NOVEL NEXT Chapter 11
Hello there, it’s me, Jin, the villainous noble who’s anxiously contemplating how to avoid encountering monsters and keep the story unaffected. I’m currently in the Forest of Spirits.
“Hey, Mea, how do you manage not to get lost in this maze-like place?”
I directed my question to Mea as she navigated through a pathless path illuminated by radiant flora in place of the sun.
At first, I naively thought the forest was clearer and more beautiful than in the game. However, its intricate nature had me lost within about five minutes, leaving me unable to retrace my steps. From there, I held onto Mea’s hand, determined not to lose her.
Although Mea confidently pressed forward, I could only see her as somewhat lost. Could this be because I have terrible vision?
“It’s alright. Even though I haven’t been here in a while, the spirits will guide us. So, there’s no problem.”
“Huh, spirits? But I don’t see any around…”
I scanned the surroundings thoroughly, but I couldn’t discern anything present. Frustrated by my fruitless search, Mea suggested,
“Why not try activating [Mana Sight]? Using that, you’ll probably be able to see them. Spirits are like clusters of mana.”
I followed her advice and activated [Mana Sight]… and indeed, they were there.
They were about twenty centimeters in size, sparkling with a concentrated natural mana that felt as if it had been tightly compressed. And it… wasn’t merely drifting like natural mana does; it was moving freely.
“Wow!! So, these are spirits! But seriously… they possess incredible amounts of mana.”
“That’s true. While these are low-level spirits, their mana capacity far exceeds that of typical noble children or young ladies.”
I see… so if they were higher-level spirits, they’d likely be visible to humans.
I’d really like to try using spirit magic… but I’m not an elf.
Could non-elves use it too, perhaps?
The protagonist is an entirely different story… that’s not a human, right? So, no way.
“But, I still really want to become a spirit mage…”
“Shall I teach you someday?”
“Huh?”
I was so surprised that an unintended sound escaped me.
“Oh, can I learn it too?”
“Of course. Spirit magic isn’t exclusively for elves. As long as you’re favored by spirits and possess a certain level of mana, anyone can use it. It seems you’re quite beloved by the spirits, Jin-sama.”
As Mea informed me, I glanced around and noticed that not only the low-level spirits, but also the voice-hearing mid-level spirits and the fairy-like upper-level spirits, were all focused on me.
Huh? Aren’t spirits supposed to be pure-hearted beings? But I’m a villainous noble, right? Oh, but the current me is Jin, not that old persona… so I guess it’s okay.
Well, let’s not get caught up in the details. If I can use spirit magic, it should only bring benefits without any drawbacks. And the fact that Mea and I would be in harmony is a major plus.
“Wow, then I’ll ask you to teach me next time.”
“Yes. Think about the type of spirits you’d like to learn about before then.”
“Sure thing!”
I’m looking forward to it… maybe I should create another magical organ next time— Wait, what!?
As I was brimming with excitement about the future, various spirits suddenly gathered around me.
“Hey, hey, let’s make a pact with me!”
“I’m better!”
“Let’s play together!”
The mid-level spirits spoke in a childlike manner, sounding fluffy and innocent. Honestly, they were incredibly cute. And being close to them felt warm.
“Hmm… that boy possesses remarkable talent.”
“That’s right… his mana feels almost inhuman.”
“I’ve never seen someone with two magical organs.”
“What an interesting human.”
While the upper-level spirits initially gave off a vibe of intense scrutiny, their gaze soon turned friendly.
It seemed they had noticed the magical organs I had painstakingly created and were quite pleased with them.
“…Mea, is it normal for spirits to gather like this?”
“yes… spirits are generally carefree and independent by nature.”
So, that’s why they’re so intrigued by me… or rather, my talent. As expected of someone with otherworldly magical aptitude. While I was huddled together with the mid-level spirits, warming ourselves, they suddenly started trembling in fear.
Using [Mana Sight] to check on the low-level spirits, I saw that they were already fleeing.
“He-Here it comes…”
“A monster’s coming…”
“What should we do… It’s scary.”
A monster…?
What’s with the monster— Wait, what!?
“Jin-sama!”
“I know! —Become my shield and barrier! [Magic Defense Barrier]”
Mea and I quickly erected a barrier for restraint. However, the creature… effortlessly shattered it with a mere collision.
I couldn’t help but be surprised by this turn of events.
Wait a second… even if it was hastily done, I definitely put a fair amount of mana into it. And Mea cast it with me… but it still crumbled.
Moreover, I’ve never seen a creature like this before.
As I glared at the creature before me, I began manipulating my mana to cast a new spell.