episode_0081

The vehicle carrying us continued along the stretch of road for dozens of minutes. The cradle was a facility built on reclaimed land far west of the capital, and was in the exact opposite direction from our destination.

There was no particular boredom on the journey as I felt the impressive feel of the luxury vehicle I was driving for the first time.

It feels completely different from the hard and cold rough terrain vehicles I used to travel to the northeast or south. Should I say that it feels like a ride from another world?

The vehicle provided by the hotel when leaving for the crib is nothing compared to this.

There is almost no shaking, and the chair is so soft as a cushion that it almost feels like a moving bed.

There is even a table between the facing seats where you can place drinks and snacks.

As I was looking around, using the mask as a shield, I heard someone’s voice coming from the seat opposite to where I was sitting.

“… You seem to like it quite a bit, huh?”

Compassionately, he was still sitting with his hands folded in a relaxed posture.

The shiny navy blue dress wraps around her as if it were one body. The unique, luxurious, sweet scent fills the sealed room.

I’ve seen a lot of things I shouldn’t have seen before, but seeing this elegant appearance makes me think that she’s the daughter of a famous family in heaven.

“It’s okay. To be honest, I was a little surprised. If I had a car like this, I think I could live here for the rest of my life.”

“Pyeong, for life… ”

Feeling a little embarrassed, I spoke honestly, and Yeon Yeon-ha suddenly cleared her throat as if she had heard something she couldn’t hear.

“Hmm, hmm. You really say that so casually. Be careful. It’s okay for me, but it might be misunderstood by others.”

“… ? yes. Thank you.”

I didn’t feel any disdain or belittlement, so maybe it was just her way of telling me not to be too rude.

“… it’s okay. But do you have any questions for me? I think I was the only one digging into it too much. If there’s anything you want to ask, feel free to ask. I will answer with as much sincerity as I received.”

The reason the way back wasn’t boring was also thanks to the constant Q&A with Yeon Myeong-ha. Actually, it seems like it was almost like interrogation out of pity.

Thanks to you, I also learned various facts. For example, we had something in common: we disliked dishes made with eggplant.

“Okay. Nothing like that in particular… ”

“… ”

Disappointment spreads like paint on Yeon Yeon-ha’s face, as if she had been waiting for an answer. I immediately had to retract what I was going to say and use my brain to come up with a question.

Then, I came up with something I had been curious about for a long time and immediately mentioned it.

“So, you can never see spirits unless you are a spiritist?”

“That’s something I’m curious about… it’s okay. Nothing… ”

Yan Yanha slightly pouted her lips, as if she still felt a bit of disappointment, but then nodded her head forward.

“… It is true that wild spirits cannot be seen unless you are a spiritist with an open passageway. Even we can only see the spirits of the species that fit our unique wavelength. However, the story is different for the servant who ministered.”

Yeon Myeong-ha slightly spread her right hand and muttered something. Then, without a particle array, a small circular three-dimensional magic formula appeared in my palm and disappeared in an instant.

“It is rarely done because it is not effective, but it is possible to make entities tamed with spirit magic appear in the material world for a while. Like this.”

As soon as Yeon Myeong-ha finished speaking, the air above her shoulder, which was facing her, began to strangely stir.

Soon, a bluish light slowly gathers and takes shape, and a translucent caterpillar the size of the palm of your hand with fluffy fur and protrusions appears.

When Yeon Myeong-ha put her finger on it, she put her head on the tip like a puppy following its owner.

However, I think the appearance is a bit different from the description in the material Jinwoo Mok sent me last time.

“Wasn’t the spirit definitely a creature that looked like a cluster of sparkling lights?”

“That’s right. Are you sure? It feels that way originally. The same goes for the children around me right now. Only when they appear in the material world do they decorate their appearance by mimicking native species.”

Yeon Myeong-ha said, stroking the head of the spirit caterpillar with her fingers.

“Even if they are the same species, their appearance is very different because they mimic creatures they have never seen before. So spirits distinguish species based on their properties, not their appearance.”

When Yeon Myeong-ha added the magic formula from before a couple of times, translucent creatures that looked like small butterflies or birds appeared and disappeared repeatedly.

However, it is quite unusual that their relationship with Yeon Myeong-ha seems to be very good.

Didn’t they say that spirits are parasite-like creatures that mediate mental pollution?

“That’s unexpected. I guess your relationship with the spirits is not as bad as you think.”

“I’ve given up halfway now, well… There’s nothing I can do… They’re not doing it on purpose… And thanks to you, I don’t have any mental problems now.”

“Is that so? That’s good.”

I nodded and looked at the spirit in the form of a caterpillar that was still appearing.

It looks a lot cuter than I imagined. I reached out my hand without realizing it, thinking that I wanted to pet it at least once.

-Sigh!!

However, the caterpillar, which had been gently cared for just a moment ago, suddenly turns violent.

As soon as I reached out, it bristled its fur and protrusions and puffed itself out, making a menacing hissing sound.

Then, it hid itself translucently again and disappeared into thin air along with a small sparkling light.

“Ah… ”

When I vainly withdrew my hand, Yeon Myeong-ha spoke in an urgent tone, as if making excuses.

“This is strange… They’ve never been like this before… ”

Then he muttered as if he suddenly remembered something.

“When I think about it, even back then… ”

“At that time?”

