episode_0040

Spirit King.

There aren’t many words needed to describe them.

No, on the contrary, the explanation could have ended with one word.

‘god.’

They are gods who exist in the material world.

It is the basis of nature that makes up the material world.

In other words, it is the personality of this planet where creatures live.

That’s why Deltan expressed his doubts.

‘What on earth is that woman?’

What on earth is Agnes Levadein that they manage directly?

Why did they hastily threaten the spirit contract?

The reason could not be explained simply by saying that the spirit sensitivity was high.

There was an indescribable gap between the Spirit King’s favor towards her and his control of her contracts.

After glaring at Agnes and thinking for a while, Deltan soon remembered one reason.

‘… ‘Mahua?’

Demonic Extrias.

It might have something to do with spirits.

No, if you change your thinking in that direction, it was like that.

Isn’t it possible that the cause of Agnes’ abnormal spirit sensitivity is demon fire?

If you think about it, is there even a single ordinary ingredient in the Eternal Contract?

What we have obtained so far are the organs of the highest-ranking devils who can even take on the throne of kings, and the eyeballs of the demonic beast that ruled the seawater at the bottom of the deep sea.

If we approach it from that perspective, it is not a leap forward even if ‘No.9 Demonic Extrias’ is related to the Spirit King.

“Deltain. What should I do now?”

Agnes asked at that moment.

Deltan’s expression became more serious.

‘It’s all still just a hypothesis.’

I needed more clues.

Deltan expanded his thinking and thought about the attitude he should take in the current situation.

“Ask him if he can ask you a few questions.”

Agnes’ head turned.

Eventually, she pursed her lips and nodded.

“Beed.”

The Delta Inn was hit by an accident.

*

Agnes looked at the spirit in front of her.

‘It looks really interesting.’

As the Deltans said, the spirit had no fixed shape. It was just a bunch of points of light, like clay, wriggling around.

It was a red rose color, just like this garden.

As soon as the thought came to mind, the spirit answered.

[that’s right. I was born in this garden.]

Agnes’ fingertips twitched.

“Can you read thoughts?”

[huh.]

“Don’t do it. Because I feel bad.”

The halo of light shrank.

[…] sorry.]

It looked somewhat glum.

Agnes laughed.

‘You’re quieter than I thought.’

It’s quite different from what I heard from Delta people.

While continuing those thoughts, Deltan spoke.

“Ask why I shouldn’t sign a contract with you.”

[I don’t know.]

“They say they don’t know.”

“Why don’t you know?”

[I just told you not to do it. They said I had to wait.]

“They say I have to wait. They say they don’t know any more than that.”

When Agnes said that and looked at the Deltan, his face frowned.

It was an expression that was often seen in situations that one did not like.

“Then to another question. Ask the spirit if he knows about magic.”

[I don’t know. But you smell like flowers. It’s very fragrant.]

“I don’t know about demon flowers, but I smell like flowers. They say it’s very fragrant.”

“Ask me what I know.”

[I hate him.]

The spirit puffed up its body as if it was distressed.

Agnes blinked, then burst into laughter.

“I want to kill you.”

“Say it’s a challenge.”

As Deltan said that, he ruffled his hair.

The impression became increasingly darker, and it seemed like he might get angry if something happened.

The next voice was calm.

“… Ask where the Spirit King is.”

Whether it was curiosity about new discoveries or a desire to compete in a situation that did not go as planned, Deltan’s questions were in a different form from before.

The spirit answered.

[It’s everywhere. But it’s nowhere to be found.]

“They say it’s everywhere and nowhere.”

“Do you think I don’t know that? I am asking where the Spirit King can appear.”

When Deltan clicked his tongue and spoke, the spirit trembled and responded.

[Where you will go in the future.]

“Where we are going next.”

Deltan’s head lifted up.

“Snow Mountain?”

[huh.]

“That’s right.”

A strange look appeared in Deltan’s eyes. The moment he touched his lips to see if something else came to mind, the spirit bounced its body in displeasure and spoke.

[I hate him. Please don’t tell me any more.]

“I don’t want to say more because I hate you.”

Deltan’s face became blank.

Agnes burst into laughter, shaking her shoulders at that expression.

Deltan asked, his forehead tensed.

“Do you think this situation is funny?”

“Your expression is so cute.”

“I’m not in the mood to play around.”

Deltan’s eyes were bloodshot.

Agnes left it behind and looked at the spirit.

“Then are you going?”

[Yes, it’s okay because I talked to you.]

Agnes’ head tilted.

“With me?”

[I wanted to keep talking. There was something I wanted to ask.]

The spirit created a hesitating shape.

It was just a wave of light, but Agnes could naturally feel it.

‘Oh, did you say you were born here?’

Agnes belatedly remembered that fact and asked, thinking that this spirit might have been seeing her for quite some time.

“What is it?”

and.

[Is Leah no more?]

My body suddenly trembled.

Meanwhile, the spirit continued speaking.

[I can’t see Leah. I always tended to roses while humming in this spot, but at some point I couldn’t see them anymore. The person who takes care of the roses has changed. I miss Leah. It was nice to fall asleep while listening to Leah’s humming song.]

The spirit’s expression was sullen.

