Heroine Creation: All My Summons Are Custom Made

Lancet sat back in the stands with a paper cup of popcorn in one hand and the arena spread out below him. He was eating in silence, jaw working mechanically, eyes fixed on the field without any particular interest.

The sixth phase of the competition was starting, the noise of the crowd rose and fell in waves around the massive platform, but his mood still had not recovered from the duel. He was trying to let the bitterness settle somewhere deep enough that it stopped annoying him.

It wasn’t working.

Beside him, Anita leaned slightly toward him and glanced down toward the center of the arena before looking back at him. ”So who did Miss Maecil choose to represent us anyway?”

Lancet didn’t even bother looking at her. ”Don’t know. Don’t care.”

Anita raised a brow at him. ”Well, someone is still grumpy about losing the duel.”

He gave her a look this time, then returned to his popcorn grumpily. ”You know about that?”

She shrugged. ”Who doesn’t? It was all anyone talked about for two days.”

Across from him, Kasto spoke, though his eyes were pasted on the field. ”He’s been beating himself up pretty badly over it. It doesn’t make sense, Lancet. You told me you couldn’t beat him. You know how powerful he is.”

”Yeah,” Lancet sighed, ”but things change.”

Kasto finally looked away from the field and turned to Lancet. ”How? You want to beat him now? Lancet, he was holding back even in that fight. Renan is just way too powerful. He never runs out of Grace. He’s basically immune to Gloom, and on top of that he has the power of the Heavens. The literal Heavens. That’s where the Elders stay.”

Lancet pouted, though only in his head.

’He’s only that powerful because of his stupid golden finger,’ he thought sourly. ’Imagine never having to run out of Grace. Of course the world doesn’t even really bother investigating how he does it because he’s the main character. Meanwhile I’m the one everyone keeps staring at because I can summon legends from the past.’

An indignant sigh left him. ’Pfft. I really wish I was the MC of a webnovel right about now.’

He looked at Kasto and replied. ”It’s not just about beating him. Renan was trying to make a point to me.”

Kasto’s expression shifted. ”What point?”

Lancet leaned back slightly, still watching the field. ”That because I’m different from other Summoners, there’s no reason I should fight like other Summoners. If I do, then it’s just cowardice.”

Kasto and Anita exchanged a look, both of them now wearing the same confused frown.

”That’s nonsense!” Anita said immediately. ”You killed the Second Demon Head without using your summons. You didn’t fight from behind like most of us do. You’re already way more different.”

Lancet downturned his lips. ”Maybe so. But there’s still some truth in what Renan said.”

He was silent for a moment, staring into nothing in particular.

”I think I’m not motivated enough,” he said. ”And I’m too comfortable with where I am. With letting my Heroines do everything for me.”

Neither of them said anything for a moment.

Lancet’s gaze drifted back toward the field, and when he spoke again, his voice had changed. It had become quieter, but also firmer, as though the thought itself had started taking shape in him. ”I can create Heroi— ladders. I can create ladders to summon Heroines.”

Anita and Kasto shared a curious glance.

Lancet went on, ignoring his near slip up as the thought sharpened an image in his mind. ”And these Heroines all have different Classes, different Skills, different powers. Which means I’m not just a Summoner. I have access to other Classes through them. I can be any Class I want. Use any power I want.”

The statement hung in the air.

It was simple, but it hit hard.

Kasto’s expression showed that he was thinking about it. Anita looked the same way. Lancet could really become as powerful as he wanted if he summoned the right legends, trained with their powers, and learned to execute them in his own way.

But speaking of the ability to use any power, Kasto remembered something.

He opened his mouth. ”By the way, Lancet,” he started.

Lancet looked at him.

”Back in the underground arena when Renan wounded you, you healed yourself using a power that really looked like Senior Esp—”

”IT’S TIME FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE!”

The announcer’s voice smashed through the air before Kasto could finish, booming across the stadium.

The crowd surged back to life and cheers rose instantly.

The first years above and around them snapped back to attention, and everyone in the stands turned toward the center platform as the announcer continued in a voice thick with theater and authority.

”The first five competitions have now been completed!” he declared. ”As always, those are the customary five challenges each year must face. But the last five—those are selected separately by the administration based on the qualities most vital in each year for surviving the dangers that await beyond the Academy!”

The crowd erupted again, excited to hear what came next.

Lancet leaned back and listened, his popcorn forgotten in his hand.

The announcer raised his arms. ”The first of the final five is a challenge of Manipulation, Order, and Control! It has been chosen by Dr. Helagreem Pastop, Head of the Academy-and-War Affairs!”

At the golden table high above the field, a man stood to his feet and gave the crowd a wave. He was broad-shouldered with a pond of gray hair on his head, and the confidence of a bureaucrat wrapped around him in the form of a very expensive coat.

His expression was sharp, his posture immaculate as he raised his hand gingerly and waved at the students.

Then the announcer turned fully to the challenge itself.

”For this event,” he said, ”each Class Group will send one representative to the center of the field. That student will demonstrate their power in whatever form it takes—whether that is an element, a Summon, a weapon, or even hypnosis. But they will not be judged simply on whether they can produce an effect. They will be judged on how they use it.”

The announcer spoke with more specificity.

”First: Manipulation. How well can you shape, direct, and apply what you possess? Second: Control. Does the power obey you cleanly, or do you struggle to contain it? Do you appear in command, or does the force command you? Third: Order. How naturally do you and your power move together? Does it answer you in harmony, or does it resist? We are looking not only for power, but for mastery.”

The stadium settled into a tense hush after that.

Then the announcer lifted one hand. ”Now then! Let us call forth the representatives.”

The first name rang out over the arena.

”Elementalist-D will be represented by Leslie Letterknight!”

Leslie stepped up from the Elementalist section. The Ice Mage didn’t have the scowl Lancet had always seen her with so he presumed she just didn’t like him for some reason.

She moved crisply toward the center, seemingly prepared to showcase her power to the world. Lancet wasn’t surprised they had chosen Frieda; as of late, she had proven to be unable to control her power.

”Specialist-D will be represented by Renan Falconhart!”

Lancet gave a short, almost humorless breath. ”Well, who’s surprised?”

Renan rose from his seat as if the announcer had merely called his name for a routine duty, not to place him at the center of yet another challenge.

Of course he looked composed. Of course he looked ready. The wind found his cape almost immediately, making sure he was the center of attention.

”Enchanter-D will be represented by Amira Vineheart!”

Amira stood next and joined the rest of them, her graceful character leaving the crowd confused as to whether to cheer or be silent in respect.

The final name came next.

”Summoner-D was scheduled to be represented by Lancet Leogardt—”

A sharp murmur rippled through the crowd.

Lancet’s own expression turned immediately wary.

The announcer continued, ”—however, because his summons are fully sentient and human, the administration has ruled him ineligible for this event.”

Kasto snapped his head toward Lancet. Anita did too. A beat later, so did a good half of the nearby stands, as the murmurs turned into open surprise.

”They can’t do that,” Anita said, outraged on his behalf.

Lancet shrugged with resignation. ”To be fair,” he said, ”they’re kind of right.”

He didn’t sound happy about it.

The announcer raised his voice again. ”So, in his place, Summoner-D will be represented by Min Tu Akaran!”

Min Tu stood from the lower stands. She turned to give Lancet a look before moving forward toward the center. She must have thought it was a look of assurance or apology but all Lancet had seen was her usual plain, despondent face.

—

A/N: Remember to join the discord!