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When I first heard the Grand Elder and Edelin’s words, I couldn’t help but doubt my ears as the head of the Arielte Family.

‘Making a contract with a supreme spirit isn’t easy for us, either.’

Most elves, unlike members of the prominent three families of the Great Forest, only manage to form contracts with intermediate or advanced spirits.

There is a significant barrier between low-level and intermediate spirits, but an even greater wall exists between intermediate and advanced spirits. Most prodigies are stuck at the intermediate level, while those with some talent make contracts with advanced spirits.

The wall between advanced and supreme spirits is thicker than the barriers between low and intermediate, and very few from the Arielte, Chelness, or Ianette families can handle supreme spirits.

‘Let alone humans.’

Even elves, lacking exceptional lineage or blessings from the World Tree, would find it hard to maintain a complete contract with a supreme spirit.

Short-lived species. With limited time, they struggle to accumulate power steadily.

How could an ordinary human achieve a contract with a supreme spirit, especially when they are neither dwarves nor beastmen, who possess spirit affinity?

‘Especially since that guy is a man.’

The limitations of his race were crystal clear.

A man, who is inherently mana-deficient, wouldn’t have the capacity to summon, contract, and sustain a supreme spirit.

“What spirit is that…?”

What exactly is this scene unfolding before my eyes?

Fletta couldn’t help but doubt her own eyes.

‘But that girl…’

Perched comfortably on the man’s shoulders, a young girl had her hand gently resting on his head. She felt familiar, and the scent of a well-known spirit wafted from her. The breeze blowing in from the open door carried that familiar scent, too.

‘…It’s a supreme spirit.’

The aroma of burning, dry wood that tickled her nose exuded warmth and elegance.

It wasn’t as rough as other intermediate or advanced spirits, yet the quietly smoldering ember within was fiercer than any spirit.

As a mature elf, Fletta instinctively grasped the rank of the spirit through its refined and suppressed intense heat.

Fletta recalled the words her daughter, Friel Arielte, had spoken upon returning to the family.

─The young lady might possess as much talent in archery as we do. And… the power passed down through her lineage adds to her uniqueness.

Friel had a surprisingly high opinion of the young lady.

What are elves known for? Aren’t they beings born to shoot bows?

There is no other domain within which elves feel as confident as archery. To think that someone could possess archery talent comparable to that of an elf is one of the utmost admissions an elf could make.

─But there is someone even more important than her.

Yet, her daughter placed greater importance on another person.

─The girl’s exclusive squire… or was it called her slave before that?

Fletta chuckled softly as she recalled Friel saying,

─You’d do well to pay attention to Ray rather than the young lady. He possesses remarkable spirit magic and is rich in mana for swordsmanship. The more you see him, the more he surprises with his capabilities.

The young lady was an excellent archer, but her squire Ray supposedly created even more astonishment than she did.

While he had the variables of being able to wield mana and possessing skill in spirit magic, he was still ultimately human. How proficient could he really be at handling spirit magic?

‘Friel had her reasons.’

Before leaving the Great Forest, Friel had shown signs of greed while investigating Ray and his information.

Just as humans desire beautiful elves to be their slaves, elves possess greed for anything special or beautiful.

In that sense…

“…It seems our conversation with the Grand Elder went well.”

Ray belonged to something special.

Beyond the duty assigned by the Grand Elder, he was someone worth watching individually.

“Now that our business seems to be concluded, let’s head back.”

From here on, the Arielte family would keep a serious eye on Shione and Ray.

*

There was a knight.

A knight drenched in blood due to battle. The knight struggled to wipe the blood off their iron armor, trying to remove the stench of death from clothes and skin, but unfortunately, the scent of rust remained faintly around them.

However, the knight paid little mind to the scent of death lingering on them.

“Lord Abel, we encountered lunatics caught up in a cult while searching the western mountains.”

The blood belonged to deserving madmen, so guilt didn’t arise in the knight’s heart.

She was merely reporting what had happened.

“…I’ve been wondering why demonic beasts had appeared in the western territory, and it seems they’re finally making a move beyond the Empire and into our kingdom.”

