Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: The Great Mikku
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“Cowardly bastard.”
A man who was cold, wet, and nursing wounded pride was always the same.
Erwin, who had miraculously returned alive from the lake, scowled deeply the moment he saw me.
[You weren’t moving, right?]
His hair was soaked like a drowned puppy.
A blanket draped over his shoulders.
His fingertips and lips trembled, perfectly illustrating the season we were in.
[Just dry it with magic.]
“Inefficient method, infidel.”
[Yeah, crazy bastard.]
Crazy bastard.
There were countless people in this world who suited that label perfectly…
But at the forefront, waving the flag, was undoubtedly Erwin.
“Junior, you’ll catch a cold like that.”
“…….”
Plop.
Violet slammed a towel down on top of Erwin’s head as he sat slumped on the ground, dripping water.
“It’s already cold out.”
Violet meant it out of concern, but… Erwin just repeated the word “in.ef.fi.cient.”
[How much mana does that even use? Big deal.]
“That’s not the issue, infidel.”
Erwin stared at me with a grave expression.
That look was saying it all.
*Are you really unable to grasp this simple truth?*
“Magic must remain pure.”
[Here we go again.]
I couldn’t help but write a curse word before I knew it.
But it made sense… Erwin’s nonsense was finally revving up.
“It mustn’t be squandered on trivial daily chores.”
[You’re insane.]
“My mana… my knowledge… all my achievements, wasted on drying hair—imagine it. How tragic.”
[I did.]
“Well?”
[Feels nice.]
“…You truly are an infidel.”
[ㅗ]
That was the moment.
Whoooosh—
A soft, warm breeze blew in from somewhere.
The cold air scattered by the winter wind melted away in that single gust.
We all turned our heads toward the source at once.
“Carnel?”
“……Body care is essential. If you get sick, it’ll trouble the rest of us too.”
The moment Erwin heard that—
…Whoosh!
He shot to his feet.
Water droplets fell from his soaked hair, and his hunched back straightened perfectly.
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
And with utmost… utmost politeness.
He bowed slightly, placing one hand over his chest.
All traces of his attitude toward Violet and me vanished.
“Wow… Little bro, look how polite he is just to Carnel.”
[Asshole.]
A moment later, Erwin raised his hand.
Mana flowed out, and…
Whoooosh—
A warm breeze formed.
It blended naturally with Carnel’s, fluttering even more gently.
Then, turning to Violet and me—
“Take care not to catch a cold.”
Where had that mad demeanor gone?
I could only gape at his brazenness.
And then… a low voice from behind me.
“……Psycho.”
I glanced back at Rev.
If even Rev said that… it had to be pretty severe.
***
“Gah!”
Clang—!!
With the sound of metal repelling, Klaus’s body was pushed straight back.
Even the clashing sword slipped from Klaus’s grip, spinning through the air before falling.
I watched and updated the writing on the whiteboard.
[Charlotte 4 | 0 Klaus]
Klaus’s fourth loss in a row against Charlotte.
But… Klaus showed no signs of fatigue.
Instead, I was the one inexplicably tiring out as the referee in this bizarre situation.
“I’ll make you draw that sword today.”
“…Try it.”
“You serious? I can totally do it, Charlotte…!”
“…Doubt it.”
Clang! Clang! Boom—!!
Explosive sounds hard to believe came from clashing swords.
I watched their movements.
…Especially Charlotte’s.
*Hmm.*
The sole daughter of the “Sword Saint.”
Charlotte von Iris.
Her renown seemed endless.
Her skill was unbelievable for a student.
She wasn’t even using her main two swords together—just one sword against Klaus.
Yet she wasn’t just pushing him back; she was crushing him.
“Grrgh…!”
Thud—!!
Klaus twisted his body, barely managing to raise his sword.
I clicked my tongue at the sight.
*But what are you?*
An attack that would’ve normally sent him straight to the heavens… Klaus somehow endured and transitioned to the next stance.
The heavens were unfair.
Handsome face, talent, skill—why did this protagonist have no shortcomings whatsoever…
“Nyaargh….”
[What’s wrong?]
“Churr….”
Just then.
Neru, rolling around on the grass, let out a plaintive cry.
Seemed like withdrawal symptoms from lack of churu.
Flick.
I reached into my inventory out of habit, but…
[Oh no.]
“…Nyak?”
[No churu.]
“……!!”
Neru froze in shock.
Her tail stiffened straight out, ears perked up and locked, and…
Her eyes lost focus, staring into space.
I waved my hand lightly.
No response.
“What’s the matter?”
Delphine arrived right on cue.
Her dark circles, deeply etched just days ago, were gone, and her complexion brightened.
It was the first time I’d seen a healthy-looking Delphine.
[Neru’s hungry.]
“Hm… I see.”
“Nyak….”
“But lunch is still far off.”
“Nyaargh…….”
“Neru.”
“Nyaak…?”
“Care for a spar with me?”
“…….”
Oh boy.
I shook my head inwardly and took a small step back.
“Moving around should make the hunger go away.”
“…Won’t happen.”
Neru slumped completely.
Delphine, as if resigned, shifted her gaze to Rev behind me.
“Rev, could I ask you to assist Neru?”
