Chapter 297
Chapter 297
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 297
Chapter Title: Heavenly Demon Uses Magic (6)
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The critter that looked like a sparrow had one hell of a temper.
Contrary to my expectation that it couldn't cast spells, it must have stockpiled at least some minimal power even as a clone. Capturing it was a real hassle.
I'd heard it was some princess or other.
Noble, beautiful, pretty, cute, dainty. All that talk, but in my eyes, it was nothing more than a bird with fluffy feathers.
Still, its magic skills were top-notch.
Before my trip to the past, I might have struggled against it.
Hell, I might not have subdued it at all.
Methods for contracting spirits generally fall into three categories.
The first is winning the spirit's favor and contracting for free.
Cases involving love, friendship, or a special childhood bond with a spirit.
The second is a smooth agreement forming an official relationship.
Paying a sufficient price to borrow the spirit's power.
And finally, the third: overwhelming the spirit to the point of total submission.
I'd originally planned to go with the second method.
But this princess's attitude went way beyond expectations. The sage had recommended overwhelming her with sheer force.
-Boom!
A bright yellow sword grazed my cheek from below the plain.
An explosion rang out behind my back.
'The nuthatch was plenty strong... but this one's even tougher.'
If the nuthatch's power was raw talent still in need of refinement,
then the woodpecker gave off the vibe of a seasoned soldier, tempered in battle and chaos despite lacking that same level of talent.
Thanks to the sage teleporting me to an uninhabited spot, there was no commotion.
I stood firm on the ground without flying, staring down the woodpecker as it flapped frantically.
Dozens of yellow sword tips were locked squarely on me.
[Release the princess!!!!]
The screaming voice of a female knight.
It boomed across the battlefield like a commander's roar.
I glanced at the nuthatch clutched in my grip.
Unable to cast spells anymore, it hung limp in my hand, panting raggedly.
The sparrow that had defiantly sworn never to show its belly was now blankly exposing its pure white naked body.
[I said let go!!!!!]
[......Lucy.]
[Princess... aaah... Princess Eleanor. I will. I swear I'll save you...]
The desperate, heartfelt exchange between the two women unfolded achingly on the battlefield.
-Chirp, cheep! Chirp!
-Cheep... chirp chirp.
Good thing I could eavesdrop through spirit sense. Anyone else would be scratching their head wondering what the hell was going on.
I awkwardly scratched the back of my neck.
"What are you two, playing house?"
Two birds chirping away was just amusing.
Cute, sure. But that was it.
Anyway, that magic was a genuine pain.
I hadn't known spirits had a kingdom, but if she was a battle-hardened warrior from there, she might have some hidden reserves.
"Eleanor. Didn't know you had a name."
[Hng... I didn't want you to know.]
Maybe it figured the prolonged fight meant an escape route.
Arrogance flickered back in the eyes of the one that had been fluffing its feathers contentedly just moments ago.
Well, well.
I channeled mana into my finger and gently teased under its wing.
[...Eut, hiit. Hup! Father...]
-Cheep cheep.
[Nooooooom!!!!! Stop that!!!!]
The utterly enraged woodpecker shrieked in convulsions.
Anyone watching would think I'd hurt the poor kid.
Of course it was obvious: to subdue a spirit, pumping in high-quality mana beyond what it could handle was the way to go.
That reaction was surprising, though.
'Hates it this much... do I even need to keep fighting?'
The thought flashed through my mind, and I smirked at it.
"Sheathe it."
[...What.]
"If you don't want to watch your princess writhe from my mana. Sheathe it."
[Lucy... don't worry about me... huing!]
"Shut it, you."
I tapped its butt with my finger.
The nuthatch shuddered pathetically all over. But I wasn't stopping there.
All ten fingers.
Both hands.
With black mana hovering at each fingertip, I caressed every inch of the nuthatch's body.
It recoiled in horror at the slowly encroaching touches.
[N-no, hate it. Not yet over? How much mana do you even have... Lu-cy! Luuuucy! Father!!! Help me!]
[Stop, stop it! What do I have to do!]
The woodpecker began pleading desperately.
Too late.
Mana flooded the delicate little bird's body.
[...Uh, eut. Mana... too muuuch!]
I stroked its chin, butt, back—every nook and cranny.
Sounds kinda lewd, but I was just petting it as thoroughly as possible.
Like when you stroke the soft feathers of a pet parakeet or canary.
Birds can be more affectionate than puppies sometimes.
And definitely smarter.
[Filthy human!!!!!!!!!]
"Can't really hear bird squawks."
[Hok, ohok.]
One bird convulsing in short bursts, the woodpecker tearing its throat in a voice laced with despair.
Still, I didn't stop.
"Dismiss your mana."
[Eleanor... I...]
Finally, words got through.
As the dozens of airborne swords vanished, I finally ceased caressing the nuthatch.
"And come here."
[Grh.]
It hesitated, but as I reached for the nuthatch again, the woodpecker flew over after a pause.
It didn't take long for it to land in my grasp.
Perched on my palm, it gazed at the nuthatch beside it with eyes brimming with emotion.
