Chapter 10 - Spirit (3)
Deltain pointed to the empty seat with his chin.
Then, he said indifferently,
"Speak."
There was only one reason he was this indifferent.
He already knew the purpose of Ishmark's visit.
'It must be about the weapon issue.'
The search for a 'physical means' to defend the capital.
To Ishmark, this must have felt like a threat that had to be stopped at all costs.
Well, obviously. It meant a mere noble was wielding a military force the Imperial family couldn't block; only a fool would just sit back and let that happen.
Deltain wasn't unaware of that.
'Still, my intentions won't change.'
Deltain was not ignorant of politics.
He knew that the actions Ishmark and Marquis Grobin took at the banquet that day were intended to use him.
He absolutely hated being used in that manner.
Of course, there were other practical reasons, but that wasn't important right now.
It was at that moment that Ishmark opened his mouth.
"I'll start with an apology. I'm sorry."
His smile was thick with the pretense of genuine regret.
His tone, too, was cautious, unlike usual.
Of course, Deltain knew this atmosphere was intentional.
'He doesn't want this to affect our relationship. That's what he means.'
What is he trying to do after already picking a fight?
As Deltain stared at Ishmark, revealing the emotions that had surfaced, Ishmark continued.
"It was never my intention to offend you. I was just desperate for a counterargument to Marquis Grobin's words. I hope you understand."
Ishmark's words were not far from the posture criminals universally adopted.
Opening with an apology, venting grievances, then blaming someone else. It was a rather sloppy apology, unlike him. He was likely hiding his true motives.
Deltain narrowed his eyes and said,
"...Just because you come at me like that, I have no intention of retracting what I said."
"I understand that, too."
"Don't beat around the bush, get to the point."
He spoke in a sharp tone, but Deltain's demeanor wasn't particularly fierce.
Regardless of his inner thoughts, Ishmark was maintaining the basics of someone in the position of apologizing.
Coming to the Count's residence despite being the Emperor.
Uttering an apology before anything else.
And even handing over the initiative to him with all those actions.
Deltain sensed that he wouldn't say anything troublesome for this relationship.
"I will allow the installation of the weapon."
"That's something you have to do, obviously."
"I want to obtain the joint usage rights for that weapon."
"You want to take the meat and leave the bones?"
"It's a critical time for the Imperial family's authority. I hope you understand."
Ishmark smiled gently.
"The nobles of the capital need to be united. Marquis Grobin's check was for that purpose. However, because of what happened at the banquet, there's a situation where a new faction following you could emerge."
"I don't create factions. I had no intention of it from the start, and it was a clause specified in the contract."
"The perception of those around you is more important than your opinion. You know that."
"Anyway, these fucking pig bastards."
Deltain sighed.
'How annoying.'
Ishmark's words were valid.
The flow of power in the capital is not decided simply by the strength one possesses.
What matters is how much support from nobles follows behind it.
Depending on that, even if one doesn't intend to, there were certainly cases where factions naturally formed due to the influence of followers.
"I have a condition."
"Speak."
"I'll give you the usage rights. But if you want to use the weapon, you have to get my permission first."
"The reason?"
"Because I'm going to make something that dangerous."
Ishmark's expression wavered for a moment.
Considering he was a man who rarely broke his poker face, this was an unusual occurrence.
"...I think I need to hear what kind of weapon it is."
"It's nothing special, just a few things that fly around."
"I can't understand if you say it like that."
"You wouldn't understand even if I told you anyway. Just check it when the final product comes out."
What Deltain intended to make was a weapon classified as science fiction even on the Earth he used to live on.
As such, it was impossible to make the people here understand just through explanation.
"It won't be a bad thing for you, either. Once it's built, almost all physical events directed at the capital will be neutralized."
A gleam appeared in Ishmark's eyes.
Deltain knew this was the face he showed when he started calculating.
"If you're going to think about it, do it elsewhere. Don't take up space and be annoying."
"...Ah, excuse me."
Ishmark rose from his seat.
A sly smile had already appeared on his face.
It was a shift in attitude that could only be shown because it was between him and Deltain.
Since they had agreed not to hold personal grudges against each other anymore, he stopped acting submissive.
"I will be grateful for your broad generosity."
"Don't just say it, be grateful from the bottom of your heart."
"Ah, come to think of it, are you going to the North with the Duke's daughter?"
"Are you digging into my background?"
"The Duke of Levadein is my right-hand man."
"Ah, damn it."
Deltain's expression crumpled. Ishmark smacked his lips as if it were a pity.
"If your celibate views have changed, let me know. It wouldn't be a bad thing to have a Princess as a concubine. Considering your age, my seventh daughter is...."
"Stop. Don't even bring up that woman."
"Hmm?"
Ishmark tilted his head.
At that, Deltain let out a dry laugh.
"You really don't have even a speck of interest in your own children, do you?"
"I raise them with love...."
"Then how do you know what she's like to try and hook her up with me? I've never seen such a bastard who should be torn to shreds."
Deltain's words became much harsher.
Although his personality was prickly to begin with, this was the first time Ishmark had seen such extreme rejection from Deltain.
Only then did Ishmark feel a faint interest in his seventh daughter, Elina, arise.
'Hmm, was her personality that difficult?'
Should he have a private talk with her when he returns to the Imperial Palace?
Thinking such things, Ishmark calmed Deltain down and left the office.
Ishmark, who had already put his hood back on, asked Marquis Ishwalt, who had followed as an escort, while walking down the hallway.
