MSMH 35

CHAPTER 35………………………………………..

Until a moment ago, I thought his eyes were as clear as a child’s—but now, they were deep, like an old man who sees through the whole world.

“…Do I really have talent?”

―Yes. You can hear the voice of the earth, right?

“That’s….”

I had often felt as if the magic stone was speaking to me.

I had thought it was unusual, but I didn’t realize it was a power so special that it could form a contract with a high-ranking spirit.

―I think you’ll suit me much better than Kanil. He was good at everything, but never really stuck with one thing! If he hadn’t held me back, we might have met a little earlier.

As he said that, a brilliant light seemed to pour out from behind his back.

From that small body came the endlessly warm, immense energy of the earth.

Ah…

Without realizing it, my legs gave out.

The worn pages of the Introduction to Spiritology, which I had read hundreds, thousands of times, flashed through my mind.

“…He has the personality of a five-year-old child and the wisdom of a hundred-year-old man. To form a contract with him, one must have broad knowledge of the earth and minerals, and a single-mindedness like that of a philosopher. He is a spirit of the earth who can encompass everything, while also being a craftsman with exceptional skill.”

No matter how I covered my face with my hands, I couldn’t hide the tears flowing between my fingers.

I remembered struggling with insufficient mana in the past. Back then, I wanted to be recognized even a little, to become stronger.

His smooth, deep eyes seemed to already know of Adamas’ efforts.

“Mas.”

Sapheiros quickly approached Adamas and helped her to her feet.

“Ah, sorry. I grabbed you carelessly.”

Adamas hurriedly caught Sapheiros as he quickly pulled his hands away from her waist.

“It’s fine, Ros. Hold me for a moment. I can’t stand on my legs.”

“What happened? What did that little guy say? Should I kill him?”

“No, that’s not it…”

The tears wouldn’t stop, that’s all.

“Then I guess I’ll have to kill him.”

“No, that’s not it!”

Adamas quickly waved her hands to stop Sapheiros.

“Alright, let’s make the contract.”

Adamas extended her trembling hands toward him.

I realized, briefly, that this is what it feels like to cry tears of joy.

When Adamas and Sapheiros escaped the desert underground dungeon with his help,

the navy-blue sky was spreading a graceful Milky Way over the land.

Looking at the golden rivers dotted across the landscape, Adamas wore an ecstatic expression.

“Wow, it’s like lapis lazuli. Beautiful… and it’s even a full moon.”

Everything in the world seemed beautiful to Adamas.

“Why are you looking at me like that, Ros? Do I look like a spiritologist who’s made a contract with a high-ranking spirit? Hmph.”

“Ha, forget it. I just looked because I heard a word I didn’t know.”

“What? Lapis lazuli?”

“Yes, that. Quite a long name too.”

“It’s a gemstone. Pretty, isn’t it?”

Adamas held up her right thumb as she spoke.

“A jewel that resembles the night sky,” said Sapheiros, with his characteristically calm observation.

“It could actually become a star shining in the night sky.”

If the dungeon had been above ground, this lapis lazuli could have been a useful guide.

No, no.

Now I have him. Hehe.

“Adamas, you’ve been laughing a bit creepily since earlier.”

“Is this what it feels like to be in a warehouse full of jewels, Sapheiros?”

“Is it really that great? Making a contract with that tiny spirit?”

“It is! He’s a high-ranking earth spirit, no less!”

Adamas’ eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“Indeed, since he created that underground dungeon alone, he could be a huge help in developing the emerald mine.”

“Right, he would certainly help a lot with mining too…”

Huh? Wait. Something’s off.

Frowning, Adamas summoned him.

―What now? We just parted. I thought I’d rest in the spirit realm for a while, so why call me?

“Hey, do you know the salt mine?”

―Ah, the one buried under the desert? Of course I know it.

No, it would be stranger if he didn’t.

“Then why didn’t Kanil use your help and mined the salt with golems instead?”

He could have easily handled the development of the salt mine.

―Because I refused. How dare some naive little thing use an old spirit without offering compensation? His eyes were red with greed, too.

Ah, so Kanil was blinded by money and didn’t treat him properly.

As expected of a spirit. His pride touches the sky.

“Then, if I ask you to help with emerald mining, will you refuse too?”

―Emerald? You have a gemstone mine?

“It’s not mine, but the caretaker treats it like family. There’s a natural magic stone imbued with lightning energy there.”

―Really? That’s interesting. Well, if you give me one of the good magic stones, I’ll think about it.

His eyes sparkled as he spoke.

“Of course. Don’t worry about that.”

