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Chapter 199: Spirit World (3)

‘No. Why. Why. Why. Why?’

Piego\'s mind raced madly as he bowed his head.

The Spirit God.

Beatrice.

The master of all spirits and the very essence of the Spirit Realm.

By nature, she didn\'t reveal herself directly in the Spirit Realm.

She was a presence that observed from beyond.

She only showed herself in the Spirit Realm very rarely, perhaps once in several centuries.

But suddenly appearing when a barbarian visited the Spirit Realm was shocking timing.

‘…How could I have such bad luck!’

Piego felt a cold sweat trickling down, even though he wasn\'t actually sweating.

The deathly silence made his head spin.

And whether Piego felt that way or not, Ketal was in a good mood.

‘The Spirit God, huh.’

She was the second god he saw after Kalosia.

Considering that Kalosia descended by borrowing the body of the saintess, it was the first time he faced a god directly.

Ketal observed Beatrice with pleasure.

Beatrice also observed Ketal.

It was Beatrice who broke the silence first.

[You. Famous one.]

“Do you know me?”

[I know. The one from ‘Inside’.]

Beatrice spoke languidly.

Piego was shocked at her words.

It was hard to believe that the great Beatrice recognized a mere barbarian.

[What business do you have in my world?]

“I came to make a contract with a spirit.”

[…A contract? Why?]

Beatrice\'s words carried a tone of puzzlement.

As if questioning why something like that was necessary.

It was a feeling similar to hearing an adult collect toys meant for children.

Ketal replied confidently.

“Just because I want to.”

[…]

There was a peculiar look from Beatrice.

As if she hadn\'t expected such an answer.

“But unfortunately, I was told it\'s impossible. Moreover, it\'s about time.”

Ketal\'s body began to fade slowly.

He could no longer stay in the Spirit Realm as his mystical energy was depleting.

‘What a pity.’

In the end, he couldn\'t make a contract with a spirit.

It was very disappointing.

Still, having explored the Spirit Realm and met the Spirit God, he intended to be reasonably satisfied.

Ketal\'s body started returning to the physical world.

Piego sighed in relief as he finally began to leave.

[You.]

Beatrice spoke.

[Come back.]

“Hm?”

[Come back here again.]

“Why?”

[To make a deal.]

[Be-Beatrice, ma\'am?]

Piego spoke out involuntarily, knowing it was extremely disrespectful.

But Beatrice didn’t even glance at him.

“…Does that mean there\'s something to trade?”

Beatrice answered with silence.

Ketal, understanding it as a positive sign, showed an intrigued expression.

The Spirit God wanted to make a deal with him.

He felt a strong interest rising.

He wanted to ask about the details right away, but his body could no longer stay.

“In that case, fine. I\'ll come back soon.”

[I\'ll be waiting.]

With those words, Ketal\'s body returned to the physical world.

Arkamis and Karin, who had been waiting, greeted him.

“You’re back.”

“Yes. Nice to see you again.”

“So, Ke-Ketal. …How did it go?”

“Unfortunately, I failed.”

“Ye-yes, I thought so.”

Arkamis fumbled as she tried to comfort Ketal.

“It’s okay, Ketal. It couldn’t be helped. In fact, it’s something to be proud of! It means you’re so strong that spirits can’t even attempt to make a contract with you! But if you’re really sad about it, I can teach you my secret alchemy technique!”

“That\'s kind of you. But it seems I need to go back to the Spirit Realm.”

Karin gave a wry smile.

“I understand it’s hard to give up, but it’s impossible. There is no spirit that can form a contract with you.”

“That’s not the reason. The Spirit God told me to come back to make a deal.”

At Ketal’s words, both Karin and Arkamis fell silent.

After a long moment, they barely managed to speak.

“…The Spirit God?”

“Are you referring to Lady Beatrice?”

“Yes.”

“Wait a minute.”

Arkamis hastily raised her hand.

She looked at Ketal with eyes filled with astonishment.

“…You. Did you see the Spirit God?”

“Yes. She came to see me.”

“Wha-what?”

“Wait a minute. What do you mean?”

“I mean it literally.”

“…Can you explain in detail?”

Ketal began to explain.

He met Piego, the highest-ranking spirit of fire, in the Spirit Realm.

Piego explained why he couldn\'t make a contract with a spirit.

And when he was saddened and trying to figure out a solution, the Spirit God came to him directly.

Karin, having listened up to that point, swallowed hard.

“You mean Beatrice herself appeared and came to see you? Is that even possible?”

“It seems to be quite rare.”

“Of course it is!”

Karin shouted, losing her composure.

“The Spirit God appearing in the Spirit Realm, let alone moving to meet an individual, is unprecedented!”

The Spirit God.

Beatrice.

The origin and beginning of all spirits.

She was closer to being the personification of nature itself rather than an independent entity. She was the ruler managing the entire vast Spirit Realm.

Just her appearance could shake the Spirit Realm, so she usually dispersed into nature and observed the realm.

For such a Spirit God to reveal herself to meet someone directly was unheard of.

Even Karin, who had a contract with the Spirit King, had never met or spoken with the Spirit God directly.

“I see. So that’s why her manner of speaking was strange. If she doesn’t usually talk to others, that makes sense.”

Ketal murmured with an intrigued expression.

Karin was at a loss for words at his incredibly nonchalant attitude.

“…Are you really saying she came to see you? You didn’t mistake her for a Spirit King?”

“It was definitely Beatrice. It wasn’t the presence of a Spirit King.”

