Chapter 64: Leo fulfills his fateful encounter (2)

“Huh…?”

“No, you see. Because I have the power to obtain anything, I think you are incredible, but if you ask me what I want, it’s not fame or power, but you. I really like you, gold. I love you.”

“Do you understand?” When asked, she shook her head in confusion.

“Because people like me for the fact that I can get anything I want.”

“So if you don’t want ‘anything,’ why do you like me?”

“Because you’re cool!”

“..What…?”

The quick answer made her golden eyes waver with even more confusion.

So, Leo licked his lips slightly, choosing his words carefully and began to speak with all his might.

He hadn’t thought much about it until now, but he tried to explain why he liked gold so much.

“Um, well, I’ve loved gold since I could remember. I don’t know why. I just did. I just wanted it. Isn’t that what love is?”

For instance, Leo’s older friend who set him up with a part-time job translating erotic novels, loved the curves of women with passion, saying things like ‘they are justice’ and ‘the absolute good.’ Leo thought it was the same.

It’s not about logic, but instinct—although Leo believes his feelings are a little more refined than that.

(Instinct, huh…?)

“Oh, yes, um, I mean, there was a turning point when my admiration for you turned into something akin to worship!”

Seeing the golden spirit fold her arms in a way that showed she couldn’t understand, Leo hurried to speed up his explanation.

“Six years ago… or was it seven? There was an outbreak of disease in the area I lived in.”

“Disease…?”

“Yes, although it didn’t really affect the well-nourished and well-rested citizens. You see, I might look this way now, but I grew up in an orphanage in the slums.”

Leo hesitated for a moment whether to explain the reason for the exchange, but decided it wasn’t relevant here and quickly moved on to explaining the situation at the time.

The golden spirit, as expected of one who rules over a beautiful substance like gold, seemed displeased by the ugly phenomenon of disease, and listened intently with a stern expression.

“That winter was extremely cold. At one point, food supplies became scarce, making them harder to come by. I discussed this with the director, and we agreed to prepare as best we could, but then the unexpected outbreak happened. The preparations we made weren’t enough, and we quickly ran out of food and other essentials.”

“The intent was to provide the sick with warm rooms, nutritious meals, and a clean environment.”

“At the same time, to prevent infection within the orphanage, it was necessary to discard food and supplies rather than reuse them.”

“But that worsened the orphanage’s already poor finances rapidly.”

“Leo and the others, watching the healthy children run through the winter streets, worked hard or cut back on their lives to survive the cold and disease.”

The spirit listened silently, her enchanting face contorted as she muttered quietly.

“So, why did that lead you to worship me?”

“You suffered because you lacked money.”

Leo pondered the question, then responded,

“Well, what I’m trying to say is… it wasn’t the lack of money that caused us to suffer, but rather that having money would have saved us.”

The explanation sounded like a riddle.

The spirit furrowed her brow, missing the point, while Leo apologized for his poor explanation and gathered himself to try again.

“When the disease first broke out, we tried to raise funds, you know, initially.”

“…Yes.”

The golden spirit listened intently.

Encouraged, Leo continued.

Closing his eyes, he could still clearly remember the scene from back then.

Cold, dark, bone-chilling winter.

The day his little brother, who he had looked out for, fell ill and he and Hannah ran desperately around town.

“We went to every possible source, but… no one would listen to an orphan’s plea.”

The doctor said he had only enough medicine for the citizens.

The church’s reverend told him he would prioritize treating children with parents because they had more people who would grieve for them and that they should wait their turn.

The shopkeepers dismissed them because they were children, and even the usually friendly townsfolk tried to distance themselves from Leo and his group because they carried the disease.

“At that moment, I wondered. Why? Why should we suffer because we’re of low status, without parents, because we’re poor, or because we’re sick?”

They couldn’t change any of those things.

They hadn’t chosen to be born into the lower classes, to be orphans, to be girls or children, or to become sick.

