BSS 113

Chapter 113

I filled my stomach with fruit and watched the sun set beyond the mountains.

Elves were a race known for living deep in forests. They were gentle, intelligent, and somewhat closed-off. On average, they lived for a thousand years and were renowned as nature-friendly beings who excelled at manipulating spirits.

Every member of their race was born with an innate talent for spirit magic. They could handle multiple elemental spirits at once and, remarkably, even control nature spirits without forming a contract.

Humans could rarely hope to do such things. It was mostly elves—or dragons—who made contracts with the Spirit Kings, which were otherwise realms of the impossible for humans.

In matters of spirits, elves were said to rival dragons.

“Do you remember when I was obsessed with reading forbidden books?”

[I remember. You used to sneak into the library every dawn. Even into the secret room where only forbidden books were kept. You treated me like an all-purpose key.]

“That’s right, isn’t it?”

[It is, but…]

As Rai lazily wagged his large tail, the fluffy fur brushed against my cheek. He seemed pleased with being called the all-purpose key.

[You see, Master, you always want to do what people forbid you from doing.]

“Exactly. When someone tells me I can’t see something, it makes me curious.”

[You can’t be satisfied unless you do what you want, right?]

“Right. I just hate being blocked by someone. Anyway, back then—I read a book, an encyclopedia of the continent’s races written by elves. Do you know how elves described humans?”

[I haven’t read that book.]

“They said humans were a race with nothing to boast about except that they were the most numerous on the continent.”

The book was considered forbidden simply because it belittled humans.

“A greedy, blood-loving, selfish, and weak race, united in inferiority. Lacking any particular talent in anything is proof that the gods understand humanity’s wickedness.”

It was said that humans’ nature was weak and corrupt, so the gods never granted them great power. They made it so that no one could have power without effort.

I couldn’t completely deny it.

One human alone was weaker than most other races. Even weaker than many monsters.

Humans believed they could do anything and had talents for everything, but put differently, it meant they had no exceptional innate gifts like elves or dwarves.

It was a sign of lacking the gods’ blessing.

So elves’ view of humans was both right and wrong.

[Elves have always considered everyone except themselves as barbarians. They’re a bit strange. They even cry when a tree dies.]

“Anyway, it’s an interesting perspective.”

[People are afraid of Master because you find that kind of thing fascinating!]

“I don’t care if they’re afraid. Better than looking down on me a hundred times over.”

I didn’t care how others saw me. As long as they didn’t bother me, it was fine.

[Then why the little one? Showing interest in others isn’t very Master-like.]

“Is that so?”

[Perhaps you’re being cautious.]

“What? Why would I be cautious of them?”

[They have talent in at least one area beyond yours.]

At first, I blinked, unsure what he meant. But thinking about it, he was right.

“True. I can’t hear the voices of spirits, so Eini might indeed be a genius compared to me.”

[At least in affinity.]

Raising my upper body while listening to Rai, I tossed the eaten fruit seeds lightly outside the cabin.

This was a problem worth thinking about seriously.

To meet a child with talent as a spirit mage—unexpectedly, and a natural talent comparable to mine—was rare.

“Rai, how talented do you think Eini is?”

[Well… she seems competent, but I wouldn’t entrust my soul to her.]

Rai was firm in his opinion.

“Why? I called you when I was her age. I was a kid too.”

[Affinity alone is not enough. What matters more is mental strength. And the ability to dominate and control us.]

“Dominate…”

[Above all, the strength to lead us.]

Strong mental strength meant control, which also meant charisma, authority, and resilience. It was natural that manipulating others required extraordinary mental fortitude.

“Eini seemed a bit indecisive. But she’s still young.”

[In your case, Master, you were young but had everything. You had minor shortcomings, but they didn’t matter next to your overwhelming talent, near-arrogant confidence, and fierce control.]

“You can read people, huh?”

