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Anti-Magic Power.

It doesn’t quite reach the level of Shione’s magical nullification prowess, but I can say it’s still a pretty impressive ability. Anti-Magic Power literally grants resistance against magic. This serves as a significant advantage when facing those imbued with magic.

‘Not exactly a top-tier power just yet.’

Maybe it’s because I just recently gained this power. I instinctively know that my current anti-magic power isn’t particularly strong.

However, if I keep honing my anti-magic power like this, while it might not be possible to annihilate magic, I should at least be able to disrupt the mana of my opponents.

‘With time, this will turn out to be a decent card to play.’

I’ve received a pretty decent ability with this reward.

And that’s not all.

Thanks to my high understanding of Spirit Magic and superb magical manipulation skills aside from just the anti-magic, it seems like the efficiency of my Spirit Magic has also significantly improved.

‘I should check just how much better it’s gotten later.’

I was planning to confirm exactly how much my efficiency had increased through the use of simple magic.

After the war, Siabel had said she would officially teach me swordsmanship. I asked if I could infuse magic into the sword, so she’ll probably make me use magic at least once. That’s when I can put my skills to the test.

I carefully stored the letter paper in the desk drawer and shifted my focus.

‘What should I do about the remaining quests?’

Currently, there are two remaining quests.

One quest calls for a dramatic reconciliation between Shione and Sion, and the other requires boosting Shione’s reputation.

‘Her reputation should sort itself out.’

Shione has been fighting hard on the castle wall, and there are surely quite a few witnesses to that.

Thanks to recent events, Shione’s outstanding archery skills and her valiant defense against enemies on the wall have been making the rounds among the townsfolk.

If this story spreads correctly, her reputation should greatly improve.

It’s almost nostalgic thinking about how not long ago, Shione was infamous for her incompetence and noisy behavior. I can almost remember how the servants at the dining hall would mock her. Who would have thought her acknowledgment would become the talk of the town? It brings back a lot of memories.

If I just spread the rumors and create more heroic tales, I should be able to clear this quest.

‘The problem is Sion.’

The reconciliation between Shione and Sion.

This one is still quite daunting.

There was that time when Sion climbed up to the wall and healed an injured soldier. A monster had targeted Sion then, but Shione had shot an arrow at just the right moment to protect him…

But since then, they haven’t really spoken much. Given how Sion looked down on his sister, it’s hard to picture him being the one to express gratitude for her help and asking for reconciliation.

‘Even though the seed of power as a reward is tempting…’

I don’t really want to see Shione lower her head to him.

After all, a seed is merely a potentiality until it germinates and blossoms. It lacks the stature of actual powers, but hey, I’ve acquired the anti-magic power at least.

It’s probably best to take some more time to consider this.

“I heard a torrent will hit the Count’s House, but well…”

Those cultist idiots have already failed such a grand ambush.

No matter what kind of trickery they might be planning, their scheme has already come to naught, so they’ll probably lie low for a while, trying to regroup.

For now, it seems like I can maintain a degree of calm. I still have plenty of room to breathe.

I gathered my deepening thoughts and lay down on my bed.

The comfort of this bed is incomparable to the simple bunks in the barracks, pulling my mind beneath the waves of sleep.

I murmured, slightly lost in slumber.

“…Spirit.”

Sure, the ability to summon spirits had long been opened to me, but for some reason, my spirits just randomly scattered and disappeared during the summoning.

After a long time, I attempted to summon spirits again.

Whoosh!!

A cold wind rushes in through the gap in the window, fluttering slightly in the room.

The swirling gusts began to gather…

Whoosh…

“Tsk.”

And as expected, they eventually scattered.

‘A spiritless Spirit Archer, huh.’

Even with this much pure spirit energy within me, I can hardly summon a low-level spirit.

If those annoying critters saw me like this, they’d probably laugh and say that the limitations of a short-lived race are inevitable.

I couldn’t figure out why the spirit wouldn’t summon.

“It would be good to find a reason for this, if possible.”

Deciding to look into information about elves and spirits as a conclusion to my thoughts, I quietly closed my eyes. The magic energy enveloped my mind.

*

It feels like I just blinked, yet quite a bit of time has flown by.

