Chapter 139
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Ice Crystal -1-
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You can see spirits.
The most important line among all the notification windows.
It's barely enough to even make a contract with a spirit, but I have no intention of doing so anyway. My head is already on the verge of exploding just from handling Gungnir alone.
In this world, being able to see spirits is an innate ability and talent.
To someone who can't see spirits, a spirit sorcerer's spirit magic feels no different from a regular mage's spells.
However, if you peel back the appealing and convenient facade of spirit sorcery, the reality is far from what ordinary people imagine.
Like cowardly spirits who hate attacking others with their own power, or pranksters who won't listen at crucial moments.
After the second wanderer, as you progress through the game, there are quite a few side quests where spirit sorcerers complain about the fatigue caused by their spirits.
Spirits have thought structures completely different from typical intelligent beings, making them unpredictable, and while it varies by attribute, they're generally capricious.
Even the contracts are often one-sided, with the sorcerer begging, leading to unfair terms that put them at a disadvantage compared to the versatility of regular mages.
That's why, even after contracting a spirit and learning spirit sorcery, you still need fallback options like regular magic or archery—cold, hard reality.
Once you know the truth, it feels stifling.
Even if spirit sorcery is so full of limitations in practice.
Being able to see what others can't is undoubtedly a strength.
In common cases, seeing spirits can serve as a bond for a group or proof of trustworthiness.
Capturing spirits in your eyes is like a privilege you're born with.
It's common knowledge—and the widely accepted 'truth'—that it can't be achieved through acquired effort.
Thus, those with this privilege are seen as noble beings blessed and favored by the divine from birth.
'In the actual lore, it's just a matter of aptitude, nothing more...'
Most characters who wield spirits, symbols of this specialness, are elves, said to have high affinity with nature.
Humans and other races have spirit users too, but they're extremely rare and precious in comparison.
That's why elves judge based on whether you can see spirits or not.
They spread nonsense like 'There are no evil beings among those who can see spirits,' using it to claim their race's superiority and inherent goodness.
The problem is that this baseless theory, without a shred of proof, has been touted for centuries, and the phrase—dressed up as a proverb—has solidified into fact that most people believe.
Building on this, in the game, parties with spirit sorcerers can gain favor by proving they can see spirits.
'Not a bad thing... might come in handy sometime.'
The standard game progression now includes doing the added side quests from being able to see spirits or preparing for the next dimension.
But I have no time to invest in that, and the rewards hold no merit for me.
Sabak— sabak—
I headed toward the tree with the shirt hanging on it, stepping through the soft grass.
'Those two... I can just leave them, right?'
Before pursuing Deganello.
Robert's complexion wasn't bad after I gave him an expensive potion.
His naturally sturdy body and good recovery mean he'll respond well to the potion.
Plus, with his arm gone, he'll panic hard when he wakes up.
If I see Robert bawling after he comes to, I might punch him to death.
Isaac's the same.
He didn't take hits bad enough to kill him once Deganello's attention shifted to Robert, so he'll wake up on his own if I leave him.
His burst eye might leave a scar even if healed, or he might not regain sight despite restoration.
I saved them right before death, so that's plenty of good deed—and what happens after isn't my job.
A sucker who takes on unrelated men's karma won't survive in this empire.
'Time to go home.'
Pong—!
After downing a potion bottle, the shallow wounds vanished without a trace.
Thanks to Romerius's secret art, potions definitely work faster on me.
I luxuriously wiped the crusted blood from the opened skin with holy water, then slipped back into the shirt on the tree.
...
...
According to what Rike heard through Chloe.
Marquis Bolt and his retainers apparently rode gates en masse to the academy in the capital, causing a commotion during class.
Someone from another department sent a signal, and things somehow got handled, but nothing more was known to the cadets.
Rike said she saw the church's priests heading to the academy too.
'Did Isaac wake up first and send the signal?'
Rike didn't seem to care beyond that and moved on to another topic.
After a hearty dinner, Rike and I sat on the living room floor instead of the bedroom.