I could just give him one of the magic stones that were my share.

Originally, when Adamas made a contract with Marquis Hidenight, she had agreed to receive part of her compensation in kind.

Giving him one wouldn’t cause any real problem.

―Alright. I’ll help. Can I go back and rest now?

“Sure. Come when I call you again!”

Waving her hands quickly, Adamas tapped Sapheiros lightly on the waist to force him to greet.

With a flushed face, he awkwardly waved back at him.

Seeing him disappear in a glow of light, Adamas shouted to Sapheiros,

“Ros! He said he’ll help us develop the mine.”

“Ah, yeah.”

Sapheiros avoided her gaze, his face still red.

“Are you hurt? Your face is really red.”

“It’s your fault! Blabbing to a talkative spirit we just contracted about us! Of course, I don’t mind…”

“When did I ever say anything about us…? You mean when I said the caretaker is like family?”

“Yes, that’s it!”

I said it thinking of the Marquis…

If you react this way, I just want to tease you.

“Why, fiancé is okay, but family isn’t?”

“I told you, I’m not thinking about marriage yet.”

Adamas’ face contorted mercilessly.

The more she thought, the worse she felt.

“You did that last time too… am I really that bad?”

“No, it’s not that. To marry, we’d need a new house, rings, and the golems in the marquisate are still being produced…”

“…Pfft. Hahaha!”

“Why, why are you laughing!”

“No, with that level of responsibility, you’d really be a good husband.”

Adamas patted Sapheiros’ back vigorously.

“Ow.”

“Oh dear, did that hurt? Sorry.”

“Stop it! Really!”

“Why? I just want to pat my fiancé’s head once! Come here.”

“Stop it!”

The two of them walked side by side toward the marquisate, which appeared as small as thumbs in the distance, joking along the way.

Sapheiros thought it strange that the desert night felt as hot as midday.

Under the beautiful Milky Way, the wind blew fiercely through Spinel’s hair.

He gazed at the wide Ushii Plains and fell into a brief reverie.

“Ah, finally.”

He had believed he could return at any time—but it had taken eighteen years.

The long years, endured only by longing, had now come to an end.

He gripped the reins tightly.

Recalling past memories, his eyes reddened without him noticing.

“My beloved Rozy…”

The wind whispered to their ears, starlight poured white around them.

He remembered her and himself united beneath it.

Closing his eyes, Rozy’s low, gentle voice still echoed vividly in his ears.

Recalling her crimson eyes full of passion, Spinel always felt like the twenty-two-year-old youth he once was.

Eighteen years ago, a rebellion broke out in the Kingdom of Robiana.

Spinel, at twenty-two, was still the third prince.

Second Prince Spio killed the then-crown prince Spica, pressing the Emperor to appoint him as the new crown prince.

Spinel, the third prince and Spica’s twin, fled with a large wound on his back to the borderlands of the Ushii Plains.

It was then that he met Rozy.

In the barren borderlands, she carefully tended to him, covered in blood.

They met at a crescent moon and shared deep love under the full moon.

The border and status meant nothing—only a fiery, intense attraction.

He vowed to take her to Robiana and place her in the highest position.

Spinel’s ambition burned.

The day after the full moon,

people came to Robiana searching for Spinel.

They were forces loyal to the elder brother, the crown prince.

Before the Emperor appointed Spio as crown prince, they urged Spinel to return quickly to the capital.

“Rozy. Come with me to Robiana. We’ll spend our lives together there.”

“What? You’re not from Francis?”

“…What does it matter, Rozy?”

“You lied to me, Spinel! We’re enemies!”

“Oh, my Rozy. Calm down. This long war doesn’t concern us.”

“Then who are these soldiers?”

“They only came for me. I am the third prince of Robiana.”

“What? Spinel, you’re royalty of that filthy country! Fifty years ago, my grandmother was violated in the Ushii-Baran battle by your country’s royalty! And now you….”

“Rozy, don’t project the past onto yourself. That’s unwise. You weren’t even born then.”

“Past? Misunderstanding? It doesn’t matter? Spinel, you should have apologized first! I hate you, disappear from my sight!”

Her anguished, contorted face.

Spinel still remembered the bright red flames that had risen in her hands.

My beautiful rose—even her thorns were alluring.

At that time, there wasn’t enough time to convince her.

Spinel turned away, heart aching.

Back in the capital, Spinel immediately began a chaotic succession struggle.

Unable to go to Rozy, he sent people to watch over her.

But it was okay—Rozy hadn’t married anyone else yet.

Perhaps she regretted not following him.

Ah, my red rose.