By Zephyria 
As a result, I couldn’t learn Meteor.
This was because I couldn’t mentally calculate the location of the ‘star fragments’ that Spiritus had called simple. It was only now that I realized how many stars didn’t shine in this world’s sky.
Spiritus, realizing that my maximum capability was completing a 1st Circle Freezing Magic Formula in five minutes and that I struggled to even imagine the shape of star fragments, quickly gave up.
Marianne cried out in frustration, saying she felt it was a greater waste and pity, but I now knew well that some things could be achieved through effort, and others could not. I didn’t covet it any further.
However, Spiritus seemed to derive great pleasure from making me fetch various items and observing me.
“This is why we need to go out for recreation often. You’re saying an Academy Professor devised this and taught it? Do other humans use this besides you?”
“No, I haven’t seen anyone use it besides Professor Douglas and Michael. It’s because it involves controlling Mana by intuition rather than calculating spell formulas. Usually, if one tries to imitate it, the object touched by the aura itself shatters.”
Is that so?
I had thought that since my friends found my talent useful for fetching things from where they sat, others also managed to live at a similar level. I hadn’t even thought about it that deeply in the first place…
When asked to wrap around and pull something weaker, I floated five cookies in the air and played with them. As Spiritus and Marianne’s chatter grew long, I grabbed one of them and ate it.
So, as I was looking into Illusion Magic to see how the next meal could be continued, Spiritus tapped the table, drawing my attention.
“Then, you should be able to do that.”
“Do what?”
“When I cast Meteor, intercept it midway and steal it.”
“…Excuse me?”
A long explanation followed, with Marianne adding further clarification, and finally, I understood.
“You mean, the moment Wesley Kiadris casts Meteor, I should look at the sky, strike the side of the first meteor, and change its direction, correct?”
“Uh-huh. It uses an immense amount of Mana, so the Mana rebound is strong. It will be difficult to grab it and adjust it to the desired location. But if there’s a directional Mana interference midway, the direction can be changed, right? I can move freely even while casting Meteor, but he probably can’t. Once he gets hit by the first Meteor, he won’t cast the same spell again. Just blocking that would make fighting much easier.”
“Hmm.”
“Then fewer humans will die, and Gano won’t whine.”
Gano Paquin was currently with Ruben.
He enjoyed being close to humans, but he had never revealed himself as a god and entered the Imperial Palace before. In generations prior to the current one, he hadn’t experienced a proper human life due to being hounded by those who revered him.
However, the current Sierren Imperial Palace, teeming with people eager to explore gods and share knowledge, was different from ancient times.
Ruben was busy helping Gano Paquin input a large volume of records without making him uncomfortable, and seeking advice on resolving local issues that had been neglected due to the struggle for the throne, based on the casual advice Gano offered.
I recalled Gano Paquin’s demeanor when he first saw Spiritus.
His fingertips, stroking the golden scales with affection, as if seeing something deeply missed.
“You two seem very close.”
“Gano and I? Well, we are.”
“In the complete translation of ‘The 21 Dragons,’ it’s stated that dragons are a species that tries not to love finite beings, is that why?”
“How could that be? Except for the Ninth, everyone on this vast continent is finite.”
“Ah. Is that not so?”
“That’s because Gano wrote it. He treats me like an emotionless creature because I eat some monsters, but dragons also cherish the ones they grow fond of. Don’t you find your pets adorable when they listen well and follow you? They don’t grieve unnecessarily because they know that even if they live short lives, they will return in another form. Gano grieves every time because he is frail.”
Spiritus sighed and continued, as if murmuring.
“…His flaw is that he cherishes only a single species too much. If he showed affection to more beings, he wouldn’t cry so much… Even goblins are recorded, so why not draw them too?”
“Did you also look after the Ninth God for that reason?”
“….”
Spiritus swept a hand across the table.
The Illusion Magic that had been maintained until now dispersed, scattering light, and the various items like candle holders and decorations I had brought from various places flew back to their original positions. The neat table, with only three teacups, a teapot, and a cookie plate, looked strangely empty.
