026
A calm yet cold voice echoed in my ears.
Soon, the faint sound of coughing followed by approaching footsteps reached us.
“Even if Luarel returns alive, Shupetty is still my youngest sibling.”
“Brother!”
I turned around quickly and shouted loudly.
It was brother Elzen!
Brother looked stunning today as always… breathtakingly beautiful but pale. He held a book in his arms.
“Why… why do you care so much about that child?”
“Because she’s family, Angela.”
“I’m family too!”
Angela’s face turned red as she shouted, but brother Elzen replied with a stern expression.
“Yes, you are family. And family doesn’t speak such cruel words.”
“That’s…”
“You should apologize. What you said was mean.”
His tone was soft yet firm.
There was an unyielding strength to brother Elzen, something impervious to argument.
‘His face is like a flower, but his heart is as tough as a walnut.’
At that moment, sunlight streamed in through the window, gently embracing brother Elzen.
His long, honey-like lashes fluttered, revealing his mauve-colored eyes.
He looked ethereal, like someone out of a dream, but the sharp curve of his lips made him appear resolute.
Angela, unable to meet brother Elzen’s gaze, averted her eyes.
It was a little satisfying to see, but I also felt a bit sorry for her.
“Why won’t you look directly at brother?”
Curious, I asked, and this time Angela’s ears turned red.
“You… you, I won’t let this slide. How dare you, you little… ignore me like this!”
“Huh? When did Chuu ignore you…?”
“I can’t stand that clueless expression either!”
Tears welled up in Angela’s eyes, but I didn’t understand at all and just stood there blankly.
Brother Elzen was the one who explained.
“Angela feels this way because she isn’t awakened, Shupetty.”
“Huh?”
“Oh, I guess you wouldn’t know since only awakened ones are in your class. For non-awakened people, they can’t look awakened ones in the eye.”
“Ah, but my friends in the carrot group are fine.”
And they’re looking at my eyes right now!
“That’s because your Bijou hasn’t emerged yet.”
“Oh! So if my Bijou emerges, Angela won’t be able to look at my eyes?”
“That’s right. Unless you choose to suppress or conceal it as a courtesy.”
Brother Elzen shrugged lightly.
I clapped my hands in understanding.
“Got it! That’s a little sad.”
“You…!”
At that moment, Angela trembled all over, breathing heavily.
“I won’t forget this day. Even if you beg me to let you join the social club later, it’ll be useless!”
But I already said I don’t need it.
It didn’t seem like Angela went to a place with flour or sugar.
So, I’d rather go to the kitchen instead.
After Angela stormed off, the hallway was left with just me, brother Elzen, and the precious apple pie.
“Oh, right. Brother, how did you know to come here?”
“Lina told me you were coming to visit. And that you were carrying a delicious apple pie.”
“Oh! Then… then, should we eat it now?!”
“Sure. Let’s do that.”
Brother Elzen patted my head.
Smiling brightly, I let him pat me to his heart’s content, then grabbed his hand and started walking.
“I’ll carry the pie.”
“Okay.”
“How have you been?”
“Good!”
But our delicate brother… could he carry both the pie and his book?
Honestly, I was a little worried, so I reached for the book.
“I’ll carry this.”
“No. Just make sure you watch where you’re going.”
“But… oh?”
I glanced at the title of the book: On the Origins and Names of Spirits.
“Brother, are you interested in spirits?”
“I looked into it because you’re going to be a spirit master.”
“Oh! That makes me so happy!”
Brother is interested in me.
Well, of course—he did call me his sibling earlier.
Feeling inexplicably happy, I giggled.
“When we get inside, I’ll tell you what I’ve learned. To make a contract with a Spirit King, you need to know their name.”
Oh my gosh.
That was one of the tasks I had to do, but how did he know to help me with it?
I was so glad I decided to visit brother today.
***
“Grandfather will be happy if I make a contract with a Spirit King. That’s why I want to do it.”
“Of course he would be. It’s like having a strawberry cake unexpectedly fall into your lap.”
“Strawberry cake…?”
A little while later.
