episode_0256

The sandwich was a lot for three people to eat, but it was all eaten up in a casual atmosphere.

There are two other people like me, and despite their appearances, they are both big eaters.

Professor Riana and Elia in particular have to eat a lot to maintain such bodies.

“Wow… I ate well~ It was so delicious!”

[I’m glad you enjoyed the meal]

“Hehe, I’ll feed you until you’re full later.”

[yes]

Fortunately, the response was positive.

Elia, who had patted my belly, promised to repay me with a playful face, and Professor Riana, who was sitting next to me, kept putting her sandwich to her mouth with a surprised expression.

“Ahem, shall we start now?”

Only after filling our bellies and patting our stomachs in the sunlight did the training begin.

“… King Lee Ha-yul, shall we take a deep breath and start?”

[yes?]

To be exact, it was right before we started that I heard something out of the blue.

As I tilted my head in disbelief, Professor Riana, who was about to begin teaching, was staring at me with a strange gaze.

[What do you mean?]

“No, you look incredibly sleepy. You were nodding off earlier too… It’s not urgent, so would you like to take a nap?”

Professor Riana opens her arms slightly. I’m not an idiot who doesn’t understand what kind of gesture that is.

I shook my head, feeling both disgust and nervousness.

[… No, it’s okay]

“If you are really sleepy, you must tell me?”

[Bye…]

A full belly, warm sunlight, a gentle breeze, and most of all, the presence of Professor Riana and Elia right next to me.

It’s true that I’m feeling sleepy because there are so many things around me that can cause drowsiness.

However, I am not so sleepy that I will lose consciousness right away. This body is fine even after staying up all night for over a week.

… on the other hand, I also sleep a lot, enough to sleep for a whole week.

Maybe that’s why I’m being treated so strangely as time goes by. If you ask me why I don’t like it, I can’t answer right away, but I can’t help but feel uneasy…

.

.

.

“We’ve already taught you how to level up your spirits, but let’s go over it one more time just to review it.”

Professor Riana’s explanation continued in a somewhat haphazard manner. She sat on the stump, looking down at me and Elia, who were sitting on the grass, and her mouth was agape.

“More than 90% of the spirits that exist in this world are lower spirits.”

Spirits use a different measurement method than monster hierarchy.

There are three categories: lower, middle, and upper. This is not something that humans arbitrarily divided up. In reality, spirits go through a change in rank according to three stages.

“The spirits that people usually know are sub-spirits. They are in the shape of beads that scatter light and have colors that match each attribute. In reality, sub-spirits all look similar. The only differences are the size and the intensity of the light?”

Professor Riana stretched out both her arms. Long and thin arms. Magical energy surged from the top of her left arm, and a wind spirit popped out.

This is the spirit I usually describe as a halo. It is a wind bead-like shape that emits a light green light according to its attribute.

“That is, there is no distinct difference between individuals. As you all know, not having individuality in this world is not a good thing.”

– Wheeing…

She raised her left hand, which was possessed by a spirit. Pyobyobyo – Other lower wind spirits appeared around it, but as she explained, there was no difference other than the intensity or size of the light.

Individuality, uniqueness.

A characteristic that sets you apart from others is that you have a strong beneficial side in this world. If that element is extremely prominent, it can function as a supernatural ability.

“Lower spirits have little personality and uniqueness. Because of this, their self-consciousness is also very weak. It’s not like they’re at the level of children, but rather a mass of attributes that move by instinct.”

I nodded at that explanation.

In reality, no special meaning is conveyed to the ordinary lower spirits. At best, they like the energy that matches each attribute, and instinctively ask for more of their magic power.

“That’s the difference between lower and middle.”

Snap! Professor Riana, who lightened the mood by snapping her fingers, waved her empty right hand this time.

“From the middle spirit level, each spirit will have their own personality and uniqueness. Their appearance will change, and they will become self-aware, developing their own personality and tastes.”

Magic power was formed in my right hand. Magic power that continued in the same flow as before.

Whoosh! My hair swayed in the wind that rushed out. The wind that had gathered into one point, as if sucking up what had just been spat out, took shape.

– Beep!

A bird with sharp talons and a beak, long wings spread out to the left and right, all made of wind, was sitting on Professor Riana’s right arm.

