Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Second Guardian Spirit
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Brunhilt smiled brightly as she spoke.
"The trial is simple. Just survive my magic."
The old man nodded with a terrified expression.
"I just have to survive?"
"Yeah. If you succeed, I'll become your Guardian Spirit."
The old man was overwhelmed with mixed emotions.
He was thrilled at the thought of awakening—something ordinary people could only dream of—and gaining a beautiful Guardian Spirit with immense power by his side if he succeeded. But the fear of death if he failed was overwhelming.
Success or failure.
He had no choice in between.
"I have to do it."
He had already promised to undergo the trial.
"I love that attitude of keeping your promises."
As if rewarding him for it, Brunhilt pulled him into a tight embrace.
The old man's face flushed red as he clenched his fists and snorted strongly.
Huff—
"So, what should I do?"
"Run."
"...Run?"
"Yeah. When I raise my hand above my head, this whole area will turn into purgatory. Don't die in it."
The old man nodded as if entranced, without realizing it.
"Understood."
"Good. Let's begin, then."
Brunhilt raised her hand above her head. At that moment, a roar erupted from underground.
Kaboom!
Spear-like icebergs began thrusting up from all directions.
"Uwaaaah!"
The old man panicked and started running. That day, he regretted the biggest decision of his life.
As soon as the trial began, immense pain hit him—so severe he wished she would just kill him.
Crunch, crunch, craaack!
Tens of thousands of ice shards rained down from the sky, battering his body.
"Aaaagh!"
Each graze froze his skin, the pain piercing deep into his bones and spreading wide.
"P-Please, spare me!"
The old man screamed.
Brunhilt rested her chin on her hand, humming a tune as she watched him.
"Run faster. You'll die."
"P-Please. Please s-spare, spare me, have mercy!"
"I want you to survive too. So run with everything you've got."
"What the hell are you saying, you psycho! Stop this magic right now!"
"What? Psycho?"
"Yeah, you crazy bitch!"
Brunhilt's eyes changed. Until moments ago, she had been watching him leisurely.
Shiiiik—!
The air shifted, her gaze sharpening.
"Crazy bitch, huh? You just said the one thing I hate most."
Rumble—!
Thunder crashed from the sky.
The pouring ice shards suddenly stopped, replaced by snowfall. The old man hid behind a risen iceberg and sighed in relief.
"Damn... damn it... How did I end up like this..."
Then a single snowflake landed on his shoulder.
Sizzle.
"Huh?"
A burning smell hit him. He turned to see his leather armor melting.
Siiiizzle.
Everything the falling snow touched melted. Not just objects—human flesh couldn't escape this magic either.
Siiiiizzle—!
"Gaaaah!"
The old man tried wiping the melting skin from his body, but even his palm blistered where the snow touched, causing agony.
"Gah!"
His screams continued. He had no time for complaints. The pain was so intense he could only thrash about.
That was when it happened.
A powerful energy approached from afar. Brunhilt smirked, knowing who it was.
"You're here."
The newcomer arrived in a blaze of intensity, as if repaying her.
"Lightning."
Lightning
Aura-Mana Fusion
A purple spherical orb shot from the forest, slicing through the air and plunging into the white clouds covering the sky, causing a massive explosion.
Boom!
The clouds shattered.
The fallout stopped the surrounding snow. Brunhilt tilted her head at the faint purple energy.
'What is this? A new ability I've never seen.'
She didn't know.
The identity of the one approaching her now, or his abilities.
She only knew he had brought her old disciple, Siegfried.
Thud thud thud—
A blond kid, barely reaching my waist, came running.
Spotting Brunhilt, he fearlessly charged and swung an Aura-forged sword.
"You're Brunhilt."
Slash—!
Brunhilt blocked it with a Mana sword conjured from magic.
Clang!
"Yeah, that's me."
The two smiled at each other.
I ran through the pouring rain. Fresh carriage tracks marked the muddy ground.
'As expected.'
This incident wasn't Gunter's plan.
If he had been directly involved, it wouldn't have been this sloppy.
Likely some subordinate under him, or a relative eager to impress, had orchestrated it behind the scenes.
Since he hadn't stepped in openly, he probably didn't know about the soulstone yet.
If I caught the one who took this carriage, I could wrap this up cleanly.
Thud thud thud—
I followed the carriage's path at full speed.
Soon, I found the soulstone.
Rumble.
A roar came from the direction I was facing.
A massive circular white cloud spread across the sky in my view, dumping snow.
'There it is.'
"Gaaaah!"
The old man's scream echoed.
Icebergs thrust from the ground, tearing his flesh, while snowflakes melted his skin.
'Is that woman Brunhilt?'
