Chapter: 763
After the green creature—a spirit—let out a pathetic cry while stuck under Mine, both I and Humility hurried over to help.
“Mine! Get off! You can’t just sit on someone like that!”
“Quick, get out of there before it bites you!”
I was a bit taken aback by Humility’s shout. Honestly, isn’t Mine, the green creature—no, the mid-tier spirit—smaller than it should be? It was even said that mid-tier spirits were bothering him off my sight. I couldn’t just ignore that.
However, maybe because Humility had experience being tormented by Mine just like a mid-tier spirit; it showed some mercy towards Mine. This exceeded the kindness of a former evil god.
As a master, it pleased me, but it was also unfortunate. It’s a bit sad when solidarity is formed under such circumstances.
– Human! Human! Help me!
‘What the heck?’
Finally escaping Mine, the mid-tier spirit flew toward me and trembled on my shoulder.
Strange. I was told that mid-tier spirits were generally cautious and avoided humans.
“It’s just that the fear of that thug outweighs its wariness of humans. Plus, aren’t you a benefactor to the spirits? It believes you will help if it asks.”
“Is that so?”
Again, a sigh escaped me at the unfortunate reasoning. It wasn’t that it had opened its heart from getting accustomed to me; it merely opened up to survive.
– I trust you, human! You smell of the World Tree! You smell like Constantina! And also like elves!
“Could you at least say it smells good instead of just smelling?”
After three continuous mentions of ‘smell’, the spirit subtly sniffed at my sleeve.
Luckily, it didn’t smell bad.
“…But how did you get caught by Mine when you could fly?”
– Rabbit! I jumped into the sky and got caught while passing by!
‘Wow.’
I couldn’t help but admire Mine’s incredible leap. This mansion was once the residence of the prominent Marquis family, so it has a pretty high ceiling. If the spirit were cautious, it should have been flying up near the ceiling, yet it got caught?
‘How is this creature even raised?’
My awe for the situation grew. Just how diligently had they cared for it, fed it, and tucked it in, to produce such an extraordinary being?
Suddenly, I wondered if the direct line of Livnoman had remained, perhaps they could have produced a legendary minister in Imperial history.
‘Which would have been better?’
Direct line collapsing and creating a marvel like the current situation, or it remaining intact and becoming a minister?
For the Empire and the continent, which future would have been better? Rationally, the former seemed obvious, but thinking about that high-level rabbit and Titi, I couldn’t completely dismiss the latter.
– Kyu-ing.
Mine, noticing my gaze, tilted its head and then disappeared down the hallway as if nothing happened.
If I leave that be, I’m sure there will be more victims. Should I catch it…?
Fortunately, the high-level rabbit’s escapade didn’t last long before it was interrupted.
“Rabbit! So cute!”
“They look just like the ones from the owner’s house!”
“No way! These ones are super white!”
In our mansion, there were Titi, gifted by the situation, the once evil god-like holy waters, and Risianne, known as a demon king—all reigning rulers controlled with just a finger.
– Kyu, kyuuuu-ing.
– Kyu-ing…!
The kids, excited by the new playmates, surrounded and bumbled Mine and Mane like they were laundry.
Despite being fearless since protecting their peanuts, it seemed they knew well that our kids are the ultimate power in this mansion and could do nothing in rebellion.
That was a wise choice. If they had resisted against our kids, many adults would have been upset.
“Dad, Dad.”
“What is it?”
“What are their names?”
At Maria’s question, the other kids turned their eyes toward me.
“Name! Name!”
“What about the white ones? I’m curious!”
“Is it Hayang? Is it?”
Chattering, the kids wouldn’t let go of Mane or Mine.
But somehow, was it just me, or did Mine and Mane’s eyes seem wetter than before? As if they realized this situation was daunting, or they understood the feelings of the holy waters and spirits that used to torment them.
“The big one is Mane, and the little one is Mine.”
“Ma-ne, Mii-ne?”
“Mane! Mine!”
“Our friends! Yay!”
The kids’ touches became more intense.
As they did, the rabbits’ eyes seemed more sorrowful, but going through this initiation ritual was unavoidable for them to stay at our mansion. If they couldn’t bring joy to the kids, they had no right to live.
‘Hmm?’
While I watched the cozy moment between the kids and the rabbits, I sensed something off.
“Katelia?”
“Uwoo~?”
Only Katelia among the kids left the rabbits untouched. She merely sat on the floor and blinked her eyes blankly.
“Why are you like this? Are you scared?”
I carefully held Katelia, gently comforting her.
Everyone else loves them, but she’s the only one not reaching out. I couldn’t help but worry that Katelia had gotten scared by the unfamiliar friends.
“They say the spirits are scary!”
But the response I received was surprisingly unexpected.
“Spirits?”
“Uwoong.”
Then, from her clothes and hair, the mid-tier spirits peeked their heads out.
What an awkward surprise. No matter how much Katelia walked around like a mini World Tree, it was still strange for her to hide under a five-year-old. Where would she find the space to?
