049
“Aunt Cecilia?”
“That’s right. She can turn multiple people into stone simultaneously. And I can create a coliseum to trap many people at once, which also qualifies as a wide-area skill.”
“What about the Admiral?”
“Father can summon a sea dragon and sweep everything away at once. During territorial wars, having awakened individuals with wide-area skills provides an overwhelming advantage.”
Ah, so forming a contract with lord Shaparsi was an extraordinary feat!
I grinned broadly, puffing out my chest with pride. All I could think about was protecting as many people as possible with this power.
“Are territorial wars scarier than what happened this time?”
“Yes. This time, it was just Goliath on his own. But if a territorial war breaks out, all the awakened individuals will attack together.”
“Brother Mikard, have you seen a territorial war?”
“No, not yet. And I hope I never will.”
We hopped across stepping stones set up in the artificial stream.
Since my legs were short, it was hard to jump across in one go, but my two brothers held my hands to help me get across easily.
“When a territorial war happens, the people you care about can get hurt. Some might even be gone forever.”
“I see.”
“That’s why it’s best to avoid one if possible. But if it does happen, we must protect everyone.”
“Okay! I’ll become even stronger.”
When I was in the Carrot Class, I dreamed of becoming the best chef. But not anymore.
Now, my dream is to form contracts with all the Spirit Kings and become the strongest awakened individual in Pashayen.
“But Chubby, can you actually see spirits?”
Brother Mikard asked curiously, to which I shook my head.
“Not yet!”
“Really? That’s a shame. I’ve always wondered what spirits look like. They say you can see them once your spirit sight is awakened.”
I hadn’t forgotten what Yupyrhos once said:
‘You need to become the darling of the kings to awaken your spirit sight.’
But now that I had formed a contract with the Air Spirit King, I was genuinely curious.
What do lower-level spirits of air look like?
‘I hope my spirit sight awakens soon. How can I become their darling?’
It was then.
[Ba-bam! Long time no see, dear child star! (๑˃́ꇴ˂̀๑)]
Yupyrhos!
[You want to become the darling of the kings as soon as possible? Well, it’s not entirely impossible.]
“Really?”
[Yes. The two Spirit Kings who haven’t yet joined are the Spirit King of Fate and the Spirit King of Chaos. If an event occurs that piques their interest, you’ll have a chance! (♡ ᐛ )人( ᐛ ♡)]
My expectations rose as I focused intently, but soon, disappointment set in.
“So, what kind of event?”
I stomped my foot in frustration and puffed out my cheeks.
[Hmm, the Spirit King of Chaos enjoys conflicts and disputes. As for the Spirit King of Fate… I’m sorry, even I’m not sure. ٭) ̧̧̧°ω°̧̧̧٭)]
It seemed that even the other Spirit Kings found the Spirit King of Fate difficult to approach.
“Haaa.”
“Why are you sighing, Chubby?”
“I’m just saying… life is hard.”
“What?”
I didn’t think I said anything particularly odd, but my two brothers burst out laughing.
“This little one. Where did you even learn to say life is hard?”
“You two don’t understand anything.”
I was serious, but my brothers just laughed again.
“Geez.”
I exhaled sharply and sat between the two of them, playing with flower petals.
“Should I make you a flower crown, Chubby?”
“You know how to do that?”
“What do you think of this brother?”
Brother Mikard plucked a handful of roses and began crafting a flower crown.
“I’ll make you a bracelet,”
Brother Elzen said, sitting beside him and weaving daisies into a bracelet.
Meanwhile, I simply buried my nose in the pretty flowers and took in their fragrance.
“Oh, right! I almost forgot.”
“What is it?”
“Brother Elzen, how do you know sister Crescent Moon?”
Up until now, I had thought Velarion was Pashayen’s enemy.
But sister Diorose was a Velarion, and I liked her. I even wanted to meet her again.
“Oh, it’s because of the friendly competitions.”
“Friendly competitions?”
That’s the first I’ve heard of this!
As he finished weaving the daisy bracelet and placed it on my wrist, brother Elzen began to explain.
