Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 13

13.

“So, how do you recognize that qualification?”

“You can tell just by looking. Those who possess the qualification have an aura flowing within them that’s similar to ours. You’ll probably feel quite familiar with them.”

“So, do we have to go around looking for them individually?”

“No, you don’t necessarily have to do that. Among the races of the Middle Realm, there are those who are born with sufficient qualifications to contract with us.”

“Hee, I see.”

According to Trowell, sometimes those who possess the qualifications unilaterally call upon them. They temporarily connect with this side through a unique method called a summoning ritual.

It was a method that the spirits had revealed to the world long ago to make it easier to find contractors. Anyone with the qualifications could summon the spirit they desired using this method. Of course, that doesn’t mean the summoned spirit has to make a contract unconditionally. The summoning itself cannot be refused, but the contract can be rejected if they don’t like the summoner.

After finishing the explanation, Trowell grumbled as if he couldn’t help it.

“Ifrit didn’t even tell you this? Geez, I should have just taught you from the beginning. Sorry.”

“No, I learned a lot thanks to you. Thank you, Trowell. Oh, right, now that I think about it, there’s one more thing I was curious about…”

“What is it? Ask me anything.”

I smiled shyly at Trowell, who was calmly waiting for my question. I felt like he and I had become like a teacher and a student in our conversation. He’s kind, considerate, and even has a handsome appearance. If the teacher is this sexy, wouldn’t the students line up from dawn to go to school?

“Huh? Am I that sexy? Thanks for the compliment.”

“…Cough, please don’t read my thoughts like that.”

“I didn’t read it on purpose, I just heard it.”

I covered my face, looking at Trowell, who was smiling brightly.

I’m going crazy! It hasn’t even been a few minutes since I vowed to be careful with my thoughts in front of Trowell, and what an embarrassment this is. Fortunately, even after hearing such embarrassing thoughts, he didn’t seem to avoid me. Feeling my face burning up, I quickly changed the subject.

“Ahem, anyway… what I want to ask is this. I did create a spirit… but it seems a bit different from the method Ifrit showed me.”

“Different how?”

“Ifrit just reached out his hand, and Ignis appeared with a whoosh. But yesterday, my strength suddenly drained from my body, and a lot of bubbles seemed to boil up. It lasted all night. I only barely found out today that a spirit was born.”

“Haha, that’s only natural. It’s because you created so many spirits at once. Thousands upon thousands of spirits were born simultaneously, so it couldn’t have been created in an instant like Ifrit, right?”

“Huh? That many were born?”

I widened my eyes, not expecting there to be so many, even though I thought there would be more. Trowell chuckled lightly and nodded.

“You probably instinctively created as many as you were lacking. The sensation on your skin feels different today than yesterday, right? It’s proof that your power has spread a lot in Arkadom, so there’s nothing to worry about at all.”

“Hmm, I see. That’s a relief. I was constantly worried about whether it was done properly. At that time, a strange sound popped out against my will…”

“Strange sound?”

“Yeah. Strange, or what should I say? The intonation, or pronunciation, is definitely the same language, but it feels different. Should I say it feels like there’s something off…”

“Ah, I know what you mean.”

Trowell, who had been wearing a puzzled expression, soon seemed to realize something and stared straight at me.

“Like this, perhaps?”

“Gasp…!”

I gasped in surprise. It was the same. It was hard to explain exactly where and how it was the same, but the words he had just used had the exact same structure as the unknown cry I had uttered yesterday. I gaped like a fish and asked.

“Wh-what? What was that… how did you do that?”

Trowell smiled again at me, who was clearly showing embarrassment.

“It’s a Word of Power.”

“A, a Word of Power?”

“To put it simply, it’s expressing your will through words. You can think of each word you utter as becoming reality right before your eyes. It’s one of the higher abilities that only gods or beings close to them can use. Of course, even with the same Word of Power, the power of the Word of Power used by a god is the most outstanding.”

“Heo…”

An ability where things come true when you speak… I used something so amazing?

