Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 18

Chapter 18

With each clear and beautiful sound, tiny water droplets danced and floated. It was a sight so beautiful, one couldn’t bear to look away.

“Wow…….”

I was mesmerized, unable to tear my eyes away from the Naiads’ dance. But the moment of awe didn’t last long, interrupted by Ifrit’s sarcastic remark from the side.

“Your spirits are as simple as you are. Dancing for joy at such a simple greeting.”

“……Do you always have to say things like that? Look at this beautiful scene.”

“Hmph! My Kasas’ dance is far more beautiful, you know?”

Oh, really?

I stared at him with a dumbfounded expression, and Ifrit simply raised his chin as if daring me to challenge him. But what he said next left me even more speechless.

“Just so you know, I’m prettier.”

“……Huh?”

“You only see what you want to see. Just because they’re Naiads doesn’t mean they see you as particularly beautiful. To others, I’m much prettier than you, okay? So don’t go getting any ideas about being the most beautiful of the Spirit Kings.”

“Ah, okay…….”

What was that about? Was he sulking because of that?

Now that I think about it, he must have felt threatened by the Naiads complimenting my appearance. More than that, why am I even hearing this? I’m not even female!

“Oh? Wait a minute. Looks like we have a visitor.”

“What? Where?”

I reflexively turned my head and easily spotted a man wandering through the flower garden. It was clear at a glance that he wasn’t a spirit; he had an alien aura about him. He seemed to have just arrived in the garden, looking around and marveling at the scenery.

“It’s true. Where did he come from? Hopefully, he’s from the Underworld…….”

“He probably is. Gods and deities have a much more imposing presence.”

“Hee, really?”

Ifrit and I exchanged a quick glance and simultaneously shouted at him.

“Hey, you there!”

“Stop right there!”

* * *

Our shouts caused an unexpected disaster. The man, who had been approaching a rose made of flames with interest, was startled by our voices and ended up burning his hand.

“Ouch, hot!”

He clutched his burned hand and hopped around in place.

I was about to approach him and apologize when I heard Ifrit muttering with a look of disdain.

“……Is he an idiot?”

“I, Ifrit. Don’t say that. It’s our fault.”

“Hmph! Who told him to get close to a flower made of fire? It looks dangerous just by looking at it. It’s his own carelessness.”

“Still, he’s hurt, so don’t say things like that…….”

“If you feel so bad, go heal him. Healing is the specialty of the Elquines [Water Spirit King], isn’t it?”

Damn it. If I knew how to do that, would I be suffering like this at this point? I shot him a meaningful look, and Ifrit simply snorted. Seriously, this Spirit King seems to think that tormenting me is the purpose of his life.

“Cough……! Ah, I see the Spirit Kings. Did you call for me?”

The man, having calmed down a bit from the pain of the burn, greeted us with a more composed demeanor than before.

Up close, he was more robust than I had imagined. Most of the people I had met so far were slender and delicate, like models, but this one was rugged and rough, a manly type. His closely cropped hair and tanned skin further emphasized that atmosphere.

In any case, the conclusion is that this guy is also quite handsome.

Damn it, I want to meet a normal-looking guy now!

“Are you alright? You seem to have burned yourself.”

“Ahaha. I’m fine. It’s just a slight burn. By the way, this Ebas Eden is truly beautiful. I can see why my seniors highly recommended it as a resort. And I’m lucky enough to meet the Spirit Kings like this…….”

“Seniors?”

“Ah! I apologize for the late introduction. My name is Uraeus. I am from the Underworld, and I work as a guide, escorting the souls of the dead. It is an honor to meet you two beautiful Spirit Kings.”

Bingo! He was from the Underworld.

And he’s the guide we were looking for. It seems luck is on our side for this trip. I was about to greet him warmly when I noticed his hand and flinched. Unlike what he said about a slight burn, the burned area was painfully red.