[Ah, that kid from back then]

This is a spirit I’ve met before. I met it occasionally when Professor Riana transported me in China.

– Beep!

[Ouch, ticklish… hehe]

The spirit recognized me as well, and ran towards me with a clear voice. I stroked the spirit as it rubbed its head against my cheek.

In addition, several spirits appeared next to Professor Riina.

There were colorful, animal-like entities, and even strangely shaped spirits that you’d often see in fantasy games.

Professor Riana’s expression became strange at the sight of her pushing me in before her master.

“… This is the reason why the lower ranks make up a large proportion of all spirits. It is also the same reason why there are few humans who have awakened as superhumans, and even fewer superhumans who have awakened their own abilities. ”

Just as humans awaken their magical powers and develop their unique abilities.

It’s similar to how spirits change from being a lump of magical power to a mid-level spirit with its own personality by awakening to its own uniqueness.

“There are few cases where the remaining 10% are ranked in the middle on their own in nature. Here is the problem! What is the reason?”

“Thanks to the image shared with the contractor. It is difficult to build alone in nature, but with the contractor, you can quickly obtain a much more diverse record.”

“Oh, it was worth studying in advance. Cadet Elia is not yet ready, but it will be useful later, so watch out! Here’s a piece of candy as a reward!”

“Oh, thank you.”

The answer came from Elia. Professor Riana smiled and handed her a piece of candy.

“A royal candy that the king has not eaten for over half a year!”

[Ugh…]

“Ahaha, just kidding~”

The sudden attack took my breath away. Professor Riana giggled and patted my head.

“Ahem, enough joking, Cadet Elia’s answer is exactly what Cadet Lee Ha-yul should do.”

The fingers that came down from her head pressed against her cheek.

“We have already shared our experiences through a contract, but what we need to do now is a more direct connection and transmission. This is called promotion among spiritists.”

Spirit promotion. This is a procedure that was also known in the original work. There was no proper spiritist route, but there were turns using spirits.

“Before that, let me ask you a quick question. How many spirits do you have under contract right now?”

[I… am now the 711th]

“Wow… 700 in just over half a year? And you’re already promoted… You’re really fast. You said you brought about 100 in this dungeon?”

[yes]

“Then the target for promotion is roughly 600… The average spirit mage would only do about 10 a day… ”

Professor Riana smiled faintly as she stroked my cheek.

“I think King Lee Ha-yul can probably do it all today. In fact, it doesn’t matter if it’s not enough. Today is not the only day, right? Let’s do what we can today.”

[yes!]

The explanation was over. He gently rubbed her face with his gentle hands and started the promotion without hesitation.

– Hwaruk…!

The bright red fireballs held in both hands burst into flames.

It’s the spirit of flame that made a contract with me. Since he also knew what this was, he was looking forward to the swaying flames.

“The promotion process is not complicated. Just manipulate your magic power and connect it to a spirit. Use magic power as the power needed for promotion, and use magic power as a medium to color your own image into a spirit.”

Professor Riana, sitting right next to him, added her explanation.

“It is also a procedure like an additional contract. While the contract with the lower spirit was a simple signature, the contract with the middle spirit is similar to leaving a trace by deeply burying the magic power.”

Elia was also by my side.

Professor Riana is there to provide guidance and prepare for emergencies, while Elia is there to observe the promotion she will experience in the future.

‘Phew… ‘

I took a deep breath as I listened to Professor Riana’s explanation.

According to her explanation, all you have to do is manipulate magic to connect with the spirits.

‘hmm…’

I felt the spirit of flames burning brightly with anticipation.

The power of observation. Through it, information is accumulated and updated.

But now, I could feel the warmth in my hand and the magical power I felt through my senses even more clearly.

The magic, providence, uniqueness, and contractual bond that makes up the spirit. The spirit’s boundaries. It can be recognized without using observation.

He released the magical power stored in his core. The magical power that had been pushed through the circuit arrived at his hand. He adjusted the magical power like a line and then struck the spirit in his palm.

– Woof woof!

In an instant, the bright red spirit turned white. Whoosh! The flames, which had become intense in an instant, engulfed the area around his wrists, then shrank back to its original size.

It’s a strange feeling. The spirit and I had a firm contract before, but now it’s even more deeply tied.

