Chapter: 759
The flower field that appeared near the Academy became a hot spot, attracting not just students and staff but also nobles who came to witness its beauty.
Of course, the Academy isn’t open to outsiders unless it’s for events like the club fair, but the flower field was located outside the Academy grounds. No matter how vast the Academy is, a gigantic flower field sprouting within its premises would cause some logistical nightmares.
Still, it was undeniably a part of the Academy’s charm. Colorful flowers blanketed the meadow, with spirits flitting above them, quickly becoming a symbol of the Academy.
– Carl. Could you come to the castle for a moment?
“Sure, what’s up?”
– Well, spirits have started appearing at the castle.
“…Huh?”
As if it were a consequence of this symbol, a bizarre phenomenon occurred at Tailglehen County.
Spirits were reportedly manifesting at the castle.
‘What in the world?’
I was left speechless at this shocking news.
It’s understandable for spirits to appear in the flower field created by Konstantina. That flower field is infused with her power, much like a World Tree, so it’s no surprise it assumed a similar role.
But for a mere portion of that flower field—fewer than twenty flowers—to serve as a habitat for spirits? Is that even possible?
‘Am I the only one bringing these gifts?’
A chill ran down my spine. It wasn’t just me; the Emperor, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Territory, and the Principal also took flowers. What if spirits began appearing at their homes or their mothers’ graves? What if spirits started roaming all around the Empire?
‘Is there really no way to stop that?’
Thinking it over, it’s not like there’d be a problem with it. Spirits are immortal beings, so they can’t be harmed by humans, and even if the flowers were burned, they could just run away to the World Tree.
I was actually more worried about the people who’d suddenly have to cohabit with the spirits. Lesser spirits, with their flickering lights, might light up the mansion at night like fireflies. It’s not a harsh light, but it could be pretty annoying when trying to sleep.
And what about those awkward encounters in the bathroom? That’s already the norm for me and the staff at the mansion.
“I’ll be there shortly.”
I nodded as I spotted a lower spirit passing by.
First, I needed to assess how many spirits had appeared at the castle and which grade of spirits they were.
If hundreds of lesser spirits showed up, my parents and the staff might not get any sleep for a while.
As soon as I arrived at the castle, I noticed Teresa, who was energetically chasing the spirits.
“Sparkly! Worth it!”
“Slow down! You’re going to trip!”
Teresa was actually chasing the spirits while Peace, our small blue tiger, was trying to keep up with her.
Our Peace, though really cute, was only the size of a cub. So when Teresa took off running, Peace struggled behind her. He really needed to grow so life would be a little easier for him.
“Hmm? Brother?”
“Master?”
“Yep. I’m here.”
Teresa, who had been running excitedly, spotted me and rushed over with a big grin.
“Brother! Let me hug you!”
Choosing to abandon her spirit games for a hug with her brother was just too adorable, so I gladly scooped her up.
“Let me hug Peace too!”
In the middle of it all, Teresa didn’t forget about Peace, showing her great sense.
Of course, as soon as Peace realized he was about to be picked up, he tried to slip away, but what could be done? If she wanted to hug him, that was just fine by me.
“Master, I prefer to walk on my own. Can’t I stay on the ground?”
“Nope!”
“That’s a no, huh?”
“What a sad thing…”
Peace sighed as he surrendered and nestled into my arms.
Then, as Peace snuggled up next to me, Teresa began poking and squeezing him. Honestly, the way she was treating him made it seem like she was trying to flatten him out.
“Is it nice to be hugged?”
“Yeah, it feels good…”
“Hehe, I like it too!”
At Teresa’s words, Peace drooped his ears and tail.
But given that he’d just been walking on four legs until a moment ago, he didn’t seem too worse off than while playing in the mansion. Inside the mansion, he usually sprawled on the floor for longer stretches.
It was definitely the right choice to regularly give the spirits vacations. They should always be thankful for their master’s kindness.
“Brother! Let’s go chase the sparkly ones!”
“Those guys?”
“Yep!”
I couldn’t help but smile slightly as I watched Teresa point at the spirits.
“You need to meet Mom first.”
“Aww…”
“If we meet Mom, we can all play together!”
“Yay! That sounds great!”
Seeing Teresa’s transformation from disappointment to joy made my smile wider.
Although Teresa was practically the same age as my kids, she had a different kind of cuteness. I can’t quite explain it…
‘Is it because she’s my little sister?’
Of course, the bond between brother and sister is lighter and closer than that of parent and child.
“Teresa.”
“Yeah?”
“How do you feel about these sparkly ones? Are they good?”
“Yep!”
Teresa nodded vigorously in response to my question.
Well, from her perspective, she probably saw them as new friends to play with. It seems I was asking the wrong person for thoughts on it.
“They’re sparking a lot! They keep getting bigger!”
“…Bigger?”
That caught my attention for a second.
