The Path Forward (3)
The next morning, as scheduled, the second Spirit King conference convened. Amid everyone's gazes, Aqua spoke without a hint of hesitation or intimidation.
[I want to create a Spirit Realm where spirits are happy!]
Aqua articulated her thoughts clearly and deliberately.
[But we can't just accept any humans! There are bad ones out there! That's why I think we should only allow spirit users!]
Uluru and Niagara nodded with smiles.
[If spirit users come here, the baby spirits will be thrilled too! You all know how much the little ones long to meet humans, right?]
[Um. Of course we do.]
Niagara wore a deeply satisfied smile. He seemed proud to see Aqua properly voicing her opinions as a Spirit King.
[Looks like I can skip the next meetings from now on.]
Niagara even joked with Uluru, his mood visibly uplifted.
Once Aqua finished, all eyes turned to Pompeii. The agenda for this meeting hinged entirely on Aqua and him.
Pompeii had dark circles under his eyes—from Kazami Akira's artifact and wrapping up this issue, no doubt he'd gone without sleep. But his gaze was sharp and clear.
[I don't know humans yet. I don't know the human world.]
Pompeii began by openly admitting his ignorance.
[I don't know if humans are as greedy as Kupar says, or if all spirit users are as good as Kang Hyunwoo claims. I know nothing.]
Pompeii looked around at everyone present.
[So, I'm sorry, but give me some time. Let me see the human world for myself and judge them. Then I can make my decision.]
It was a request to indefinitely postpone the agenda.
I raised my hand in support of Pompeii's view.
"I think that's right. There's a lot you can only understand by seeing it with your own eyes."
There was that saying: Know yourself and your enemy, and you'll win every battle. If we couldn't tell friend from foe, caution was essential.
Kupar nodded too.
"This concerns the fate of an entire world— no amount of time would suffice."
Sia, Niagara, Uluru, and Aqua all backed Pompeii as well.
[I'll have to get permission from the spirit users through the earth spirits.]
Uluru seemed intent on sending stone tablets explaining everything to every spirit user in the human world.
"Don't worry. I can handle that side of things."
Conveniently, I had a way to lighten Uluru's load.
"Reporters will swarm us again once we return to the human world anyway."
I'd been using reporters as a channel to communicate with spirit users worldwide—we scratched each other's backs.
[Um! Then the spirits and spirit users can wait without any hard feelings!]
Aqua nodded with a gleeful hee hee.
[Thank you, everyone.]
Pompeii spoke clearly, despite his weary face.
[It won't take long.]
Results on the comic book artifact had come in.
"Here."
Through the open passage, Jang Gilsan handed me a small note from beyond. They'd even rushed it to a lab in Seoul for analysis.
"It's an artifact, alright."
Jang Gilsan's expression was grim.
I crouched on the ground to match eye level with Aqua, Terra, and Pompeii, then unfolded the note.
◈ Traits:Contempt for the Weak, Friend of the Sea
◈ Skill:Teleport (Random Activation)
"……Ha."
It was a shocking result. My face probably mirrored Jang Gilsan's disgust.
Traits Contempt for the Weak and Friend of the Sea, paired with random-activation Teleport. The artifact's effect was crystal clear.
'Maliciously clear, even.'
It forcibly teleported frail beings nearby straight into the ocean depths. Like a sniper targeting baby salamanders—a horrific tool for massacre.
"This……."
Seething rage and revulsion choked my words.
Pompeii was the same. Aqua glared at the note with a fierce scowl.
[……How many baby salamanders…….]
Even Terra, the most reserved with emotions, barely managed a few words.
As we stewed in silent fury, Jang Gilsan spoke up.
"It's like pouring oil on the fire, but that thing's a man-made artifact."
Man-made artifact. Not one naturally infused with mana, but artificially crafted by someone with intent.
"Yeah. Figures."
No way something like this occurred naturally.
'Someone's been slaughtering baby salamanders.'
And in the human world, no less.
Crumple.
The note crumpled in my fist. My hand trembled uncontrollably. I'd never imagined harboring this much rage.
[……My fault.]
Pompeii bowed his head in self-reproach.
[I was too distracted by other things, neglected them. If I'd just paid attention…….]
[Don't say that!]
Aqua raised her voice sharply.
[You can't waver! You're the Fire Spirit King!]
Pompeii looked at her in mild surprise, then nodded.
[Right. As a fire spirit, I should channel this rage differently.]
Flames reignited in those heterochromatic eyes.
