Chapter 750

Chapter 750

What a Curious Being. (2)

The reason for his frustration wasn’t anything special.

'Ah, I should’ve shown a bit more sincerity and held back a little.'

He simply wanted to look as impressive as possible. So, he had exaggerated a bit.

But it seemed that to the spirits, that came across as shock and terror.

Ghislain asked regretfully.

“Would it be alright if I tried one more time? I’m actually a rather kind person, you know.”

Ilaniel gently but firmly shook her head.

“The spirits are already very afraid of you. They say you reek of blood.”

Ghislain lifted his arm and sniffed it.

A subtle floral scent wafted from the robe the elves had newly prepared for him.

“I don’t smell like blood.”

“It’s what they felt from the sincerity you showed. The seeds of the spirits that have yet to mature naturally have no choice but to fear it.”

“Tsk...”

Ghislain clicked his tongue. He understood what she meant. Having lived his entire life on the battlefield, it was only natural that such an atmosphere would linger whenever he showed his true feelings.

Still, he stubbornly pushed back a little, unable to let it go.

“Do spirits not have any ambition?”

“They do not.”

“I can’t understand why they don’t like it after seeing such a magnificent and grand display.”

“The spirits say it wasn’t magnificent at all.”

“When elves fight, the spirits fight alongside them, so why won’t they fight with me?”

Ilaniel gave him a warm smile as she offered a new lesson.

“They didn’t become friends to fight. They fight together because they are friends.”

“...”

This time, even Ghislain’s obstinacy and twisted logic wouldn’t work.

Becoming friends with a spirit was far too difficult for someone like Ghislain.

“Sigh...”

Left with no choice, Ghislain scratched the back of his head and gave up on becoming friends with the spirits.

He wasn’t the type to cling to something when the other party clearly didn’t want it.

Though a bit of lingering regret remained.

Just as Ghislain had failed, the other mercenaries all failed to become friends with the spirits as well.

It was understandable. None of them had any genuine intention of forming a true friendship with the spirits; their minds were filled solely with thoughts of using them.

'If I can just learn spirit arts, I’ll be unstoppable!'

'Just showing this off anywhere will earn me a fortune. I’ll be incredibly popular too!'

'Please, just be friends with me! Let me live a glorious life for once! Let me turn my life around!'

'Osval the man! If I can just get a spirit, I’ll charm an elf and get out of this mess!'

Everyone was thinking only of the benefits they could gain after obtaining a spirit. Even Lionel, the devout Temple Knight, was no different.

'I’ve lost my Divine Power, but if I learn Spirit Arts, I can quickly become strong again. Please, join me! Together, let’s bring prosperity to the Holy Empire and spread the glory of the Holy See!'

Kyle was also shouting after the departing spirits.

“Hey! Why! Where are you going! Even Dark said I’m fine! Let’s become famous nobles together!”

With everyone acting like this, there was no way the spirits would become their friends.

The spirits clearly saw through all that greed and hurried away.

Only a few spirits lingered near Deneb, but whether her Divine Power was interfering or she simply lacked affinity, they didn’t come any closer.

The mercenaries all wore sullen expressions.

They regretted not being able to learn Spirit Arts, a power they thought they could gain without any real effort.

Everyone started pouting and grumbling.

“Ah, seriously. Spirits are way too picky. Acting all high and mighty.”

“Do they even choose their friends? Can’t they just be friends with us?”

“Is Spirit Arts a skill where natural talent matters, like Divine Power? Ah, this is so unfair.”

Ilaniel had repeatedly emphasized that ‘character is the most important,’ but not a single one of them had truly taken those words to heart.

Just when it seemed like everyone had failed, the elves watching widened their eyes in astonishment.

They were all focused on one person. The mercenaries, sensing the shift, stopped grumbling and turned their heads.

Soon, exclamations of wonder escaped everyone’s lips.

“Wooooow...”

Countless fragments of light were swirling around Julien. They looked as though they were eager to stay by his side.

The tiny fragments of light gathered together as if drawn to one another, soon merging into several large clusters.

Even then, the clusters of light showed no intention of leaving Julien’s side, continuing to press closer to him.

Julien gazed at the sight with a gentle smile.

When he raised his hand, the lights surged toward him, and when he turned his head, the lights followed his gaze.

As if breathing together, a silent communion flowed between Julien and the spirits.

Even Ilaniel, watching this, couldn’t hide her surprise. Julien was displaying a spirit affinity far surpassing that of the elves.

She quietly approached Julien and asked him.

“What were you thinking as you opened your heart to them?”

Julien hesitated for a moment before carefully answering.

“I just... watched them.”

He had held no demands or desires.

He had simply observed the spirits with pure curiosity.

Even so, the spirits had drawn close to him.

Like children seeking affection, they tilted their forms as if trying to reach Julien’s fingertips.

Ilaniel smiled softly and said,

“The spirits truly like you.”

“Why... me?”

“Well, who can say. But I do know that your soul is purer than anyone’s.”

Ilaniel lightly waved her hand. At her gesture, the gathered light slowly floated toward Julien.

“Take it. If you truly wish for it, these little ones will become your friends for life.”

Julien slowly reached out his hand.

The light flowed into his palm as though seeping in, and at the same time, a soft glow radiated from his body before gently fading.

“Ah...”

An involuntary exclamation escaped Julien’s lips. He realized that his consciousness had connected with the spirits.

He instinctively understood how to commune with them and how to call upon them.

It was as natural and familiar as breathing.

When Julien opened his palm, a small droplet appeared, hovering above it.

It soon took on a form as adorable as a child and joyfully circled around Julien.

A wisp of wind took shape, and a small flicker of flame sparkled and leaped upward.

The ground gently trembled as an earth spirit peeked out and nuzzled against Julien’s feet.

