【Chapter 61】
And after some time.
“Listen up, spirit.”
– What is it this time!
“Explain to me why the contract only lists my obligations.”
I had to do my utmost to help the spirit regain its original power. That seemed reasonable enough. But how was I supposed to comply with vague clauses like “ensure a comfortable life” or ridiculous ones like “visit a volcano once a month”?
The worst part was that I got nothing in return.
“Why aren’t there any clauses about giving me power, protecting my family in emergencies, or restoring my health? Why is there none of that?”
– Th-that’s just naturally included in the contract. I’m a pretty conscientious spirit!
“Conscientious? Am I supposed to trust a speck of your conscience? You tried to devour me twice!”
– Well, that was then. Let’s move on, shall we?
I ran my tongue over my now dry mouth. This spirit was definitely learning from my behavior.
‘Then I’ll have to push even harder.’
The contract wasn’t finalized until I signed it.
“Haha. Move on? Move on while you swindle me?”
– You saying I’m trying to scam you? I know what that means now, and I’m not scamming!
How dare this spirit look me in the eye and talk back?
“Then you can just add clauses, can’t you? Or not?”
– There needs to be trust between humans and spirits…
“Oh, forget it. If you’re scared, just go ahead and die.”
– Wh-what did you say?
“Don’t want to? Then I’m not making this contract. Let’s just end it! You fake wannabes from the Church of Fire or whatever can have it. I don’t care!”
– But, but then everyone will die. You know that!
“Humans all die eventually. Plus, I only have 3 years left anyway, right? Who cares what happens after that?”
Hmph! I blew a big snort and whirled around, but surprisingly the spirit just stood there with its mouth agape, not reacting further.
But I am a body trained by Esadien.
‘In times like these, I have to show I’m ready to just walk out.’
Sure enough, I hadn’t even taken two steps when the spirit responded.
– Fine, fine!
“……”
– I said, fine…
Without turning back, I asked.
“And remove any clauses I want removed too?”
-…Fine.
“Why can’t I hear your answer? Are my ears blocked?”
– I said fine! I’ll revise the contract! I said I’ll Revise it!
“You should have done that from the start.”
It was only then that I turned back with a satisfied smile.
– A heartless, tearless human is taking everything from a poor spirit! Oh woe is me!
The spirit wailed as each clause was removed, revised, or added, but I ignored it all. This spirit might seem naive now, but it quickly mimicked my behavior, so it would surely become sly once it got into the human world. And once it regained its full power, it would be a truly formidable and cunning master of fire. I was just taking the minimum safety precautions.
“Well, I guess this will do.”
The final clause—that even after regaining all its power, it cannot harm Minuelle Karinen, her bloodline or associates.
With that, I finally signed the tattered remnants of the contract.
Whoosh.
The moment I drew the last line, a scorching wind blew, scattering the letters on the contract.
Piercing through, the spirit’s voice echoed in my head again.
– I, the spirit, recognize Minuelle Karinen as the partner of my existence.
Its long, complex name flashed by instantly, and the letters I thought would fly away and disappear instead formed ropes tying the spirit and me together tightly.
“Oohh…”
As I marveled, the spirit warned me in a voice heightened with sensitivity.
– Don’t open your mouth! The precious energy will escape!
“Got it.”
Indeed, not a single ounce of energy could be spared now.
The moment I shut my mouth per the spirit’s warning, the scorching heat surged into my body, only to ebb away like the outgoing tide, dizzying my mind.
“Ugh…”
The flames seemed to spread from my fingertips and toes, running through my capillaries.
Soon, the smoldering resentment that had tormented me for so long joined the blazing heat.
The two fiery forces met like torches, birthing a massive pillar of fire that relentlessly swept through my entire body.
Even if it encountered blockages, it did not go around but simply smashed and burned through, until the fire energy had fully circulated within me.
“Kuhh, hah.”
I coughed up over a bowlful of pitch-black blood.
“Wait, what kind of blood color is this?”
As a blood expulsion expert, I had never seen such a color before. No matter how dead the blood, it shouldn’t look like that.
Just as I was about to shoot the spirit a suspicious glare, it clicked its tongue and snapped its fingers. Simultaneously, a faint burnt smell wafted as the expelled blood turned to ash and scattered.
– How do you live in a way that lets such wastes accumulate in your body? Do some exercise, human.
“You keep insulting me…huh?”
Just as I couldn’t bear the discomfort of being called ‘human,’ I was about to question it. My arm, which I intended to point with, felt strangely light.
“What?”
My whole body felt lighter. The sensation of a heavy iron weight on my shoulders and crown had completely vanished. The perpetual feeling of something stuck and weighing down my insides was gone, too.
It was like being reborn, literally.
