Ch.179179. Manifestation (2)

The moment a precious artifact that should have been sleeping in the Count’s treasure vault appeared in my hand, Sione and Adelheid each showed the best reactions they could.

Sione probably thought her sister, a splendid knight, couldn’t possibly have stolen a spirit stone. But since the stone in my hand was no ordinary rock, her gaze kept shifting nervously.

That old High Elf had personally gifted this spirit stone to the first head of the County. Perhaps feeling nostalgic seeing the gem after so long, she gazed into the spirit stone in the wooden box with a genuine smile instead of her usual fabricated one.

And among all of us, the one who showed the biggest and most definite reaction was—

—Myung!

The cotton ball that had been hiding and rolling around in my head.

Flap flap!

The moment dense energy began flowing from the spirit stone, the cotton ball desperately flapped its tiny wings, put strength into its short legs, and—

Pop!

It pushed off my head with its tiny legs and launched itself upward.

No matter how small it was, the full-power wing flapping naturally left my hair in complete disarray.

—Mya mya myung.

As if it had been waiting for this moment, the cotton ball entered the open wooden box and tightly embraced the spirit stone, determined that no one would take it away.

‘I originally planned to use the spirit stone for the cotton ball.’

Spirit stones are used to extract internal nature energy to amplify spirit magic, but more often they’re used to help spirits themselves grow.

Originally, I planned to give this small low-grade spirit a name and use the stone to help it grow into a mid-grade spirit, or even aim for high-grade status. Since a spirit’s growth offers so many benefits, it would certainly be a good choice.

‘But…’

With this one spirit stone, I could recover one of my original top-grade spirits. It was an irresistible proposition.

Top-grade. A spirit that has reached the top grade can create natural disasters at will if the spirit master is skilled enough.

If I had just one of those spirits that used to accompany me, I could easily deal with those cultists lurking in the great forest, calling for the extinction of elves and the destruction of the World Tree.

Moreover, the mere fact of having contracted with a top-grade spirit was enough to put those arrogant pointy-ears in their place—another irresistible reason.

‘This can’t be helped.’

I looked down at the cotton ball clutching the spirit stone.

“Can I have the spirit stone for a moment?”

—Myung.

Glare!

—Myung myung.

As if it had heard everything Adelheid said earlier about using the spirit stone, the cotton ball glared at me and chattered away.

It probably knew that the moment the spirit stone left its embrace, they would part forever.

“Don’t be like that. It’ll just be for a moment.”

—Myaang!

Thwack!

When I reached for the spirit stone, the cotton ball tapped my finger with its short hand. Though it was a feeble resistance with barely any force behind it, it was enough to let me know that the cotton ball absolutely didn’t want to lose the spirit stone.

“…”

—…

“I’ll give you a name. How’s that?”

—…?

“A name is good, right? You can brag about it when you’re recalled. Most spirits in the spirit realm don’t have names, so everyone will be envious.”

—Myung?

It was almost hooked.

I had planned to give it a name from the beginning, but since I hadn’t shown any indication until now, the cotton ball seemed quite tempted by the mention of a name.

It was natural. A name is one of the simplest and clearest ways to express one’s existence.

For spirits, a name is not only a means to more firmly establish their existence in the world, but also becomes a solid foundation engraved upon their consciousness, allowing them to build their power and authority as a spirit more stably.

Receiving a name from their contractor was inevitably meaningful for a spirit.

At that moment, Adelheid, who had been quietly watching us, joined in.

“A name is more important than anything to a spirit. If you want, I can help give it a pretty name.”

—Myung?

“Of course. Do you know how many spirits I’ve named? They were all satisfied with the names I gave them.”

—Myung myung.

“…You don’t want to be called something like a moth? How could I call such a cute spirit a moth?”

—Heng.

The cotton ball snorted.

“…”

At this, Sione started to deny her sister’s true nature but then closed her mouth firmly and exchanged glances with the cotton ball.

“Then… may I take the spirit stone?”

Nod nod.

Only then did the cotton ball separate from the spirit stone in its embrace. The small spirit flew back to perch on my shoulder, and Adelheid carefully picked up the spirit stone.

“Hmm.”

Her ash-colored pupils fixed on the spirit stone.

“It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen a spirit stone of such high purity. Well then… shall we summon it right away?”

I didn’t immediately answer Adelheid’s question, instead looking at Sione.

Since this spirit stone was in my hands now thanks to Siabel’s righteous thievery, Sione’s gaze was somewhat concerning… With her watching like this, it felt awkward to use it as I pleased.

As I tried to read the situation:

“Haah…”

Sione pressed her temple and shook her head as if giving up.

“…I don’t know either. If my sister gave it to you, she must have had her reasons. And now that it’s come to this… it would be strange not to use it.”

“Does that mean—”

Sione laughed lightly at my words and then faced Adelheid.

“…Lady Adelheid, please proceed.”

“It won’t take long.”

Adelheid grasped the spirit stone.

At the same time, thick mana began to dominate the space around her. The overwhelming energy felt fundamentally different from the mana the elder had scattered to enter before the great sacred tree.

As expected of the pinnacle of pointy-ears, a High Elf. The mana she released was awe-inspiring.

