The Angel Who Brings the Rain (10)

There was a spirit named Naiad. She represented all the waters of the otherworld and the present world, the master of every spirit born from those waters. Some nations revered her as a god-like being, and Naiad, initially burdened by such worship...

...eventually came to see it as only natural. Layer upon layer of vanity built up, along with her lofty pride. Before long, she had become an arrogant entity who even looked down on the authority of the heavens.

If she scorned the heavens, how do you think she viewed the people on the ground? These lowly things. These inferior creatures.

Floods ravaged the capital at Naiad's whims, and entire nations suffered droughts from her tantrums. Thus began days of chaos.

And in such turbulent times, orphans always multiplied.

"What is this?"

One day, she discovered a baby abandoned by a lakeside. The child slept soundly, possessing immense potential as a spirit user.

"Where have this child's parents gone?" Naiad wondered. The heavens trained priests for her sake, didn't they? Then why shouldn't she raise someone similar to a priest?

The arrogant Spirit King Naiad saw no reason not to.

"Open your mouth."

"Ahbu..."

"What did you say, you little brat? Daring to talk back to me."

"Ahbu!"

And so Naiad's child-rearing began.

Of course, Naiad wasn't a great caregiver. Her temperament was prickly and arrogant; she didn't even know her own place. Yet she had many talents. For example:

"Undine. Clean up that child's waste."

...the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ability to command other spirits. Or:

"Yes, human. This is the finest garment, right?"

"Y-yes, Lady Naiad. It's made from precious fabric worn only by the capital's noble ladies."

"Good. Then..."

Naiad smiled as she said, "Hand it all over."

...skills in intimidating others. And more besides.

After many twists and turns, the child grew well. Blue hair like Naiad's, sparkling azure eyes like lapis lazuli. The girl, raised to serve her, had become Naiad's most cherished preoccupation.

'Preoccupation? Hmph.' Of course, Naiad wouldn't admit it back then.

The girl was playful by nature. She was pure and kind, even crying when others shed tears. And her spirit affinity was on another level entirely...

"May, did you see? Ifrit's face twisting up?"

"Yes, when we summoned you in his territory, he was utterly shocked."

"And that lava-spewing tantrum when he got mad—I have to tease him about it forever."

All boasts from Naiad. Her beauty, her personality, that spirit affinity—everything mirrored Naiad.

Watching Naiad revel in delight, the girl cautiously spoke up. "Um, Lady Naiad. Have you ever heard this? In the human village, they call women who raise children..."

The hesitant girl slowly opened her mouth.

"M-Mommy."

Naiad gave no reply. She simply left the girl's side without a word.

'The illusion is intensifying. That moment when the girl called her "mommy" must still linger powerfully in Naiad's heart.'

Refri thought this as he watched the flower of reflection bloom even brighter.

'Why did she run? Was she angry at being called "mommy"? Embarrassed? Or...'

Refri drew on Klein's teachings, inferring the caster's emotions from the mana fluctuations. To Naiad, this memory was...

...sadness. This is a sad memory.'

And it was the last time the girl called her "mommy."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Naiad and the girl spent their days together as always. The girl learned foods from human villages and introduced them to Naiad, sparking the spirit blessings' cooking contests.

"Make this 'pudding' again."

"No, you had it yesterday and the day before!"

"Just today..."

"Lady Naiad, you're not a child—what's with this?!"

"Just today!"

Thus, Naiad came to understand humans. And then the time came.

The Demon King's invasion began.

The otherworld, already mired in chaos before the war, formed a late alliance against the Demon King after repeated defeats. But it was far too late.

The Demon King's forces swept through like a storm. Empires and kingdoms crumbled, elven forests burned away, dwarven fortresses fell.

The Spirit King's lake couldn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠escape the flames either. Nor could the girl ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spirit user living there escape the sword.

Clutching the cold child, Naiad begged the heavens: "Please, don't take her soul."

The one who heard was Yuri El, one of the four great archangels of the otherworld, the Healing Archangel who governed life.

"Naiad, representative of water, I come by the supreme command of the heavens to guide this child."

"No, you can't."

"Can't? What claim do you have over this child? Why say such a thing?"

Naiad replied, "This child is..."

