Chapter 134
Chapter 134
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Name of the God - 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Complete spiritualization.
It carried the exact same meaning as complete severance.
According to Lepia's explanation, even if we grew old and died later, we could still meet in the afterlife.
I had no idea how pleasant life there might be, but at least our bond wouldn't be severed.
But if she became a full spirit, we couldn't meet even in the afterlife.
Not even Adwin could summon Risel after she became a spirit.
He couldn't see spirits, and thus couldn't see their souls either.
Before departing, Grade earnestly implored me.
"Please talk Risel out of it. She's already spent far too many lonely years."
"Grade."
"When she was with you all, Risel always looked happy. Blissful, even."
"......"
"I couldn't stop her from becoming a half-spirit. It was my failure, but you... you must..."
His voice grew thick with emotion.
I nodded solemnly as well.
"Leave it to me."
"......"
"I have no intention of leaving Risel alone. No, not just that—I won't let her stay a half-spirit either."
"Really?"
"Of course. I'll turn her human again and make sure she meets you in the afterlife someday. Trust me."
He raised his arm.
Since Adwin was much shorter than me, I had to bend down slightly.
Tap, tap.
Grade patted my shoulder and said.
"Please take good care of her."
Soon, his soul returned to the afterlife.
......
Come to think of it, I'd meant to ask Grade about Velosian.
Well, that could wait for another time.
Adwin let out a deep sigh.
"Hoo."
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Being connected to Grade's soul, his emotions hit me so intensely. He truly cherishes and loves Risel even now, after 1,500 years."
"Yeah, it sure seemed that way."
I cleared my throat lightly.
Then I raised my voice slightly toward empty air.
"Stop hiding and come out."
"......"
"Come on out already."
Risel didn't appear right away.
As I pondered what to do, Serein spoke up.
"By the way, I saw Grade's portrait."
"Hm? What about it all of a sudden... Ah, got it."
"It's kinda... you know."
"Honestly, calling him handsome might be a stretch."
The others, catching on to the ploy, chimed in with mischievous grins.
"Let's be real—total dud."
"Yeah, heard he had a grumpy personality too."
"Wonder what he'd have done if he wasn't a hero."
"The imperial anecdotes say he had some childish sides."
Just as hoped, Risel popped up.
"Who's spouting that nonsense!"
"There you are."
"You're all so wrong. For starters, Grade was super handsome."
"Sit."
"...Ah."
"Sit down already, Risel."
Risel fidgeted, unable to sit.
That's when it happened.
Swish. Squeeze.
Suddenly, Serein grabbed Risel and forced her down.
Then she hugged her tightly against her chest.
"Eek! What are you doing?"
"Don't go anywhere."
"...Serein."
"Don't go anywhere. I love this party so much. No one can leave."
Serein, of all people, saying that.
The party members added their own words one by one.
"Of course. We've still got plenty of use for you—where you gonna go?"
"I can't imagine a world without Risel's cooking."
"Talking with you is always fun. Keep it that way."
"Sis, you're coming to the afterlife with us too. Definitely."
Adwin's last line sounded a bit like "die together," but... well, the intent was good.
Risel sniffled in Serein's arms.
"But... there's no other way to make it in time. Sniff, sniff."
"Risel."
"Becoming a full spirit doesn't mean I'm leaving you all. I'll stay in this party and keep helping you."
"But you won't be able to chat happily with us anymore."
"Serein."
Serein hugged Risel even tighter.
"We're the oldest pair here. That's why I know how much loneliness gets to you."
"......"
"And lately I realized—I'm the same way. People like us need to stick together."
"Sniff, sniff. Waaah."
Risel burst into tears.
Even those tears—she wouldn't be able to shed them as a full spirit.
She had to stay human.
[Krng.]
'What? You crying too?'
[No? No idea what you mean.]
'......'
[Anyway, now what? If you're not borrowing that duke spirit's power, got another way?]
Hey, nice joke.
'Why wouldn't I borrow it? When there's such a perfect tool right in front of us.'
[Eh?]
'Daring to attach finicky conditions when the Hero's about to crush the Demon King? The duke spirit's the problem.'
I'll make him cooperate somehow.
Without the condition of turning Risel into a spirit.
I spoke up.
"Risel."
"Sniff, sniff. Yes?"
"Just one question."
She pulled away from Serein and looked up at me.
Her face was a mess of tears and snot.
I grinned and said.
"That duke spirit—does he have a name, by any chance?"
Surprisingly, spirits had names too.
"His name's Mime. That's the duke spirit's name."
"Never thought he'd actually have one."
"All spirits have names like humans. Of course, I don't memorize every spirit on the continent, but Mime and I exchanged names during that typhoon."
"I see."
"But why do you ask?"
Why?
'Use the Eye of Omniscience.'
[What? Now you're peeking into spirit secrets?]
'What's wrong? Can't do it?'
[Who said you can't? Ridiculous.]
He grumbled for a while before saying.
[Fine. Whose secret with Mime?]
'Risel. I need to see what conversation went down during that typhoon.'
[Eh? Just ask Risel herself.]
I shook my head.
'Not just the words. I want to watch Mime's actions, gestures, tone, and expressions.'
[Watch what? Spirits are invisible.]
'Even through the Eye of Omniscience?'
