Ch. 113

While filling my stomach with fruit, I stared beyond the mountain where the sun was setting.

Elves were known to be a race that lived deep in the forest, gentle and intelligent by nature but somewhat reclusive. They were said to live for a thousand years on average and were known as the most adept at handling spirits.

Every one of them was born with a natural aptitude for spirit summoning, capable of handling multiple elemental spirits at once—and even manipulating nature spirits without forming a contract.

The Spirit Kings, beings so powerful they were beyond the reach of humans, were usually contracted by elves. Or dragons.

At least in the realm of spirits, elves were said to stand on equal footing with dragons.

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

[I remember. You made me unlock the library every dawn. And that secret room filled with forbidden books too. You treated me like a master key.]

“Didn’t I?”

[You did, indeed.]

Rai lazily swished his large tail, and the soft fur brushed against my cheek.

He seemed pleased with the title “master key.”

[You always want to do something more when someone says you can’t.]

“It’s not even that big a deal, but when they say I can’t read it, it makes me curious.”

[You just have to do what you want, don’t you?]

“Exactly. I hate when someone tries to stop me. Anyway, back then, I read this book, okay? It was a bestiary written by an elf, and do you know how they described humans?”

[I haven’t read the book, so no.]

“They said humans are a race that has nothing to boast about except being the most numerous on the continent.”

The reason that book was forbidden wasn’t just because it belittled humans.

“Greedy, blood-loving, selfish, and weak-willed—an inferior race composed of those traits. The lack of exceptional talents in any area proves the gods knew how wicked humans are.”

Because of their weak and evil nature, humans were not given great power. The gods made sure no power could be attained without effort.

It wasn’t a wholly wrong claim.

Looking at a single human, they were weaker than most other races. Even weaker than many monsters.

Humans liked to believe they could do anything, that they were gifted in everything. But put another way, they simply didn’t have any standout traits like elves or dwarves.

A lack of divine blessings.

So the way elves saw humans wasn’t entirely wrong, nor entirely right.

[Elves are the type to treat anyone not like them as barbarians. They’re weird. They even cry when a tree dies.]

“Still, it’s an interesting perspective.”

[That’s why people are scared of you, Master! You find that kind of thing fascinating!]

“I don’t care if they’re scared. It’s a hundred times better than being underestimated.”

I didn’t care how others saw me.

As long as they didn’t annoy me, it didn’t matter.

[But why are you so interested in that kid? It’s unlike you to care about others.]

“Is it?”

[Are you wary of her, perhaps?]

“What? Why would I be wary of her?”

[Because in at least one aspect, she has more talent than you do.]

I blinked, not understanding at first—but then realized he was right.

“Oh, yeah. I can’t hear other spirits’ voices. So Annie might be more gifted than me?”

[In terms of affinity, yes.]

As I listened to Rai’s voice, I sat up and lightly tossed the fruit pit outside the hut.

This was a topic worth thinking about.

To unexpectedly meet a kid with talent for spirit magic—and one who might rival my own innate ability.

Not to boast, but such talent was incredibly rare.

“Rai, what’s your take on Annie’s talent?”

[Hmm. She seems decent… but if it were me, I wouldn’t entrust her with my soul.]

Rai was pretty firm.

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

[As long as you have affinity, anyone can form a contract, regardless of how much. But what’s more important is mental strength—and the power to command us.]

“Power to command…”

[Above all, the strength to lead.]

Strong mental fortitude was synonymous with control—it meant charisma, presence, and resolve.

Naturally, manipulating something required a unique mental strength.

“Annie did seem a bit indecisive. But she’s still young.”

[You may have been young, but you had everything. Even if you lacked in some areas, your sheer momentum made up for it. Overflowing talent, nearly arrogant confidence, and fierce dominance.]

“You’ve got a good eye, huh?”

[Unyielding stubbornness and almost nonexistent compassion. It was clear you’d grow up lacking nothing.]

Typical Rai. I clicked my tongue instead of nitpicking.

[The point is, entrusting ourselves to a human with weak will is dangerous. Even if her affinity is elf-level.]

“True. There are dragons who struggle with magic, so a human with elf-level affinity isn’t even that surprising.”

[That’s what Annie is! Just someone lucky enough to be born with a frequency that matches spirits. Like those people who naturally get along with all animals. She’s just attuned to spirits.]

