Chapter 77
Spirit.
Beings that dwell throughout nature, watching the flow of the world.
In the original work, they could be encountered only with exceedingly low odds.
[Title: Spirits <- What do these things even do?]
[Author:JeongsilIsTyr]
I found this while looking through the setting guide today.
Spirits <- What do these guys even do?
I've unlocked various achievements and played over 30 runs, but this is genuinely my first time seeing creatures like these.
Their appearance is weird too; I've never encountered a design like this even once while playing the game.
The setting guide only says, “They are mysterious beings dwelling within nature.”
I’m extremely confused by this unfamiliar face.
I thought I’d at least memorized what all the monsters in the game looked like...
On the other hand, does that even make sense?
I've visited every region over 30 runs, but I've never once seen creatures that look that unusual?
Are they some kind of event monster?
Or a monster that hasn't been released yet?
If anyone knows, please tell me...
[What are they? Seriously, this is my first time seeing them.]
-> They look kind of soft and cute.
-> But they were in the setting guide?
-> JeongsilIsTyr) Yep, and it's the official setting book too.
-> Doesn't that cost 30,000 won a copy? Are you rich or something?
-> JeongsilIsTyr) Don't pick a fight; just tell me what they are.
-> Mooooooo
JeongsilIsTyr) HEY!!!!!!!!!!
[Spirits... They're things you can encounter only incredibly rarely.]
-> I've cleared over 50 runs and I think I've met them about three times.
-> JeongsilIsTyr) Seriously? You've met them? What do they do?
-> Technically they're monsters, but they feel like higher-dimensional beings.
-> As far as I know, they don't show hostility toward players, and most of them have gentle dispositions.
-> They're basically the exact opposite of the Evil God's Apostles.
-> JeongsilIsTyr) They're strange creatures... but why are they so hard to encounter?
-> The odds of simply running into one are low.
-> They don't have fixed spawn locations, and spawn randomly each run.
-> Naturally, there aren't many of them either, so finding one across a vast continent is like finding a needle in a haystack.
-> And apparently, even when players do run into one, they often fail to recognize it and walk right past.
-> JeongsilIsTyr) Why?? They look distinctive enough that I'd recognize them right away.
-> They don't usually walk around in their true forms.
-> They transform into plants or animals and blend into nature and everyday life.
-> Apparently, sometimes they even transform into human NPCs.
-> JeongsilIsTyr) No... then how the fuck are we supposed to encounter them?
[Only 30 runs? 50 runs? Our Bug-Hunting Gamer bro has cleared over 200.]
-> You again...
-> Just how much do you play this game...
-> Fuck, what the hell kind of bug is clearing 200 runs...
-> As expected of the GOAT of all primate carbon-based life...
-> PlayingToFindBugs) It's me, bro.
-> ....!!!!!!
-> ..!!!!!!
-> .....!!!!!!!!!!
-> ...Moooooo!!!!!!
-> JeongsilIsTyr) What the hell, you lunatics? Speak like human beings.
-> Look above. Bug-Hunting Gamer left a comment on your post.
-> JeongsilIsTyr) ......!!!!!!!!
Chance.
That was all it took to encounter a spirit.
Because there was no strategy guide or shortcut for meeting one.
The spawn point changed with every run, and sometimes they spawned in regions the player couldn't enter at all.
Since there was no guide revealing their locations, nor any item for searching them out, you really had no choice but to rely on sheer luck.
‘Of course.’
Since such encounters were so rare, the reward for them was equally certain.
Because you could obtain special items.
[Title: A Review of Items Given by Spirits]
[Author:SuperTastyChewyCookieOhMyGod]
A few days ago, I happened to encounter something called a spirit.
I remember the circumstances being nothing special.
A fire broke out in the forest near the village where I was staying.
It was a village I cared about, and I thought it would be a pain if the fire spread to the surrounding area, so I put it out myself.
Fortunately, the fire was extinguished quickly.
I lost a fair amount in mana and scrolls, among other things, though...
Anyway,
I was resting in one corner of the forest when a message suddenly appeared.
It said something about having received a spirit's favor.
Then a bird that had been chirping nearby flew over to me.
It seemed to be flying normally, but in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a sky-blue blob.
I was startled for a moment, but it didn't look dangerous.
Should I say it looked a little like a mascot?
Its body was translucent and floated about; it was mysterious, but cute too...
It introduced itself as the Spirit of Life, then said it was moved by the favor I had shown the forest and gave me a necklace.
