Spirit (3)
“Auuugh... Wh-what is this place...”
Iri clutched her head, hunching over. Then she sensed someone in front of her and looked up.
“Ugh... Master?”
Aren was beaming at her.
Cute in her pajamas.
The typical image of a spirit was a tiny fairy or some animal form. But Adelia's sacred spirit Lacia and the space spirit Iri both took human shapes... which felt a bit off somehow. Especially Iri, with her mystical aura—she seemed less like a spirit and more like a sleeping princess in some forest.
Of course, her true nature was a freeloader who'd been secretly squatting in someone else's basement, mooching off their electricity (or not).
“Did you call for me, Master?”
“Yeah.”
“I see.”
Iri nodded. Her eyes flicked toward Adelia and Lacia nearby.
“...Master. Who's that new girl?”
“...?”
“Not the big-boobed one or the pink-hair from before.”
Ah.
“That's Veronica and Lydia.”
“The big-boobed one's Veronica?”
“Yep.”
“Aha. So pink-hair's Lydia.”
She muttered their names like she was committing them to memory.
“Then who's the big-boobed one over there?”
Big-boobed one.
Adelia's face flushed red at the blunt label. Raised in luxury, she had no immunity to that sort of thing. Sure, most nobles weren't coddled, but Adelia's pure, innocent looks had her treated like a total princess.
“That's Adelia.”
“Big-boobed blonde is Adelia... Got it, Master. And the one next to her's your kin, huh.”
Iri had clocked that Lacia was a conceptual spirit like her.
“You can sense it?”
“Yeah. We spirits just instinctively know about each other.”
“Huh.”
“But why isn't she talking? I can hear her thoughts, but no words.”
Iri tilted her head curiously. That's when Adelia stepped forward hesitantly.
“Um... normal spirits don't talk.”
“...Huh?”
“Pardon?”
She glanced at Iri.
“Whether elemental or conceptual, spirits speaking is extremely rare. It's already documented in academia... So, in that sense, a talking spirit... Um, what's your spirit's name, Aren?”
“Space spirit Iri.”
“Iri... Yes, a talking Iri is quite unusual.”
As Adelia finished, Iri tilted her head. Truth be told, this was news to her too. Iri was a shut-in spirit of legend—never met another in her life, and Lacia was her first.
“Eh... For real?”
“Yes...”
“Whoa...”
Iri's mouth dropped open. She floated up into the air, zipped over to Lacia, and circled her, poking curiously.
“Hey, you really can't talk?”
“……”
“Huh? Really can't?”
“……”
“Whoa... Aren't you frustrated?”
“……”
“Ah... Not really? Since thoughts get through anyway.”
Lacia nodded, and Iri, curiosity satisfied, zipped back to Aren.
“All done?”
“Yeah. But hey, Master.”
Her big, shiny eyes looked up at him.
“Why'd you call me anyway?”
“Oh... that. Just wanted to see if I could.”
Nothing major. Adelia was curious, so I called her.
“Eek... Can I go home now?”
“Sure.”
Just as Iri opened a spatial rift to head back—
“Wait a sec.”
“Huh?”
“Doesn't Lacia feel... special to you?”
“Huh? Special?”
“Yeah.”
She looked special to me, but what about from another spirit's view? Adelia eyed Iri's mouth too, curious.
“Uh... Just super strong? Like my prime! Hehe...”
“...That so?”
“Yeah.”
“What's this 'prime' talk?”
Sounded like she was weakened now.
“I am weakened, yeah?”
“...Pardon?”
“Hehe... Stuck in the basement without a contractor, hanging on the surface for over 100 years... lost some power...”
“Ah.”
Adelia stared at Iri in wonder. As someone studying spirits, this was fascinating.
“Over 100 years on the surface without a contractor? Really?”
“Yeah.”
Realizing it was true, Adelia looked shocked.
“That's impressive?”
She started to nod vigorously... then shook her head.
“Impressive, yes, but more dangerous.”
...Huh?
“We haven't figured out why yet, but spirits need to return to the spirit realm periodically. Like a fish out of water—it can survive briefly, but needs to get back in. Exception: if contracted, they can use the contractor as a medium to stay on the surface longer.”
But Iri had no contractor. And for some reason, couldn't return to the spirit realm.
“So by normal standards, Iri's state is precarious.”
—Especially after 100 years on the surface.
“……”
I stared at Iri after Adelia's explanation.
“Her current form probably isn't her original either. Spirits change shape when they lose power.”
Adelia looked at Iri for confirmation, and the floating girl nodded.
“Yup. I'm bigger originally.”
“Height?”
“Yeah, and boobs too.”
“Oho.”
That last bit was me. All eyes turned to me.
“Uh, just amazed, that's all.”
“I... see.”
Adelia nodded awkwardly.
“So if she regains her power, she'll return to her original form?”
“Huh? Well... yeah. Staying with you, Aren, she'll naturally revert.”
“Got it.”
So Iri's in delicate waif mode now? And full power means stacked bombshell?
...Hmm. I wasn't a total degenerate, but... possibilities?
...Can you even knock up a spirit?
Never heard of half-spirit kids. But maybe I could claim that pioneer glory.
“Any cases of people falling for spirits?”
“Pardon? Why?”
“Just curious.”
“Hm... Cases exist, but initially exciting, they hit limits without verbal communication... or so academia reports.”
“I see.”
So it's possible? And Iri talks fine.
...This could be?
Iri shivered suddenly at the creepy vibe. Felt like a deranged spirit-fancier nearby...
Finished with Adelia, I left the Academy. Sent Iri home first—she got back fine on her own.
Spirit confirmed.
Next: Shake down the demon nests Lucilla spilled.
Over 10 just in the capital and nearby.
Cockroaches, basically. Factor in the Empire, other kingdoms probably crawling too.
That's why you exterminate demons thoroughly when you can. No point sparing world-ruining pests.
“This the place?”
I'd reached a village on the capital's outskirts, about 5km out. Sized for maybe 1,000 folks.
Strolling inside, street vendors swarmed.
“Hey, mister! Buy one?”
“Check this out! Freshly butchered meat!”
“Shields for sale! Essential in these troubled times, right?”
Lively spot. Even with the bad times, folks looked happy.
A demon nest here, huh.
I expanded my senses immediately.
And—
There.
Detected demonic energy. From a rundown house on the village edge, inside and below.
“Hiding here, eh.”
I muttered softly and floated up. A bit of showmanship.
Overlooking the shack from above, I whispered:
“Alright then...”
Hunt starts.
Then I became a massive meteor, plummeting to earth.
Mana gathered around me, forming immense mass, smashing the ground.