Chapter 102 – Spirit Summoner, Serr (1)

“They should be arriving soon,” Rubia said, pulling her robe tightly around her as she glanced around, the chilly night wind brushing past.

“I hope everything goes smoothly…”

“It will… It’ll go well,” I reassured her, gripping Rubia’s hand tightly as I pulled my own robe closer.

[If necessary, I’ll step in. Not sure if they’ll believe me, though,] Cartia’s voice echoed in my mind.

“If Lady Cartia steps forward… it’ll be a relief,” Rubia sighed.

[Well, I’ve been sponging off your divine power for a while now. I might as well earn my keep.]

“Hehe… Thank you. But… we can’t really call Cartia a sacred ground anymore, can we?”

[Sacred ground, my foot. A sacred ground isn’t a place where pompous jerks come crawling to screw around. Actually… come to think of it, “sacred ground¹” fits pretty well. Damn it.]

Rubia flinched at Cartia’s sharp vulgarity, audibly gasping.

[And for the record, I never asked anyone to call it a sacred ground. That land became “sacred” just because I happened to kill a dragon there. That’s all.]

“A-a dragon…!” Rubia exclaimed.

[Yeah, a dragon. A massive, terrifying one. But still… why the hell am I reduced to this state after killing something like that?]

“S-sorry… I’m so sorry.” I gently stroked the bracelet that Cartia had become, bowing my head.

Two days ago, after pulling Cartia’s greatsword from the ground, she had begun accompanying us. Apparently, she had been unable to leave the land due to some kind of mysterious seal, which broke the moment I drew her sword.

The seal itself seemed to have been created using an ancient dragon’s magic. Currently, the only remaining dragon is the ancient one, Sirinias, so…

Hmm… Since the seal is about 600 years old, maybe there were other dragons back then?

Anyway.

While the seal was lifted, another problem emerged. The moment Cartia left her sacred land, she could no longer maintain her form as a greatsword…!

The most likely explanation is that my “rank” as her wielder is too low, but Cartia claims that this issue will resolve itself once I complete the trial and awaken my innate ability.

Still, just in case, I’ve spent the last two days experimenting. I secretly activated Carpeng’s Fragment and even tried using Tylant’s Fragment that Vishur had given me…

But the results weren’t great.

By Cartia’s logic, someone of my rank shouldn’t have been able to wield the sword in the first place. So, why could I?

Well, regardless.

Ultimately, Cartia has been sustaining herself by draining divine power from Rubia, who is of higher rank than me. She barely manages to maintain her bracelet form this way.

I can transform her back into a greatsword if I want, but swinging her even a couple of times completely drains my mana… making it not worth the trouble.

Not to mention, she’s absurdly heavy.

[Hurry up and figure this out. This is humiliating,] Cartia grumbled.

“Y-yes… I’ll try my best.”

[Don’t try. Just do it, you punk.]

“…Y-yes, ma’am…”

[Shut your mouth.]

“Yes, ma’am…”

Pretending to stroke the bracelet on my wrist, I subtly gave it a few soft flicks.

[Seriously, though, I can’t figure it out. How does a kid with such low mana reserves, who hasn’t even undergone the trial, manage to wield my sword?]

“Our Noah is pretty special,” Rubia said, chuckling softly. For some reason, she seemed prouder than me.

[Hmm… That’s true. I can’t deny it. Now that we’re connected, I’m sensing something unusual. What the hell is it? A dragon? Or maybe a god?]

A god, seriously…

“I-I’m human, I swear,” I protested.

[You don’t look like an ordinary human to me. Ah, forget it. Maybe I’m just out of touch after so long. Back in my day… oh, did I ever tell you about the dwarf elder who—]

Cartia constantly reminisces about the past, boasting whenever the opportunity arises. At first, I found it fascinating to hear about a time I couldn’t imagine, so I listened attentively. But she repeats the same stories so often that I’ve grown tired of them.

Even so, I remind myself it’s like listening to a grandmother’s tales and do my best to pay attention… though… ugh…

[Are you listening? Hey! Everything I’m saying is valuable advice, you know. You better listen.]

“Yes, of course! I’m listening very carefully…”

I wasn’t.

I just nodded and muttered vague responses like “Oh, really?” or “Wow…”

Just as she began recounting her third tale about seeing the World Tree, a familiar voice interrupted.

