Ch 228
“This is…”
“It can’t be…!”
A murmur arose.
Prince Lasnian’s servants were shocked.
“It, it really appeared…!”
A High-Rank Wind Spirit, Sylph.
That was the reason why the transcendent being appeared at the altar in response to the summoning.
It was a situation where an outsider might think, ‘Why are they surprised after summoning it themselves?’, but for them, being surprised was perfectly natural.
A being of the same high rank as a High-Rank Spirit was not something that could be contacted just because one wanted to contact it.
Even the earnest ritual performed at the altar created with pure energy was only a ‘gentle knock’ if the target was a High-Rank Spirit.
For example,
The success or failure of the ritual entirely depended on the High-Rank Spirit.
Only if the High-Rank Spirit felt like, ‘Shall I meet them?’, would the ritual succeed.
And that was absolutely not a common occurrence.
High-Rank Spirits were the ‘summoning’ side, not the ‘summoned’ side.
High-Rank Spirits never appreciated being summoned to a time and place designated by the other party.
Thus, Lasnian’s party was surprised, and surprised again.
“Even, they seem to be in a good mood…?”
Not only did the High-Rank Spirit respond to the summoning—
but the speaking voice conveyed an emotion opposite to displeasure.
Soon, their shocked expressions turned elated.
“They recognized Lasnian!”
They reached that conclusion through the presented series of clues.
It was a justifiable conclusion for them.
The only High Elf at the altar was Prince Lasnian, and the ritual was performed with his presence.
However,
there was one unclear part.
‘Lisir.’
They carefully rolled the name mentioned by the High-Rank Spirit on their tongues.
“Yes, Sylph!!! It’s me! High Elf Lasnian, who inherited the noble bloodline of the World Tree!!! I requested this meeting with you!”
Since the Prince had already reached his own conclusion and was rejoicing, there was no way to disrupt that.
It was uncommon for a High-Rank Spirit to remember the names of those who were not contractors.
They decided to assume that the High-Rank Spirit had misremembered the Prince’s name, just as Lasnian had.
-Is that so. The one who summoned me…-
That was when.
“Sylph!?”
The High-Rank Spirit’s voice, which had been as clear as if it were engraved throughout the space, dissipated like smoke at the end.
Along with the presence that the high-ranking being had created.
Thus, the High-Rank Spirit’s appearance was suddenly accomplished like a fleeting mirage, and ended as if nothing had happened.
“Ha, haha…!”
But the Prince laughed.
His youthful face flushed slightly, creating a youthful smile.
“The, Sylph answered my call!”
After the contract between the High-Rank Spirit Sylph and the previous contractor was terminated.
Countless individuals coveted the vacant contractor’s position.
However, the High-Rank Spirit Sylph had never responded to those numerous courtships and summons—
Now,
that Sylph had exceptionally responded to the summons.
“Wait! This isn’t the time! Murian, Denrike!”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
“Right now, remember and record all of this! Don’t forget a single element that could affect the ritual!”
“Understood!”
This was not the first time Lasnian had attempted contact with Sylph.
As was the case with most Elves in his position.
A noble being who does not easily reveal what they prefer or dislike.
Those hoping to contact them created the optimal ritual environment by adding and subtracting elements one by one.
Lasnian considered his efforts to have borne fruit.
The time of the ritual, the weather, temperature, humidity, and even the materials.
Lasnian meticulously recorded every element of the ritual.
Gondola and the people of Rapita were no longer in his mind.
The superiority of having successfully contacted Sylph spoke for itself.
Rapita is no longer a subject of caution!
“Lasnian…?”
“Yes?”
At that moment.
Lasnian’s servant expressed concern about Gondola’s party.
It meant, ‘Having watched the ritual that successfully contacted Sylph from so close, are they alright?’
“…”
Lasnian’s face became like someone who had suddenly sobered up, but he quickly pretended to be calm.
He looked around.
Besides Gondola’s party, various people were present.
Those who were practically stationed at the altar for legitimate reasons, such as guards or administrators—
Lasnian knew.
