Separation (1)
Chapter 54
The wind spirit resembling a wolf had fled nimbly.
As the distance between Ray and the spirit wasn’t closing, he considered using Overdrive but soon shook his head.
The probability of an incarnated spirit acting without the contractor’s consent was extremely low.
First, he needed to figure out the identity and intentions of the contractor before tearing apart the spirit.
The wind spirit headed toward the manor.
Ray sighed as he leapt over the iron fence surrounding the manor.
While chasing the spirit, Ray soon discovered Florya sipping tea in the garden.
Florya gently patted the wind spirit that approached her and smiled elegantly.
“This child is my spirit.”
Alesya, sitting opposite, opened her mouth wide in amazement.
“Amazing!”
“Cute, isn’t it?”
Alesya nodded repeatedly but then looked disheartened.
“I want a spirit too…”
“It’s hard though. Alesya is a ‘Monocle.'”
A Monocle refers to someone who artificially creates a magic circle rather than being born with one.
And most spirits avoided contracts with Monocles.
Alesya knew this fact well, so she waved at Florya’s spirit while suppressing her regret.
Ray watched the scene for a moment before turning away.
“…”
Once Ray’s presence disappeared, Florya stopped petting the spirit.
Taking a deep breath, Florya steadied herself.
‘It’s not mine.’
Due to a wrongful contract made in her childhood, Florya received the spirit’s emotions unfiltered and one-sided.
This caused serious problems.
When the spirit’s emotions invaded her mind without filtration, the mage couldn’t discern whether those feelings were hers or the spirit’s.
Thus, ever since the day Florya contracted the spirit, she lived in confusion, unable to distinguish between the spirit’s emotions and her own.
Even now, Florya felt something akin to a murderous impulse towards Alesya but couldn’t be sure if it originated from the spirit or if it was her own innate nature.
‘No, this isn’t mine.’
She quietly convinced herself by biting her tongue.
It was only recently that Florya learned to suppress all impulses and sharpen her rationality to control sudden urges.
But even a fleeting distraction could cause her to resonate with the spirit’s desires, forcing her into puppet-like actions.
“The tea smells good.”
Despite the unknown emotions continuously disrupting her thoughts, Florya smiled brightly at Alesya.
It was a joyful yet terrifying time.
*
Ray spoke up.
“Florya, may I kill you?”
“Wha…?”
The count, who was drinking tea, fell silent for a moment before pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth.
“Control yourself.”
Over the years, the count had grown accustomed to Ray’s manner of speaking.
The question just asked implied that if there were any issues with Florya, and they became unbearable, could Ray remove her?
Still, even considering Ray’s intent, it was difficult to grant permission.
“Florya is the beloved only daughter of Count Osiris. Any trouble with her can’t be easily swept under the rug.”
After pushing aside his teacup, the count leaned slightly forward.
“What’s the problem?”
Ray explained the situation he and Jimy had encountered without reservation.
“…and if such mischievous antics continue or worsen beyond Phillips County, or worse, if Alesya becomes a target, we might need to take action.”
“Hmm.”
Rarely sighing, the count thought for a moment before speaking.
“I hesitated whether to tell you this story, but it seems you should know. Make sure this conversation doesn’t leak out.”
“Understood.”
“Florya is a ‘Natural.'”
A Natural refers to someone born with the blessing of a magic circle.
It was the opposite concept of a Monocle.
“You know Luna, the girl you’re protecting? Though Florya might have less talent compared to her.”
“Yeah, probably.”
“However, rumors once spread about an issue with Florya in the past. It wasn’t officially confirmed, but it’s likely true.”
Despite having excellent natural talent, Florya was very late to engage in external activities.
Moreover, although the Osiris family tried their best to hide it, rumors of Florya’s eccentric behavior occasionally reached neighboring estates until recently.
Ray cautiously asked.
“What kind of… problem?”
“They say she rashly contracted a spirit at a young age. It was likely not a proper contract. To speculate, Florya is probably being swayed by the spirit due to the contract.”
“Hmm…”
Ray leaned back in his chair.
After the Locust extermination, Ray had researched a lot about spirit mages and spirits.
He slowly refreshed the information in his mind.
Mages possess a magic circle.
Deep within the magic circle lies a section closely connected to the soul, called ‘Selomia.’
In Selomia, ‘contract seals’ can be inscribed with mutual agreement.
Contract seals are used not only to formalize significant agreements between magic circle owners but mainly to contract spirits or demons.
Breaking a contract seal without mutual agreement would not only make the inscribed Selomia evaporate entirely but also demand a greater price depending on the contract terms.
Though it varies individually, the capacity of Selomia is limited.
When contracting a spirit, the stronger the spirit and the more complex and binding the contract, the more Selomia capacity it consumes.
If Selomia is filled with seals, no further contract seals can be inscribed.
Locusts were born with an exceptionally vast Selomia capacity, which allowed them to become such powerful dark spirit mages.
‘A wrong contract with a spirit…’
Contract seals are made through mutual agreement.
Furthermore, one side cannot unilaterally demand compensation.
