Chapter 200
Chapter 200
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Coffee Exchange Meeting (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Spirits.
Beings composed solely of mana, they regarded most flesh-and-blood lifeforms as impure, expressing this mindset through various emotions.
Aversion. Fear. Contempt.
For instance, they fundamentally avoided humans, making casual conversation between humans and spirits virtually impossible.
Thus, spirit arts were born.
Spirit arts encompassed all techniques and methods for communicating with spirits. If humans wished to commune with them, they had no choice but to rely on the power of spirit arts.
It was both reason and common sense.
According to such spirit arts—
there were rules humans had to follow when dealing with spirits.
Right now.
Landeia recalled several specific rules amid the countless others.
- The rule against casually calling a spirit by name or defining their existence.
- The rule requiring pure mana and intent in one's words to show respect.
- The rule that conversations with spirits should focus on listening to their voices rather than revealing one's own thoughts.
These were relatively easy to remember among the many rules.
They were important enough to be prefixed with "must absolutely follow."
Violate them when dealing with a spirit?
In that case, the relationship with that spirit was effectively ruined.
For example—
Adhering to such rules was common sense beyond basics among spirit artisans.
That was why the Coffee Exchange Meeting members laughed at Rishir's actions.
He had broken all three rules from the start.
This was the result.
"Weslen of the Grazing Winds?"
-Yeah! That's my name!
"Weslen..."
-Don't like it? Then you can keep calling me Grazing Winds!
"No. It's your name—what does it matter if I like it or not."
-Honestly, I quite like the name you gave me! Grazing Winds! It has a nice ring to it!
"No, if you like that—"
Landeia watched their exchange in a daze.
And so did the Coffee Exchange Meeting members.
Right now, they were recalling an event from a few days ago.
-So, what's your name?
The monumental occasion when Landeia, the president of the Coffee Exchange Meeting, had succeeded in capturing the interest of a finicky and sensitive spirit.
The members saw it as an achievement born of Landeia's vast knowledge of spirit arts.
Because she knew more rules than anyone, she could make the best choices when dealing with spirits.
Others couldn't even communicate properly yet, but Landeia was already building a steady relationship, with the spirit even asking for her name.
So they had no doubt she would be the first to learn the spirit's name—
"...Ah."
Landeia was the first to snap out of her shock.
She nodded as if realizing something.
'Come to think of it, spirits all have different personalities—'
Landeia thought.
She had figured out Rishir's "secret" to success.
Until now, she and the other Coffee Exchange members had only treated spirits with utmost formality, following the textbook rules.
That had been the mistake.
The spirit named Weslen actually preferred a casual, unceremonious approach.
'Who would have thought I'd learn something new about spirits like this.'
Did that man know all this and approach the spirit accordingly?
'No way.'
Figuring out a spirit's personality without ever exchanging words?
Even the elves of the World Tree, beloved by spirits, couldn't do that.
Therefore.
He had simply approached the spirit in ignorance, and luckily stumbled upon the right method.
"Weslen?"
Having realized this, Landeia immediately addressed the spirit.
The "thing" she was interested in showing more interest in someone else than her?
Even if by mere chance, she couldn't tolerate it.
"Don't be like that. After all the time we've spent together—telling your name to someone you just met today?"
Landeia applied her knowledge right away, ignoring all spirit arts rules and treating Weslen like a person.
Under the same conditions, the spirit would naturally prefer her.
That was the basis of her actions.
-What's this, Landeia?
"Huh?"
But the spirit's response was merely cold.
To the point where she wondered if it was the same spirit that had spoken to Rishir.
-You were so polite until recently, and now you're like a different person? Did I misjudge you?
"Wait—"
Landeia felt the bond she had built with the spirit crumbling in an instant and spoke urgently.
"Weslen! It's a misunderstanding!"
-...You sure call my name casually. I don't recall telling it to you—
"What mistake did I even make to deserve this? I thought you liked being treated normally!"
-Presuming to decide things you don't know with such arrogance. This is why humans... Landeia, you're just another human after all?
"...!"
It was an utterly unfamiliar experience for Landeia, who naturally drew people in and lorded over them.
The other person not minding her—
But her minding them instead.
And even willingly enduring the humiliation, yet not knowing what to do.
Landeia's expression, where overflowing confidence had settled into a faint smile, was slowly distorting.
"Weslen."
That was when Rishir spoke to the spirit.
"Why be so harsh? Bluntly speaking, who else here isn't human?"
-What are you trying to say? You want me to be nice to those humans?
"If possible?"
Oh no.
Landeia unwittingly muttered to herself.
Was it because he was defending her?
She felt a pang of pity for his blunder.
'Trying to manipulate its behavior using the goodwill it has toward him.'
The mistake Rishir made when first calling the spirit?
It was childish compared to this blunder.
Even a World Tree high elf would earn the spirit's resentment for such a thing.
'And a mere human does it?'
Landeia braced for the spirit's coming wrath.
-Sure? Well, it's not impossible. I've been thinking it might be nice to hang out casually with humans once in a while. Landeia? You can use my name. I permit it.
"..."
She heard the name, and learned it.
Landeia had finally achieved the communion(?) with the spirit she so desired.
But why?
She felt no joy at all.
"Hehe."
A satisfied smile appeared on Heya's face as she watched the whole exchange.
"Rishir? Now that I think about it, that name sounds familiar..."
"You know, the one who beat Aura's Breath disciple in a duel—"
"Rishir? Is that the guy who made the decisive contribution in wiping out that back-alley crime syndicate—"
"I'd only heard rumors... First time seeing him in person."