A beautiful woman in a tight blue robe clung to her body.
"Run harder."
Siegfried trembled at the sight of her.
"Ugh...!"
"Master, is that Brunhilt?"
"Yeah."
"It's weird."
"What is?"
"That old man. How is he talking to Brunhilt? They haven't contracted yet."
"Well, she's not just any Guardian Spirit, so that's possible."
"What do you mean?"
"It's a thing. I'll explain when the time comes. Just accept it for now."
Too bothersome to explain, probably.
I didn't press with 'What is it?' Instead, asking Brunhilt directly would be faster.
After observing from behind a tree for a while...
"Master, I'll be right back."
I extended both hands toward the swirling white clouds in the clear blue sky.
"Lightning."
Lightning
Aura-Mana Fusion
Boom!
The clouds shattered.
I charged toward Brunhilt while shouting.
Thud thud thud—
"You're Brunhilt."
Brunhilt glanced back at me and smiled brightly.
"Yeah, that's me."
Snowflakes poured from the shattered clouds, swirling to block my path.
'As expected.'
She's using this magic.
From my past life's memories, I knew what techniques she used in trials.
That's why I'd learned 'Dodge' from the three brothers beforehand.
This level was something I could evade blindfolded.
We sized each other up and swung our swords simultaneously.
I wielded the Aura Blade taught by Siegfried.
Aura Blade
Strange Family Secret Technique
She wielded a Mana Blade of an unfamiliar form.
Kaaang!
The clash created a massive shockwave.
Boom!
I was repelled, my body launching into the air.
'Impressive.'
I'd poured everything into that strike, thinking it was my first and last chance, but it didn't work.
'Can't underestimate her.'
"Wow, it's been ages since I faced 'that sword.'"
I formed another Aura Blade and replied.
Shiiiik.
"You know this technique."
"Aura Blade is a technique only the most talented direct descendants of the Strange Family can manifest. You're quite exceptional yourself."
"Yes. My name is Berddin. In the future, I will become the head of the Strange Family."
"Oh, really?"
Brunhilt smiled brightly and flew at me in an instant.
Swish!
She extended both hands and grabbed my shoulders.
Thud.
"...!"
Fast. She grabbed me before I could react.
It looked like she'd dashed forward, but it was probably a space-leap magic.
As I tried to surge Aura into my captured shoulders and swing my sword...
Her voice rang out.
"Where's Siegfried?"
"...You knew?"
"Yeah. I've been watching you since you were with Galsvint."
Even in her sealed state, she could perceive the outside world.
Before I could respond, she continued.
"You pass."
"...Pardon?"
"You pass. I've seen your skills so far. I know you can have two Guardian Spirits. Right?"
"That's correct."
"Coming this far means you intend to take me along?"
"Yes."
Brunhilt turned to glance at the dying old man.
"Okay, how about this? We each propose one condition we want."
"A condition?"
"Yeah. If they match, we contract. If not, no deal."
Jackpot.
Brunhilt proposing first? I nodded without hesitation.
"My condition is simple—one thing. I may not be able to, but do your utmost to take me to the top of the tower."
I cheered inwardly.
Edward von Glazer, next head of the Glazer Family in my past life, hadn't lied.
She had only one desire.
Conquering the tower.
Our goals aligned perfectly. Her proposal was mine too.
"Perfect. Let's do that."
"Your condition?"
"I want to inherit all your abilities. I'll decide what, when, and how."
"Simple. Deal."
As our conversation ended, thousands of paper sheets flew from behind her.
Brunhilt's voice echoed in my head.
Blue smoke enveloped my body, and with a shrrrr!, an endless contract scroll unfurled in all directions.
Flash!
Radiant light poured down from above.
"[I, 'Brunhilt', hereby transfer all knowledge and techniques to Berddin as per the contract.]" "[I swear to do my utmost to help the contractor surpass the charts created by the gods and reach the state of no-mind.]"
⟨ Guardian Spirit Contract ⟩
'Who came up with that contract dialogue?'
It was identical to Siegfried's during his contract. As I glanced at Brunhilt with that thought, my consciousness faded.
'...Huh?'
Then I witnessed an unexpected scene. Siegfried suddenly appeared, pointing at Brunhilt and yelling.
"Hey, you bitch! You called me stupid first, that's why I left!"
"Bitch? Did you just call me a bitch?"
"Yeah, you bitch! If I'd known I'd have to meet you again like this, I never would've become a Guardian Spirit!"
"Fine. Let's settle this today. You die, I die, we both vanish."
'What the hell are they talking about?'
After that, I don't remember what happened.
When I opened my eyes again, a familiar knight was raising his sword above me to stab.
Swish.
"...Young Master, forgive me."
'What the?'