Chapter 349. Ascension of the Spirit King (1)
###
[You have absorbed Pantalarasa, the Spirit King of the Pantara Mountains.]
[Pantalarasa, the Spirit King absorbed by you, wishes to stay in your mana heart.]
[If you accept this request, you will succeed Pantalarasa as the Spirit King of the Pantara Mountains.]
Messages popped up in front of Lloyd’s eyes.
However, Lloyd didn’t realize it immediately.
Rapid recharge was still active.
Thus, he was still in a trance-like state.
It wasn’t until about two minutes after the first message appeared that Lloyd opened his eyes.
Ding dong.
[Asrahan Martial Arts Skill Option ⑤: Rapid Recharge has ended.]
Vrrrrr…!
The roaring mana circle gradually calmed down.
The fierce rotation slowly subsided.
The violent mana absorption ended.
Whoosh!
The cold wind of the snowy mountains blew into the void left by the dissipating mana vortex.
Snowflakes gently brushed Lloyd’s cheeks and eyelids.
Then, Lloyd opened his eyes.
“……”
As soon as he opened his eyes, he scanned the surroundings.
He glanced over the messages that appeared in front of him.
He rolled his eyes with the practiced ease of someone who had used rapid recharge several times.
‘After using rapid recharge, I can check the situation through the messages that show the benefits and skills gained from mana absorption.’
It allowed him to understand how the situation had changed.
Whether rapid recharge had turned the situation to his advantage.
What benefits it had brought.
What choices he had to make.
He could clearly understand by reading the messages.
But this time, the message was…
‘This is beyond my expectations.’
Gulp.
The message wasn’t particularly long.
But he had to read and confirm it three or four times.
The content was far more incredible than he had expected.
‘The Spirit King Pantalarasa? So, the spirit that caused the blizzard and interfered with my construction was the Spirit King ruling this mountain range? And now that spirit wants to reside in my mana heart?’
He knew it wasn’t just an ordinary spirit.
He guessed it was some spirit with considerable influence in the mountain range.
That’s why he used rapid recharge from the start, aiming to absorb and eliminate it.
But he didn’t expect the spirit to make such a request after being absorbed.
‘It wants to settle down in my mana heart. What is this?’
Was this an unexpected application for permanent residency?
Lloyd inwardly tilted his head.
But one thing was clear.
If he accepted the Spirit King’s request to reside in his mana heart?
‘I’ll obtain the position of the Spirit King of this mountain range.’
A human Spirit King.
The ruler of the spirits in this area.
Just thinking about it was tempting.
But Lloyd didn’t easily give in to such temptation.
‘Tsk. No matter how good it looks, I have to check it first, right?’
It’s a world where you could get your nose cut off if you close your eyes.
There’s no one or thing you can trust easily.
Just because something looks good.
Just because it’s said to be amazing.
If you hastily decide, you’ll often end up with regret.
Especially if it’s something you’ve never seen before.
‘Since I have no prior information. Imagine there’s a highly delicious and luxurious fruit juice. But when you check the ingredient list? The fruit content is only 3%, something like that is common. So I have to scrutinize. The pros and cons of obtaining the Spirit King’s status.’
The Spirit King’s status?
At first glance, it seemed appealing.
But who knows what kind of trap might be hidden in that status?
Just like checking the ingredient list on a thousand-won salt container, Lloyd inspected his mana heart carefully.
A reaction came from the mana heart soon enough.
– Ah… So cool… Cozy…
‘……’
A faint whisper, like that of a pervert, came from near his mana heart.
He felt an enormously condensed mass of cold mana through the whisper.
Lloyd realized the identity of the cold mana mass.
He spoke to it.
‘Hey. Are you the Spirit King Pantalarasa of this mountain range?’
– Ah… So refreshing… Cozy…
‘……’
– Ah… This home-like comfort…
‘…Hey.’
– Ah…
‘Should I kick you out?’
– Huh?
‘What the hell.’
