Ch.197The Final Destination of the NPC’s Snowball. (4)

It’s been nearly three months since Jack left for Siltra.

During that time, the Academy has enjoyed peaceful days without any major incidents following that day’s events. The three people in Neity, along with the golem, have all perfectly adapted to their current daily lives.

“Ira. Can you now constantly feel the mana connection with Piyaki?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Then today, let’s finally succeed in spirit magic that borrows Piyaki’s power without materializing him. Once we accomplish this, today’s lesson will be complete.”

“Yes! Master!”

In the late afternoon as the sun was setting, Ira began channeling her mana outward under the Chancellor’s guidance in his office. She gently waved the wand her brother Jack had bought for her and spoke.

“Piyaki. Please give me the weakest flame, one that won’t burn anything.”

[Pii~]

After Piyaki’s cry, which only Ira could hear, a tiny flame no bigger than a lit match appeared in front of her wand.

However, seeing this, the Chancellor swallowed nervously and began preparing his own magic.

“Now slowly, move the flame to the lamp beside you. Think of it as shifting the external mana you’ve released.”

“Yes…!”

The lamp on the desk. As Ira directed her wand toward it with nervous sweat, Piyaki’s flame slowly began floating through the air…

“Tch!!”

-Fwoom!!

-WHOOSH⎯⎯⎯⎯!! Shhh…”

For an instant, the flame grew larger than Ira’s head, but the Chancellor, noticing that the spirit magic itself was about to explode, quickly suppressed and extinguished it with his own magic.

Over these three months, the Chancellor thought Ira’s skills were developing even faster than he had calculated, but…

“Ugh. Piyaki, why again…?”

[Pii?]

“Piyaki says he followed your instructions?”

“…I don’t know. When I ask him, he just answers that he did exactly what I told him to…”

Looking at the dejected Ira, the Chancellor’s eyebrows drooped sympathetically, and he immediately placed his hand on her head.

“Don’t worry. The training you’re doing is at least equivalent to third-year elementary spirit magic courses. Even though you’re failing at control, the fact that you can successfully activate spirit magic as you wish is truly remarkable.”

“…But I’ve been doing this training for two months already.”

“……”

I’m left speechless by Ira’s words as she looks at me with trembling violet eyes.

After hearing about how Ira defeated a werewolf with spirit magic and how Piyaki’s existence was discovered, I’ve been advancing her lessons faster than initially planned. However, while she can easily create surprisingly large explosions or flames, her ability to control their power—especially fine, weak control—has strangely stalled for two months. It’s understandable why Ira is becoming discouraged.

‘Honestly, with Ira’s talent, she should have succeeded at this long ago…’

For most magic, spirit arts, swordsmanship, or martial arts, making fine adjustments to “large attacks” is typically much more difficult. Unleashing major techniques without proper foundational skills is simply wasteful and can be as dangerous as a bomb that might lead to self-destruction if mishandled.

But in Ira’s case, it’s the complete opposite. The most basic fundamentals—controlling the intensity of spirit magic—shows almost no progress compared to her natural talent.

Rather, she can create powerful flames or explosions wherever she wants at will, but she can’t even create and maintain a light, weak flame. Even with my fifteen-plus years of experience in the Academy faculty, this situation is baffling.

*Sigh*

“Ira, for now, maintain the mana connection—the link magic—with Piyaki at all times, except when sleeping. I think it would be best to continue this constantly. Since Piyaki is a top-tier spirit with a strong ego, I suspect he might be difficult to control with your current capabilities.”

“Piii!!”

“Pi-Piyaki?!”

The intelligent top-tier spirit immediately noticed when I deflected blame onto him and materialized to peck at me. Of course, I have no intention of letting him have his way, so I quickly defend myself with my own high-tier spirit, but this is precisely the problem.

Even now, Ira is surprised that Piyaki has materialized. In other words, his “ego” is too strong, completely ignoring her will and materializing on his own.

“Piyaki. No matter how much you deny it angrily, in my eyes, this is your problem, not Ira’s. Ira already controls three attributes of low-level magic and two attributes of mid-level magic at will. This child is a genius in both magic and spirit arts. If your prioritizing your own ego is preventing Ira’s spirit magic from improving, I may have to consider contracting a different spirit with Ira instead.”

“Pii! Piiiit!!”

“Pi-Piyaki! Stop!! Don’t peck at Master!!”

As Ira jumps up and down to catch Piyaki, I let out a light sigh. For a spirit, having its master contract with another spirit is comparable, in human terms, to infidelity.

Of course, this situation is closer to abduction since it wouldn’t be Ira’s will to contract with another spirit, but mine imposing it. However, if things continue like this, Piyaki will prevent Ira’s spirit magic from advancing to the next level. And that means…

‘It means I won’t be able to give Ira the top-tier spirit core she should receive.’