And…
“Warm.”
When I placed my trembling hand over my chest, I felt it distinctly. A warm energy was circulating in rhythm with my heartbeat.
Instinctively, I realized its identity.
‘The essence of fire…’
This wasn’t just some pent-up anger anymore. With a mix of awe and gratitude, I looked at the spirit, which now displayed an utterly smug demeanor.
– See how powerful I am? I would have done this even without putting it in the contract. Now you can trust this spirit, right?
Hearing that made any inkling of trust immediately dissipate. I furrowed my brow and asked,
“The energy feels a bit weaker than what I sensed earlier. What happened?”
But instead of flinching as I expected, the spirit boldly confronted me this time.
– Where would I try to swindle you! Originally, I was supposed to have more, but you revised it, so we’re maintaining a 50:50 split during the contract, remember?
The spirit using the phrase “swindle” almost made me burst out laughing at not knowing what a “swindle” really was, but I managed to hold it in.
“Ah, right. So does that mean I can use all the power in my body?”
– Not yet.
Tsk tsk. This time I was the one dejected by the spirit’s response.
‘I guess being a wise guy isn’t for anyone.’
No matter what, I thought making a contract with a fire entity would at least let me jump from level 2 to 60 or so.
– Don’t be so disappointed. The size of power matters, but first you need to master using what you currently have.
“Yes, yes.”
– I’m telling you not to just brush it off, human!
…I need to sort out how it addresses me as soon as we get back to the castle.
With that thought, I coaxed and persuaded the complaining spirit back into the spirit stone. Someday, even the Church of Fire would find out that the spirit and I had joined forces, but the more I could conceal my moves, the better.
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After storing the spirit away, I exited the cave to find the surroundings pitch black.
‘Did the sun already set?’
I had been so absorbed in the verbal battle with the spirit that I failed to notice the time passing.
The wide open night sky, devoid of obstructions, densely packed with stars, was an awesome sight.
After blankly gazing at the spectacle for a while, I finally came to my senses and started walking.
“Where is every…ah, over there!”
I quickly spotted the location of our group. In the distance, a small reddish light flickered like a dim charcoal fire.
People making a fire could only be our group in an area without any dwellings.
As I walked in that direction, the knights standing guard around the makeshift tents and campfire seemed to notice my approach, as the previously quiet atmosphere suddenly became lively.
“Minuelle!”
Of course, Sister Elga and Ramande were the first to run towards me. Seeing them brought back the overwhelming emotions I had felt when I shattered the spirit’s illusion. My eyes stung with tears again.
I brushed my nose and grinned before saluting playfully.
“Minuelle Karinen, reporting ba— Aah!”
“Our baby sister!”
Before I could finish my sentence, Sister Elga scooped me up and spun me around. At first, I laughed, but as she spun faster and faster, I couldn’t help but scream.
“Aaah! Sis! Sis! I’m scared! Sis!”
She finally set me down, but before my feet even touched the ground, Ramande arrived and hugged me tightly.
“You said you’d be quick.”
“Mya mya!”
Elle, poking his head out from Ramande’s embrace, also voiced his protest. But that didn’t last long before he started licking my face after I planted kisses on his forehead.
“Are you hurt?”
“Are you hungry?”
Their questions came rapid-fire as they put me into the carriage.
“I’m alright.”
I replied absentmindedly while petting Elle. I was a bit tired, but that wasn’t the issue now.
“Was I really in there for a whole day?”
“Yes. You can’t imagine how worried we were.”
I had assumed it had only been a few hours, considering how early it got dark in the north.
“Camping out in this cold? Were you all trying to get sick?”
“Priest Ramande maintained everyone’s body temperature. Thanks to him, no one suffered frostbite.”
Still, it was hard to believe.
Moreover, Sister Elder said that after a night passed without me emerging, she tried to enter the cave herself.
But the entrance I had easily passed through manifested an invisible wall blocking others from approaching.
Hearing that she even broke her sword trying to break through it, I finally grabbed the back of my neck.
“Sister! That, that sword was our family’s symbol…!”
Sister Elga’s sword was identical to the Karinen family crest. Unlike my pendant, it was the real deal given to the successor.
But she remained composed.
“A new sword can be made.”
“But it won’t be the same as that one!”
“A family heirloom is what the family head declares it to be. Even Mother would have said so, Minuelle. People come before swords, not the other way around.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Was our sister always this eloquent?
“But?”
“But you’re the one who will lead our family. What if you had recklessly rushed in?”
“I’m strong, Minuelle.”
Indeed, Sister Elga was an exceptionally talented knight, but it was uncertain whether her sword could stand against a spirit.
💧
Thank you for reading! ♡
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[ There Are No Bad Military Dogs ]
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Smut
