Chapter 47 : Chapter 47

Chapter 47: Master of the Desert (4)

In the end, Narima stayed by my side, chattering until the morning sun rose.

I was used to staying up due to my training, but Narima pinched her thighs to keep herself awake, talking with me the whole time.

We didn’t trouble each other anymore.

Narima didn’t bring up stories about Adjak or Hike, and I didn’t urge her to seal the Desert’s Blessing.

We just talked about the outside world she was curious about and my adventures.

I hadn’t traveled much myself, but I embellished what I knew to entertain her.

Narima listened eagerly to my stories, getting excited, and she, too, chatted about herself.

Her stories contained surprising information.

“I actually made a contract with the Sand Spirit King! Pretty cool, right?”

Her words left me speechless.

That this tiny child had contracted with a being as grand as a Spirit King explained why she couldn’t leave the desert.

“And my big brother is outside the desert…”

She also told me about her older brother, who had already left the desert.

Narima said she wanted to travel like him someday.

The promised night passed.

Leaving Narima, who had finally succumbed to sleep despite her efforts, I stepped out of the cave.

The underground city was made of sand, yet the crisp dawn air felt refreshing.

Last night, I hadn’t done most of what I’d planned.

I was supposed to create a new build optimized for my newly acquired [Flame of the Spirit] and plan my next steps.

But spending time with Narima wasn’t bad.

It felt like I could breathe, surrounded by the warmth of human connection after so long.

I stretched in front of the cave.

Then, the man who had first guided me here, Karab, approached.

“Did you rest well?”

“Yes, thanks to you, I rested comfortably.”

It was Karab who had lingered outside the cave where Narima and I stayed, concealing his presence with [Assimilation].

I understood why.

If a child as important to the tribe as Narima spent the whole night talking with an outsider, I’d be worried too.

The Hamudalun tribe would be a terrifying enemy if turned against.

What if I had been swept up by last night’s emotions and helped Narima escape?

I didn’t want to imagine it.

Coming for a night’s rest might have ended with me sleeping forever.

But Karab’s expression as he looked at me was complex.

It seemed he knew what Narima and I had talked about.

Behind Karab, the chieftain and a large group of Hamudalun tribespeople appeared.

They, too, seemed aware of the situation, and their demeanor toward me had changed.

Until yesterday, they hadn’t shown hostility but kept a certain distance.

Now, their expressions were complicated and subtle.

“It’s morning now.”

“Yes, I’m about to leave.”

“I’m sorry we couldn’t offer you a longer stay. This is how we’ve survived in the desert.”

“I understand. Thanks to you, I feel much lighter.”

My words weren’t just polite formalities; I was genuinely grateful.

They, too, seemed to appreciate that I had listened to Narima all night and treated me with respect.

“It wasn’t intentional, but… we overheard your conversation.”

“Yes, I knew you were watching.”

“As expected, you knew. I never dreamed you were a descendant of Adjak.”

The chieftain handed me an ornament.

“This is a token of our tribe’s friendship. If you meet a pilgrim outside the desert someday, it will surely be of help.”

It was an ornament with a lizard pattern, woven from red and yellow threads.

I gratefully accepted it and tied it to the tip of my sword.

It wasn’t a special artifact, but I wanted to remember the kindness shown by the first people I met outside the Adjak family.

The chieftain’s words were straightforward.

It was Adjak, not me, who had helped them.

They couldn’t possibly know the connection between Adjak and me.

And it was their ancestors, not the current tribespeople, who had received his help.

So, we didn’t bring up old promises or make new ones.

We simply talked about what had happened now, calmly.

Their unpretentious attitude felt trustworthy.

I looked at the chieftain and joked.

“Thank you. I hope this means I won’t get assassinated.”

“Haha, as long as you keep that on, you’ll be fine.”

The chieftain let out a hearty laugh.

Even though I subtly revealed I knew what the Hamudalun tribe did outside, he showed no particular reaction.

“I hope we can meet again under good circumstances.”

“Haha, I feel the same. Well then…”

Tatatata.

Just then, I heard the sound of small, running footsteps.

It was Narima, whom I thought was asleep, rushing toward me.

She grabbed my knees and hugged me tightly.

The Hamudalun adults couldn’t hide their surprise at her actions.

“Narima, this man has to go on his way…”

“I know…”

Narima turned to her grandfather and asked.

“Grandpa, can I give him a gift?”

