I played the role of the adopted daughter way too well. In the second half of Chapter 070, the villain Hela was a cruel person.

Depending on her mood, she killed countless people and ran wild until she met her miserable end due to the betrayal of the Guardian Spirit, unable to contain herself any longer.

“I’m sorry, Heidi. I can no longer protect you.”

“I will perish in exchange for giving you up.”

Kelberon, who wanted to protect Heidi at all costs, ultimately chose his own annihilation and abandoned her.

“My name is Kelberon, destined to become the great Spirit King!”

“My name is Heidi.”

When Kelberon first formed a contract with Heidi, he always cheered her on and supported her.

At first, he thought Heidi’s life was justified.

The initial Kelberon was just an inexperienced spirit, after all.

“Is this really right, Heidi?”

As Kelberon watched the dying boy, his mind grew complicated.

Days turned to weeks, and those moments gathered into seven long years.

“This isn’t what I wanted.”

After seven years, Kelberon realized.

This life wasn’t the life he had wanted.

He gained a fearsome reputation as a spirit, but really, he wanted to be a great Spirit King, not a terrifying spirit.

“I want to be a warm spirit.”

Yet he had come too far to turn back.

He had spilled too much blood to become the great Spirit King.

He judged he had no right to be one.

“A bit sad, huh?”

It wasn’t until seven years passed that he understood.

What he really wanted was to water pretty flowers and cultivate a beautiful flower garden.

In truth, the talk of becoming a great Spirit King was just to hide that simple dream.

He thought spirits with the name ‘Kel’ shouldn’t have such small wishes.

“I can no longer dream.”

The Blood Spirit Kelberon.

That’s how the continent referred to him.

He had become an evil spirit accompanying the demon Heidi.

In his last moments, he broke the contract, securing his annihilation, and spoke to Heidi.

“I don’t blame you. But if the first person I met had been someone else, would my life have been different?”

Heidi smiled and answered.

“Fate doesn’t change, Kelberon.”

In a dark cave where water dripped from the ceiling, Heidi laughed joyfully.

“You were born to be a Blood Spirit. And like a Blood Spirit, you’ve lived well. You can be proud.”

No.

I’ve never had any pride.

Kelberon wanted to say.

Yet, he couldn’t.

If he denied his life, it felt like he would also be denying Heidi’s life.

Perhaps the direction was slightly wrong, but Heidi had lived diligently.

She lived her life better than anyone else.

“I can’t deny that life.”

Even if it was wrong, he didn’t want to outright deny Heidi, especially with her dying.

Kelberon spoke.

“Thank you. I’m glad to have met you.” Kelberon dissolved into warm droplets.

That was the price for unilaterally breaking the contract.

Still, becoming warm droplets, he tried to cover Heidi with a bit of warmth.

That was Kelberon’s final consideration and love.

“Foolish spirit.”

Heidi leaned against the wall, panting heavily.

“I shouldn’t have contracted with such a weakling.”

Heidi was furious.

How dare a contract spirit break the contract first?

She spat! Blood mixed with spit.

“Talking flowery nonsense, are we?”

Wanting to cultivate a flower garden or something.

It wasn’t the kind of spirit I should have contracted with.

I should have contracted with a more resolute spirit.

Being deceived by the ‘Kel’ name was a mistake.

“Because of you, I couldn’t do anything, Kelberon.”

She chuckled.

“Seeing you perish, it serves you right.”

That night, Heidi took her last breath.

Viola said.

“We have a huge Marguerite Flower Field at my house.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

“If you help, we can grow even prettier flowers. Just think about it.

What a beautiful flower bed it would be if the Water Spirit, heir of the Kel name, waters the flowers!”

“I, I am destined to be the great Spirit King. Such simple talk doesn’t suit me.”

“We’ll see.”

Viola stroked her chin.

Kelberon valued even wicked spirit users like Heidi.

He believed this was the natural attitude towards a contractor.

“I felt genuinely sorry at the end.”

Thinking back, Kelberon was a terribly pitiful spirit.

He could have lived a happier life.

“I’d much rather protect myself than protect Heidi?”

Suddenly, the images of those around him came to mind.

First, there was Bichen, smiling slyly with a sword in hand.

Then there was Heron, exuding an overwhelming presence as he reigned supreme.

Medea, who was already nearing the peak of the world at just twenty, also flickered in his mind.

He felt a bit sorry for Kelberon.

“Or maybe not…?”

For a moment, he thought it might not be the case.

“You were born from a droplet, right?”

“Of course. I am the great Water Spirit.”

“Droplet, so droplet it is.”

“What?”

“No, that sounds like a puppy name, so let’s go with Pongpong.”

“What’s that?”

“What’s what? It’s your name.”

The moment ‘name’ came up, Kelberon screamed.

“Noooooo!”

As soon as the contractor names him, it becomes etched into the spirit’s soul.

That was the spirit’s contract.

“What’s your name?”

“My name is……!”

He didn’t want to say it.

No way.

My name is that name, the great Kel!

Kelberon!

He wanted to scream it, but he couldn’t.

Inside, he was shouting ‘It’s Kelberon!’ but his mouth moved against his will.

“It’s Pongpong!”

Kelberon looked like he was about to cry.

He felt as if he had lost everything.

*

Jeremy had his own lucky break.