“Yeah, I get it. A waste of talent, though.”

Being born in a remote jungle village as a minority with such talent—it really was a shame.

With proper education, she could become a great Spirit Mage. But no mentor would ever come this far.

Even cities lacked Spirit Mages.

“So the reason Pein doesn’t listen to me is because I lack dominance?”

[Honestly, that guy’s just weird. He’s ridiculously picky.]

“Ugh… he’s so hard to deal with.”

I sighed and buried my face in Rai’s belly fur.

Then I sprawled out again and relieved stress by rolling around and kneading Rai.

[Ador’s just as stubborn. But he obeys you. That makes Pein the odd one.]

“I don’t think you’re the one to say that. You’re the weirdest spirit I know.”

[Oh, but no other spirit compares to me in uniqueness! Mwahaha!]

“That wasn’t a compliment.”

Rai’s fur was long overall, with some parts over a handspan in length—like his cheeks and chest.

I twisted those tufts into little spirals with my fingers. Swirl, swirl.

I don’t know how long I was doing that.

“Hey, kid.”

[Yaaawn.]

“Stop spying and come out already.”

Annie had approached quietly and was peeking at us from behind a pillar again.

Instead of warning me, Rai just yawned. I lay there showing my belly and crossed my legs.

Looking straight at the direction she was hiding, I called out, and Annie slowly peeked her face out.

“…My name is Annie!”

“I know.”

“I’m not a kid!”

Still half-hidden behind the pillar, but her gaze was pretty feisty.

She was shy and timid, but her eyes resembled Anel’s for sure.

I smirked and sat up lightly.

I’d be annoyed too if someone kept calling me something else when I had a proper name.

“Alright, Annie. You speak the common tongue really well.”

“Because my mom taught me.”

Among the village kids I’d met, Annie was the most fluent in the common tongue.

Almost to a natural level. As the daughter of the one teaching common tongue to the tribe, that made sense.

“I see. So, do you have something you wanted to say to me?”

“M-Me?”

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

Thinking about how I trapped her in the water earlier, I tried to sound as gentle as possible.

Just the fact I wasn’t frowning was a big deal by my standards.

“I just… um…”

Annie clearly saw me as intimidating. She was like a wild kitten just picked up from the woods.

“Go on. I won’t bite.”

“…You think I’m stupid!”

“You’re just bad at talking. Heh, right, Rai?”

I shrugged and stretched out my legs. Rai came over and sat snugly beside me. I watched his nodding head fondly and scratched under his chin, while Annie still didn’t come out from behind the pillar.

“You’re from the city, right?”

“That’s right. I’m from Dmitri.”

“Mom said you were a really smart and brave girl.”

“See? She knows talent when she sees it. That’s why I like Big Sis Anel.”

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

Drike was a prestigious academy known for its small elite student body.

Because they didn’t accept many students, admission was tough—and that meant high-quality education.

Graduates were guaranteed important positions, making it a dream for many kids.

“What’s it like there? Are there lots of books? Can you learn anything? Do people really know everything? Do you really have classes every day?”

“Wait… you…”

“Yeah?”

“Do you actually like studying?”

Annie flinched like I’d hit a nerve and hid behind the pillar again. Only a third of her was visible now.

“Well, well… That’s a strange thing to be interested in.”

[Not strange, just… it’s a bit too wholesome for someone like you, Master.]

“What’s that supposed to mean!”

[You’re the type who always does what they’re told not to do.]

I couldn’t argue.

Rai knew every little thing I’d ever done. He was both my right and left hand—there was nothing I could hide.

“I like studying. I love books… and I envy people who get to learn.”

“Then we’re total opposites.”

I had lived both my lives surrounded by those things, so I couldn’t fully understand Annie’s thirst for knowledge.

But I could relate, a little.

The vast forest was beautiful and free, but also distant from civilization in many ways.

“Um… I’m sorry about earlier. Mom told me to apologize! For calling you a witch.”

“Well, I *am* pretty enough to be called a witch.”

“…Do people say you’re weird a lot?”

“I plead the fifth.”

“Plead?”

No matter how fluent a child was, there were always words they didn’t understand.

I pointed to Rai and asked Annie, who had peeked her face out again:

“Anyway, can you really hear him speak?”