A gleam flickered across the ash-colored pupils of the High Elf who was focusing all her attention on me.

“You formed bonds with two spirits. Spirits with the magnificence of storm and fire… which one do you wish to reunite with?”

“I—”

Before being trapped in this body, I had contracted with spirits of wind and fire.

After briefly organizing my thoughts, I answered her question.

“I wish to reunite here with the spirit that embodies fire.”

Adelheid nodded slightly at my answer.

“Fire… I see. Then I shall begin. Please endure for a moment.”

In that instant, Adelheid’s demeanor changed completely. All traces of gentleness vanished, replaced by an overwhelming aura that naturally dominated everyone present.

A magic circle filled with complex geometric patterns spread across the soil beneath the garden’s numerous flowers. Only a single High Elf maintained and cast this enormous magic circle, using only her personal mana.

The dense mana that flowed toward me while being poured into the magic circle was enough to make my mind hazy.

‘Tsk.’

It wasn’t a pleasant sensation.

Feeling the sense of omnipotence from the being before me, and the pressure forcing me to kneel despite not being targeted by any killing intent or hostility, was quite damaging to my pride.

I already knew that High Elves were monsters, but witnessing her power up close like this made me realize she was even more impressive than I thought.

And moreover:

‘How could they possibly face extinction with monsters like this around?’

With such powerful pointy-ears guarding the World Tree.

How could the demons in the prophecy burn the World Tree and violate the elves? And how were Sione and I supposed to deal with the madmen trying to burn the World Tree after getting past a High Elf?

Just thinking about what lay ahead was already exhausting.

As I watched the Grand Elder’s divine presence for a moment:

Wooooong!!

The spirit stone in Adelheid’s hand began to vibrate intensely.

Fssss…

At the end of that vibration, the spirit stone crumbled to dust. The thick nature energy contained within scattered into the magic circle and the air, creating an environment closer to the spirit realm than anywhere else near the World Tree.

Adelheid, as if she had been waiting for this, activated the magic circle that filled the vast garden.

“…It’s done.”

Perhaps casting such an enormous spell alone was burdensome.

Along with Adelheid’s somewhat tired voice, I began to feel blood rushing throughout my body.

“…Kup!”

As blood flow, no, mana began to surge within my body, an unbearable pain washed over me.

I don’t think it hurt this much even when an Arachne tore one of my arms to shreds.

As I stood firm with my face contorted in pain, feeling like my consciousness might flicker out at any moment, I could see through my strained vision that Sione was mumbling something and approaching me.

Since all my nerves were focused on enduring the pain, I had no capacity to hear her voice, but knowing Sione, she was probably asking if I was alright.

‘This is maddening.’

The intense pain continued to torment my mind without subsiding.

Just as I was beginning to feel that I couldn’t endure much longer, I could sense a change.

‘This is…’

A sensation like something twisted and misaligned was finding its proper place. From the moment I recognized that something strange was being properly adjusted, the pain filling my body finally began to dissipate.

And at that moment, I saw remnants of my previous world after a long time:

[Your current physical abilities cannot summon this spirit.]

[However, the spirit is coming through very quickly via the forcibly widened and opened path.]

The status window was saying that my current body’s abilities couldn’t handle my former spirit, and yet:

[The top-grade spirit is opening the door.]

[The World Tree connecting the spirit realm and the current world is very close.]

[The spirit manifesting in the current world maintains its top-grade status.]

Nevertheless, thanks to Adelheid’s technique, the spirit I had contracted with was about to appear before me.

[Insufficient mana for summoning.]

But as expected, this weak body of mine had deficiencies that prevented it from properly summoning a top-grade spirit.

『Danger.』

『Beginning equivalent exchange with other powers to compensate for insufficient mana.』

The status window began to scroll urgently.

…I’d never seen the status window so actively trying to save me before.

『Converting stamina to mana.』

『Insufficient.』

Strength drained from my body.

“…!”

My legs weakened.

As my posture began to collapse, Sione said something and hurriedly supported me.

『Converting mental energy to mana.』

My mind, which had remained clear even as my body failed, began to waver.

My head felt dizzy, and it became difficult to maintain consciousness.

But with this, it seemed the necessary mana was barely sufficient, as the status window stopped appearing.

Whoosh!

Flames bloomed abundantly before me.

Within them appeared a spirit with a familiar appearance.

A spirit with a human form like Friel’s, but its completeness showed a craftsmanship incomparable to Piel’s mid-grade and high-grade forms. Just opening its previously closed eyes revealed an extraordinary presence.

—…You crazy bastard.

The spirit looking down at me sent a familiar telepathic message.

—I saw with my own eyes your limbs being torn apart and a monster crushing your head right in front of me…

The spirit quietly trembled, repeatedly clenching and unclenching its small hands.

—Even after I was recalled, the contract wasn’t broken… but there was no way you could be alive… you… you son of a bitch…!

“Tania.”

The manifested spirit was the incarnation of all-consuming fire and annihilation.

—…Do you know how worried I was?!

It was my spirit who had remained by my side until the very end—when I had cleanly given up on life and, after firing one satisfying arrow at that cursed final demon, made a suicide charge at the horde of monsters that were drooling and licking their lips as they stared at me.