episode_0043

Arriving at the front gate of Dustin’s mansion, I told Renee that this place was very similar to Julian’s mansion in real life.

“So this ruin that looks like a ghost could jump out at any moment is the mansion of that brown-haired brother?”

“Why are you using ghosts as a metaphor again!?”

“You are a coward compared to your abilities, sister. Do you have many sins in your daily life? I don’t know why you are so afraid of a being that is dead and powerless.”

Was it because I saw the majesty of the meteor falling from the sky a little while ago? I answered Rene, who was showing some cautiousness while still speaking.

“The external structure looks similar, but… I think we need to check out what the inside is like now.”

“Then let’s go in. Even while we’re doing this, the time limit we’ve been given will be running out.”

He nodded at the fact that he had to ask Aria to confirm it so as not to get the entire Academy City involved.

“I guess so, Aria. Can you possibly cast a detection spell here too?”

“It’s not impossible… but it might not be exact since it’s a different world. However, one thing is certain is that the person is in the mansion.”

“That fact is enough. Then…let’s go in.”

I opened the front door of the old Dustin mansion without hesitation, as if it had been hit directly by the flow of time.

Squeak-!!

To prepare for any possible danger, I entered first, followed by Aria and Rene.

As soon as the power came on, the door we had come through closed by itself, and I stopped for a moment to look around cautiously.

“Not only the appearance, but even the lobby of the mansion looks the same.”

“Yeah, but the atmosphere feels a bit creepy compared to when I first visited.”

“It could be that there are simply no people… but that can’t be true.”

Clank- Clank-

Across the hallway from the first floor lobby.

In the darkness, where the light from the candles installed throughout the lobby could not reach, the sound of someone’s footsteps came closer and closer.

“That guy… .”

With my superhuman eyesight, like that of a night-seeing beast, I was able to see through the darkness and recognize my opponent.

A knight armed with crimson armor. A red feather hung from the helmet covering his face, fluttering back and forth.

I know that look.

Well, among all the contract spirits that Julian had drawn with great care, this one was the one he was particularly proud of.

“Ignis, the High Spirit of Fire.”

Was it a response to his name, or was it trying to keep an appropriate distance?

Ignis, who had come out to the bottom of the candlestick so that his figure could be clearly distinguished, stopped in his tracks.

“… … .”

-… … .

Although this was our first time meeting like this, I could say that we have known each other for quite some time.

Because we heard stories about each other occasionally through my friend and his contractor.

So I had no choice but to ask.

“Ignis, where is your contractor?”

[intruder.]

“That title is enough. Are you planning on saying the same thing as the lower-level spirits outside?”

[invasion….]

“Stop it. How long will the high spirit who first made a contract with Julian, and the knight he is most proud of, continue to act so foolishly?”

Hearing those words, Ignis stopped what he was about to say and looked at me quietly.

[Eugene Eberhart.]

Then he called my name softly over the helmet.

[Did you come all this way to find a contractor?]

“Yeah.”

[Then it’s too late. It’s already too late.]

“… What on earth is late? Is something wrong with Julian?”

He frowned at the ominous remark and demanded an explanation.

[dark.]

“Darkness…?”

[The dark spirit that had been tenaciously clinging to the contractor finally succeeded in devouring the contractor.]

A dark spirit… I had never heard anything about such a being from Julian.

“Can you spare a moment? Our church is also aware of the dark spirits that have been corrupted by the influence of the demon.”

Rene, who had been quietly listening to the conversation from behind, suddenly interrupts.

“However, it is written in the Bible that the spirit of darkness was banished by the Supreme Goddess and will never set foot on this world again.”

Are you saying that the Bible is wrong?

[Yes, you arrogant religious sect that boasts that you know all the principles of the world is wrong.]

“… Oh my? You really are good at saying blasphemous things?”

[For us spirits, the goddess you worship and the demon you fear are no different.]

We are simply guests who have been earnestly invited to visit them.

[However, he hates the demon god who created the dark spirit, a strange being that even affects the surrounding spirits, more than the goddess.]

As he said, Rene seemed surprisingly quiet and backed down, perhaps realizing that his values did not apply to him, a resident of another dimension.

[But now, the most hateful being is…]

Ignis’s gaze, hidden behind his helmet, turned towards me.

[It is none other than you. Eugene Everhart.]

I could hear the deep resentment in his voice.

[The reason the contractor’s heart, who would normally have been able to withstand the temptation of darkness, was broken was because of the negative emotions that came from the fact that you revealed his true identity.]

“That’s my fault? I don’t blame him for that reason.”

[That is just your personal opinion. Do you think that the anxiety that has built up from deceiving your close friend for a long time would be enough to figure that out?]

but….

[I also have a responsibility for not being able to support the contractor’s heart and protect him from the darkness, so I will leave it at that.]

“… Okay, back to the topic, where is that Julian? If possible, I would appreciate it if you could guide me there.”

[Impossible.]

Ignis firmly shook his head and refused my request.

The moment when the thought began to sprout that he might be rejecting me because he didn’t like me.

[Don’t misunderstand. I simply refused because it was truly impossible.]

“What are you talking about?”

[This mansion you are currently in is an independent space created by the contractor and the dark spirits, while belonging to the spirit world.]

And all the spirits of the contractors who were forcibly bound to this space ended up being contaminated by darkness.

The moment I heard Ignis’ words, the lower spirits outside the mansion that had never seemed normal came to mind.

“Wait, what about you? You’re not attacking me out of the blue, and you’re communicating normally.”

[I too was tainted by darkness. However, thanks to my attribute called ‘fire’, I was able to avoid being completely dominated like the others.]

As it is commonly said, fire is the light that illuminates the darkness.

“But what about the other guys… Are you talking about the other high spirit guys who made a contract with Julian?”

[okay.]

If that were true, things would definitely get complicated, so my head started spinning as I was already short on time.

I have never actually had a one-on-one experience with a higher spirit… .

‘I don’t think it will work. But….’

When Julian thought about how he had dealt with them, it was also clear that they were definitely not beings that could be dealt with easily.

The fact that this place is the spirit world, which is like their home ground, could also be a variable.

[Instead of being of any help, I’ll at least let you know where the current contractor is.]

“… Really? Yeah, that’ll be enough for now.”

[Dustin’s mansion’s dungeon.]

Aria’s shoulders trembled when she heard those words, but I focused more on Ignis’s words.

[There is a hidden passage that leads even deeper underground. The contractor is staying in a secret room at the end of the passage.]

“There are other higher spirits guarding the path leading there.”

[That’s right. If you really want to find a contractor, you’d better hurry.]

“Is that because the Spirit Gate is reaching its limit?”

[No, the problems of your world are fine. The reason I am talking about the rush is… because the contractor may no longer be the contractor.]

I tried to question that meaningful warning, but Ignis stepped aside and made way as if he could no longer speak.

In the end, I respected his wishes and passed Ignis with Aria and Rene. I had heard all the information I needed to hear.

Just then, as I was about to enter the dark passage, leaving behind Ignis, the superior spirit of fire in the form of a knight.

[Hey, Eugene Eberhart.]

The moment I stopped in my tracks and looked back at the sound of someone calling me again.

[Take it.]

Ignis threw me the longsword, sheathed and medallion on his belt.

[It is not the greatsword you used in the past, but it is a sword made from the spirit’s energy. It will be helpful when needed.]

As he said, he looked back and forth between the longsword and Ignis, which had mysterious power flowing through them.

[I know. You are more important to the contractor than anyone else, more than anything else. So you too, risk your pride.]

Make sure to save him.

“I thought so from the beginning.”

Even if I’m asked to do it, nothing will change.