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236th Chapter. The Strongest Spirit (1)

The spirit that was about to engulf us suddenly stopped its actions.

A spirit that hasn’t even formed a contract with a human is merely a crazed beast.

Or rather, it’s more like a monster that obsessively targets human lives.

Unlike elementals, spirits are composed of negative emotions, including resentment and hatred, making it a natural instinct for them to attack others.

Thus, it’s easy to deduce the areas where spirits appear.

They primarily haunt conflict zones, battlefields, and places where accidents have occurred, forming a pattern of bloodshed.

When people become weary of such immense turmoil and flee… those areas inevitably turn into realms dominated by spirits.

This is also why this place, once an elven land, has become a land of death.

The spirits inhabiting this area are undoubtedly composed of the grievances of the elves who perished here.

“Please. Let my master go.”

Aisha desperately pleaded while stroking the head of the dragon-formed spirit.

This was the first time she had shed her human form to voice her emotions.

However, the opponent is an apex spirit.

Even among them, there exists a hierarchy, and Aisha’s current actions are akin to a dog begging a wolf.

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<Diora>

Race: Spirit (Special Type)

Grade: Apex

Spirit Power: 280/280

Disposition: —

Emotion towards user: —

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The apex spirit Diora.

On par with Spike, the left arm of Spirit King Shaikar, or perhaps exceeding that in terms of mana level.

Unlike the stance of elementals in the light, spirits in the shadows typically don’t engage in conversation.

Therefore, based on the law of the jungle, it wouldn’t be strange for Aisha to be devoured at any moment.

Moreover, it should be only natural for not just us, but also the nearby knights to become Diora’s prey.

That’s how the laws of the spirit realm dictate.

Yet….

“Grurrrr….”

Diora’s hunger was suddenly curtailed, and the creature seemed paralyzed, unable to move.

Taking advantage of that moment, Luska and I squeezed out our last bits of strength, severed the tentacles, and escaped.

As soon as I landed on the ground, an overwhelming sleepiness washed over me. It was likely an effect of spirit hypnosis, but I quickly consumed a drop of countless visions to counter it.

I fed a similar drop to Luska, dispelling the hypnosis.

“Are you okay?”

“Thanks. By the way…, why did it stop?”

An apex spirit wouldn’t entertain the requests of a lower-ranked spirit.

However, the spirit named Diora froze in place as soon as it laid eyes on Aisha in her human form.

It’s unlikely that it feared Aisha. It’s more probable that it was bewildered by an unforeseen factor.

“I’m not entirely sure, but… let’s get out of here!”

Now was our chance while it was paused for a moment.

Of course, it was merely an opportunity to flee, not to attack.

I hurriedly pulled Aisha in and made my escape with the knights.

In the chamber before the cliff, Diora was still watching us.

Its purple gaze was focused intensely on me, and it didn’t seem like a mere figment of my imagination.

*

We struggled to return to the entrance of the forest road.

We dropped down onto the spot where I had just shown off in front of the knights.

It felt like a miracle to have survived a natural disaster.

It was as if I’d lost a decade of my life.

“Thank you so much. I owe my life to you!”

“If it weren’t for you, I would be….”

The knights, who had also survived, were all expressing their gratitude to me.

Actually, they should be thanking Aisha.

“By the way, it turns out you were a spirit sorcerer.”

“Your spirit is really impressive.”

It felt a bit awkward receiving praise, but it wasn’t untrue.

In reality, Aisha and Muto had formidable spirits, making them incredibly powerful.

That said, Diora was merely a terrifyingly strong spirit.

“But why did you suddenly do that?”

『….』

Aisha manifested in her human form in response to my question.

Her expression, usually blank like a doll, now conveyed deep emotions.

『Memories of the past… have resurfaced.』

“If they’re memories from the past, then perhaps….”

『Yes, this place is none other than my hometown in my previous life.』

Aisha revealed her pointed ears by brushing aside her black hair.