“ugh… ”

Yeon Myeong-ha sighed softly as if she had made a mistake.

Then he told me what had happened a few weeks ago.

The spirits showed me in a dream a scene of me dealing with warlocks in the south, and when I woke up, they were very frightened.

At the time, I thought it was an inexplicable dream, and because I could not see my face, I had no idea that the person in the dream was me.

One way or another, it is truly amazing.

“I think it might have something to do with your abilities… ”

Yeon Myeong-ha pursed her lips in a very quiet voice so that the driver’s seat could not hear.

I definitely thought that could be the case. Once it enters my blockade range, the act of stealing the owner’s particles through the passage, or more accurately, the act of feeding, will become impossible.

So are they now starving every night?

The eyes that looked at me were full of questions. This is probably a curiosity about the existence of blockade.

Actually, I’m curious too.

The director said he would let me know when he graduated, but would he be able to wait for three years? Should I just go to the eastern part during vacation and find out…

“Is that so… ”

“Well, I guess it’s okay when he doesn’t show up. You don’t have to be too disappointed. I will show you often. Then you might adapt and become okay… ”

I guess I could sense a little disappointment in her voice, and she spoke to me as if she was comforting a child.

That treatment is just embarrassing.

“It’s okay. You’re scared, but you don’t have to force it. Thank you, even if just for words, senior.”

“… But how long are you going to call me senior? It’s been a long time since we first met… ”

But suddenly, Yeon Myeong-ha started making strange noises.

“Senior, doesn’t that sound too stiff and business-like? Then, if others see you, they will think you are an enemy.”

“Then what do you say if you are not a senior?”

After hearing my rebuttal, Yeon Myeong-ha paused for a moment and answered in a calm voice.

“Originally, this is something that should never be done no matter what, but if it’s your level, I might specifically allow you to call me “senpai” without “nim.” While we’re at it, how about practicing? Won’t you get used to it if you keep using it?”

I am a little embarrassed by the sudden proposal. But from my perspective, I don’t feel any need to refuse. Although there was a bit of hyperbole mixed in, the situation where Yeon Myeong-ha tried to close the distance first also felt very welcome.

“… Compassionate senior?”

Following Yeon Yeon-ha’s suggestion, the title was lightly changed. Surprisingly, there was no particular reaction. He just nodded his head slightly, still with a haughty expression.

“… Not bad. But I think it sounds better if you leave out the last name. What do you think? Right now, I think the harmony is somewhat awkward and not beautiful.”

“Then senior Minha?”

This time, Yeon Myeong-ha bowed her head slightly more deeply.

“… It’s pretty good. I definitely feel like our relationship is more affectionate and closer than before.”

“I think it’s okay for me too. Then from now on… ”

“But if you’re dissatisfied, I think it’s okay to call it something else. For example, noona… If another guy did something like that, I would slaughter him right away… If you give me an order, I have no choice but to follow it… ”

“… ”

I was lost in thought for a moment.

Sister, sister.

I remember the contents of Yeon Myeong-ha’s academic record that the principal once handed over to me while making up things. And he was clearly a sympathetic 17-year-old.

As the leader said, not all magicians quantitatively bloom at the same age. It was said that the timing varies from 1 year to as late as 3 years, so they are treated as adults based on the flowering time rather than biological age. Age is not a consideration at all even in the criteria for determining seniority from the cradle.

But anyway, I’m 18. I don’t even know when exactly he became a wizard, but it’s probably sooner than Compassionate.

He became a wizard earlier than his biological age. I just call her senior for the sake of intimacy, but I don’t feel anything, but I can’t call her my sister.

“Senior. Aren’t you 17?”

I made a decision and told my friend.

“I am 18 years old. Anyway, I think it would be a bit difficult to call her sister. Rather, am I not your older brother?”

“Oh, oppa… ”

Yeon Myeong-ha repeated my words and opened her eyes. Then he suddenly lowers his head. He clenched both his fists and dropped them violently.

I didn’t mean this seriously. Any title is a good thing. But no matter what, have you hurt your pride too much?

After feeling pity for a while, he straightened his posture again with a cold expression as if nothing had happened.

“… How dare you be arrogant towards your junior.”

I feel a bit resentful of the leering glances, but I don’t have the same feeling of rejection as before.

“… My sister is canceling. From now on, call me senior.”

“Okay.”

I answered without thinking.

After a while, the partition between the driver’s seat and the back seat opened to the side, and the driver’s voice was heard.

“Lady. I think it will arrive in about 10 minutes.”

“Really? Okay.”

When Yeon Myeong-ha nodded and answered, the partition closed again.

She first adjusted her appearance a couple of times and then stretched out her white, thin fingers toward me.

“What are you doing?”

“… Stay still. Because I am the delicate one who does it for you.”

Yeon Myeong-ha fumbled with her hand and touched my hair. His fingers moved lower and lower and patted my shoulder, and he took off my tie and tied it again.

The slight warmth and moist, sweet breath she gave off from up close kept tickling my nose.

“… This is fine. Not bad.”

I wonder what the point of all this is when I’m wearing a mask in the first place, but I don’t think there’s any need to break the satisfaction of compassion.

“And our contract is an absolute secret from our parents… got it… ?”

Then he added urgently, as if he suddenly remembered something.