NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14
Chapter
“E-Enok…!!”
Rionne screamed.
As Enok was about to break the glass orb, Undine accidentally launched an attack.
Rionne was about to storm out, but managed to hold back just in time.
Since the situation was resolved, going out now would only negatively impact Enok.
What a disaster it would be if Enok ever thought that Rionne was always there to protect him.
“Ugh…”
Meanwhile, Enok, who had been soaring through the air, barely raised his body.
He barely held onto his consciousness that was on the verge of flying away.
“You….”
[Why did you break this, you crazy idiot!?]
Ignoring the death glare from Enok, Undine shouted.
[Do you even know what this is!?]
“It’s an egg.”
[What kind of egg!?]
“Spirit?”
[How did you know!?]
Undine was flabbergasted.
[And you came crashing in to break it!? Are you really insane!?]
Enok irritably rubbed his ears.
So loud.
“By the way, I think I heard Rionne’s voice….”
Was it just a misunderstanding?
As Enok looked around, Undine’s eyes jolted wide open.
Crack—
At that moment, a sound echoed once more.
As the egg showed signs of hatching, Undine slapped Enok’s back.
[Hurry! Go take a look!]
“…”
Should I just hit her?
Contemplating, Enok let out a huge sigh and took heavy steps forward.
It wasn’t hard to envision being counterattacked regardless of what he tried.
“Mmm.”
The egg was cracking.
Translucent, glass-like shards fell, and the quivering egg soon fell silent again.
Can’t I just break it?
Enok raised his hand, and—
Szzzzzz—
He got smacked on the back.
[Wait a bit!]
As he simmered down his bubbling irritation and waited,
Crack!— The egg shook violently again.
And something suddenly popped out.
“A nose?”
It was the nose of a beast.
But now a little translucent.
As it blinked its eyes and patiently waited, the life trapped within the egg completely broke free.
[Kyung?]
A fox wearing the eggshell like a hat.
The fox shook its head, sending the eggshell flying, then happily barked at the Enok in front of it.
[Kyung!]
[Oh, oh…!]
Undine jumped with excitement, her feet dancing.
[The birth of a spirit! In the Middle Realm! Do you even realize how blessed this is!?]
As always, Enok ignored her and grabbed the fox by the scruff of its neck.
[Hey!!! You’re supposed to hold it!!]
Though Undine squawked, it seemed she was more worried about the spirit getting hurt, so it was all talk.
So he could just ignore it.
Staring intently at the fox, the fox stared back at Enok.
Beautiful eyes that seemed infused with blue crystals, and its bright, transparent, mystical fur.
With its translucent body slightly see-through, any person who laid eyes on it would instantly recognize it as a spirit.
[Kyung?]
As Enok stared, the fox tilted its head and whimpered.
Enok, detached, finally released his grip on the fox.
[Kyuk!?]
The fox dropped to the ground, and Undine rushed down to catch it.
[You little…!!]
Luckily, he didn’t get hit.
*
Being a spirit or a fox, Enok just wanted to go home as he trudged out of the dungeon.
What kind of fox is this?
Could that thing even help him raise his level?
[Of course it can!]
Enok placed the fox gently on his head.
Then he walked through the forest, sighing at Undine, who looked as if she couldn’t believe it.
“Is this really helpful?”
[It probably recognizes you as a parent, unfortunately.]
“What does that have to do with it?”
Though Undine grumbled, she explained.
Otherwise, that insane, psycho-elf-loving Heavenly Death might throw the poor spirit to the ground.
[You know about spirit contracts, right?]
When a contract is made with a spirit, a pathway forms between the contractor and the spirit.
Through that pathway, the contractor and spirit can exchange mana and spirit power or share thoughts, allowing them to accomplish many things within the limits of their abilities.
[In her case, think of it as a supercharged version.]
Not a contract, but a relationship much closer than that.
Originally, a spirit contract would be something achieved after numerous exchanges that solidify the bond, but that arrogant elf-loving Heavenly Death had simplified it.
“That means it’s going to raise my level…”
[Shut up and listen.]
“…”
[Such spirits are usually called companion spirits, and at that level, spirit fusion might even be possible.]
Literally merging with a spirit to unleash combined powers.
[Of course, your power will increase, and through the process of fusing with the spirit, you might grasp the key to elevating your level.]
In any case, just treat it well since it’s definitely a good thing.
Enok nodded absentmindedly, thinking.
‘Spirit fusion… Rionne could do it too, right?’
Rionne fused with a spirit.
He wished to see that.
*
Exhausted and barely managing to muster the last of his strength, Enok finally arrived home.
