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The role of spirits is vast.

Possessing will and personality, they can adapt flexibly and actively to the situations they face. Even without separate commands, they sometimes take on offensive, defensive, and other supporting roles.

For spirits that have descended into the mortal realm, the concept of death doesn’t apply.

Even if they suffer damage close to annihilation, being summoned back to the spirit realm is the end of it, allowing both spirit magicians and the spirits themselves to be unafraid of death in the mortal world.

Based on mutual understanding and trust, and occasionally through forced commands granted to spirit magicians, the spirits can operate more actively and effectively across a wide range.

Among all these roles, there’s a particular area where they shine exceptionally well.

“This is what a spirit is.”

While Shione continually unleashes whirlwind arrows, the Cotton Puff occasionally nudges her cheek as if to suggest she take a break.

Spirits can assist not only the spirit magicians but also humans in wielding spirit magic. Moreover, for archers like Shione and me, the presence or absence of their magical power significantly alters our capabilities.

Though it may be low-level, forming a contract with the Cotton Puff was a stroke of luck.

“Yes, it’s luck.”

The luck given by that merciless little eared one, who stands before me, effortlessly slicing through enemy necks and piercing vital spots.

Every time I see this Cotton Puff nowadays, I’m reminded of various stories I heard from Friel Arielte right before leaving the Count’s House.

The carriage is headed to none other than the Kalia Marquis Family.

I should probably prepare my mind to be squeezed in between the elves with their dual natures.

For now, I’ll keep this thought to myself.

I instructed the Cotton Puff and Shione.

“Instead of just shooting to hit, practice aiming your arrows freely through the winds, leaving unpredictable trajectories.”

“Trajectory and path?”

“Yes, arrows that only follow parabolic and straight lines are too simple. Unless it’s a surprise or extreme speed, such arrows can only be blocked by knights of a different caliber.”

Shione had just taken out an arrow from her quiver, engrossed in its form, when she turned to me.

“It would be better if you focused on shooting more unconventional arrows. With the spirit’s help, you can now harness the wind at the tip of your arrows, right?”

“But… the one granting me magic is your spirit, not me. I’m a novice when it comes to magic, so I doubt I can control it.”

Shione expressed her doubts about her magical abilities.

And rightly so.

I heard that when she was trying to change her perceived incompetence and striving for learning, she showed an interest in magic. Perhaps she faced her own lack of aptitude back then.

Moreover, imagining Shione excelling at anything other than archery and cookie-eating is even awkward.

Of course, this—

“Can it help?”

—Meow!

This Cotton Puff here will help.

“Lady Shione just needs to constantly envision the path she wants her arrows to take, building confidence in that vision, and then solidify that will into her aura. This little one will respond to your intentions.”

“Directly from the spirit?”

“Yes. This little one will do it.”

The source of a spirit’s power, or more so, the essence of their existence can be said to be mana.

Mana, densely imbued with the energies of nature. They are beings that are born in the rich, life-filled natural materials, suffocatingly full of mana.

Thus, they are naturally adept at reading mana.

“So… putting worries about magic aside, it’s better to think about how many cookies should you offer this little one in the future.”

What manifests when the caster’s intentions are imbued is an incredibly rich mana.

As long as you pour your confidence and deep wishes into it…

This Cotton Puff will grasp her intentions from the condensed mana of Shione’s aura and assist her.

I attempted to lighten the mood with a playful remark, accompanied by a slight laugh.

“Uh, um…”

…How sincere could she truly be about food?

After telling her to set aside her worries, Shione smiled brightly, but her expression soured the moment cookies were brought up.

She is, indeed, a consistent noble.

“Okay, then… I’ll try that for now.”

With that, Shione aimed her bow again.

The whirlwind-filled arrow flew straight ahead.

Swish─!

In an instant, the trajectory began to curve.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

It zigzagged wildly and eventually lost momentum, falling.

“…This is much harder than I thought.”

The glow of that arrow once again caught Friel Arielte’s attention.

It seems that making the arrow’s path curve for more diverse attacks will indeed require much more practice.

*

The sudden attack from monsters tainted by magic was quickly dealt with.

As the blood scent thickened on Friel Arielte’s blade, the number of monsters swiftly dwindled.

Before long, with nothing left to slay, she fluidly turned her sword and sheathed it in one smooth motion.

“I didn’t expect you to come help so quickly. Thank you, Young Lady.”

Friel Arielte approached us, expressing gratitude.

Having extinguished the lives of dozens alone, her presence brought forth the heavy scent of rusted iron.

Shione seemed to acutely sense that this unpleasant aroma meant Friel’s power was anything but low, nodding her head cautiously at the greeting.

“It was only the right thing to do. Thanks to you taking the initiative, we managed to come through without major injuries… You’ll be an example for those who arrived late.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that. Ah, and…”

Friel’s pupils shifted.

Shione’s bow, received from Ainel, and the Cotton Puff, which had once again perched above my head.

“If you’re curious about the nuances of spirit magic, feel free to seek me out. It could be fun to discuss archery once more, just like before.”

The moment Friel said that, a rustling sound echoed…

An ominous presence began to seep from the adjacent forest.

Friel merely rolled her teal eyes to identify the source of the presence, while Shione and I turned to catch sight of it.

“Lady Friel, I have a report.”

The lackey of Friel Arielte, Elisa, stained at the ends of her sleeves with blood.

It seems Friel had instructed her to scout the surroundings before she danced her blades through the monsters.

Elisa’s hair, flowing messily from rushing through the wind, appeared as composed as always, but for some reason, it felt more imposing than before.

“I found monsters tainted by magic in the vicinity. The count is seventeen, and I have successfully eradicated them.”

“Hmmm, and?”

“As Friel mentioned, since there could naturally be a few afflicted ones roaming near the Great Forest, I thought it reasonable… However…”

Elisa’s brow furrowed slightly.

“The children of the forest have been keeping a firm check on the monsters within the Great Forest. It’s unusual for two groups exceeding ten to appear here.”

“…”

“In my brief observation, this situation seems… quite likely that the cultists have made their way near the marquis family.”

“Is that true─”

Hearing Elisa’s words with a cold gaze, Friel briefly stroked her chin.

Brushing back her tousled bangs, she flashed a bright smile at Shione and me.

“Ordinarily, we would head directly for the Great Forest, but it seems like it would be better to stop by the marquis family first. Young Lady, would that be alright?”

After witnessing the gravity in their conversation regarding the cultists, Shione nodded after a moment’s thought.

“Thank you for your consideration, Young Lady. However, it seems I should also have a word with Young Lady and Ray.”

“A word?”

“Yes, considering the Count’s position at the kingdom’s southwestern tip, information about this area might be slow in reaching there… and I understand that you rarely show your face at political gatherings like the Academy or other events.”

As Friel’s eyes crescented, holding a tranquil smile, her teal pupils, once sprinkled with a starry brightness, dimmed.

“The current marquis family is quite chaotic in various respects─”

Externally, the heightened tensions stirred by the Empire’s army constantly crossing the borders.

On the brink of annihilation and engulfing flames, the prophesied calamity directly at hand with the Great Forest.

And internally…

‘…The false knight that Eunice Kalia spoke of.’

Unlike the noble world that cherishes resolve and loyalty, there exists a rogue within the marquis family engaging in debauchery.

“Regardless, it’s best to be informed about the second son of the Kalia marquis family, Allen Kalia.”

If the second daughter of the Count’s House, Shianella, had succeeded in her redemption, then the second son of the Kalia marquis family had utterly failed to redeem himself.

 

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