Memories of a Midsummer Night (1)

After returning home, we unpacked the groceries into the fridge and opened the Spirit Shop in my room.

[Ooooh!]

Aqua gaped roundly at the window, her mouth forming a perfect circle.

[We completed the quest!]

Aqua giggled and looked up at me. I rubbed her plump cheeks with both hands.

"Shall we claim the reward, then?"

[Of course!]

I tapped the floating window.

The words Spirit Realm's Blessing made me jolt in surprise.

'This is the item that upgrades the Spirit Affinity trait's rank, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠isn't it?'

What defined an awakener as an awakener and divided their strength wasn't skills, but traits. Only when a trait's rank rose did an awakener's overall rank rise. Countless awakeners yearned desperately for trait evolution, but it was akin to a stroke of heavenly fortune—few ever received such grace.

That was why I'd been shocked to see Spirit Realm's Blessing for sale in the Spirit Shop.

'And now, just for clearing a free quest, trait evolution as a reward?'

I could hardly believe it.

Then, beside the Spirit Shop, my trait window popped up.

Crackle, crackle-crackle.

Noise began distorting the 'F' in Spirit Affinity (F) on the trait list.

Crackle-crackle-crackle.

The intensifying noise eventually obscured the letter entirely before vanishing. In its place, an 'E' remained.

I stared at it with eyes wide as saucers.

"It's really... trait evolution."

I couldn't believe it. That such fortune had come to me. That the moment I'd dreamed of for six long years had arrived like this.

Ruuuumble.

A power began surging through my entire body. Starting from my heart, it spread to every corner. Like shedding old skin for a stronger body, unimaginable strength flooded the areas it passed.

After circulating fully, the power finally settled deep in my mind.

"Hoo..."

A contented sigh escaped me, my body feeling like it had evolved a whole level.

Awakeners grew physically stronger with each rank up. I was tasting that reinforcement right now.

I clenched and unclenched my fist. Power incomparable to before pulsed within.

'E-rank... I'm really E-rank now.'

My heart pounded. I recalled the day I'd first received my F-rank verdict. How thrilling it had been to see spirits with my own eyes during the test. How downcast I'd felt hearing I couldn't even contract one as an F-rank.

'Even if you keep hunting as an F-rank, you'll only ever be a porter.'

Professor Nam Gi-su's words from our interview flashed in my mind. For F-rank awakeners, that 'F' was a shackle, a chain.

No matter where they went, 'F-rank' haunted them forever.

But not anymore. I'd shattered that chain and leaped upward.

[Congratulations!]

Aqua lunged into my arms.

[Heeheehee! I can feel the burden on me lightening too!]

With my Spirit Affinity upgraded, the spirit power Aqua needed to manifest in the human world had lessened.

"Aqua, this is all thanks to you."

I hugged her tightly. This miracle of rank evolution was possible only because she'd come to me.

I held close the one who'd gifted me this miracle.

"Thank you so much. You're ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the miracle that came into my life."

Aqua gasped in surprise, then burst into giggles.

[You say such embarrassing things so easily!]

"I can't even imagine life without you anymore."

[Then don't imagine it! That life won't return!]

As if to assure me, Aqua hugged back fiercely.

Bliss swelled in my chest as I spoke.

"I promise. I'll never leave you. Even if the sky falls."

[A fine spirit user's resolve! I shall never leave thee either!]

Aqua nuzzled against my chest. It was a warmer embrace than the summer morning sunlight pouring through the window.

The quest rewards didn't end there. Aqua's reward, 'Foundation of spirit growth,' remained.

As we gazed at the Spirit Shop, another window appeared, as if sensing our attention.

"Spirit Trait Window?"

As we tilted our heads, another window appeared before us. Similar to my trait window, but different in content.

[Ooooh!]

Aqua's eyes widened as she stared at the window. I was just as shocked. I'd never heard of spirits having trait windows.

Then, noise began at the bottom of Aqua's trait window.

Crackle, crackle-crackle.

The irregular waves distorted before solidifying into text.

[Ooh! Healing Power!]

Aqua cheered at the sight.

[Healing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Power! ...But what exactly is Healing Power?]

"The power to heal wounds? Probably strengthens your Healing Water, right?"

[Healing Water enhancement!]

Aqua beamed and swiped at her trait window with glee. Mine floated beside it.

[It's just like looking at Dad's trait window and Daughter's!]

The large window and the small one. They really looked like father and daughter.

Our eyes met, and we burst into bright smiles in unison.

"Alright. To celebrate, how about some watermelon?"