Before long, spirits of all kinds and shapes danced around Julien. They all looked cheerful and affectionate.

Julien gazed at each of the spirits, smiling once again.

At that moment, he had become closer to nature than anyone.

The mercenaries stared blankly at the scene before them.

“Wow... The Commander actually learned Spirit Arts.”

“So jealous... How come there are so many spirits? He took them all for himself.”

“What is it? What’s different about the Commander compared to us?”

Voices filled with a mix of admiration and confusion erupted without anyone prompting.

Ilaniel looked at Julien with a kind gaze.

“Now the spirits have become your friends. Your growth will be their growth, and they will always share your sorrows and joys. So, cherish them well. They too will treasure you more than anyone else in this world.”

“Yes. I will keep that in mind.”

Julien, his face radiant with a smile, bowed deeply.

In his heart, along with the emotion of forming a bond with the spirits, was a deep gratitude toward Ilaniel, who had made it possible.

Just as the ceremony was drawing to a warm close, Osval suddenly shouted.

“This filthy world!”

“...?”

Everyone turned to look at Osval. With a furious expression, he shouted again.

“I figured it out! Why do the spirits only like the Commander! What makes him different from us!”

He pointed a finger at Julien.

“You know what the difference is? It’s that face!”

“...”

“You really don’t get it? The spirits are just going for looks! This filthy, appearance-obsessed world! We need a revolution! We need to redistribute good looks!”

At those words, Kyle, and Lionel, who had also failed to make friends with the spirits, bristled.

“I used to be the second most handsome guy in my town, you know?”

“I don’t mean to brag, but I was also in charge of official ceremonies at the Holy See. You need to have a proper and neat appearance to be given that role.”

Osval snorted at their words.

“The Commander is ridiculously handsome! Just looking at him wounds people’s hearts! You have to be at that level for spirits to flock to you!”

“...”

Everyone was dumbfounded, but Osval went a step further and questioned Ilaniel accusingly.

“Great Chieftain! You said we should look at a person’s inner self, not their appearance!”

“I... did say that...”

“Then why do the spirits only look at appearances! Huh?”

Ilaniel let out a soft sigh, glanced between Julien and Osval, and quietly spoke.

“The spirits do not look at such things. Nor do we elves. Appearance is like mist that fades with time. Beauty is but a fleeting illusion, while the true light of the soul will shine even through a wrinkled face.”

“Huh? The soul... gets wrinkled... what?”

The lesson was far too profound for Osval. He didn’t understand it at all.

Being a person of great character and a true adult, Ilaniel spoke again in simpler terms, soothing him.

“To my eyes, there’s little difference between that child’s looks and yours. So don’t obsess over what is visible. What matters is what kind of person you are.”

At that, Osval’s jaw dropped in shock.

Anyone could see that Julien was clean-cut and handsome. In contrast, he had a scruffy, unkempt beard and rough features.

‘But... there’s little difference?’

No matter how he thought about it, it didn’t make sense. But there was no way the Great Chieftain of the elves would lie about something like this.

So, he cautiously asked.

“Great Chieftain... You look young, but you’ve lived a very long time, right?”

“That is correct.”

“Then... could it be that your eyesight is starting to go? Haven’t you noticed your vision getting worse lately?”

“...”

Unable to tolerate any more rudeness, the Julien Mercenary Corps rushed in to cover Osval’s mouth.

“Mmmpf! Why are you covering my mouth! I’m right!”

“Please, just shut up! Osval!”

“Mmph! This filthy world! Revolution!”

“Shut up!”

Osval was firmly subdued and dragged away.

While Osval was getting smacked behind them, Ghislain looked at Julien and let out a dry laugh.

Something he had forgotten suddenly came to mind, the image of the Hero he had seen in his dream.

Hadn’t Ereneth said so as well? That the Hero was a being loved by the world.

If the Saintess was a being loved by the goddesses, the Hero was one loved by all things in the world.

Julien clearly had something special about him.

His outstanding appearance was only a likable trait among humans.

What truly mattered...

As he had seen in his dream, the will of the world was with Julien.

'Then... were the spirits I saw in the dream the very ones he just gained?'

He had once glimpsed Julien fighting alongside spirits in that dream.

Those spirits hadn’t looked cute like they do now. Back then, they had become one with the very fabric of the world, lending Julien their strength.

It was an unexpected gain. Ghislain had asked to learn Spirit Arts himself, but in the end, the one who gained that power was Julien.

'No, this was probably meant for Julien all along.'

He didn’t know how the Hero had obtained spirits in the original past. But it must have been through the elves, just the same.

Just like Deneb had gained her necklace.

While Ghislain was lost in thought, the ceremony came to a complete close.

Though everyone regretted not gaining anything themselves, they still sincerely congratulated Julien.

Ghislain, too, let go of his lingering attachment. Instead, he decided to ask Ilaniel about something he had been curious about for a while.

“Could you take a look at this guy for me?”

Ghislain summoned Dark. Dark had vanished before the battle had even ended.

—Elves make me uncomfortable. Everything about this is uncomfortable.

Grumbling like that, Dark had holed up inside Ghislain’s consciousness and refused to come out.

Normally, he would jump at the chance to appear before people, showing off and acting smug.

But if Ghislain forcibly summoned him, he couldn’t resist. Reluctantly, Dark appeared, wearing a sullen expression.

Seeing Dark, who resembled a plump sparrow, Ilaniel’s face showed a look of curiosity.

“This is... quite a curious being.”

“I am the King of Spirits!”

Dark proclaimed proudly, glaring at Ilaniel. His posture made it clear he intended to start a battle of wills.

“...”

A moment of silence passed.

Ilaniel then gave him a look of disbelief.

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