Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Beauty(?) and the Beast
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After cleanly taking out all the great noble's underlings, Balak suddenly clapped right there on the spot.
Clap!
"You can all come out now."
"Brother Balak, that was some clean fighting."
"I'm not sure I'd call what just happened fighting... Little bro, what do you think of those guys?"
"...They were strong."
Even if they'd insta-killed me in a flash, they had tanked that mid-boss's fierce assault and more.
Compared to everyone who'd entered this place so far, they were top-tier.
Even Second Bro might be in some danger if those guys jumped him at full strength?
Looks like thanks to those punks just now, our little bro's finally getting a reality check.
"O-bro."
"Yes."
"I'll be straight with you. You're weak right now. Very weak. Could you have beaten them without taking a single hit?"
"No, sir."
"Fighting in my dungeon and getting hurt could lead straight to death."
Our lives were one-and-done, while those guys outside had infinite retries.
Once you start taking injuries here, they pile up until you're dead.
So I handed Orek another top-grade spirit stone and said,
"Sure, dying in battle would be a fine end. But dying without bringing your full power to bear? That's another story. So, O-bro, take this and seize your fate."
"...In that case, Big Bro, what's the price?"
"Everything."
It might look pretty pathetic at first glance.
Getting strong because someone else did all the work—what could be more lame?
But that depends on the situation!
"If it means walking side by side with you brothers, it's nothing."
"That's the spirit!"
"Orek, great choice. Let's walk together."
Exactly! To walk shoulder-to-shoulder with us, pride like that means jack squat.
He seemed to get it, nodding as he used the top-grade spirit stone I'd given him.
***********
As the spirit stone shattered, a fierce gale burst forth, and some presence materialized in my boss room.
It was a fairy-like beauty with long, light-green straight hair and a stunning face.
Her ears were long like a knife-ear's—
Huh?
Oh, no, that's just a chick knife-ear!
That's supposed to be a top-tier wind spirit?!
Totally not what I pictured.
The knife-ear-looking spirit stretched languidly, looking like she was out for a stroll.
"Nyaaah!! Fresh air after so long!"
"""...Uh..."""
Ferguson aside, why's Orek making the same face as us...?
Is this typical for high-ranking spirits or something?
As Ferguson and I shot Orek looks demanding an explanation, he noticed and spoke up.
"I-I don't know either!"
"You're the shaman—how don't you know?!"
"Bro, maybe this spirit's special."
"Ahem! I'm a little special, yeah!"
What can I say—the spirit in front of us had some serious self-love.
Still, now that we'd met, we all exchanged introductions.
"I'm Balak."
"Nice to meet you. Name's Ferguson."
"Bearer of one of nature's masters, I am Orek."
"Great to meet you! I'm... uh... I'm..."
"Hm?"
As the top wind spirit fumbled her name and looked super awkward, countless hooks popped into mine and Ferguson's heads.
But Orek, being a shaman, seemed to have a rough idea why and spoke up.
"No way... You've lost your true name, Lady of Nature?"
"Lost your name? That's possible?"
"From what I know, there are a few reasons. Like if a Lady of Nature was on the brink of fading, or—"
"W-Wait! I'll explain!"
Then the top wind spirit clearly laid out why she'd lost her name.
"Damn... you've had it rough."
"No way the knife-ears did that..."
"......"
Whoa, little bro's face was something else.
But is that even feasible?
"Spirit, is absorbing your very existence into knife-ear souls really possible?"
"I don't get the mechanics. But I really lost my name."
"So part of your being is gone?"
"Yeah... We have true names separate from everything. I lost mine. I have a fake one, but it's what those bastards gave me, so I hate it."
Tch, even I get why she'd hate a name from her tormentors.
But why would knife-ears do that?
They'd make instant enemies of spirits the second it failed, and even success odds would be abysmal...
They must have some knife-ear secrets we don't know.
But that's their problem, not ours.
"We get it happened during the Great War, but why would knife-ears...?"
"...They were after the infinite power from the primal realms, no doubt."
"You know something, O-bro?"
"Yes. To sum it up simply—"
So... if they successfully absorbed a spirit's existence into knife-ear souls, they'd be half-spirit, half-knife-ear, able to tap the endless power flowing from spirit realms?
And use that power in the war?
"Madness born of war."
"What happens when you chase power above all."
"Plus immortality from nature's souls—that was part of it too. And her appearance..."