I was happy, but I still felt more bewildered. In fact, even if it was a Word of Power, I couldn’t even know how I did it myself, so there was nothing to be proud of. Perhaps reading my mind, Trowell said in a calm tone.

“You can probably do it again.”

“Huh?”

“Using a Word of Power, even unconsciously, is a good sign. It means you’ve gotten closer to your true nature. Moreover, you couldn’t have forgotten a method you’ve already learned.”

“But, I don’t know how to do it?”

“That’s just what you think. Now, strongly wish in your heart that you want to create a spirit. You’ll probably know right away.”

Following his words, I calmly focused my mind and began to mutter inwardly. Spirit, I want to create a spirit. Not too many, just one Cyciel.

In fact, I was secretly disappointed that I couldn’t properly see the process of the spirits being born because they were obscured by the bubbles. I also had the desire to properly capture the sight of Cyciel being created this time.

Then, suddenly, I began to feel something tickling inside my mouth. It was similar to the impulse I had last night, before the bubbles rose, to say something.

‘Could this be a sign of the Word of Power?’

With a dubious feeling, I carefully uttered the words that were swirling in my mouth.

“Come forth, Cyciel!”

Swoosh—!

At that moment, I felt something resonating within my body. It was as if the waves were rippling greatly before a wave crashed. Then, a strangely ticklish sensation started from my chest, traveled along my arm, and slowly moved towards my hand. And the energy that gathered in that way soon began to create a small vortex on the palm of my hand.

Swish, swish, crash!

The vortex that arose in that way instantly turned into a huge stream of water. And I soon discovered that a blunt shape was slowly looming within it, as if a sculpture was being carved. As time passed, it was forming a clear image of a wolf. It was Cyciel, the water wolf.

Soon, the completed Cyciel leaped upside down in the air and spun around once. Then, it crouched low in front of me and bowed politely.

—Greetings, most honorable ruler of water, my lord, Elquines.

“Hee…”

“See, I told you it would work, right?”

At Trowell’s words, I blankly nodded my head up and down. I must have looked quite foolish, but I couldn’t help it. At this moment, I was so moved by what I had done myself that I had no room to care about the gazes of others.

I just thought about it, and it happened. I can’t believe a spirit was really created!

The incredible reality was enough to awaken all sorts of sensations that had been vague until then at once. In addition, I had no choice but to clearly recognize one fact that I had not realized.

That I am not human.

* * *

After using the Word of Power, I became a little more confident. Now that I had created a spirit myself, I no longer had to doubt that I might not be the Spirit King.

Feeling good, I kept creating spirits like a child showing off their talent. Each time, Trowell watched what I was doing, smiling as if I had done well. It must have been quite boring to watch the repeated process every time, but he never got annoyed or frowned (seeing this, Trowell might be suited to be a kindergarten teacher). Thanks to that, I was in an even more excited state. If an unexpected intruder hadn’t appeared, I might have created spirits for days without getting tired.

“Hey! Stop making spirits! This is too much! Are you going to turn Arkadom into a sea of water?”

The one who shouted irritably was Ifrit, who appeared as always with a haughty and elegant appearance. Trowell greeted him with a friendly wave.

“Welcome, Ifrit.”

“What, Trowell, you were here too?”

“Yeah, look at Jihoon. Isn’t he really amazing? He’s already realized this much of his abilities.”

Trowell pointed to the water spirits that filled the surroundings as if boasting about his own work. Of course, Ifrit wasn’t kind-hearted enough to be moved by it with him.

“Hmph! What’s so great about something that’s obvious? And I didn’t come here to play right now?”

“Then why did you come?”

“Because too many water spirits were born, the energy here has decreased significantly! I’m just here to protest because I’m annoyed. Trowell, you were next to him, why didn’t you stop him?”

“I was fine.”

“Ugh! Really, that’s why those who have compatible natures get along!”

Ifrit, who was bursting with anger, began to glare at the newly born water spirits gathered in one corner. The spirits shrank their shoulders at the threatening gaze.

