763 – How About Spirits Instead of Butterflies? – 5

Only after the green dog that had been run over by Mine started crying did me and Humble hurriedly run to Mine.

“Mine! Come down! You don’t just sit down on other people!”

“Get out quickly! You have to escape before they bite you!”

I was a little surprised by the call of humility. To be honest, humility is a green dog─ no, isn’t it a situation that is smaller than that of a mid-level spirit? I could even pretend not to know that I was being tormented by mid-level spirits outside of my field of vision.

However, Humility showed mercy to the intermediate spirits, perhaps because they shared the same experience of being tormented by Mine as the intermediate spirits. He had a very merciful heart to be considered a former evil spirit.

As an owner, I’m happy, but it’s also sad. It’s a bit sad that we’re working together for this reason.

– Human! Human! Help me!

‘What?’

Eventually, the intermediate spirit that managed to escape from Mine flew toward me, sat on my shoulder, and trembled.

Weird. I heard that mid-level spirits are very wary and avoid humans?

“The fear of that gangster is greater than the wariness of humans. Moreover, isn’t the owner the benefactor of the spirits? There is a belief that if you ask for help, they will help you.”

“Like that.”

This time too, it was a sad reason and I couldn’t help but sigh. It’s not that I opened my heart because I got used to it, but that I opened my heart in order to live.

– I believe in humans! Humans smell like the World Tree! Constantina stinks! It smells like an elf!

“If possible, call it a scent rather than a smell.”

After three consecutive scent comments, I secretly sniffed my sleeve.

Fortunately, there was no bad smell.

“…But how did you get caught by him while you were flying in the sky?”

– Rabbit! Jump into the sky! I was caught while passing by!

‘Wow.’

I was amazed by Mine’s incredible jumping ability.

This mansion was once owned by a family that was the most powerful among the marquis, so the ceiling is quite high. If it were a spirit with strong vigilance, it would have almost stuck to the ceiling and flown, but what if you could catch it by jumping?

‘How on earth did you raise it?’

My awe towards the situation grew steadily. How carefully had it been raised, how well had it been fed and how well had it been put to sleep, to have such a non-standard being born?

Suddenly, it occurred to me that if the direct lineage of Livnoman had continued unscathed, a minister of enrichment who would leave a lasting mark in the history of the empire would have been born.

‘Which side is more profitable?’

When the direct line collapses, an outstanding collateral called the situation emerges. When the line line is intact, the situation becomes a spectacle of enrichment.

What future would be better for the empire and the continent? If you think rationally, it’s definitely the former, but considering the max level rabbit and Titi, I couldn’t ignore the latter.

– Kyuing.

Mine, who caught my gaze, tilted her head and disappeared down the hallway as if nothing had happened.

If I leave that alone, I think there will be new victims. Should I hold it…?

Fortunately, the journey of the max-level rabbits was soon stopped.

“Rabbit! It’s cute!”

“Just like the kids from my uncle’s house!”

“No! They’re so white!”

In our mansion, there were emperors who controlled Titi, who was given a gift, holy beasts who once ruled as evil gods, and Lisian, who was called the Death King, with just one finger.

– Kyuuung.

– Kyuuiing…!

Children excited by the appearance of a new play partner. Mane and Mine are surrounded by children and their whole bodies are massaged as if they are being washed.

From the moment they protected Peanut, the two of them roamed the mansion without any fear, but as if they knew that our children were the strongest in this mansion, they failed to resist at all.

It’s a great choice. There were many adults who would have expressed regret if our children had rebelled.

“Dad, Dad.”

“Why are you doing that?”

“Is their name Moya?”

At Maria’s words, the other children’s eyes also turned to me.

“Name! Name!”

“The names of the white kids! I’m curious!”

“White? White?”

The children chatter and chatter but never let go of Manet and Mine.

But is it because of my mood? For some reason, Mane and Mine’s eyes seem to have become moister than before. As if they were afraid of this situation, or as if they realized the feelings of the holy beasts and spirits who were suffering from them.

“The older one is Mane, and the younger one is Mine.”

“Maa-ne, mii-ne?”

“Man! Mine!”

“Our friend! Joe!”

Children’s touch became more intense.

The more this happened, the more sorrowful the eyes of the two rabbits became, but it was a ceremony that must be completed in order to stay in our mansion. Those who can’t entertain children don’t deserve to live.

‘Hmm?’

While watching the children and the rabbits having such a cozy time, I felt a sense of discomfort.

“Cattleya?”

“Ugh~?”

Among the children, only Cattleya did not touch the rabbits. She just sits on the floor and blinks her eyes blankly.

“Why are you doing this? Is it because you’re scared?”

He hugged Cattleya carefully and comforted her.

All the other kids like it, but he’s the only one who doesn’t touch it. I can’t help but worry that Cattleya might be scared by her unfamiliar friends.

“Spirits~They’re scary~”

But the answer that came back was unexpected.

“Spirits?”

“Wow.”

Then, the intermediate spirits hidden in Cattleya’s clothes and her hair poked out their heads.

I am embarrassed. Even though Catlea is a walking mini world tree, I wonder why it would hide from a child who is not yet five years old. Is there room to hide?