[Watermelon! Let's go!]

I gently scooped Aqua up and set her on my neck. Thrilled, she kicked her legs in the air.

By now, the sky had darkened, stars twinkling overhead.

[Not ready yet?]

Aqua's impatient voice came from the master bedroom.

"All set!"

I carried a large tray brimming with watermelon into the room.

[Ooooh!]

Aqua eyed the tray with eager anticipation. Mom and Dad watched her fondly from beside.

Considering them, Aqua had materialized fully.

"Here we go."

I set the tray of neatly sliced watermelon before Aqua, Mom, and Dad. The one Aqua had picked herself—top marks in ripeness and sweetness.

[Hold on!]

Aqua reached out. Moments later, under her control, the water content pushed all the seeds out.

"Whoa, seedless watermelon, automatically."

"Aqua's so talented."

Aqua's shoulders puffed up at Mom and Dad's praise.

"Dig in, then."

"Thanks for the food."

[Thanks for the meal!]

Aqua grabbed a big slice, stuffed her mouth wide, and chomped. Cheeks bulging, she chewed contentedly.

[Delicious!]

She gulped it down and dove back in.

"Eat slowly, dear."

Mom gently wiped watermelon juice from Aqua's mouth. Aqua closed her eyes, savoring the touch.

As a water spirit unable to eat solids, mimicking meals thrilled her—and this watermelon hit the spot. Seeing her eat made Mom happy too. At her age, watching kids enjoy food was joy enough.

"Man, the one Aqua picked is way sweeter."

"She could be a watermelon appraiser."

Mom and Dad now treated Aqua casually, fully adjusted. Aqua beamed nonstop at them, aware of it.

'What a lovely family.'

As they savored the watermelon, I pulled something from my pocket: Spirit Realm Pink Salt.

I sprinkled some atop my slice and took a big bite.

Crunch! The springy flesh burst in my mouth. Chewing the slightly salty pulp released a flood of juice.

"Mmm~"

Sweetness like a honeyed feast filled me. The prior salt made it taste even sweeter. I devoured the slice in seconds.

"Here, some salt for yours."

Mom and Dad sprinkled it on familiarly. Aqua, watching, did the same and bit in.

[Oh! So much sweeter!]

Aqua nodded in awe.

[Salt on fruit! And it tastes good!]

She nodded vigorously, polishing off her slice fast. By the time the tray brimmed with green rinds, Aqua was pink-tinged.

Dad chuckled at the sight.

"Pinkua, Pinkua."

"Pinkua? Hahaha!"

The perfect, yet dad-jokey nickname cracked me up.

With the tray empty, Aqua patted her tummy contentedly. Watching sparked an idea.

'Might as well show Aqua a real summer night.'

Watermelon and fireworks were summer night essentials.

"Aqua, wanna do fireworks?"

[Fireworks?]

"You light them and shoot into the sky... yeah, painting with flames."

[Flames? I wanna try!]

Dad spoke up.

"No need to buy more for fireworks. There's some left in the shed."

"I'll grab 'em."

Clearing the tray, I checked the shed and returned with fireworks and a lighter. Through the slightly open door, voices drifted out.

"Aqua, thank you so much for contracting with our son."

Mom's voice, misty with emotion, halted me.

"When he entered the Academy as a spirit user but got F-rank... I felt so sorry for him."

"I worried endlessly if he'd become a hunter like this. F-rank hunters have high mortality rates."

I listened quietly to their concerns.

An F-rank attending the Academy was like a severely nearsighted cadet at air force academy.

'I thought they didn't know.'

I'd assumed they were unaware, asking only about grades and scholarships, never Academy life.

'Were they avoiding the topic so I wouldn't worry?'

Guilt and warmth surged. Now I understood Mom's tears when I first introduced Aqua. She'd hidden her worries, lest I suffer, rotting inside silently.

Then Aqua's spirited voice rang out.

[Hyunwoo would've done great even without me! I've never seen a human as warm as him!]

Haha, Mom and Dad chuckled softly.

"You know our son better than we do."

[We're spirit and spirit user!]

Aqua's bright voice was followed by rustling movement and paper.

[What's this?]

"Pocket money."

[Pocket money?]

Dad must've given her some cash.

"As thanks. Buy yourself something."

I stifled bursting laughter.

"Pfft... hehehe..."

A spirit getting pocket money? Who gives spirits cash? But that showed Dad's deep gratitude.

"Hehehehe..."

Fireworks in hand, I laughed outside the door for a good while. Their feelings overwhelmed me with thanks.