Chapter 65: Act 1 – The Burning City
The principal of Tigr Academy, Zenpei Saradiv.
He smiled as he handed a personally sealed recommendation letter to Luke.
“Here, the recommendation letter is here.”
“Thank you, Zenpei.”
This was one of the reasons why Luke came to the academy.
After obtaining the ‘personally sealed principal’s recommendation letter’, Luke checked the document for any errors before carefully putting it away in his pocket and said.
“If I win an award here…”
Luke’s words, as if seeking confirmation, prompted Zenpei to nod knowingly.
“Right, I said you could take the graduation exam.”
In the past, Zenpei had made one promise to Luke.
He didn’t have to attend school classes if he didn’t want to, but if he wanted to graduate, he needed external award experience.
So, Luke had been putting in effort to win awards in various competitions.
High-level competitions where only one or two students from each academy would compete; if a mere 10-year-old girl could win an award there, she would certainly meet the graduation requirements.
However, in reality, Luke had a far greater prize already prepared for him, something that could not even be compared to such awards.
The Rass Award, a prestigious magical theory prize given only once every four years to a single individual who has made a significant magical discovery across the entire continent.
By merely proving the miracle of Shaeh, Luke was set to graduate early next year.
But for Luke, that was far too late.
And if, by any chance, a more significant discovery were made within the next year than the proof of Shaeh’s miracle, his award would be canceled.
Wasn’t that uncertain?
For Luke, it was far more ideal to participate in the International Magic Competition, which would award him instantly.
“Alright. Then I will definitely win an award.”
“You have good momentum. I’ll cheer for you.”
Zenpei sent his encouragement while looking at the passionate eyes of the child.
Unbeknownst to him, the storm Luke would bring was unexpected…
——-
Returning home, Luke went to the store to buy snacks in preparation for his friends’ visit.
This was because most of the snacks available at home were things that elves couldn’t eat, leaving him with nothing to serve when the children came over.
Although Yerna was an elf, she didn’t particularly have a tendency to enjoy snacks outside of her meals.
Thus, Luke decided to shop at a large supermarket, taking the whole family along.
“Today the streets are filled with decorations and people.”
For some reason, the streets were particularly crowded today.
“Right, what day is it today?”
Luke murmured to himself with a puzzled expression as he looked around.
Dayton, gazing quietly at the crowd, suddenly seemed to realize something.
“Ah, by the way, Spirit Festival is in a week.”
He had been so busy with various things these past few days that he hadn’t noticed at all.
If it weren’t for the spectacular decorations in the large supermarket and the sign that read ‘Spirit Festival Sale’, as well as the old man dressed as a spirit who was said to give gifts during the festival, he probably wouldn’t have noticed at all.
“Oh, now that you mention it.”
Yerna echoed Dayton’s words.
After all, the concept of holidays didn’t particularly exist in Yerna’s mind.
“Spirit Festival?”
The one who reacted first to the mention of spirits was none other than Pyris.
After all, she was an actual spirit.
However, it was unlikely that Pyris had ever heard of the Spirit Festival.
Because in the time that Pyris might have had an intellect, there was no concept of the Spirit Festival.
Thus, Pyris looked at her brother, Luke, with an inquisitive gaze, as if wanting to know everything.
But Luke was equally unfamiliar with the Spirit Festival.
“What’s the Spirit Festival…?”
The concept of the Spirit Festival didn’t exist even in Luke’s era.
“Wow, you guys don’t know about the Spirit Festival? I’m surprised.”
While it was understandable that Pyris didn’t know, Yerna and Dayton were somewhat flustered, not expecting Luke to be unfamiliar with it too.
However, upon rethinking, it was also wrong to assume that Luke would definitely know about the Spirit Festival.
Before Luke gained the freedom he had now, such a day might as well have not existed.
Thinking this way, Yerna replied in a very kind tone.
“The Spirit Festival is a day when spirits leave gifts by the bedside of well-behaved children, wishing them to continue being good.”
“Is that so? That’s amazing.”
She didn’t know when this story originated, but it was quite an interesting tale.
That meant existing people didn’t completely deny the existence of spirits, did they?
Moreover, the fact that spirits even leave gifts suggested that most people acknowledged the existence of spirits to a considerable extent and understood that they could exchange intentions and exert some physical influence.