It resembled a child somewhere looking for his parents.

No, you won’t be wrong.

This rose garden was built for Agnes’ mother, who was the wife of Duke Levadeine.

[huh? Where is Leah?]

Agnes felt the door to her memories that had been closed open at those words.

I encountered a scene playing in my mind in the form of a passing thought.

A woman standing in the middle of a fresh rose garden, her smile, and her warm voice.

-Agnes.

Agnes was once again crushed.

Agnes’ answer was quick.

So much so that it feels like it hasn’t even been thought through.

“Dead.”

What came to mind was a smile.

However, there was no emotion contained within it.

It was just empty and transparent.

“My mother passed away. 10 years ago.”

The spirit flinched.

[…] Then you can’t see it?]

“I can’t see it. Forever.”

The spirit’s form shook.

Agnes still looked at the spirit with empty eyes.

[There isn’t one… .]

“You didn’t know until 10 years had passed?”

[I don’t know the time, so I can’t recognize it. It has no meaning to us.]

“You fools.”

The spirit looked at Agnes.

It was only then that I realized something.

Her height, which had always been around Leah’s height, had grown significantly.

[…] I see. Leah is no more.]

“Sad?”

[Yes, I think so.]

“The answer is ambiguous.”

[I don’t know. Because I never learned it. but… .]

The spirit looked at itself.

We contrasted the human definition of sadness with our current emotions.

Only then did he say it.

[…] I’ll keep thinking about Leah. Forever because I don’t know time. And every time, it will tingle like this. I think this is sadness.]

The spirit blamed himself.

It was because I thought I had already done something that I had heard from another spirit that I should never do.

‘I am an idiot.’

The life of a spirit is infinite.

As long as nature, which serves as an example, does not fade, it is eternal and constant.

That’s also why you shouldn’t love.

-We can’t let go of the love we once had. So don’t love something that will disappear. The sweet moment will be short, and the longing will be so long that it cannot be compared to the moment.

Even though I listened to the advice, I already fell in love.

The spirit closed its eyes to the reality that it would miss Leah’s hum for an infinite amount of time.

[I’m going to sleep.]

After saying that, he disappeared.

*

The night the spirit contract failed.

Deltan sat in his office, contemplating with a serious expression.

‘Mahwa has a relationship with spirits.’

It was a fact that gave me much to think about.

Anyway, isn’t there a clue to the extraction of demonic flowers that has been so slow?

In addition, there are circumstances that suggest that the spirit of the snowy mountain may be related to demon fire.

The Deltans did not dismiss the reason why the rose garden spirit pointed to the snowy mountain as a coincidence.

As this was an order given directly from the Spirit King, it was clear that clues about demonization would be obtained in the process of obtaining ‘No. 3 Token of Endless Winter’.

No, it’s not just like that.

Under certain conditions, they can take physical form and appear in front of those who are not sensitive to it.

Deltan had something he wanted to ask the Spirit King.

‘They might know what the Eternal Contract is.’

In other words, the Spirit King is a god.

They are beings involved in the providence of this world.

They would certainly know what this quest pointed to.

Now the options have been unified into one.

‘We must take that woman to the snowy mountain. No matter what happens.’

Deltan jumped up.

“Gerhart!”

“Yes.”

“Change cars. I’m going to start tuning now, so get ready!”

The problem now is Agnes’s disastrous mental defense ability.

In other words, the devil is the problem.

It is also impossible to form a mental barrier through a spirit contract.

In that case, all you have to do is defeat the devil in another way.

‘Creating a portable St. Hall.’

It may be annoying, but the above problem could be solved by making the car itself a saint hall.

*

Time passed and the day of departure arrived.

Deltain looked at the car that had just finished tuning in time for the deadline.

It was a large black sedan.

The angular body and large wheels were rough, but the silver silhouette covering them was elegant.

In terms of design, it was a pretty great sedan.

Deltan let out a long sigh as he looked at the completed sedan, then suddenly threw the engraving machine he was holding into a corner.

‘complete.’

The magic itself was not difficult as it had been produced on an institutional scale previously.

By simplifying it as much as possible, leaving only the essential functions, the performance deteriorated, but Deltain was not greedy.

‘If you add anything here, fuel efficiency will decrease.’

The more engravings you add, the more mana the vehicle will consume, and the vehicle’s speed will decrease.

As it was a journey to the northern tip of the continent, such mana consumption was not desirable.

‘now… .’

I need to take a quick shower and change my clothes.

Then, all you have to do is pick up Agnes Levadein and leave the island.

Deltan roughly estimated the time with the watch on his wrist and called Gerhart.

“Gerhart!”

“Yes.”

“What about the hunting dogs?”

“Preparations are complete. First, you will be waiting at the north gate of the island.”

“Good. I’m going to wash up and come out, so put your luggage in the car. And even a sandwich.”

As he was about to leave after saying that, Deltan stopped and looked at his watch again.

The time is now 4pm.

Since it was quite far from meal time, Agnes must have also been starving.

Deltan thought briefly and then said this to Gerhart.

“… No, two sandwiches. One is with lots of pickles.”

He said and left the garage.

Deltan remembered Agnes eating a sandwich full of pickles.