—
"Isn't it amazing how this ice thing doesn't melt even when you touch it?"
Rike, sitting between my legs, watched the ice crystal rolling in her hand, emitting cold air, then looked up at me curiously.
"Oppa... is it really okay for me to eat this?"
"Eclair and I already ate some back in the day, so no effect left. One's going to Chloe anyway."
"I agree with that... but it bothers me to just keep receiving such amazing things."
Rike rubbed her swaying ponytail against my chest, whining cutely.
"Not that again."
Every time she takes an elixir, she says, "This time... I'll shamelessly take it and get strong to repay you!"
But once she has it, she folds like this—adorable.
Slipping my hand under her clothes to gently rub her lower belly, Rike let out a lewd hum.
"Hng..."
"Once we wrap this up, there's stuff we gotta do, right? You're not just receiving. Honestly, dinner was so good tonight that this feels like too little."
Understanding my words and gesture, Rike giggled and leaned back comfortably against me.
"Because of my stubbornness, Eclair unnie has to wait her turn too... I try to be shameless, but it doesn't work in front of oppa..."
Hugging Rike from behind, I pressed our bodies closer to calm her.
"Don't rush. It's just your kind nature."
"I'm not a good girl..."
"No. In my eyes, you are."
"Hut!"
Gently rubbing her soft earlobe, Rike's body twitched.
"Being indifferent to strangers isn't a flaw. Life's already overwhelming trying to care for those around you. Just making the effort makes you a good person."
"..."
Resting my chin on Rike's head as she held the ice crystal, lost in thought.
I brought up words evoking the future she dreamed of—the foundation of her resolve and steadfast heart.
"I think about it every time. When we're done with what we have to do, I'm scared my personality might affect the child's growth... but Rike and Eclair will definitely be great parents."
Staring blankly into space at my words, Rike asked in a voice mixed with hope and worry.
"Oppa. It's greedy, but... I want to be a parent like my mother. Can I do it...?"
Rike wants to pass on to her child the love and kindness she never got from her mother.
With assurance and conviction, I gently stroked her belly.
"Rike can absolutely do it. Everything will be fine."
Something in my confident tone lifted her spirits a bit.
"Thank you... I know oppa will be the coolest, best dad on the continent. You already are."
Turning to gaze at me with flushed eyes, I gave Rike a short kiss in thanks.
"I feel a little braver now. Even though there's no baby yet."
Looking back, we were already worrying about pregnancy and birth, so we stared at each other and laughed for a while.
"Huu— Then for now, shall I shamelessly push on for a future with my beloved oppa?"
Blushing with a bashful smile, Rike picked up the ice crystal with her fingers.
....
The way to consume an ice crystal is among the simplest for elixirs.
Not just ice crystals, but crystal elixirs in general have the same effect whether you circulate energy or not.
You just swallow nature's pure mana—no processing needed—and wait for absorption.
The ice crystal releases mana along with chill accumulated over unpredictable eons.
The ensuing cold isn't impossible to endure alone, but it's vicious.
Worrying about the chill and trying to consume it in a hot bath is a mistake—instantly freezing into icy water with floating frost, steam or no.
Even a bonfire gets damp with frost and dies out quick; thick clothes just trap frost inside, making it colder.
"I'll hold you."
"Heung~"
Before Rike took the ice crystal, we stripped naked and pressed our skin together.
"Aam—"
Right after putting it in her mouth, white chill poured from Rike's breath.
A winter's breath unfit for the warm room.
A coolness unlike her usual skin spread, temperature plummeting rapidly.
Nature's force beyond human will, patience aside.
"Huuu... Huu..."
I hugged tight as Rike began shivering from the spreading cold.
"It's okay. You're okay, don't worry."
You could consume it alone like Eclair or I did, enduring till absorption ends.
But if you can maintain body heat against severe chill, no need for such strain.
Just sharing warmth skin-to-skin is a huge help.
"Heuuk!"
Thin frost formed on the floor; the house succumbed to the ice crystal's chill, air turning frigid.
I shared body heat for a long while, waiting for Rike to calm.