“Contractor! Look over there!”
“It’s new.”
I looked up at the bird flying in the direction Rue was pointing. The bird was flapping its wings diligently, heading somewhere. Rue seemed fascinated, staring intently at the bird with elf-like eyes.
“Alive bodies are really fun!”
“I think I’ve heard that more than twenty times.”
“But it is fun!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Isn’t your reply a bit too half-hearted?”
“I’m driving the carriage, you see. And don’t lean out the window. It’s dangerous.”
If I hit a bump, she could get seriously hurt. Only then did Rue step back into the carriage.
It felt like one more person to take care of. Having to play the babysitter again is quite a hassle.
Not that I mind it.
By the way, how long do I have to drive the carriage?
I extended one finger, just to pass the time. Then I gradually opened the blessing I had just received.
“I really don’t know how to make use of this.”
I absentmindedly watched the wind spirit that resembled a dandelion seed hovering at my fingertips.
It wasn’t strong enough to communicate, but it was pretty cute as it followed my finger like a puppy.
Spirit Magic. How do I learn it?
Getting the World Tree’s blessing to see spirits is great, but I had no real way to learn Spirit Magic itself.
Asking Sandulbaram to teach me is no good either; she’d only learned it after going to Yggdrasil during vacation. So she wouldn’t make a suitable teacher.
Besides, finding a spirit magician among humans is even rarer than finding a witch, and usually, they live alone in the wild, making it hard to seek help.
Moreover… most spirit magicians aren’t exactly sane.
Having a high affinity for spirits means they’re close to feral in nature, living by instinct and exhibiting irrational thinking.
Put positively, they’re innocent; negatively, it feels like ADHD.
Fortunately, that won’t be my fate. While my affinity for spirits has increased, I wasn’t naturally gifted in that area, and my mind is sturdy enough to withstand corruption.
“I’ll need to think about how to use this.”
The fire spirit has the power of the superior Phoenix, the earth spirit comes with crafting skills, water is somewhat useful but would struggle in combat due to its low-tier firepower, and the wind spirit… um. A substitute for a fan?
Pretty ambiguous.
Still, I have no reason to be disappointed since the blessing from the World Tree doesn’t limit me to just handling spirits.
Unless you’re exceptionally unlucky, having two blessings is a big deal. It’s an achievement even the original protagonist couldn’t get.
In the source material, you could only receive one blessing due to the system.
“If this goes on, I might end up collecting all the blessings.”
If that happens, I could become something close to a god.
With such useless thoughts, I gazed at the distant cityscape.
It’s been half a month.
——————–
“Viewing the academy from a person’s perspective is different!”
“I don’t know if just the perspective makes such a big difference.”
To my remark, Rue snorted and exclaimed excitedly.
“It’s completely different! When reading, it felt like entering a building made by giants, but now it feels like a building where people live!”
“I see.”
“Isn’t your response a bit lacking in sincerity?”
“Don’t lean in so close.”
I pushed Rue’s head away with my whole body. Maybe it was because she was a book, or maybe because she’d spent a year hanging off my waist, but she had no concept of personal space.
If the kids saw this, they’d be mortified, so I quickly tried to pull away…
“Yo… han?”
Chills ran down my spine. I slowly turned my head to see Karina looking at me with a cold expression. She glanced at Rue, who was practically nestled in my arms, then turned her gaze back to me.
Renny was glaring at me from behind.
I was about to be misunderstood again.
Then it happened.
“Karina! Karina! It’s me!”
“Huh?”
“It’s me, Rue!”
“Really? Rue?”
“What? Rue? That creepy book?”
“I’m not creepy!”
I felt Karina and Renny’s surprised eyes shift to my waist. I shrugged, taking advantage of Rue creating the opportunity.
“Yeah. It’s Rue.”
“Rue… Why did you become a human, or rather, an elf?”
