“It’s about time they come.”
As Rubia tightened her robe against the chilly night wind, she looked around.
“It has to go well…”
“C’mon, it will be fine…”
I pulled my own robe tight and grabbed Rubia’s hand firmly.
[If there’s anything, I’ll help. I don’t know if they’ll trust me, though.]
“If Cartia were to step in… that would at least be a relief.”
[I need to suck on your divine power for a while, but I’ve got to earn my keep.]
“Hehe… Thank you, but… I can’t really call Cartia a holy place anymore.”
[Holy place, my ass. Just because a bunch of fancy folks crawl in here and chow down, it doesn’t make it a holy place? Oh wait, I guess ‘holy ground’ works, huh? Damn it.]
Rubia flinched at Cartia’s harsh curse.
[And I never asked to be called a holy place. It just happened to be the spot where I killed a dragon, nothing extraordinary.]
“D-dragon…!”
[Yeah, a dragon. Huge and terrifying. But why am I stuck looking like this after slaying such a beast?]
“Ugh… I-I’m sorry.”
I carefully stroked the bracelet that was once Cartia and bowed my head.
Two days ago.
After pulling out Cartia’s great sword, she became our companion.
She had been unable to get out due to an unknown seal, but as soon as I drew the sword, the seal lifted, or something like that.
They say the seal itself was ancient magic used by dragons. The only one left is that ancient dragon, Sirinias.
Hmm… They mentioned it had been sealed for about 600 years, so there might be other dragons, right?
Anyway.
Having broken the seal, Cartia could finally leave the mainland, but another problem popped up.
The moment she stepped outside, she could no longer maintain her great sword form…!
The leading theory is that since I’m a low-ranking wielder, it’s not maintaining its form. They said if I go through trials and awaken my unique abilities, it might be fine.
Still, just in case, I tried various things over the last couple of days.
I secretly activated Carpen’s fragment when Rubia wasn’t looking and even brought Tylant’s fragment that Vishur gave me to try…
But none of that yielded great results.
Yet, according to Cartia, if I’m of low rank, I shouldn’t even be able to hold it, right…?
Well… anyway.
In the end, while sucking on Rubia’s higher divine power, I barely managed to maintain the bracelet’s shape.
I could change it back into a great sword if I wanted to, but swinging it a couple of times completely drains my magical power… So, I’m not keen on using it.
It’s super heavy, too.
[Hurry up and figure this out. My pride can’t take it.]
“Yes… I-I’ll do my best.”
[Don’t just try—do it! You got this, you little brat.]
“…Neigh…”
[Shut your mouth.]
“Yes, ma’am…”
Pretending to stroke the bracelet on my wrist, I gently tapped it a few times.
[But seriously, I just don’t get it. With your lack of magical power and having skipped the trials, how can a kid like you even wield my sword?]
“Our Noah is very special.”
For some reason, Rubia, who looked a bit taller than me, chuckled.
[Hmm… Can’t deny that. Since we’re connected like this… I can sense something mysterious. What the hell is it? A dragon? Or maybe a god?]
A god, please…
“No, no. I’m just a human.”
[You definitely don’t look like a regular human. Damn, I don’t get it. I’ve been off for too long, and my senses are all dulled. Tsk. In my time, there were dwarves, and their elder was so—]
Cartia tends to boast about her past like this.
At first, the unknown stories fascinated me, but…
Hearing the same thing over and over again is getting tiresome.
However… I tried my best to listen, thinking of her as a grandma… Hmm…
[Are you listening? What I’m telling you now is invaluable knowledge. So pay attention.]
“Of course, I’m listening very well…”
I didn’t.
I just nodded vaguely and muttered “Ohhh…” or “Wow…”.
And when it got to Cartia’s Chapter 3 story, about the World Tree…
“Long time no see.”
“Ah…!”
“Oh! Yes. Hello. I’m glad to see you’re doing well despite all the chaos. Serin.”
