Spirit Gathering (1)
After a luxurious lunch, Jang Gilsan handed me something.
"Use this yourself."
It turned out to be two tickets for a massage shop.
"The guild gave them out for team-building, but I don't think I'll have time with all the harmony events."
He glanced at me and added, "Throwing them away would be rude, right? So go in my place."
"Got it."
I chuckled and took the tickets. Jang Gilsan stood up with a satisfied look.
"I'll head out first. If you have time after the harmony stuff ends, let's meet up again."
"Sure. Hit me up anytime."
[Farewell!]
"See you later, Aqua too."
Jang Gilsan got up and headed to the parking lot. He must have had a backlog of work.
I stared at the tickets in my hand, lost in thought about my friend Jang Gilsan for a moment.
Jang Gilsan was the heir to the Union Guild, one of the world's largest guilds and a top contender for first or second in Korea.
To me, these might seem like expensive gifts, but to Gilsan, they're pocket change.
Even so, I'd turned down his various favors until now. I wanted to stay friends with him.
Once you start accepting favors, there's no end to it.
It keeps going until you mistake it for entitlement, and then it all falls apart big time. I'd seen Jang Gilsan drift away from people at the academy like that often.
Maybe the reason I'd stayed his friend for so long was because I'd kept refusing his favors.
Even brushing off his offers to join the Union Guild—that's why too.
I still wanted to remain friends with Jang Gilsan.
Today, I accepted a few using Aqua as an excuse, but my mindset won't change completely.
I'll live my way, in my own style. Like a free spirit, just like the spirits.
I grinned at Aqua.
[Hee hee hee!]
Aqua beamed back at me, mirroring my smile.
* * *
I carried Aqua on my neck and stepped out of the restaurant. Before heading to the massage shop, I planned to stop by the resort's central plaza.
I should show the central plaza to Aqua at least once.
The most famous photo spot at Phoenix Resort was this central plaza. Tourists visiting Samcheok Beach made snapping pics here with the sea view a key part of their itinerary.
And the plaza had a massive fountain to boot. Water spirits went wild for fountains.
[Oh! Water energy over there... Oh?]
Aqua trailed off in surprise, her voice rising. I was just as shocked.
Undines? Aren't those undines?
The fountain was full of undines playing around—over ten of them, no less.
Nearby, at the outdoor café, I could sense Spirit Affinity from spirit users.
Spirit users here for the guild harmony event? ...Oh, right—the gathering!
I recalled the community post about the gathering. The organizer was staying here due to guild harmony issues, so they were holding it at Phoenix Resort.
Should I join in?
I hesitated for a second.
One of the spirit users, radiating high-grade Spirit Affinity, suddenly turned and looked my way, as if sensing something. At the same time, a few undines toddled toward us.
[Lady Aqua?]
[I sense Lady Aqua's spirit power!]
I looked up at Aqua.
[Ooooh!]
Aqua's mouth formed a perfect O, and she waved enthusiastically, a delighted smile on her face.
She's already geared up to play.
I chuckled softly and set Aqua down.
[Lady Aqua!]
[Lady Aqua!]
[You guys again!]
Aqua scooped up the rushing undines and hugged them tight.
[Play with us!]
[To the fountain!]
Aqua set the undines down, and they grabbed her hands, pulling her toward the fountain. She glanced back at me. I smiled and nodded, so she giggled and headed off.
[Let's go!]
I watched Aqua head off to play with the undines, then made my way to the outdoor café.
The spirit users who'd noticed Aqua were craning their necks like meerkats, staring at me. One stood up—a high-grade spirit user.
At least mid-tier spirit level.
High-grade spirit users were rare even at the academy. This woman in her late twenties greeted me with a smile.
"Welcome, butler. I'm Mulsuja, operator of the water spirit user community."
"I'm NoSpiritJustMe. Sorry to drop in unannounced without even commenting before."
"No worries. We're grateful you came. Have a seat first."
I sat in an empty chair as guided. The water spirit users still eyed me curiously. Mulsuja handed me an iced coffee and asked,
"Do you remember me, by any chance?"
"Have we met?"
"A few days ago, while walking by the sea, my undine played with your undine."
"Ah, that time."
I didn't remember her face, but I recalled the strong Spirit Affinity.
Mulsuja asked, "So, NoSpiritJustMe, what's the identity of that big sis spirit?"
"Big sis spirit?"
"Oh, you didn't know."
Mulsuja chuckled. "Did you see the photo of your little one on the community? We nicknamed her 'big sis' because she leads all the other kids around."
