Chapter 405: The Current State of the Hero
“Why is it that the major Spirits are so eager…?” Haulon muttered, his head in his hands.
“I’m not the one being proactive here. The Spirit I first met didn’t want to make a contract, yet now it seems to be joining in. Maybe it’s because the Hero is gaining strength?” I kept my thoughts to myself, even though my rising magic power might be the reason.
“The Hero?” Dinoss, who had been slumped over the table, suddenly sat up.
“…It’s true that the Hero is gaining strength. I’ve heard that in several countries, the contracts with the Spirits that were secretly placed have ended. It’s not like the Spirits were devoured as before. Could it be related to that Domination ability you mentioned before?” Haulon asked, his expression darkening.
“Maybe? I don’t really care about the Hero’s current situation, but I did hear that if the Light Spirit—Namina, who used to protect the Hero—gains strength, the Hero will be able to see Spirits. Once that happens, he’ll probably start using Domination on them one after another until he gets bored.” My sister tends to get absorbed in things easily and loses interest just as quickly.
Once she sets her mind on something, she shows off her exceptional skills and clings to it. If she can see Spirits, she might be testing her power on new targets or obsessing over a Spirit she finds appealing, gaining strength to obtain it. Either scenario is possible.
“I sense an ominous presence, yet I haven’t heard any chaos from Shulm,” the Butler said as he cleared away the finished dishes and dipped them into a bucket of water. He left the washing to us.
“My sister’s strategy is to bring others down while raising herself up. She doesn’t want to get her hands dirty but will blame others for not doing it, making them feel guilty. If she’s in a position where she can do as she pleases in the royal castle, there shouldn’t be any problems, right? She’s really good at making herself look good,” I replied. After all, she doesn’t even need to get involved directly at this point.
“Even the commoners in Shulm, who don’t even know the Hero’s face, say he’s popular,” Retze chimed in as he began preparing coffee with the siphon on the shelf.
“The desires of those with power often revolve around fame,” Dinoss remarked.
“If it’s within the limits of finances and personnel, the lower classes might actually be happier,” Karn added.
“She has a habit of ruining those who try to leave her side or pushing down anyone who gets better evaluations than her for trivial reasons like pretty hair color. Well, as long as she doesn’t directly involve herself, I guess it’s safe?”
“That’s what having power means—it’s ruthless…” Haulon sighed.
“You wouldn’t notice it in shallow relationships, and as long as they remain unaware and continue to worship her, it’s peaceful, right? —Thank you.” I accepted the coffee that Retze poured for me.
“You’re quite objective…”
“I’m just not interested in the people flocking around my sister,” I replied to Haulon.
A long time ago, someone I called a friend had somehow ended up among her entourage. I was relieved when high school improved things, and I finally cut ties when I entered university, only to be brought here.
“As I mentioned before, the plan to wait for them to self-destruct hasn’t changed. It’s one thing to pick up rumors from commoners, but we need to avoid being noticed by the rumors circulating within the castle,” Retze said as he finished distributing the coffee and pulled out his chair.
“That’s right. I just had the Spirits gather rumors from other countries without involving Shulm,” Haulon said, resting his elbows on the table and gazing at Retze.
Yeah, I’m also looking at Retze. Where is he picking up rumors about the commoners in Shulm? I’m curious.
“It’s a relief that the Heroes aren’t moving much from Shulm,” Dinoss said, furrowing his brow slightly. It’s hard to tell if the crease is due to his feelings about the Hero or the bitterness of the coffee.
“My fake Hero, Gene, seems to be busy in the west; he hasn’t come east since then.” The west is where Shulm is located, while east is where the Demon Forest lies.
I’ve asked the Spirits I’ve named to change or destroy all the exits of the Fairy Path that my fake Hero, Doll-kun, might use to get close to towns. Since it’s limited to areas where I’ve named Spirits, it’s within my range of action.
“It seems the Spirits are growing increasingly aware of the danger posed by the Hero, or perhaps the Gods of Es favor Gene’s growing magic power. We should brace ourselves for more major Spirits to gather,” Karn said, holding a cup of coffee filled with so much sugar it seemed like it might crunch.
Please refrain from touching on my magic power, which I deliberately avoided mentioning.
“Even if we contract with those major Spirits, it’s unlikely that Gene will actively do anything. Rather, it feels like the Spirits are fulfilling their own desires under the influence of Liberation,” Retze said.
Yeah, it feels like the Spirits are getting a bit carried away.
“The desires of the Spirits are frightening because they lie beyond human understanding!” Haulon exclaimed.
“—Will the Guardian Spirits of Lord Gene not follow the path that the Light Spirit Namina takes?” The Butler asked, sensing that the conversation was about to loop back.
It is said that when Spirits reach the peak of their power, they turn to stone. Even knowing this, the instinct to increase their power— their very existence— is something they cannot resist.
“I’m not alone in my guardianship. As we grow stronger together, it seems we can influence each other without issue.”
What about Rishu, who stopped summoning Heroes midway? Although he weakens right after summoning, he missed the chance to gain tremendous power. Did he go against his instincts?
It’s strange that he remains a puppy forever. The Butler and Dinoss seem to think he stays that way because I recognize him as a puppy.
Unfortunately, I had thought that once his power recovered, he would naturally grow. I’ve heard that his original potential was immense.
I have no plans to mention this, as it would only cause more worry. I suspect something is going on, but I also understand that Rishu likes me. He’s cute, so it’s fine.