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~Summoning Scroll~
Prove in the Spirit Realm that the new Spirit King and their Spirit Master are worthy of their positions.
[Ooh!]
Aqua gaped at the summoning scroll, her mouth forming a perfect circle. I, on the other hand, tilted my head in confusion.
They're letting us into the Spirit Realm this easily?
According to the Fire Spirit King Pompeii, human entry to the Spirit Realm had been forbidden until now. That must have been why the Earth Spirit King Uluru had only summoned Aqua there. And yet, Aqua—who wasn't even an official Spirit King yet—and I had stubbornly insisted on going together or not at all.
Honestly, it was just something I blurted out, half not caring if we went or not.
But I hadn't expected them to so readily accommodate our whims like this.
[Hahaha! As expected of me! A Spirit King indeed!]
Aqua was buzzing with excitement. When I gently brushed back her bangs, she turned to me with a beaming smile.
[See this! Doesn't this mean Uluru already acknowledges me as a Spirit King?]
"You're right. Aqua really is amazing."
[Ahahaha!]
A fountain erupted from Aqua's shoulders—the kind that only burst out when her pride hit maximum. As I stroked her, my mind raced with calculations. If purity was the spirits' role, then meticulous planning was the spirit master's duty. I always had to check and double-check for dangers on their path.
The gates to the Spirit Realm opening this easily just doesn't make sense.
No one—not even Uluru's contractor—had ever set foot there before. For them to open those gates on the whim of a provisional Spirit King was utterly absurd.
Is Uluru plotting something?
No, that couldn't be. Leaving aside that spirits were benevolent beings, Uluru wasn't the type according to Aqua. And Aqua couldn't have misjudged her—spirits could instinctively sense good from evil.
Maybe they're just deciding to open the Spirit Realm's gates from now on... but the timing is too coincidental.
Whatever the case, we'll go together.
If any danger threatened Aqua, I'd be right there to protect her.
Watching me stroke Aqua's back, Jang Gilsan suddenly spoke up.
"Looks like you're the first."
"The first?"
"The first human to visit the Spirit Realm."
"Ah..."
I'd been so focused on why they wanted to summon Aqua that I'd completely overlooked it. He was right. I would be the very first spirit master—or human—to set foot in a place no one had ever trod.
The first, huh...
But honestly, titles like that didn't excite me as much as something else. I smiled at Aqua.
"I get to see the place you lived with my own eyes."
[Hah! That's right!]
Aqua's face lit up as if the thought hadn't even crossed her mind.
[I'll show you my home!]
"Of course."
[I'll introduce you to Terra too!]
"Sounds great."
Just imagining how Aqua had lived in her time before I knew her made my heart race with anticipation for the Spirit Realm.
* * *
Two days later, at dawn. Preparations for the advertisement shoot were in full swing at the Phoenix Resort Water Park. Despite the lingering chill of early morning, countless staff bustled about. They had to wrap up the shoot before the park opened.
"Makeup done?"
"Not yet!"
"Where's the swimsuit?"
"Right here!"
"Sunlight today won't work. Switch to Plan C."
"Lighting good!"
"Camera's ready!"
"Hey, clear that out of the frame!"
I was in a makeshift dressing room partitioned off to one side, getting my makeup done.
"Wow... your skin is seriously amazing."
"Ahaha. Thanks."
I gave an awkward reply. It was the same compliment I'd been hearing for the past ten minutes.
"It looks just like a kid's skin."
"Ahaha..."
"Water spirit users all have great skin, but yours is on another level, Hyunwoo-ssi!"
Aqua—the number one contributor to my skin—was buried in a crowd of other designers behind me.
"Aqua, come here!"
"Over here too!"
"Aqua, can I take a picture?"
[Of course, pretty sisters!]
Aqua was soaking up all the adoration amid the designers.
[Hehehe!]
She was a pure child who got just as happy from the love she received. The brighter Aqua smiled, the brighter the "pretty sisters" around her smiled.
"Kyaa! So cute!"
"Wow... I wanna be a spirit master too!"
"Making our hearts ache like this!"
One designer squished Aqua's chubby cheeks, drawing another chorus of squeals.
[Chit?]
Mandu was a hit too. His baby lizard form—unlike other salamanders—captured hearts instantly.
"Warm and fuzzy like a puppy."
"Doesn't he act like one too?"