"Heh heh heh... I ended up looking like them."
Since she'd dipped into knife-ear souls briefly, she took on their form!
So she can't take other shapes now?
When I asked, the answer was good news.
"It's possible, but I need a contractor..."
"That's a relief. This form must creep you out plenty, right, Lady Spirit?"
"That's why the Spirit Kings sent me here as an exception, away from our kids."
Hearing Ferguson, the spirit glanced at her knife-ear arm with a bittersweet smile laced with hate and love.
Come to think of it, the letter from the Spirit Kings before, and the gripes from the mini-dungeon kids—it all added up. Spirits were like one big family.
So they sent their wounded sister for treatment, lending me their power too?
High-status folks always have layers to their moves.
But one concern.
"You sure you're okay with this? Contracting with one of us might mean fighting nonstop like before."
"Don't worry—I'm prepared for that! And this is a dungeon, right? No qualms about killing here, so it'll be way better than back then!"
"Settled, then. Last question: anyone among us is fine?"
"Yeah! Doesn't matter!"
Perfect!
Ferguson and I shoved our super-tense little bro forward.
Thud!
"B-Brothers?!"
"Heh~ So I contract with you?"
"Yes. Take good care of our little bro."
"He's lacking in a lot. Please look after him, Lady Spirit."
"W-Why say that all of a sudden!"
Spirits were non-binary, and it felt like a meet-the-parents, but whatever—good is good!
After that, the contract succeeded. The spirit shed her hated knife-ear form for light-green feathers.
"Looking forward to it!"
"M-Me too."
Clap clap clap clap clap!
Alright, little bro's hitched.
Now to gear him up—
"Big Bro!"
"Hm? What's up?"
"Please name the Lady of Nature in my place!"
"A name?"
"Yeah, I lost mine? So I wanna get a fake one!"
Ah, guess a new name restores some power.
And with everyone staring daggers, hard to say no.
So, what name?
Screw up, and it's verbal assault.
Imagine naming a sentient spirit "Zippy."
Straight-up abuse.
So!
"How about Zephyra?"
"Ooh! Great name, Big Bro!"
"I love it!"
"Zephyra! Welcome to my dungeon!"
"Looking forward to it!"
Now our dungeon had an official spirit!
**********
With a new family member in my dungeon, I poured tons of coins into gearing Orek to his concept.
"Feels barely different from my old clothes?"
"That's the concept!"
"Huh?"
First, we'd picked his spot!
Right there!!
"C-Can I really stay there?!"
"Of course!"
Where else? The mini-dungeon.
As a shaman, he got stronger with more spirits around, and that mini-dungeon was his home turf!
For a little bro like him, a heaven packed with faith-objects like spirits?
And Zephyra guaranteed survival, so he could start anytime.
"But what do I do there?"
"Play with the kids... and smash any eggs trying to nest."
"More trying to set up in the mini-dungeon?! Why..."
"Human greed has no end, and they repeat mistakes, little bro."
Yeah! The ones I robbed before were trying to nest again.
Not brain-dead like fencing the sky island last time—just a small hideout now.
"But... I'm not sure I can handle it."
"Don't worry! You're not alone!"
"Yeah! I've got your back!"
"Lady Zephyra..."
"And it's not about charging in body-first."
I explained my vision of their combat style, and they exchanged looks before jumping right in.
As Orek slowly raised his bow and drew the string, Zephyra whispered spirit power into it.
The instant he released, the sky split—a massive wind spear erupted, storm winds sweeping terrain and debris clean.
"Th-This power?!"
"O... Didn't know I had it in me."
"Hahaha!! Incredible, Zephyra! O-bro!"
"So these amplify our power?"
"Looked so shabby, thought they sucked."
"That's the concept."
Little bro's hidden boss concept was simple.
Reclusive flying item-boosted orc grand shaman druid hunter spirit archer master!
For a recluse master, ragged garb was truth!
Simple is best.
But his magic gear was top-shelf like Second Bro's!
Sky flight and glide gear, plus one that auto-evac'd to my dungeon on fatal hits.
Looks shabby, but ultimate gear porn!
"So let's test it proper."
"Can I head out now?"
"You're flying and shooting arrows—what's to worry?!"
Ground crawlers were powerless against free-flying sky-dwellers—nature's law.
With our encouragement, little bro full-geared up and charged the mini-dungeon.