The Spirit (1)

Black hair with streaks of green sticking out like premature grays. Pale green eyes reminiscent of a forest.

A woman clad in lightweight leather armor pushed the door open and entered.

Arin.

The division commander of the Black Crow Knights and the only Spirit Knight in this world. One of the children Evan and I had taken in during their youth.

In the original work, she had appeared as Louie's escort knight. But based on my knowledge of the original, I had recruited her to my side first.

And now, after single-handedly subjugating three of the Imperial nests, she had finally returned to the Duke's estate.

Arin knelt on one knee and looked up at me.

"It's been a while, Your Grace."

"Yes, it has."

Her tone was as stiff as ever.

There had been a time when I found it grating and even told her to fix it, but I'd eventually given up.

I realized it was impossible—her personality was too rigid, strictly separating duty from personal matters.

Pushing aside the stray thoughts in my mind, I waited for Arin to speak.

"I shall report."

She rose to her feet and began relaying the information she had gathered during her mission.

"Thirteen Imperial nests were discovered within the Hardenberg territory. Twelve of them have been successfully eliminated."

"That's quite a number."

The Imperial nests.

Intermediate branches managed by the Emperor's eyes and hands, tasked with gathering intelligence.

Each region had two or three, with connections to some degree among the upper echelons.

In terms of my past life, they functioned similarly to intelligence agencies. So much so that even within the Empire, their very existence was kept strictly confidential.

Only those in high-ranking positions like a Duke could even learn of their existence—that alone spoke volumes about how ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠secretive they were.

And yet, thirteen of them had been hiding within my territory. Even accounting for the vastness of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hardenberg lands, that was an alarmingly high number.

I suppressed the sigh threatening to escape and nodded instead.

Arin continued her report.

"We've discovered a lead regarding one of their new projects."

"What is it?"

A new project, huh.

Given the nature of intelligence organizations, it was unlikely to be good news.

"Project Scapegoat. The exact details remain unclear, but it appears to be related to the Hardenberg family."

"I see..."

So they're finally making their move. Well, it was about time. Frankly, it felt almost overdue.

After all the scheming they'd been doing behind the scenes, only now were they starting a project?

'I shouldn't take this lightly.'

I had no intention of letting my guard down.

This was the Imperial House we were dealing with—they'd likely attempt something beyond imagination. For now, gathering intel on the project through the Crows took priority.

"You've done well."

"Um, by the way—"

Arin's gaze shifted, as if she were expecting something. Amused, I approached her.

Then, with one hand, I roughly ruffled her hair. I'd thought she'd grown up, but she still acted like this sometimes—still seeking affection like a child.

Had that little slave girl from back then really grown so much?

A bittersweet laugh escaped me, struck by the fleeting nature of time.

"You've worked hard, Arin."

"...Thank you. Father."

Father, huh.

It had been a long time since I'd heard that. Evan, for one, had long stopped using the term, saying it was too embarrassing now.

Thud.

A sudden sound made me turn my head.

There stood Adel, staring at me blankly. After rolling her eyes awkwardly, she forced a stiff smile.

"Y-You have a daughter, Your Grace?"

"You seem to be misunderstanding something."

It was painfully obvious what she was thinking.

"N-No, what misunderstanding could there possibly be?"

Her usual composure was gone, replaced by flustered rambling. I sighed.

Adel waved her hands dismissively, but she couldn't hide the tremble in her eyes.

Her face made it clear—this wasn't just about a "daughter." She was misunderstanding in a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠completely different way.

Slowly, I walked toward her.

Adel's eyes darted around as if spinning in circles. I took her hand and raised it.

Startled by my sudden action, she clamped her mouth shut and looked up at me.

Feeling mischievous, I pressed my lips to her hand.

"Ghk—!"

A strange noise escaped her before her cheeks turned beet red. I barely held back a chuckle.

After everything that had happened these past few days, I'd been slightly worried—but she was still as innocent as ever.

"You're the only one I love, Adel."

"Ghk—!"

A strangled gasp came from outside, but I ignored it.

"Y-You—"

Stammering, she turned her head away, avoiding my gaze. Smiling faintly, I let go of her hand.

"Are you alright?"