[I'll head to the human world first and meet Akira.]
I took a deep breath, reining in my fury.
Spirits were pure; spirit users had to stay composed. I couldn't let anger sweep me away.
"No, Pompeii. Put this aside for now."
Pompeii and Aqua's eyes widened—they hadn't expected that from me.
"We've found the cause of the baby salamander deaths. Remove this comic book from the Spirit Realm, and there'll be no more victims."
[It's not solved.]
"Chasing it down right now won't solve anything either."
Even if Kazami Akira was the culprit, he'd just deny it. If it was some hidden schemer nearby, they wouldn't show their hand easily—not with such secretive, insidious methods.
"Pushing to catch them now would just make them hide deeper. Rage like this gets us nowhere."
Ugh, Pompeii groaned.
"Take care of the baby salamanders first. Then, when you come to the human world, give yourself time to adjust. Search for traces of the Wind Spirit King, comfort yourself, gather your thoughts. We can hunt the culprit after that."
Pompeii stared at me quietly, then turned to Aqua.
[Um!]
Aqua nodded with an expression that said trust my spirit user.
[Got it. I'll do that.]
Pompeii exhaled, bottling his anger inside. Fire never extinguishes easily—that rage would soon find a proper target.
It was time to go. We exchanged farewells with the spirits.
[Bye!]
[It was fun!]
[Snacks were yummy!]
[See you, humans!]
[Ooo……!]
[Shaaat!]
The spirits had swelled to fill the giant cave's entrance, bidding us goodbye. Uluru opened three passages.
Rumble—!
Stones rose from the ground, forming arches. Paths to the human world.
One to Australia, one to America, one to Samcheok.
"Farewells again for a while."
Kupar bid Uluru goodbye.
[Thank you for coming, Kupar.]
"As long as you protect our land, Uluru, I'll always stand by you."
Straightforward words, but their gazes held the same deep trust as any spirit and user.
After parting with Sia and Niagara, Kupar stood before us last.
"Kupar. Hope we meet again."
He smiled warmly at my words.
"Me too. I'll watch the young Spirit King and your growth from afar."
With that brief farewell, Kupar stepped into the Australia passage.
Rumble—.
The path to the red desert collapsed behind him.
Next, Sia and Niagara.
"Great seeing you again."
I offered Sia my hand. She clasped it with a soft eye-smile.
"You worked hard. And I learned a lot."
Surprised by the sudden words, I blinked. She chuckled lightly.
"Like I said before, you're amazing. You embody the ideal spirit user."
Flustered by the praise, but seeing the sincerity in her eyes, my own honest feelings slipped out.
"That's what I should say. Watching you inspired my dream to become a spirit user."
"Really?"
"You were the Water Spirit King's contractor. Idol to water spirit users worldwide."
"Ahaha. That's truly flattering."
Sia hugged Niagara like a giant doll from behind, smiling faintly.
"See you again."
[Aqua. Stay healthy.]
[Um! Finish your recovery well too!]
Sia and Niagara vanished through the arch.
Aqua shared a final hug with Uluru.
[See you soon, Uluru!]
[You did well, Water Spirit King.]
[Hmph! Restoring peace to the Spirit Realm is just what a Spirit King does!]
Aqua puffed up proudly.
[Hee hee hee…… I look forward to Terra enjoying her time in the human world too.]
[Um. Bye.]
Uluru hugged Terra tightly, then released her.
[Take care, Pompeii!]
For the baby salamanders' sake, Pompeii would stay longer in the Spirit Realm before joining us.
[I'll catch up soon.]
Pompeii nodded to us, then reached for Mandu on my shoulder.
[Shiiit!]
Mandu hopped onto his palm.
Pompeii pressed his forehead to Mandu's. They stood still, sharing warmth.
[I have something for you.]
With that, Pompeii pulled away—and what followed shocked me.
Crack!
He reached behind, snapping off one of his wings.
But then, something even more astonishing happened. The broken wing shrank to palm-size, morphing from dragon to bird-like.
"No way—that's the 'Spirit King's Wing'?"
I blurted in surprise.
The Spirit King's Wing was a Spirit Realm treasure, heirloom of the Wind Spirit King. It let its owner fly just as it appeared.
[Um? Didn't I mention it?]
Aqua and Terra already knew Pompeii had it. With no Wind Spirit King successor and their family-like bond, it made sense he'd inherited it.
Pompeii handed the wing to Mandu.
[It's yours now.]
[Shiit?]
Mandu stared at Pompeii with wide eyes.