That they were the eyes of other competitors.
For example,
In any case, it was impossible to completely hide all the rituals performed in this place.
Information leakage was inevitable.
The next day.
Or perhaps immediately afterward.
It would not be strange if competitors replicated Lasnian’s ritual exactly.
Above all, Lasnian himself had perfected this ritual through such methods.
“…”
Recalling this fact, Lasnian smiled calmly.
“It’s fine. Only those lacking self-confidence or obsessed with external factors would do that. I believe the decisive factor in the success of the ritual lies within myself. So, feel free to steal it. My results, that is.”
Lasnian said to those who were glancing at the altar.
“…”
They flinched and crouched.
Yet, Lasnian wore a victor’s smile as they continued to check the state of the altar where the ritual was performed.
“How about it, Gondola. You did well following me, didn’t you?”
He then showed off to his sister’s escort knight.
“Wouldn’t this be a great comfort to Rapita, who was abandoned by Sylph and heartbroken? How about it. Are you remembering this correctly?”
“…”
Gondola had a very complicated expression.
Unable to understand the meaning of that expression, Lasnian simply smiled with superiority.
Soon,
Gondola looked at the altar, avoiding Lasnian’s gaze.
In case, it was to remember the details of the ritual.
The type of energy used in the ritual, the power to control it.
And the offerings to the spirit.
Gondola stored all of it in his mind.
When the record of all factors was complete.
One factor stood out in Gondola’s mind.
-Long time no see.
-It was probably the name Lisir.
It was the Sylph’s statement.
‘Could it be…’
Gondola was confused.
It was the confusion he felt towards himself, who had a hunch but found it difficult to accept it at face value.
He was an Elf.
At the same time, he was the Verdant Spear serving the High Elf.
But,
How could he readily accept that the existence of a human held more significance than the efforts of even the noblest beings among the Elves?
He thought of his master, Princess Rapita.
The image of the Princess tirelessly striving and repeatedly failing to reconnect with the High-Rank Spirit who had suddenly left her.
This contrasted with the High-Rank Spirit’s appearance just now, giving the escort knight indescribable emotions.
“Now, shall I give a hint to those who still don’t understand?”
At that moment,
Lasnian approached the altar and lifted one of the offerings.
“Heat Haze Flower. A flower that grows in a place where yang and yin energy constantly clash, facing the wind for its entire life. If you want to win Sylph’s favor, tell your master about this flower. This flower and its use, which I, Lasnian, discovered.”
Knowing that the attention of the audience was focused on the unprecedented new offering, Lasnian shouted.
The main character of this ritual was a rare plant whose use had been newly discovered by Lasnian’s scholar.
Naturally, Lasnian had already secured most of the quantity.
Lasnian smiled contentedly, imagining his brothers struggling to obtain the Heat Haze Flower.
That’s when.
Whispering.
Ratsil, who had been frowning and lost in thought for a while.
She finally came to her senses and whispered something in Gondola’s ear.
“Yes?”
Lasnian’s gaze naturally turned there.
Thus witnessing.
“!!!”
“Ah!”
Gondola gave a warning with wide eyes, and Ratsil hastily shut her mouth.
‘What were they talking about?’
Lasnian felt a little curiosity, but didn’t attach much importance to it.
It was clearly going to be a trivial matter.
He had complete control of the situation.
“…Thank you for your kindness, Lasnian. If it’s alright, we’ll take our leave.”
Gondola said, confirming Lasnian’s gaze.
“Yes. Go.”
Lasnian dismissed the competitor’s escort knight without hesitation.
✦✦✦
Verdant Council chamber.
A conflicting atmosphere of both gentleness and sharpness coexisted there.
This was because High Elves, outwardly close friends but secretly fierce rivals in the prophecy, were gathered in one place.
“…”
Among them, a woman mechanically lifted and put down a teacup.
Princess Rapita.
Her deep, blue eyes, like a forest itself, were unfocused, wandering in mid-air.
