Chapter 636
As there were quite a number of mages who had contracted with low-level spirits, spirits were more familiar and recognizable to the people of the empire than one might think.
Just looking at fairy tales, there were many stories where children in danger would escape by conversing with spirits.
However, strictly speaking, most of these stories were fiction. Ordinary people couldn’t converse with spirits.
Spirits were clearly beings from another realm, and to cross that barrier, a strong contract or magic was necessary.
A prime example was that even Yi-Han couldn’t recognize the true name of the spirit contracted with the Pengerin family when he heard it.
Even Yi-Han, who had contracted with a powerful spirit like Ferkuntra that could converse with humans on its own, couldn’t recognize the name unless he was of the Pengerin family bloodline.
But to be able to speak spirit language innately.
“To be able to use spirit language… What kind of magic does Mr. Arsil research?!”
“My brother isn’t a mage though.”
“What?!!!”
Alcicle was even more surprised than when he heard that Arsil could innately speak spirit language.
To have such an extraordinary talent yet not be a mage.
“Why on earth?!”
“Because he’s not interested in magic?”
Arsil shrugged and said something. Yi-Han heard it and relayed the message.
“He says he also doesn’t have much talent for magic.”
“…”
Alcicle almost screamed, asking what nonsense this was.
If one could command spirits to that degree, wasn’t that enough? Did one need to be able to flip heaven and earth with a single finger to be considered talented?! Р�
“Ah. No. Haha. Hey. You’re praising me too much.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he doesn’t have talent for magic compared to me… Don’t take this too seriously. My brother is praising me too much because guests have come.”
‘Well. That seems right.’
Alcicle inadvertently agreed inwardly.
Excluding being loved by spirits, the Wardanaz family bloodline in front of him didn’t seem more outstanding in magic than Yi-Han.
“How on earth can one innately speak spirit language? Even spirit mixed-bloods would find it difficult…”
Alcicle muttered with a shocked face.
Among spirit mixed-bloods, those who inherited spirit characteristics very strongly would show differences like having asexual characteristics or innately using spirit abilities.
But even among such spirit mixed-bloods, there were none who could innately speak spirit language. At best, they could hear a few words from spirits they had a very deep connection with.
To innately speak spirit language and have such strong affinity, wouldn’t one have to be a spirit itself rather than a mixed-blood?
‘Is he really not a spirit?’
Alcicle had the rude thought that the other might be a spirit of the Wardanaz family.
That would solve many questions.
Able to speak spirit language (because he’s a spirit), able to converse with Yi-Han (because he’s of the contracted family’s bloodline)…
“Mr. Pengerin?”
“Huh? What?”
Alcicle raised his head at Yi-Han’s call.
The two Wardanaz family brothers were looking at Alcicle. Especially Arsil was giving an interested look.
“My brother is asking if he can see you eat sardines… I’m sorry.”
“Ah, no. I was just craving sardines.”
***
“Right. That can happen. They even use demons. That’s right. Hmm. Yes. That can happen. They even use demons.”
“Mr. Pengerin. You’ve been saying that almost a hundred times now.”
“A broken record player?”
At his junior’s words, Yi-Han made a ‘shh’ sound.
“Mr. Pengerin is just surprised, that’s all.”
Alcicle, belatedly coming out of shock, gathered his wits and spoke.
“N-no. I was just… surprised. It’s such an amazing ability.”
“Nah. I have a similar ability too.”
“What?! Don’t tell me you can converse with spirits too?!”
Alcicle was startled.
Was his earlier conversation with his brother not because they were of the same bloodline, but because he also had the ability to speak spirit language?!
“No. Unlike my brother, I have the ability to make spirits run away wherever I go… I’m joking. I’m sorry.”
“…”
Alcicle was dumbfounded, but Arsil next to him burst into laughter and pounded the table.
“I was so surprised I couldn’t even greet Mr. Arsil properly… Tell him I’m sorry.”
“He says not to mind at all.”
“What does Mr. Arsil do?”
“My brother searches for treasures.”
“Oh!”
Alcicle unconsciously looked at the old, large backpack Arsil had put down earlier.
Could it be that what was inside were ancient artifacts?
‘…?’
But looking again, he couldn’t feel any particular mana from the items in the backpack.
Alcicle carefully asked.
“Are those perhaps treasures?”
“Yes.”
“I can’t feel any mana though?”
“Treasures don’t have to be artifacts, right? They could be treasures with archaeological value.”
At those words, Arsil added something from the side.
Yi-Han explained with an embarrassed expression.
“Well. He says those items aren’t even 30 years old.”
“Then what value do they have?”
“He says their worn appearance has a certain charm. He’s going to give them as gifts to spirits…”
“…”
Alcicle was even more confused.
No matter how he looked at it, they were just odds and ends commonly found on the streets.
He was going to give those as gifts to picky spirits?
As Alcicle had needed spirits’ help in magic research before, he knew well the conditions for gifts that should be offered to spirits.
Offering an insignificant gift could unnecessarily incur their wrath.
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When Arsil gave a chipped and cracked porcelain cup as a gift, the drought spirit sitting on his shoulder was very pleased and flew off to the spirit realm.
Alcicle gaped his beak at that sight.
Were spirits beings that rejoiced and were happy with gifts like that?
“Ama… amazing. Really. To think spirits would be so pleased like that.”
“Oh right. Brother. I contracted with that spirit.”
