Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Petty Ghosts Love Pranks (2)
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One of the buildings in the Mage Tower.
A conversation was unfolding in the place where spirit mages conducted their research.
The middle-aged man's eyes widened at the unbelievable fact.
"Is that really true?"
"Certainly. I'll show you right away."
With the spirit mage's gesture, undines began to reveal themselves one by one.
The undines that appeared numbered five in total.
Then, with another sweeping gesture, their number increased by one.
"...It's real."
Before dispatching reinforcements, the maximum number of undines he could handle at once had been five.
Yet the number summoned now was clearly six.
The spirit mage who had summoned the undines opened his mouth.
"After giving water to that thing called a jangseung, my affinity increased. It wasn't enough to summon one more undine, but my affinity definitely rose."
"An increase in affinity..."
Affinity sufficient for one additional low-grade spirit.
Not a massive amount, but this was far from ordinary.
Because raising spirit affinity was no easy feat.
Spirit mages were born with their affinity.
Once they reached their personal limit through training, further growth became exceedingly difficult.
Affinity rising just from watering it?
No spirit mage could help but be astonished.
"What in the world is that thing, that watering it increases affinity?"
"It possesses a mysterious power that repels undead."
It was a story he'd already heard.
An artifact that prevented undead from approaching nearby.
"And the undines were especially fond of it. I vaguely heard from Closel that..."
"Hm?"
"That jangseung wooden statue was made from a branch of the World Tree."
He shot to his feet.
"World Tree? Did you just say World Tree!?"
If it was truly made from the World Tree, this was no small matter.
Humans had virtually no chance of laying eyes on the elves' World Tree.
The World Tree, known as the origin of the elves.
If crafted from that, an increase in affinity made perfect sense.
"Closel definitely said that?"
"Yes. I also understand that this elf participation was spearheaded by someone named Chris."
"Unbelievable."
"And the elf who sticks by his side is a high elf..."
Before the words could finish, a bellow erupted.
"Send a cooperation request to the Mage Tower at once! We need a warp magic circle!"
After a quick breath, he shouted again.
"I'll go myself!"
Fwoosh—
The number of candles placed in the shrine had increased before he knew it.
Among them, the largest was Luna's candle.
He wasn't sure if it was okay to pray to someone else's saintess here, but...
She was bound to him as a little sister, after all.
"Kah!"
"No. You've eaten too much today."
"Ugh...! Kah!"
"Bad girl. You need to stop eating."
The snacks he'd bought for Luna were candy-like pastries.
They were fairly expensive; the price was no joke.
More costly than meat, so that said it all.
Price aside, he couldn't let cavities form in her newly grown teeth.
"...Do saintesses even get cavities?"
Given the divine power she wielded, she probably wouldn't catch even a common cold.
"Anyway, what we're doing now is a candle offering. It's praying to the spirits."
As he spoke, noise came from outside the shrine.
Murmur, murmur—
"People usually follow the candles here, you know? Think of it as marking 'I'm here!'"
Murmur, murmur—
"Next..."
Murmur, murmur—
He couldn't continue his explanation.
Offering prayers in this rowdy environment?
Utterly unacceptable.
"These damn old fogeys..."
He flung the door open irritably.
But the sight outside was a spectacle.
"Let's try it once more."
"On three, two, one, we start."
"Time to begin the incantation."
One of them began counting down as the representative.
"Three."
"Two."
"One!"
The tense mages opened their mouths in unison.
Spells laced with mana boomed grandly.
"Bunshin Saba, Bunshin Saba...! Come to this place!"
"Headless! Can you hear us? We have more questions."
After he'd taught them what they'd been doing earlier, they'd been at it all day.
Casting spells while chanting "Bunshin Saba" with those mouths...
Soon, reactions burst from among the mages.
"A circle again this time."
"Hurry and ask the questions! Start with the soul forms!"
A sigh escaped him involuntarily.
What they were doing was profoundly wrong.
Not a single petty ghost had touched the pens the mages held.
Not even Headless was standing there.