However, through some indirect methods, unfair contracts could be formed, and examples of such were plenty.
That’s why noble families kept a close watch to prevent spirits from approaching ‘Naturals,’ yet apparently, an accident occurred with Florya despite the Osiris family’s efforts.
“If that’s true, then I…”
“Yes, you might be able to solve Florya’s problem.”
The count continued.
“But don’t get involved unnecessarily.”
“Understood.”
Unless the Osiris family asked for help first.
Getting involved recklessly could complicate matters beyond resolution, and even if things went smoothly, there was a possibility Florya could turn around and accuse him.
Information about Ray would inevitably leak out.
The count’s eyebrows slightly furrowed.
“However.”
“?”
“If it gets really bad, take ‘action’ against Florya.”
The count had gone to great lengths to secure a study abroad opportunity at the royal Magic Tower for Alesya and Ray.
The problem was that during this period, Alesya and Ray would accompany Florya.
This was a condition for making the study abroad happen, but the count was wary of Florya’s unstable state.
“Is it possible to resolve Florya’s problem?”
“I’ve never attempted it, so I can’t guarantee anything. We’ll have to try and see.”
“I trust you’ll handle it wisely. If there’s an issue, I’ll do my best to defend you, so if you must act, ensure it’s a clear ‘conclusion.'”
“Conclusion.”
Ray scratched his chin.
“As you know, concluding this will require Alesya’s help.”
“I’ll permit it.”
“Understood.”
A slight smirk appeared on Ray’s lips.
There were a few experiments Ray wanted to conduct regarding spirit contracts, but circumstances hadn’t been favorable, so he put them on hold.
“Spirit contracts are notoriously tricky, right?”
One must possess a magic circle, preferably that of a Natural.
Monocles could create contract seals, but most spirits rejected them.
Even if someone was lucky enough to be born a Natural, contacting a spirit, negotiating the contract terms, and finalizing the contract seal usually involved an arduous process.
“Uhehe…”
In Ray’s previous life, there was a joke.
Did you negotiate with a gun?
An expression often used among sports fans when a professional team acquired an expensive player for a surprisingly cheap price.
“Ah, this could be fun.”
When mages and spirits contract, neither has physical means to harm the other.
Thus, unless an uninformed human gets devoured by a spirit, mages and spirits either wander seeking suitable partners or carefully negotiate contracts over long periods.
But what if you could negotiate with a gun or sword pointed at the head?
“Uhehehe, ahem!”
Ray stifled his chuckling, glanced at the count, and cleared his throat.
Florya was an appropriate subject for Ray to experiment with spirits, but Ray didn’t intend to start trouble recklessly.
Ray doesn’t take ‘unnecessary’ risks.
Unless Florya crosses the line first, Ray won’t draw his knife.
Neither the count nor Ray anticipated that just a few days after departing for the Magic Tower,
Ray would end up tying Florya upside down and slapping her cheek.
*
After finishing his conversation with the count, Ray stretched and left the manor.
In three days, they would leave Phillips County.
Rubbing his chin, Ray pondered if there was anything else he needed to resolve before embarking on the short-term study abroad.
“…Have I taken care of everything major?”
Now, he planned to tour the viscounty one last time.
He intended to inform the orphanage children that he’d be away for a few months.
He hadn’t told the kids beforehand because he feared they’d throw a tantrum demanding to come along.
“Of course.”
Operating the orphanage had made Ray quite familiar with how the kids would react.
It wouldn’t take long for them to start whining en masse.
Shaking his head, Ray moved to step forward when someone grabbed his collar.
Turning around, he saw Johanna.
“?”
Ray was surprised.
Johanna’s eyes were swollen, as if she had been crying for a long time.
As Ray hurried to grab her shoulders to ask what happened, Johanna spoke first.
“…I did.”
“What?”
“I made a mistake.”
“?”
As Ray blinked in confusion, Johanna burst into tears.
“I made a mistake. Hooeee… So please don’t go. Hooouu!”
“???”
Taken aback by Johanna’s sudden change in attitude, Ray furrowed his brow but eventually understood the situation.
‘Someone must have told her I’m leaving for a few months.’
It was incredibly absurd.
Annoying as she usually was, her attitude changed just because he would be away for four or five months at most?
‘Dealing with teenagers is truly disgusting.’
Though shaking his head, Ray found Johanna’s behavior cute and grinned as he asked.
“Should I stay?”
“Hooou! Since I made a mistake, please don’t go. I’ll be good from now on. Hooaaang…”
‘Kee.’
Ray inwardly groaned.
If she was going to drag this out, she should’ve listened better normally.
Considering whether to console Johanna, Ray recalled all the troubles she’d caused and decided against it, crossing his legs instead.
“No.”
“…Eek!”
Johanna started hiccupping at Ray’s icy tone.
But Ray, already thrilled, decided to mirror Johanna’s usual behavior and stick to his stubborn stance.
“I’m leaving. I’m running away because Johanna doesn’t listen.”
“Hooaaaaaaaang!”
Johanna wailed, grabbing onto Ray’s pants and clinging tightly.
