39
Chapter 39
"A, a blessing? You're giving it only to me? Really!?"
Paya was so thrilled she looked as though she might leap for joy.
She didn't actually jump, but the way her hands and feet fidgeted suggested she could burst into motion at any second.
- Calm down.
Since this was a significant occasion, I decided to keep things strict and solemn.
I gave her a brief explanation about the blessing.
"An Elementalist! I heard that High Priests of the past could command spirits! Yes! I can do it! I'll become the greatest Elementalist!"
Paya's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. It was quite a heartwarming sight.
It would have been even better if I hadn't noticed Rake pricking up her ears from behind a rock.
"..."
Perhaps realizing I'd spotted her, Rake quietly slipped away.
She heard everything, didn't she? With Rake's hearing, there's no way she missed it.
In any case, the Path of the Elementalist is a blessing that should go to those specializing in the occult, such as High Priests.
I trust she'll understand.
I'll be sure to give her something great next time. Just be patient.
[Would you like to bestow the blessing 'Path of the Elementalist' upon 'Paya'?]
Click.
[The blessing 'Path of the Elementalist' has been bestowed upon 'Paya'.]
Click.
I bestowed the blessing upon Paya in a distinctly modern manner.
"Ugh... uuugh!"
What's happening? Paya collapsed and started groaning while clutching her head.
Was the process of instilling the knowledge of elementalism really meant to be this violent, like it was being hammered into her brain?
Why this? Why not just use magic to poof a 'Guide to Elementalism' into her hand?
- High Priest Paya, are you alright?
Did I make a mistake giving this to her? What if her head just pops?
Knowledge the human brain cannot handle... the fate of one who learns what they shouldn't...
I've watched too many movie reviews on YouTube; all these sensationalist titles are popping into my head.
- I will call for High Priest Muri.
Paya shook her head.
"I-I'm okay! It's just that so much information entered my mind at once, so I'm a bit disoriented! If I can't overcome even this on my own, I won't be able to be of help to Lord Mallak!"
- ...I see.
Sigh. She looks like she's really struggling.
I wonder if this is how a mother feels, watching her child wander too close to a river's edge.
"Whew... whew..."
Paya only regained her composure after a few minutes.
- Are you okay?
"Yes. I... I now clearly understand what elementalism is."
A light flickered in Paya's eyes. Not as a metaphor, but a literal white light enveloped her gaze.
It was likely some sort of occult energy.
Had Paya reached some sudden enlightenment, like a master in a martial arts novel?
"High Priest Paya! Are you all right?"
Kanto burst through the crowd of barbarians who had gathered near the altar to watch Paya.
I didn't call those barbarians. People just started flocking to the altar once they heard a girl screaming.
At this point, it's practically a neighborhood festival.
"Paya!"
Kanto was drenched in sweat, as if he'd come straight from training.
He was panting but didn't stop running, clearly worried about his sister; he was a true older brother.
Kanto... I call him an idiot all the time, but he's still a great guy.
Who cares if he's not the brightest? He's a good fighter, has a great personality, is sociable, and healthy.
'Chief Blue Moss was genuinely... incredible.'
'I nearly fainted.'
According to the barbarian girls who whispered every time they passed the altar, he's apparently quite skilled in bed, too.
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like if I'd possessed Kanto instead of Loa.
'I Became the All-Strength Barbarian Tyrant in Another World.'
Wow. Just hearing that sounds magnificent.
I can imagine him slaughtering demons while showing off muscles that look like they're about to burst.
The problem is, I can only imagine a conclusion where he gets beaten up by Rake and cries after losing his position as chief.
Thinking about it again, I prefer being Loa. Yeah, being Loa suits me.
It's better to receive loyalty than it is to receive Rake's fists.
"S-stay back! I need to concentrate right now!"
The brother had run all that way for his sister, but Paya firmly ordered him away and continued muttering something.
"Lato, Shintos, Pavos..."
As if muttering wasn't enough, she was now using a piece of wood to scribble on the ground.
"...Good grief."
A deflated Kanto scratched his head vigorously.
He's probably thinking that raising a sister is a waste of time.
"Oh..."
"It's quite intricate."
Harry and Luna examined the scribbles with interest.
I wonder if they see those as a magic circle rather than mere scribbles.
"..."
Rake had appeared at some point and was watching Paya with her arms crossed.
Isn't she looking at her with a bit too cold a gaze?
She wouldn't give Paya a flick to the forehead when I'm not looking, would she?
"I'll just stop by the House of Feathers for a moment."