"Jeez."
Did they even know the defining trait of that necromancy technique?
Pranksters existed among them, and sometimes circles appeared without conscious effort.
The desire for it to work could even create such illusions.
In other words, those folks were engaging in utterly meaningless antics.
The question lists covered in circles looked equally invalid.
"Hey, mages."
The moment he spoke, the mages' demeanor shifted.
The lighthearted atmosphere vanished, replaced by sharp glares.
"Magic."
"Warp?"
"Mage Tower incantation."
As the mages said, mana began swirling in one corner of the yard.
Flash—
Light erupted, and six people appeared.
One familiar face was among them.
"The water guy?"
"Aren't those spirit mages?"
"What brings them here?"
One emanated scorching heat.
Two felt like gusts of wind.
Two carried the scent of earth, and one a chilling aura.
The spirit mages, looking around, locked eyes with him.
They rushed over en masse.
"I'm Oliver Dupont, senior spirit mage affiliated with the Mage Tower. No—Dupont!"
"Pardon?"
"Is that wooden statue truly made from the World Tree?"
They shot to their feet.
"World Tree?"
The mages sprang up from their seats, alternating glances between the jangseung and him.
"I-if it's not too rude, may I water it before I go?"
"...?"
For people seeing him for the first time, their attitude was remarkably polite.
They usually carried a haughty air when dealing with commoners like him.
"P-perhaps I need permission from the high elf?"
"Nothing like that, but why water all of a sudden?"
"Best to be honest. There was a report that watering the statue boosts affinity. I'm here to verify it."
Watering it was fine by him.
The jangseung would grow vigorously; no harm done.
"Go ahead."
"Much obliged!"
At his permission, the spirit mages hurried toward the jangseung.
"We'll start with low-grade spirits. Everyone, summon!"
"Undine!"
"Sylph!"
"Gnome!"
"Salamander!"
He must have misheard.
Salamander was a fire spirit, wasn't it?
"...?"
Undines made sense with water, but the rest?
"Hey."
"Yes?"
"What are the others supposed to do besides the undine? Salamander's fire, right?"
The spirit mage named Dupont, who had greeted him and summoned the salamander, faltered awkwardly.
Because he was the one who'd called it.
"..."
"..."
An awkward silence flowed.
"No way... you're going to set fire to the jangseung?"
"J-just a light scorch..."
In that instant, all the pent-up frustration from the day exploded.
"Everyone, get out."
"H-hey?"
"Young Master Chris?"
"Pack your things and leave. I'm closing the shrine for today."
The mages and spirit mages approached to dissuade him.
"We'll stay quiet. We won't interfere with your research!"
"We'll just water it quietly too."
"J-just a tiny singe! If it's World Tree material, there won't be much damage!"
"Get out before I ban you all! Should I call the elf delegation? Serena!"
At the mention of Serena, they hesitated and began shuffling away.
As they retreated down the path, peace finally returned to his home.
Thud!
Crack—
A sound in the quiet.
"Now what?"
The noise came from beside the shrine, a spot he hadn't glanced at.
"Hey."
"Yes! Chris-nim!"
"What are you doing over there?"
The source was Alard.
Judging by the axe in his hand and the scattered wood on the ground, he was crafting something.
"Building a house."
"A house...?"
"...Nowhere to sleep."
Alard had come for Luna's education and protection, so staying here made sense.
But a house right next to the shrine?
Was it sensible for a papal candidate to live beside a shaman's hut?
"You too, out."
"Me as well?"
"Not going? Want to see a sword dance?"
"I-I'll go!"
Alard scampered off.
He picked up one of the logs Alard had been working on.
Along with a pen the mages had used.
Scribble—
Irritably scrawling on the wood, he added one more line.
Given the situation, anyone might show up at any time.
"Damn frauds are the problem!"
"Are we really leaving? Lu... Luna-nim?"
"Jo!"
"Chris-nim...? What if a thief breaks in?"
"Plenty of guardians for the house."
With Headless perking up alertly, what thief would dare?