The ‘Unending Night Festival’ began the next day.
It was a festival that ran all night for three days straight, but honestly, for the nobles, it was no different from the pre-night banquet—just an excuse to mingle amongst themselves.
Occasionally, they would put on airs and parade down the festival street, but that was about it.
The festival period was supposed to be the most important time for Flower House promotions, but now, it didn’t seem to matter much at all.
“Waaa—! Rumia-nim, you’re so handsome!”
“Your hair is amazing! Where did you get it done?!”
“Elysia.”
“Huh?”
“Where did that person over there come from? Is he from Gedor Territory?”
“Elysia.”
“…?”
The word ‘Elysia’ was now deeply imprinted in the nobles’ minds, and they ended up promoting it themselves.
“The only problem left is this…”
While everyone else was lost in the festival’s chaos, Jaeho stood alone in a dark alley of Otolk.
Opposite him, the Demonic Spirit sat cross-legged.
He’d hoped the thing would vanish for good and never show its face again… but when he logged back in, there it was, sitting in front of him as if nothing had happened.
— Since I was summoned through proper procedures, I’m now in a contract with you.
“Hm, there’s some misunderstanding here—that wasn’t any proper procedure. So just go back.”
— Hm? But I only appeared because we perfectly achieved Triune Unity.
“What was that Triune Unity supposed to be?”
— Six kinds of Demon World plants and a high notoriety. And finally, ‘a desperate wish to screw someone over’.
It all sounded a bit vague, but he supposed it was more or less satisfied.
“So what now? Am I supposed to drag around a demon now?”
It wasn’t enough that he’d helped demons complete their quests, and now he had to go around with a Demonic Spirit from the Demon World?
— I’m not a demon, I’m a spirit! Not just any spirit, a High Spirit! Just like that stinky fellow you’re always dragging around!
“Huh?”
The Demonic Spirit’s unexpected remark.
It wasn’t hard to guess who ‘that stinky fellow’ was referring to.
“How do you know about Condé Spirit?”
[ <Spirit of Vitality> protests, ‘Don’t introduce me like that!’]
— By nature, spirits are formless entities. Especially High Spirits like us—if we have a medium, we can manifest physically like this.
“High Spirit? What’s that?”
It was the first time Jaeho had heard the term.
— Simply put, we’re like the nobles of spirits. Independent High Spirits like us are, in fact, beings on the same level as the Spirit King!
“What?”
Even without knowing much, Jaeho was aware that the Spirit King was a formidable existence.
But he couldn’t quite accept that these guys were on that level.
“Condé is as useless as they come, though.”
[ <Spirit of Vitality> grumbles, ‘That guy’s just exaggerating!’]
At least the Spirit of Vitality had some pride left.
“Well, if you’re the Spirit King, you’re the Spirit King, but saying you’re on the same level seems a bit… ambiguous.”
— K-khm… It just means that if we gather enough power, we’d be qualified to become Spirit King too!
“Ah.”
Jaeho somewhat understood.
In the end, these guys were just spirit nobodies…
— But it’s true that guy’s useless! Clinging to the summoner’s consciousness means there’s hardly anything he can do! Lots of spirits who want to escape the Spirit Realm and see the world do that!
“…So it’s just freeloading.”
Jaeho got the picture.
“And you put on all that bravado, when you’re in the same boat?”
[ <Spirit of Vitality> says, ‘And you talk like you ever listened to me anyway?’]
“Tch, that’s just classic Condé Spirit behavior.”
Clicking his tongue, Jaeho looked back at the Demonic Spirit.
“But you say you’re not a demon, yet all my Great Demon Effect titles and skills worked perfectly on you.”
All those intimidation skills and titles meant for demons were working on this spirit.
— Th-that’s just because our attributes are similar! I’m definitely a spirit!
“That’s not the only problem. The Elves definitely wouldn’t like it if they saw you.”
Well, there probably wouldn’t be any major issues.
Thinking back to what happened in Embay Forest, the Elves were tolerant of almost everything Jaeho did.
