Chapter Index





    Ch.108The NPC Takes a Leap of Faith. (1)

    With the morning sun rising behind them, the three women returned home.

    -Squeak.

    “Ugh! I’m so sleepy!”

    “Then, would Ragni like to go to bed? I’ll take Jack to the hospital.”

    “Ha! Trying to cut in line? Absolutely not.”

    Ignoring the women arguing over who would take care of the defenseless Jack, Gor headed straight upstairs to the second-floor room.

    It would normally be time for Jack to wake up, though lately he had been showing a tendency to sleep in when tired. Having lived as a caretaker, he was usually an early riser.

    And naturally, his sister Ira was also quite the early bird. Knowing it wouldn’t be good for Ira to see Jack not waking up, Gor moved quickly.

    [?]

    As she climbed the stairs to the second floor, she tilted her head involuntarily at what she saw.

    -Knock knock.

    [What are you doing? I left you in charge of protecting the master and Lady Ira.]

    When Gor wrote with slime liquid toward Miho, who was kneeling with her head bowed in front of the door, she trembled and raised her head.

    What’s this? This woman is clearly afraid of something right now.

    “G-Gor-nim.”

    [What happened? Why are you outside the room?]

    “Well…”

    Seeing this strange hesitation from a woman who had been strictly obedient to her own words, Ira’s words, and especially Jack’s words since submitting to the golem, Gor sensed something was wrong.

    […Master?]

    -SLAM!!

    An action she would never normally take. Without even knocking, Gor flung the door open, causing Miho to press her head to the ground again, trembling.

    But Gor paid no attention to her behavior and checked inside the room.

    “Tee-hee! It tickles!! Ah, Gor!”

    [Lady Ira?]

    On the bed, Ira was awake, grinning broadly while nuzzling something against her face, and beside her, Jack still hadn’t opened his eyes.

    …Oh dear. While it wasn’t bad that Ira was in a good mood first thing in the morning, how should she explain to her that Jack wasn’t waking up?

    Gor felt a slight headache coming on. She had clearly told Miho to hide Jack downstairs if Ira seemed about to wake up.

    Can’t this stupid beastkin woman do even one simple thing right?

    “Ehehe. Gor! Gor! Come here!”

    With her long red hair disheveled from sleep, Ira waved her hand cheerfully, so Gor approached.

    It would be best to quietly take Lady Ira downstairs to wash up and get ready, and meanwhile wait for the other women to take the master to the hospital…

    -Flinch!!

    “Look at this!”

    [Th-this is?!]

    As Gor approached slowly, Ira held out something that had been between her face and neck.

    Seeing what she presented, the golem’s entire body trembled momentarily.

    It wasn’t because she recognized what it was. Rather, it was [Golem]’s instinct as a [Monster] feeling [fear].

    But Gor’s expression remained unchanged, and Ira, not noticing anything unusual, just smiled brightly.

    “Isn’t it cute! A baby bird!!”

    [Ah, y-yes. A baby bird?]

    [-Village Girl Job: Level 81 Name: Ira. Age: 12.]

    [NEW Skill!: Spirit’s Beloved. Supreme Spirit Master]

    [Spirit’s Beloved Effect: All spirits love her. All spirits are devoted to her, so she doesn’t consume MP when commanding spirits.]

    [Supreme Spirit Master: Can contract with spirits as long as MP allows. Contracted spirits perform at 90% capacity at all times.]

    [Supreme Fire Spirit Phoenix(Infant): Level 243]

    “Peep⎯!”

    [C-cu… cu-cute… It’s cute?]

    As Ira held this not-at-all-cute being toward her with an extremely adorable expression, Gor learned for the first time today that status windows can also feel dizzy from such an absurd status change.

    *

    Before the three women entered battle with the Chancellor.

    […So. I’d like you to help Chancellor Naika open her eyes… Hey, are you sleeping?]

    “……”

    In the pure white space, the caretaker Jack, who had promised to grant all requests, was staring blankly with open eyes but giving no response.

    He seemed like a corpse.

    […Wake up.]

    -Thud.

    “Wha?! Ah, I wasn’t sleeping! Teacher! I wasn’t slee…?!!”

    [Nice technique. I ask you to help Naika open her eyes, and you sleep with your eyes open? And who’s ‘teacher’?]

    “Slurp?! Ah, I’m sorry. Teach… O Fragment of the Spirit King, I just dozed off…”

    [I told you to drop the honorifics.]

    “Ah, no! Your Excellency…! No, esteemed Spirit King, how dare I!”

    [Yet you were drooling while sleeping?]

    “……”

    No. Just tell me briefly do this, do that, and be done with it. Why go on with all these unnecessary stories and past tales of people I don’t care about?

    Despite my thoughts, I wiped the drool from my mouth and faced the Spirit King’s fragment respectfully again, who shook his head.

    [How much did you hear? No, how much do you remember?]

    “Ah, well. So. Chancellor Naika received the Spirit King’s blessing when she was 12…”

    […So you slept from the very beginning.]

    …No. Really. Gor had given me such a good massage. I’m confident I could fall asleep instantly if my back was warm right now.

    In that state, suddenly starting a lecture I’m not interested in. Even in history or social studies classes, I could listen well to Goguryeo or Three Kingdoms period stories, but once they moved to Joseon dynasty stuff, I just couldn’t stay awake because it was so boring.

    The TMI about Chancellor Naika was exactly that level of boring.

    “O Fragment of the Spirit King.”

    [If you don’t drop the honorifics, I won’t listen.]

    “Hey.”