The top-tier spirit core currently sleeping in my drawer in the Chancellor’s office.

I had already decided to give that core to Ira, which I had been saving for myself or a worthy successor. Roughly three years from now—no, perhaps in about two years—I think I’ll be able to give it to her.

After all, Ira can already summon and command one top-tier spirit with such freedom. Even if she contracts with a second one, she won’t run out of mana. However…

“Pi⎯yak!!”

“Ah, really!! Piyaki, if you don’t listen, I won’t take you for a walk tomorrow!!”

“Piit?!!”

“Sigh, Piyaki. I won’t contract with another spirit, so please don’t be angry. Okay?”

“Piii…”

The relationship between a spirit master and a spirit. Typically, the spirit master is the owner, and the spirit exists in a position similar to a servant. Of course, I wouldn’t say there are no cases where they get along like friends, but even then, a hierarchical relationship exists, and that’s a crucial element.

However, between Ira and Piyaki, this doesn’t exist. Ira soothes Piyaki, she makes requests rather than giving commands, and Piyaki ignores Ira’s will and acts on his own when he doesn’t like something. If, in this state, I were to have Ira contract with another top-tier spirit of the same level as [Phoenix]…

‘…Either they would fight and both refuse to appear, or at least one of them would stop listening to Ira.’

Just imagining it gives me a headache. I’ve clearly understood Piyaki’s power over these past few months. With just a little more growth, he will easily surpass the combined strength of my two high-tier spirits. What if such a spirit ignores its master’s instructions and will, moving according to its own ego? What if it develops an ego that won’t stay with its master through cute little negotiations like threatening to withhold walks? What then?

‘Stories of top-tier spirits fighting each other are said to remain only in ancient legends.’

I want to reject any scenario that would cause Ira suffering. *Sigh*. I have no choice.

“Ira.”

“Yes?”

While it’s heartwarming to see Ira soothing Piyaki by scratching the top of his head with her finger, this is something I must do as her self-proclaimed teacher. With that resolve, I take a deep breath, clear my expression, and speak.

“For a while, don’t give Piyaki walks, feed, or even mana. If he materializes on his own, don’t respond and send him away. If he tries to use spirit magic without following your instructions, I will ‘seal’ him.”

“…What?”

Ira’s face falls at my cruel words, making my conscience ache again after quite some time. But this is truly for both Ira and Piyaki’s sake. If Piyaki doesn’t accept this, he will become ‘unnecessary’ for Ira’s future growth.

“Starting tomorrow, you’ll make a temporary contract with a low-tier spirit and practice spirit magic. Piyaki, if you don’t acc—”

“Piiit!!!”

-BOOM⎯⎯⎯⎯! Whoosh!!!”

“…If you attack once more, the next step is sealing. Listen carefully. If you truly cherish Ira, you should know that ‘this kind of’ behavior doesn’t help Ira’s growth or her life at all.”

After suppressing the explosion directed at me with just a flick of my finger before I could even finish speaking, I glare into those purple eyes that resemble Ira’s. His gaze is filled with murderous intent and hostility. Naturally, Ira is startled by Piyaki’s sudden outburst in this situation, but this only strengthens my conviction that this cannot continue.

“If you still won’t listen after all this, I’ll create a powerful barrier that will prevent ‘the likes of you’ from even approaching Neity. Then Ira will grow without you, contract with ‘plenty’ of other spirits, and meet you again afterward. Think about that.”

“Piiit…!!!”

“Piyaki! No!!”

Ira swings her wand to forcibly dispel Piyaki’s materialization, and the fireball that was forming in front of me disappears. *Sigh*, really. Even after mentioning sealing, he still tries to attack. He must be extremely reluctant to separate from Ira, but still, such a fiery…

-Knock knock knock!

[Professor! It’s Grace Mueller! Is Ira here by any chance?]

“…Ira, today’s lesson ends here. Keep the link active but don’t give him mana. Don’t summon him at home either.”

“…M-Master. Piyaki doesn’t have bad intentions…”

“Ira. Do you trust your master?”

“Ugh…!!”

When I smile as gently as possible at Ira who’s trying to defend Piyaki, this intelligent child immediately seems to understand and presses her lips together. She truly is a kind and gentle child. If only that sparrow were even a quarter as similar to Ira, I wouldn’t need to resort to such necessary evil.

“I don’t dislike Piyaki either. I’m just being a bit harsh because I don’t want a situation where he becomes such a hindrance to your growth that he must be removed. Do you understand?”

“…Yes. I understand, Master.”

After lightly patting the head of the dejected Ira who nods, I send her out to Grace who is waiting outside the office, and then deeply…

“Why are you sighing like that? Things have been going well lately with all the busy work sorted out, and the Academy is improving.”