But the whole process was a massive mental strain for Jaeho.
He really had to tell a lot of bold-faced lies and excuses…
“Recently, I’ve lied so much my conscience hurts.”
[ <Spirit of Vitality> says, ‘Lie…—’]
“Can you shut up for a bit?”
— Yeah, shut up. You’re annoyingly loud.
“What the? You can read my mind?”
— Of course. We’re in a contract, aren’t we? Even when you tortured me the other day, you cursed me out so much. That was the most frightening treatment I’ve ever received.
“Then you know how I really feel. Go back to the Demon World and don’t show up again.”
— It’s not the Demon World, it’s the Spirit Realm! And please, at least listen to my story.
[ <Spirit of Vitality> jeers, ‘Blame yourself for not knowing this human, kekeke—’]
— You…! Damn you! Thanks to your stupidity, Tinlight turned into a joke!
[<Spirit of Vitality> mocks, ‘Jealous, aren’t you?’]
— Regent of Spirits! Please! Let me stay in the Middle Realm! I refuse to be toyed with by that guy!
[ <Spirit of Vitality> jeers, ‘Ebe be be—’]
— Fine! Then I’ll tell you how to pull that guy out! Looks like you’re stuck with him anyway!
“…Wait a second.”
— ?
[<Spirit of Vitality> says, ‘????’]
“You know how to materialize Condé Spirit?”
[ …!]
The Spirit of Vitality was clearly flustered.
— Lulon!
The Demonic Spirit was just as desperate.
***
The Demonic Spirit explained in detail to Jaeho how to materialize the Spirit of Vitality.
What was needed: twelve types of healthy plant life and a Spirit Candle.
— And there are a few other things, but… I can’t just spill all my secrets here, so that’s all I’ll tell you.
It was great news that there was a way to get rid of the nagging Condé Spirit, but it wasn’t possible right now.
Most of the necessary materials were at the Elysia Garden.
— Just don’t send me back! The Spirit Realm is so boring… Ahh!!
The moment he grabbed Jaeho’s pant leg, the Demonic Spirit was zapped away by the overflowing power of vitality!
“……Are you sure you’re not really a demon?”
[ <Spirit of Vitality> shouts, ‘He’s definitely a demon!!’]
— Shut up! At least I’m more useful than that guy who hides all the time!
“That’s actually true.”
[<Spirit of Vitality> protests, ‘Didn’t I help you a lot too?!’]
“You count nagging as help?”
— I take action! Not just talk!
“Wow… the more I see you, the more I like you.”
At Jaeho’s words, the Spirit of Vitality almost clutched the back of his neck.
[ <Spirit of Vitality> protests, ‘Are you seriously taking the demon’s side?’]
— I’m not a demon, I’m a spirit! You and I both come from the Spirit Realm, don’t act all high and mighty!
[ <Spirit of Vitality> shouts, ‘That guy’s probably talking about a demon summoning ritual!’]
“Come on, there’s no way that’s true.”
None of the required materials had anything to do with demons.
They were all lively, vibrant flowers.
“Alright. Then for now, I’ll let you stick around. But there’s a condition.”
— Fine! As long as I can stay in the Middle Realm, I’ll do anything!
“From now on, you’re not a Demonic Spirit, but the Fire Oven Spirit.”
[ <Spirit of Vitality> bursts into laughter, ‘Puhaha!’]
“No, actually. I was uncomfortable with it anyway—let’s give you a name. Dae-wa Jingjing-i.”
— Kihehehe!
***
These days, Wooram was living with more confidence than ever.
He’d become so much stronger, people around him said he looked like a different person!
“What?! Director, you just broke the Korean record today!”
“That’s 800 on the big three lifts!”
This pretty much said it all.
At the alumni gathering he attended for the first time in a while, the reactions were just as heated.
“Hey, Wooram—your son’s really something these days, isn’t he?”
“He’s a total celebrity! My son asked if he could get an autograph from yours.”