In her former life, she was the daughter of Grisha, the leader of the Forest Elf tribe, and her true name was Aisha Highend.

Until the destruction of this forest, she was essentially a princess of her race.

『Just now, when that spirit’s ominous aura seeped into my body… it triggered a reaction in my head. It was a profoundly resonant aura that evoked my memories.』

“Then that spirit is the embodiment of your kin’s grievances?”

Even if it wasn’t specifically Diora, most spirits here are likely filled with the resentment of the elves.

Diora, in particular, seemed special among the spirits burdened with such grievances. Especially towards Aisha.

『In my previous life, I raised a hatchling that was abandoned in the forest. I cared for it sincerely, allowing it to see me as its master.』

Hatchling…? That implies I already know what the identity of that spirit is without needing to look further.

Starting from its dragon-like form.

『Dragons tamed by humans from hatchling stages often recognize that human as their soul mate. When that mate is slain, it’s natural for their grievances to swell.』

Is that the case for all well-trained dragons?

Ultimately, Diora’s state stems from the death of its master, Aisha.

『And I wasn’t the only one who raised that hatchling.』

“…?”

『I raised it together with a girl known as Skilla Crawler.』

Come to think of it, our mother also lived in this elven village.

If she was close enough to Aisha to take pictures, then it’s highly likely she helped raise that hatchling too.

『The reason I was able to stop that spirit was that I was able to speak to it, based on the memories of raising that hatchling in my past life.』

“Then if we do the same as before, can we ignore it and pass by?”

『I cannot guarantee that. It has probably returned to its original feral state by now.』

Despite our escape, it hadn’t followed us here.

It seemed solely focused on protecting the entrance to those ruins.

Had it not been the case, this village would have likely been obliterated by now.

“Anyway, we have to get past that spirit to enter those ruins. Shouldn’t we get Jenny and Mary’s help for a raid tomorrow?”

As Luska suggested this, I nodded.

Right now, there was no other way. It was impossible to overcome that monster without borrowing the power of Mary’s Demon King.

After all, it appeared that Diora couldn’t stray far from the ruins’ vicinity.

It seemed Grisha had left Diora here to safeguard crucial information.

Considering Diora’s strength, it wouldn’t be easy to control an apex spirit, and it was likely Makia who had extended an invitation.

Thus, it felt even more necessary to investigate those ruins.

“Wait?”

At that moment, I felt a chill run down my spine as if the ground beneath was suddenly made of ice.

The knights standing in front dropped to the ground, paralyzed by fear.

Luska, too, stumbled back in despair.

The village residents who had been loitering in front screamed and fled in a panic.

『Grurrrr….』

That unpleasant energy I had felt earlier surged from behind.

Being a spirit sorcerer, I sensed that energy immediately.

Thus, an intense chill coursed through me, rendering my body rigid.

With a stiff movement, I managed to turn around. There, as if mocking our expectations, stood the apex spirit Diora, towering over us.

『Uh…. How did you get out of there?』

Muto voiced what I had wanted to say.

Currently, my face felt stiff, and I was unable to move any part of my body.

The knights were trembling, muttering to themselves that this couldn’t be happening. Despite having encountered Diora several times, it had never ventured this far.

In other words, it was unprecedented for Diora to have emerged from the entrance of the ruins.

『Grurrr….』

Diora lowered its head and matched its gaze with mine. I found myself in a position where I couldn’t move a muscle as our eyes locked.

Even if we attacked it with all our strength, I doubted we could pierce that solid scale.

If we failed and provoked it, we might find our very existence erased along with this village.

『Calm down!』

『Grur….』

『Calm down, Diora. I’m okay. Please, don’t harm anyone anymore.』

Aisha quickly stepped forward and stroked Diora’s head again.

The wings of the crow transformed into human arms, scattering black feathers all around.

It seemed Diora retained memories of the past as it stared at Aisha without making any movements.

It was unexpected for it to come out of the ruins like this.

This left us with no chance to strategize, forcing us into a confrontation.

