. I’m a summoner. I can also win by numbers. And an Abyss Horse seems to be so powerful.

“Then, let’s make a deal! What’s your name?” I asked.

“I don’t have a name yet. How about you give me a name, Master?” the horse asked.

Alright, my naming sense is bad. I need to think of a better name for the Abyss Horse. Something as good as his appearance. Red-Eyed Black Horse? That’s stupid. And although Victoria is not here, I got influenced by her too much that I have the urge to say ‘Let’s Duel!’ right now. So, no.

Something cool... My name is cool. Let’s adjust it for the Horse.

“How about Ray? Because right now, you’re my ray of hope. And it’s close to my name, Roy. Do you like it?” I asked the horse.

“Ray, is it? I like that. I will be Ray from now on, Master.”

Just like that, I finally got my fourth familiar. Now, how do we get out of here.

“Let me ride you for now. My ankles are hurting me,” I said as I jumped on Ray’s back.

Once I get out of here, I will fight Timmy again. So, I prepared my Reizpear. Although Victoria somehow didn’t come here, Reizpear still come with me. Maybe because Victoria is still a living being. Though I think it should be her who have met Ray before since she died long time ago. But maybe those who have been reincarnated never met Ray before.

“Alright, Ray. Once we get out of here, we will enter a fight. I need you to do as I say,” I said to Ray.

As soon as I sat on Ray’s back, I feel my stamina is recovering quickly. And the Aura I have exhausted also recovering. I can use Super Aura again. And this time, I feel like I can use it for longer than five minutes. This is great. Though I need to have a saddle. I can use Victoria for it later.

“Master, there’s one thing I need to tell you. I am not a creature that should exist in mortal world. Although there shouldn’t be any side effect in that world, something about me might change. And I might not be able to communicate with you like this again. But I will still trust you. It’s my decision to trust you after all,” Ray said that to me.

“I don’t know how you can trust someone that easily, but I like that. Oh, wait! What do you need to eat to live? Grass just like normal horses? Or something else? Can you eat human’s cooking?” I asked Ray.

“I don’t know. I have never consume anything in this world. Let’s try to find out what I like, okay?”

“And one more thing. You said that no one can escape death. Does that include you?” I asked Ray.

“Yes. I have live for a long time in this space but I never thought that I’m immortal. Everyone will die. But some will die sooner, and some will die later. No one knows,” Ray said.

I guess that makes Victoria not an immortal. And what about Sonia? Since I can exorcise her with Aura, she’s not immortal either.

Well, it’s time to go back. Thinking that it’s because of my summoning magic that I can come here, I should be able to use portal to return there. Let’s continue the fight and kill Timmy.