Mandu cared more about the snacks from the designers than the designers themselves. They hurried to keep up as he gulped down chocolate snacks and cookies nonstop.
"Where does all that go?"
"He eats so heartily."
By then, my face and hair makeup were done. With all the waterproof sprays, my head felt like it had a cake on top.
[Ooh! You look handsome now!]
Aqua, who had toddled over when I stood, peered at my face.
[Is that what makeup is? Human technology is incredible!]
I scooped her into my arms. She naturally leaned against my chest. The designers squealed again.
"Whoa... that's photoshoot-worthy on its own."
"Seriously too pretty."
Dodging the endless praise that felt like it would wear my face down, I hurried out.
Jang Gilsan, Han Areum, and Han Deuri were lounging at one side of the set. They'd tagged along to watch the shoot. Gilsan had claimed a sunbed, lounging while tapping his tablet PC. The siblings stood nearby, eagerly scanning the scene.
"Ooh, sunbae!"
Han Areum greeted me with a grin as I approached.
"Got your makeup done? Wow, you look even sharper now."
"Ahaha. Thanks."
"Can I take a picture?"
"Since we're all here, group shot!"
At Areum's urging, even Gilsan sat up. We snapped a photo with the set as backdrop.
[Hee~!]
[Chit!]
Another unforgettable summer vacation memory in the books.
* * *
Before the main shoot, I greeted the directors.
"I'm the cinematographer."
"Art director here."
"Copywriter."
The creative director, PD, and Marketing Team Leader Han Dong-su—whom I'd met days earlier—were there too. I knew nothing about this world, but apparently, the ad team they'd hired was top-notch.
"Kang Hyunwoo. Nice to work with you."
[It's Aqua!]
[Chit!]
All eyes turned to Aqua in my arms. She flashed a bright smile at them. The art director, dazed by her innocent grin, fumbled something out of his pocket—a notebook.
"Could you sign this, by any chance?"
[Sign?]
As Aqua tilted her head, the cinematographer chuckled softly.
"Our art director collects signatures from people he thinks will make it big."
"It's all about connections. Hyunwoo-ssi, yours too?"
I signed the notebook on reflex. Aqua asked me,
[What's a signature?]
I explained simply.
[Oho... humans have all kinds of wonders.]
"Wanna try?"
I handed her the pen and notebook.
[Hmm...]
Aqua pondered deeply.
"If you're not sure, just write your name."
[That works?]
"Plenty do."
Aqua carefully wrote her name: Aqua.
It was the first time I'd seen her handwriting—big consonants, small vowels, round and cute.
[Here!]
The art director smiled at it.
"Cute font too."
Others peeked and pulled out notebooks or handkerchiefs.
"Me too?"
"Here as well."
"My daughter's obsessed with spirit master YouTube lately. She loved your mermaid princess video. Could you write her name too?"
At the sudden requests, Aqua looked surprised.
[Is a signature that great?]
"Absolutely. Meeting a Spirit King in person."
[Humans are so baffling.]
Perplexed but obliging, Aqua signed for everyone.
The cinematographer, who'd gotten one with his daughter's name, asked me,
"No plans for more YouTube?"
Aqua's mermaid princess video kept shattering records, boosted by the Niagara fight views.
Going all-in on YouTube could make us huge.
Aqua's cuteness was world-heritage level, proven by ten million views. Part of me wanted to share and brag about her to more people.
"Maybe if the chance comes."
But right now, I needed to focus on what was ahead: the ad shoot, the Spirit Realm.
* * *
Soon, the main shoot prep began. Holding Aqua, I stood before the lazy river pool. The bustling crew retreated behind the camera line, and the recording light blinked on. Aqua's anxiety mounted.
[Uh, uhm...]
Her face tense, she scanned around, body stiffening.
Camera fright kicking in.
Her trembling eyes darted over the crowd before she whipped her head away.
[Ugh...! So nerve-wracking! What do I do?!]
She buried her face in my shoulder like a scared kid. A flub in front of all these people would crush her pride.
"It's okay, it's okay."
I patted her back.
Don't worry. Nothing will hurt your pride.
That was a spirit master's job. I signaled the PD. He directed something upstream. On cue, I shouted,
"Hey, Aqua! Look over there!"
Aqua turned—and gasped in delight.
[Ooooh!]
Something slid toward us down the lazy river. Aqua's eyes sparkled.