"Come to think of it—there was talk that Aura's Breath disciple was actually a high priest of a cult in disguise—"
"Nah, that's too much."
"...Right?"
Coffee Exchange Meeting.
The atmosphere of the place, once firmly in their grasp, was clearly slipping away.
Memories from the past flashed before Heya's eyes like a montage.
Landeia smirking annoyingly while using her followers to suppress her.
Heya, who disliked groups, had virtually no way to counter Landeia's momentum when they met at gatherings.
But—
'This works?'
Just by bringing one man, she could steal Landeia's momentum.
"..."
And she could see Landeia agonizing!
"Huh? Heya?"
In her excitement, Heya unwittingly hugged Rishir's arm.
And boasted to Landeia.
"What do you think? My friend Rishir. Pretty interesting guy, right?"
Landeia's hardening expression formed a stark contrast with Heya's beaming smile.
How long had their gazes clashed?
She smiled gracefully.
Landeia's smile was directed not at Heya, but at Rishir.
"Rishir. Come to think of it, we haven't properly introduced ourselves. Sorry, I've been too out of sorts."
Landeia politely extended her hand to Rishir.
"I'm Landeia Ye Leloza. Nice to meet you."
As Rishir reached out without hesitation, Landeia and Heya showed opposing reactions.
"I'm Rishir, Heya's friend. Nice to meet you."
But at those following words—
In the end, Heya wore a smug smile, while Landeia forced an awkward one.
Landeia hid her agitation and said to Rishir.
"How did you and Heya meet?"
"Not long after I joined the Magic Tower, Heya went out of her way to help me settle in. That's how we became friends."
"Mm-hmm. Right, right. I even challenged him to a duel to play together. And gave him a treasured magic tome."
Rishir glanced at Heya, who was eagerly chiming in.
What. Why. What.
Heya averted her gaze.
Landeia watched the two intently before speaking.
"Heya getting close to someone else... That's new. She's so different from the Heya I knew. What happened in the meantime?"
"..."
-Don't say unnecessary things.
Ignoring Heya's glare, Landeia said to Rishir.
"Rishir. Do you know what Heya was like originally?"
Her tone was secretive, as if speaking of someone absent.
"..."
Heya's expression twisted.
She realized Landeia was scheming to steal Rishir from her.
Landeia gazed at Rishir with eyes inviting him to an exclusive, special gathering.
Her half-lidded eyes gleamed red.
Eyes containing a powerful force hard to resist.
The Coffee Exchange members had become her people, drawn by those eyes.
"...Ha."
That was Rishir's response.
Recalling what Heya was originally like, Rishir burst into laughter.
"Of course. I know all about it."
"..."
Heya's lips twitched.
Should she be glad this man willingly embraced her flawed past—
Or humiliated by that smile, as if preserving her flaws in amber?
"Is that so?"
When her subtle bait elicited no reaction, Landeia let out a small scoff.
As if bored.
Her tone had clearly cooled compared to before.
"Then, just to check—Rishir. Want to join our group?"
"Thanks for the offer, but I'll politely decline."
"You didn't even hear what kind of group it is."
"I have no plans to join any specific group right now."
"Ah. I see."
By now, Landeia's demeanor had calmly settled.
"Lady Landeia?"
Then, the waiting Coffee Exchange members called out as if on cue.
They knew their president well.
She extended her hand to anyone who caught her interest.
Only once.
She held no lingering attachment to those who didn't take it.
This applied even to Heya of the Mastien family.
Thus, they were certain Landeia's interest in Rishir had cooled.
But.
Landeia's next words.
"How about this? Between us two, the one who gets better results at this Starbirth Festival follows the other's command once. Ah. No. I have a better idea."
Landeia smiled provocatively at Heya.
"Not us two, but all three of us."
"..."
Heya responded with an equally combative smile, refusing to back down.
"Sounds fun."
Rishir nodded at Heya's reaction.
The bet among the three prodigies was sealed.
"I'll be waiting in the finals, so find your way there."
Landeia turned away before they could respond.
-Wait! Landeia!!! I'm not ready to part with Rishir yet!!!
"..."
Afterward.
Parting from Landeia's group, Rishir began wandering the banquet hall to fulfill his original goal.
His original goal.
Rooting out any spies who might have infiltrated the friendly gathering.
"Ri, Sir Rishir! Are you free to talk now!?"
"Sir Rishir! How did you do that spirit art just now—"
"Hey, move! I got here first!!!"
Thanks to the incident with Landeia.
People welcomed Rishir warmly when he approached, and some even came to him first.
Thanks to that, Rishir could easily check the auras of many people.
'Not this one... Not that one either...'
As he investigated, investigated, and investigated again, a sudden thought struck him.
'Would a spy really approach someone as spotlighted as me first?'
He had even briefly parted from his companion Heya to hunt for spies, but ended up with no gains.
Finally.
Rishir reached a conclusion.
'There... probably aren't any spies here. Unless they're hiding their identity in some way I don't know.'
That was the moment he decided to rejoin Heya and simply enjoy the friendly gathering.
"Hm?"
In his search for spies, Rishir had ended up in a sparsely populated corridor.
Someone was approaching such a Rishir.
A petite woman whose timid eyes peeked through her long bangs.
Standing before Rishir, she hesitated before speaking.
"When the time comes, you will reveal extraordinary abilities before the crowd and give the signal..."
"Hm?"
She looked up at Rishir with wide eyes.
Those timid eyes were filled with conviction.
"I-it's you... The one sent from above..."
"You've come."
Rishir responded meaningfully for now.