Paya stopped scribbling and stood up abruptly, swaying like a drunken old man.
Had a powerful surge of inspiration hit her the moment she received the blessing?
Muri had also mentioned that Paya was a child with exceptional talent.
That it was extremely rare for a High Priest to reach such a level at such a young age.
It's easy to understand if you just look at how sharp Paya has been so far.
After all, it was practically Paya alone who had been governing the Blue Moss Tribe.
As for Kanto, he felt more like a mascot character who was just good at fighting.
"There, there... be a good boy..."
Paya reappeared, cradling a pigeon that was the size of an eagle.
Coo, coo!
It was Tuntun-i, the monster pigeon.
He must have spent his recent days resting instead of working as a carrier pigeon, because he'd become plump as a street pigeon.
What on earth had he been eating to get so fat?
"Tuntun-i, just bear with it for a moment...!"
A mysterious energy emanating from Paya's body was absorbed by Tuntun-i.
Coo...!
Tuntun-i squeezed his eyes shut as if in pain, yet he accepted the energy without moving a muscle.
It was a poignant scene showing the bond between a human and a bird.
"Huu... huu... huu..."
Paya took deep breaths, slowly funneling her energy into Tuntun-i.
Tuntun-i's body was obscured by the enveloping white light.
At this point, he was practically glowing.
Just as I wondered if he might suddenly pop and explode—
The light shifted to blue, and a completely transformed Tuntun-i revealed himself.
Screech!
Feathers a blend of white and blue, and a body that had grown as large as Paya.
His form had become slightly translucent, as if he were no longer a being of this earth.
He was a spirit in the form of a bird.
If he had been red, he would have looked like a phoenix.
"Ooh!"
"Such a divine aura!"
"It's just like Lord Mallak's energy!"
"A spirit! A spirit that had left this world has returned to us!"
The barbarians let out exclamations of awe as they gazed at Tuntun-i. Muri was among them.
"A spirit... I thought I'd never see one again..."
A single tear streamed down Muri's cheek. She was so overwhelmed with joy and surprise that the hand gripping her staff was trembling.
Uh-oh, this could get dangerous.
"High Priest Muri. Please keep your condition in mind."
"Ah, look at me... losing my composure...!"
Fortunately, Rake helped Muri stand.
"A spirit? A spirit? That giant bird has become a spirit? I'm not seeing things, am I?"
"Grandfather, this is the first time I've seen a real spirit...! They only appeared in books..."
Harry and Luna stared with wide eyes, as if they couldn't believe it.
Judging by their reaction, it seemed spirits hadn't been seen on the surface for a very long time.
Maybe they left because of environmental destruction, or perhaps they were hunted for their beauty until they went extinct.
Maybe that's too much of an Earth-style way of thinking.
"Lord Mallak! I did it! It's a spirit!"
Looking exhausted, Paya looked at Totem No. 1 and gave a broad grin.
It was a beautiful smile that highlighted her neat, white teeth.
She must have brushed her teeth diligently.
- You did wonderful. Bestowing that blessing upon you was the right choice.
"Of course!"
Paya nodded vigorously. Was she really that happy?
Screech!
Tuntun-i, now evolved into a spirit, flapped his wings and soared into the air.
I worried about the Devil's Sight for a moment, but then I remembered those things couldn't climb this high and relaxed.
Those wicked demonic tools can't even get close once the altitude increases.
"Mom! Look, the bird is flying! A bird!"
"That's Tuntun-i. He's become a spirit."
"What a magnificent fellow!"
Screeech!
Tuntun-i, circling through the air and bringing joy to the Tribe Alliance, suddenly acted on impulse.
He stared down at a tree, twitched his beak, and spat out a small blue fireball!
What on earth is this?
"He's... shooting fire?!"
Paya's jaw dropped; she hadn't expected this either.
The tree hit by the fireball burst into flames.
"F-fire!"
"Quick, bring the water buckets!"
"If there's too much smoke, the demons might find us!"
Several barbarians scrambled away. What a chaotic turn of events.
Regardless, Paya had become an Elementalist, and Tuntun-i had become her first spirit.
Since he'd grown larger and could breathe fire, he would be a huge help in combat.
The worshippers who had been scouting down the mountain seemed to conclude there was nothing suspicious and moved to another location.
Maybe it's time to regroup and take on Symphonia.
I logged into the community to clear my head for a bit.
[Morning Tent Installation Knight: Someone, anyone, please save me...] (26)
...It looks like someone else caused another disaster while I wasn't looking.