What purpose might spirits have in leaving gifts beside sleeping humans?
“Wow! Gifts? Spirits give gifts?”
Upon hearing Yerna’s explanation, Pyris’ expression transformed into one of keen interest.
Pyris eagerly asked Luke.
“Who gives the gifts? Is it a spirit I know?”
“Well…”
“Hey, brother, I’m a spirit, do spirits also give gifts?”
“I don’t know… Shouldn’t you be the one to know that rather than me?”
“That’s true!”
Pyris pondered deeply over the spirits she remembered who might engage in such acts, but none particularly came to mind.
Furthermore, even if there was a spirit that gave gifts, it posed a problem.
“I think spirits are busy.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
Luke acknowledged that fact.
Thinking about it, there were significant issues.
If a spirit was responsible for determining which gifts to give based on standards of good and evil, and transporting such rewards to children’s bedside on just one day of the year, it was a story that should be feared.
Such a spirit, if it existed, would undoubtedly be an immense presence on the level of a spirit king.
If not, they would likely be acting collectively, but since Luke had never sensed their presence, their subtlety was terrifying in its own right.
Luke had no doubt in his thoughts.
He was rather one of the strongest believers in the existence of spirits.
However, believing in spirits was one thing; he was a mage.
Thus, he didn’t really know much about spirits, and so he merely nodded at the existence of such spirits.
“…It’s a bit scary.”
If he fell out of favor with such spirits, the problem wouldn’t merely be not receiving gifts.
Luke vividly recalled the fates of those who fell into the spirits’ wrath during the era when spirits held power, and he understood the dangers better than anyone else.
‘Good deeds, huh… What exactly do spirits consider as good children?’
The definition of a good child was extremely vague.
Humans’ rules would not perfectly correspond to spirits 1:1, and every spirit’s standards would vary greatly.
What if, unwittingly, due to a mistake, he attracted the eyes of a massive spirit organization?
Luke, who had a greater identity as a mage than as a spirit apprentice, didn’t seem to possess a heightened sensitivity toward spirits.
Thus, it was also a matter worth pondering at least once.
‘What could be effective attack magic against powerful or numerous spirits…?’
However, in reality, Luke’s contemplation was pointless.
Because the origin of the ‘Spirit Festival’ day had nothing to do with spirits—it was a sort of marketing ploy created in later generations.
It also served to justify why children should behave well throughout the year.
The name of the Spirit Festival itself was likely coined because people would think of the ‘mystical image of leaving gifts’, where spirits seemed most fitting, rather than that spirits actually left gifts.
Yet, Luke couldn’t immediately ponder such adult matters.
At that moment, Diana pulled at Luke’s hand and smiled.
“Sister, Pyris, both of you are friends with spirits, right?”
“Um… Yes?”
“Yeah!”
Could it be the characteristic innocence unique to children? Diana still firmly believed that, even if Luke wasn’t Meruru, he was indeed a sort of Spirit Girl.
That wasn’t entirely a lie.
At least he possessed sufficient power to bring villains to justice, was friendly with spirits, and could transform into another form, making him probably the only one in this era who suited the title of Spirit Girl more than Luke.
What Spirit Girls could do, Luke could do as well…
Moreover, Pyris hadn’t particularly kept her identity as a spirit secret from Diana.
Pyris herself had no intention to hide the fact that she was a spirit from others.
“Of course!”
Diana’s response was bright, as if she had succeeded.
“Then, this year, tell the spirit I want the limited edition doll of Spirit Girl Meruru! I’ve been really good this whole time!”
Diana clasped her hands and bowed her head in front of Luke and Pyris.
Her sparkling gaze looked quite eager.
Luke felt awkward.
Indeed, they were close.
It was just that their relationship wasn’t as extensive as Diana thought.
“…Well, that is…”
As Luke struggled to respond, Pyris chimed in from the side.
“But I want that too, sister.”
“…”
Upon hearing Pyris’ answer, Luke looked at her with a subtle expression.
According to the explanation of the Spirit Festival, wouldn’t spirits play a role in giving gifts rather than receiving them?
Luke thought this year’s Spirit Festival would indeed pose various issues.
