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144
Rustle—
Two people walking along a path where wind blew.
Raphina beside Hanbit wore a face where nervousness and anticipation were mixed.
“You don’t need to be too tense. If the spirits were displeased, they would have sent you away long ago.”
“If that’s the case, I’m relieved…….”
Ten months of effort that had gone nowhere.
And on top of that, even hearing from Aslra that the depth of her communion was lacking — it made sense to feel anxious.
“You’ve never actually seen a spirit, have you?”
“Ah, yes. Sylph with Black Dragon-nim was my first.”
“And any feeling like the wind or water is speaking to you?”
“Hmm…… I did feel like something was brushing my fingers or cheek once in a while. It could have been a wish-fulfillment on my part though.”
“Is that so?”
Listening to the account, Hanbit inwardly gave a nod.
It wasn’t that Raphina lacked talent as a spirit user.
Even if the depth of communion was low, the spirits had been continuously showing interest.
If an environment could be created for her to grow closer to them, she could advance one stage.
Whooom—
A green meadow visible ahead.
The beautifully settled trees beyond it and the drifting leaves made ‘wind’ something felt with the eyes.
Grip—
Raphina tightened the fist she had brought to her chest.
A heart that wanted to find any clue toward progress.
“Let’s go in.”
The two stepped into the meadow where the green light shimmered.
“Ah, don’t be too surprised. It’s just playing around.”
“What? What do you mean——”
Whoosh—!
In an instant, an enormous wind swept over them.
“Oh!”
The two, sent flying into the air before they could react.
Raphina in particular had gone so far she was barely within sight.
-Oh no;
-That’s intense playing. Lol.
-You say don’t be surprised?
-But it looks kind of fun……
-Nature-powered amusement ride.
‘Still as rough a greeting as ever.’
Hanbit, floating in the air, recalled old memories.
The intermediate wind spirit — the most mischievous among the spirits.
Stimulation was needed to satisfy that curiosity.
Shing—!
Having drawn the sword from the scabbard, Hanbit took his stance.
Something that would make the spirit’s curiosity explode.
Several candidates came to mind — but right now there was a method close to certainty.
‘No need to use anything else.’
Right now — elemental kings who had hidden themselves from the world.
If they were to see traces of the power those beings had left behind — what kind of reaction would emerge?
Hanbit knew that future.
Whoosh—!
Flames blazing in one burst shot up along the blade.
Health and mana halved as the price of Elemental Awakening.
That value became visible before his eyes almost immediately.
Whoosh—!
The spirit, having kept its distance to face him, reacted to the unexpected power.
The explosion of that curiosity and wonder led to a change in the wind.
Boom boom boom—!
Wind created like a storm surged in a vortex.
The erupting flames rode those air currents and mixed, creating a rare spectacle.
Fwooom—!
Several large flame vortices generated in the air exerted their presence with remarkable force.
A brilliance incomparable to when Hanbit used a technique.
The spirit’s enjoyment was something that could be felt.
Whooom—
The wind that had been surging one after another gradually lessened in intensity.
When it had completely calmed, another change emerged.
Shhk—
Hanbit’s body, watching from midair, slowly descended to the ground.
Giving a quiet smile, he looked at the wind swirling around him and said:
“Shuriel, done playing?”
Whomp—!
The intermediate wind spirit Shuriel — tickling his face as if in answer.
A message followed.
[Wind Spirit Shuriel gives a joyful laugh.]
[Wind Spirit Shuriel shows interest in your power.]
[Wind Spirit Shuriel shows you greater interest.]
[Wind Spirit Shuriel expresses astonishment at your high affinity.]
……
At this level, ending the communion without trouble would be possible.
He had definitely thought so.
Whoosh—!
In an instant, wind surging from Hanbit’s chest revealed a small bird.
“……Sylph?”
The unexpected situation was puzzling.
But Sylph seemed serious.
Tweet—!
An appearance almost as though confronting Shuriel.
Looking back through all the past — this was the first time.
“What’s wrong?”
Tweet—!
Sylph chirped as though to say stay still.
Whoosh—!