Arsil pointed at Ferkuntra’s mark and asked with interest. Yi-Han shook his head.
“You don’t need to mind that. Look here.”
Yi-Han summoned the sparrow spirit and squirrel spirit.
Arsil smiled gently at that sight. He was proud to see his younger brother, who had difficulty being friendly with spirits, become so close to them.
He was a bit curious why he was just passing over the powerful lightning spirit, though…
Tap-
As soon as they were summoned, the sparrow spirit and squirrel spirit ran to Arsil and climbed onto both his shoulders.
“Now. This way.”
Yi-Han spoke to the two spirits. However, they acted as if they couldn’t hear him, playing and jumping around on Arsil’s shoulders.
Yi-Han’s face darkened at that sight.
“…I said come this way?”
The spirits were too excited playing to hear Yi-Han’s words.
Seeing Yi-Han’s expression gradually distort with grief and sorrow, Alcicle became flustered.
“Hey, hey. Move! I said move!”
Even at Alcicle’s shout, the spirits didn’t come to their senses until Arsil lightly tapped them.
The two spirits scurried to Yi-Han’s front and tried to climb onto his shoulders.
However, Yi-Han distanced himself with a cold expression.
-!?-
Arsil, who had been watching his younger brother play with the spirits with a pleased look, called Yi-Han as if he had just remembered something while rummaging through his backpack.
“Yes, brother. Oh, a gift? You really don’t have to. A commemoration for enduring a year under an evil, corrupt official? Who’s the evil, corrupt official… Ah. The principal. Thank you.”
Alcicle carefully asked.
“Are you perhaps not on good terms with Lord Gonadaltes?”
“It’s probably because the principal buys a lot of treasures.”
Although Arsil traveled around the empire looking for treasures and relics, his method differed from ordinary collectors.
While imperial collectors waited leisurely and bought items unearthed by adventurers at auctions, Arsil went around directly, putting in the legwork.
There was nothing more heartbreaking than seeing relics he was interested in pass through adventurers’ hands to auctions and then end up with collectors who had nothing but gold coins.
‘Oh right. I buy a lot at auctions too.’
Alcicle felt a pang of guilt.
It was rare for wealthy nobles not to go to auctions. With all sorts of various items flowing into auctions, it was fun just to look around.
“He’s asking if Mr. Pengerin buys a lot of treasures too? Nah. Mr. Pengerin isn’t that kind of person.”
“L-Lord Gonadaltes is really too much! He should yield treasures for the sake of future scholars, but to hoard them all for himself!”
Alcicle hurriedly criticized Gonadaltes. Arsil smiled as if agreeing.
“He’s telling me to choose one of these? But brother. The treasures you brought before seemed to have a lot of dangerous ones… You say this time is different? But you said that last time too.”
Arsil looked at Yi-Han with innocent eyes as if it was a misunderstanding.
That outward appearance resembling a spirit had something that made it difficult to hate even if he were an enemy.
However, Yi-Han was cold.
“The gift you gave last time released a monster when I wound it up. Arlong had a hard time catching that.”
“…”
Alcicle came to his senses.
Just because someone’s outward appearance was like a spirit didn’t guarantee they were in their right mind.
‘Get a grip. This is the Wardanaz family!’
“You say it’s really different this time? You say you carefully selected and brought them? Hmm. You really didn’t have to… Alright. What’s this dagger? You say it burns the opponent’s blood when stabbed? Well. I’ll pass on this one for now. What’s this landscape painting? The coast at the western end of the empire? Ah, is it just a picture you drew yourself?”
Arsil nodded and spoke.
He had quickly sketched it after seeing an aurora in the distance while traveling in the west, thinking of his younger brother.
‘I should pass on this.’
However, Yi-Han immediately passed it over.
In terms of value, this was below the cursed dagger from earlier. Arsil felt slightly disappointed when his younger brother passed over the painting.
“What’s this necklace? You say a demon comes out if you break the jewel? Is it contracted? You say it’s not. Hmm. Then it would just attack randomly, right?”
Arsil nodded.
That necklace was a treasure found deep in the ruins of the great southern desert of the empire.
It was beautiful in design itself, but the fact that it contained a named demon was also highly valuable.
Originally, an excellent gift should have an unexpected surprise…
Yi-Han coldly passed over the necklace. Arsil felt regretful.
“What’s this cloak? Does it perhaps turn you into a berserker when worn? Ah. It’s just a cloak of defense? Then I’ll take this one. No. It’s fine. I won’t change. I like this one. It’s not boring? It’s plenty interesting. Look at this cloak’s design. It’s intriguing.”
“…”
Although Alcicle could only hear Yi-Han’s voice, he strangely felt like he knew what conversation was going on.
***
“You’re the empire’s best coachman!”
“Hehe. Leave it to me.”
Gainando lay down inside the carriage. It was the most comfortable position in the empire.
Although it was a carriage pulled by eight horses, the coachman directly employed by the family drove the carriage without the slightest shake, living up to his reputation.
Gainando nodded at the rapidly changing scenery around him.
‘We’ll arrive in no time, huh?’
The carriage that had been running at full speed stopped for a moment when a fork in the road appeared.
The coachman stopped the carriage to let the horses rest too and asked a passing person.
“Excuse me. May I ask you something? Is this the right way to the Wardanaz family?”
“Are you going to the Wardanaz family?”
“Yes. As guests…”
The passerby suddenly turned around and ran away at full speed.
“…?!!”
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