Chapter 41 – Part 1

I lightly smiled at the knight and went upstairs. I was about to enter the room when Frey chased after me.

“I will stay with you until Sir Lan arrives. [ That man ] was surprised when he saw noona.”

“So, it wasn’t just my illusion.”

That criminal earlier was indeed surprised when he saw me. If so, then it meant he knew me though it was also possible that I didn’t know him.

After all, I didn’t have a wide connection.

Even if I had already made my debut in high society, I hadno close acquaintances, just like Frey, so it was an amicable relationship where I only knew their faces.

Of all the people I knew, I honestly couldn’t think of anyone who would do something like this. Who might that person who knew me and kidnapped people? It was too inclusive, and it would be really hard to find them if I didn’t know who [ to find ].

Even though I really did want to find that person, they were also the culprit in this kidnapping case. It’d be embarrassing if I pretended not to know [ if I know them ].

If it was someone I knew, then that meant they were just beside me and pretending not to know anything…

As I thought so, I could feel goosebumps.

…I had no desire to be friends with that criminal. Sitting down on the sofa and took off my hood, the cool air gently blew onto my face.

“But still, thanks to the water spirit. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to wear this as it is.”

I never thought I would feel fortunate that Frey made a contract with a water spirit. Thanks to that spirit, the stuffy inside of the hood when he pressed it down was cool. It was because of the cold aura that covered my face so it felt like I was soaked in water and refreshed rather than uncomfortable.

“Should I make a contract with a wind spirit next time? The wind would be cooler.”

“Don’t say nonsense. I am already satisfied with this.”

It wasn’t that easy to make a contract with a spirit, but Frey talks as if it was that easy.

He had made a contract with the Fire Spirit King and a high-level water spirit. He wouldn’t have been able to stand it without considerable mental strength. Looking at him like this, his mental strength worries me.

One is already difficult, but two? To say that he should add another one makes him sound crazy.

“If noona says that, then it is.”

“Speaking of, Ignis hasn’t arrived yet?”

“Yes, it was quite a distance.”

I don’t know the exact location, but I can feel how far it is.

A spirit could exert its original power the closer [ in distance ] it was to the human it has contracted with. The farther it was from its contractor, the less it could use its original strength. In a simple analogy, it started like a thicker thread but felt like a thin thread the more it rolled.

Fortunately, it could move right in front of you once its contractor called for it, and it was said that it could communicate from afar.

Because of this, it was said that it was easier to obtain information through spirits.

If there was a disadvantage, there was a limit to hiding its presence, as the Fire Spirit King had powerful energy. Therefore, there was the risk of getting caught if it got close to a certain distance to a person with skills.

“That far in that short time?”

“It must be quite fast. Someone might have noticed Ignis Malone’s presence. It says that they are quite sensitive in detecting its signs.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Being weak because of the distance doesn’t apply to the King of Spirits.”

So it wasn’t just the King of Spirits for nothing.

I learned something new, and I rolled my tongue in interest. Frey then stared into the air in silence and slightly narrowed his eyebrows.

“Ah.”

A slightly annoyed exclamation escaped his lips.

“They disappeared.”

“Disappeared?”

“Yes. I’ll call it back here first.”

He muttered in incomprehensible language with his eyes closed, then the pattern on his neck glowed red. When he opened his eyes, one of his pupils turned into the color of a hot fire, and soon, a fire flared up in front of him and me like a whirlwind.

Ignis appeared gracefully while flapping his large wings, who looked much bigger than the bird I had seen earlier. At the same time, Frey’s neck went back to its normal state, as well as his eyes.

“Amazing.”

“Shall I show you one more time?”

[ I don’t like that. ]

“Me, too. It was usually amazing the first time but not for the second time.”

As I spoke, not allowing myself to lose to Ignis, who didn’t seem to like me very much, it sat down on the table and tilted its head.

[ You just won’t let yourself lose, aren’t you? ]

“I would be upset if you said it like that. I was just giving you an answer.”

I shrugged my shoulders as if I didn’t know anything. Ignis looked at me strangely before glancing away. Even though I was the Saint, it seemed like not all spirits like me. Since all animals liked me, I thought the spirits would do, too, though they seemed different.

Well, it is not my dream to be a Saint whom everyone loves, so it doesn’t matter if they [ spirits ] hate me.

“.…”

Still, for some reason, Frey suddenly seemed to be in a bad mood. He even looked displeased as he quietly stared at Ignis. While the one he made a contract with was the Fire Spirit King, his gaze was colder rather than hot, as if cutting through its flesh and colder than polar ice caps.

Ignis also bowed its head with his gaze.

[ Sorry for being whiny. ]

“…Yes?”

[ I didn’t mean anything bad to you. ]

“Ah, yes.”

I guessed Frey must have noticed.

It wasn’t that he was in a bad mood, so I gave a cursor reply and then looked at Ignis with my mouth shut to hear an explanation of the situation. It hesitated to explain, so it glanced in Frey’s direction and then asked me.

[ I have one favor before I speak. ]

“What is it?”

[ …Do something about Frey’s eyes. ]

The Fire Spirit King was asking me with very hurt eyes.

The look in Frey’s eyes was something I had never seen before, so I somehow knew how it felt. If one were to meet that kind of look right away, their body might turn to ice… to the point that I was glad he wasn’t looking in my direction.

“Frey, why? Are you mad because Ignis was being rude to me?”

“Yes.”

He answered without hesitation.

 
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