Chapter 10 - Spirit (2)
The target doesn't lie.
So, the status window floating beside Agnes's head must be the truth.
『Body: 0.7
Mental Defense: 0.1
Mana Affinity: 3.2
Spirit Affinity: 8.9』
While the others were within the expected range, the Spirit Affinity was at a level that even shocked Deltain.
The number currently floating was 8.9 out of 10.
An innate Spirit Affinity of 8.9 was an absurd number.
Would it help you understand if I told you that even Kaltara's innate physical ability was only 7.1?
In other words, Agnes Levadein was a prodigy blessed by spirits from birth.
For a moment, a possibility crossed Deltain's mind.
'If this woman hadn't been the host of the Demon Flower...'
...a player wouldn't have been needed in Evil Lore.
If Agnes had grown up healthy, she would have torn the invading demons to shreds all by herself.
The fact that her mental defense wasn't even at the level of an ant didn't matter.
One of the biggest characteristics of a Spirit User was strengthening mental barriers using spirits.
"Deltain?"
Agnes poked her head in.
Deltain flinched and pulled back.
At that, Agnes's smile deepened.
"Then that means I can go, right?"
Her cherry-blossom-colored eyes sparkled. Within them was pure anticipation.
Of course. It wasn't just a matter of "you can go," her affinity was at a level where he should be begging her to come along, so did words even need to be exchanged?
Agnes's affinity was at a level where she could attempt to converse even if the spirit of the snowy mountain was a Spirit King.
He could have just nodded, but Deltain couldn't do that.
There were many rational reasons, like her body being too frail... but in the end, it was his pride.
"...Do you think you can go out just because of your Spirit Affinity? The snowy mountain is a polar region. It's a living hell where you wouldn't even be able to walk five steps with that damn body of yours."
"Then you can just carry me on your back. No, in the first place, if you use magic, the climate won't be a problem, right?"
"You think that's the only problem? You seem to have forgotten, but the only reason you're still alive without being attacked by demons is because of the 'Saint Hall' I've cast over the Imperial Capital. I can't guarantee what will happen outside the capital."
"Are there that many demons?"
"This is why capital bumpkins... If there weren't any demons, do you think I'd be maintaining the Saint Hall?"
The Demon King had been slaughtered, and the main story of Evil Lore had ended.
But that didn't mean it was the end of the chaos.
Demons that had crossed through dimensional gates were still roaming this continent, and among them were opponents like Gaias, whom he had encountered before, against whom even Deltain couldn't let his guard down.
"...The reason I can roam outside as I please is because demons can't mess with my mind. But what about you? Your mental defense ability is the absolute worst I've ever seen in this land. You're at a level where you'd be writhing under their temptation if a demon just breathed on you."
"Hmm, would a demon even try to come near you?"
"They're dying to eat me. Because I closed the gate leading to their homeland."
Agnes's brow furrowed. It was clear she didn't like that.
"That's a shame. Then can't I just learn spirit arts and go?"
"Forget it. Spirit User is a job that ten times as many people avoid even if they have the affinity for it."
"Why?"
"Do you know how hard it is to cater to spirits? Those bastards are shut-ins who refuse to move once they've settled in a spot. Naturally, the Spirit User who contracted with those spirits can't easily leave the land the spirits are sitting on."
In fact, this was the biggest problem troubling Deltain.
He could threaten a Spirit User to drag them out, but if the contracted spirit wouldn't move, the Spirit User couldn't perform their function.
Spirits had a rather obsessive side, so if the Spirit User they contracted with tried to see another spirit, they would sometimes use up all their affinity to cover the Spirit User's eyes.
Why would such a spirit help them go meet another spirit?
Hearing Deltain's explanation, Agnes giggled and exclaimed in admiration.
"They're really interesting. I kind of like them."
"You like being obsessed over? Are you mentally ill?"
"It means someone likes me that much."
"You wouldn't say that if you'd experienced it."
"Have you experienced it?"
"Yeah, I can recall at least five women who snuck up on me in the middle of the night with knives, trying to rape me."
Of course, that was back on Earth, but for Agnes, who didn't know that, it wasn't something she could just let slide.
Agnes's aura turned cold for a moment.
"...Who were they?"
A chilly tone. However, before Deltain could feel suspicious about it, Agnes recovered her original demeanor.
Agnes, reflected on Deltain's retinas, was smiling brightly as always.
"I don't think you would have just let them be. I was just curious about what happened to them."
"What do you mean what happened? I threw them in jail."
"You didn't kill them?"
"Sorry, but I'm not a murderer. I don't kill people just for the sake of revenge."
"Hmm...."
Agnes nodded as if she understood, then said:
"Then I guess I really have to go."
"What did you take my words for..."
"You said Spirit Users are hard to drag out. And among those with proper affinity, there's no one else you can take. So that leaves only me."
"That's a stretch..."
"...is what you're doing, right?"
Deltain's expression crumpled.
Agnes placed her hand over Deltain's. Tap. Tap. She tapped the back of his hand.
"Don't overthink it. This is a rational decision, right? As for demons... I'm not worried because I know you can block any demon that comes and save me."
I trust you.
It was that kind of statement, but if you picked it apart a little, it was a form that revealed a nasty hidden motive.
Agnes was provoking him right now.
'Are you saying you don't even have the confidence to protect me when I'm right beside you?'
A dry laugh escaped Deltain's lips.