As if struggling in deep water.
“Is that really true?”
“Why would I lie! Kyahahahaha!”
The noisy conversation of her sisters next to her.
The gentle scent of tea and sweets tickling her nose.
No stimulus affected her now.
Thus, Rapita seemed to be out of her mind—
But even so, she was clearly aware.
“…”
“…”
Even while her siblings were talking among themselves, their gazes were clearly directed at her.
Like a vulture looking down from the sky at dying prey.
“But, Rapita.”
“…!”
Suddenly,
Rapita flinched.
The woman who had been staring intently at her spoke.
It was Princess Yulin.
“Can I ask you something?”
Grinning.
Yulin’s expression, which could be considered frivolous for her status, was particularly noticeable.
The kind of expression one makes when they can unilaterally bully someone lower in rank.
“The place where we met was in front of the Verdant Wind Altar, right?”
“…”
“Hey, Rapita. I’m talking to you, are you listening?”
Yulin, teasingly prompting Rapita’s reaction.
Finally, Rapita couldn’t help but retort.
“Anyway, you’ll just say whatever you want, whether I listen or not.”
“Oh my.”
Rapier was startled and covered her mouth with her palm.
Still, her sharply curved lips weren’t completely hidden.
“You brat. Making me feel awkward. It’s not entirely wrong, though.”
Kuku kukuk.
She removed her hand, revealing her teasing smile.
“Since you’re like that, I don’t need to hold back. How was it? How did the ritual go this time? Sylph’s former contractor? I heard you put a lot of effort into this ritual.”
Kwaak.
Rapita’s hands, encased in silk gloves, trembled.
She looked straight at Yulin and said.
“It went as you wished. How about it? Was it a sufficient answer?”
“Oh, really? It seems the ritual went well? That’s good~”
Yulin’s attitude, with words and expressions at odds, left Rapita with no choice but to clench her teeth.
The being chosen by the World Tree.
While everyone was moving forward, following the prophet’s prophecy, she alone was lagging behind.
Half-Spirit Perin.
High-Rank Spirit Sylph.
Her situation, unable to even keep the powerful cards that any High Elf would covet, could only be explained that way.
“With this, the prophecy has become clearer~?”
At this point,
No one could definitively determine the protagonist of the prophecy.
However, the opposite was possible.
The being furthest from the prophecy.
The being who would absolutely not be chosen by the World Tree.
They could be certain that it would be Princess Rapita.
“Kueek━”
Humiliation evokes negative memories.
Rapita suddenly recalled the ritual she had performed before coming here.
The ritual she performed with everything she had, feeling it was her last chance.
Even in that ritual, Sylph had ultimately refused to meet her.
There was nothing more Rapita could do.
A terrible sense of powerlessness.
Before that, a sense of loss.
This chain reaction was dragging Rapita into an endless swamp.
“Are you enjoying this?”
“Yes?”
Rapita expressed her frustration in a desperate struggle.
“Watching me fail, is that so enjoyable?”
Rapita’s eyes were filled with malice, even emitting a kind of poison, but Yulin laughed and accepted it nonchalantly.
Majesty.
Presence.
The weight of such things usually comes from the power of the subject.
There was no reason to fear Rapita’s anger, as she had no competitiveness regarding the prophecy.
Yulin, who had not been on good terms with Rapita, knew this very well.
She leaned over the table and thrust her face towards Rapita.
“Yes! I’m very happy because one competitor is gone, and I’m one step closer to being the protagonist of the prophecy!”
“…”
Bang!
Finally, Rapita jumped up from her seat.
Kyahahahaha!
Instead of stopping her, Yulin fully enjoyed her amusement.
Just as Rapita was about to leave.
“Yulin!”
“Yes?”
Yulin’s maid hurriedly approached and conveyed some information.
“Rapita!”
Rapita’s maid followed.
“Lasnian succeeded in the ritual!”
“…!”
The two princesses were shocked, forgetting the previous situation.