Shuriel’s wind, having briefly withdrawn, carefully approached again.
The two spirits’ powers mixed cautiously and began communicating something.
‘What’s this?’
The hierarchy among spirits is clear.
Rather than a vertical relationship — perhaps it’s more accurate to say they clearly define each other’s distinct existence.
Which was why not encroaching on each other’s affairs was the natural flow.
Tweet—!
Whooom—
But that unknowable conversation seemed to be the process of resolving some kind of conflict.
Even occurring between the same attribute — it was remarkable.
-?
-What are they doing?
-Are they fighting?
-Kids have to fight to grow.
-Kids (approximately 5,000 years old).
-Forgiving them because they’re cute.
The viewers who didn’t know the inner workings were equally mystified.
And so about ten minutes passed.
Tweet—!
Sylph returned to Hanbit’s arms.
At that moment.
Whoosh—!
A dense wind wrapped around the small bird’s body and began to rotate.
Hiss—!
In contrast to what looked sharp on the outside, the wind was endlessly soft.
And the moment the rotation stopped to reveal the inside.
Ding—
The bird that appeared was larger.
[Lower Wind Spirit Sylph evolves into an Intermediate Wind Spirit.]
[Intermediate Wind Spirit Sylph wishes to continue alongside you.]
[Title: One Beloved by Spirits added to the list.]
-Oh?
-Evolution?
-As expected of our Sylph. T_T
-The original is eternal.
-Still keeping on together;
‘……Evolution?’
Even Hanbit, examining the message contents, was surprised.
Because the evolution of a spirit was that rare a sight.
And above all, the identity known as ‘Sylph’ separating off as one individual was not an ordinary thing.
A spirit is one and the entirety.
Normally those of the same grade share consciousness and exist as one.
Tweet—!
The bird sitting on his palm had grown to roughly the size of a soccer ball.
Stroking the head rubbing against him, Hanbit checked the title.
[One Beloved by Spirits]
Ability to commune with spirits is strengthened.
Solidly maintains the spirit’s identity and dramatically develops communicative ability.
This ability is applied differently depending on the spirit’s grade.
‘Communication?’
A somehow strange word caught his eye.
Hanbit slowly lowered his gaze — and met Sylph’s eyes.
[Happy!]
“……What?”
A speech-bubble-like message appearing above Sylph’s head.
And the contents rang out clearly in his mind.
“Are you talking to me right now?”
[Yes!]
-What, insane. Lol.
-Communication channel ON.
-Our child is finally speaking. T_T
-The speech bubble is so cute. Lol.
-Baldur, get ready. I’m coming.
-Already doing it.
The viewers were moved at the first conversation with Sylph.
But the weight Hanbit felt was different.
‘Already talking?’
Not communication — proper dialogue.
A spirit having that degree of identity began from intermediate class.
And even then it was only possible after a fairly long time of interaction — the situation of replying in language already was beyond common sense.
Tweet—!
Sylph moving her wings as though she didn’t know what the fuss was about.
Difficult to understand — but either way, the contract with the intermediate spirit had been successfully concluded.
Now to move to the remaining elements’ domains.
“Aaaaah!”
A distant scream made him turn his head.
There was Raphina, still floating in the sky, being tossed about by the wind.
“Sylph, could you take me there?”
[Yes!]
Whoosh—!
Wind wrapping around the body along with the answer.
Being the spirit’s own realm, Sylph’s power was free and strong.
Whoosh—!
The risen body quickly reached near Raphina.
“Black Dragon-nim!”
Having spotted Hanbit, she urgently raised her voice.
A face saying she had no idea what to do.
“It seems Shuriel is interested too. Try everything you can.”
“What?”
“It’s playing with the spirit. Whether you use magic, sing a song — find a way to leave an impression on Raphina. I’ll head on ahead.”
“Wait……! Black Dragon-nim!”
-Lol.
-That’s practically an ordeal;
-I’m gaining an appreciation for the hardships of kiddie café workers.
Hanbit, leaving Raphina with her hand outstretched behind him, came out of the domain.
Three spirits remained.