[Necklace of Life]
-Classification: Accessory
-Grade: A
-Condition: Clear
I figured this must be the “spirit item” I'd only heard about in rumors, so I used it for two days.
But the more I use it, the more I'm amazed by its absolutely absurd performance.
My health doesn't even seem capable of going down; instead, it keeps shooting back up...
I guess I won't have to worry about potions at all this run.
I heard the other spirit items are broken too.
I hope I can meet some other spirits someday...
[This isn't a review; it's just a humblebrag.]
-> SuperTastyChewyCookieOhMyGod) Ehehe
[Wow, I'm jealous.]
-> When will I ever get one...
-> SuperTastyChewyCookieOhMyGod) Keep at it and you'll get one!
[The Spirit of Life or whatever has already been encountered 3,843,502 times by our Bug-Hunting Gamer bro.]
-> What even is Bug-Hunting Gamer...
-> Is Bug-Hunting Gamer your friend? Use honorifics.
-> The GOAT among every intelligent life-form created since Genesis.
-> Why do all the posts here end with Bug-Hunting Gamer?
Spirit items.
Items that can be received after earning a spirit's favor.
They vary from case to case, but generally boast ridiculously overpowered performance.
There were even some that performed at an S-grade level.
Considering how fucking difficult they were to obtain, they must have been designed with truly incredible performance.
‘But...’
Why was one in my hands right now?
I stared blankly down at the ring.
The message displayed in the status window was still unchanged.
Ding-!
[Thicket Ring]
-Classification: Accessory
-Grade: A-
-Condition: Imperfect
-Description: A ring handed directly to you by the twin spirits [Selimin & Selipin], who guarded the nearby area. Within limited environments, it allows you to receive the favor of the spirits. When used together with the ‘Ring of Wind (A-)’ received alongside it, a special skill becomes available.
‘Selimin and Selipin...’
I definitely remembered them.
I was a legendary game addict who had devoured the entire setting guide, after all.
Twin spirits.
Selimin, the older-brother spirit of the thicket.
Selipin, the younger-sister spirit of the wind.
They were always introduced together.
Could the brother and sister right in front of me actually have been spirits?
“Good heavens.”
I hurriedly raised my head.
The children who had been bouncing around in front of us until just a moment ago.
“Ah...”
But the twins had already vanished.
It felt as though a mirage had passed by.
Only the fresh scent of grass remained on the arms and legs they had held.
Carmilla was puzzled too, but their place was completely empty.
Wind brushed against my ears.
“Then, see you again next time!”
“Thank you for protecting our village! Big sis, big bro!”
Hee-hee-.
A breeze that seemed to laugh innocently.
Greenery and thickets rustled in it.
Having lost sight of the children, I could do nothing but stare blankly.
Only after I realized everything did the strange details come back into view.
‘Come to think of it... it was strange that only the children were awake during the Lunar Eclipse.’
Wasn't it strange?
Even the guards farther out and all the adults had lost consciousness.
At the time, I thought we'd simply gotten lucky and escaped the range, but looking back, it was strange.
It had taken an hour from our arrival in the village until we made it inside.
If so, that meant those little children had spent that entire hour running from the ghouls without being caught...
‘Impossible.’
A pursuit by thousands.
It would have been too much for children barely ten years old to shake off.
I had glossed over it without thinking at the time, but turning it over now, there had been more than enough clues.
‘I never expected to encounter spirits here...!’
They were creatures that appeared about once every twenty runs.
Even I, who had been called an expert on the original game, had encountered them fewer than thirty times.
Given the circumstances, there hadn't been time to think deeply.
-The grown-ups told us! They said you fought the monsters even while your bodies were all torn up!
-W-we were cheering for you too. Big sis was really cool...!
I could finally hear those words again.
Most of it must have been a lie.
There was no way they could have seen what was happening on Carmilla's side at the cathedral.
They had probably hidden somewhere and watched us.
‘So we were being tested...’
A short laugh escaped me.
Still, if there was one good thing, it was that we'd gotten a perfect score on that test.
Thanks to that, we had obtained the spirits' reward: their exclusive items.
‘I never expected this.’
The difficulty of obtaining them was so absurd that I hadn't even considered trying.
Having an item like that suddenly drop into my lap left me utterly dumbfounded.
Carmilla had reacted much the same way.
“They really were... elusive little children.”
The girl absently fiddled with the ring.
Had Carmilla failed to realize that the children had actually been hidden spirits?
Carmilla only seemed sorry that the children had disappeared; she didn't look particularly surprised or anything.
‘Well, not recognizing them would be normal...’