✦✦✦
At this point,
The biggest concern among the World Tree’s successors was undoubtedly the High-Rank Spirit Sylph.
In a situation where they thought, ‘I’ll do anything to be chosen by the World Tree!!! But what should I do!?’ the first thing that came to mind was the great spirit who had lost its contractor.
Therefore,
The news that Prince Lasnian had succeeded in the ritual and contacted the High-Rank Spirit spread quickly throughout the Verdant Council through the eyes and ears they had planted everywhere.
“Where is Lasnian!?”
“He, he is still waiting at the Verdant Wind Altar…”
“Waiting!? Ha! He’s acting like a lord!”
“…”
Yulin and Rapita headed to the altar as soon as they heard the news.
When the two arrived.
The altar was already packed with people.
Other successors had already arrived and were attempting to contact Sylph.
Prince Organ immediately recognized Yulin and Rapita and spoke to them.
“Oh, Yulin. You came?”
“What happened?”
“I heard. That Heat Haze Flower—”
“…”
The two, having started their conversation, naturally excluded Rapita.
In such an urgent situation, they didn’t have the time to be distracted by a non-threatening competitor.
“So, Lasnian succeeded in the ritual because he offered that Heat Haze Flower?”
“I don’t know. However, the only unusual thing revealed so far is that. So—”
Organ pointed with his thumb to one side of the altar.
There, several successors were protesting loudly to Lasnian.
“That’s the problem.”
“What kind of problem is that?”
“That Heat Haze Flower. It’s a species that only grows in specific areas, and the currently known areas are all within Lasnian’s territory?”
“What is that!? Are you sure!?”
“I don’t know, but that’s what Lasnian said? That it’s impossible to obtain it without going through him.”
“That’s ridiculous. So, what did he say? That it’s all mine, so you guys shouldn’t even dream of it?”
“He said he’s willing to share it to a limited extent—”
“That’s the same thing!?”
“Well, it’s practically the same.”
“…”
Rapita, watching the situation while eavesdropping, felt extreme anxiety.
If their story was true, Sylph would undoubtedly leave her side soon.
“Uh…”
At that moment,
Rapita’s mouth opened weakly.
A familiar and longed-for energy touched her skin.
“Wh-what is this!? Suddenly!? Organ, can you feel it too!?”
“Could it be now? This suddenly!?”
Then, a commotion arose throughout the altar.
They too felt the same thing as Rapita.
Whoosh—
A space surrounded by grass and trees outside the Verdant Council.
A powerful wind was swirling there.
No voice was heard, but they clearly knew.
That the great Wind Spirit—Sylph—was present.
Yulin.
Argon.
And Lasnian—
One by one, the successors approached the front of the altar and began to speak to Sylph.
-I refuse.
That was the answer they received each time.
-I refuse.
The High-Rank Spirit rejected the successors’ courtship in a firm and impassive tone.
-I refuse.
Mechanically.
-I refuse.
The successors thought.
-I refuse.
That this was a measure taken by the High-Rank Spirit, tired of repeated courtship.
-I refuse.
That it would be absolutely impossible to hear any other answer from the High-Rank Spirit here today.
“If you please, talk to Rapita!”
-I will.
“Yes?”
It was an involuntary utterance from some of the successors.
Did they hear something strange just now?
A sudden silence fell upon the hall at the fleeting conversation.
While everyone was chewing over their memories, checking if they had heard correctly,
Only one person looked towards where the voice had come from.
It was Rapita.
“You are…?”
The entrance to the altar.
Rapita found her escort, Gondola, there.
And she found a familiar face with Gondola.
His face was hidden by a deep hood, but Princess Rapita could clearly recognize it.
The Elf Princess closed her eyes tightly and rubbed her eyelids.
‘Ah. I finally-‘
She thought.
That due to extreme pressure, she had finally gone mad and was hallucinating.
The protector of the Half-Spirit she had left in the Human City appeared at the deepest part of the Elf land, and defended her in her time of crisis.
There was no other explanation for that unbelievable situation.
✦✦✦
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