Ch.142142. Know Your Place (2)

“Wow─”

“…….”

Even if Sione shows such a deflated reaction, my spirit magic is by no means at a low level.

My spirit magic actually demonstrates quite powerful effects even in S-rank Dungeons.

It’s an obvious fact that while I might teach someone, I’m certainly not at a stage where I need to seek deep learning from others.

Honestly, unless it’s a High Elf master of spirit magic, it’s not particularly appealing.

Anyway, right now I prefer to grow through self-reflection and introspection rather than receiving advice from someone else—it’s much more comfortable and reassuring that way.

I don’t particularly want to increase my contact with those pointy-eared folks, but…

Since I don’t know what my master’s wishes might be.

I looked at Sione, who had already devoured one sandwich and was now holding the next one in her hand.

I had put a bit more ham in her sandwich, and sure enough, it seemed to suit her taste as she opened a new sandwich with sparkling eyes.

“……?”

She removed some of the cabbage from between the bread and placed it on her plate.

Really? Even after I put effort into making it. Does she have to boldly remove the cabbage right in front of me?

I stared at Sione with a small sigh.

“Sione.”

“Hm? What is it…?”

“Eat all of the cabbage too.”

“Ah.”

Sione looked back and forth between the cabbage that had already fallen onto her plate and her sandwich.

She then began to cautiously gauge my reaction with an awkward smile.

“But… it tastes better with a little less cabbage….”

“…….”

“No, I mean, I ate everything last time without leaving anything─”

“I went to the trouble of making it….”

“…Fine, I’ll eat all the cabbage too, okay?”

“Good.”

I simply put a stop to Sione removing the cabbage.

Sione grumbled a bit, but well.

In the end, her complaints subsided again the moment she took a bite of the sandwich. I probably don’t need to worry about it.

It didn’t take long to finish all the sandwiches.

Sione gulped down her portion of sandwiches as if possessed, and I slowly followed her lead.

After the plates that held the sandwiches were empty, our conversation resumed.

“So what will you do, Lady Sione? Will you accept Friel’s goodwill and meet with her once, or will you pass on the opportunity?”

“I, umm……”

Sione, uncharacteristically like Siabel, folded her arms and fell into deep thought.

Her head tilted slightly forward. Her bangs fell down to cover her blue eyes, creating small shadows on her white skin.

Then, as if imitating Siabel wasn’t enough, the way she rhythmically tapped her left arm with her right hand while her arms were folded reminded me of Ainel.

Sione’s deliberation took quite some time.

Well, like me, she’s not particularly fond of meeting that pointy-eared one. It’s unavoidable that she needs some time to think.

After being in her own world for a while, Sione finally spoke again.

Sione began to calmly express her thoughts in a low, settled voice.

“…The daughter of House Arielt, Friel Arielt, makes me uncomfortable.”

Before I could stop her, she quietly looked down at the small amount of lettuce she had set aside on her plate.

As if associating that fresh green color with someone’s symbolic color.

“The way she approached you, and that inexplicable chill I felt from the hand that shook mine.”

Sione’s head tilted slightly to the left.

Her bangs shifted subtly to the left with the change in angle, revealing her right eye.

She was frowning.

Sione is really bad at hiding her emotions.

Thanks to that, I could easily detect the deep distrust and suspicion she harbored toward Friel, even in her clear blue eyes that seemed to contain only hope.

That was a good thing.

It’s best to remain suspicious of Elves until they promise friendship to the World Tree or spirits they cherish.

“I’m not particularly pleased with the favor being offered by the Arielt Elf.”

I couldn’t help but nod in agreement with Sione’s words.

“Then does that mean…?”

“Ray, you said earlier that I don’t necessarily need to receive Arielt’s advice. Did you mean that?”

“Yes.”

“They may be hidden behind beauty that doesn’t easily age, but they’re a race that lives much longer than us. Even if you’re a reincarnator, you shouldn’t underestimate the insight and spirit magic that Elves possess.”

“I understand.”

The decades and centuries granted to those pointy-eared ones instill them with insight.

