Chapter 319: Misaligned Conversations and Perceptions
Square… His shoulders, thickness, and waist are clearly muscular and square-shaped.
In Kanum’s House, I’m finally face-to-face with the long-awaited Mage.
The Mage introduced by Dinoss and the Butler looks more suited to swinging a staff than casting spells. He has a rugged face—handsome in a way, but with sharp eyes, a furrowed brow, and a tightly pressed mouth.
“I’m Jean. Nice to meet you.”
Nice to meet you? I suppress the urge to raise my tone at the end of the greeting. He’s not a teacher for hand-to-hand combat, right?
I’ve been really looking forward to this. I can expect some magic, right?
“I’m Lin Rigilmoon. You can call me ‘Rinrin.'”
Wait a minute.
Why would you shorten it like that? At least go with something like Linrim or Rinjiru? All I can think of are a Chinese princess or a panda.
“Then I’ll call you ‘Rin-sensei.'”
I remember how Orlando refers to Haynes as ‘sensei’ when we’re not in public. Alright, it’s not strange to add ‘sensei’ to just ‘Rin.’
I shouldn’t think about anything right now. If I start thinking, I’ll lose. I force a blank smile, trying not to let my gaze drift toward the Butler and Dinoss.
“Hmm. I can understand half of what you say…”
Lin-sensei, who had been silently observing me, raises an eyebrow slightly and nods. It seems my calling him ‘sensei’ has been accepted without issue.
“What’s attached to your back is a Light Spirit, right?”
“Yes.”
The usual spot for a zabuton is either on my back or under my rear, or maybe under Daifuku.
“What kind of abilities does it have?”
“When I sit—”
“He has healing effects.”
I was about to say I can sit on it when the Butler interjects.
“An ancient spirit that resided in the temple of Anoma’s Fortress City. Depending on how you draw out its power, it seems it can even heal injuries.”
“—That’s right.”
I echo Dinoss’s words.
“Hmph, I’m asking this brat. I commend you for not looking away, but to think I must teach a brat who doesn’t even understand his own spirit’s traits, even if it’s for a favor…”
“Wait, were you testing me to see if I’d laugh at your amusing name?”
Was it wrong to laugh and look away?
But even if it was a test, ‘Rinrin’ is not a fitting name for that face! And I think of a zabuton as a zabuton.
“……”
Lin-sensei gazes at me in silence.
“Alright, you can be quiet.”
Dinoss says with a pleasant smile.
“Lord Jean is a bit off, but he means no harm… Also, while the intimidation might not work, it certainly doesn’t have any effect. Yes, it’s remarkably ineffective.”
The Butler offers a smile as he tries to smooth things over.
“The intimidation is ignored at a level you wouldn’t even notice.”
Dinoss grins at Lin-sensei.
Was I being intimidated? When did that happen?
…….
“I apologize.”
It seems I was indeed being pressured, not as a joke to be taken lightly.
“—What part of my introduction was amusing?”
“In my understanding, ‘Rinrin’ refers to either a rather alluring young lady or a specific bear.”
I’m feeling a bit flustered.
“……”
Lin-sensei falls silent at my honest response.
“Bears…”
Dinoss mutters.
“To be precise, it refers to a fluffy creature with a black and white color scheme that munches on plants. I’ll illustrate it later.”
I doubt ‘panda’ would convey the meaning of this frustration.
“Lady Rigil, what is it really?”
The Butler maintains his smile, but his brows are furrowed.
“It doesn’t have any special meaning. I was just testing if he could hear the spirit’s sounds.”
Lin-sensei looks disgruntled.
“So, is the teacher’s something something a bear girl?”
Dinoss asks. What kind of girl is that!?
“Something something…”
“A person who can distinguish the sounds of spirits has the aptitude to accurately hear and pronounce the Spirit Language. That’s what I was confirming.”
Even if you call it the sounds of spirits, it’s still the Spirit Language, right? Don’t think I’ll notice that the language is different just because you say it’s the sounds of spirits!?
“I think Rinrin should have listened before testing.”
It’s troublesome if you don’t ask directly.
“Oh, this time it’s clear. Rinrin, what a cute-sounding name.”
Dinoss laughs. This time I pronounced it with intention!
“Lord Jean, the reason you’re off is not ordinary…!”
The Butler interjects with a complaint.
I should be acting normally, as normal as possible.
“That’s it. He’s normal when interacting, but when he’s tested, he responds in a completely unexpected way. Just give up and teach him normally.”
“Hmph. It’s a bit cramped here; let’s move.”
Saying that, he pulls out a piece of parchment inscribed with a Magic Circle and traces part of it.
“Spirits that appear and disappear here and there, I, though human, desire neither distance nor walls, only to be where I wish. Not wishing, the number of those who wish is four. I offer four Magic Stones, and the magic power I offer is thirty out of one hundred. Carry us.”
“Ooooooh?”
As Linrin finishes the incantation, my surroundings shift. From indoors to an open plain. In the distance, I can see Kanum surrounded by city walls.
“Here, we won’t be interrupted. And this is [Teleportation].”
“Wow, what a spell-like spell!”
So this is what the [Teleportation] spell looks like!
“……”
Dinoss looks at me with a smile that seems to gaze far away, as if he’s thinking about something.
“Lord Jean, please be amazed by [Teleportation]. And even among those who can [Teleport], only Lady Rigil can cover this distance…”
The Butler whispers softly to me.
“I was excited to hear a spell for the first time… I’ve met someone who can [Teleport] for the first time!”
I smile at Linrin.