A Return to Routine
The weather warmed quickly, melting all the snow in the forest. That was why Bagan and Elizabeth walked across damp ground. With nothing particular to do on the way to De Meca, they listened to the spirits' stories or exchanged amusing tales.
"Elizabeth, you're heading straight back, right?" Bagan asked the moment they arrived, remembering she had said she would return to Elven Terra once this matter was settled.
"Yes. I need to report to Her Majesty about the man named Jude and the Shadow Spirit King, Shade. I might not be able to come back for a while."
"I see. Take care."
She had only stopped briefly in De Meca before leaving again. With the truth about the corrupted human Jude and Shade now known, every moment counted. Bagan waved her off as she walked away, then moved on himself, a lingering sense of reluctance following him. They had endured the cold together in the Zairan Forest and thrown themselves into the crisis; parting felt bittersweet. Still, there was no stopping it, and they had grown close enough that their next meeting would be all the more welcome.
With that thought, Bagan set his regret aside and headed for the inn he had reserved before departing. He had rented the room for about a week, so he could rest a few more days. It was not as fine as the Evergreen Inn, said to be the best in De Meca, but the price was reasonable and the service decent. What he liked most was its proximity to the Adventurer Guild and the fact that the owner was someone he knew—Ganesha, wife of Bloomberg, the guild's blacksmith.
Bagan carefully opened the inn door and greeted her.
"Ganesha, it's been a while."
Because he had seen her often in the game, he already felt a sense of familiarity. Ganesha, who had been mopping the floor, looked toward the door. Recognizing him, she spoke.
"Bagan? You only stayed one night after booking the room. I wonder if dust has piled up. I cleaned it regularly, though…"
It was entirely Bagan's fault that he had left after only one night, so a little dust would not matter. Even if there was any, he could simply use magic to deal with it.
"Shall I prepare a meal?"
"Mm. It's gotten dark, so I'll just rest today."
"All right. Go unpack and get some rest."
Ganesha watched Bagan climb the stairs before returning to wiping the tables. It was late, and the last dinner guests had already left, so she was closing up. Though the inn was not large, the dwarf couple who owned it had built it sturdy; no other building nearby could compare. Even the second-floor stairs Bagan now climbed, made of thick timber and nails, were solid and silent.
Upstairs, doors lined both sides of the hallway—a typical corridor-style inn. The first floor held tables for rest and meals; rooms began on the second. Whether because of the late hour or excellent soundproofing, only Bagan's footsteps echoed down the quiet corridor. He felt a little embarrassed at breaking the silence, but unfortunately his room was at the far right end. Potted plants and framed pictures between the doors added a touch of freshness as he walked. He reached his door and opened it carefully, as though entering someone else's room. It was not wariness so much as the simple fact that he had only stayed one night and the place still felt unfamiliar. Yet the scent of an inn room, one he had not smelled in a long time, put him at ease.
"Hoo… I should wash up, but I'm tired."
(You could just use magic.)
"It doesn't feel the same as pouring water over yourself."
Soaking in a wooden tub filled with warm water and simply casting Wash and Clean were worlds apart. Wanting that sense of fatigue melting away, Bagan resolved to scrub every inch of himself with hot water tomorrow.
"Can't be helped today. Wash."
Wash was a spell that left one feeling as though clean water had passed over the body, yet because no actual water was involved it was not classified as water-attribute magic. It belonged to the category of daily-life spells alongside Clean, Alarm, and Unlock. Any mage with sufficient mana could use it once they reached the first circle.
"Whew. Finally, some rest. Feels like I've been running nonstop since coming to this world."
(It does seem that way. Shall we rest properly starting tomorrow?)
Her words were sweet as honey. But Bagan knew better than to grow complacent.
"Sally, you have duties as the Spirit King of Condemnation. Besides judging Shade, is there anything else you need to do?"
(I can usually summon those classified as evil and pass judgment on them. It's like calling forth the souls of the dead. Though I'm not sure if that's something I must do.)
"Can non-spirits do it too?"
(Yes. For example, if someone who committed murder dies, I can summon their soul, make them confess their sin, and then erase them.)
"That's a frightening power."
(Do you think it's frightening too?)
Sally had been keeping in mind how the other spirits feared her.
"I'm your contractor. It's less that I'm afraid and more that your power feels symbolic."
(Symbolic?)
