Chapter 148: What a Legend, Seriously
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 148: What a Legend, Seriously
It’s been a while since I’ve woken up in my own room.
From the street, I can hear the rhythmic thumping of carpentry, and outside, the sounds of early-rising guests packing their bags to head out. I hear the voices of neighbors greeting each other and the creak of a windlass pulling a bucket from the well.
The decibel level is certainly higher than a morning at the Roanmarie lodging, but...
“It’s so peaceful.”
Mentally, the morning here feels much more serene and calm. One great perk is that, despite looking like the deadbeat father of a primary schooler, Sera’s dad is actually a Cobalt-grade explorer. Thanks to him, any rats or bugs are eliminated the moment they appear.
As someone who still possesses the sensibilities of a modern person, pests were something I was quite sensitive about, but they’ve completely vanished since he arrived. Well, aside from the fact that he keeps flicking the fork he’s holding, leaving rows of four tiny holes in the walls.
—Hero! Are you awake?!
“Wisp, do you sleep at night too?”
—Yes! When I lived in the forest, I only moved during the day because the forest’s mana grew stronger under the sunlight. Now, I just sleep at night because I like it!
“I see.”
Come to think of it, I didn't get a chance to introduce the Wisp yesterday because things were so hectic. It didn't really matter since it was invisible to others, but if people saw me talking to thin air like this... they might think I have some kind of mental illness Skill.
—Hero! There’s someone nearby who smells like flowers!
“Flowers? Is it because of the soap?”
—Soap? I don’t know about that, but one person is special!
“One person... then it’s probably not the soap.”
Everyone had used the soap I brought back yesterday. I wasn't sure if it was a floral scent, but it did smell nice.
“Who is it?”
—They’re nearby right now! Right in front of that wooden door...!
“What? Is it another explorer?”
The only people on the second floor right now should be the other guest explorers. I woke up a bit early, so everyone else should still be asleep.
Creeeeak—
As I opened the door, I saw Sera standing in the middle of the second-floor hallway.
“Ah, Sera. You’re up early.”
“Yoo Eon! You’re awake. Yes, things have been quite busy in the mornings lately.”
—Hero! It’s this person! The one who smells like flowers!
“From Sera?”
“Hmm? Did you say something, Yoo Eon?”
The Wisp circled around me before flying closer to Sera. Insisting that she definitely smelled like flowers, it sat on top of her head and then slid down her long ponytail. After deactivating the Wisp’s invisibility magic, I spoke to Sera.
“Sera, can you see this?”
“Mmm? See what?”
I caught the Wisp as it clung to Sera’s ponytail and held it out on my palm for her to see. Sera’s eyes widened for a moment as she shifted her gaze toward the Wisp with curiosity.
“Wow... W-what is this? A sparkling butterfly...?”
“Yes, this is a Wis— A butterfly? Did you just say it’s a butterfly?”
“Yes. A butterfly... isn't it? Or a moth...?”
That’s strange. Normally, a Wisp should only look like a lump of light to ordinary people. Even I couldn't see its butterfly shape until after I had swallowed and spat one out. Does it have something to do with the flower scent the Wisp mentioned? It’s possible Sera has a unique constitution that allows her to see a Wisp’s true form.
“Wisp, do you want to say something?”
—Hello! Person who smells like flowers!
“Umm... I’m not sure what it’s saying.... Can you understand it, Yoo Eon?”
“I, well... things happened. I ended up being able to understand it.”
I explained the situation regarding the Wisp to Sera—how ordinary people can’t perceive its butterfly shape, how Wisps normally live in the 1st Stratum of Roanmarie, and how they can’t usually leave the forest, though this one was a special case.
“I see... It looks like a very beautiful, lime-green glowing butterfly. How fascinating....”
—Hero! This person smells like flowers! It’s amazing!
“But if it’s a monster... it won’t cause any harm, will it?”
“Right now, it’s similar to Walter. Besides, wild Wisps aren't harmful to humans to begin with.”
Sera cupped her hands together and held them out in front of my palm. As the Wisp slowly moved onto her hands, Sera let out a giggle.
“Ah, I can feel it. It’s a bit warm and ticklish.”
“It’s unusual. To think you can see the Wisp’s butterfly form.”
“Does that mean I’m special? It makes me feel good.”
—Hero! I think I can do something!
“Something? Like what?”
The Wisp, which had been on Sera’s palm, flew back to me and perched on the left side of my chest.
—Can you share some mana with me?
“How do I do that?”
—Umm... you just have to give me permission!
“Sure, go ahead. Just don't take too much.”
As the Wisp flapped its wings while sitting on my chest, it absorbed a small amount of mana. Then, it flew back and landed on the back of Sera’s right hand.
“Oh my.”
The Wisp flapped its wings vigorously, and the surrounding lime-green light intensified. Soon, a portion of that light settled onto the back of Sera’s hand.
