Chapter 34: Cecilia Everglenn (4)

Well then, what should I do now.

I calmly looked around me.

The place had long been surrounded by spirits.

The only reason they didn’t rush at me immediately was because Cecilia was in my arms.

As her mind and body gradually settled, their once savage aura also began to subside.

Even so, their hostility and murderous intent toward me remained unchanged.

‘More than that….’

I glanced at the back of her hand.

There was a brand engraved there, similar yet different from the one carved into me.

A brand.

Yes, unbelievably, even Cecilia and Rahma were owners of brands.

It was a clue discovered in the most unexpected place, but unfortunately, this was not the time.

If I dragged things out any longer, it felt like they would pierce through my skull.

[I will make you an offer, young human.]

A shard of ice in the shape of a woman looked at me and spoke.

She resembled a human, yet clumsily so, evoking an uncanny sense of discomfort.

[Step away from Cecilia at once. Then I shall at least leave your corpse intact.]

Not even an empty promise of letting me live, huh.

I wetted my parched lips with my tongue.

[Intact, unlike your legs.]

[Humans have the custom of burying their dead, do they not? I will allow you that much.]

So you were the one who drove that ice awl into my thigh.

Carefully pulling it out, I clicked my tongue softly and scanned the area once more.

Spirits, spirits, spirits…

Everywhere I looked, only spirits.

Just the number I could count was close to ten.

Even without close observation, it was clear they were all beings of immense power.

‘…I can do this.’

The important thing was to break through this situation.

I knew how to do that.

And I also had the knowledge to deceive them.

What I needed was resolve.

“Before that, may I make a suggestion as well?”

In a slightly more distant future.

The day would come when countless truths about spirits, once shrouded in mystery, would be revealed.

And the reason was Cecilia Everglenn, thanks to a book she authored.

And for some reason.

I had read her book over and over, countless times.

Even though I had not the slightest bit of affinity with spirits.

But because of that, I knew better than anyone what I needed to do now.

‘No, I must do it.’

I had endured crises like this many times before.

So I could do it again.

Without doubt.

“My suggestion is…”

[There is no need.]

The ice spirit replied with disinterest.

[Once you are dead, that loathsome mouth will fall silent.]

“If you kill me.”

I quickly cut off its words.

“You won’t get what you want.”

[Nonsense. With death before you, your tongue grows slippery.]

“Opening the channel with Cecilia and becoming her connector. That’s your purpose, isn’t it?”

A connector meant a relationship beyond a mere contract—one where soul bound to soul.

With Cecilia’s level of talent, it was no exaggeration to say that all spirits coveted the seat of her connector.

[Hmph.]

At my words, the ice spirit let out a creaking noise.

Almost as if laughing.

[What babble, words that even an insect could deduce.]

“That too.”

Once again, I cut it off.

Take the bait, take the bait, please take it.

I repeated the words endlessly inside.

“Before the Spirit Kings become her connectors first.”

At that, even for just an instant, I felt the spirit’s body flinch and stiffen.

Not only that, I also sensed faint ripples among the spirits surrounding us.

‘As expected, there is a reaction.’

Yes, waver.

Be shaken by my words.

[…What are you saying?]

“What am I saying? I’m saying if you slip up, the Spirit Kings you’ve been trying so hard to keep away will snatch up the connector’s seat for themselves.”

The moment I finished speaking, cracks split across its face.

The air froze cold in an instant, and frost spread over everything around.

[How dare you make such a pathetic threat. Enough, I will smash your skull. I need not listen further…!]

“Taranis.”

I murmured softly.

In that moment, the spirits froze in place as though the air itself had turned solid.

The name of the Spirit King of Fire.

A name that no one in this age had ever spoken, and thus could not possibly be known.

[Wha—what…]

“Haurvatar, Ameretat, Kshatarina. And…”

[Stop, stop!]

[Silence!]