“…….”
Rev looked to me.
*Go ahead?*
I nodded as if to say not to worry.
“…Okay.”
“Then I’ll leave it to you.”
Rev stepped forward.
Neru still stared at the sky with dead eyes.
“Nyaargh….”
With that final wail.
I quietly slipped away from the spot.
Step—
I entered the shadow of the World Tree.
Stepping on that dark shadow… the tree soared like it pierced the heavens.
I looked up at the World Tree.
For a moment, I lost myself in its overwhelming majesty.
That was when.
“Oh? Adel? Already eager to challenge the trials?”
A voice from behind.
His timing was ridiculously impeccable.
Without a moment to think, I drew 【Heryong】 and swung.
“Quite prickly.”
Of course…
The blade never reached Kaden.
✦━━━━━━━━━━━━✦
[ Kaden ]
Affection: 【■】
Status: 【Positive(■)】 , 【Negative(■)】
■ (■/■)
Alignment: 『■』
Info:
[■]
Psychology:
「■」
✦━━━━━━━━━━━━✦
Even 【Cupid’s Arrow】 revealed nothing about him.
I couldn’t even tell if the Kaden before me was good or evil.
“Ah! By the way, Adel! Won’t you help me prepare lunch for the group?”
“…….”
I stared at Kaden.
This elf standing before me… was he a good person?
Or an evildoer masquerading as one?
*……Meaning.*
Meaning.
Did distinguishing good from evil even matter?
Kaden before me was clearly a “disaster.”
An enemy I’d have to defeat someday.
A monster that would drag the world to ruin.
But…
“Please answer, Adel!”
[Such a pain.]
I finally sheathed my dagger.
I couldn’t tell if his care for the group was genuine or if some scheme hid beneath.
However… if he intended harm, Veronica would’ve acted first.
That single fact let me lower my guard for now.
“Hm. Very well!”
Kaden nodded as if disappointed.
Then he raised a finger dramatically and asked.
“So, will you challenge the trials?”
[Just looking around.]
“I see!”
I turned away, my mind clouded with unease, heading back toward the lake and the group—
“Ah, wait, Adel.”
“?”
“We have a guest.”
No sooner had he said it…
Whooooosh—
A fierce wind blew in around us.
【Human….】
A voice echoed from empty air.
I whipped my head around, but… nothing was there.
【Humans visiting after so long….】
“Hello, Elpi.”
Kaden smiled and bowed toward the air.
And in that instant.
Before Kaden, the air began to take shape.
Swirling lines gathered… forming a bird-shaped spirit.
【…Huh? Who’re you again?】
“It’s me.”
The spirit narrowed its eyes, scanning Kaden’s face.
Then suddenly, its eyes widened round, and it said.
【Ahh… it’s you, Ullallachacha.】
“…What kind of name is that?”
【…Huh? Not right?】
A name I’d truly never heard before.
No, questionable if it even counted as a name.
Was that pigeon really speaking a “language”?
The spirit before Kaden seemed to have rather low intelligence.
【But… what’s this?】
The pigeon spirit shifted from Kaden and glided toward me like a breeze.
It flapped right in front of my face.
[Person.]
Surprised that I understood the spirit’s tongue, the pigeon seemed startled.
【…Huh? You understand us?】
Ignoring the pigeon’s chatter, one ear in, one ear out…
I shoved the whiteboard straight at Kaden.
[What is this?]
Flap flap.
The pigeon landed casually on Kaden’s shoulder again.
“Introduce yourself. This is the Wind Spirit King, called ‘Elpi.’”
Ah…
Spirit King.
Not just any spirit, but a *king*.
*What a mess.*
In *Aka Disaster*, it exuded overwhelming pressure…
But in reality… it looked a bit pathetic.
【Amazing… a lowly race understanding spirit tongue.】
【So amazing. Maybe your mom or dad was a spirit?】
【Hm… no. Impossible.】
【But you smell nice. Wanna be mine? I’ll take good care of you.】
What was this pigeon babbling about?
Every chirp scrambled my brain.
Purr—
I finally cracked open the abyss a bit.
Summoning the guy probably off playing somewhere.
The supreme being among all races.
The overwhelming one even this Spirit King couldn’t look up to.
And soon—
“Mik.”
Splash.
Mikku burst out.
As usual, it stared up at me blankly.
“Oh… Adel, you raise one of those too?”
【What’s this now?】
“Mik?”
Flick.
Mikku turned to the pigeon.
It snorted once, then smacked its big lips.
“What’s this, a pigeon?”
【Pi, pigeon…?!】
Whoooosh—!
Offended, the pigeon flapped its wings wide, gathering wind around us.
【How rude! I’m a Spirit King!!】
“Hmph.”
But…
Mikku wiped its eye with a slimy fin and grinned slyly.
“This one is… the great ‘Dragon.’”
【What?】
“Casual speech?”
【……Wh-what did you say?】
“Kowtow. Execute.”
Mikku switched to trainer mode in an instant.
It even grabbed a nearby twig and swung it vigorously for practice.
【Uh… uhh…?】
The tables turned completely in a flash.
Bewildered, the pigeon Spirit King… cautiously bowed its head to the ground.