"...It's nothing."

At my glance, Adel shook her head and took a slight step back. Just as I was relieved that the misunderstanding had been cleared, the sound of someone swallowing hard reached my ears again.

Turning my head, I saw Arin covering her face with both hands.

For some reason, she seemed utterly fascinated, peeking at us through her fingers.

"Ah, um. I didn't mean to interrupt!"

She exclaimed before hastily trying to leave the room. Grabbing her shoulder, I spoke up.

"At least introduce yourself before you go."

"Oh, right."

Bowing slightly, she murmured, "Pardon my intrusion." Adel looked momentarily flustered, but Arin smoothly assumed a salute posture.

With perfect poise, she raised one hand and spoke in that composed voice from earlier:

"I am Arin, Captain of the Black Crow Knights."

Snapping to her senses at Arin's greeting, Adel responded with noble etiquette.

"I am Adel von Este. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine, Madam!"

Why did everyone insist on calling her "Madam"? I don't recall teaching her such formal address when she was younger.

My idle thoughts were cut short as Adel gave an awkward smile and nod at Arin's booming voice.

She still seemed slightly uncomfortable with Arin's rigid posture. Sighing, I added:

"She's the captain of Evan's knight order. Also one of the rare half-elves."

"Ah, that's right."

As if supporting my words, Arin nodded vigorously. Intrigued, Adel stepped closer to her.

"You're a half-elf?"

"Yes. That's correct."

"How wonderful. I'm also descended ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠from elves."

Elven descent.

Her sudden declaration made questions bloom in my mind. This was a setting never mentioned in the original work, leaving me momentarily stunned.

Studying Adel, she murmured as if realizing she'd spoken carelessly:

"Louie told me about it."

"That guy?"

There was no chance she was lying.

Elves considered themselves the most truthful species, treating falsehoods as near-taboo. But the original work never mentioned this—what was going on here?

'Wait, unless...'

I'd always found it strange while reading the original.

Despite being on the Emperor's side, Louie had shown inexplicable favor toward Adel.

In fact, it was odd that the notoriously meticulous Louie had even entertained her trade proposal when she was practically the enemy.

Could it have been because Adel was of elven descent?

'Then does that mean the reason he didn't send Adel back this time was also...'

It felt like scattered puzzle pieces were clicking into place.

I'd told Adel about Louie's Information Guild assuming he'd send her away at some point.

But if he'd deliberately given her information, was it ultimately for the same reason?

'I'll have to confront him later.'

Setting that aside for now—

"Really?!"

Arin's voice shot up an octave, making Adel flinch slightly in surprise.

Starlight seemed to glitter in Arin's eyes. The throbbing in my temples intensified at her excited expression.

Conversing with her when she got like this was notoriously difficult.

"...Yes."

As Adel answered somewhat dazedly, Arin closed the distance between them.

Even as Adel took hesitant steps backward, the gap between them stubbornly refused to widen.

"Have you ever seen a spirit before?"

"A spirit...? What's that?"

"Oh, you don't know..."

This might be slightly awkward to say, but...

Borrowing terms from my past life, she was what you'd call a hardcore spirit fanatic. Even though spirits had nearly vanished from this land.

Her passion for them knew no bounds.

Even Evan—who could handle most things—would be reduced to a withered husk if caught in Arin's Spirit Talk sessions. That said it all.

She'd somewhat restrained herself in recent years, knowing she could be excessive. Who knew Adel would shatter that restraint like this?

After enthusiastically explaining spirits, Arin extended her right palm.

"Though I'm only half-elf... I can still see my friend!"

A green spirit wreathed in flames materialized on her hand. A tiny girl-shaped being blinked in confusion, surveying her surroundings.

After reaching the realm of an Archmage, even non-elves like me could see her spirit now.

Not that I'd ever told Arin that.

I had no desire to get dragged into her Spirit Talk ramblings.

"Look, she can do this too!"

Still brimming with enthusiasm, Arin began demonstrating the spirit's tricks.

"These green flames... are the spirit?"

"Yes. Adorable, right?"

"They are."

Well, if they're both enjoying the conversation, I suppose it's fine. I almost felt foolish for having seriously worried about their relationship.