Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 192
>Chapter Title: …Look at This Guy?
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Baharmut's Heart.
The spirits couldn't hide their agitation in this unprecedented situation.
[Infernal? You drove it off? How? Amazing! Good guys? But scary.]
In other words, they were admiring Aster's prowess in repelling(?) the Infernal while reconsidering their initial judgment.
Infernal.
It was the entity that protected the ruins from external enemies while also imprisoning them.
In truth, calling it a "protector of the ruins" was a polite way to put it—from the spirits' perspective, the Infernal was far more terrifying than the barrier that bound them.
Perhaps because of that.
The spirits began discussing among themselves again.
[Three, risk factors? But good? Savior is scary. Different from what we saw? Different means risk factors?]
The situation was this.
Originally, the spirits had envisioned only one savior: Aster. But when Aster brought along three humans, they judged them as "risk factors." Myselrn was among them, but that didn't matter much to the spirits.
All that mattered was that it differed from their "prediction."
Also, the spirits' earlier "Nooo―!" hadn't been about Aster but a scream at the prospect of the Infernal awakening due to the commotion he caused...
Seeing those they deemed "risk factors" confront the Infernal firsthand made them reevaluate.
Amid that.
Purrrng―
One spirit suddenly amplified its presence and slipped out of the crystal orb.
[You! Danger!]
The spirits expressed concern over its actions.
Venturing outside the crystal orb would surely awaken the Infernal and draw it charging in...
But Spirit No. 1, the one acting on impulse, instead swelled its presence further and let out a scoff(?).
'These guys, such scaredy-cats.'
Even after witnessing the Infernal get thoroughly thrashed just moments ago, they were still worrying like this. What a laughable bunch. With injuries like that, it was obvious it wouldn't move for a while, right?
Their hasty judgment of Aster's group was enough to sigh over too.
But.
Whatever its inner thoughts, Spirit No. 1 decided.
[I, representative.]
[You, representative?]
[Savior, going to meet.]
[Danger!]
The spirits tried to dissuade it, but Spirit No. 1 paid no mind.
Staying put like this wouldn't improve the situation.
From the savior's viewpoint, they had twisted the path and activated the Infernal—they might get angry and abandon the ruins. What then?
So.
'I, smart.'
The smartest among the spirits.
'I, brave.'
And the bravest one had no choice but to step up.
Ah, and personally, it was curious about the savior too.
...And so, Spirit No. 1 seized the moment while the Infernal was recovering and exited the crystal orb.
For the freedom of the spirits.
* * *
Meanwhile, Aster had risen early, filled up on tough jerky and crumbly bread, and was now surveying the space.
The room, lined with books whose era couldn't be guessed, was pristine despite having no caretaker.
So spotless that it looked as if someone had been maintaining it until just recently—Aster marveled at the preservation.
'No magic on it, seems like. Spirits?'
Approaching a bookshelf, Aster pulled out a nearby book and flipped it open. The pages inside were flawless too.
Old books left untouched for ages usually had frayed edges, but there wasn't a trace here.
He was examining the condition of yet another book when a voice called out.
"Anything fun?"
It was Damian.
The guy, who had woken up at some point, was munching on a macaron...
"Macaron?"
"Yeah, macarons. Brought 'em in sub-space. Why?"
"No, nothing."
Ransi had told him not to eat sweets in the morning, yet here he was, sneaking them all the way here.
Aster gave Damian a pitying look before turning away again. That's when Damian asked.
"But what're you looking at? Fun?"
"Nah, not fun. Just seems really well-maintained."
"Think we can sell it for a good price?"
"......Huh?"
"......What?"
"You're smart."
Aster's eyes lit up as he scanned the surroundings, as if realizing something he hadn't considered.
Originally, he'd just been curious about the maintenance method because it was so good.
Not magic, apparently—if spirits handled it, learning that trick would be handy for his future tower.
But.
'Sell this stuff?'
Why hadn't he thought of that?
Sure, not to sell but to stock his tower, but Aster felt ashamed for overlooking even basic looting.
Had the mental shock from yesterday hit him harder than Damian or Chenbi? ...Well, probably not, of course.
Anyway.
Aster now eyed the space with a whole new gleam, estimating how much he could fit in sub-space. How much time passed like that?
A voice rang in his ear.
"......Aster?"
At the voice, Aster erased his greed-tinged gaze and turned.
There stood Chenbi, pale from internal injuries, her mouth opening soon after.
"It's...... not a dream after all."
A smile spread across her lips. Despite her poor condition, the smile on Chenbi's face was utterly radiant.
Aster nodded at her.
"Feels real, doesn't it?"
"......Huh?"
"Kidding."
