Chapter 77 |
To the Princess, To the Knight. (4)
Spirits.
Beings rooted throughout the natural world, watching over the flow of it.
In the original game, you could only encounter them at absurdly low odds.
[Title: Spirits <- what do these guys even do?][Author: JeongsileunTyr]
Found this while looking through the setting book today,
Spirits <- what are these guys even for?I've cleared a bunch of achievements and done over 30 playthroughs, and this is seriously my first time seeing them
Even the setting book just says, "Mysterious beings rooted in the great natural world"
I'm really thrown off seeing faces like this for the first time
I thought I at least knew what all the monsters looked like by now...
Part of me is thinking, does this even make sense
I've done 30 runs and visited every area, but I've never seen these weird-looking guys once?
Are they event mobs or something?
Or mobs that aren't released yet?
If anyone knows, please tell me...
[What are these? Seriously, first time seeing them?]
-> They look squishy and cute somehow
-> Wait, these were in the setting book?
-> JeongsileunTyr) Yeah, and it was the official setting book too
-> Isn't that like 30,000 won a copy? You rich or something?
-> JeongsileunTyr) Stop picking fights and tell me what they are
-> Mooooooo
JeongsileunTyr) Hey!!!!!!!!!!
[Spirits... yeah, you can meet them, but they're insanely rare]
-> I've done over 50 runs and think I met them maybe three times
-> JeongsileunTyr) fr? You met them? What do they do?
-> They're classified as monsters, but they feel more like higher-order beings
-> They don't really antagonize players, and most are known to be gentle
-> They're basically the exact opposite of Apostles of the Evil God
-> JeongsileunTyr) They're pretty fascinating... then why are they so hard to find?
-> The encounter chance is just low
-> They don't have fixed spawn points either, they spawn randomly every run
-> Obviously there are only a few of them, so searching a whole continent is like looking for a needle in a desert
-> And even if you do run into one, people often fail to recognize it and walk right past
-> JeongsileunTyr) Why?? They look distinctive enough that you'd recognize them right away, no?
-> They don't walk around in their true forms
-> They transform into plants or animals and blend into nature and daily life
-> Sometimes they even transform into human NPCs
-> JeongsileunTyr) No... then how the hell are we supposed to meet them
[Only 30 runs? 50 runs? BugFindGame hyungnim passed 200 playthroughs.]
-> You again...
-> Just how much do you play this game...
-> What kind of fucked-up bugged life is 200 playthroughs....
-> Truly the GOAT carbon-based lifeform in primate history......
-> PlayingThisGameToFindBugs) It's me
-> ....!!!!!!
-> ..!!!!!!
-> .....!!!!!!!!!!
-> ...ungoooooot!!!!!!
-> JeongsileunTyr) What the hell is wrong with you maniacs, speak like human beings
-> Look above. BugFindGame commented on your post.
-> JeongsileunTyr) ......!!!!!!!!
Coincidence.
That was all it took to meet a spirit.
There were no guides, no tricks, no shortcuts for those encounters.
Spawn points changed every run, and sometimes they even spawned in areas players could not enter at all.
There were no guides pointing to their locations, and no search items either, so in the end, you had no choice but to rely entirely on luck.
"Of course."
For a meeting this rare, the return was just as real.
You could obtain special items.
[Title: Review of an item a spirit gave me]
[Author: JjangmatDujjonkuOhMyGod]
A few days ago, I happened to run into an entity called a spirit
I don't remember the trigger being anything special
A fire broke out in a forest near the village I was staying in
It was a village I cared about, and if the fire spread it would've been a pain, so I put it out myself.
Thankfully, the fire died quickly
I did take losses in mana, scrolls, and other stuff though...
Anyway
I was resting on one side of the forest when a message popped up out of nowhere
Something about receiving a spirit's favor
Then a bird that had been chirping nearby flew over to me
It looked like it was flying normally, then in the blink of an eye it turned into a sky-blue blob
I was startled for a second, but it didn't look dangerous
Like some kind of mascot, I guess?
Its body was semi-transparent and floating around, kind of mystical and kind of cute...