“It’s been a while.”

“Ah…!” I exclaimed.

“Oh, yes. Hello. I’m glad to see you’re doing well despite everything, Lady Sirin,” Rubia greeted.

Out of nowhere, Sirin appeared with a pop!

Thank goodness!

Especially since her third and fourth stories are the absolute worst…

Perfect timing!

“Hmm. Rubia, you look well. Did something good happen?” Sirin inquired.

“Hehe… Yes, well… things haven’t been bad.”

Rubia’s warm hand tightened around mine.

“H-hello, Lady Sirin,” I managed to say.

“Yes, it’s been a while for you too. But… hmm? Huh… Noah, it seems you’ve had quite the interesting experience as well.”

[Hey… kid. Is that thing really human?] Cartia’s voice echoed in my mind.

‘Huh? Of course, she is… isn’t she?’

[That’s human? No way… Kid, are you insane? That’s not a human; that’s a dr—]

“Hmm, let’s just say there are circumstances to consider, and I hope you’ll understand,” Sirin interrupted, her tone oddly forceful.

But what’s going on?

Does Cartia know Sirin’s identity?

What is it? Tell me too!

[Wait… Can she hear us? Did she overhear what we said?]

‘No way… You’re speaking directly into my mind, aren’t you?’

[Exactly. Normally, unless someone’s directly connected like you, they shouldn’t be able to hear—wait. This little brat genuinely thinks I’m a grandma? Do you have a death wish?]

‘…No, I don’t.’

How did she figure that out?

[“No, I don’t,” my foot… Forget it. Anyway, that thing—]

Sirin, who had been observing our silent exchange, chuckled softly before speaking.

“Cartia, I’ll explain everything to you later. Please be patient for now.”

“Wha… How did she know…?” I stammered, startled. I clutched the bracelet tightly and stumbled backward.

[…What the hell? That’s terrifying…] The bracelet quivered in my hand.

“Lady Sirin, do you know Lady Cartia?” Rubia cautiously voiced the question I couldn’t ask.

But Sirin didn’t answer, only giving us a mysterious smile as she raised her hand.

“You’ll know everything in due time… but for now, let’s take care of the urgent matters first.”

With that, she snapped her fingers.

***

[Hey, what’s… what the hell is this?]

As I followed Sirin through the cave, I stroked the trembling bracelet.

‘First encounters can be unsettling. I was completely thrown off the first time too.’

[No, that’s not it… Ah, never mind.]

Drip, drip. The sound of water droplets echoed through the cave.

“Apologies. Teleporting directly to our destination would’ve been cumbersome. We’re almost there now, so I hope you’ll bear with it,” Sirin explained.

“I don’t mind walking this much. But… is the pursuit really so intense that you had to hide in a cave?” Rubia asked.

“Hmm? No, nothing like that. I just thought staying in a cave felt romantic. Don’t worry too much about it.”

Sirin’s lighthearted tone made Rubia frown. My face twisted slightly in response too.

Romantic?

I mean… sure, romance is important and all, but still… um…

“…Wasn’t the Tower Master supposed to be gravely ill?” Rubia pressed.

“At this rate, they probably won’t survive another six months.”

“Then why on earth would you stash a patient like that in a cave for the sake of romance?”

Rubia’s sharp glare locked onto Sirin.

“Hmm… Seems you think I’m an awful bitch. But you’ll see soon enough. Come, let’s go inside.”

Sirin smirked bitterly and spoke slowly.

[Open.]

Thud-thud-thud—

The cave trembled as if it were collapsing, and the scenery shifted once again.

“Well then, get acquainted while you’re here. I’ll be off to take care of other matters.”

Thud-thud—

“…Huh?” I muttered, confused.

[What the hell…?]

While the others were probably looking at something else, the first thing that appeared in my mind was…

A large fireplace crackling against the wall.

“Hmm…?”

A fluffy-looking carpet, a wooden dining table with four steaming mugs, and…

“Greetings.”

A figure sitting in a rocking chair, knitting.

“My name is Serr. I’ll be in your care for a while.”

Serr.

“A-ah, hello…!” I stammered.

[Spirit Summoner?] Cartia’s voice echoed in my head.