“Child… you should ask the recipient’s permission first.”

Taking her grandfather’s words as approval, Narima looked up at me and asked.

“Will you accept it?”

If it were just an ordinary gift, neither would have been so serious.

It seemed she meant to share the Desert’s Blessing, a Sand Spirit.

I felt pity for Narima’s situation and gratitude for her sharing stories of Hike and Adjak.

I genuinely cared for her.

But I couldn’t be bound to the desert.

“Hm…”

Seeing my hesitation, Narima spoke clearly.

“I’ll give you something good, but not so much that it’ll hurt you.”

Her pure voice made my brief hesitation feel embarrassing.

I nodded to Narima.

“Okay, thank you.”

The chieftain also gave a small nod, signaling his approval.

The Hamudalun tribe had a ritual to transfer the Desert’s Blessing, their Sand Spirits, to others.

In less secluded times, they shared their blessing with outsiders to lighten their burden.

The chieftain seemed to recall that tradition.

While the chieftain prepared the ritual, I had a moment to talk with Narima alone.

I was about to ask something I hadn’t dared to ask last night when she spoke first.

“You’re the first person who wanted to do something for me!”

Those who had given Narima the Desert’s Blessing likely persuaded her it was to share the blessing.

But Narima, young as she was, knew the truth.

This reality that bound her wasn’t for her sake.

“That’s why I’m giving you a gift. So you’ll never forget me!”

I patted Narima’s head, feeling proud of her.

She giggled.

Then she whispered in my ear, unaware that the tribe’s adults already knew.

“And later, I’ll help you. I promise.”

Narima held out her pinky. I hooked my finger with hers.

And, just as she had, I whispered back.

“If you ever need my help, just say so. I’ll definitely help you.”

I glanced at the chieftain preparing the ritual.

I couldn’t tell if he truly cared for Narima or was using his granddaughter.

I couldn’t smell a person’s intentions.

But I understood that Narima wasn’t just a naive child.

So, I decided to trust her. It was the life she had chosen, after all.

“Have you finished talking?”

“Yes, Chieftain. Just done.”

The chieftain nodded and showed us the incense he held in both hands.

The ritual began.

Tsssss.

The ends of the incense burned.

Narima, smiling brightly, rolled up her sleeve.

I extended my right arm, exposing the inner wrist where the tendons stood out.

The chieftain bowed respectfully to both of us and proceeded with the ritual.

Ugh.

It wasn’t terribly painful, but burning bare skin couldn’t be painless.

Yet Narima was brave, even smiling brightly.

Tssssss—

After the incense fully burned, Narima’s wrist touched mine.

A sandy glow spread between us.

“Narima!”

The chieftain exclaimed in shock.

I was equally startled.

A tremendous energy surged through my body.

It was distinctly different from mana, a powerful force.

‘This kind of energy must be from a high-rank spirit… I won’t be bound to the desert, will I?’

As if reading my worry, Narima reassured me.

“Don’t be surprised. You can leave the desert, and the spirit will be a great help!”

Narima stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around my wrist.

The contract she had with the Sand Spirit was transferred to me.

The process wasn’t simple.

As a new being connected to my soul, it brought a burden, but Narima eased it.

“Narima, you didn’t give him too strong a spirit, did you…?”

The chieftain asked with concern, but Narima brushed it off casually.

“I gave him as much as I wanted to!”

Rumble!

The ground shook.

A massive form emerged, stirring the desert sand.

Sand cascaded from the spirit’s body.

Rather than a specific shape, it resembled a colossal sand mountain.

The Hamudalun adults were stunned by the spirit’s appearance.

The chieftain, perhaps due to his dignity, only flinched, but Karab and the others bowed deeply, some even prostrating before the massive Sand Spirit.

But the Sand Spirit didn’t spare a glance for the Hamudalun adults.

Deep eyes emerged from the vast sand mountain, staring at me.

A majestic voice resounded.

- Are you my new contractor?

I bowed to the Sand Spirit.

The adults’ shock was understandable.

Even I recognized the significance of this Sand Spirit.

“Yes, that’s me. I’m Polarin Adjak.”

I announced my name to the Sand Spirit.

It was likely the first time the Hamudalun tribe heard it from my lips.

- I am the Sand Spirit, Arandir.

The old friend of the Sand Spirit King.

I had formed a contract with the high-rank spirit, Arandir.

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