Sirin suddenly appeared with a pop!
What a relief!
Especially since Chapters 3 and 4 are truly boring…
Nice timing!
“Hmm. Rubia, you seem to be looking quite well too. Did something good happen?”
“Hehe… Well, it wasn’t bad.”
Rubia’s warm hand grasped mine snugly.
“Ah, hello, Sirin.”
“Yes, it’s been a while for you too. But… hmm? Oh my… Noah, looks like you’ve had quite an interesting experience.”
[Hey… Kiddo. Is that person a human?]
Cartia’s voice rang inside my head.
‘Huh? Of course, they’re human…?’
[That’s a human? No way… Hey, you crazy kid. They’re not human, they’re—]
“Hmm, I’d appreciate it if you understood that everyone has their reasons.”
Sirin interjected firmly, cutting off Cartia’s remarks.
But wait.
Does Cartia know Sirin’s true identity?
What’s going on? Tell me too!
[…Can you hear me? Did they hear us talking?]
‘N-no way. You’re not talking directly in my head, right?’
[Exactly. Normally only someone directly connected like you should hear this… But this damn brat genuinely thinks of me as a grandma? Do you really want to die?]
‘…Uh, no, that’s not it.’
H-how did they know?
[No way, don’t even think about it… Tsk, anyway. So… who the heck is that?]
As Sirin watched, amused, at the back-and-forth conversation between me and Cartia, they smiled softly and spoke.
“Cartia, I will explain everything to you later, so please wait a moment.”
“Gah… How did you know…?”
As I awkwardly hugged the bracelet and took a step back…
[…What the hell, that’s terrifying…]
The bracelet trembled with a quiver-quiver.
“…Do you know Cartia?”
Rubia cautiously spoke through a held breath.
But Sirin didn’t clarify and simply smiled mysteriously while raising their arm.
“The day you learn everything is not far off… but we should first tackle our urgent matters.”
Then, they snapped their fingers.
*
“Hey, what… what is this…?”
Following Sirin, I petted the rumble-rumble vibrating bracelet.
‘First-time viewers might be startled. I was too, to be honest.’
[No, that’s not what I’m talking about… Hah, forget it.]
The sound of falling droplets echoed in the cave.
“I apologize; it’s kind of a hassle to teleport us all at once… We’re almost there now, so please understand.”
“This much walking is fine, but… Is the pursuit that intense that we need to hide in a cave?”
“Hmm? No, that’s not it. I thought it’d be romantic to hide out in a cave while being chased, you know? So don’t worry too much.”
At Sirin’s lighthearted remark, Rubia frowned.
My expression mirrored hers a bit.
Romantic…?
While romance is important, still… ugh…
“…Wasn’t the Mage Tower Master unwell?”
“If things go on like this, they probably won’t last six months.”
“But… You’re just shoving a patient in a place like this for the sake of romance?”
Rubia glared at Sirin with a cold expression.
“Hmm… You seem to view my daughter as quite the troublemaker… You’ll see soon enough. Now, let’s head inside.”
As Sirin saw that, they chuckled sadly and slowly opened their mouth.
[Open up.]
KABOOM!
With that, a tremor as if the cave might collapse swept through as the scenery changed once more.
“Then, please greet everyone. My daughter will take care of some personal matters.”
KABOOM!
“…Huh?”
[Holy…!]
Regardless of what the others were seeing, the first thing that popped into my mind was…
A glorious fireplace crackling softly against the wall.
“Hmm…?”
A delightful carpet that looked fluffily inviting and four steaming mugs on a wooden table.
And then…
“Greetings.”
Seated in a rocking chair, knitting away.
“I am Ser. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Ser appeared.
“Ah, hello…”
[Spirit Summoner?]
“Ahem… Hello, Mage Tower Master.”
“Uh-huh… Yes. To encounter a Shaman in a private space is quite the honor. By the way, is that cute girl over there Noah?”
