Chapter 113 Saint Birth Festival (2)
Saint Birth Festival (2)
"Well, let's return to the main topic—the Saint Birth Festival..."
The Pope spoke those words and began explaining again.
Most of it consisted of basic information about the festival along with details I needed to keep in mind.
Though the Saint Birth Festival was a celebration, preparing for it typically took a considerable amount of time.
Just the formal procedures to confirm whether the Saint had truly passed the trials alone took several days.
Including all the other miscellaneous preparations, it often stretched into months.
"Even these old bones took an excruciatingly long time back then..."
The Pope sighed and rubbed his forehead. Come to think of it, he too had been a Saint who had undergone the trials.
His expression twisted slightly in an uncharacteristic grimace, as if recalling how grueling it had been during his own Saint Birth Festival.
"But you'll be different."
"How so?"
"I intend to streamline the preparations as much as possible—finishing everything within a day, two at the latest."
"Huh, is that really acceptable?"
At that, Yurp folded her arms and asked hesitantly. Her question implied whether such an approach would be permissible in the Numen Holy Kingdom, which placed great emphasis on formalities.
The Pope nodded in response.
"It shouldn't be an issue. When another Saint is present, abbreviated proceedings are permitted."
"By that, you mean..."
"Indeed. I am fully guaranteeing Lady Id's qualifications as a Saint."
A full guarantee. Suddenly, I noticed the Pope's gaze fixed on me. His expression carried a sense of urgency, even impatience.
Soon, I understood why he was being so cooperative.
The Prophecy of Destruction had disrupted order, sowing unrest among the citizens, while the Descendants of the Magic King ran rampant everywhere.
Perhaps he intended to use the Saint Birth Festival to soothe public sentiment, if only slightly.
Since it wasn't a bad deal for me either, I nodded in agreement.
"Thank you. I shall do my utmost to support you."
The Pope spoke as though a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
Somehow, he looked more exhausted than when I'd first seen him during the subjugation expedition.
The dark circles under his eyes seemed deeper than before, as if he'd been running around frantically in the days since the Sanctuary Trial.
Had he been scrambling to prepare for the Prophecy of Destruction?
"Preparations for the Saint Birth Festival will likely begin tomorrow. Until then, rest well."
"Understood."
Satisfied with my answer, the Pope nodded and soon left the room.
Yurp, who had been sitting beside me, studied me for a moment before finally speaking.
"Unnie Id, I should get going too."
"Alright. Take care."
"Yes, you too, unnie!"
With that cheerful reply, Yurp stepped out of the room.
I stared blankly at her retreating figure until she disappeared, then turned my head. There, I saw Silpi wearing a slightly grave expression.
"You have something to say?"
[...Yeah. While our link was severed those few days, I looked into Sallie from various sources.]
"In the Spirit Realm?"
"Right. It was tough since so few spirits take an interest in this world, but..."
He sighed and climbed onto my shoulder.
At first, he hadn't seemed keen on getting close to me, but now he perched on my shoulder without hesitation.
Well, that wasn't important right now, so I pushed the thought aside.
"Did you find anything?"
"Yeah. Remember Silvana?"
The name felt vaguely familiar, as if I'd heard it somewhere before, and I fell into brief thought.
Silvana, Silvana...
Soon, the memory resurfaced.
When I'd first attempted to contract with a spirit using the music box Abel had given me, she had introduced herself as a Forest Spirit.
A green-hued spirit shrouded in an air of mystery. Even at a glance, she had exuded the wisdom of one who had lived a long time.
[I asked her about it.]
"What did she say?"
[Well...]
Silpi frowned as though unsure how to phrase it. He let out a deep sigh before turning to face me.
[It's too complicated to explain. Would you mind if I shared some memories through assimilation?]
"Memory Assimilation? What's that?"
[It's when I share my memories with my contractor.]
Memory sharing.
I knew the bond between a spirit and a Spiritualist was far stronger than an ordinary contract, but...
I never imagined something like this was possible.
Perhaps my Spirit Affinity had improved enough to allow it.
"Wait, you could do something this convenient all along?"
At my words, Silpi shook his head.
[It's not purely convenient. Overusing it could sever the contractor's connection to this world.]
"Sever the connection..."
[This world itself might reject the contractor. If that happens, you could become a lost soul drifting through the Dimensional Rift.]
A sudden chill ran down my spine at those words.
That Dimensional Rift I'd seen during the subjugation expedition—the thought of becoming lost in that writhing mass of monsters...
Silpi's warning instilled a sense of caution in me.