The words the girl had longed for. Words Naiad couldn't say out of shame and petty pride.

"My daughter. So don't take her..."

Words that still tore at Naiad's heart.

"My daughter..."

On a day when the otherworld burned away, a mother wept, clutching her child.

And this memory, blended with Lephriel's and others', slowly faded.

Refri looked at Naiad. Knowing it was an illusion, she still caressed the vanishing girl's cheek.

Then all the illusions dissolved. Their traces sparkled beautifully across the academy sky like drifting embers.

"It's finally over."

Refri murmured softly, watching.

Here's an astonishing fact. The spirit blessing was actually a cooking contest.

Sudden student brawls, illusions shattering the forest, professors unleashing ultimate techniques... but still, a cooking contest.

Refri and Yumari in aprons—quite the fluffy, adorable sight. Refri was the wordless angel-boy beauty, and Yumari could vie for top visual at school.

A boy and girl in cute aprons focused on cooking... Reporters went mad with shutters. Tomorrow's front pages were set.

Yumari knew, but Refri was oblivious.

"Mariya."

"Yes?"

"Why the sudden smile?"

Yumari was basically cynical, with low empathy. Her kindness was often acting.

"Reporters are swarming. Smiling draws more popularity."

"What? Reporters? I don't want my face sold."

Refri hated attention. Thin, long, peaceful—that was his life goal.

"Smile."

Yumari poked Refri's dimples. What was this?

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"You want to succeed as a hero, right? Smiling for the public helps. I trained like this."

"I-I don't need training. I smile great naturally!"

Refri removed her hand and beamed.

"How's that?"

"..."

Yumari stared silently at the boy's smile. Feeling her face heat, she fled in embarrassment.

"Wait, Mariya!"

"What is it?"

Refri wiggled his fingers, mumbling, "Cat paws!"

"Ah..."

Yumari eyed the boy mimicking cat paws.

"This knife won't cut fingers. The blade might break first."

"I know. Not telling you to be careful—be careful not to break the knife."

Pffft—tongue out, classic raspberry.

Yumari kept her fake smile, regaining composure, but...

'Something fluffy rising in my chest.'

A new feeling.

This was... Yumari steadied herself and chopped as Refri instructed.

"But can this recipe win?"

"No, probably not."

"Then why..."

Refri couldn't say it gave the most Angel Power.

He casually deflected. "Our skills can't do better anyway."

Not true—Refri was Cooking Lv.10 superhuman artisan.

'But Naiad needs this dish now. Probably...'

And Angel Power trumped the Spirit King's blessing. Having foiled Student Council President Yusihyun's scheme, Refri no longer cared about winning.

Yumari watched him, thinking: 'Obvious he's a cooking master. He could do this simple dish without me.'

Why choose easy? 'Hard dishes need my nonexistent skills, so simple lets us cook together for show.'

Yumari piled on misconceptions. 'Thinking of me again.'

She smiled genuinely.

Thus, judging began. Naiad judged, students' dishes were tasted—with explanations beside.

"Blue beans and glass mushrooms from north Naiad Forest, duck with skin plated. Sauce is otherworld-style bisque. Enjoy."

Refri clapped enthusiastically. 'Wow, fancy talk.' He'd never eaten at such a place.

After another team's turn, it was Refri and Yumari's.

Yumari whispered, "You really explaining?"

"Yeah, seems best."

For more Angel Power. He smiled at her.

The dish for Naiad: "Pudding?"

Simple milk pudding.

"What...?" Naiad tilted her head, unprepared for simplicity.

One bite...

"...This."

Incredulous, she kept eating. Bite after bite... nearly gone.

Then Refri explained: "This pudding is based on a recipe left by a girl. For someone far older and precious, she wrote her favorite pudding in her spellbook."

Not the tastiest—girl's creation couldn't be masterful.

But to Naiad, divine. She left just one piece unconsciously.

Yet couldn't eat it. Why?

"Wh-what's the recipe title?"

"This dish is titled..."

Just before the illusion faded fully, Refri glimpsed the girl's spellbook. One recipe:

"Mommy's Favorite Pudding."

Silence fell. No response.

Instead...

A gentle rain began to wet Naiad Forest, quietly falling from the sky.