[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
Chapter 318: Companion (7)
The day had co to give an answer to the contract proposal.
Ignious left his domain with a confident air.
‘It’s been a while since I last ford a contract.’
This ti, the contractor was soone who could allow even a Spirit King like himself to remain in the Middle Realm for a long ti—the best kind of partner imaginable.
Ignious never doubted that the human would accept his offer.
‘After glimpsing my power, refusal would be impossible. Especially for a mage.’
He had observed countless humans over a long stretch of ti.
Enough to believe he understood them quite well.
Mages, in particular.
‘Seekers of truth.’
Among all humans, they possessed the strongest desire to complete themselves at the end of that arduous pursuit.
After showing even a fragnt of truth to such a person, how could they possibly refuse?
‘I suppose I owe Silaphrion an apology.’
To be honest, it did feel like a loophole.
But what could he do?
He, too, wanted to visit the Middle Realm again after so long.
—You’ve arrived.
In the Domain of Tranquility, Ignious lightly nodded at Silaphrion’s voice and turned his gaze to Fran.
—It’s been a week, human. You’ve prepared your answer to my proposal, I presu?
“Yes.”
The human looked clearly tense.
Ignious chuckled softly.
—Relax. If you’ve made up your mind, answer comfortably.
“I…”
Ignious had already prepared himself to extend a hand in greeting.
Once the contract was complete, he would accompany this human as a soul-bound companion until the day he died.
“…I won’t be entering into a contract.”
—Good. From now on, you and I will—hm?
Thinking he must have misheard, Ignious asked again.
—What did you just say?
—Didn’t you hear? He said he didn’t want to contract with you.
Silaphrion’s unusually cheerful voice went unheard.
Ignious’s mind was filled with a single question.
‘Why?’
—You’re refusing a contract with ? Truly?
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
—…I don’t understand.
By wielding the power of fire, he could purge every impurity within the human body.
Drawing upon his own experience, he could even grant the body of a perfected archmage.
Ignious could not comprehend rejecting such overwhelming conditions.
—Wait.
Still reeling from the shock, Ignious finally looked properly at the human before him.
Only then did he notice what had been invisible until monts ago.
—So that’s it. You erased my sensory imprint.
The trace of his perception he had left within the human was completely gone.
Ignious glared at Silaphrion, anger flaring in his eyes.
—Disappointing. Silaphrion, to violate the unspoken laws…
—It wasn’t .
—Do you think I’d believe such an excuse?
—But it’s true. Mu intervened this ti.
Ignious, who had been about to erupt in fury, froze.
He knew very well what kind of existence Mu was.
—Mu…
The corrector of errors in the Spirit Realm.
The only true neutral—belonging to no domain, a lone wanderer.
To act freely within territories ruled by kings required power to match.
—Tsk.
Ignious clicked his tongue.
If Mu had intervened, there was no point in confronting Silaphrion.
He turned back to the human.
—One day, you will regret rejecting my offer.
“Regret…”
Fran rolled the word around in his mouth, then lifted his head proudly.
“I don’t think I will. I don’t regret my choices.”
—What?
A faint fury flickered in Ignious’s eyes.
—Do you an to say that the power to burn mountains with a gesture and evaporate lakes is insignificant?
“It’s incredible power. Of course it is. But that’s your completed power, Ignious. It isn’t mine. I want to see how far I can go with my own strength.”
—…Foolish.
“Foolish. Maybe it is.”
Fran nodded easily, his expression oddly refreshed.
“But doesn’t it sound exciting? Wondering what kind of future self is waiting at the end of that foolish choice.”
—……
They often say genius and madness are separated by a thin sheet of paper.
To Ignious, the so-called archmages of the Middle Realm and the eccentrics were much the sa.
That was why he had to ask.
—Human. What is your na?
“Fran. My na is Fran Sirius.”
—…Very well. I’ll rember your na, at least. And if you end up in a miserable realm, I’ll be sure to laugh at you for making such a foolish choice.
“I’ll do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
—Hmph.
Despite having his contract rejected, Ignious didn’t seem particularly angry.
If anything, he looked more regretful than upset.
Before leaving, he spoke so only Silaphrion could hear.
—Unfortunate for you as well.
—Out of nowhere?
—It seems that boy has no intention of contracting with any of us.
—T-That’s not true! Maybe it’s just because it was you, Ignious!
—How naïve.
Snorting derisively, Ignious departed.
—If you’re rejected, co visit my domain soti. I’ll pour you a drink.
—As if! I’m not getting rejected!
Fuming, Silaphrion looked at Fran with anxious eyes.
‘After all this effort… he’s not going to be stolen by so other spirit, right?’
‘From today on, I’ll have to keep an even closer eye on the others.’
For quite so ti afterward, the cries of spirits echoed through the Domain of Tranquility.
* * *
Ti passed.
Day 367 of drifting through the Spirit Realm.
“Ah.”
Fran let out a small sound of wonder.
A shiver ran through him, as if lightning had pierced his crown.
A familiar voice followed.
