Ch.113The NPC Taking an Exam (1)

From my perspective, it’s an undisputed truth and fact that Ira is the light and truth of this world. However, I never particularly wanted her to literally shine.

“Is that okay?! With so many spirits attached to her…!!”

I couldn’t help but shout my question to the Dean. She had been squinting as if the light was truly too bright for her eyes, but now she relaxed her gaze and turned her attention fully toward me.

“Normally, it wouldn’t be okay. However…”

“What happens if it’s not okay?! No!! Can’t we drive away all those spirits…!!”

“Stop making a fuss and listen to the end.”

What? You’re the one who said it wasn’t okay! The Dean cut off my words sharply and continued.

“Usually, when spirits want to form a contract with someone, they hover around that person like that, trying to appeal to them. This is accompanied by the absorption of mana that the person unconsciously releases. It’s an instinctive behavior without aggressive intent, meant to make the person notice them. Well, it’s like a mating dance if you compare it to insects.”

I learned some TMI about spirits that I’d never heard even in the game. Wait, so does that mean Ira is having her mana—her MP—drained?

By more spirits than there are people here? There must be well over 100 of them?!!

“If that were the case, would that child still be standing there like that? She’d have already collapsed and be rolling on the ground by now.”

“Then, what exactly…”

“From what I can see, those low and mid-level spirits aren’t even touching the mana she’s releasing, careful not to burden Ira. Yet they can’t shake off their instinct to be acknowledged, so they keep hovering around her. You saw me release my mana earlier, right? While it might have seemed like a performance, I was actually trying to pull the spirits toward me and intimidate those who didn’t like my mana to leave.”

Eh? Really? You did that for Ira? The Dean’s approval rating in my heart shot up almost to the maximum.

“But surprisingly, except for a few weak ones, none of them left their positions. Some were briefly attracted to my mana, but they quickly returned to that child. Even though I have high spirit affinity—enough to have received the blessing of a Spirit King—I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”

The Dean spoke as if genuinely perplexed, now just occasionally glancing at Ira. Ira was energetically walking toward her practical exam area.

I followed the Dean’s gaze to check on Ira’s condition.

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

…Spirit affinity that surpasses even the Dean who received a Spirit King’s blessing. No matter how I think about it, it’s because of this skill.

I wonder if this is okay, though it’s good that the spirits love Ira. But they shouldn’t interfere with her daily life, right?

The Dean explained further that it was somewhat natural that people with low spirit affinity wouldn’t notice Ira’s anomaly, not just the three of us.

Not many humans can see non-materialized spirits, and spirits themselves tend to avoid approaching beings they’re not interested in.

In other words, it makes sense that we didn’t notice all these spirits gathered around Ira during the two days we spent together.

But wait, didn’t Gord notice? You’re the one who can devour spirits, and you didn’t know?!

“Well. Consider it fortunate.”

“Pardon? What’s fortunate about this?”

No matter how positively I try to think about it, it sounds like Ira has become a walking bomb! I’m currently trying to figure out how to make Gord eat all these invisible spirit bastards!

“Haah. Only two people in this place, including myself, can see her in this state. The other is my secretary, Manie—the woman with glasses who explained the exam to the children earlier. And ‘fortunately,’ I intend to become that child’s mentor, and since Manie is my secretary, she’ll naturally support her too. In other words…”

“You’ll protect Ira and fix this incomprehensible phenomenon. Is that what you’re saying?”

“I can’t fix it. But I can ensure nothing bad happens until she learns to control it herself. And…”

After hearing the Dean’s words and Ragni’s immediate understanding, my internal approval rating for the Dean hit its peak.

I’d genuinely be willing to take a flick to the forehead from her right now. Right this instant.

As the Dean began discussing with Ragni—not me—about how to handle Ira’s condition going forward, I found myself just staring at Ira.

Well, it seems the Dean noticed my lack of comprehension from our few exchanges. She didn’t hesitate to change her conversation partner.

After a short while, Ira climbed onto the examination platform and greeted the bearded professor who appeared to be the judge with a bright smile and a bow.

The old man’s face softened visibly, clearly charmed by Ira’s demeanor.

Hmm. Ira’s cuteness is truly a weapon.