And the spirit energy that matures and grows with time turns each of them into monsters.

Sione, thinking of me, seems unable to easily let go of this potential opportunity despite her discomfort with the Elf.

“But as I said, it’s truly fine. The magic that pierced the lesser Demon, the wind that tore apart enemies from atop the castle wall—even these still leave something to be desired compared to my original abilities.”

“……”

“I absolutely do not consider my spirit magic to be inferior to that of Elves.”

Arrogant words that might sound like conceit, overconfidence, or error depending on who hears them.

Some might laugh, others might snort dismissively and ignore it as a child’s rashness.

But Sione, who roughly knew about my past life, eventually nodded quietly.

“Then regarding Friel Arielt’s offer tomorrow─”

After I directly conveyed my intention, Sione said with her lips slightly curled up for some reason:

“I shall politely decline it.”

* * *

Friel Arielt, having finished her conversation with Ainel Sianella.

The benevolent smile that had adorned her face disappeared like a lie the moment she entered her quarters.

She moved without hesitation to sit in a chair, crossing her legs.

“Lady Friel, did your conversation with the head of the family go well?”

Friel merely turned her head perfunctorily to see who was addressing her.

Her attendant from House Arielt, Elisa, bowed her head slightly as their eyes met.

“Elisa… the conversation went well. As the Grand Elder said, I informed them about the current situation in the Great Forest, and I also made sure to mention the importance of the second daughter of the Count’s family and that man.”

“How was the family head’s reaction?”

“Reaction─”

As Friel crossed her legs again, her gaze sharpened.

“I’d say it was neither bad nor good. The family head listened to what I had to say, but didn’t completely believe everything. I even swore by the World Tree, yet she’s still so difficult.”

“…I see.”

“But even so─ the family head will have no choice but to give us the answer we want.”

At Friel’s words, Elisa’s gaze shifted to her waist.

The precious sword that Friel Arielt had received from the Grand Elder of the Great Forest.

The sword that had been at Friel’s waist until just before their conversation had somehow vanished.

“You gave the sword to the family head.”

“That’s right. It’s a precious item I’ve been treating with such care for this very moment. Now that I’ve handed over the sword, the result is already clear without having to see it. After all, that sword is─”

Whoosh!

A small flame begins to burn above Friel’s finger.

A tiny red flame settled in her deep green eyes.

Her pupils, containing contrasting colors, gleamed.

“None other than a sword imbued with the covenant of the first head of the Count’s family, a woman who accomplished enough feats to be called a hero. Not only that, but her covenant was witnessed by numerous spirits acting as notaries. Unless she wants to be taught a lesson by angry spirits for breaking a promise.”

The flame that had been burning on her palm.

Friel extinguished the fireball without hesitation by clenching her fist, then sank deep into the leather chair’s backrest.

“She has to follow our instructions, doesn’t she? Angry spirits are no small matter.”

The small smile at the corner of Friel’s mouth deepened.

“Even we Elves can’t easily calm spirits who are thoroughly angered by broken promises… how could humans possibly handle them? Even a Sword Master would struggle. I made sure to emphasize this point to the family head, so we can just relax until her decision comes.”

Having said that, the Elf straightened her posture after being buried in the chair.

“So, Elisa.”

Clap!

Friel clapped her hands to change the atmosphere and revealed one of her emotions without hiding it to Elisa, who had been silently listening to her story.

“Have you met the young lady and our knight?”

“Yes, the young lady appears to be nothing more than an ordinary human… but from that spirit mage, I could detect quite a strong scent of spirits. It was quite surprising.”

“Isn’t it? When I first saw him, I was so surprised…. So, can you tell me how the young lady responded to my words, Elisa?”

“The young lady said she needed time to think. We’ll probably hear her answer by tomorrow morning.”

“Hmm……”

Friel’s eyes gradually narrowed.

“The family head also said she would give an answer by tomorrow morning.”

The Elf twirled her long hair around her index finger, then released it, repeating the motion.

“I wonder who will give their answer first.”

She was simply enjoying the situation.