—F-Fran.
Turning slowly, he saw a woman standing there, tense from head to toe.
—C-Can you see ?
“…Yes.”
After spending more than a year together, this was the first ti he could see her form.
Fran smiled brightly.
“I can see you clearly, Lady Silaphrion.”
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
—Congratulations. Your spirit affinity has finally reached a stable stage.
High enough to visually perceive a Spirit King—
a level achieved by only a handful throughout continental history.
—Good thing you reached this stage before leaving.
“It’s all thanks to you.”
Without her protection, surviving here safely would have been impossible.
—The day you leave is approaching.
“I think I’ll miss my ti here.”
—You really an that?
“Of course.”
—Th-Then…
After hesitating for a mont, Silaphrion gathered her courage.
—How about contracting with ? Then we could stay together forever.
“……”
Fran gave a faint smile.
Ever since Ignious had made his proposal, he’d had a feeling this mont would co.
For months, he had thought about it—hundreds, thousands of tis.
“I’m sorry.”
That was his answer.
“I think I have an aversion to accepting already completed power.”
A contract with a Spirit King ant wielding power perfected by soone else.
That wasn’t the path he wanted.
“If my companions heard this, they’d probably scold and beat up… but I want to stand beside them with strength I completed myself.”
Not as a Spirit King’s contractor—
but as Fran Sirius.
Anything else felt like sothing he would deeply regret one day.
—I figured as much.
Silaphrion looked a little lonely.
Her voice carried moisture, yet sounded calm.
—I’m sorry. I expected this answer, but I acted selfishly because I didn’t want to lose you.
“Lady Silaphrion…”
—Hey! Let’s not get too gloomy. You’re leaving soon—we should have fun until then.
Changing the mood instantly, she asked,
—Then is there a spirit you do want to contract with? An attribute or rank?
“Well… there is soone, but I don’t know if it’s even possible.”
—Who? If you asked, even Spirit Kings would agree without hesitation.
“Mu.”
Silaphrion tilted her head, then her eyes widened.
—Mu? You an the colorless spirit?
“Yes.”
—That’s… certainly complicated.
After thinking for a mont, she continued.
—As far as I know, Mu has never contracted and gone to the Middle Realm. Probably never before that either.
“But it’s not impossible to contract, right?”
—That part… honestly, I don’t know either. Mu is very different from ordinary spirits.
There were many Spirit Kings, even among the greatest.
But only one truly singular existence.
Mu alone.
—But why Mu? His power… it seems compatible with harmony, but it’s not fully understood yet.
“That’s exactly why I like him.”
A power not yet fully defined.
A being that still had to grow, explore possibilities, and wander in uncertainty.
It felt a lot like himself.
“With him… I think we could grow together. Helping each other sohow.”
—I see.
Silaphrion murmured softly, then smiled.
—Why are you telling that? Go tell Mu already.
“Oh! You’re right. Thank you!”
Watching him leave, she felt the breeze gently pass and muttered:
—They say raising children is pointless in the end… I think I finally understand that feeling.
For the first ti, she understood a parent’s heart.
* * *
Mu was, as always, on the floating island.
And as always, gazing down at the Spirit Realm.
“Don’t you get bored?”
The biggest change over the past year was this—
Mu no longer ran away when spoken to.
Without looking over, Mu replied,
—I don’t. The more I look, the more beautiful it becos.
“That much, huh?”
Fran sat beside him and casually continued.
“There are even more beautiful places outside.”
—Outside?
Mu finally turned his head.
Sensing interest, Fran nodded.
“The Middle Realm. There are countless beautiful places—oceans that mirror the sky, temples lined with colossal statues…”
—The Middle Realm…
Mu quickly lost interest and looked away.
“Hey, wait. Why the disappointnt?”
—I cannot go there.
“Why not? You’re a spirit. Just contract.”
—Impossible.
“Why?”
—I exist, yet do not exist. No one knows of my existence. Therefore, no one exists who can summon through a contract.
“Then what about ?”
Fran spoke solemnly.
“I’m looking at you right now.”
—…Your talent as a spirit caller is excellent. You could form a contract with a Spirit King.
“I just turned one down.”
Mu paused.
—Why?
“I want to complete my own color.”
He gazed at the sa scenery.
“You’re called the colorless spirit. I think you won’t overwrite . You’ll let remain myself.”
—……
Mu stared at him, hollow eyes asking.
‘Are you sure that’s enough?’
“I am.”
—There may co a day when you find useless.
“Even then, I won’t regret this choice.”
After a long silence, Mu muttered,
—I’ve never seen humans before, but you seem especially hopeless among them.
“That’s not true. There’s this guy nad Oscar—he’s truly hopeless.”
—Sounds interesting.
“It is. Every day will be.”
Fran extended his hand.
“Co with .”
—……
After a mont’s hesitation, Mu gently took his hand.
Their souls shed together, a calm warmth spreading through them.
—Synchronization complete.
“Nice to et you, Mu.”
Fran smiled brighter than ever.
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
User Comments
0 comments from readers