Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Inferiority Complex
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'As expected, I really can get in.'
The interior of the black sphere that Kailin and Dipne couldn't enter.
But I could freely enter that very interior.
I wasn't particularly surprised by this fact.
I'd already anticipated it, after all.
'This spirit appeared because of me in the first place. Is it just natural?'
This spirit had revealed itself in response to my presence.
So, inevitably, I had to be its goal in some way.
There was no need to be shocked.
I just reacted indifferently.
"This is truly astonishing...!"
Of course, the two watching this scene couldn't possibly stay indifferent.
Dipne's eyes sparkled as she continued, sounding utterly mystified by the situation.
"You got permission? But how did you get permission?"
She looked utterly baffled.
Getting permission from a spirit was never an ordinary thing, she implied.
Dipne was asking me to share the secret with her.
"... How did you? What did you do?"
On top of that, Kailin looked quite flustered too.
She probably hadn't expected me to have such an ability.
When an unexpected person suddenly pulls off something huge in an unexpected situation, it's only natural to be shocked.
Kailin also asked me to tell her how I'd gotten the spirit's permission.
Of course, I couldn't tell her.
"I just walked in."
"That's really it?"
"Yeah."
"For real?"
"I said yes."
I decided to brush it off vaguely.
How could I say I'd been chosen by the spirit because I'm such a rare possessor?
I had no intention of ever revealing to anyone that I was a possessor.
So I played dumb and said I didn't know either.
"..."
But Kailin clearly didn't buy it.
She glared at me with suspicious, annoyed eyes.
Whatever.
I had no need to cater to Kailin's mood.
We're divorcing soon anyway.
"Anyway, I'm thinking of going in."
Now that I could enter like this.
I figured I'd check out the spirit's interior.
There might be a clue to resolving this incident.
Just as I was about to step in.
Kailin spoke up, clearly displeased with the situation.
"I wouldn't recommend going in."
"Why?"
I asked why she was suddenly telling me not to.
And Kailin replied as if it was obvious.
"Isn't it obvious? That spirit's obviously trying to eat you. So it's letting one easy-looking guy through as bait."
She said the spirit wasn't letting me through with pure intentions.
Something bad would happen to me inside, so she told me not to go.
I wouldn't see anything good if I did.
At a glance, it sounded like concern for me.
'Inferiority complex?'
Given her personality, it wasn't out of worry for me.
I thought the true intent was closer to her usual dismissive attitude toward me.
She couldn't stand that I succeeded where she failed, that I'd been chosen by the spirit when she wasn't.
'Why does she show inferiority toward me of all people?'
It was the same behavior she'd always shown in the original story.
Kailin never acknowledged anyone superior to her.
She'd nitpick and belittle their talents and efforts somehow.
'Ignore her.'
From my perspective as someone who'd read the original, it was familiar.
But to think I'd be the target...
It was pretty ridiculous and novel.
I had zero interest in whether Kailin felt inferior or hated me.
"I don't think it'll be like that, so I'm going in."
"What?"
"I'm going in."
I'd already decided to go.
Kailin's opinion meant nothing in that decision.
"... Do whatever you want. I gave you advice for nothing."
Kailin told me to go ahead.
As if I'd pay dearly for ignoring her counsel.
A somewhat chilly atmosphere was starting to settle.
"Um... please don't fight, both of you... You should get along... Why are you fighting?"
In that mood, Dipne timidly interjected in a small voice.
Telling us not to fight.
"It's not like that. I'll research it my own way."
Kailin denied it.
Then she left, looking irritated.
Saying she'd find her own way to resolve this.
After she left.
Dipne bowed her head to me and apologized on Kailin's behalf.
"Ugh... Kailin said that because she's worried... Please don't be mad."
She insisted Kailin wasn't a bad person.
That her words just now were out of concern for me.
Any sense of malice was definitely a misunderstanding.
'What does she know.'
Of course, that was Dipne's misconception.
She'd completely fallen for her first friend, Kailin.
Dipne was pretty pitiful, thinking about it again.
I hoped she'd realize what Kailin was really like soon.
"Yeah, sure."
I had nothing much to say.
Time would sort it all out anyway.
Soon enough, Dipne would get properly backstabbed by Kailin, and from there, she'd gradually realize what Kailin was like.
Just wait it out.
"I'm heading in now."
Anyway, there was something more important right now.
This time, for sure, I'd enter the spirit's interior.
I loosened up a bit.
I told Dipne I was going in.
"Be careful. I don't think it'll eat you or anything, but it could still be dangerous."
"Got it."
With Dipne's concern and encouragement, I entered the spirit's interior.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Nothing special?'
I'd entered the spirit's interior through what was called the entrance.
Looking around after entering, there was nothing particularly special.
It was just the familiar church I'd always frequented.
'Is that a relief?'
Seeing the familiar church eased my mind a bit.
Truth be told, even I wasn't without worries about entering the spirit's interior.
Forgetting any attacks on me.
I'd worried what if the interior was some warped space-time distortion, or a bizarre place crawling with grotesque creatures.
I figured if it came to that, I could just blast it with the Spirit Sword, but still, that'd be scary, right?
It was so ordinary that I was relieved.
'Eleana's safe at home, right?'
I was also glad Eleana wasn't caught up in this.
Normally, Eleana stayed at the church with Levia.
But because of the Magic Tower people, I'd left her at home for now.
Thanks to that, she wasn't involved.
If Eleana had been caught up, I couldn't have stayed this calm.
I was truly relieved about that.
Anyway, now that I'd entered the spirit's interior like this.
'So, what do I do here?'
I had no idea what to do next.
Since I'd entered, should I call out to the spirit or something?
That thought crossed my mind.
But I didn't even know how.
I was feeling a bit frustrated about that.
When the spirit made the first move.
"Satsubi."
A black-furred clump floated in the air.
It spotted me and made a sound.
That must be the spirit.
'First time seeing one for real.'
Seeing the spirit felt a bit wondrous.
It had this profoundly mystical aura.
I'd talked a lot with the Spirit Sword, but never seen its form, so this was my first real look, and it was intriguing.
I wondered if the Spirit Sword looked like that too.
A trivial curiosity arose.
"Satsubii...!"
Do I have to fight?
I started preparing for battle just in case.
I didn't know if this spirit was friendly toward me.
Above all, hadn't this spirit attacked the Magic Tower mages and created this black sphere?
So I had to stay cautious.
⚙ Spirit Sword ⚙ [No need to be on guard, I think?] "Huh?"
⚙ Spirit Sword ⚙ [That spirit wants to formally contract with you.]