Did he grab the flower too tightly? I kept looking at it, concerned, and Ifrit opened his mouth with a nonchalant expression.

“That flower isn’t just ordinary fire. It’s part of the Hellfire that blooms in the underworld. The moment you touch it, it instantly devours your flesh and wounds your soul. It’s a wonder you only got that much of a burn. You could have lost your hand entirely. Well, not that you’re in great shape now, either.”

Oh, dear. I can see Uraeus frozen in shock. He clutched his burned hand and muttered as if he had lost his mind, ‘To touch the Hellfire…….’

Well, even the description alone makes it sound quite terrifying. A fire that devours flesh and wounds the soul. Why does a flower (?) have such dangerous properties? And why did they plant it in the garden? What if the spirits get hurt?

“Is it…… alright to just leave it like that?”

Sure enough, Sylphs [air spirits] were flying around the flower garden without hesitation. Some were even landing on random buds and rolling around. Ifrit still answered nonchalantly to my worried gaze.

“Spirits possess the extreme attributes of their respective elements. No matter how strong the Hellfire is, it can’t harm us. Would we bring something dangerous to spirits here?”

“I guess so. Haha…….”

“Stop with the useless worries and do something about that guide’s injury. If the Hellfire isn’t completely healed, the heat won’t stop and will spread throughout his body. He might die.”

“Huh?”

I was startled and examined Uraeus’s injury. The burn on his hand had already spread widely to his forearm.

“Are you alright?”

“Y-yes. I’m alrigh…….”

He nodded, his face contorted in pain. But his reddened skin was covered in cold sweat. Growing desperate, I grabbed the burned area and looked at Ifrit for help.

“Wh, what should I do, Ifrit? Don’t you have any medicine to heal this?”

“What are you talking about? Spirits never get hurt. And even if they did, they wouldn’t need it because of Elquines’s abilities. Figure it out yourself.”

“I don’t know how to do it!”

“It’s okay. There’s still plenty of time before it spreads throughout his body.”

That, that witch! A person (?) might die, and she’s calling that comforting!

In the meantime, the burn was spreading rapidly, turning his shoulder dark red. I first took off all of Uraeus’s clothes and had him lie down. He was having trouble even standing, so he obediently lay down at my instruction.

What was the first aid for a burned person? Ah, right. First, cool it down with cold water.

“Ifrit! Go get some water!”

“……What do you think you are right now?”

Huh? What does that…… Oh, right. I was the Water Spirit!

I blushed at the belated realization. The Spirit King of Water asking someone to fetch water, it was a really stupid thing to do, even for me. But…….

“I still don’t know how to create water!”

“Why don’t you just advertise that you’re an idiot!”

Ifrit’s face was full of annoyance as he shouted.

“Create what? You idiot! I told you before! You are water itself! Just by holding his arm like that, you’re already cooling him down with water!”

“Huh? Really?”

“Yes! And one more thing. Did you forget that I also said that all the water here is part of you? You could create a lake just by gathering the moisture in the air. Don’t ever go anywhere and say something stupid like you can’t do anything because there’s no water! Got it?”

His fierce eyes were already intimidating, and now they were filled with murderous intent. Thinking I might die, I desperately nodded. Only then did Ifrit take the force out of his glare and say.

“Good, then continue.”

“Yes, sir!”

His commanding tone was quite annoying, but I shut up and checked Uraeus’s condition again. Maybe it was because I listened to Ifrit, but it seemed like the speed at which the burn was spreading had slowed down. I could probably prevent it from spreading throughout his body.

The problem was the parts that were already burned. The condition of the discolored areas was quite serious. Large blisters were swelling grotesquely on the bright red skin.

‘Hmm, what should I do?’

It was a tragedy that I was the only one here who could treat him in this urgent situation. It hadn’t been long since I complained that healing abilities were unnecessary, but the moment I needed them came so quickly. At this point, I seriously suspect that God is testing me.