[Especially since you're a contractor from another world—you need to be even more careful.]
"I understand. I'll be careful."
I nodded at his advice and responded that way.
[Basically, memory sharing can be done by pressing forehead to forehead.]
"Forehead to forehead?"
[We're sharing memories, right? So it means connecting head to head.]
I'd never properly heard this from my teacher Arin, but well—since Silpi, a spirit, was saying it, it couldn't be wrong.
Why would he lie about something like this anyway?
Silpi took a deep breath in and out before abruptly closing the distance to my face.
The sudden action made me fluster without realizing it, and an involuntary "Huh?" slipped past my lips.
"..Huh?"
Before I could even finish speaking, Silpi—no, Abel's face completely filled my vision.
So much so that even the white ceiling of the hospital room was obscured from view.
Though it was a miniature version, the resemblance in the scars on his face and the oddly similar atmosphere made me feel as though I were standing before the real person.
The face I'd been too preoccupied with battle to properly notice before was now so close I could practically see every pore.
Of course, spirits wouldn't have pores, but seeing Abel's face this close up made my heart pound uncontrollably.
"H-Hey. Isn't this too close?"
[My contractor is such a naive one. Getting all flustered just because you're close to the face of a man you like?]
He laughed teasingly as he spoke.
Pointing at his own chest with his right hand, he continued.
[By the way, your heart rate just spiked past 200 for a second—Mm! Mmmph!]
"Sh-Shut up!"
I hastily reached out and covered Silpi's mouth. He let out a muffled laugh before vanishing from sight.
[Just kidding. Memory sharing doesn't actually require pressing foreheads together.]
"..You were just messing with me."
[Consider it payback, contractor.]
"Huh?"
Confused by his words, I asked back, but Silpi remained silent for a while.
Before long, his voice echoed in my mind again.
[I was feeling really troubled because of Sally. But thanks to you, I think I've improved a little.]
Silpi spoke his emotions honestly, just as they were. Though it still felt a little unfamiliar, I thought it was nice to see.
At first, he seemed to deliberately keep his distance as my contractor, but now it felt like he considered me someone he could open up to.
[You've been pushing yourself too hard lately too, haven't you?]
"That's..."
I tried to argue but closed my mouth again.
Honestly, Silpi was right—lately, I'd been pushing myself to the point where even I could feel the exhaustion.
The Prophecy of Destruction, the Saintess of Ruin, the Sanctuary Trial...
One overwhelming event after another crashed into my mind, and I could physically feel myself wearing down.
In front of Yurp, I had to put on a strong front to set an example for her, but...
Truthfully, I wasn't as unaffected as I pretended to be.
[Hey, how about visiting that guy after all this is over?]
"You mean Abel?"
[Yeah. Go and indulge in some good old-fashioned whining.]
"Wh-Whining? What are you talking about!"
[What, isn't it fine to act a little spoiled with your contract marriage partner?]
It was embarrassing how genuinely tempted I was by Silpi's words.
Even worse, the thought that Abel might actually indulge me if I asked right now made my face burn.
[I'm not joking, so think about it.]
"Ugh, Silpi, you—"
[Alright, let's share the memories now.]
Before I could finish, my vision flipped in an instant. A refreshing breeze wrapped around my entire body—a sensation entirely different from sharpening my senses in battle.
When I lifted my head, I saw a woman seated with a familiar energy about her. She looked like an elf or dryad straight out of a fantasy novel.
The woman sat on a tree stump, eyes closed as if in meditation. A mysterious aura enveloped her surroundings.
If I had to describe it, it felt like the essence of life itself.
Was this woman Silvana, the one Silpi had mentioned?
[..Hm? Silpi, what's the matter?]
[Well...]
Even though I hadn't opened my mouth, my lips moved on their own.
Apparently, memory sharing meant experiencing the situation from Silpi's perspective at the time.
The woman who must have been Silvana smiled warmly and rose from the stump.
[What brings you to me first?]
[..It's about Sally.]
Silpi hesitated, his words barely audible. Even at a glance, he seemed deeply unsettled.
[..Sigh. So you found out too.]
[Found... out? What do you mean?]
[Sally is missing right now. If I'm right, she was probably kidnapped by a human.]
At Silvana's words, Silpi tilted his head and asked.
[Kid... napped? Is that even possible with a spirit?]
[It's not impossible. For a being with enough power, it's entirely doable.]
Silvana clicked her tongue, her expression darkening. Silpi pressed further in a small voice.
[W-Who could do that?]
[..The Magic King. Or someone wielding even a fragment of his power.]