“It’s a tradition that started with the current emperor. Every five years, the children of the imperial family and the four duchies gather in the capital to compete in various events.”
“………!”
“Of course, only awakened individuals with the ‘Bijou’ rank participate. While the competitions are important, grand banquets are also held daily, allowing everyone to build relationships with other families.”
So that’s how they knew each other!
The mystery was solved.
“The first friendly competition was held in 1193. The second was in 1198. The third in 1203. And the fourth in 1208. With each round, it’s become more of a battle of pride among the families.”
He even remembers all the years. brother Elzen is so smart.
“When will the fifth one take place?”
“It was held just before you came to Pashayen.”
“That’s disappointing!”
I flapped my chubby wrist, adorned with the flower bracelet, in frustration.
I was curious about the other families’ kids too!
“Don’t be too disappointed. When you’re about nine years old, another competition will be held. You’ll get to participate then, Chubby.”
Brother Mikard placed the roughly made flower crown on my head.
It was a bit messy, with some flowers crushed from the force he used, but I didn’t mind.
After all, my brother made it just for me.
‘So during the next friendly competition, I’ll get to meet sister Diorose again.’
Come to think of it, she mentioned having lots of adorable puppies and cats!
I regretted not asking her to show me pictures.
[To comfort our dear child star’s disappointment, I, Yupyrhos, have made another appearance!]
Huh?
[Have you perhaps forgotten something? ʕ ◔ᴥ◔ ʔ]
Uh… uh… let me think.
Holding the slipping flower crown with both hands, I thought hard.
And then, it hit me.
‘My ‘Well Done’ stamp!’
[Correct answer!]
Pop! Pop!
Fireworks exploded in front of my eyes as a ‘Well Done’ stamp board appeared. Then, with a loud thud, another stamp was added to it. Watching this, I smiled proudly.
That’s right. They said I’d get a stamp for figuring out a Spirit King’s name.
‘Only a few more to go until ten stamps.’
The ‘Well Done’ stamp board now had six stamps.
Among the six stamps, five had faded in color, but the one that was just added sparkled brightly.
“Ah, I’m so happy.”
Stretching my hand toward the ‘Well Done’ stamp board, I let myself fall backward.
Of course, I trusted that brother Mikard would catch me.
Between my brothers, peaceful days passed by.
***
In the Baratheum Empire, there are four duchies.
Each duchy governs a vast territory, with their main residence located in what is referred to as their central city.
Pashayen, the Horizon Duchy’s central city, is Pellun.
Raximon, the Dawn Duchy’s central city, is Sol.
Ishel, the Twilight Duchy’s central city, is Saturn.
And…
Velarion, the Eclipse Duchy’s central city, is Vyen.
Vyen was densely packed with plain, dark-colored buildings that lacked any decoration. The atmosphere of the city itself was gloomy.
The weather played a significant role in this mood. Vyen experienced autumn for half of the year and winter for the other half.
Rarely were there clear days; clouds constantly hovered overhead.
Because of this, people living in Velarion’s territory often referred to Vyen as the ‘City of Shadows.’
Velarion’s grand mansion, built in such a place, was haunting enough to resemble a cemetery.
The building, made of ashen bricks, featured sharp spires, black iron bars, and weathered statues covered in dust. Anyone would feel that this place exuded an eerie aura.
“The upper reaches of the Alexandrite River remain dried up. And you couldn’t even kill anyone during your mission. In the end, nothing has been resolved.”
The inside of the gloomy mansion was just as dismal as its exterior.
The dry, frigid air swept across the cold stone floors.
Goliath, kneeling on the ground, trembled from the bone-chilling cold that seeped into his very core.
“How useless you are, despite being the second son. We should just dispose of him, Father!”
“Exactly. Let’s have another rank fight!”
The mocking voices of the twins pierced through the air as they sneered at Goliath’s miserable state.
Goliath glared at them with wide, furious eyes.
But in this place, he had no allies.
Even if he wanted to object, he had lost the ability to speak, rendering him defenseless.
Gritting his teeth, Goliath stared intently at the twins’ feet.
And at that moment—