Why does the Water Spirit King have to have healing abilities?

Even if it’s the same Water Spirit, there’s Cyciel, Undine [water spirit], and Naiads [water nymph], but why me!

‘……Ah! Now that I think about it, everything I’ve sincerely wished for has come true, right? Wouldn’t it be similar this time?’

With the feeling of ‘Oh well, whatever,’ I grabbed Uraeus’s arm and closed my eyes. And to increase my concentration, I started muttering to myself.

“Ugh, so…… I want to heal the wound, I want to heal it…….”

“Oh, please. Do you think something that can’t be done will be done just by saying that?”

“Eeeish! Shut up. I’m mind-controlling, so don’t talk to me.”

Ifrit snickered as if to see how well I could do. He’s a really bad Spirit King, laughing at someone else’s efforts instead of helping.

However, I had no choice but to stop complaining about him at the sight that unfolded a moment later. From under my palm, which was holding the burned area, pure white bubbles began to flow out as if washed out by the waves.

The bubbles, which spread out quickly, flowed upward as if they had their own will and covered the entire area where the burn was engraved. And the moment it seemed to seep under the skin, his skin had already returned to its original, clean state.

“……Huh!”

“It’s healed!”

Wh, what! What just happened?

It was a matter of only a few seconds in terms of time, a truly instantaneous event. Ifrit also had his mouth shut tightly, as if he was quite surprised. Uraeus, who had been groaning and clutching his painful arm, also had wide eyes.

“Goodness, I can’t believe what I’m seeing with my own eyes. The wound from the Hellfire has been completely healed like this……. Thank you, Elquines-nim! Thank you so much!”

“Ah, no. It’s nothing. Anyway, I’m glad it was healed safely.”

“Really. I’ve heard so much about Elquines-nim’s healing skills, but I never knew they were this amazing! I’m going to brag to my seniors when I get back. Not only did I meet the Spirit Kings, but I also received their grace directly. Everyone will probably be jealous. Hahaha!”

“Ah, yes. Hahaha…….”

I bet they’ll be so jealous. I couldn’t hide my bewildered feelings at his natural attitude, considering he had faced a dangerous situation where he could have died.

Even if races with bodies die, they have souls, but isn’t it the end for a Grim Reaper who is already a soul if they die? But why is that guy so fine?

Ifrit’s expression was also full of bewilderment as he looked at him, as if he felt the same way as me.

“You’re funnier than Elquines. Do you know that? If Elquines hadn’t healed you, your very existence would have been completely annihilated. You know that wounds from Hellfire can hardly be healed unless it’s a high-level healing god, right?”

“Haha, of course.”

“But why are you so calm? You almost died just now and came back to life.”

“But I’m alive like this now, aren’t I? Maybe it’s because I overcame the crisis. The world looks so beautiful today, and sometimes this kind of experience isn’t so bad. I think it’s a really lucky day. Haha!”

……His positive mindset is beyond the limit. Even Ifrit was speechless and closed his mouth.

This overly positive guide smiled cheerfully and looked at me.

“Ah, now that I think about it, I forgot to apologize to Elquines-nim. I heard that our side caused a great deal of trouble this time. In particular, the higher-ups were very worried that you went without going through the proper forgetting process. But seeing you perform healing arts like this today, I think I can report that you can rest assured.”

“Haa, well, you don’t have to report it…….”

“No, everyone will be happy. In particular, the Decider asked all the guides to find out how Elquines-nim is doing, even if it’s by chance.”

“If you’re talking about the Decider…… are you talking about Arehis?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Heh, he was worried about me?

I already felt sorry for not saying goodbye properly, but hearing this story made my heart flutter a little. I was blaming him for forcing me to drink that tasteless liquid without knowing this. I feel like the worst person in the world for some reason. Besides, that terrible liquid was ultimately for my sake.

‘Ugh, the more I think about it, the worse I feel.’