– Gulp… Gulp…

With this, there are two lines connecting me and the spirit.

The strange feeling I get from the already connected lines… This is probably the process of sharing experiences and images.

And through the magical line that was just inserted, magical power was being sucked out like sucking a drink through a straw.

One was to color the image, and the other was to recharge the energy needed for promotion.

‘… Are you taking a lot?’

But the amount of magical power it takes is quite a lot. At some point, I didn’t feel like I was lacking magical power, but now the amount the spirit is taking is quite a lot.

Of course, it’s not something that will cause you to struggle right away. But it seems like it won’t be enough to repeat this hundreds of times.

I guess I’ll have to absorb and supply magic power from the outside starting from the middle.

Even while thinking like that, the magic power was being sucked out. A thumping sound was transmitted from the spirit that had consumed a generous amount of magic power.

A sound similar to a heartbeat. Each time it rang repeatedly, the spirit being sensed changed.

Magic, providence, and uniqueness change their forms under my influence, like solving a puzzle.

– Hehehe…

[huh?]

How much magic power was sucked out like that?

At some point, the spirit that was being held in my hand disappeared.

No, that was wrong. To be exact, a spirit that had grown too large to be contained in my palm was writhing in my arms.

Fur that sways like fire, four short legs, innocent red eyes that sparkle, and a tongue that sticks out and pant.

A tail that sways powerfully from the buttocks.

-Wow!

– I’m hungry…!

[puppy?]

“Is that a puppy?”

“Is that a puppy?”

The transformed spirit’s appearance was that of a puppy. Its body was quite large. It was smaller than me, but it was big enough to fit in my arms.

As the spirit babbled, surprisingly, the meaning was conveyed to my mind. It wasn’t something I had interpreted arbitrarily before, but rather something that was conveyed directly.

‘… How can your first conversation be about food?’

What should I say, there must be a better first line? I grumbled to myself, but I guess I can’t expect much from a childish spirit…

“Wow, a puppy made of fire! He looks so cute!”

[jealousy]

[is it so?]

“… Huh? Now that I think about it, it seems a little less cute… ?”

Ahem- Elia, who had changed her mind, twitched the corners of her lips and pressed my cheek.

“The promotion was really fast. At most, 3 minutes? Usually, it takes at least 10 minutes no matter how fast you are… Well, if you have talent, you can do it.”

Meanwhile, Professor Riana, who had been tilting her head with a puzzled expression, soon came to her senses and examined my condition.

“How are you feeling? Do you have a headache, or a throbbing chest… ”

The status is…

I gave the hungry puppy spirit a warning and took a moment to check on my condition.

[Yes, it’s okay. You can do it right away.]

“If something goes wrong, absolutely! Don’t hide it and tell me right away. Got it?”

[yes]

No problem. The amount consumed is not that much, and even that can be recovered right away.

I’ve been sick since a long time ago, so I’ll just let it go.

I shrugged my shoulders and stroked the head of the frightened spirit, who had become calm. The puppy spirit, who had been looking up at me from my arms, purred and nuzzled its head against the nape of my neck.

What form and character will the spirits of the future take?

My heart pounded softly with anticipation.

.

.

.

Since then, the spirit’s advancement has not stopped.

With enough horsepower, mental strength, and body to spare, there was no reason to stop.

Since there were no problems after that, I was able to immediately promote the lower level spirits to middle level spirits.

…however…

“Another puppy?”

“That’s right, another puppy?”

– Hehehe…

Contrary to Professor Riana’s explanation that they have their own personalities, many spirits who become lieutenants take on a puppy-like appearance.

The puppy-shaped water spirit that I’m holding in my arms right now is like that, as are the puppies scattered around.

Each and every one of the puppy spirits has a different appearance…

As I was trying to hide my nervousness, a strange gaze flew at me from the side.

“… First of all, the spirit is promoted by sharing the contractor’s mental image. So it cannot help but be influenced by the contractor.”

“Aha? Then I understand.”

[What do you understand?]

What does this have to do with me and my dog?

Despite my protests, Professor Riana and Elia’s strange gazes did not change.

It was an unfair thing.

* * *

[Player Compensation System: Measurement]

▶Title

“puppy”