“I received the body of a death row inmate as compensation. As you can see… Rue has taken over that body.”
“I see…”
I closed the stable door and quietly approached Karina, pulling her into an embrace. It was both an attempt to smooth things over and a way to express my happiness at seeing her again.
“I missed you, Karina.”
“… Me too.”
We held that embrace for a long time, until Renny cleared her throat awkwardly.
“Um, Karina, I’m here too…”
“Ahaha, I’m sorry, Renny.”
“It’s fine. It looks nice.”
“Contractor! Let’s hurry inside! I want to tour Yeomyeong-gwan too!”
“Go in by yourself.”
“If I go in alone, no one will recognize me!”
Well, Sif had already gone in ahead…
“Karina, then let’s go back.”
“Okay.”
We stood side by side and headed towards Yeomyeong-gwan. The Yeomyeong-gwan, where I returned after a long while, hadn’t changed much except for a few decoration changes.
I’d only been away for a month and a half, so what could have possibly changed?
“Karina, what is everyone doing?”
“Millia went out to form a study group with her friends… Viola is in the research facility, and Elisa is probably in the library.”
“Everyone’s busy.”
“It’s about that time, as the first half of the second year is almost over.”
“Karina, are you okay?”
“I’m quite relaxed since I’m still a saint…”
True, having the position of a saint means all those things are taken care of at once, and their tasks are usually well-defined.
As long as I perform my duties well, there’s no need to compete for a good assignment like ordinary theology students. Yet, it’s impressive that Karina maintains top-tier grades…
“You have your own work, so in that sense, it’s a perk.”
Doing a task that only one person can do in this continent is significant. Its importance is beyond words. A psychological support for all humans living on the continent, that’s what a saint is.
“Hmm, that’s true.”
We walked down the corridor toward my room. I wanted to take a shower. A long journey is just enough to cover me in dust.
The walk to my room wasn’t long, so I found myself standing in front of my door before I could even say ten words.
“I’ll be back after washing up.”
“… Can I wait here, or in the lounge?”
“The lounge, huh? Got it.”
I thought about having some cozy time after washing up.
I opened the door and stepped into my long-awaited sanctuary.
—————
“You know Sif.”
“Sure, I do.”
“I… haven’t even said anything yet.”
“I feel like I’d understand even without hearing it. If it’s Sif, then… I’ll allow it.”
“How amazing! You can know without words?”
“The feelings of a person you like can be understood without words.”
“Thanks.”
“Not at all. I can understand why you’d fall for someone…”
Karina lowered her voice gradually, closing her mouth while looking up at me. Her pink and golden odd eyes met mine. Our distance slowly closed.
Her lips are soft.
We only parted when Renny awkwardly cleared her throat.
“Um… I’m here too…?”
I guess being single from birth makes Renny blush and stare at random spots. She really has less resilience than I thought.
It’s already been several months since I’ve seen such a scene, yet she’s still so shy.
“Hehe, Renny, you’re adorable.”
“Uh, th-th-that…”
Karina’s bright, lovely laughter tickled the air in the lounge.
Just hearing it uplifts my spirits. I quietly wrapped my arms around her waist, waiting for her to stop laughing. It took quite some time before she finally stopped.
After her laughter faded, Karina looked at me with a lovely gaze and opened her mouth.
“I’m really glad that you’re back, Johann.”
“I’m so glad too. The elf village was fascinating, but it was tough to adapt.”
“Is that so? I’d love to hear about it, the elf village and such—”
“I won’t let you get bored. But first… let’s acknowledge the thieving cat eavesdropping behind the door.”
“Meow?!”
“Come in, Sif.”
“Ah…”
With a creaking sound, the door opened, and Sif appeared, looking timidly at Karina.
Karina tapped the sofa with her hand.
“Sif, it’s okay. Come sit over here.”
“Um, th-thanks?”
“Hehe. Let’s get along well.”
Karina’s smile brightened the room.
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