Others Summon Monsters But I Summon Humans

Maya’s breathing gradually slowed.

The lingering quickness in her chest faded little by little until each breath returned to its usual measured rhythm. The faint flush lingering across her cheeks softened as well, retreating beneath her pale complexion until only the slightest trace remained.

Slowly, the familiar mask returned.

The calm expression.

The composed posture.

The quiet stillness that always seemed to surround her.

Yet now Yuto knew it wasn’t emptiness.

He had seen what existed beneath it.

The thought made something warm settle in his chest.

Maya straightened slightly and offered him a small smile.

"Yeah," she said. "I wonder how long it’s been in the real world."

Yuto glanced toward the portal.

The dark gateway pulsed softly at the far end of the chamber, its surface rippling like liquid shadow.

"Only one way to find out."

He pushed himself to his feet.

His body immediately protested.

Every bruise and injury from his fight with Tami made itself known again. His ribs ached. His muscles felt heavy. The exhaustion he’d been ignoring settled firmly onto his shoulders.

Even so, he extended a hand toward Maya.

She looked at it briefly.

Something unreadable flickered through her eyes.

Then she placed her hand in his.

Her fingers were cool against his palm.

Yuto pulled her to her feet.

For a moment neither of them let go.

Neither commented on it.

Eventually they released each other.

Silence settled between them once more.

Not awkward.

Not uncomfortable.

Just quiet.

Maya’s gaze drifted toward the portal.

"Well," she said softly. "I guess this is goodbye for now."

The words struck harder than Yuto expected.

He rubbed the back of his head.

"Yeah."

His voice sounded strangely reluctant.

"I guess."

The reality of it settled over him.

They had spent months surviving together.

Fighting together.

Traveling through ruins, caves, wastelands, and monsters.

Now they were about to step back into their normal lives.

Separate lives.

A thought suddenly occurred to him.

"You know," he said.

Maya looked back at him.

"I don’t actually know anything about you."

One of her eyebrows lifted slightly.

Yuto laughed awkwardly.

"I mean, really."

He gestured vaguely.

"I don’t know where you live. I don’t know how to contact you. I barely know anything."

A faint smile touched Maya’s lips.

"Don’t worry."

She turned fully toward him.

The pale crystal light caught in her dark hair as she moved.

"I’ll reach out to you."

Something in Yuto’s chest loosened.

Then Maya’s expression softened slightly.

A hint of seriousness entered her eyes.

"I just have some things I need to sort out first."

Immediately Yuto thought of Gina.

Of the Masaru Clan.

Of the people waiting for him.

Of the questions he still didn’t have answers to.

Of Tami.

Of the tower.

Of everything that had happened.

"Yeah," he said quietly.

"I have some things to sort out too."

For a moment neither moved.

The portal waited.

The tower remained silent around them.

Then they exchanged one final look.

One final smile.

And stepped forward together.

Into the darkness.

The sensation defied description.

The moment Yuto crossed the threshold, his entire body vanished.

Not physically.

Conceptually.

The feeling wasn’t movement.

It was transformation.

He felt compressed into something impossibly small.

Then stretched across an endless distance.

His bones felt like stars.

His thoughts felt like rivers.

For one impossible instant, he was convinced he could feel everything.

Every heartbeat.

Every grain of sand.

Every flicker of life scattered throughout existence.

The sensation lasted less than a second.

Then even that disappeared.

Everything went dark.

Everything went silent.

And suddenly—

Yuto opened his eyes.

Warm light greeted him.

He blinked.

A familiar lobby came into focus.

Clean marble floors.

Comfortable furniture.

Decorative plants arranged neatly throughout the room.

The scent of fresh coffee lingering faintly in the air.

Reality.

The real world.

For a moment he simply stood there.

After months of danger and uncertainty, the normalcy felt almost surreal.

A receptionist looked up from behind the front desk.

Her eyes widened.

"You’re back already?" she blurted.

The words left her mouth before she could stop them.

Then realization struck.

Her expression changed instantly.

She jumped to her feet.

"I-I mean..."

A hint of panic crossed her face.

"Welcome back, sir."

She bowed quickly.

"Please come with me."

Yuto blinked.

The sudden shift in attitude caught him off guard.

Then he remembered.

Paragon.

The title settled into place.

He wasn’t just another Ethereal anymore.

He had conquered a tower.

The receptionist hurried around the desk and guided him through the building.

People they passed glanced in his direction.

Several immediately straightened when they recognized him.

A few even stepped aside.

Yuto tried not to think too hard about it.

Eventually they arrived at a spacious waiting room.

The furnishings were noticeably more expensive than those in the lobby.

Dark polished wood.

Soft leather chairs.

Elegant lighting fixtures hanging from the ceiling.

The receptionist opened the door.

"Please wait here."

She bowed again.

"You’ll be attended to shortly."

Yuto thanked her and stepped inside.

The door closed behind him.

He took a seat.

The silence felt strange after everything he’d experienced.

No monsters.

No towers.

No cryptic gods.

Just a quiet room.

Only a few minutes passed before the door opened again.

Paragon Lyla entered.

The beautiful woman smiled the moment she saw him.

"I had high hopes for you that night, Yuto."

She crossed the room with her usual confidence.

"But you’ve shattered them."

Yuto blinked.

For a second he wasn’t sure whether that was praise or criticism.

Lyla laughed softly.

Then extended her hand.

"Or should I say..."

A grin spread across her face.

"Paragon Yuto."

The title still sounded absurd.

Even hearing someone else say it felt unreal.

Yuto shook her hand.

A smile tugged at his lips.

"Paragon Yuto."

He repeated it quietly.

Testing the words.

Lyla laughed again.

"You’ll get used to it."

"Maybe."

Yuto glanced up.

"How long was I gone?"

"Three months and three days."

His eyes widened immediately.

Three months.

The number hit harder than expected.

Inside the Astral Realm it hadn’t felt nearly that long.

Weeks, maybe.

Not months.

Lyla walked toward a nearby desk.

Yuto found himself watching her as she moved.

There was an effortless grace to everything she did.

She retrieved several folders and quickly scribbled notes across a few pages.

Then returned.

"Take these."

Yuto accepted the stack.

The documents were surprisingly thick.

"What’s in them?"

"A basic explanation of the world’s power hierarchy."

She tapped the top file.

"Along with the privileges and obligations attached to your new rank."

Yuto nodded.

Lyla crossed her arms.

"You’ll likely start receiving offers soon."

"Offers?"

"Employment."

She shrugged.

"Sponsorships. Alliances. Recruitment attempts."

A knowing smile appeared on her face.

"Every clan wants talented Ethereals."

Her expression sharpened slightly.

"A newly ascended Paragon is considerably more valuable."

Yuto looked down at the files.

"So I should be careful."

"Very."

The amusement vanished from Lyla’s voice.

"Do your research before committing yourself to anyone."

Yuto nodded.

"I will."

"Good."

Lyla seemed satisfied.

She headed toward the door before pausing.

"For now, go home and rest."

She glanced back at him.

"You’ve earned it."

A genuine smile appeared on Yuto’s face.

"Thank you."

"I’ll contact you later."

With that, she left.

Yuto gathered the documents beneath one arm and headed back toward the lobby.

The receptionist looked up the moment he appeared.

When she recognized him, she immediately smiled.

"Have a nice day, sir."

Yuto smiled back.

"You too."

He gave her a small nod.

Then walked through the entrance and out into the world beyond.

The doors closed behind him.

For several seconds, the receptionist continued staring after him.

A dreamy expression slowly appeared on her face.

"What a fine young man," she murmured.

Then she covered her mouth with a small giggle.

"Polite too."