They reported this to Abel Kalia, the third son of the Kalia Marquis family, who frowned at the information.

Being part of the Kalia family, the one closest to the Empire in the kingdom, he had heard about the terror acts committed by cultists on multiple occasions.

That’s why he was displeased with the current situation. Even if they hurried to manage the situation, considerable damage would have already occurred.

Whether their goal was simply the safety of the marquis or to build a political foundation by firmly taking control of the west, cultists were more than capable of causing trouble.

“Please, continue with your report, Deputy Commander Irina.”

Irina, who chose to stand beside Abel Kalia rather than the second son Allen Kalia, spoke again at Abel’s request.

“Dressed in rags, they secretly crossed the forest, and our knights sensed the overflow of demonic energy from them. Thus, four out of six were disposed of immediately.”

“Hmm…”

Abel made a small sound.

His unease didn’t stem from the cruel term ‘exterminate’.

He was more concerned that such a number of cultists had appeared—the unexpected number made it impossible not to worry.

Irina paused for a moment at Abel’s response and continued speaking.

“…Those leading them were not killed but captured.”

“Captured? Where are they now?”

“They’re currently held in a small security building in the village. Knights and guards are likely watching them to prevent any unnecessary tricks.”

Abel nodded slightly.

Then Irina cautiously asked,

“How about calling in the interrogator to extract information from them? With some luck, we might extract crucial information about them.”

“Those who show fanaticism tend to have tight lips. But, Deputy Commander Irina, can we really get them to speak?”

“There are skilled interrogators. Also, what they believe in is not a benevolent and kind being, but a demon who enjoys deception and violence and has a loose tongue. Eventually, they will open up.”

“Well, that’s a relief, but…”

Abel let out a small sigh.

His heavy exhale further deepened the already somber atmosphere.

“Perhaps we might gain crucial information as Irina mentioned… Have them interrogated through the interrogator.”

“Understood.”

“They should inform me promptly once they talk. This matter may be larger than we expected. Do you understand?”

“Yes, of course.”

Irina nodded earnestly and withdrew with controlled movements.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

As Irina carefully exited Abel’s small office, the sound of her armor gradually faded away. As the sounds grew fainter, Abel slumped into his chair, ultimately staring weakly at the ceiling when silence engulfed the room.

“Ha… In a situation this chaotic, how could I not have noticed?”

The situation in the west was more serious than expected.

The number of demonic beasts tainted by the mana was one thing; there were also quite a few witnesses who claimed to have seen crazed beasts in the woods.

Especially hunters, who went from the village to the mountains daily, kept warning others. The mountains today are more dangerous than usual, and those who don’t know how to handle a sword should absolutely avoid entering the forest.

Even the villagers realized something was wrong with the mountains and began to be cautious among themselves, so how could Allen Kalia, who had his hands, feet, and eyes planted there, not have noticed?

“Brother… No—”

Abel narrowed his eyes.

His gaze sharpened.

“What on earth has Allen been doing?”

Abel thought.

There was something regarding Allen.

At the very least, he found Allen to be extremely suspicious.

*

I returned to the mansion of the Arielte family.

On the way back, I gathered information while talking with Shione and Fletta. Once we entered the building, where our accommodations were, I briefly said goodbye to Fletta.

She hurried along, likely with her own tasks to attend to, and Shione and I watched her retreating figure before exchanging our goodbyes.

“Then I’ll see you later.”

“Ray, you pushed yourself hard, so… take a good rest and see you later.”

Judging by her casual yawn, it seemed Shione was planning to sneak in a nap in her room for a bit.

After all, usually, when traveling in a carriage, it would typically be around this time to catch some rest.

About that time, the moment I separated from Shione and stepped into my room, as if waiting for me.

“Well then… Park Shin-woo.”

Tania, transformed from a supreme spirit to an advanced one as we had distanced ourselves from the World Tree, swooped down to the center of the room.

Thud!

She sat cross-legged, arms crossed, and looked up at me.

Then, tapping her palm on the spot before her, she spoke.

“So, shall we have a little chat?”

 

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