To kids, even five is a lot, but the way she mentioned “getting bigger” didn’t sound light at all.
“For real. Until about an hour ago, there were just a little over twenty, but now there are more than fifty in the mansion!”
“Whoa.”
Even Peace, who had been busy getting his ears scratched, seemed to back up Teresa’s claim with a nod of agreement.
They’d doubled in number in just an hour. By the time the day ends, who knows how many more there will be? It’s entirely possible we could surpass hundreds.
‘Is this turning into a mansion full of spirits too?’
I was subconsciously reminded of life with the spirits.
Spirits dazzlingly brightening the eyes of the sleeping staff, flitting around like will-o’-the-wisps at night in the corridors, and occupying the bathrooms before anyone else could get in.
Thinking about how my parents and Teresa and the staff would experience those absurd moments filled me with a strange feeling.
*
I looked down at the daisy that Carl had gifted me.
This was my first flower gift from Carl. I could count on one hand how many flower gifts I’ve gotten from Billy.
‘Is there any other flower as beautiful as this in the world?’
For guys who are usually grumpy and not great at expressing feelings, preparing flowers as gifts requires a lot of care and courage. I know this well, being a father’s daughter, a husband’s wife, and a mother of two boys. There’s a vast difference between a simple gift and a flower gift.
Yet Carl gave me these beautiful flowers. And not just any ordinary flower, but a sacred flower crafted by a deity.
‘What treasure can compare to this?’
A smile crept onto my face unknowingly as I gently fiddled with the daisy placed carefully in the vase.
This flower was more precious than any treasure. It meant more than the symbols of nobility or dazzling jewels, or even ornate decorations brimming with a craftsman’s passion. The beauty of the flower Carl had given me was unparalleled.
– I’m glad you liked it.
“Oh, yes.”
However, I hadn’t expected this gift to attract unexpected visitors.
A yellow snake floated in the air, exuding a strangely cozy aura.
It was the Earth Spirit King whom I had encountered during my visit to the Elf Residential Area.
– Since it’s a flower made with care by Konstantina, it would withstand being tossed in the desert, but do take good care of it. Thanks to that flower, I can come to places other than the World Tree.
The Earth Spirit King glided through the air like it was swimming, landing near the vase and curling up to look at me.
– While the World Tree is nice, seeing the same place too often can get dull. Visiting different places is important for relaxation, right?
“Absolutely. No matter how cozy a place is, you can’t stay there for your entire life.”
– Hmm. It’s great that someone who raised a benefactor thinks like that.
The Earth Spirit King wagged its tail, seemingly pleased with my answer.
‘What the heck’s going on here?’
I kept my face smiling as my head spun with confusion.
Earlier this morning, the daisy had started radiating light, and soon after, little spirits began appearing around it, as if they were funneling in through the flower.
The number of spirits swelled to dozens in no time, and just moments ago, even the Earth Spirit King had appeared. This daisy could serve as a portal not only for smaller spirits but also for kings.
‘It’s probably not limited to just earth spirits.’
There are still the Fire, Water, and Wind Spirit Kings remaining.
It’s entirely possible that all four spirit kings could come through. While there’s no reason for them not to come, the fact that deities are gathering at the castle of a mere noble is… quite the strange situation, isn’t it?
– Knock knock.
“Mother, I’m here.”
As I pondered these questions, a knock sounded, followed by Carl’s voice.
“Oh, come in.”
– Oh, my! The benefactor is here too?
As soon as I answered, the Earth Spirit King who had been yawning floated toward the door.
– Benefactor! What a pleasant surprise to see you here!
“Wow! A snake! Just like the one from before!”
As the door swung open, Carl—well, specifically, Teresa who was in his arms—suddenly seized the Earth Spirit King.
Our Teresa sure has gotten faster over the past few days.
*
Teresa now had a grip on the squirming Earth Spirit King, who was not a lowly spirit but a spirit king. I let out a sigh at the ridiculous fact.
‘Does this even make sense?’
I could understand how the Fire Spirit King appearing in the flower field made sense, but a few flowers calling over an actual spirit king? I could deal with lesser spirits, but a king is crossing the line.
‘What the heck is going on here?’
I glanced at the vase beside my mother.
I don’t know for sure, but this abnormally seems isolated to our castle. If the spirit kings had emerged from the flowers brought by the Emperor or the two Ministers or the Principal, we would have surely heard about it already. The Emperor would have summoned them way before now.
If I’m right, that’s both a relief and a conundrum. I’m relieved that spirits haven’t started popping up all over the place, but…
‘Knowing why that flower is reacting is essential.’
I have to figure out why that specific flower is acting as a gateway for spirits beyond just the flower field—it’s going to be a puzzling problem.
– Ugh, benefactor! Can you let me out…!
“Oh, yes.”
I assured the Earth Spirit King and gently patted Teresa’s hand.
Just like in the World Tree, the spirits were swimming around Teresa in my castle.
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