“Still, we’ll be staying at home together, so why not touch it once? Once the spirits get used to it, they won’t be scared.”

“Is that so?”

“Okay then. It’s my first time.”

At my words, Cattle Lea perked up his ears her and patted the intermediate spirits attached to his her body her her her.

“Dad says so~”

– No. It’s them. I’m scared.

– But he’s just a black person. Our benefactor. I won’t lie.

-Are you really okay? Aren’t you scared?

“Wow…”

Catlea, who had blinked at the spirits’ words, looked at me again.

“If they bother me, I’ll scold them.”

Instead, she seemed to want to persuade the spirits, so she gave them the bare minimum of insurance. It is difficult to guarantee that nothing will happen, but we can at least promise retaliation.

– I’ll believe it. I will believe it.

– Kids who live in the same place. If you’re not scared, you should become friends.

The spirits seemed to have made up their minds with my persuasion, and one by one they fell out of Cattleya’s body hers.

But something is strange. Didn’t Humility say that mid-level spirits are capable of simple communication? This is not a simple level, but a smooth level?

‘Is it thanks to Cattleya?’

Cattleya is like a world tree but not a world tree, like a contractor but not a contractor. It’s neither this nor the other, but to put it in a good way, Cattleya has all the attributes.

Perhaps because of living next to Cattlea, these spirits seem to be superior to spirits of the same level.

‘No, not.’

I’m not an expert on spirits, so how can I know for sure? I’m just guessing.

***

I smiled softly as I saw Cattleya playing with the children, with Mane and Mine─playing while surrounded by spirits.

A mixture of small elf children, spirits, and animals. It is a beautiful sight, like something out of a fairy tale. They said that before the World Tree burned down, this scene was often seen.

However, our triplets are the only newly born elf children since the World Tree was revived, so only we have the privilege of seeing that beautiful sight. How happy this is.

– Beatrix, Beatrix.

“Why are you doing that?”

While I was looking at the treasure-like sight for a while, a water spirit in the form of a cat approached me.

-Other kids. Say hello to me. They say you might come here soon.

“Other kids?”

– Huh. Kids bigger than us. They say it will take about 1 or 2 years.

It was an unexpected comment, so I took a moment to gather my thoughts.

Even compared to pureblood elves and all previous elves, Cattleya has an incredible affinity for spirits. The blessings of the four kings were given to Cattleya, and thanks to this, Cattleya became a small world tree and a passageway for spirits to come and go.

This passage becomes stronger as Catlea grows and the faith of Constantina grows. At first, the passage that only low-level spirits passed through has now become capable of supporting even intermediate-level spirits.

But after a year or two, older kids will come. If something is bigger than a mid-level spirit, it must be a high-level spirit, right?

‘It’s a high-level spirit.’

From what I remember, the ranks of spiritualists are divided according to the level of the spirit they contract with.

There is a strong feeling that the spiritualists who contract with low-level spirits are beginners who have just learned elemental arts. It is a stage of becoming familiar with spirits and a stage of learning what it means to deal with the properties of nature.

Spiritualists who have made a contract with a middle-level spirit are truly one elementalist. It is said that the perception that usually comes to mind when thinking of spirit masters was established by spirit masters at this stage. It boasts the largest number and can exert quite a variety of powers.

‘The reward is more than that.’

And the names of spiritualists who made contracts with higher-level spirits remain in elven history. I heard that races other than elves were considered honorary elves when they reached this level.

To that extent, the majesty of a high-level spirit is considerable. Simply by signing a contract, you can go down in history and demonstrate firepower that easily surpasses that of most wizards. There are only four spirit kings, and except for a very small number of top-level spirits, they are virtually the pinnacle of spirits.

‘The mansion is gradually becoming a fortress.’

I almost laughed without realizing it.

Still, in this mansion resides a sword said to be the best sword on the continent, me, the owner of the magic tower, children called holy beasts, and a being who was once the Death King. What would happen if higher-level spirits were added here?

It will probably have a stronger defense capability than the imperial palace. We can be sure of that much.

“Please tell me I will be waiting with pleasure.”

– Huh. Okay.

When I gently stroke the water spirit, the spirit let out a meowing sound like a cat.

– But Beatrix.

“Huh?”

– Black man. It’s unusual. He’s our benefactor, but he doesn’t have much good energy.

At those words, I looked at the knife without thinking.

– I don’t think it’s human. He’s a human, but he’s a little different from the humans we know.

It was difficult to understand, so I couldn’t give a proper answer.

It is understandable that Carl does not have spirit affinity. Since each person has different talents, it is easier to think of him as having a talent for swords instead of affinity for spirits. Just like I have great magic talent.

But when I listened to the water spirit, I found it strange. If you are the benefactor of the World Tree, the benefactor of Constantina, or the benefactor of the spirits, the spirits might like it…? Aside from the kings, it seems like there are no military spirits friendly to the sword…?

– Still a black person. I like watching it over and over again. Be kind.

“The sword is kind.”

The small doubts that had sprouted quickly died down with the spirit’s words.

In the end, if even the spirits fall for the sword’s charm, there’s no need to worry too much. Perhaps he felt different from ordinary humans because Carl not only had the energy of plants and the sun, but also the energy of the sky.