I glanced at Aqua. She was herding the undines in a train game.
"Fits her perfectly."
"So, what's her deal? She's no undine."
The room fell quiet. The dozen or so spirit users waited silently for my answer.
I smiled and said honestly, "Truth is, I don't know either."
"You don't know?"
"We just contracted recently. All I know is she's supreme-grade and named Aqua."
"Supreme-grade?"
Mulsuja nodded slightly. "Aqua... Definitely not an undine."
The spirit users couldn't hold back their whispers.
"Her size was suspicious, but maybe she's another kind of spirit..."
"What? Not a water spirit then?"
"She looks water through and through. Maybe a higher spirit?"
"Water spirits are all undines from mid to high grade. Not the Spirit King, for sure."
"Come to think of it, the Water Spirit King hasn't shown up in the human world for years. Maybe it changed?"
"Aquas's power is impressive, but not quite Spirit King level."
As the murmurs grew, Mulsuja clapped to refocus everyone.
"Oops, my bad. Got too curious and jumped to questions before intros."
She stood and addressed the group. "Everyone, welcome our first-time visitor and new butler to the gathering!"
Applause erupted from all sides. I awkwardly stood and bowed.
"Hello. I'm NoSpiritJustMe."
"Which guild are you with?"
"I'm still a student."
"Academy cadet?"
"Yes, fourth year."
"A junior!"
"Welcome, junior!"
Most spirit users were academy grads, unless awakened later in life. That fueled these lively gatherings.
"Welcome!"
"New butlers are always welcome!"
"Come to gatherings often!"
Their warm reception melted my heart. I'd been a bit nervous about my first gathering—meeting strangers felt awkward. But they welcomed me wholeheartedly.
As expected, no bad eggs among spirit users.
I smiled and sat back down.
Mulsuja asked again, "So, you really don't know Aqua's identity?"
"Yes."
One water spirit user shot up. "Then just ask directly?"
He cupped his hands like a megaphone toward the spirits.
"Kids!"
Three undines scurried over.
[Yes! You called?]
[What's up? New toy?]
[Snack time?]
He smiled and asked, "That big sis playing with you—Aqua."
[Yes! Lady Aqua!]
[Lady Aqua even backwards!]
[What about Lady Aqua?]
"What's her deal?"
The undines answered matter-of-factly.
[Lady Aqua is our prin...]
[We shan't tell, or no playtime!]
Aqua, from afar, laid down the law, cutting them off.
[Eek!]
[Eeeek!]
The speaking undine clapped a hand over her mouth. Others piled on.
[I know nothing!]
[Me neither! Nothing! Nope!]
[This humble one heard zilch!]
[This humble one has no tongue... indeed!]
One even stuck out her tongue to prove innocence.
The spirit users' eyes widened in shock. They'd never seen spirits act like this, despite years together. Spirits were always honest and pure.
"...Oh my, heart attack."
One spirit user trembled. It was their first time seeing such cuteness.
Their faces softened into grins.
"...Cuteness is justice."
"Thanks, junior. Eye candy treat."
"Undines lying on purpose... priceless."
Yeah. Who cares about her identity? So cute.
The spirit users gazed fondly at their own spirits, faces gooey with affection. Watching, I nodded.
Definitely no bad people among spirit users.
Who could commit evil with eyes dripping honey like that?
* * *
The gathering was in full swing.
Thud thud thud!
A rowdy group burst in from the opposite side.
What the—?
I blinked in surprise, checking them out. Two traits stood out: matching red tees, and salamanders perched on shoulders or backs.
Salamanders?
They were fire spirit users.
The leader thrust his hand skyward and bellowed,
"The Flames of Justice squad arrives at last! Water worshippers, tremble in fear!"
It was practically a raid, but no one tensed. This was a regular event.
Didn't expect to see it live.
"Song of Water and Fire"—a time-honored tradition at the water spirit community gatherings.
[Eek! Flame squad!]
[They're back!]
[Lady Aqua! Salamanders!]
The undines clustered defensively against the Flame squad. The salamanders on their shoulders flicked tongues fiercely at the undines.
For a moment, smiles crept across every face—water and fire spirit users alike.
Spirit users would do anything for their spirits, even role-play like this.
Most fire spirit users love this stuff anyway.
Water spirit users tended gentle and soft, while fire ones craved hot, wild fun.
I leaned back leisurely in my chair, ready to enjoy the seventh installment of this storied event.