“Oh my.”

Karin pressed her forehead.

After calming down for a moment, she asked in a trembling voice.

“…Why did she say she wanted to meet you?”

“She said she wanted to make a deal.”

“A deal.”

The Spirit God making a deal with a human.

Karin let out a hollow laugh.

“What kind of deal?”

“The moment she started talking about it, my mystical energy ran out.”

“So that’s why you said you need to go back to the Spirit Realm….”

“Is it possible?”

“I’ll make it possible even if it’s impossible.”

The Spirit God revealing herself and requesting a deal.

It wasn’t an ordinary matter.

It was likely something very significant.

As an elf, she couldn’t just stand by and watch.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

“I’ll prepare everything by tomorrow. Ketal, please rest and recover as much of your mystical energy as possible. If you’d like, we can take you to our sanctuary.”

“Oh. Please do.”

Ketal nodded with a smile.

That night, Ketal spent time in the elf sanctuary.

It was a very beautiful place.

Since it was a space full of mystical energy, his recovery was quick.

The next day.

Ketal met with Karin again.

Having finished all the preparations, Karin immediately opened a portal to the Spirit Realm.

Ketal arrived in the Spirit Realm once more.

Beatrice was waiting for him.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

[No.]

“So, what kind of deal is it?”

Ketal asked with an intrigued face.

Beatrice spoke.

[You want to make a contract with a spirit. But it’s impossible.]

“Unfortunately, that’s true.”

Ketal couldn’t make a contract with a spirit.

Weak spirits couldn’t withstand his level, and his mystical energy was insufficient for strong spirits.

Increasing his mystical energy was the most definite solution, but that was impossible unless he consumed something like a dragon heart.

Ketal was shocked by Beatrice’s next words.

[I can make it possible for you to make a contract.]

“…You’ll make it possible for me to make a contract with a spirit?”

[Yes.]

“Is that possible?”

[I am the master of this place.]

Her words were calm but definite.

[Do you want the contract?]

“Of course, I do!”

Excitement appeared on Ketal’s face.

Being able to make a contract he thought was impossible and was about to give up on was thrilling.

Naturally, he was excited.

“I accept!”

Ketal responded immediately, with an attitude that clearly showed he wanted a spirit contract.

[…Strange.]

Beatrice muttered in a puzzled tone.

[An existence from ‘Inside’ is the enemy of the world. Yet you desire a spirit contract. You wish to make a deal with me. I cannot understand.]

“Isn’t that the charm of life? It’s boring if everything goes according to plan.”

Ketal laughed lightly.

“I accept. What are the terms of the deal?”

[Simple.]

Beatrice said.

[Protection of Elfo Sagrado. Safeguarding the World Tree. Elimination of enemies.]

“…Hm?”

Ketal\'s eyes widened.

* * *

When Ketal was called back to the Spirit Realm by the Spirit God, the elf guardians were patrolling the perimeter of the sanctuary.

Their expressions weren’t tense.

Just a few days ago, Karin had resolved the black magicians\' attack with just three snaps of her fingers.

As long as the queen was guarding them, enemies couldn\'t even approach the sanctuary.

That was the thought in the elves’ minds.

Just as they were maintaining their lax patrol, something happened.

“Wait. Enemy.”

The guard captain, Ash, raised his hand.

The guardians hastily drew their bows.

“Is it an intrusion?”

“Yes. But… something’s strange.”

Ash squinted.

Black magicians were approaching from beyond the forest.

But it wasn’t just black magicians.

There were countless figures with them.

The number was easily in the hundreds.

Ash swallowed hard as he observed their faces.

“…Our kin.”

“What?”

Dozens of elves were being held captive by the black magicians.

And it wasn’t just elves.

There were hundreds of humans who seemed to be hostages.

Some were dressed in noble attire.

Ash ground his teeth.

“Are they planning to use hostages to pressure us? Maintain your guard. I’ll go to the queen.”

“Yes.”

As Ash turned to head toward the World Tree, the black magicians moved.

They grasped their swords and swung.

Swick.

Ash froze.

He thought the black magicians would use the hostages to attack the sanctuary.

But they didn’t.

They slaughtered all the hostages.

“…What are they doing?”

“Oh.”

“Oh oh.”

“Oh great darkness.”

“Demon that devours space and creates rifts.”

The black magicians chanted.

It was a dark spell.

A grand ritual that involved offering numerous sacrifices and their own lives.

Ash was horrified.

A vast malevolence, something any earthly being would feel, was emanating.

It was a ritual to bring back those banished from the world.

“Please.”

“Please.”

“Descend upon this place.”

Crack.

The space where the sacrifices lay twisted like a vortex.

The bodies of the sacrifices and the black magicians mixed and contorted.

It was a grotesque sight, as if someone had crumpled the space itself like paper.

Then the fractured space expanded as if it burst.

The elves’ faces turned pale.

“Ah….”

“Oh, ah.”

The expanded space was alien.

It wasn’t a summoning circle to call a demon to the earth.

It was a dark passage.

A passage connecting hell and earth.

A sinful path that allowed the entities of hell to come here.

Its very existence was a problem, but there was a bigger issue.

The sheer size of it.

The passage to hell was as large as a small mountain.

The shadow cast from that place was enough to cover the entire elf sanctuary.

“Ah, uh.”

“Oh….”

The elves felt it.

That this forest was now connected to hell.

Whip.

A massive eye opened, filling the enormous passage.