Hanbit moved to the fire space first.
Ding—
An alert the moment he stepped in.
The message that appeared before him was as expected.
[Fire Spirit Salliste feels warmth in you.]
[Intermediate Fire Spirit Salliste wishes to be with you.]
Having Saelion’s traces, the fire spirit naturally opened its heart to Hanbit.
A decision befitting a personality with passion and impulse.
Next was the water spirit.
Splash—
A space with a shallow lake spreading.
Upon stepping in there, a message appeared equally.
[Water Spirit Undine expresses doubt about the power that dwells in you.]
[Water Spirit Undine expresses a degree of concern.]
[Water Spirit Undine cannot shake the worry.]
[Intermediate Water Spirit Undine wishes to be with you.]
The ice spirit is a being that has separated from the source of water.
To put it in a metaphor — like the relationship of parent and child.
The gentle, deeply sensitive water spirit could never simply pass over the traces of Glacier without reaction.
“The last one is…… over there.”
The final earth space, covered in boulders and ground.
Hanbit walked slowly and stepped into it.
“…….”
Unlike the three preceding spaces, no reaction appeared.
When a little time had passed, messages began to appear one at a time.
[Earth Spirit Gnome is deliberating.]
[Earth Spirit Gnome is hesitant about change.]
[Earth Spirit Gnome shakes its head, saying it needs time.]
The change of heart ultimately led to a refusal.
This too had been anticipated — but Hanbit’s purpose was a little different.
“I have one request. Could I receive the spirit stone you carry?”
Rumble rumble rumble—
At those words, the ground vibrated faintly.
And after a little more time passed, a message appeared.
[Earth Spirit Gnome reads the traces of your footsteps.]
[Earth Spirit Gnome has confirmed the resonance of the many lives you have protected.]
Crack—
Just then, the ground split open before Hanbit.
There lay a translucent round gemstone containing a bright yellow light.
“Thank you.”
Having expressed his gratitude, Hanbit lowered himself and extended his hand.
[Spirit Stone containing the power of earth (Rank 5 — Epic) obtained.]
-Rank 5 Epic.
-It gives this?
-But won’t make a contract, huh.
-A difficult friend.
-Got the spirit stone though. Let’s drink to that.
The quality of the spirit stone that had been the goal was excellent.
And with the power of earth even incorporated, there wasn’t even a need to separately add a spirit’s power.
The contract could be handled next time, taking a little more time.
Hanbit carefully examined the spirit stone and put it in his inventory.
“Then I’ll be going. I’ll come visit again — and next time…….”
Crack crack—
Just as he was about to deliver a parting word, the ground suddenly moved.
And a message followed.
[Earth Spirit Gnome is concerned about the weight you are carrying.]
“……It’s alright. I’m used to it.”
Crack crack crack—
At the quiet reply, the ground gathered as though to wrap around Hanbit’s legs.
The special power the earth spirit possesses.
It is an ability that retraces the footsteps of the past.
Rather than clearly knowing the 55 lives Hanbit had passed through — perhaps it would be more accurate to say it faintly sensed that long, long span of time.
Perhaps because the footsteps of so many, the traces of so many battles, and the blood that had to be shed had all seeped into the earth.
Crack crack—
The ground that had stirred for a moment came to rest at some point.
Another message following was quick.
[Intermediate Earth Spirit Gnome wishes to be with you.]
-Oh?
-??
-Refused and then did it anyway — why;
-You do this for me?
‘……Sooner than expected.’
Originally, he had genuinely intended to come visit one more time.
But Gnome had made the decision right then and there.
Was it simply the influence of the game’s system — or had the things done in this place had an impact?
[Earth Spirit Gnome wishes to help you save many lives.]
Gnome’s will was clear.
Among spirits, the most sensitive to good and evil.
Wishing to save many lives — but holding just as firm a conviction in the judgment of evil.
In a way, perhaps the personality closest to Leon.
“Thank you.”
A contract with the four elemental spirits concluded with a brief farewell.
That too appeared in the system as another achievement.
Ding—
[Title: Contractor of the Four Elements added to the list.]