"Marquis."
"Yes."
"Do you know about my seventh daughter?"
"Are you talking about Princess Elina?"
"It seems she has a connection with Count Hebron."
"I believe she is a quiet person. She is not someone who is particularly obsessed with socializing or external activities. Ah, I did hear that she is the only friend of the Levadein Duke's daughter."
"Oh, that's interesting information."
Indeed, did she get to know him through the Levadein daughter?
Ishmark's smile deepened.
"I haven't been interested enough in my daughter. When I return, I should have a meal with her."
*
Deltain was moving busily.
Since there were 8 days left until departure for the snowy mountain, there was a lot to prepare.
'The vehicle preparation is finished.'
Gerhart would handle the supplies and the necessary expenses for the trip.
The Hounds, being used to such business trips, would also finish their own preparations well.
Then, there was only one thing to pay attention to.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
It was Agnes's spirit contract.
The rose garden of the Duchy.
Deltain looked at Agnes, who was stepping on the soil with bare feet, and said,
"To explain again, spirits are basically things that belong to the natural world. So...."
"It means it's important to make skin contact with nature to raise the communion level, right? From now on, if I write the spirit contract, I'll be able to see the spirit, and you're saying I should negotiate with that kid and set conditions regarding going out."
Deltain's impression deepened.
"...Don't interrupt me."
"You're wrong. In times like this, you should praise a student who remembers well."
Agnes approached Deltain, stepping jabak-jabak on the soil. Then, she stuck her head forward and said,
"Pet me. While praising me, too."
"Are you a child? Get a grip. You're twenty."
"I don't think you're an adult just because you're twenty."
Agnes stood on tiptoe.
But even so, her height barely reached Deltain's shoulder.
The height difference was significant to begin with, and since Agnes was barefoot today, the gap had widened even more, so it was a natural occurrence.
"Hurry."
"...Good job. Are you happy now?"
"Pet me."
Deltain spat out his annoyance but placed his hand on the top of Agnes's head.
And tapped it with his palm.
"Ouch."
"Don't exaggerate. I hit you lightly."
"I made a sound because my heart hurts."
"Go to the center before I shut your mouth."
Agnes pouted her lips and went to the center of the circle Deltain had drawn.
The magic circle was intertwined in a quite complex form.
Also, it was glowing mysteriously enough that one could tell at a glance that the materials used for that circle were expensive.
A sigh escaped Deltain's lips.
'This is why spirit contracts are annoying.'
The reason Deltain, who usually used non-chanting magic, drew a magic circle was none other than this.
Spirits were such finicky creatures that if you didn't show sincerity with a circle like this, they wouldn't even come near.
But would it only be that?
Even if you draw a circle and summon them, if the spirit doesn't like the summoner, it will immediately turn its back and run away. If that happens, all the material costs that went into making the circle would be wasted.
But he couldn't not use a circle, either.
Because it was impossible to just grab a spirit passing by on the street, relying only on affinity.
'Even if you have affinity, if you don't manifest it through a circle, you can't see the spirit.'
In fact, this was the biggest reason why the number of spirit summoners was extremely small.
No matter how much affinity you have and want to become a spirit summoner, where would you easily find a wealthy person who can make a magic circle that costs an astronomical amount to draw even once?
Of course, that was a story that didn't apply to Deltain and Agnes.
'In-game, the spirit contract success rate is 10%. On top of that, there's a 7% bonus per 1 point of affinity.'
Agnes's affinity was 8.9, so if you round it up, it's 63%.
Adding the base 10%, the total was 73%.
It was a very high probability for a spirit contract.
Even if she failed this time, if she tried 2-3 more times, she would surely get one eventually.
Deltain, having finished his rough calculations, opened his mouth.
"Starting."
"Yes."
Agnes stood with her hands behind her back, leaning on one leg.
Deltain narrowed his eyes and asked,
"What are you doing?"
"Preparation pose. I thought I might look attractive if I do this. I have to seduce the spirit, right?"
Deltain's lips flapped, but he soon gave up on answering.
He judged that if he bothered to pick a fight over that, he would only waste his mental energy.
Following that, he activated the circle.
Ttak!
As Deltain snapped his fingers, the circle began to glow.
It was a light where the colors were sharply divided, as if separated by a spectrum.
Immediately after, the light that had been soaring high began to curve, then bent sharply downward and wrapped around Agnes's body.
It was the act of calling spirits to her surroundings.
After a not-so-short time passed, suddenly, Agnes began to stare into the void and move her lips.
Deltain smiled.
'Success.'
Agnes must be in the middle of talking to a spirit.
Deltain himself couldn't see the process, but since he had already succeeded in summoning, he didn't worry about failure.
Obviously, what spirit could refuse an overwhelming affinity of 8.9?
Now, for the remaining 8 days, he just needed to teach Agnes how to refine her mental barriers.
It was the moment Deltain thought of that.
"Deltain, it says it can't."
Agnes offered the worst possible answer.
Deltain's expression went blank.
"...What?"
"It says it can't. It says it'll get scolded."
It was nonsense.
Wasn't it? In the first place, spirits didn't even form groups by opposing each other, so who would be scolding them?
'There is nothing in this world that can suppress spirits....'
Shudder.
Deltain's body trembled as he continued his thoughts.
'There is one.'
Something occurred to him belatedly.
There was exactly one existence in this world that could suppress spirits.
"...The Spirit King."
A dry laugh burst from Deltain's lips.