Chenbi furrowed her brow, taking in Aster silently.
Did he know he'd crossed the line? He cleared his throat awkwardly—'Ahem'—and peered into a book.
But at the sight, Chenbi smiled cheerfully.
Yeah, they said people die if they change suddenly—his usual rudeness felt more like the real Aster.
That very rudeness made it real for her.
"......Good."
Not a dream.
Whether sensing her feelings, Damian nodded along.
'Yeah, friends are total trash, right, Chenbi?'
'Totally, he probably won't even burn either.'
Beautiful, warm gazes exchanged. Amid the antique bookshelves, a peaceful trashy vibe wafted gently.
Aster, Damian, Chenbi.
What a beautiful reunion it was.
* * *
Anyway, after a brief but profound reunion from our short parting, we gathered in the center of the bookshelves to start a strategy meeting.
The agenda?
- How to escape this ancient ruin.
For reference, the proposers were Damian, Chenbi, and Senior Myselrn.
No idea why, but I was stripped of speaking rights.
Anyway, the meeting dragged on for a full three hours straight, but regrettably, not a single plausible idea emerged.
And whenever I tried to chime in...
- Friend, better stay quiet.
- You shut...... No. Anyway, got it?
'Jeez......'
Why did they freak out and snap every time I opened my mouth?
Truth was, I wasn't planning anything major.
Just something like this.
The beauty of brute force was already proven.
If we smash everything in this area indiscriminately, the spirits have to react somehow, right?
With luck, we might stumble on where the spirits are—or find an exit passage.
"Whew, tiring. Let's eat first and talk later."
"Such a tough problem. No solution in sight."
In the end, the three wrapped up without gains.
My mouth itched at their sight, but I held back for now. No point— I'd just get grief.
Anyway, after eating, we dove into round two.
Damian, Chenbi, and Senior Myselrn continued their trio chat, but listening idly, a thought struck me.
"Chenbi, isn't this a bit much?"
"Aster, I heard people need shame."
[Agree.]
I sighed deeply at Chenbi's icy words. World had no one on my side. Not even the spirits scolding me—
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
Chenbi and I sensed something off and whipped our heads around.
Spirit? A real spirit?
Let's see.
I rubbed my gritty eyes and scanned the room calmly. The occupants were these:
Chenbi, bundled in a blanket beside me, watching the talk. And Damian and Senior Myselrn still deep in heated debate.
"Master, maybe we should think self-sufficiency here."
"Damian, don't talk nonsense."
As the two traded empty banter, floating amid them: a lump of light.
[That idea, not bad.]
I narrowed my eyes at the light casually chiming in.
Around then, Damian and Senior Myselrn noticed the oddity too.
"Master, I must be crazy. Seeing weird stuff."
"You're always weird, no? But...... Huh, what is this? A spirit talking?"
Senior Myselrn stared at the spirit in greater shock than any of us. His eyes held undisguised astonishment and wonder.
How long he gazed with trembling eyes.
Senior Myselrn swallowed hard and spoke.
"......Not an ordinary spirit. I'll take the lead here."
Saying so, he fixed his gaze mainly on me. Felt unfair somehow, but I nodded in agreement anyway.
As we all held our breath.
Senior Myselrn addressed the spirit.
"Are you the ruin's spirit? Do you know me? The human you spirits spoke to...... I even communed with my spirit recently."
[Old human, remember.]
It remembered.
Confirming the spirit knew him, Senior Myselrn nodded and asked again.
The question was one we all shared.
"I have something to ask. We came at your request...... Why treat us as enemies?"
He was inquiring about the twisted paths and the Infernal's activation.
The paths didn't matter much. Probably Senior Myselrn was hung up on the Infernal—nearly got us killed bad.
But.
The spirit ignored Senior Myselrn entirely and plopped down on the room's sole table atop the bookshelves. Ploop looop.
Then it said.
[Question, me first.]
It would ask first.
At that, I couldn't help but chuckle 'Huh.'
'A spirit...... negotiating?!"
No mistaking it—that was a bid to seize initiative.
The cheeky display made my eye twitch.
Senior Myselrn was equally stunned by the worldly attitude.
Amid that.
I could feel it.
'Justice...... is weeping.'
But how to serve justice to a spirit? Per Senior Myselrn, Infernal flames worked great on them, but...
Deep in thought.
The spirit's voice(?) rang in my ear right then.
[Savior, I know your secret.]
......Knows my secret?
At that one line, all eyes turned to me. The spirit claiming to know my secret piqued interest.
Amid those gazes, I curled my lip.
Because...
The spirit was whispering secretly in my head.
[Cursed grimoire, I know. Fist, relax.]
......Look at this guy?