"Yeah. The function of law isn't only to set standards, rules, and appropriate punishments—it's also preventive. The very existence of the law makes people hesitate."
(So you're saying that because my power exists, people will fear it and such incidents will decrease compared to before?)
"Roughly. The problem is that in Harmonia such things rarely happen in the first place thanks to Spia's power, and this incident was an extreme exception."
(That's why I'm even more unsure. Since you're my contractor, I thought I should follow you and carry out judgment on evil.)
According to Sally, the standard for judging evil ultimately came down to herself. Bagan pondered this for a moment.
"What if I wanted to execute evil for some ridiculous reason?"
Of course Sally knew Bagan was not that kind of person, but the question was worth considering. Surprisingly, her answer came simply.
(If you did, I would simply follow. Though I would feel guilty.)
"You know I wouldn't do that."
(Bagan can be confusing at times, but if I had to say, you're closer to being good.)
"Thanks for thinking so."
Bagan tried to sleep after that, but a stray thought kept him awake.
Come to think of it, what happened to my traits?
Bagan had once possessed the trait Blessing of Flame. He knew it had vanished; trying to activate it had proven impossible. Thinking back, it made sense—Seleana was gone, after all.
"Sally, can you share your power with me?"
(Of course. If I manifest spirit formulas with spirit power, I can use them in various forms.)
"For example?"
(When fighting someone I've marked as sinful, I can gain greater strength, launch lethal attacks, or simply restrain their body.)
Bagan had essentially gained a new weapon—power on the level of a new trait.
This is already the second power I've obtained without realizing it.
The first had been the justification to use black mana; the second was Condemnation, gained through his contract with the Spirit King.
"Thanks to you, I've grown stronger again."
(What are you saying? It's all because you absorbed Frost's spirit power.)
"You could see it that way. Anyway, thank you for staying by my side, Sally."
(You're welcome.)
"Yawn. Time to sleep. No more…"
With that, Bagan threw his weary body onto the reasonably soft bed.
***
The next day, Bagan woke only after a late breakfast hour. It had been a long time since he had enjoyed such deep, uninterrupted sleep.
"Haaam, that was good. Hm? Sally, what are you doing?"
He saw Sally sitting at the desk and chair in the room, doing something.
(Ah, I was reading. It's the Study of Sin that Lady Spia granted me.)
As she spoke, she opened the book to show him, but he could not understand its contents. It was not that the letters were unreadable; the pages were completely blank.
Only visible to good people, or something like that?
Bagan tried to make sense of her reading a blank book and nearly gave himself a headache before finally accepting it.
"I see."
After nodding appropriately, Bagan moved to the window. He opened it with a creak to air out the room and watch the people passing by outside. Though it was not early morning, merchants were already packing their goods and adventurers were heading toward the guild. Husbands, wives, sons, and daughters were out shopping or running errands. It was a neighborhood that smelled pleasantly of everyday life.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Bagan, it's a bit late, but shall I prepare breakfast?"
It was Ganesha's voice.
(She already came by twice earlier.)
He was not particularly hungry, but knowing from Sally that Ganesha wanted to look after him, he answered anyway.
"Sure, thanks!"
He was not picky about food, and he knew Ganesha would put her heart into cooking even if there were leftovers, so he had nothing to worry about.
"Do you like books?"
(Mm, they're interesting once you start reading. They record judgments and reflections on sin from the past. Do you know what the very first entry says?)
"What?"
Bagan tried to forget that she was reading blank pages as he asked.
(Sin takes many forms. What one person sees as wicked sin, another may see as a struggle to survive. What one person considers a good deed may become the stepping stone for another's revenge.)
"That's profound."
(After that comes the first judgment in history. The charge was murder.)
Bagan stared at Sally, who found such a book entertaining, then changed the mood with a stretch.
"Are you going to keep reading?"
(I can read while following you, so it's fine.)
She smiled at him. Ever since becoming the Spirit King, Sally seemed to have lost that cute quality. It was a little disappointing, but in the end they were bound by an inseparable fate. The cuteness had disappeared, yet she had become beautiful instead. That was surely a good thing. Thinking so, Bagan headed downstairs.
"Ganesha, did you save food because of me? I feel bad."
"No. My husband also woke up late. Since he's coming down soon anyway, I might as well cook while I'm at it."
"Bloomberg?"