As I began to chant in order the names of the Spirit Kings of Water, Earth, and Wind, some of the spirits shrieked in terror.

Like Taranis, these too were names unknown in this age.

…Of course, I had learned all of them by reading Cecilia’s book.

[Do not speak those names!]

[Stop it!]

[Enough, we will not interrupt you! Just stop!]

The spirits nearby shouted desperately, their cries a mix of threats and pleas.

The reason for their panic was that names held great meaning for spirits.

Above all, when a spirit’s name was spoken, it could hear the voice of the one who called it.

Which meant that even the Spirit Kings in their deep slumber might hear my voice.

‘Even if I shouted until my throat bled, I, who had no more affinity than a chick’s eyelash, would never get a response….’

From their perspective, not knowing the details, it must have felt like the sky itself had collapsed upon them.

In fact, the spirits that had seemed ready to tear me apart at any moment had visibly lost some of their momentum.

[…How.]

The ice spirit muttered in disbelief.

Unlike before, its voice clearly carried a trace of tension.

[How does a human know those names?]

“That’s all you’re curious about?”

I deliberately answered as though diverting the subject.

And then I mimicked the tone, gestures, and expressions of the person I never wanted to get entangled with again… the one who used to smile mockingly at my pleas.

“In this situation, it’s not ‘how,’ but ‘how much’ I know that should come first.”

[…]

The spirit stayed silent.

Not only that.

I could feel the atmosphere of the other spirits, who had been ready to rush at me, shift in an instant.

I hurriedly continued speaking.

If I gave them time to think, to regain their composure and find flaws in my words, then I really would be a dead man with no chance.

[How much do you know?]

“Well…”

I gave a faint smile.

Unlike earlier, the ice spirit only stared straight at me, waiting for my answer.

“As I said before, I know that you all want to become Cecilia’s connector. And I also know there are far too few seats for all of  you to claim that role… well, there are a few other things too, but I think this much explanation is enough.”

[What is it.]

The ice spirit leaned its face closer to me.

‘Crazy.’

…I nearly screamed out loud.

Up close, its appearance was horrifying beyond measure.

[What kind of human are you?]

“Wrong question again.”

I grinned at it.

“You should be asking what I’m about to do, what I can do, and what proposal I have for you.”

Grip.

At that moment, I felt Cecilia’s hand clutching my collar tighten.

“……”

I held her more firmly in my arms.

Separating from her now would be a terrible choice, both for me and for her.

“One thing I can tell you is this: at this rate, you’ll have her stolen away by the Spirit Kings without a chance to resist.”

[Silence.]

“And after that… well, who knows. I don’t even know what will become of you.”

I sneered at it, mocking deliberately.

“But you know what? Humans may differ, but those who defy their king often face a punishment called beheading.”

[This is your warning.]

With a grinding sound, frost began forming around the woman’s figure.

Her body trembled, as though barely restraining her fury.

[If you continue with such nonsense, I will flay your flesh and bones alive.]

“Well then, I should keep my mouth shut.”

I joked lightly and glanced at the other spirits nearby.

“I was about to offer to arrange for you to become her connectors right away… but since I’d rather not die, I’d best be quiet.”

At those words, the atmosphere changed instantly.

[…What did you say?]

“You didn’t hear?”

The one who reacted wasn’t the ice spirit, but a turtle formed of mire.

“I said I was going to help you become Cecilia’s connectors.”

With that, I closed my mouth.

They stared at me in silence, not even breathing, eyes filled with murderous intent, but also traces of hesitation.

‘Please.’

Please let this work.

Perhaps they heard the cry within my heart, for a spirit answered.

[You’re spewing nonsense.]

‘Ah.’

I was doomed.

[I admit your tongue and words are loathsome. Indeed, like a serpent’s.]

The ice spirit muttered as though snapping in anger.

Its body trembled violently, and its mouth opened wide—sending forth a massive, razor-sharp pillar of ice.