Thanks to the magic circle, his spirit affinity temporarily skyrocketed, allowing him to contract with a Wind Spirit.

“Viola. It’s thanks to you.”

“Hmm?”

“Thanks to you, I contracted with a spirit.”

“What’s the spirit’s name?”

“Kel-Tertass, he named himself Storm.”

At that, Pongpong howled.

“Why on earth is a smelly wind spirit called Storm!”

Pongpong felt wronged.

His name was Pongpong, while that guy was Storm.

“Get out here! Let’s settle this.

As a candidate for the great Spirit King!”

Jeremy chuckled lightly.

“Storm is too shy. He doesn’t want to show himself.”

Jeremy was also curious.

He saw a small fairy floating in the form of wind.

That fairy could only be seen by Jeremy, the contractor.

Meanwhile, Viola, who had been lost in thought, asked.

“Kel Tertass, you say?”

“Yes. Why?”

“Nothing much.”

But it was something.

The spirit Jeremy contracted with didn’t have the ‘Kel’ name.

He remembered reading about a setting in which a spirit king became the first without receiving the ‘Kel’ name.

“Thanks to your incomprehensibly high spirit affinity, you must have crossed over here.”

“Seems like it.”

“Thank you.”

Jeremy grabbed Viola’s hand eagerly.

“Being with you is fun.”

He got an unexpected stroke of luck.

The fact that Jeremy, who had exceedingly low spirit affinity, was able to contract with a spirit royalty was astonishing.

Jeremy Falail was the person who contracts with regular spirits and elevates them to the rank of spirit king.

But this time, he ended up contracting with a spirit royalty who already has the ‘Kel’ name.

“If it weren’t for being with Viola, I wouldn’t have gotten this fortune.”

Grinning, he continued with his questions.

“Shall we get engaged?”

“Cough.”

Viola cleared her throat.

No, why is the conversation straying over there?

“No, in two years you can get married, right? The Bellatu contracted with the spirit royalty.

And the inheritor of the Storm Blade who has contracted another spirit royalty. Wouldn’t it be amazing if the two got married?”

“Forget it.”

“Why not?”

Jeremy, you’re a hero in this world, and heroes carry adversity; they must overcome adversity to be heroes.

I’m not interested in that kind of adversity or hardship.

As he hesitated to respond, Jeremy smiled mysteriously.

“Ah! I get it.”

Get what?

I didn’t say anything!

I wish he wouldn’t know.

Hiding her unease, Viola silently listened to Jeremy’s words.

“You think I’m still lacking in some way, right?”

No, you’re overflowing.

“Yeah. I’ve seen Princess Medea up close, and with your outstanding abilities, I might not meet your eyes just yet.”

Jeremy genuinely thought so.

He was the one who summoned the spirit royalty and facilitated the contract.

He absolutely didn’t consider it a coincidence.

Although he didn’t consider it a coincidence, it would be a more terrifying outcome if it were.

‘With that level of potential and insight, and exceptional abilities as a White Bellatu… maybe I could seem lacking.’

Jeremy grinned.

If I seemed lacking because Viola was too amazing, I could just become more amazing to match.

That was Jeremy’s positive theory.

“Then I’ll become even greater and propose!”

For some reason.

That sounded like “I’ll overcome more difficult adversities and hardships!” Is that just my imagination?

Viola sighed softly.

At this moment, it felt like Jeremy wouldn’t listen to anything said.

It really hit her again that they had entered a fantasy world.

Once you turn twelve and enter the social circle, engagements are exchanged everywhere.

It was a very common event among nobles.

“Look forward to it. I’ll become an excellent knight.”

Jeremy, who was already a hero-level supporting character, vowed deeply.

*

Viola sent Pongpong back to the Spirit Realm.

Spirits contracted with humans could return to the Spirit Realm to rest anytime, and could be summoned when needed.

“I need to find a way out.”

While Pongpong guided them in, they had to find their own way out now.

This place was a square room, completely cut off on all sides.

They needed to find an exit.

“Let’s find Zeno’s energy.”

“Oh! That’ll work.”

Zeno couldn’t come in here with them.

“He probably intentionally separated from us, right?”

He might be lurking somewhere, spying on them.

If it were Zeno, that wouldn’t be surprising.

“I think it’s over here.”

Jeremy started feeling along one side of the wall.

At one moment, the wall suddenly caved in.

Swoosh—

The wall geometrically shifted, revealing a wide corridor.

It was a bit dark.

However, there were magic torches in spots, making it not too difficult to see.

“This corridor seems like an exit.”

Viola could also sense Zeno’s presence.

Zeno could be felt at the end of this corridor.

“This body is quite incredible.”

Viola’s physical being was capable of such things.

The author’s setup was indeed great.

Being born with it was the best.

Thinking this, she walked forward.

Jeremy’s voice rang out.

“Zeno’s presence seems to be far ahead, but it feels strangely odd.”

Viola halted in her tracks.

Jeremy was right.

It felt oddly strange.

‘This is… killing intent?’

For some reason, she felt a killing intent from afar.

Twinkle.

A flicker of red light shone in the darkness.

At that moment, she felt her hair stand on end.

‘This is dangerous.’

A damp wind blew.

A sticky breeze filled with malice.

Thump thump.

With footsteps came Zeno’s voice.

“You must die here.”

It was the most spine-chilling moment since crossing over to this world.