“Still, we’ll be living together in the house, how about you give them a try? The spirits won’t be scary once they get used to it.”
“Really?”
“Of course. It’s just because it’s their first time.”
At my words, Katelia perked up her ears and patted the mid-tier spirits clinging to her.
“Dad said so!”
– No way. Those kids are scary.
– But the dark human is our benefactor. He doesn’t lie.
– Are you really okay? Not scared?
“Uwoo…”
Katelia blinked at the spirits’ words and looked back at me.
“If they bully me, I’ll scold them.”
It seems like she wanted me to persuade the spirits for her, so I gave a small safety net. While I couldn’t guarantee that nothing would happen, at least making a promise for retaliation is feasible.
– I’ll trust you. I’ll trust you.
– We live in the same place. If we’re not scared, we should be friends.
It seemed my persuasion led the spirits to muster their courage, and one by one, they detached from Katelia.
But something felt off. Didn’t Humility say these mid-tier spirits could communicate simply? This was more than simple communication—it seemed to be smooth communication!
‘Is it thanks to Katelia?’
A being like the World Tree and yet not; like a contract holder but also not, Katelia. Not one or the other but, positively speaking, holding every characteristic.
Perhaps being around someone like Katelia made these spirits better than most mid-tier spirits.
‘Who knows.’
I’m no spirit expert, so how could I definitively know? I was just making guesses.
*
Watching Mane, Mine, and Katelia play, surrounded by children and spirits, made me smile warmly.
The scene of a little elf girl, spirits, and animals mingling together felt almost like a beautiful fairy tale. I heard that before the World Tree burned, such scenes were common.
However, since the rebirth of the World Tree, there were only our triplets left among the new elf children, making this lovely sight a privilege for just us. What a joyful thought!
– Beatrix, Beatrix.
“What is it?”
While I was lost in gazing at this treasure-like scene, a water spirit in cat form approached me.
– Other spirits say to send their regards. They might come around soon.
“Other spirits?”
– Yeah. The bigger ones. In about a year or two.
That was an unexpected statement, and I took a moment to sort my thoughts.
Compared to pure elves, Katelia boasted phenomenal spirit affinity, one that likely received the kings’ blessings. Thanks to that, Katelia had become like a mini World Tree, turning into a passageway for spirits to come and go.
This path would strengthen as Katelia grew and her faith in Constantina flourished. Initially, it started with low-tier spirits, but it had progressed to withstand mid-tier spirits as well.
Yet now, in a year or two, there would be bigger ones? Those would surely be high-tier spirits, right?
‘High-tier spirits.’
If I remember correctly, the ranking of spirit mages is divided according to the tier of the spirit they’ve contracted.
Mages contracted with low-tier spirits still feel like novices who’re just learning about spirit magic. They’re in the stage of getting used to spirits and grasping the significance of channeling natural attributes.
Mages contracted with mid-tier spirits have officially become one; this is the stage where common perceptions of a mage are established. This is the most popular tier, boasting numbers and diverse powers.
‘High-tier spirits are another tier.’
Mages contracted with high-tier spirits leave their names in elven history. It’s said that if any race outside elves reaches that level, they’re seen as honorary elves.
The stature of high-tier spirits is formidable. Simply contracting one will leave a mark in history and outshine most ordinary magicians. Except for the four spirit kings and a few top-tier spirits, they are essentially the peak of spirit beings.
‘This mansion is gradually becoming a fortress.’
I almost couldn’t help but smile at my own thoughts.
After all, in this mansion, we already have the so-called best sword in the continent, me—the master of the Magic Tower, the holy powers called children, and a being that was once a demon king residing. If we add in high-tier spirits, what would that entail?
I’m sure the defensive strength would surpass even that of the Imperial Palace. I can say that with certainty.
“Please pass on that I will wait joyfully.”
– Got it. I’ll let them know.
Gently stroking the water spirit, it purred like a cat.
– But Beatrix.
“Yeah?”
– The dark human is special. He’s our benefactor, but the good energy doesn’t seem to be that much.
I inadvertently glanced at Carl at those words.
– It doesn’t seem like a human. He’s a human, but the aura we know of humans feels different.
It was too confusing to understand, so I couldn’t come up with a suitable answer.
I could understand why Carl doesn’t have spirit affinity—each person has different talents, after all. I could easily think that he had talent with swords instead of spirits, much like how I have a knack for magic.
But now that I hear the words of the water spirit, it’s puzzling. Being the benefactor of the World Tree, Constantina, and the spirits themselves should earn him some favor, right? Yet, aside from the kings, it seems no spirits take a liking to Carl…
– But still, dark human! The more I look, the more I like it. He’s kind.
“Carl is kind, indeed.”
The small sprouting doubts quickly dissipated under the spirit’s words.
If even the spirits were captivated by Carl’s charms, then I didn’t need to worry too much about it. Perhaps it’s because Carl carries not just the traits of flora and the sun, but also the essence of the heavens that makes him feel different from ordinary humans.
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