Leo and the others couldn’t change the bias, no matter how hard they tried.

“They say death is the great equalizer, but that’s a lie. Death, disease, and suffering play favorites.”

The upper-class citizens and nobility were pampered, while Leo and his group suffered.

The world was full of such unfairness and injustice.

“But you—yes, only you—kicked down that injustice.”

Hannah was resourceful.

She brought out a substantial amount of savings from the orphanage and used it to convince the doctors, the reverend, and the shopkeepers with money.

They sneered at her, but when offered money, they fulfilled Leo’s requests.

Despite their disdain, they handed over medicine, food, and supplies.

Clutching these items, Leo realized.

With money, you could survive.

With money, you could live.

Only in front of money were people treated equally, regardless of their background.

Money alone was a reliable, fair, and trustworthy presence compared to fleeting emotions, fickle adults, and sanctimonious preachers.

“You are fair. In your presence, there is no distinction between young or old, noble or commoner. Only you kicked aside the disease and unfairness to help us. To me, you are powerful, dependable, and dazzlingly cool—a hero.”

Looking straight into her golden eyes, Leo declared.

The girl took a deep breath.

Realizing he had been too intense, Leo relaxed his clenched fists.

Then he offered a shy smile.

“Though I fell short back then, and we still struggled with not having enough money in the end… But that was my fault, so it’s just how it is.”

Parents may be unattainable no matter how hard you try, but you can always earn money.

While money can be hard to come by and can vary by person, compared to other unfairness, it’s almost laughable in comparison.

Leo took the spirit’s hand, looking into her eyes.

“So, that’s why I love you. Your strength is dazzling, and I admire how you conquer everything. But it’s your strength that I like, not what I want.”

As Leo spoke, his own words became muddled.

He tried his best to explain his conflicting feelings.

“I’m not looking to use you to gain something. I just love you, and I want you by my side. ― Do you understand?”

Leo loved gold.

He truly did.

Whenever he expressed this, people reacted with confusion or annoyance.

But he hoped she wouldn’t react that way.

He looked at her with concern, and the spirit smiled softly, a smile that seemed both teary and happy.

“Yes.”

It was a quiet, heartfelt answer.

“Oh! I’m so glad! This was my first time talking this much, so I was a bit…”

“Hey.”

Just as Leo was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she cut him off and hugged him tightly.

(Wha… the spirit of gold!?)

His heart raced, and he froze as she gently touched his cheek and whispered.

“I shall grant you my name.”

“Wh… What!? Y-Your name!? Ah, a divine name, yes!?”

“By the way, in order to become the Beloved, one must be favored by the spirit and call its name.”

The thought of hearing the name of the spirit she admired made his heart race with excitement. 

The woman, with an air of a spirit, began by announcing an elaborate and old-fashioned name.

“”S-such a lovely name! Let me repeat it!””

“Wait.”

Just as Leo inhaled deeply with unnecessary force in his excitement, she placed her delicate, white fingertip on his lips.

“Y-yes…!?”

“I want you to call me by another name.”

“A-another name…!?”

Having no place for the breath he had taken in, he had no choice but to expel it from his nose with a quiet ‘muhah!’

As he was flustered by the beautiful spirit’s closeness, she looked at him with a slow, sensual smile.

“Alta.”

“A-Alta-sama…!?”

The name sounded beautiful, but it was remarkably short. In fact, it seemed like a common name for a human woman. Leo’s confusion caused Alta to chuckle.

“Yes. This is a name I was given long ago. When I was merely a spirit of minerals, it was the name of the first woman who adorned her skin with gold.”

“A spirit of minerals…?”

Leo, only familiar with a world where gold circulated as currency, couldn’t quite grasp it, but he understood that Alta had once been a spirit of minerals.

As Leo nodded in understanding, Alta continued her explanation.