[......Ah.]
The Eye of Omniscience even revealed secret conversations between Idria and Hieren.
As long as it was recognized as a secret between the targets, it pierced any obstacle to reveal everything.
That's why it was called the 'Eye of Omniscience.'
[Do your thing with this ability. You know it better than me.]
'Joking aside. Just show me.'
[Fine.]
[Used Eye of Omniscience.]
[Current Eye of Omniscience level is 4. Can view up to A-rank secrets.]
[Selection condition: 'Secret between Risel Vaint and Mime.']
[Secret rank is A. Viewing.]
A screen appeared.
Risel was shouting something at the typhoon from the crumbling imperial palace rooftop.
Behind her stood Grade, the first hero, looking anxious and helpless.
'Definitely not a looker.'
[Don't say that to Risel. She might hit you.]
Anyway, I focused on Risel's conversation.
She was clearly shouting in spirit tongue.
But amazingly, it translated into imperial common in my mind.
This was the power of the Eye of Omniscience.
Impressive.
"Stop it now. Stop, I said!"
"I'll stop if you grant my wish."
The voice that came through was more polite than expected.
I stared hard at the screen.
'Ah... I can really see it.'
Back when Risel asked a spirit in my hometown to bring Serein.
When she blew the horn in the palace basement.
Twice, Risel had shown us spirits like that.
But the spirit I was seeing now was on another level in size.
'Almost as big as the palace from end to end.'
[Bigger than Agril. So that's a duke spirit.]
The duke spirit Mime continued.
"Please become a spirit."
"No. Then I'd have to live forever. I'd have to part from Grade!"
"......"
"You've always been like this. Showing up unasked, unwanted."
"So you resent us for that? Thanks to us, you joined the hero party and defeated the Demon King, didn't you?"
Risel was at a loss for words.
Mime pressed on, a bit roughly.
"Without us, could you even have stood there? Joined Grade the hero's party?"
"I-I would have! Maybe not as a party member, but I'd have been by Grade's side. I was his slave from the start."
Ah. So that's how it was?
Grade was impressive too.
In that era, slaves weren't even considered human as common knowledge.
Yet he truly loved one and abolished slavery for her sake.
"Either way, if you don't cross over to 'our side,' this typhoon won't stop."
"......"
"If becoming a full spirit at once is too much, just dip one foot in first."
"What does 'one foot' mean?"
"You'll know when you try."
It meant granting eternal life while leaving her able to communicate with humans.
Risel bit her lip and said.
"Why? Why are you so desperate to make me your queen?"
"......"
"You're this strong—why not just become queen yourself!"
"That's why I can't!"
For a moment, Mime snapped.
I watched him even more closely.
"I—and all spirits on the continent—have a being we must avenge ourselves against."
"Revenge? Against whom?"
"I'll tell you once you become queen."
"......"
"Now choose. Watch the capital crumble, or become half-spirit for now."
Risel hesitated for a long time.
She asked.
"Even as a half-spirit, can I stay with Grade?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"I promise."
"......All right. Then."
Risel nodded.
Snap.
The screen cut off there.
I crossed my arms and pondered deeply.
'A being all spirits must avenge themselves against.'
Who could that be?
Without a name, I couldn't use the Eye of Omniscience.
"Guess I'll have to ask directly."
Everyone's eyes turned to me at my sudden mutter.
Neril asked.
"Ask who? About what?"
"Mime. About the being he wants revenge on."
"That duke spirit wants revenge on someone?"
"Not sure if it's a 'someone.' No, definitely not human."
Humans couldn't live 1,500 years.
If the target's lifespan was short, he wouldn't have offered the half-spirit option.
I told Risel.
"Call Mime."
"Huh?"
"Let's have a proper talk with him. You'll translate in spirit tongue."
"Ugh. I have to see that ugly mug again."
You'd have met him anyway if things went your original plan.
Risel sighed and extinguished the campfire.
We tilted our heads, and she explained.
"Forest fire. If he gets mad."
There were too many trees around us.
If those giants toppled in the wind, it'd be a hassle.
So we moved spots.
Once we reached a place that seemed safe enough, Risel took a deep breath.
"Sip. Haa."
"You okay?"
"Yeah. Just nervous."
"It's fine. If he tries anything shady, we'll handle it."
Risel smiled softly, as if she trusted us.
"Alright, calling him."
She shouted toward the sky.
"Derem. Bearmi. Mime. Mime!"
The next moment.
A typhoon descended from the heavens.
Mime wasn't attacking us or anything.
Just his arrival alone put us in peril.
I signaled Jenia and Serein, and they cast shield spells over us.
The chaotic winds died down.
As we fixed our disheveled hair and clothes, Risel said.
"Driame. Beare."
Whoosh.
Soon, a massive form filled our vision.
Not as huge as the heavenly god we'd seen, but we still had to crane our necks way back.
That was the duke spirit, Mime.
[Good call summoning him, but what're you gonna say?]
'Gonna get some info.'
[What info? Oh, the revenge target?]
'Yeah.'
[Hm. I'm curious too, but don't we have more pressing matters?]
No.
Mime was so strong that his mere descent forced us to use shield spells.
There wouldn't be many targets worth such a being burning with revenge.
'Maybe.'
One of the beings I knew.