Bloomberg worked at the Adventurer Guild, so in a way he was like a civil servant. Yet here he was, sleeping in and taking his time. Bagan was thinking what a hopeless case he was when a hearty voice called down from the second-floor stairs.
"Kahaha! Bagan! You're up too?"
"Aigoo! My ears are going to fall off! Sit down and eat!"
Bloomberg had greeted loudly only to be scolded. Looking thoroughly deflated, he quietly took a seat at Bagan's table and delivered some news.
"Fortunately, winter has passed. It seems Glacia took back her power."
Having no way of knowing what hardships Bagan and Elizabeth had endured to end this winter, Bloomberg still believed the story that Glacia had caused it. His expression as he looked out the window at the nearly melted snow was one of relief. Since everything had turned out well, there was no need to reveal that Bagan had been the one to resolve it.
"Seeing the city lively again puts me in a good mood too. The Adventurer Guild will be bustling again."
"Eing! All that means is more work for me."
Unlike blacksmiths who ran their own forges, Bloomberg received a fixed salary, so an increase in work was not necessarily welcome. Apparently the reluctance to work and go to the office was the same no matter where you went.
"Here, eat up. Now that winter's over, prices will go back to normal, so help yourselves!"
Ganesha, who had apparently suffered from the lack of winter herbs and spices, served a meal generously seasoned in celebration of the cold's departure. The aroma rising from the food promised a pleasant day.
"You put some strength into this."
"Of course!"
Though a woman, Ganesha was a dwarf and possessed impressive muscles. She struck a pose to show off her toned forearms, then patted Bagan's back as if to say "eat a lot."
Thud, thud!
Bagan felt a sting on his back and could only pity Bloomberg.
***
"As expected, the reason I like this place is because the food is delicious."
That was Bagan's comment after finishing the meal. Bloomberg laughed in agreement.
"Haha, if my wife couldn't cook…"
"What was that?"
Ganesha appeared from behind carrying dessert, forcing Bloomberg to hurriedly shut his mouth. Having eaten nothing but jerky and water throughout his travels, Bagan felt truly satisfied after a proper cooked meal. Together with the dessert Ganesha had prepared, he and Bloomberg savored the moment over sweet tea.
"Heading to work now?"
"I have to. I'd rather go back to my room, but if I don't show up Gion will greet me with his giant fist. We used to be about even back in the day…"
It was a joke only Bloomberg, who was practically friends with Gion, could make. Even so, claiming to have been on equal footing with someone regarded as a hero was not something just anyone could say.
After finishing their pleasant breakfast, the two bid Ganesha farewell and left the inn for the Adventurer Guild. Since it was right next door, there was no need to search for it. It was always the people closest who arrived latest; Bloomberg's habit of being late was only natural.
When they opened the guild doors, a lively atmosphere greeted them.
"The weather's nice! Let's go take on some requests in good spirits!"
"Haa. Now my wife won't eat me alive."
"You should be grateful someone puts up with an adventurer like you."
Some adventurers were wasting time gossiping about their families. Others were accepting requests in groups.
"Kweeek! I'll take this request."
"Yes! The client and coachman will be waiting at the designated location."
Just then—
"Master Bloomberg! Please save me!"
"Uweh? What is it!"
The visitor looking for Bloomberg was one of the apprentice blacksmiths he taught at the guild.
"Th-the adventurers have brought in too many repairs."
"How many?!"
"Thirty today!"
"You little— Gion! You bastard!!"
Upon hearing the number, Bloomberg flew into a rage and went looking for Gion. There could be no more fiery way to start the workday. His eyes were practically blazing as he stormed off to have the promised argument with Gion. Left behind, Bagan browsed the request board.
"Hmm, no requests for me. Nothing worth taking yet… Sally."
(Yes?)
"If you like books, shall we go read some more?"
(You're skipping work to read today?)
"Might as well rest while I'm at it. Then tonight I'll take a hot bath."
(I don't mind.)
Already excited at the thought of bathing, Bagan left the guild and headed for the second-largest building in De Meca—the library. Large buildings were easy to spot, so he found it quickly and stepped inside. As Bagan entered, someone who had been hiding revealed themselves and confirmed his identity.
"That's the guy, right?"
"Yeah. Let's report to the boss right away."
They blended back into the crowd and vanished in an instant.
(Something interesting is about to happen.)
Sally knew everything that was going on.