A vein bulged on Lloyd’s temple.
He confronted the spirit with the mindset of a landlord dealing with a tenant who hadn’t paid rent for a year.
‘Hey, what are you doing inside me? Want to get kicked out right now?’
Perhaps the threat in his words made the spirit respond properly.
– What? Kicked out? From here? Me?
‘Yes. From there. You.’
– Can’t you delay such a decision?
‘Delay it?’
– Yes.
‘Until when?’
– Until you die.
‘……’
– It’s just that here is so cool and serene and cozy and comfortable. I’m serious. Even though I have existed since the Pantara Mountains emerged, this coolness… it’s truly the first time.
‘Coolness? Could it be the Heart of Winter?’
– Yes, the Heart of Winter that resides in you.
The spirit’s voice trembled slightly as it answered.
Like someone experiencing an amazing new technology.
Or like someone who had only used a fan their whole life and then felt the blessing of an air conditioner for the first time.
It was a voice filled with emotion.
– So please, human. I won’t ask for a long time. Just let me stay here until you die.
‘Hmm, but won’t the mountain range get more damaged?’
– It does matter a little. But…
‘But?’
– I think such an opportunity won’t come often.
‘An opportunity to experience extreme coolness like with the Heart of Winter?’
– Exactly. Such an opportunity.
The spirit continued.
– Human, I have been watching your construction. You’re making a path over the mountain range, right?
‘Yes, that’s correct.’
– Then, do you plan to develop other places too?
‘No, probably not.’
– Then, it’s fine.
‘Hey, you’re the Spirit King of the mountain range.’
– This place is already damaged, and developing a bit more won’t be a big deal since the mountain range has many other areas.
‘……’
– So please, let me stay here just for a few decades.
‘Tsk.’
Lloyd was now sure.
This spirit, Pantalarasa, was truly enamored with the Heart of Winter.
So much that it wanted to delay its main duty and responsibility.
‘Well, people are like that too. Not all Spirit Kings are perfect.’
There are moments when everyone wants to slack off.
Even the most diligent people feel that way sometimes.
The Spirit King probably wasn’t much different.
‘Sure. As the Spirit King of the mountain range, he must have been working since the mountains formed. Maybe he just wants a break once in a while.’
He asked for just a few decades.
For humans, it’s a long time.
But for a Spirit King who has lived for eons, it might feel like just a few hours in human terms.
‘It’s like asking for an early leave or a half-day off.’
Thinking this way, Lloyd could understand the Spirit King’s attitude a bit.
Of course, that didn’t mean he was ready to grant the request lightly.
‘Alright, let’s ask something.’
– What do you want to know, human?
‘What benefits do I get if I grant your request?’
– For a short time, you will gain the status of the Spirit King ruling this mountain range.
‘No, explain in detail what’s good about having the status of the Spirit King.’
This had to be heard.
It was natural.
‘I don’t want to jump into something blindly and regret it later.’
This was Lloyd’s true feeling.
His experiences had taught him that.
Getting involved in something just because others said it was good often led to regret.
That was enough with the parents who were ruined by real estate scams in Korea.
Or similarly, the Count Frontera couple who almost lost everything.
He didn’t want to follow in their footsteps.
So, no matter how good others said it was.
He didn’t want to be swayed by those words.
He wanted to scrutinize everything.
‘It’s like investments in stocks. Many get stuck at high points after jumping in because others said it was good. What about Bitcoin? There was quite a frenzy once. Those who jumped in at its peak are now?’
Many became victims of a sinking Bitcoin.
‘I refuse to end up like that. The same goes for this now.’
He wanted to listen carefully to the pros and cons of becoming the Spirit King.
Lloyd was armed with a meticulous mindset.
Pantalarasa’s response soon came.
– As the Spirit King, first of all… you feel good.
‘……Other than that. More specifics.’
– More specifics? Hmm, you can summon the spirits of this mountain range and command them.
‘Command? At will?’
– Probably.