—Ting!
On the back of Sera’s right hand, where the Wisp had sat, a small, glowing lime-green butterfly sigil was engraved. Could this be...
“A Monster Contract...?”
“A Monster... Contract?”
It was the same thing Walter and Tresha had. I knew Tresha had a red wing sigil on her right wrist that was usually invisible.
“Person who smells like flowers! Nice to meet you!”
“Oh my...! I-it spoke...!”
“Can you understand the Wisp?”
“S-suddenly...? I can understand it now...?”
Sera definitely couldn't understand the Wisp until just a moment ago. They say a Monster Contract allows for communication. I heard Walter and Tresha can only manage simple communication so far, but maybe it’s different for Wisps because they have their own distinct language?
“H-how strange.... Me, in a Monster Contract.”
“What is the name of the person who smells like flowers?”
“Ah, I’m Sera. What is your name, Mr. Wisp...?”
“I’m a Wisp, though?”
“Huh...?”
Sera looked up at me with an expression that asked, 'What do I do?' I didn't know much about Monster Contracts myself.
“Can’t you just give it a name, Sera? You gave Walter his name.”
“M-me...?”
The Wisp that had followed me because it liked me had gone and made a contract with Sera. I was the one who brought Walter back, too, but he contracted with Tresha. Am I just not loved by monsters? Not that I particularly want their love, but still.
“Then... Sola...?”
“Sola! Is that my name?!”
“Yes, I think it’s nice. What do you think? Do you like it?”
“I love it, Sera! My name is Sola from now on!”
“Fascinating...”
The Wisp’s name became Sola. Coincidentally, the Wisp glowed with the exact same color as Sera’s eyes, so I thought it suited her well. I wasn't sure why it contracted with Sera instead of me, though.
“But... what can Sola do?” Sera asked, looking at me.
Walter was now almost a sub-adult. I heard he occasionally runs errands, like taking a basket to the neighbors to buy fruits or vegetables. They don't let him run errands for meat, though. Walter would just gobble it up.
“A Wisp is... well....”
“I can make Wigana!”
“Wigana...?”
“Ah, right. Sola can make Ents. They’re like wooden golems... Can you make them here?”
Sola flew around in the air before suddenly sticking to the hallway wall.
“Yes! I can make them!”
Immediately, it flapped its wings and emitted a lime-green light...
—Crack!
The wooden wall began to warp and rise, suddenly clumping together to form a squat Ent.
“Hey! Don't go ripping apart the walls, you brat!”
“Oh? Was that a Wiki I wasn't supposed to use?”
“Wiki? You mean the wood?”
“Yes! If you breathe life into dead Wiki, it becomes a Wigana!”
According to the Wisp, wood is called 'Wiki'? That’s a very... trustworthy-sounding language.
“Um... Sola, but this wood is for the house. Can you put it back?”
“I can turn a Wigana back into Wiki, but it’s hard to make it the original shape!”
“I see....”
Thanks to that, a hole was now gaping wide in my room, leading out to the hallway. I thought Ents were made from living trees, but I guess not.
—Thump, thump.
On the floor, the 15cm-tall Ent made from my wall was clumping along toward somewhere.
“Sola. Where is that Ent you made going?”
“I told it to go get some Wiki to put back in this spot!”
—Crr-ack!
The Ent began ripping wood out of the wall of the room next door.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake.”
* * *
“A Monster Contract...!”
Ravi, having just woken up, stared at Sera and Sola with bleary eyes. It seemed only Sera and I could understand Sola’s words, so unfortunately, communication with others was impossible.
The Ent made from my wall ended up being tossed into the hearth. Does the Wisp consider Ents its friends? Apparently not. To them, they’re just summoned creatures they’ve created, not exactly friends.
“Got it, Sola? You must not turn the wood that makes up this building into Ents.”
“Yes! I understand!”
I hadn't bought any firewood since fixing the Firestone magic tools, but if I bought a few large logs, Sola could probably make some strong and helpful Ents. In the end, it turned out to be a good thing that I brought Sola from the forest.
“It really suits you! Sera-unnie and that Wisp!”
“Hehe, really? Thanks.”
Walter, seemingly fascinated by his new friend, kept tilting his head and staring at Sola. I wondered if Walter might try to eat Sola. Small birds usually eat insects and things.
“Hmm.”
Come to think of it, Walter isn't a small bird, and Sola isn't an insect. Sera’s father was watching Sola from the side, reminiscing about the past.
“A Wisp, eh? Haven't seen one of those in a long time!”
“Do you know about Wisps too, sir?”
“Of course! If you grab those rascals, your palms get all ticklish. Back in the day at Roanmarie, I used to catch Wisps and shove them down my friends' underwear. Pwahaha! That brings back memories!”
Sigh. What a legend, seriously.