It introduced itself as the Spirit of Life, said it was moved by the kindness I showed the forest, and gave me a necklace
[Necklace of Life]
-Category: Accessory
-Grade: A
-Status: Clear
I realized this was that rumored "spirit item," so I used it for two days
And this thing is insane, the more I use it, the more ridiculous it feels
My HP doesn't even seem like it wants to go down, it just keeps refilling...
At this rate, I probably won't need to worry about potions at all this run
I heard the other spirit items are broken too
Someday I want to meet other spirits too...
[This isn't a review, this is just bragging.]
-> JjangmatDujjonkuOhMyGod) Heheh
[Wow, I'm jealous]
-> When am I ever gonna get one...
-> JjangmatDujjonkuOhMyGod) If you keep at it, you'll get one someday!
[That Spirit of Life or whatever, BugFindGame hyungnim has already met it 3,843,502 times.]
-> What even is BugFindGame...
-> Is BugFindGame your friend? Use honorifics.
-> GOAT among all intelligent life created since Genesis
-> Why does every thread here end with BugFindGame
Spirit items.
Items you could receive after earning a spirit's favor.
It varied case by case, but most of them were absurdly overpowered.
Some even reached S-grade performance.
The acquisition difficulty was hellish, so they probably made sure the power matched.
"But..."
Why was one in my hand right now?
I stared blankly at the ring.
The message in the status window was still there.
Ding-!
[Ring of Thicket]
-Category: Accessory
-Grade: A-
-Status: Not Intact
-Description: A ring handed directly to you by the twin spirits [Selimin & Selipin], who protected this area. Within limited environments, you may receive the spirits' favor. When used together with the 'Ring of Wind (A-)' given alongside it, you will be able to use a special skill.
"If it's Selimin and Selipin..."
I remembered them clearly.
I was a legendary no-life gamer who had read the setting book cover to cover too.
Twin spirits.
The older one, Selimin, Spirit of the Thicket.
The younger one, Selipin, Spirit of the Wind.
They always appeared side by side.
Could it be that the brother and sister in front of us were actually spirits?
"My god."
I hurriedly lifted my head.
The children who had been hopping around in front of us just moments ago.
"Ah..."
But by then, the twins were gone.
It felt like a mirage had passed through.
Only a fresh grassy scent remained on the arms and legs they had clung to.
Carmilla looked puzzled too, but the place where they had stood was empty.
Wind brushed past my ear.
"Then let's meet again next time!"
"Thank you for protecting the village, unni, oppa!"
Kyaruruk-.
Wind that sounded like innocent laughter.
Greenery and brush rustling in it.
Having missed the children, I could only stand there in a daze.
Only after realizing everything did the strange parts come back into focus.
"Come to think of it... even during the lunar eclipse, it was strange that only those kids were awake."
Wasn't that odd?
Even the outer guards and adults had all lost consciousness.
At the time, I thought they were just lucky and outside the range, but looking back, it was strange.
It took us at least an hour to reach the village and get inside.
That meant those little kids had been running from a ghoul horde for a full hour without getting caught...
"Impossible."
Thousands were chasing them.
Kids barely around ten years old couldn't have shaken that off.
I had brushed past it without thinking back then, but the clues had been there all along.
"Never thought I'd run into spirits here...!"
These were things that appeared about once every twenty playthroughs.
Even I, known as an original-game veteran, had met them fewer than thirty times.
Given the situation, I hadn't had time to think deeply anyway.
-"The adults told us! They said you fought the monsters even while your body was wrecked!"
-"W-we were cheering too. Unni was super cool too...!"
Only now did those words come back to me.
Most of it had probably been lies.
From the cathedral, they couldn't have seen Carmilla's side at all.
They were probably hiding somewhere, watching us.
"Was I being tested...?"
A short laugh slipped out.
Still, if there was one good thing, it was that we had gotten full marks on that test.
Thanks to that, we received the spirits' reward, an exclusive item.
"I never expected this."
The acquisition difficulty was so brutal that I hadn't even considered getting one.
Then an item like that suddenly dropped into my hands, so of course I was stunned.
Carmilla reacted the same way.
"So... they really were elusive children."
The girl absentmindedly played with the ring.
Had she failed to notice that the children were hidden spirits?