“Please. I understand your feelings. So could you grant me a request?”

『….』

Diora quietly turned its gaze towards me.

While doing so, it also glanced at Aisha, alternately observing us both.

From afar, it looked like a strong creature at the top of a pyramid contemplating which prey to choose.

However, Diora didn’t have that kind of gaze at the moment.

Could I really leave this situation to chance? Just when I was having thoughts like that.

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<Secret Mission: Contract>

– The apex spirit Diora shows great interest in you. Communicate with it and prove your existence to Diora by exchanging thoughts. It’s a rare opportunity for a top-tier spirit, known for its predator-prey dynamic, to hesitate in attacking. Seize this crisis as an opportunity to gain its recognition.

[Clear Time: Acquire “Last Chance”]

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How long has it been since I’ve seen this?

It had been about a year since I last saw a secret mission window, and I couldn’t help but be amazed.

It only ever seemed to appear in crisis situations or when I’d forgotten about it.

“Seize the opportunity in the crisis….”

It was a perfectly fitting expression for the current situation. Though outwardly it seemed like a crisis, there were still keys to navigate through.

As Aisha was currently calming Diora, I was also the bloodline of Skilla Crawler, Aisha’s childhood friend.

If Diora had a connection with them, it was enough reason for it to find me intriguing.

To face a spirit that couldn’t be reasoned with, I absolutely couldn’t shy away from this.

“Are you coming out like this…, is that it?”

A smile crept onto my face, filled with fear.

I looked directly at Diora and stepped forward. Seeing me, its eyes widened.

With my hand in my pocket, I looked up at it as if I was entirely at ease.

“What… do you plan to do?”

“Just watch closely.”

As if asking what I was supposed to be observing, Luska squinted his eyes.

Given that my actions were akin to sticking my hand into a tiger’s mouth, it was only natural to be worried.

Indeed, this was an opportunity.

Even if it was a chance born from my mother’s connections, it was an opportunity that couldn’t be missed.

If I let it slip away, there was no guarantee I would keep my life.

『Grurrrrr….』

“….”

Diora began to show its teeth in response to my changing demeanor.

Its purple gaze glinted sharply, turning its head upward.

Suddenly—

Things escalated in an instant.

The knights, who had been steadfastly standing their ground, twisted their faces in fear.

Diora’s mouth, which had remained still, moved toward me with incredible speed.

Swallowing me whole—

“Guh…?”

Luska, who had been watching it unfold from the side, felt his eyes roll back in shock.

*

“How long has it been since it’s been empty that dust is now piling up again?”

In Silver Town, within the territory of Duke Chain Silver, a housewife was wiping the dust off the floor with a rag.

Though bending over posed a challenge, cleaning was incredibly simple.

That’s because before being a housewife, she was a spirit sorcerer capable of commanding several spirits.

“It looks like I need to forbid Amy from practicing magic inside the house.”

The wind elemental took the dust she had gathered and carried it out the window.

The contractor, Skilla Crawler, stretched her back as she straightened up.

The wind elemental, having finished its task, approached and performed a little dance.

The appearance of the small lizard-like lower spirit was cuter with every glance.

“You bring back memories.”

『…?』

In the days when she lived in the elven forest, there was a hatchling she raised with her friend.

That friend had named it Diora, and there were fond memories of them playing together.

At that time, Skilla was Diora’s food courier.

Since it was a sight she could no longer behold, nostalgia only deepened.

Knock knock knock—

At the sound of a knock at the door, Skilla stood up.

If it were a passing merchant, she had prepared to refuse with a simple ‘not buying.’

“Who is it….”

Fortunately, it wasn’t a merchant.

Nor was it a village resident visiting due to some trouble caused by her daughter.

“It’s been a while.”

A middle-aged man with pointy ears and golden hair. His face was well-etched in Skilla’s memories.

He was the father of a dear friend who had once lived in the elven village.

He was Grisha Highend, the father of Aisha Highend.

“I came to see your face. To see how peaceful you’re living.”

 

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