[As promised, I’ll skewer your head with that tongue of yours.]

With those words, it hurled the ice pillar straight at me.

Could I even block it?

In desperation, I gathered divine power to unleash the Miracle of Protection.

[…What is this? What are you doing?]

[And what are you doing, acting on your own?]

The massive ice pillar was caught midair.

By roots of a tree.

And by sticky mire.

They had been sent forth by the other spirits.

The turtle of mire clacked its jaws, while a dog formed of roots and leaf mold growled threateningly.

[You’ve been deceived, its tongue is wicked. Do not believe it. No one should trust a human’s tongue!]

The turtle and the dog hurled accusations at the flustered ice spirit.

[We’ll turn your own words back on you. And watch what you say. Cecilia is human too.]

[You are in the same position as us, not our king. Do not give orders.]

[Don’t be fooled! I told you, believe me!]

[Again, you are not our leader. Do not command us.]

[That’s right. We are only rivals to each other.]

The spirit in the form of a dog made of wood advanced one step toward the ice spirit, as though threatening it.

The ice spirit looked around urgently, but the other spirits merely observed, hesitant to act.

[We deemed his words worth hearing.]

[Agreed.]

At their responses, the ice spirit fell silent.

The spirit in the form of a turtle spoke to me in the voice of a boy who hadn’t even reached puberty.

[Then speak now.]

I struggled to calm my pounding chest and slowly opened my mouth.

I had to put in all my effort to keep my voice from trembling.

“…Then this might get a bit long, will that be fine?”

[We have already waited countless years. Since the time she babbled as an infant, we have waited.]

The turtle snapped its beak shut with a loud crack.

[Waiting a little longer makes no difference.]

“Alright then, where should I begin…”

I deliberately drew out my words while staring at it.

“As you know, to become a connector, one must have stayed with the contractor for a long time. The reason is that such time builds bonds, meaning a spiritual connection must exist. That is the minimum requirement.”

[We already know this. Stop wasting time and get to the point.]

“Yeah, clever of you. But for someone so clever, you don’t seem to realize that if you keep interrupting me, this story will only get longer.”

When I shot those words at the ice spirit in a scornful tone, its body shook in anger.

I clicked my tongue softly as I met its gaze for a moment.

“Anyway, to continue… the reason you surrounded Cecilia from childhood and drove away others was because of that, wasn’t it? To drive off other spirits and, while you were at it, sever her ties to others and isolate her, forcing her to rely only on you.”

At those words, Cecilia flinched slightly in surprise.

The spirits did not nod in agreement, but neither did they deny it.

…What they had failed to predict was that their actions would backfire entirely.

“Here’s the point. I can shorten the minimum time required to qualify as a connector. In fact, it means you would gain the right to attempt it immediately.”

Before the spirits could react, I quickly looked down at Cecilia.

“Of course, her permission is needed. But you don’t need to worry about that. I’m sure she’ll grant my request. Isn’t that right, Cecilia?”

At my question, she slowly nodded.

“…Yes, I’ll do as Lian says.”

Then she added after a pause.

“And I will never become the connector of anyone who tries to harm you.”

Good.

I nodded slightly.

[Wait, I cannot believe you. How could such a thing be possible?]

[That’s true, how could a human possibly…]

As the spirits muttered in disbelief, the ice spirit once again raised its voice loudly.

[Am I not right?! He’s just spewing sophistry to escape, we must kill him now!]

“Alright, if you want proof, I’ll show you.”

With those words, I yanked at my collar roughly, exposing what lay beneath.

There, the brand engraved on me shone faintly with light.

“You may already know, but this is the same as the one engraved on the back of Cecilia’s hand…?”

Confidently speaking, I trailed off mid-sentence without meaning to.

Because the spirits’ reactions were far too extreme.

[Impossible…!]

[Three! Not just two, but three on the same day, in the same place…!]

…What?

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