“Stop glaring. The kids are scared.”

“Who’s glaring?”

“Who else but you, Ifrit. Look! They’re trembling because they’re scared of you.”

“Hmph! Shut up. It’s only natural for the spirits under my command to be afraid in front of the Spirit King!”

“They’re my spirits that I created. I didn’t create them to be afraid of you.”

“What? So what? Are you trying to pick a fight with me right now?”

At the same time as he finished speaking, flames soared from Ifrit’s entire body. The blazing red flames were very aggressive just by looking at them.

Normally, I would have been scared and unable to say anything, freezing on the spot. But at this moment, I was in a state where I was quite confident as the Spirit King. In short, I was in a state where I couldn’t see what was in front of me.

“Ha! Do you think I can’t do it if you want to try?”

I boldly retorted, gathering the energy of water in one hand like Ifrit had done. The clump of water that was gathered in that way began to swirl sharply like an awl.

It was a touch-and-go moment when both sides could collide at any moment.

If it hadn’t been for Trowell’s muttering that came from the side at just the right time, this water domain might have been devastated in an instant.

“Hmm, I guess blood can’t be fooled? I feel like I’m seeing the previous Elquines and Ifrit…”

“Huh?”

“What are you talking about, Trowell?”

What about the previous Elquines?

Following my bewildered expression, Ifrit glared at him with an unpleasant expression. Trowell shrugged his shoulders and replied.

“Jihoon, I mean, at first I didn’t think so, but the more I look at him, the more he looks like the previous Elquines. Well, it’s only natural that the energy is similar since they’re the same Elquines.”

“Oh, really? I’m similar to the previous one?”

“That’s ridiculous! Who are you daring to compare him to?”

Unlike me, who was purely curious, Ifrit shouted in a shrill voice. Thanks to that, I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed.

What. But this is subtly unpleasant? ‘Daring’ to compare me to someone like me—since the previous Elquines was so great, I understand how you feel. But can’t you express the same words differently? Feeling upset, I frowned and looked at Ifrit.

“Hey, Ifrit. Why are you talking like that? The previous one and I are both the same Elquines, but aren’t you being a bit harsh?”

“Hmph, do you think it’s enough if you just have the same position? Appearance, ability, personality—you have to have at least one similar aspect to acknowledge that you’re alike. You seem to think that you’re equal to him just because you’re the same Elquines. That’s just your delusion. Know your place.”

“What?”

“You should have some conscience. How can you dare to compare yourself to the previous Elquines in your current state? It’s not like you’re deliberately insulting someone.”

Boiling with anger at the relentless words. Why is this guy so displeased with me? Did I do something wrong to this guy to hear such things to my face? No matter how much I think about it, it was full of things I didn’t understand. I shouted in frustration.

“Ah, yeah! Sorry for not having a conscience! But what’s wrong with insulting him? Anyway, you and the previous one weren’t on good terms either, were you?”

“Wh-what?”

Contrary to my expectation that he would immediately retaliate against me, Ifrit’s face turned blue. I didn’t miss all of the brief change. Only then, like finding the last piece of the puzzle, did I feel like everything was falling into place one by one.

“…What. Was that really it?”

Hull, I knew it! That’s why you were so hostile to me! I knew it! Ifrit, you’re caught!

I became smug like someone who had caught a weakness and started grinning. Ifrit’s face turned bright red at the sight of me.

“N-no! Who said that? Absolutely not! I was just so dumbfounded that you were comparing yourself to the previous one! It’s like that even if you look at it objectively!”

“Heheng, if it’s not, then why are you so flustered? From the way you’re making excuses, it’s all because you’re feeling guilty.”

“N-no, I’m not! What nonsense are you talking about?”

“Why are you being like this? Haven’t you heard that strong denial is affirmation?”

“Huh? Strong denial is affirmation? Why?”

Then, suddenly, another voice joined the conversation. It was Trowell, looking at me with a curious expression.

Hull, why at this moment of all times. Can’t you ask questions later?