Chapter 523: Awa’i
“So? This time you helped Sea God Seikai and formed a contract with Seikai and the larger Atmosphere Spirit, right?”
“Yeah. Apparently, it’s the Atmosphere Spirit of the Southern Hemisphere.”
Retze confirmed as if summarizing the conversation.
“…!”
Haulon slammed his face onto the table with a loud thud. The sudden noise caused his chair to slide away, leaving him awkwardly perched. He could probably write a dying message with the eggplant he was holding.
“Isn’t it a bit late for that?”
Dean poked at Haulon while bringing his mug to his lips, clearly quite drunk.
“Why, why the Southern Hemisphere?! The inland sea hasn’t crossed the equator yet, has it?!”
Haulon shot up, his voice filled with indignation.
“That’s right! The Atmosphere Spirits blend well together, and calling it the Southern Hemisphere just means it’s more common to find them there! The celestial equator is already misaligned with the sun’s path!”
Haulon explained to himself, shaking the eggplant like a microphone.
“You’re starting to sound ridiculous, you know.”
Dean, still poking at Haulon, hugged his mug to his chest, trying to stifle a laugh.
“I know there’s an equator, but for people like us who hardly move from our living places, it doesn’t really matter. If we say north, it means Kokuzan, and if we say south, it refers to Naruadeid or Es.”
Retze munched on some snacks, looking unconcerned.
“Those comparisons are too grand for us ordinary folks to grasp.”
Chris said with a troubled expression.
Yeah, throwing around terms like equator and heaven out of the blue is confusing. I’m just as lost.
“You’re stepping into a scale like that! You, Gene! I’ve heard that while the retainers in the Northern Hemisphere are active, the main ones remain stationary. I was imagining something a bit cuter!”
Haulon, now standing in a fit of rage, might need to consider meals that are good for high blood pressure along with his joints.
“As expected of the Great Sage, you’re well-versed in spirits. Teach me more next time to prevent accidents.”
“Eh? Oh, sure! Where should we start?”
Once asked for guidance, she suddenly returned to her normal demeanor, sitting back down in her chair with a thud.
The Great Sage is a bit different from ordinary people.
“That was a quick switch!”
Dean was equally surprised.
“Did you enjoy your time underwater?”
“It was incredibly chaotic.”
I replied to Retze.
“It must have felt like entering the womb of a spirit, right? At least you realized there are some laws governing it. Common tales say, ‘Never look back,’ ‘Don’t make a sound,’ and ‘Don’t bring anything back.’ In this case, it seems to be ‘Speak to proceed.'”
Haulon explained.
“I see, so that was the ‘Fairy Path’ I heard about?”
“Yes, the ‘Fairy Path.’ It’s a world of Awa’i where the boundaries between the Spirit Realm and the Material Realm intertwine, a place where time and distance are all distorted.”
Haulon responded to Chris.
“Eh? That was ‘Awa’i’?”
I see, it makes sense that you can’t dig that deep in just half a day. I felt like I went really deep, but if time and distance are distorted, it adds up.
“I wonder if it varies depending on the spirit that opens the path? The well-known ones are the Mist of Deception in the Land of Ruin and Kokuzan’s maze-like space. I’ve been there, but those two were quite malicious and dreary. The relatively safe and beautiful one might be the Path of Light Leaves.”
Haulon twirled a strand of her hair around her finger.
“Haulon, you sound like a sage.”
“I am a sage!”
She’s been to more places than I have and has made various observations.
I haven’t been to the Land of Ruin across the western sea yet, but I’ve visited Kokuzan’s place. However, it wasn’t in Awa’i; they welcomed me normally in the mountains.
Those who are disliked are led astray in Awa’i and ultimately tossed into the ‘twist between the Spirit Realm and the Material Realm,’ right?
“If you enter without guidance, there’s no guarantee you’ll return, so don’t let your curiosity get the better of you.”
“Okay… wait, can I come back?”
I tried to respond honestly but got stuck.
“Why not?”
“Because when I went back to Kanum to pick up Chris, I was already underwater.”
I can return with Teleportation.
“That’s true. Where you were taken was the sparkling sea where the sky couldn’t be seen, on the back of a turtle as beautiful as an emerald.”
Chris said dreamily.
—Emerald? I feel like that turtle was camouflaged. Ah, maybe to Chris, the turtle or spirit appeared radiant? The underwater scenery was stunning, but I don’t remember the turtle being beautiful at all. Is it a matter of perception or preconceived notions?
I thought the Stone Spirit that played melodies and the world of salt crystals where I met the whale were incredibly beautiful, so maybe it’s not the turtle’s fault.
“Teleportation… The secret art that redeems with the blood of one’s kin… Yes, the heights are only that far…”
Haulon began mumbling while gripping the eggplant tightly.
“I’m just glad you’re safe, but don’t go to that world too often, okay? Everyone here would miss you if you turned into something else.”
“Yeah. I won’t go.”
I replied to Retze while drinking. Haulon looked downcast, Dean was starting to laugh and cry at the same time, Chris was worried but couldn’t help but smile, and Karn remained motionless in front of the Fireplace.
Yeah, I won’t go.