Chapter 47: Ember Trials

Samantha, who remained in Embay Forest, received somewhat twisted training, just as Jaeho had worried.

She had to endure standing in blazing fire pits or getting beaten up by the Fire Spirits summoned by the elves.

In short, it was almost like spending an entire day with her body set on fire.

Still, Samantha managed to endure this inhuman training, even feeling a certain satisfaction.

“It’s better than being stuck in a cesspit.”

Furthermore, through the training, her chronic problem—her lack of rapport with the elves—began to improve.

Thanks to her sincere attitude, the elves gradually started to open their hearts to her.

“Spirits are mischievous beings. They’re pure nature itself, so you shouldn’t deal with them by the standards of us mortals.”

“You don’t exactly have excellent Spirit Communication Power. Direct Pacts are difficult, but borrowing their power should be possible.”

“Since you bear the heat of the desert, rather than communicating with all sorts of different spirits, it’s better for you to focus on just the Fire Spirit.”

Through their guidance, she was able to acquire several new Class skills.

Among them, there was one skill with an exceptional presence.

“It’s a bit of a shame that your weapon is a dagger, but it’s not easy to give up something you’re used to. Still, it’s not quite enough to protect the Regent of Spirits. So I’ll teach you the <Spirit Sword> .”

[Class Quest]

[The ultimate technique possessed by the Elf Knights, <Spirit Sword>!

However, it is extremely difficult for a human like you to wield this skill properly.

If you can someday master the <Spirit Sword> perfectly, you will rise to the rank of Legendary.]

[Completion Requirement: Achieve Skill Level 100 with <Spirit Sword> .]

[Upon Quest completion, you will be Promoted to <Salleana Blade> .]

“One-way ticket.”

A Quest where you can head straight for Promotion if you just keep leveling up this one skill!

And currently, her Class, Spirit Knight of the Desert, is a Rare rank.

It hadn’t been long since she’d turned away from the Unique Class that was just within her reach, and yet, with her newly changed Class, she’d received another Unique Promotion Quest.

“I—I’ll absolutely do it!”

Seeing her kneel on one knee and bow in formal elf fashion, the elves nodded in satisfaction.

“Good. I’ll teach you.”

[You have learned the <Spirit Sword> skill!]

“Yes!”

Samantha was on the verge of tears of joy.

***

Samantha! Samantha!

At that moment, Crewa Sang’s urgent message arrived.

— Huh? Why?

— You left the Guild again, didn’t you!

— Uh… maybe, but why?

— It’s chaos right now! Usster has gone crazy!

A chill ran through her.

It was something she’d completely forgotten about for a while…

— Is it because of the shield?

— That’s how it started… but he found out Alicia is coming to the Otorque area and ran off to stop her!

— What?!!!

Samantha’s face went pale.

She was one of the few who roughly knew Jaeho’s current level.

With no elf guards right now, it was obvious what the outcome would be if there was a fight.

— He’s totally lost it, saying if he survives, he’ll find her and kill her again! He won’t listen to anyone now!

— Damn! He really did it in the end?

So Usster finally made his move…

“Samantha—I’m back.”

At that moment,

Jaeho appeared before her.

“Ali…cia.”

“Were you alright? Elf training isn’t easy, is it?”

“No, more than that… did anything happen to you, Alicia?”

“Ah, me? Plenty happened. On the way here, I ran into a real madman and had quite a time.”

Samantha was speechless.

— Crewa Sang. Don’t tell me… Usster is dead?

— Of course! Even at a glance, Alicia’s at least a quasi-ranker—how could Usster stand a chance?

Samantha’s head was a mess.

Had Jaeho been hiding her level? Or was her natural ability just that overwhelming?

Either way, Samantha realized she couldn’t put off the truth any longer.

About Usster, her relationship with the Guild, and the reasons she’d approached Jaeho…

Anyway, the Guild Main Hall had been demanding a meeting with Jaeho, so she couldn’t keep it a secret forever.

“Alicia. Actually…”

Nervously, Samantha revealed everything.

“Ah, really?”

Her bland response left Samantha deflated.