It was a transparent provocation, so it wouldn't have mattered if he didn't fall for it, but...
'...I have to admit it.'
His honest feelings were that. There was no one more suitable for this job than her.
A Spirit User who could move as they pleased was a rare case, practically harder to find than a mythical creature, and there was too excellent a candidate right in front of him to go searching for another.
The deliberation was quite long.
Only after weighing the benefits and risks of each choice did Deltain sigh and say:
"Don't blame me if you die on the way."
Taking Agnes is much more beneficial.
When Deltain said that based on that judgment, Agnes burst into laughter.
*
"An outing... you say? To the snowy mountain?"
The Duke's office. Duke Levadein asked Deltain with wide eyes.
When Deltain nodded, the Duke spoke as if surprised.
"I didn't know my daughter had Spirit Affinity. And to the extent that the Count would rank it as the best."
The expression on the Duke's face held various emotions. Joy, guilt, and regret.
"...Truly, if only she had been healthy, Agnes could have lived receiving the love of the whole world."
"She is receiving love even now."
"The love she receives now is mixed with pity and sympathy."
The Duke's demeanor was quite bitter. It seemed he was burdened with guilt for not having given birth to his daughter in good health.
To that, Deltain added words of comfort.
"...If she had been healthy, her affinity might have been lower."
"Hmm?"
"Because affinity is ultimately a matter of how well one fits the spirits' tastes."
"Ah, are you saying that spirits might like frail people?"
"That's right. Spirits are a species with more hidden aspects than revealed ones."
At that, the Duke chuckled.
"That's an interesting perspective."
Perhaps realizing that Deltain had spoken to comfort him, Duke Levadein soon erased his bitter expression and nodded.
"Then please do so."
"...You're giving permission too easily."
"Because I trust the Count."
A smile full of satisfaction was drawn on the Duke's face.
It was a face that Deltain found unsettling.
"Please take good care of my daughter."
There was an inexplicable warmth in the words he uttered.
Deltain avoided his gaze without realizing it.
Those words didn't sound like they were just empty talk.
*
Three days later at the Count's estate.
Deltain called his Hounds to his office and scanned them once.
Then his gaze stopped in the direction of Kaltara. She was smiling the whole time, wondering what she was so satisfied with.
"...Why is your expression like that?"
"I fucked a cardinal!"
"Ah."
At the explicit words without even a speck of filtering, Deltain closed his eyes tightly.
"From now on, express it indirectly. It makes me want to puke imagining it when you say it like that."
"Hmm! Understood! I coveted a cardinal!"
"I said from next time, you damn bitch."
"Sure! I'll keep it in mind."
Deltain pressed his brow, complaining of a headache.
"Um... why did you call us?"
In the midst of this, the one raising his hand and speaking was the sex addict Jebis.
His green eyes, revealed between his blue hair, were a mix of anxiety and curiosity.
Deltain answered indifferently.
"We're going to the snowy mountain. In 10 days."
"Ugh..."
A dark expression rose on Jebis's face.
Because he had a personality that hated going out so much, he was already sick of the long-term mission.
The carnivore Pobler scolded Jebis with a stern look, then asked Deltain.
"What is the objective?"
"We need to find a spirit."
"If you say spirit..."
Pobler's brow furrowed. It was because he knew that a Spirit User was needed to find a spirit.
Deltain noticed what he wanted to say and continued.
"I'm taking Lady Levadein. She has high affinity. Oh, and Cargo too."
"Oho!"
Kaltara beamed with joy.
"Should I make her lose weight?"
"Yeah, make sure she's at least in a condition where her flesh doesn't jiggle when she runs."
"Leave it to me! I'll squeeze her tight."
Deltain didn't bother asking how she would make her lose weight.
He now knew that there were secrets in the world that were better left unknown.
It was a lesson learned through the 7th Princess Elina.
"Is it okay to take the Lady? She seemed like a very mischievous person..."
There was deep anxiety in Jebis's voice. He had a severe case of gynophobia.
The only women he could get close to were children, the elderly, and Kaltara, who didn't look like a woman to him.
Deltain snorted and said.
"Then what are you going to do? Are you going to find me a Spirit User who can move as they please?"
Jebis's mouth shut tight.
Deltain sat in his chair in a slouching posture and said to the Hounds.
"As you all know, the Lady's mental barrier is at the level of a bug. Once we leave the capital, we have to move more carefully than usual."
"We will prepare thoroughly."
Pobler bowed his head.
Deltain's gaze turned to the necrophiliac Galan. He just nodded indifferently.
He didn't bother pointing out the lack of an answer. It was because Galan had no vocal cords.
"...Anyway, for that reason, you guys have to take turns providing close protection for the Lady this time. The shift unit is 12 hours, so get your bodies in perfect condition before departure."
When Deltain said that and waved his hand, the Hounds stood up and left the office.
It was that moment.
"Count. A guest has arrived."
Gerhart entered the office.
Behind him was a man wearing a robe.
Deltain's eyes narrowed.
Because the fact that he entered without being told to, the way he was wearing a robe hood even here, and all other factors like his physique meant he knew his identity.
"Why did you come here again?"
"Did I commit a discourtesy?"
A voice laced with laughter rang out from inside the robe.
Immediately after, as the man took off his hood, lustrous white hair flowed down from inside.
Emperor Ishmark Von Levrok. He had come to visit the Count's estate.
"Can you spare some time?"