    [Haha! Coming in strong!]

    Why? The Spirit King’s fragment, who extremely disliked receiving honorifics from me, laughed heartily and nodded as if telling me to continue.

    “Sorry, but can I get a three-line summary? I really don’t care about other people’s life stories, especially humans not connected to me.”

    [Three lines? Summarizing someone’s life in three lines… Let me ask first, Naika’s twisted nature wasn’t always that way. Wouldn’t it be better to know at least the basics if you want to take an interest?]

    “Nope, don’t need it. Just summarize it roughly.”

    […Fine.]

    I don’t know about my past life, but in this life, I’m really not smart. Above all, I don’t want to get too involved in other people’s lives in this dark fantasy world.

    My hands are already full enough with two women and one golem.

    Originally, my arms are fully occupied just safely holding Ira, right? Plus two women and a monster golem seeking my affection.

    Honestly, I’m at capacity and about to burst.

    [To summarize as you asked, I want you to make that child, Naika, realize that contracts with spirits aren’t the measure of human strength, and to make her see people for their character and humanity rather than their spirit affinity or magical power. Also, tell her not to misunderstand what I said.]

    “Oh. Good summary. As expected of the Spirit King!”

    […Are you sure just this explanation is enough when you know nothing about that child?]

    It’s fine either way, it all comes down to this.

    Her eyes are twisted, so beat her up and fix them back to normal, right? I’m not some ninja of the miserable leaf who uses drunken fist techniques. If I can’t do it, I’ll leave it to Ragni.

    Honestly, even though it’s a bit of a deus ex machina, I don’t think I’ll lose to someone who wasn’t even shown in a battle scene.

    Besides, my empathy level is 400. The Chancellor can’t be twice as strong as that. After all, this is EP.3 territory, so there’s no reason for a level 500+ to suddenly appear.

    Leave the education (physical) to me!

    […Sigh. I’m asking you because you seem like a decent person, but I’m starting to worry.]

    “Thanks for the vote of confidence. Anyway, I’ll deliver results. So what’s the other one? You said you had two requests.”

    [Yes, would you like to hear the explanation for the other one…]

    “No. Summary.”

    […Kill my main body, which is at the Spirit Tower in the Spirit Magic Nation of Siltra.]

    “……”

    Wait, this is. Hmm.

    “I apologize. Please explain.”

    I guess skipping all event dialogue isn’t good manners after all.

    *

    [I summarized it so you wouldn’t get sleepy. What do you think?]

    “So I don’t necessarily have to kill it?”

    […Killing would be the most certain and fastest way.]

    This guy is surprisingly extreme? Anyway, I understand the content. This wasn’t boring, and it might even work out well for my twisted situation.

    “Well. I’ll leave it to the client. I’ll deliver results as promised. I was planning to go to Siltra anyway.”

    I said with a shrug, and the blank face smiled at my action.

    …Hmm, is he suddenly going to say “That’s correct! Alchemist!!”? It really is very similar.

    “So, when will you open your eyes? And how and when will the reward be paid?”

    This is actually the most important part. A supreme spirit by Ira’s side. By game standards, that’s the strongest spec bodyguard that will keep up with the player’s level all the way.

    Moreover, if it’s three times the player’s level, that’s 3,300 at max level. There’s nothing better for a one-time tank, right?

    [It’s a contract. Once you and I make a contract, it’s done. Then, with my power depleted, I won’t have time to keep you here anymore.]

    “Huh? Your power will be depleted?”

    [I mean I, as a fragment, will disappear.]

    …Wait. That’s.

    [Don’t misunderstand. I’m not dying. As I said earlier, the main body is alive, and I’m just a fragment that broke off, with only my ‘original’ will remaining. Originally, I should have been consumed by that empathy fellow and disappeared without being able to do anything, but it’s all thanks to you that I was able to meet a problem-solver like you.]

    …He’s saying it nicely, but ultimately the client who assigned me this job will disappear. Hmm. That’s a bit unsettling.

    But what can I do about feeling unsettled? There’s nothing I, not even a spirit master, can do about it.

    First, I should receive all my payment… no, I’ll definitely fulfill all your requests. So go in peace.

    [Haha. Yes, hold out your hand. Let’s make a contract.]

    The Spirit King’s fragment, in the same pose as when taking the alchemist’s right arm, throws out a line that sounds like he’s about to trick me into becoming a magical girl.

    But this time, I’m not intimidated and take his hand.

    The black outline on his body gradually glows brighter and disappears. It feels like he’s becoming one with the pure white world.

    [I’m counting on you, caretaker fri… end?]

    “Huh?”

    The Spirit King’s fragment, who was holding my hand and gradually disappearing, suddenly tilted his head and turned his face toward me, despite having no eyes.

    What? Is something wrong? You’re not trying to trick me now, are you? You’re not going to rip off my arm, right?!

    […Impressive.]

    “What is?”

    [Your women. Already. They’ve half-fulfilled one of my wishes.]

    “Huh?”

    [Congratulations. Caretaker surrounded by good connections… May your pa… ahead… be peaceful… I’ll pray… reward… alrea… hal…]

    “Ah? W-wait!! What are you saying?! Finish your sen…!!”

    I tried to grab the white Spirit King’s fragment who said only what he wanted to say and then cut off his words and disappeared, but even the hand I was holding was sucked into the world and vanished.

    And then.

    “Ah!! Finish your sentences properly before you leave!!”

    “Oppa?”

    “”Jack?!””

    [Master!]

    I ended up shouting at our kids the words I meant to throw at the Spirit King’s fragment.


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