“Wooram, you haven’t forgotten that we promised to become in-laws back in the day, have you?”
Wooram chuckled, basking in the attention from his old classmates.
“Come on, what’s the big deal about gaming? Everyone knows these days, right? With all the buzz about New World, I just bought it so my kid could try. I didn’t expect Jaeho to be that talented. But in less than a year, he became the star shaking up the world! Who did he take after? There are rumors big companies might be contacting him… He’s not even ready, but already he’s making waves.”
Wooram’s endless bragging about his son soon wore out everyone around him.
It seemed like his boasting would never end, until someone else spoke up.
“My kid plays New World too. Apparently, he just got cast for a Pro Gaming Team.”
Freeze—
“P-Pro Gaming Team…?”
Wooram asked as nonchalantly as he could.
In New World, Jaeho was one of the hottest players, but in real life, he didn’t have much in terms of credentials yet.
But now, a classmate’s child had gotten a Pro Gaming Team offer before Jaeho?
“Whoa, there are pro gamers in New World too?”
Another classmate asked, tilting his head.
“Well, I don’t know the details, but I hear teams are forming soon. The existing teams are entering New World, I think.”
“Ah, that’s it? Then Wooram, I bet your son is getting offers left and right!”
“Of course!”
“Which one? Is MK T1 still the big name?”
“Y-yeah… I don’t think he’s decided yet.”
“…So, you didn’t get any offers yourself?”
Back home, Wooram asked Jaeho.
“Nope. I’m not interested anyway.”
“Hey, kid! If you want to convince your mom that gaming’s a real job, you need to go for something like that!”
Was there really a need?
Lately, Jaeho’s earnings through the Flower House had skyrocketed.
Thanks to that, his income was no joke.
Even if he didn’t become a pro gamer, he’d have plenty of money at this rate.
“You just don’t want to lose to your friends, right?”
“W-what? Of course not! Anyway, are you sure no one contacted you?”
“Not at all.”
“These people… are they working or not? Letting the world’s most famous gamer slip through their fingers.”
“What an embarrassing thing to say… Wait, you didn’t say anything like that at the alumni gathering, did you?”
“Ahem!”
The way Jaeho looked at Wooram was the very definition of exasperation.
But Jaeho had no idea.
Numerous gaming teams were trying to contact him through the Flower Center call center.
But since he’d ordered that anything not flower-related be blocked, none of those messages ever reached him.
***
Taylor, the Bulgeom Guild assassin.
During Bulgeom Kingdom’s large-scale attack on Jaeho, his pride had been deeply wounded.
People called Taylor the strongest sword of Bear Kingdom, but…
“I was so humiliated on broadcast…”
At least he wasn’t alone; other Bear Kingdom rankers were defeated alongside him.
That helped ease the sting.
Like back in school—discipline was bearable if you had friends with you.
“But this time will be different!”
He crossed the continent again to Elysia Garden.
But no matter how much he watched, Jaeho never appeared.
“Not showing himself at all? Maybe he’s not here?”
But he was a first-class assassin.
If the target isn’t there, just wait until he appears!
How many days had passed like that?
Through Taylor’s telescope, watching from afar, a familiar silhouette appeared.
A musclebound figure with overwhelming presence!
He was even friendly with the Elves, so this was definitely his target.
“He’s finally shown himself…”
And at that moment, Taylor spotted him heading out alone, without any Elves in tow.
With the biggest obstacle—the Elves—gone, he was 100% confident of success.
“This time, I’ll finish it. I’ll pay back the humiliation you gave me.”
With his resolve set, Taylor melted into his own shadow.
“What the?”
Wansik looked around, feeling a sudden tingling at the back of his neck.
“It’s like someone’s radiating murderous intent from a weird misunderstanding…”
He felt like he shouldn’t leave, but… errands from the Elves couldn’t be put off just because he wanted to.
“Jeez… even with my favorability up with the Elves, the jobs don’t change.”
Grumbling, he stepped out of Elysia, completely unaware of the one hiding beneath his shadow.