“C-cute is not… but y-yes, that’s Noah…”
With a voice that sounded drowsy just listening to, and a gentle tone.
While I couldn’t see the details of her appearance…
That expression and demeanor were completely identical to the Ser I saw in the game.
“Rumors have it you’re terribly fearsome, yet you don’t seem like that at all. Hehe.”
“Ugh… t-that’s all nonsense…”
“Of course, that makes sense. It’s utterly ridiculous to think such a cute girl could be a devil.”
Ser stopped knitting and rose from her seat.
How can a person rising from a chair look so elegant…?
“I can’t have you standing around forever, so please sit for now.”
“Y-yes, okay…”
I nodded as if hypnotized and walked toward the sofa Ser pointed at.
[Hey. That lady… seems a bit strange.]
‘Huh…? What do you mean by that?’
[Ugh… I mean, it feels off. I can definitely sense the spirit’s energy, but… what the hell is that?]
‘I have no idea…’
Just in case, I focused my senses, trying to grab a clear picture of Ser.
The flow of magic felt a bit different from an ordinary person… but nothing really seemed too odd.
Tick-tock, tick-tock…
“Based on what Sirin mentioned, I heard that the Mage Tower Master is quite unwell, but you seem fine on the outside.”
“Yes. It’s a disease that doesn’t show any obvious symptoms. However, I’m glad it seems I appear well. And please call me Ser instead of the Mage Tower Master.”
Responding to Rubia, Ser’s face broke into a slight smile directed at the table.
“I prepared some drinks on my own initiative, but… Shaman, would you like coffee—”
“Please call me Rubia. I don’t quite like being called Shaman…”
After hearing Rubia’s words, Ser tilted her head slightly.
She then nodded with a peculiar smile.
“Hmm… Hehe. Very well, Rubia. Coffee it is. And Noah, you’ll have strawberry milk. I hope that suits your taste.”
“Strawberry milk…!”
The imagined sweetness of strawberry milk quickened my pace.
As I strolled over to the table, suddenly…
Crackle-crackle, crackle-!
The fireplace’s flames began to die out once more.
“Oh, it’s gone out again. I’ll take care of it. Please, make yourselves comfortable.”
Rapping the sofa’s backrest lightly, Ser walked towards the fireplace.
And then…
[Oh. Do you see that kiddo? She’s summoning a spirit.]
‘What? I can’t see anything, you know?’
[…Sorry about that.]
‘Hehe… Just kidding. Hmm… but something feels off here. Is that… a spirit?’
Even Rubia, drawing closer, watched Ser with great interest.
“R-Rubia… She’s summoning a spirit…!”
“Indeed. It’s rather… dreamy to watch.”
[Wow… I think it’s been nearly 800 years since I witnessed that. Memories are flooding back.]
While the three of us were making a fuss, a small spirit appeared in Ser’s outstretched hand.
“Oh my, it’s so cute! Is it a sparrow?”
[It’s a low-level spirit. But why does it look so scared… ?]
Rubia smiled warmly, and just as Cartia trailed off…
SCREEEEAM!
Ser brutally grasped the spirit and…
BOOM!
Burst it.
“…Huh?”
[…What the hell, seriously?]
Crackle-crackle—
Sparks scattering in the air began to reignite the firewood in the fireplace, and…
HSSSSSSS—
The heat that burst forth burned Ser’s hand.
And then, once more…
A water spirit appeared in her burned hand.
Eeeeeek… Eeeek…
SPLASH!
It burst.
Thick raindrops fell, healing Ser’s burns, scattering into the air.
Ser, who had been staring at her hands for a moment, remarked…
“It seems the firewood was not entirely dry; thus it’s unsuited for kindling. I beg for your understanding.”
With an aristocratic gesture, she glanced toward us.
[Oh my god, she’s definitely off the charts. She’s not your average crazy lady.]
