It's Not Stiff, It's Upright
Munch, munch. Was it the tension? Her hunger wouldn't go away.
Senior spirit mage Payan Lot rummaged through her memories beneath her hood. She recalled the words of her senior mage and expedition predecessor, Cley Odia.
—"Above all, the stares pouring in will sting like hell!"
Indeed, her senior had been right. The gazes flooding in from the rift entrance were no joke.
She could understand it, considering the Mage Tower's influence. But still...
...How did things blow up like this?
Payan felt a vague sense of unease. She'd been thrilled when her expedition application was approved.
I never expected those words.
No limits on expedition personnel! She never could have imagined this turn of events.
Was it because Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol had taken her expedition purpose so seriously? Skilled mages, even apprentices. Suddenly, the entire spirit school was heading out on a rift exploration as a group.
Am I getting hungrier from the nerves?
From munching to chomping. The pressure weighing on her shoulders was no light burden.
Wasn't she the senior for these fledglings, these snot-nosed mages? If this were the Arcana Continent, she could at least maintain some dignity as a senior...
I'm shaking from the unfamiliarity myself. Bullshit.
But this was the adventurers' world. Payan could barely keep herself together.
Of course, oblivious to her inner turmoil.
"Whoa, so this is a rift."
"...It's so unfamiliar~ Weird~"
"But why do their outfits look so familiar?"
"Idiot. They're adventurers, duh."
The fledglings seemed genuinely excited. In that sense, Payan couldn't help but admire Hoyeol.
She recalled Cley's advice again.
—"But don't worry too much. The stares might sting, but no one will come too close. Not with Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol right there!"
When she'd first heard it.
What bullshit is that?
She hadn't understood right away. But seeing is believing.
The moment they entered the rift, Payan got it.
...Everyone's really just watching from afar?
Payan observed them coolly, as if from a third-party view. Even then, this spectacle was rare. Hoods or not, they couldn't hide their summoned spirits.
Not only had a horde of Mage Tower mages appeared, but they'd summoned spirits en masse?
It'd cause a uproar even on the Arcana Continent.
Oddly enough.
Their voices don't even carry from that distance.
The adventurers inside the rift were keeping a set distance.
Not scared of the fire drake, are they...?
But it wasn't a mistake...
Those gazes were unmistakably fixed on Hoyeol.
All these adventurers are watching the chief's mood?
Gulp— Payan swallowed dryly. She sneaked a glance at Hoyeol.
...Is he really some incredible noble in this world?
Just like the rumors among the fledglings. A successor to a great lineage...?
But Payan's stray thoughts didn't last.
"...Wait, what? What did you say?"
From the upper fire spirit, the fire drake, came news from the Arcana Continent. Payan had some inkling, having entered the Demon King's Castle rift and contributed to crushing the demon king.
"No way!"
But this exceeded her predictions by far.
The other spirits brought similar tidings. Victories echoed across the Arcana Continent.
The fire drake spoke in a voice laced with heat.
"It seems the newly born world tree is positively influencing all life."
"...!"
Murmurs rose. World tree? The fledglings were stunned just by that.
But Payan was shocked for a different reason. She knew who had sprouted that world tree.
Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol...!
In a flash, her mind raced. Then the changes sweeping the Arcana Continent right now...
All stemmed from Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol's hands?
Why, sprouting the world tree. Crushing the demon king. All under Hoyeol's plans and procedures.
She glanced at Hoyeol.
Accomplishing such feats without a single boast.
Hoyeol's expression showed no change. Yet her own heart fluttered for no reason.
Gurgle— Her fuel-inefficient body churned.
Rummage, rummage. The moment Payan shoved something into her mouth from her robe.
A panicked voice from one fledgling.
"The Quirnburk Mechanical Tower? It's started moving?"
"Not just moving. It's clearly hunting demons."
"...Hunting demons? That mechanical tower?"
"Cough, cough."
"Are you okay, Senior Payan...?"
"Y-yes. I'm fine."
She nearly choked.
Quirnburk Mechanical Tower moving? Hunting demons?
Payan knew the basics. Dwarves built it, up to there. But moving and demon-hunting?
She brushed crumbs from her lips, thinking.
...Even Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol is amazing, but shaking the Arcana Continent alone? Impossible.
Besides, this world and the Arcana Continent weren't disconnected.
Whoever activated it and why, unknown.
The tower's advance clearly contributed to the victories.
Right, even Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol is human.
That was Payan's common sense. No matter how exceptional, an individual had limits.
Of course, that common sense crumbled soon after.
"High El."
The moment Hoyeol called the name, a spirit materialized in the air.
"!!!"
All were spirit school mages, including Payan. They recognized it.
"...Senior Payan, that spirit?"
Small frame. But the aura was immense.
Yes. A {unique spirit} transcending ranks.
Payan nodded to the skilled mages' question.
"Yes. It's a unique spirit."
"...A unique spirit!"
"Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol is a unique spirit contractor?"
The fledglings chirped endlessly in shock.
Just seeing it stunned them this much. What if they knew High El had sprouted the world tree and ascended to unique spirit? The horror.
But Payan had no intention of blabbing Hoyeol's deeds.
Shrug— You'd get hurt knowing.
...Actually, scared of getting on the chief's bad side.
Of course, Payan's smugness didn't last. High El soon relayed words.
"Dwarf leader Chainwalker Hardrock. I conveyed Sir Hoyeol's will to him. Also, a message from Chainwalker Hardrock to Sir Hoyeol."