“Doesn’t really matter, does it? If they want to come, they’ll come. If there’s a chance to help each other, we’ll cooperate.”

“…Will Usster be alright?”

“Honestly, that guy… he’s a bit of a pain, but what can I do?”

Samantha was impressed by those words.

“This person… is really broad-minded.”

That’s what she thought.

‘Anyway, with the elves around, unless he’s insane, he wouldn’t dare try anything.’

Jaeho’s thoughts were a little different.

Besides, having beaten Usster twice already, would fighting again really change anything?

To Jaeho, Usster was just a fool acting out pointlessly.

Samantha, unaware of this, was simply grateful for Jaeho’s understanding.

“By the way… did you get a Pet in Otorque?”

From earlier, one being had been irritating Samantha’s nerves.

“Hm? Ah, this?”

It was Jingjing-i, hiding and clinging behind Jaeho’s legs.

“Yeah, a lot happened. Let’s just say it’s the result of an accident.”

“C…cute.”

Cute? This thing?

Jaeho, annoyed, shook off the clinging Jingjing-i.

“Hey, let go. You were all excited to enter Embay Forest—what’s with you now?”

[The Spirit of Vitality says, ‘That coward always hides the moment he sees a Fire Spirit.’]

— S-shut up! Who, who’s a coward!

At Jingjing-i’s shout, Samantha looked at him in surprise.

“Did… did it just talk? This is the first Pet I’ve seen that can communicate!”

— I’m not a Pet!

Hearing Samantha’s words, Jingjing-i finally burst into tears.

— I’m a Demonic…!

Jaeho fixed a heavy gaze on Jingjing-i.

“Wak Ma?”

As Jingjing-i’s words were cut off, Samantha tilted her head in confusion.

— He’s a fearsome Fire Oven Spirit!

“Fire Oven Spirit? There’s such a thing?”

“So it seems.”

It clearly wasn’t impossible.

The cooks had mentioned it themselves.

— Kh-huk…

Jingjing-i shed hot tears.

But Jaeho’s attention was elsewhere.

“By the way, what’s the connection between Fire Spirits and Jingjing-i?”

[The Spirit of Vitality says, ‘As far as I know, among all the spirits in the Demon Realm, the Fire Spirits are the most powerful.’]

“Ahh.”

So it was the sadness of a minority.

Jaeho quickly understood.

So, where in the world was a Fire Spirit around here…?

“You’re quite a promising human.”

Just then, an elf appeared and greeted Jaeho, explaining.

“Who? Samantha?”

“Yes. She shows great potential to become an outstanding Spirit Knight. That’s why I taught her how to borrow the power of the Fire Spirit.”

“…So that’s why.”

Jingjing-i had sensed the scent of fire from Samantha.

“Don’t worry! We’ll make sure she’s worthy of being the Regent of Spirits!”

“Uh, uh… thanks.”

Perhaps misunderstanding Jaeho’s indifferent expression, the elf shouted confidently.

Meanwhile, Samantha’s expression twisted slightly in embarrassment.

“Alright, let’s go. Even if the Regent of Spirits is here, training doesn’t stop!”

With an arm around Samantha’s shoulders, the elf led her away.

“Still, it looks good. I’m glad you’re getting along with the elves.”

Jaeho tried to think positively.

***

Returning to the Demon Village, Jaeho cocked his head at the empty settlement.

Surely the elves didn’t lose their tempers and kill everyone while I was gone…?

“Hey! Those guys are working hard on purifying the forest right now.”

A passing elf informed him of their whereabouts.

“Purifying? Does that mean the demons will die?”

“Well, who knows. We’re not sure either. But we can’t just leave this kind of unwholesome ecosystem in the middle realm, can we? Especially in a lush forest, it’s even more torture for those demon bastards.”

“…I see. Do as you will.”

It really was a frightening thought.

If they die, so be it. If they live, they’ll suffer forever…

[The Spirit of Vitality says, ‘Aren’t you the one who made them this way in the end?’]

— Is it really okay for the Regent of Spirits to be like this…?

At Jingjing-i’s question, Jaeho shrugged.