“…Manie.”

As if trading places with the children, Manie enters and gives me a bitter smile. *Sigh*, to think that I, with my 15 years of experience, who proudly claimed that teaching children was easier than performing Chancellor duties, would now feel embarrassed to admit…

“Ragni is handling the administrative work well, so hmm… Ah. Is teaching today’s children harder than the Chancellor expected?”

“…Sigh. Ira is a good child. All the Class A students are talented. It’s not that difficult.”

“Oh my, then. Could it be about the spirit?”

“……”

“Hehe. Looks like I hit the mark.”

Manie, who has been my secretary for nearly ten years, immediately guesses correctly as if she could see into my mind, and I collapse into my chair and confess everything.

“Ira’s spirit, I told you it’s the top-tier spirit [Phoenix], right?”

“Yes. You said it’s a legendary spirit of the same level as the top-tier spirit core you possess.”

“That spirit is the problem. Its ego is too strong. It makes my high-tier spirits look ridiculous in comparison.”

“Oh my, don’t tell me. Is it hindering Ira’s growth?”

“In my opinion, it seems willing to fulfill what Ira wants, but it tends to do things its own way.”

The earlier task of moving the flame to the lamp.

Ira clearly wanted to move a small flame into the lamp. However, Piyaki, who was generating that flame, seemed to focus on ‘making the flame reach’ the lamp.

So to accomplish this quickly, he tried to increase the mana mid-way to make the flame larger.

After hearing this explanation, Manie looks slightly surprised and speaks as she places documents on my desk.

“That’s quite frightening. Doesn’t that mean Ira can’t fully control it?”

“Ira has no intention of controlling him. She thinks of him as a friend or family. And he seems to accept her in the same way. So there’s no worry about Ira getting hurt, but…”

“He doesn’t care what happens to anything other than Ira.”

Manie also notices my concern and lets out a small groan. Well, this isn’t an issue for Manie to worry about. I am her teacher, and it’s my responsibility to raise those children.

After concluding our conversation, I look at the documents she gave me…

“…They respond quickly. After causing such trouble in my territory two months ago. I must be getting old; my temper has mellowed considerably.”

“Indeed. In the past, you would have flown there immediately saying, ‘This means war!! Common sense dictates that negotiations only begin after knocking out all of the opponent’s teeth!!!'”

“……”

I respond with silence to my secretary who knows me too well, then pull out the documents. The Empire, the demon who attacked targeting Ragni and Ira. I had already sent an ultimatum two months ago, and this is their response.

Please. Just let it say they’ll compensate and make amends, and that they’ve dealt with the demon-worshipping minister…

“…These crazy bastards.”

“…W-what’s wrong?”

-Crack…!!

“Eek?! Ch-Chancellor?!!”

After skimming through the document, my mana surges with my emotions, and the windows in the office begin to crack.

The Empire, these insane fools. What are they thinking?!!

“…Manie. I’m sorry, but I need you to contact the King of Ponia and the Mayor of Aigram first thing tomorrow.”

“What do you mean…? M-may I read it too?”

When I hand her the letter I was reading, she too begins to look pale and bewildered within seconds of reading it.

[Neity Naika. The continental hegemonic state of Ottoman Empire hereby declares to [the neutral city of Neity].]

[Aigram, Ponia, and Neity—two neutral cities and the Kingdom of Ponia—currently suspected of abducting the Empire’s princess, must completely surrender to the [Holy Theocracy] and [Ottoman Empire] and return the princess.]

[The Holy Theocracy, the domain of the divine, has confirmed that you have contracted with demons of the Seven Deadly Sins and demon worshippers, threatening the Empire’s security. If you do not respond immediately to this final notice, you will be designated as heretics, enemies of the divine.]

[We declare that we will not hesitate to wage a ‘holy war’ depending on your response.]

[Neity Naika, leader of the neutral city known as the Land of Knowledge, must immediately cease these foolish heretical acts, return the princess, and repent before the divine.]

“…W-what in the world…”

Seeing Manie’s trembling eyes after reading the entire letter, I compose my mana and quietly state my conclusion.

“It seems this young pup from the Empire is not only stupid but was also not disciplined enough by his parents growing up.”

The one who couldn’t even act as a parent, according to what Ragni told me, now seems to have lost his mind as well. I take back the letter, burn it, and give instructions to Manie.

“Since they seem to want war with me, let’s oblige them. However, the ‘playground’ will be the Empire.”

I have no intention of wasting time with unnecessary political strife or allowing them to create confusion, so I’ll resolve this swiftly.

I will give a ‘real punishment’ to this fool who is even more stupid than a disobedient sparrow spirit.