High El skipped the message itself, but Payan got chills.
Wait, dwarf leader?
...Why was High El with the dwarves?
Dwarves. Quirnburk Mechanical Tower. High El. Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol.
Pieces clicked in her mind. An exclamation mark bloomed on Payan's face.
...No way?!
Soon, her "no way" became reality with High El's words.
"First, Chainwalker thanks you for activating the Quirnburk Mechanical Tower without forgetting the pact. Second, for personally acting when they encountered the demon king..."
...Wait. What am I hearing right now?
Exclamation turned to shock on Payan's face. Inevitably.
It meant everything started from one person's hands. Hoyeol's!
Warmth from the [Jewel Box Filled with Warmth] maintains your body in optimal condition.
What a sight.
During the demon king suppression, they'd entered different Demon King's Castle rifts. First time seeing Payan's fire drake with my own eyes.
And it's no ordinary upper fire spirit.
Fwoosh— A body the size of a cargo truck. Add wings, and it'd pass for a hatchling dragon.
Flames flickering with every breath. Just looking makes me hot.
Led by that fire drake, about twenty spirits summoned. Each with different attributes.
The air heated, cooled, dazzled...
Anyway. To avoid the chaotic influence, Payan and the mages kept a step back from the spirit horde.
Of course.
...What a tiring life. Seriously.
Putting on airs. Our noble Grandfell wouldn't retreat before a spirit legion backdrop.
Thank heavens for the [Warmth] buff. Truly grateful to the [Jewel Box Filled with Warmth] again.
Siberian high pressure. Blocked Frost's bitter cold. Handkerchief's fire affinity effect.
Thanks to that, I stood ramrod straight amid the spirits.
Worth the effort, anyway.
Indeed, many hands make light work. Exploring rifts with this many had its rewards.
Even I got plenty of new Arcana Continent updates.
Of course, the big news, the real events, I'd heard via High El.
No real surprises.
Now, High El's turn.
I summoned High El. Mana drain. Not enough to complain anymore.
[Magic] stat nearing 400 helped.
Soon, High El appeared among the spirits.
...Yeah, appearance-wise, it stands out. Big time.
Too flashy for a fresh {unique spirit}? But I shelved the thought.
Pot calling kettle black...
Spitting in my own face.
Anyway.
Leader Chainwalker Hardrock and the dwarves were holding their own against demons.
High El said they'd slain no small number.
High El's serious gaze met mine.
"Yes. Everything flowed exactly as you foresaw."
...No. I predicted, sure. But not every detail?
What telepathy did you get, High El?
Of course, no denying it.
"...Cough, cough."
Payan thumping her chest in shock at High El's words.
Going further.
"You foresaw it? Everything?!"
"Hey, quiet."
"...Shh!"
Skilled and apprentice mages even more shocked.
Really, this damn exhausting personality...
I can't deny this burdensome overestimation.
"I see."
I answered calmly. Peak shamelessness.
Sudden unease creeping in.
...High El, you didn't tell the dwarves the same, did you?
I eyed High El.
Unyielding posture. Ramrod neck and back. Noble gaze. Unfazed before the fire drake.
That mirror-like poise—what is it?
...Never mind. Too late to change.
Whatever illusions High El planted in the dwarves didn't matter.
Even if my body turned to dust.
I, Grandfell, would realize this pouring overestimation.
In that vein...
Passing a rift like this would be a shame.
I looked at Payan and the spirit school mages. Reunion with contract spirits, probably.
"You've suffered alone, Nix."
"Gnome, have you bulked up more? Enjoyed my absence? No one to boss you around, huh? Be honest!"
"...Sylph. No matter how glad, stop messing my hair with wind?"
Watching them, a line from a spirit magic tome surfaced.
The most important quality for a spirit mage is empathy with spirits.
Spirit magic differs fundamentally from other magics.
It begins not with mana, but with perceiving the spirits' existence...
Expedition goal achieved. True to procedure-obsessed Grandfell, ordering return to the tower now wouldn't be odd.
However.
I eyed the quest window.
Weight of the Chief (Repeat)
▲ Successfully conduct the expedition. (Repeat)
Letting them uphold their essence as spirit mages. That's also a successful expedition, the chief's weight.
I told Payan.
"Goal achieved, but return on hold."
"...Pardon? Yes, as you wish!"
Payan seemed inwardly pleased, clueless.
First time summoning her fire drake wasn't new, but proper empathy time? Now.
...Empathy, huh.
I looked at High El.
As said. Feels like looking in a mirror...!
No need for deeper empathy between us.
I told High El.
"Let's go, High El."
"As you will."
We have mountains of non-empathy work. Exploring new [{Strange}]] possibilities with High El's {Nature} ability. Gauging full power without [Predator-Prey Relationship].
Time to check diligent well-digging results.
Against this rift's monsters. [Tattered Scarecrow] perfect opponent.
Let's start.
Shing— I drew my sword immediately.
...
Shing— Payan wondered if she'd seen wrong.
...What? Chief Mage Lee Hoyeol drew a sword?
A mage with a sword...? Thought it was a sword-shaped magic tool at first.
But no.
What was that lithe movement?
Always ramrod straight spine. Thought he'd be stiff? Mistake?
Smooth— Fluid like flowing water.
Swish— Fast, decisive sword slicing air.
Thud— Tattered scarecrow collapsing.
...Huh?
A strangled syllable escaped Payan's lips.
"...Eh?!"