“I heard Tinlight was even worse than me.”

Jaeho figured this was still mild enough.

“Ah, would you like to see the demon’s vault, Alicia?”

“Vault?”

“Yes. Those greedy things have hoarded quite a bit of treasure. Of course, it’s tainted with demonic energy, but that shouldn’t be a problem for the Regent of Spirits. Besides…”

The elf’s gaze turned to Jingjing-i, standing next to Jaeho.

“Since you even command a Demonic Spirit, you won’t have to worry about being contaminated by demonic energy.”

“!?”

Even though he hadn’t explained, the elves recognized it at a glance.

Truly, they were the race closest to the spirits.

“Hmm, you don’t seem very surprised?”

“Excuse me? Is there a problem?”

“It’s a Demonic Spirit, isn’t it? And it looks like a demon to anyone.”

At Jaeho’s words, the elf burst out laughing.

“All spirits originate from the Spirit Realm. And no matter what, any vessel can house a spirit.”

Jaeho knew that much himself.

He’d met plenty of flower spirits, after all.

“Not that they can communicate, though.”

Meanwhile, the elf continued explaining.

“Even if it’s demonic grass, there’s no reason to hate the spirit dwelling within it. A spirit is just a spirit.”

In short, all spirits are equal…

[The Spirit of Vitality warns, ‘Never say things like that in front of an elf.’]

Anyway, it was clear the elves held no grudge against Jingjing-i, which was reassuring.

There was no longer any need to feel self-conscious about carrying around such a suspicious creature.

— So now I can reveal my true identity proudly?

It didn’t seem to be a problem, but…

“Still, let’s keep it under wraps in front of strangers.”

— But why?

“If they hear ‘Demonic Spirit’, they’re bound to misunderstand.”

That was all there was to it.

***

Following the elf, Jaeho arrived at the demon’s treasure vault.

One of the places was already familiar to him from when he’d received the seedling shovel.

[You have acquired the title <Safe Robber>.]

[You can now find hidden ‘Somethings’.]

[You have acquired the title <Grave Robber>.]

[If there is a burial mound nearby, your Agility and Movement Speed increase.]

He gained some titles, though he wondered when they’d ever be useful…

“Wait! This is a burial mound? You—”

He’d just learned an unsettling fact.

“Ah, indeed… Now that you mention it, there is a vaguely mound-shaped hill here. Looks like there are barrows all over this area.”

Thanks to the titles, Jaeho realized something even the elves hadn’t known.

“Demons really are demons…”

[The Spirit of Vitality says, ‘And yet you’re still looting everything, aren’t you?’]

— Hey, it’s already a place tainted with demonic energy. From the burial mound owner’s perspective, I’m just getting rid of dirty stuff for them—it’s a good deed.

“I like that way of thinking.”

At Jingjing-i’s words, Jaeho felt a little less guilty.

But as it turned out, there wasn’t anything particularly valuable inside.

Most of it was just food supplies, and even those were too contaminated to use.

“Well, it’s not a king’s or noble’s tomb—there’s no way there’d be any treasure.”

Following the elf’s guidance, Jaeho arrived at the fifth vault and checked the items inside.

As expected, there was nothing but junk, and he was about to leave when he noticed a faint glow coming from a pile of scrap metal in the corner.

[Due to the title <Safe Robber>, you have discovered a hidden ‘Something’.]

“Eh?!”

The title came into play the moment he got it!

“Looks like something’s over there?”

“Ah, you mean this side?”

When they moved aside the scrap metal, what appeared was an oddly protruding stone.

A subtle glow was emanating from the strange tip of the stone.

Just looking at it, it was obvious he should press it!

“Oh, looks like there’s a ‘Something’ here!”

“Is it safe?”

Jaeho recalled his experience entering Brejal’s Vault in the past.

The results had been good, but the process had been quite an ordeal.

“Haha, don’t worry. You have me, don’t you?”

The elf patted his chest and encouraged Jaeho.

“Well…”

With an elf with him, what was there to be afraid of?

After taking a deep breath, Jaeho pulled the broken lever.