Truthfully, if Undine hadn’t secretly healed him, he would have fainted along the way.
“Enok…!”
Rionne rushed out, wrapping her arms around him.
Even though his body cried out in pain from the soft embrace, it didn’t matter.
Enok lifted his heavy eyelids, feeling an overwhelming sense of fatigue.
“Rionne.”
“Yup.”
“Breakthrough complete.”
Enok’s tiny hand gave a V sign.
Rionne stared at his hand for a moment before bursting into a smile.
“Yup, good job.”
Without hesitation, Rionne scooped up Enok and headed toward the bathroom.
“Are you really tired?”
“Um… a bit?”
“No injuries, right?”
“Yup. Not a single hit.”
“Wow, good for you.”
Rionne quickly stripped Enok of his clothes, tossing aside her own in the process.
The bathtub was already filled with warm water.
Splashing gently, Rionne carefully submerged Enok, cradling him in her arms.
“Ah… Now let’s rest. I think we can do nothing for a few days.”
“Um….”
“Do you not want to?”
Enok couldn’t answer immediately.
It seemed nice just sticking close to Rionne for a few days, but he’d also like to train just a little longer to improve his level…
“Enok?”
Squeeze— Rionne’s hands cupped Enok’s cheeks from both sides.
With his lips poking out cutely, Enok ultimately succumbed to temptation.
“…Yup, I want to rest.”
When he thought it over again, letting go of the reward in front of him would be foolish.
*
In the Labelion Royal Castle, in the audience chamber at its heart.
The king listened to the report from the intelligence department, frowning.
“That swordmaster has taken on a disciple…”
Most who were aware knew that the swordmaster was in seclusion.
And that the location was near the Labelion Kingdom’s woods was only natural.
Of course, the Labelion Kingdom couldn’t afford to ignore the swordmaster.
Because after all, it was none other than Rionne Estor.
An elven swordswoman who wielded spirits and magic, cutting through everything in front of her with a single sword.
Even the Undine who accompanied her had garnered the nickname “Tyrant,” such was her might.
Naturally, a being of her caliber was bound to have a nickname.
People spoke in awe, exalting her achievements and strength.
This gave rise to the title of the Thousand-Year Swordmaster.
It meant she had lived for a long time, but more so, it implied her renown would not fade over a millennium.
However, mentioning the title of the Thousand-Year Swordmaster in front of her wasn’t the wisest choice.
She seemed to dislike that title quite a bit.
“Heard she merely said, ‘I’m not at that level yet,’” though she undoubtedly was among the strongest, she was exceedingly humble.
That’s what the king thought.
How would the king know that even an elf might start getting sensitive about age?
“How does the disciple look?”
In response to the king’s question, the intelligence officer vomited all the gathered information.
Magic, abilities that seemed like lightning, footwork, a young appearance, yet at the Expert level, her relationship with the swordmaster, and her statements, etc.
“If we touch the disciple, it’ll mean war. They must have a pretty good relationship.”
“What will you do, Your Majesty?”
“What to do? If I say don’t touch, then they shouldn’t touch.”
The young ones seem clueless, as in front of the swordmaster, most kingdoms can’t even lift their heads.
That said, it wasn’t so serious for the emperor to be concerned, but that’s how most figures on the continent were.
“Well, it is indeed strange that the swordmaster’s disciple doesn’t seem to wield a sword, but that’s about it. Keep reporting regularly about this matter.”
The kingdom’s stance was clear:
Never touch the disciple.
If they noticed the disciple in danger, they might even need to intervene at the kingdom’s level.
“While Estor’s side may not be entirely pleased about it, there’s nothing that can be done.”
No one would attack for the sake of protecting her disciple, but if anything were to happen to her disciple, the swordmaster would swoop in herself to take the king’s head.
Sigh… The king sighed, now having to deal with yet another headache.
*
[Hey, is there something you forgot?]
After finishing his meal, a half-dazed Enok was asked by Undine.
“…?”
Enok tilted his head.
There wasn’t really anything he had forgotten.
The fox was sound asleep on his head, what more was there?
With that blank stare, Undine clicked her tongue and pulled something out.
[Ta-da!]
It was a green-hued gemstone.
Notably tougher than the numerous golems in the cave.
It was the ore that made up its body.
“?”
“Ah.”
Enok still looked clueless, but Rionne noticed immediately.
She had inadvertently forgotten about it while focused on Enok.
“Now that this has happened….”
Should she go visit that woman?
It wasn’t something she’d normally do, but for Enok’s sake…
“Sigh.”
It seemed like she had to visit an old adversary after all.