“Hmm… Hello, Tower Master,” Rubia greeted.

“Hehe… It’s an honor to meet the priestess in a private setting. And that cute young lady over there must be Miss Noah?” Serr inquired.

“C-cute? No, not really… b-but yes, I’m Noah.”

The soft, soothing voice seemed almost sleep-inducing, the tone as delicate as the weaving of a melody.

I couldn’t see her clearly, but her gestures and expressions matched perfectly with the Serr I had seen in the game.

“There were some fearsome rumors about you, but you don’t seem that way at all. Hehe,” Serr commented.

“W-well… those are just baseless rumors…”

“Of course. How could someone as adorable as you possibly be a demon? Truly a ridiculous notion.”

Serr stopped her knitting and stood up.

How can someone make even the act of rising from a chair seem so refined?

“We can’t just stand around forever. Please, take a seat.”

“Y-yes…” I nodded as if under a spell and walked toward the sofa she gestured to.

[Hey, that woman… something’s off about her,] Cartia warned.

‘Huh? What do you mean?’

[I don’t know, just… something feels unsettling. I can sense a spirit’s aura, but what is she exactly?]

‘I can’t tell at all…’

Just in case, I focused my senses on Serr. Her magical flow was slightly different from that of a regular human, but it didn’t seem especially unusual.

Tap-tap-tap—

“I heard from Lady Sirin that the Tower Master’s health is in a rather dire state, but outwardly, you seem fine,” Rubia observed.

“Yes. It’s a condition that doesn’t show much on the surface. But it’s fortunate I appear well. And please, call me Serr, not Tower Master.”

Responding to Rubia’s question with a faint smile, Serr turned her attention to the table.

“I’ve prepared refreshments at my discretion, though… Priestess, would you prefer coffee—”

“Please call me Rubia as well. I don’t like the title Priestess,” Rubia interjected.

At Rubia’s words, Serr tilted her head slightly before nodding with a mysterious smile.

“Hmm… Hehe. Understood. Coffee for Rubia, and strawberry milk for Miss Noah. I hope it’s to your taste.”

“S-strawberry milk…!” I exclaimed.

The imagined sweetness of strawberry milk quickened my steps toward the table. As I scurried toward it,

Crackle-crackle… The fire in the fireplace dimmed.

“Ah, it’s gone out again. I’ll handle it. Please, sit comfortably,” Serr said.

Serr tapped the back of the sofa lightly before approaching the fireplace.

And then.

[Hey, kid. Look at that. She’s summoning a spirit,] Cartia pointed out.

‘I’m blind, remember? I can’t see.’

[…Sorry.]

‘Hehe… Just kidding. Hmm… but there is something odd in my perception. Is that… a spirit?’

Rubia, stepping closer with curious eyes, seemed equally entranced by Serr’s actions.

“Ru-Rubia… She’s summoning a spirit!” I whispered excitedly.

“As expected. It’s quite… enchanting,” Rubia replied.

[Wow… I haven’t seen something like this in 800 years. Brings back memories.]

As the three of us watched in awe, a small spirit materialized in Serr’s outstretched hand.

“Oh my, it’s so cute! Hehe… A sparrow, maybe?” Rubia cooed.

[It’s a low-tier spirit. But why does it look so terrified…?]

Rubia chuckled warmly, but Cartia’s voice trailed off.

—Screeeech!

Serr abruptly grabbed the spirit with a fierce grip.

Pooof!

And crushed it.

“…Huh?” I gasped.

[What the…?]

Crackle-crackle…

The scattered sparks reignited the fireplace logs.

Ssssss—

The heat radiating from the flames burned Serr’s hand.

And then.

Another spirit of water appeared in her burned hand.

—Screeek… Squeeek…

Splat!

She crushed it too.

The thick droplets healed her burned hand as they dispersed into the air.

After briefly examining her healed hand, Serr turned to us.

“These logs aren’t fully dried and aren’t ideal for burning. I ask for your understanding.”

She gazed at us with a refined demeanor.

[Oh, hell no. She’s not just crazy—she’s insane.]

And smiled.

Footnote:

1. Cartia is making a crude pun here. While 성지 (seongji) means “sacred ground”, the character 성 (seong) can also mean “sex” in other contexts, allowing for a vulgar double meaning.