The spirit continued.
– If they recognize and accept you as their Spirit King, you can wield the power of all the spirits in this mountain range. At least within this range.
‘Really? Sounds doubtful.’
– Doubtful? Why?
‘You didn’t summon other spirits when fighting us. Why?’
– I was complacent. I never thought there would be a human who could hurt me so much, or one who could indiscriminately absorb my mana.
‘Hmm.’
– It’s true. The previous Sword Masters I met were easily defeated by me alone. So I thought it would be the same this time, and there was no need to disturb the other spirits’ rest. That was my complacency.
‘Hmm.’
It sounded plausible.
Lloyd asked another question.
‘Alright. If the advantage is commanding the spirits in this mountain range, what’s the downside?’
– There is none.
‘None?’
– Correct.
‘Tsk. Sounds like a scam.’
– Scam?
‘Sounds like you’re making it up.’
– No. Truly, there is none. Just make sure the mountain range isn’t excessively damaged.
‘Not excessively damaged?’
– Yes.
The spirit continued.
– If the mountain range is excessively damaged, the spirits residing here will become discontent or leave. If that happens, you will lose their support.
‘Are you saying a rebellion?’
– Yes, rebellion. Just be careful of that.
‘Hmm.’
Lloyd pondered.
If the place was excessively damaged, the other spirits might revolt.
Thinking this far, he chuckled.
‘Then I have nothing to lose. If a rebellion happens, I’ll just give up the Spirit King’s position.’
– What?
‘It wasn’t mine to begin with. No need to cling to it. My goal is to complete the construction here. So, alright. I’ll accept your request.’
– W-Wait! You’ll give up the Spirit King’s position? What do you mean by that…?
‘I already accepted it, so it’s done. Now, rest for a few decades?’
Ding dong!
As soon as Lloyd expressed his consent.
Pantalarasa’s voice diminished.
Simultaneously, a powerful message appeared before his eyes.
[You have accepted the request of the Spirit King Pantalarasa.]
[You are now the ‘Temporary Spirit King of the Pantara Mountains.’]
[Your term as Spirit King lasts until your lifespan ends or until you pass the title to another spirit.]
[From now on, you have absolute authority to summon all spirits residing in the Pantara Mountains and identify their origins.]
‘Phew.’
Lloyd inhaled deeply, reading the message.
Pantalarasa’s words were true.
As soon as he accepted the request.
Details about ascending as the Spirit King appeared.
Lloyd reviewed the messages with satisfaction.
Then he turned his eyes to the side.
“Are you alright?”
A voice, seemingly waiting for the right moment, asked.
Javier, with his characteristic cold gaze, asked the question.
He must have been worried.
But trying to hide it with that gaze.
Lloyd couldn’t help but smile and shrugged.
“As you can see.”
“Then, what about that spirit earlier…?”
“I absorbed it. Thanks to that, I became the Spirit King of this mountain range.”
“……”
“It’s true.”
“……”
“Really.”
“……”
“If you’re doubtful, just ask me directly.”
“I’m not particularly doubtful. Just-”
“Just?”
“I feel sorry for the spirits of this mountain range to have someone like you as their king.”
“……”
“Now even the spirits here will have to join the construction. They’ll be treated like construction equipment and worked day and night. They’ll be thrown into harsh labor, tempted by overtime pay and whatnot. It’s clear without seeing it.”
“……”
“Am I wrong?”
“Yeah. That’s what happened to you.”
“……”
“Excluding your case, I’m not a ruthless boss. So, we’ll start immediately.”
“What do you mean by start?”
“Well, I need to establish myself as the boss here if I want to delegate work to the spirits, right? Need to discipline them a bit.”
“Discipline?”
“Well.”
Lloyd smiled faintly and turned around.
Looking over the vast mountain range spread below the steep cliff.
Admiring the majestic view.
He planned to make full use of the unexpected temporary title of Spirit King.
“I’ll make all the spirits here run endless drills first.”