From the opposite side, a boy climbed up as well. Judging by his clothes and the staff he was holding, they seemed quite high-end.

We spent quite a bit on Ira’s clothes and accessories too, but they seemed somewhat lacking compared to his flashy attire.

Of course, considering the national-budget-level item hanging around Ira’s neck, his entire outfit including his underwear wouldn’t compare, but the visual difference was undeniable.

I should ask Ray to buy Ira more pretty clothes and things before we leave.

As I was sending various thoughts and prayers for Ira to complete the exam safely without getting hurt, she smiled brightly and greeted the boy as well.

Oh? Look at that bastard’s face turning red!

And the way he straightens his collar after receiving Ira’s greeting…

“Hehe. As expected of Miss Ira! Already attracting boys?”

“…This little punk, how dare he look at our Ira like that?”

“J-Jack? You’re not angry, are you? They’re just kids! And it’s not like he’s making a move; it’s a normal reaction when seeing a cute girl…”

“Ray. Shut up.”

“Hiing…”

What’s so good about some lovesick fool hanging around Ira?! Getting all flushed just from seeing her face without knowing anything about her? Fail! FAIL!! This big brother will never approve of such guys!!

After the examiner explained something to the two of them and stepped back, they faced each other and took their combat stances, just like the children at the other examination sites.

Ira took the martial arts stance I taught her and raised her staff with one hand.

Hmm, cute yet gallant. She’s truly lovable.

As the judge raised his hand to signal the start, Ira prepared herself, watching to see how her opponent would move. But the boy, full of openings, started saying something to Ira.

What is it? What’s he saying? Damn, if only Gord were here to ask. The exam site is too noisy, I can’t hear anything!!

After the boy said a few words, Ira smiled brightly and nodded. Then the boy’s face turned even redder at her response.

…What? What on earth did you say, Ira?! What kind of conversation made that bastard’s face turn even redder?!!

With a flushed face, the boy swung his staff widely while saying something, and the surrounding wind began to gather.

[Wind Spirit: Level 33]

Ah, he’s a spirit mage too? Judging by the spirit’s level in the 30s, his own level must be in the early to mid-10s.

That’s impressive for a child, though our levels are just too high before the tutorial even begins. At the very least, those pathetic leaf guys from Ponia couldn’t beat him even if they came by the truckload.

As the boy swung his staff vigorously, the fully summoned wind spirit raised its fist toward Ira and charged at her.

-BOOM!

And with a powerful sound… Huh? What just…?

“W-what was that?!”

“Did she… just steal it?”

“I-insane… what did I just see?”

Ray and Ragni let out bewildered voices in place of me, who was too shocked to speak. Even the Dean’s face contorted, not from brightness but from surprise.

“No mediocre spirit mage can ever win against Miss Ira. Because…”

And unlike our situation, Miho calmly began to speak as if it were obvious.

I unconsciously turned to look at her, and she was focusing solely on Ira with her golden eyes sparkling.

“She has contracted with a being that’s considered legendary even among the highest-ranking spirits in [Siltra], the Land of Spirits—second only to the Spirit Kings. What lowly spirit would dare to rebel or lay hands on her?”

“…What?”

Miho muttered to herself and bowed her head toward Ira’s direction.

Probably because Ira is Piyaki.

It seems like an extension of the kneeling and head-bowing behavior she showed when playing with Phoenix, but now it appears to be genuine reverence rather than a joke.

…More importantly, what did she just say? A legend second only to Spirit Kings? Phoenix?!

In the game, it was just a top-tier spirit that anyone could summon and carry around at level 600!

After hearing Miho’s muttering, I slowly turned my head to look, and I saw the wind spirit that had charged at Ira suddenly turn around and strike its master, sending him flying outside the examination platform. Then it approached Ira again.

Upon reaching my sister, the spirit quietly bowed its head.

Ira, with her purple eyes wide in surprise, slowly reached out and began to pat the spirit’s head.

…Right. Ira won without moving or doing anything after the exam started.

By stealing her opponent’s summoned spirit.

“…The winner is Ira!”

The voice of the elderly judge echoed emptily through the now silent examination hall, where just moments ago, not a sound could be heard from Ira’s platform.