“Yes. Long, long ago, I was just a spirit of the earth, like iron or tin. Over time, I transformed into what I am now, as currency… and my form changed considerably. From a pure state to a seductive and destructive one. From a being not officially recognized as a spirit, one neither entirely sacred nor evil.”

“No, no! It means you’ve been recognized for your beauty, rising above all else! From the pure Alta to the sensual Alta! It’s great! Amazing!”

As Leo tried desperately to reassure the spirit who looked down at her body with a self-mocking smile, he reminded himself that her current beauty was undeniable.

Alta’s lonely smile followed as she murmured that few people now sought her for who she truly was.

“My worth is only realized when I am exchanged or relinquished for something else.”

“Alta-sama…”

When she lowered her slim shoulders, it made Leo sad too. As he clenched his fist silently, Alta lifted her head and regained her gentle smile.

“But you’re different. You seek me not for what I can provide, but for me, don’t you? You desire me for who I am, not for the wealth or power I represent.”

“Y-yes! I… I love you! I love you for who you are!”

“Then call me Alta. But don’t call me that openly in front of others. It’s a secret name.”

She instructed him to call her, but warned him not to do so in public. Leo thought for a moment before nodding earnestly.

“Understood. Then, I’ll call you Al-sama.”

“That’s rather masculine, isn’t it?”

Alta seemed slightly displeased with the lack of creativity in his nickname, but she seemed to understand Leo’s limits and nodded.

“Alright. Just between us, I’m Al.”

“Just between us…! Al-sama…! What a lovely sound…!”

As the elegant lady winked, Leo nearly felt his heart leap out of his chest.

Coincidentally, the prince had a similar nickname, but compared to Alta’s radiant presence, he was like a kitchen rat. So, Leo didn’t even recall the prince’s name at the moment.

“What should I call you?”

“L-Leo! My full name is Leonora von Hakenberg, but you can just call me Leo!”

“That name is also quite masculine. It’s fitting. Leo?”

“It’s fitting, Al-sama…!”

“Fuff fuff, Leo.”

“Al-sama…!”

The two displayed a level of affection that even a new couple might hesitate to show, but their world suddenly wavered, causing them to look up at the same time.

“What was that…?”

“I completely forgot, but you were in a predicament, weren’t you? Outside this gold coin, men are shouting. The very air seems to tremble.”

Leo’s face twitched. He had been too absorbed in his time with Alta, but this could be a very serious situation.

“Uhm, is it possible to see what’s going on outside right now…?”

Hesitant, Leo asked. Alta snapped her fingers.

“Like this.”

“Oh… oh my…”

The golden veil shimmered, revealing the scene outside, causing Leo to gasp and his face to stiffen.

Alta, who had been watching, had a stern, or perhaps uneasy expression.

“What should you do? Eventually, you’ll have to leave here.”

“Y-yes, that’s true…”

Leo answered vaguely, and Alta’s eyebrows lowered apologetically.

“My powers are limited. I can’t control minions and attack humans like a supreme spirit could. All I can do is shine, or create more gold coins.”

(That’s such a wonderful ability!)

Leo nearly got excited at the thought, but he stopped himself and focused on the scene in the veil.

He watched for a while, then turned back to Alta with determination.

“Al-sama. Can you let me leave?”

“Are you going? In this situation?”

“Yes. I have something I must do, and… I want to trust these people.”

When he met her eyes with a firm gaze, Alta blinked her long golden lashes and then smiled softly.

“Alright. As you wish.”

She floated gently into the air, reached out, and cupped Leo’s cheeks with her hands.

She pressed her forehead against his and whispered softly in her slightly husky voice.

“But don’t forget. If you run into trouble, you must call me. I promise I’ll help you.”

“A-Al-sama…!”

Leo was overwhelmed by her grace, purity, and strength. He thought he might get a nosebleed.

Then he gently wrapped his arms around her smooth shoulders, taking in the sweet scent of gold, and held her tightly.

“Well, I’ll be off!”

He let go of her and stepped out of the world of gold coins.