Carmilla only seemed to regret that they were gone; she didn't look especially surprised.
"Well, not recognizing them is normal..."
A gentle smile rested on her lips.
Maybe she was simply happy about the children's feelings, despite their rough appearance.
Carmilla clenched the ring tightly, as if it were precious.
"Wait."
I quickly started calculating in my head.
A gift from the twin spirits.
Ring of Thicket, Ring of Wind.
Those two items showed their true value when used together.
There was an [exclusive skill] that only activated under that condition.
"Not just me, Carmilla has to keep hers on at all times too."
That part was fine, since we were always together anyway.
The key was getting her to wear the ring.
I quietly reached out my hand.
"Princess-nim."
"......Ah, Viktor."
"It seems you like the ring."
"Yes. It seems to suit me perfectly."
"You should try wearing it. I'll put it on for you."
"Hm...?"
I held her hand softly.
At the same time, I lightly pulled her into my arms.
As the distance closed, each other's scent rushed in.
"Vik, Viktor...?"
That distinct sweet body scent.
Carmilla looked up at me with startled eyes.
Ignoring that, I gently took the ring from her hand.
"You really worked hard this time."
Warmth tangled between finger and finger.
Beyond that mild heat, I slowly traced along her slender finger.
My fingertips touched hers.
"I'm always cheering for you."
Come to think of it, which finger was it for a ring again.
Left? Right?
I felt like the meaning changed depending on the hand.
"Was left ring finger marriage, and right ring finger peace...?"
What were the meanings of the other fingers again?
My brain froze for a second, then I decided to just put it on whichever finger fit.
Her right ring finger was the perfect size, so I slid it on there.
"I will always stay by your side, Princess-nim."
"......"
Carmilla stood there blankly.
She froze, then her face gradually turned red.
Soon, a limp breath slipped from between her lips.
"......Mwehet?"
Heat slowly rose in her cheeks.
I put on my own ring as well.
"Shall we make this a token of promise? You said you liked it too, Princess-nim."
"A, a token...?"
"Yes, a token."
A promise that I would always stay by your side.
A token that I made that promise.
Like a reminder, I poked the back of her pale hand.
"So, you have to keep the ring with you at all times, all right?"
"......"
"You understand, right?"
"I-I-I understand..."
The girl, red as a carrot, nodded.
Satisfied with that answer, I smiled.
It was a perfect finish.
"Then... should we head back to the academy now?"
"......"
"Princess-nim?"
"Ah... y-yes, y-yes, that sounds g-good!"
"......?"
What.
Why did she suddenly break?
Tilting my head, I still took her hand and led her along.
The hand she held tightly all the way back to the academy.
"Nice."
The truth was,
in vampire culture, the meanings of rings on the left and right hands were exactly reversed.
I learned that much later.
***
After that.
A week passed.
Life back at the academy went by without incident.
There weren't any major scheduled events, and midterm season was coming up anyway.
At least for the next month, there was nothing to worry about regarding the New Kingdom or the Cultists.
"After midterms, was the school trip right away...?"
I did have some business there.
Nothing serious, just somewhere I could loot a little while I was at it.
"I'll think about it later."
That was still at least half a month away.
I spent my extra time taking it easy.
My written exams would be full marks anyway, and I planned to scrape by in practicals.
Other than helping the other Class E students study, it was a quiet, idle week for me.
"I've had it rough lately... maybe I'll just lie low and enjoy myself until the school trip?"
That was the plan.
Yeah,
that was definitely the plan...
"Class E top student."
"......"
"In this midterm practical, fight me."
Mysterious blue hair.
Eyes that seemed devoid of emotion.
A look so sharp it felt almost pointed.
A beauty that could make anyone, man or woman, forget to breathe for a few seconds.
"I won't take no for an answer."
Her overbearing voice pressed down on the atmosphere.
White frost bloomed with every breath she exhaled.
Frost clung even to the tips of her heels.
"Answer."
"......"
I stood there blankly, facing her.
Winter out of season.
The girl's name was Rin Glacia.
The first-year top student called the most overwhelming talent in Grandia Academy history.
"Fuck."
That girl was challenging me to a duel.
I swallowed back the tears threatening to spill.
What now.
Why is this happening again.