[With a steadfast stubbornness and almost no compassion, we could see she would grow without lacking anything.]

That Rai… after a rare compliment, of course he had to say something sensible. I clicked my tongue lightly instead of arguing.

[The conclusion is this: choosing a human with a weak mind as your master is dangerous. Even if the human has elf-level affinity.]

“Well, there are dragons who struggle with magic, so a human with elf-level affinity isn’t surprising.”

[Eini, for example, is just lucky to be born compatible with spirits. Like humans who get along with every animal without reason—she is close to spirits in the same way.]

“I get it. A wasted talent, though.”

To be born in this remote jungle as a minority with that kind of talent seemed a shame to me.

With proper education, she could have become a fine spirit mage—but no teacher would come here. There weren’t enough spirit mages even in the cities.

“So Gruefen ignores me because my authority isn’t enough?”

[Honestly, that one is weird. Extremely difficult to handle.]

“Ha… it’s so hard to deal with him.”

I sighed deeply, stroked Rai’s fur, and buried my face into his belly.

Lying back down, I relaxed by rolling around and fondling Rai.

[Ador is stubborn too, but he obeys Master. Gruefen is just unusual.]

“That’s not your place to say. The most unusual spirit I know is you.”

[Of course, in terms of personality, there’s none like me! Hehe!]

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

Rai’s fur was long, over a hand’s length in some places, like cheeks and chest. I twirled it between my fingers. Round and round.

“How long was I doing that…?”

“Hey, kid.”

[Haaam.]

“Stop peeking and come out, will you?”

Eini quietly approached, still hiding behind a pillar, and started spying on us again.

Rai yawned instead of warning me, and I lay back, showing my belly, legs crossed.

When I spoke while looking directly at her hiding spot, Eini peeked out slightly.

“…My name is Eini!”

“I know.”

“I’m not a kid!”

Even though half-hidden behind the pillar, her gaze was sharp.

She was shy and scared, but her eyes clearly resembled Anel’s.

I snickered and lightly sat up.

It’s annoying when someone calls you by the wrong name.

“Alright, Eini. You speak the Common Tongue very well.”

“My mom taught me.”

Of the village children I’d seen, Eini was the most fluent in the Common Tongue—naturally, since her mother taught it to the tribe.

“Do you… have something you want to say to me?”

“Me…?”

“There must be a reason you keep following me.”

Remembering earlier when I trapped her in water, I asked as gently as possible. At least my furrowed brow had relaxed—a sign of kindness, in my standards.

“I just… it’s…”

Eini’s fear and wariness were obvious. She reminded me of a young wildcat just picked up from the forest.

“Tell me. I won’t eat you.”

“…Who do you think I am, an idiot!”

“You just can’t get your words out properly. Haha, right, Rai?”

I shrugged and stretched my legs. Rai came closer and sat right next to me. While I admired his nodding head and stroked under his chin, Eini remained mostly hidden behind the pillar.

“You… came from the city, right?”

“Yes. I’m from Dmitri.”

“My mom said you were smart and brave.”

“See, she has good judgment. That’s why I like Anel.”

“You go to a big academy, right? The kind everyone knows by name…”

Drike Academy was famous as a small elite school. It took few students, so admission was harder than other academies—but the education quality was excellent. Graduates always took key positions, making it a dream for many.

“What’s it like there? Lots of books? Can you learn anything? Is it true no one knows more than you? And you really have classes every day?”

“Don’t tell me you…”

“Hm?”

“You like studying?”

Eini flinched as if struck in a nerve, then ducked further behind the pillar, only a third visible now.

“Well… you’re interested in strange things.”

[Not strange, but compared to Master, her interests are too wholesome, which is a bit embarrassing.]

“What about me!”

[You always do what you’re told not to do.]

I couldn’t deny it. Rai knew everything I did, being my right and left hand—nothing could be hidden.

“I like studying. I like books… I envy learning.”

“That’s opposite to me.”