Ainel was particularly attentive to the stability of the territory. As a result, the territory finally began to return to normal, and she also started the repairs on the castle walls that still bore scars from the brutality of the war.

That’s not all.

She ultimately disclosed that there would be full support from Count Shianella behind me, a man who wields magic.

As a result, my tale of being the first male magic user on the continent spread throughout the territory without so much as a break.

“Bronte, why are you staring so intensely?”

“Oh, it’s nothing… No, it’s just… Can you really use magic?”

“If it’s simple, I can show you right now. Would you like to see?”

“Can you show me?”

“Of course.”

A small flame blossomed on my palm. Following that, a magically generated breeze tousled Bronte’s hair.

Well, thanks to the spread of stories about me in the territory and in the Count’s House, I ended up hearing Bronte’s request.

After that, guests from the Alenarr Marquis Family arrived.

Including Aria and Ravi Crunel, the wizards finally returned to the Alenarr Marquis House.

‘While Aria was somewhat refreshing, Ravi Crunel was truly bothersome.’

I had spoken with them briefly when we ran into each other inside the Count’s House.

While I was surprised, Aria reacted relatively calmly to my magic, but Ravi Crunel, true to the nature of wizards, displayed intense curiosity towards the mysteries I was handling. They looked like they wanted to keep asking questions but were holding back quite hard. Wizards have a tendency to get deeply lost in their thirst for knowledge and truth. Given her gaze, if Ainel hadn’t been protecting me, I’m sure I would have been kidnapped for experimentation.

Along with the Alenarr Marquis House, things have also settled down elsewhere. Those who came to support Count Shianella were gradually returning to where they came from.

And now I—

“Are you not curious?”

Today, Shione sat across from me, munching casually on some cookies and enjoying the tea.

“Umm…”

Gulp.

Since I brought a rather sweet tea today, Shione tilted her head as she swallowed, filled with the sweet warmth.

“If you ask me out of the blue if I’m curious, I wouldn’t quite know how to respond…”

Nom.

Then Shione picked up a cookie and took a small bite, leaving a cute mark on it like a bunny taking a nibble.

“I’m talking about the source of my powers. What happened on the walls is definitely not something one could easily forget. But you haven’t asked a single question.”

That one strike that sent a lowly demon back to hell in an instant.

The wind that helped me land safely as I descended from the walls.

The brilliant flames that erupted and swept away the cold darkness of the night while sweeping away the enemies.

How on earth did I manage to learn such high-level magic? Sometimes, I can hear discussions around me about it. Yet, Shione has shown no curiosity about the abnormal amount of power I’ve been wielding.

Not too long ago, Shione had demanded an explanation for the source of my power. She’s always been quite consistent. I can easily see that she’s still curious in her heart.

But for now, she just goes about her daily life with me.

In the mornings, we greet each other; during casual moments, we sit across the table and chat. Sometimes, she just runs up and hugs me tightly before dashing off. That’s basically her routine.

“Ah, if it’s that—”

Shione smiled brightly.

The sunlight streaming through the bars creates a gentle atmosphere surrounding her fair skin.

“One day you said you’d tell me when the time is right. So there’s no reason to ask first. You’ve never lied to me, so I know that when the right time comes, you’ll definitely tell me.”

“…”

“There’s no need to feel burdened. I’ll patiently wait until you feel ready to share. After all, you see—”

Shione pointed her finger at me.

Her fingertip precisely pointed at my heart.

“With the vow of mana embedded in my heart, there’s no need for concern.”

As she said that, Shione laughed playfully.

She then popped the remaining cookie into her mouth.

Munching it with delight, savoring the sweetness spreading inside, she pulled the chair closer and rested her arms on the table, creating a flower-shaped cradle with her face, gazing at me with sparkling eyes.

“So the reason you brought this up now is… could it be that now is that time?”

Her exaggerated reaction.

Yet, the excitement in her eyes was unmistakable.

This moment was brought on by her own words, and she was probably acting whimsically to hide her curiosity and expectations.

“Well, even if not today, I promise I’ll share it eventually—”

I quietly observed her, letting out a soft breath as I opened my mouth.

“I will tell you.”

“Huh…?”

Shione’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Have you heard of a Possessor…?”

 

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