A benevolent smile rested around her lips.
Perhaps the children's heartfelt gift had touched her, despite their rather unremarkable appearance.
Carmilla clasped the ring tightly, as though it were precious.
‘Wait.’
I quickly calculated in my head.
The twin spirits' gifts.
The Thicket Ring and the Ring of Wind.
The two items revealed their true worth and produced a powerful effect when used together.
Because there was a [Unique Skill] that could only be activated under those conditions.
‘It isn't enough for just me; Carmilla needs to wear hers all the time too.’
It was fine, since Carmilla and I were always together anyway.
The key was getting her to wear the ring.
I gently reached out my hand.
“Your Highness.”
“...Ah, Victor.”
“It seems you like the ring.”
“Yes. It seems to suit me perfectly.”
“You should try it on. Let me put it on for you.”
“Hmm...?”
I took her hand gently.
At the same time, I lightly drew the girl into my arms.
As the distance between us closed, our scents mingled.
“Vic, Victor...?”
Her uniquely sweet scent of skin.
Carmilla, her eyes flustered, looked up at me.
Regardless, I quietly slipped the ring from the hand the girl was holding.
“You worked very hard this time.”
Between our fingers, our body heat intertwined.
Beyond that mellow warmth, I slowly traced her slender finger.
Our fingertips touched.
“Because I am always rooting for Your Highness.”
Come to think of it, which finger was a ring supposed to go on?
The left? The right?
I vaguely remembered the meaning differed depending on the hand.
‘Was the left ring finger for marriage, and the right ring finger for peace...?’
What did the other fingers mean again?
My brain stalled for a moment, then I decided to put it on whichever finger fit.
The right ring finger happened to be the right size, so I slipped the ring onto it.
“I will always remain by Your Highness's side.”
“...”
Carmilla stood there in a daze.
She froze blankly, then her face gradually reddened.
Soon, a breathless sound escaped between her lips.
“...Mweh?”
Her cheeks were slowly heating up.
I slipped an identical ring onto my own finger.
“Shall we make this a token of our promise? Since Your Highness said you liked it.”
“A token...?”
“Yes, a token.”
A token of my promise to always remain by her side.
A token that we had made such a promise.
I tapped the back of her white hand as if emphasizing my request.
“So you must always keep the ring with you, understood?”
“...”
“You understand, right?”
“I-I-I understand...”
The girl, red as a beet, nodded.
I smiled in satisfaction at that answer.
It was the perfect ending to everything.
“Then... shall we head back to the academy soon?”
“...”
“Your Highness?”
“Ah... y-yes, good, good, that sounds good!”
“...?”
What the hell.
Why had she suddenly short-circuited?
I tilted my head, but led the girl by the hand.
She kept holding it tightly all the way back to the academy.
‘Nailed it.’
The truth was,
in vampire culture, the meanings of rings worn on the left and right hands were exactly reversed.
I learned that only much later.
***
After that.
A week passed.
Life at the academy after our return proceeded without incident.
There were no events scheduled for the immediate future, and midterms were coming up soon.
At least for the next month, there was no need to worry about the New Kingdom, the Evil Cult, or anything else.
‘Once midterms are over, the field trip is next, right...?’
I did have some business to take care of there.
Nothing serious; there were just a few places I could loot while I was at it.
‘I'll think about it later.’
In any case, it was still half a month away.
I spent the remaining time leisurely.
My written exam was guaranteed to be a perfect score, and I planned to scrape by on the practical.
Apart from helping my other classmates in Class E study, I had a leisurely week with nothing to do.
‘I've worked hard all this time... maybe I can quietly enjoy the good life until the field trip?’
That was the plan.
Yeah,
that was definitely the plan...
“Class E's top student.”
“...”
“Fight me during the practical portion of midterms.”
Mystical blue hair.
Eyes seemingly devoid of emotion.
An impression so sharp it felt almost pointed.
A beauty capable of making anyone, man or woman, hold their breath for several seconds.
“I won't accept a refusal.”
Her commanding, beautiful voice pressed down on the atmosphere.
With every breath the girl exhaled, pure-white vapor bloomed.
Frost clung to the tips of her shoes.
“Answer me.”
“...”
I stood there, staring blankly at her.
Winter, out of season.
The girl's name was Rin Glacia.
The top first-year student, hailed as the most overwhelmingly dominant in Grandia Academy's history.
‘Fuck.’
A girl like that was challenging me to a match.
I swallowed the tears trying to spill out.
What the hell.
Why did things have to turn out like this again?