[Lucy, you at least escape...]
[Princess, how could I... flee and leave you behind?]
So touching it nearly brought tears.
I hadn't declared I'd deep-fry and eat it alive or anything—and this was just a clone. Why were they acting like this?
[Now release the princess.]
The woodpecker glared daggers at me.
I clenched my fist, gripping it tight.
"When did I ever say I'd release her?"
[...Kuh, you bastard!]
I lightly infused mana and stroked its wing with my thumb.
[U, uuuu...]
It endured. Considering how it screamed on the first touch, this little miss was impressive.
I made a somewhat surprised face.
Moments later, it spoke in a voice tinged with resignation.
[...What you want, I'll endure it, so... release the princess only.]
A tearjerker of a sacrifice.
Well, per the original plan, one spirit was enough for a contract.
Even if its rank was a bit lower, the woodpecker was far superior at mana manipulation. It'd be more profitable as my spirit.
"Hmm, I'll think about it."
But wasn't this a golden opportunity to contract both?
No reason for me to back down.
The battle-ready woodpecker was already bound to me.
Couldn't even peck, wings spread wide exposing even its armpits.
[...For real?]
"But only if you endure my mana."
[Lucy, don't do something like...]
[It's fine. Princess.]
The woodpecker gazed resolutely at the nuthatch.
That sharp glare hinted at fine spirit.
It'd make an incredibly reliable ally if it helped me.
[I absolutely won't submit to a man like you.]
[Lucy...]
I conjured a white mana thread to bind the nuthatch and set it down on the ground.
Half-exhausted, but worried about her? It immediately stood and glowered at me.
I filled one hand with mana and began touching the woodpecker.
[I absolutely won't let you have your way!]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ [...Hwaa, aaang! Eut, hgiiik!]
Three-minute knockout.
Retort-flimsy woodpecker couldn't hold out its resolve for long.
My mana. Maybe it was more versatile than I thought.
Rare mana, never seen one like it since birth, blah blah.
Black mana was comparatively scarce, but it existed if you looked.
Maybe it noticed the slight difference in attributes, since everyone's was unique.
Spirits were more sensitive to mana than any other race.
[...Aaa. Lucy... why.]
The despairing nuthatch gaped at the pathetic scene.
It had twisted and resisted my touch for just a moment. Now it was even rubbing its body against my hand.
[...Hate it... hate iiiit haaaang!!]
"Now you're finally chirping like a proper bird."
Until moments ago, all that screaming made its chirps sound ugly.
A Korean who appreciates the finer things.
We have the beautiful expression "chirrup desperately" instead of just "cry."
If there'd been a language barrier,
I might've mistaken it for the cutie singing a pretty tune.
'But why are these birds acting like they're in heat?'
I'd done it out of necessity, but the moans were spot-on.
Just petting it, and suddenly I felt like some orc rapist.
"Wanna contract?"
[...Who... w-with a scum like yoooou!]
"Think about a lifetime supply of this mana."
[...Life... time.]
Its eyes glazed over as it stared at me.
Those moist pupils drowned in deep dilemma.
See?
Worth a shot, right?
I'm no sleazy boss planning to summon and toy with it every free moment.
When I need magic, I'll call it briefly and top it off with some mana.
Any reason to say no?
My sticky voice tickled the woodpecker's ear.
[Lifetime. To youuu...]
-Thump, thump.
Its pulse raced, proving birds had hearts too.
At the same time, I patted its fluffy butt like spanking a cat.
Then the honest answer burst forth like a dam breaking.
[...Kihiiiiit! Con-tract... do it... please let me!]
[Lucy...]
[Princess... sorry, but, but...]
-Sluuuurp.
This was a disaster.
[...I to this man...]
An inevitable, inescapable disaster.
[......Said I'd serve only the princess.]
[Lucy!]
It splayed its legs and collapsed in exhaustion.
Its feathers gleamed with luster all over. The mana overdose had made its bird form stunningly beautiful.
Since its body was mostly mana,
this much supply meant it was practically filled with mine.
[Uhhe......]
[Aah Lucy. How mu...ch.]
Her voice trembled.
With the woodpecker submitted, a black mana thread spurted from its neck.
Normally yellow, but thanks to my supplied mana, even the mana it emitted was black.
The thread connected to me. Proof of the contract.
Practically no compensation required. I'd just feed it mana regularly.
Finally, I poked its belly like prodding a stuffed pouch, infusing more mana.
"Contract's done. No point resisting anymore. Got it?"
[Uhiiiit! Sorrrry...!]
"Alright, next."
I turned my gaze to the nuthatch.
Unable to even stagger on its feet, its blank eyes fixed on Lucy.
I slowly extended my hand.
[Lucy......]
[Pri...ncess.]
The moment my hand drew near, it hostilely pecked at it with its beak.
A resistance that didn't hurt a bit.
The nuthatch slotted perfectly into my grasp. For some reason, its eyes seemed to mix curiosity and anticipation.
[A, aaaaa... Me too, like that.]
It would be.
My mana engulfed the nuthatch.