I was happily munching on the pie, my face smeared with stewed apples.
Brother Elzen barely ate any, but he did have one slice. I devoured the rest.
The pie was the size of an adult’s palm, so I was very full.
“Of course, making a contract would be great, whether it’s with an intermediate or advanced spirit. But that doesn’t define your worth.”
Brother wiped my mouth with a handkerchief as he spoke.
“You’re just you, and no matter what anyone says, you’re the youngest in our family. A person’s value isn’t solely based on their abilities.”
“…Really?”
“Even if your Bijou doesn’t emerge or your powers aren’t extraordinary, it doesn’t matter. You don’t need to make a contract with a Spirit King. That’s something Grandfather wants, not me.”
Brother Elzen’s voice was so gentle, I couldn’t help but listen.
“And… even if, by chance, Grandfather tells us to cast you out, Dad wouldn’t do that.”
“Okay.”
“I heard you also found Mom’s belongings. That’s admirable.”
Pat, pat.
Brother patted me again.
His slightly cool touch felt incredibly comforting.
Like a rabbit napping, I stayed still until suddenly, a thought hit me, and I raised my head.
As I quietly reflected on our conversation, something dawned on me.
“What about Grandfather?”
“Hm?”
“If Chuu becomes useless… will Grandfather hate me?”
“He’ll probably just lose interest.”
I don’t like that!
I became rather serious.
I like Grandfather, so I’d feel sad if he didn’t feel the same.
“Don’t trust Grandfather too much.”
“………”
“Before I became like this, I was very close to Grandfather too. I even sat on his lap. But look, Grandfather hasn’t visited me once since I got sick.”
“Oh…”
What should I do?
‘Brother must be hurt.’
Not knowing how to respond, I impulsively hugged brother Elzen tightly.
Thump, thump.
I could feel his heartbeat.
The teacher from the carrot group said this helps make sadness go away.
“Are you comforting me?”-
“Yup… Grandfather was bad.”
“Grandfather?”
Brother Elzen chuckled softly.
“Criticizing the head of Pashayen while wearing a bunny headband… you’ve got some nerve.”
Even so, he quietly lowered his head as if trying to hide his tears.
So I pretended not to notice and kept patting his back.
[The Spirit King of Emotion ‘■■■’ sobs uncontrollably.]
[Yes! This is it! The beautiful sight of sibling love!]
[The Spirit King of ○○ ‘■■■’ speaks for the first time.]
[A rare and delightful moment to witness.]
‘Oh!’
Wait a minute, just now… just now!
I was so surprised and excited that I nearly tried to grab the floating text and shake it.
Not that it would have worked.
‘Will they appear again?’
I stared at the empty air, hoping, but the Spirit King of ○○ didn’t show up again.
‘Such a shame. It could’ve been a chance for a hint!’
At that moment, brother Elzen lifted his head.
His eyes were a little red, but it didn’t seem like he had been crying heavily.
“That’s strange. After all that movement, I should be tired, but I feel energized. Is it because of you?”
“Yup! Chuu is brother’s vitamin.”
“Vitamin?”
Oh, wait. What is that?
It felt like the perfect word for the situation.
[The Spirit King of Earth ‘■’ regards you fondly.]
[On the day you first met Elzen, you had six tasks. You’ve completed five of them.]
Oh, that’s right!
Now brother Elzen will help uncover the Spirit Kings’ names.
“For now… I hope Grandfather keeps liking you. That’s why I’ve narrowed down places with hints about the Spirit Kings’ names. I’ve excluded anything overseas.”
“Okay!”
“Here, take a look.”
Brother opened his book and pulled out a piece of paper.
—
● The True Name of the Fire Spirit King – Baratheum of Resurrection
●The True Name of the Water Spirit King – Pashayen of the Horizon
●The True Name of the Chaos Spirit King – Velarion of the Eclipse
●The True Name of the Fortune Spirit King – Raximon of the Dawn
●The True Name of the Emotion Spirit King – Ishel of the Afterglow
—
“For now, it’s certain that the Fire Spirit King’s name is within the imperial family.”