Today, I had gained a valuable insight from the Non-Geom Bi-Mu (a debate or sparring session). Whether I could fully implement Spiritus’s advice was now up to me. Afterwards, readily accepting the intention to simply converse, I poured more tea into the dragon’s cup.
Spiritus, gazing at the fragrant, clear amber liquid, sighed and settled into a more relaxed posture.
“Well… that’s how it is.”
“If, by any chance, I end up completely killing the Ninth God…”
“Well, it’s not you who is eager to kill the youngest, but Gano. He is using you as his sword. You wouldn’t hate Wesley Kiadris’s sword, even if you hated Wesley, would you? Why would I get angry at you?”
“….”
“I’ve simply decided to side with Gano over the youngest. He has more stake on this continent.”
“…Stake….”
“Yes. No matter how wronged or difficult it is, is it right to become a god and try to ruin the entire world? In the world I was born in, the strongest dragon became the Lord and nurtured the entire species, judging rewards and punishments. I am simply… acting as the Lord.”
Her eyes resembled those of a gardener.
She possessed the power to prune overgrown branches and nurture newly blooming flowers. It felt like immense fortune that this person supported Gano Paquin, who stood behind me, rather than Wesley Kiadris.
However, what I truly wanted to know was something else.
“You will accompany me on this expedition as well, won’t you?”
“Yes? I’m waiting for that to happen.”
“Perhaps, during combat, could you help me with magic?”
“That… is rather difficult.”
“Would it be rude to ask why?”
Spiritus’s expression sank considerably. It was only when Marianne, fidgeting, began to sip the tea placed before her, that I heard a voice as somber as her expression.
“It’s because I’ve grown fond of him, that’s all.”
“…Ah.”
“I’ve known him for over a thousand years now. I’ve watched the youngest since he was very small… Meteor? He couldn’t even use an Alpha formula alone and just scribbled on the floor, that little grub…”
“….”
“Of course, I was surprised when he suddenly appeared, wearing a human guise. But it was I who gave the monsters to that whiny one who asked to borrow some monsters. That’s when I saw him smile for the first time in a long while.”
I had no words to reply. I simply collected the fragments of memories she let fall.
“I know he’s wrong. I know that… but even while the youngest is currently messing with everyone, he came to me acting cute… What if, if by any chance, he trusts me? What if he snaps out of it at the very end, thinking, ‘I should listen to my sister’?”
“….”
“Still, if he gets hurt, I’ll heal him. Just come back alive.”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
Spiritus, her mood considerably dampened, decided to end the session for today and tidied up. The teacups, which cleaned themselves and returned to their places with a click, conveyed a clear dismissal, which I heeded.
As we walked down the corridor together, Marianne nudged my forearm.
“Still, you spoke well.”
“…Spoke well about what?”
“If you feel like you’re truly going to die, call out Spiritus’s name loudly. I heard that among the promises of gods, a dragon’s spoken word is absolute. It won’t be a lie.”
“…Will there be an opportunity to speak with Wesley Kiadris?”
“What? You think it can be resolved through words? Michael?”
“….”
As expected, he never misses a chance to play a prank.
I smiled briefly, then touched my face to compose my expression. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I returned the jest.
“What if you bring Shayden along?”
“Then the success rate increases by 20%. Shall I pester the Second Prince to send Shayden with Michael?”
“Yes. Try it.”
“Michael should do it. If I do it, all the trust I’ve gained so far will vanish at once.”
“What….”
“Do you think I’m joking? If he suddenly needs a first mate again now, the Prince will…”
“Ha, fine.”
That captain, he said he wouldn’t do it ages ago.
There were many things to laugh about for trivial reasons until I saw her to the door of her room. Most of Marianne’s advice was useless, but one piece was valuable.
Leaving my room in the shared dormitory empty, I headed straight for the Second Prince’s Palace.
❖ ❖ ❖
Ruben returned to his bedroom at the hour of the Chuk-si (between 1-3 AM).
He had heard that I was already here, as his face lit up the moment I opened the door. As soon as I entered the room, he instinctively opened his arms, and I embraced him fully. He then nuzzled his cheek and forehead against my shoulder, acting spoiled.
“…It’s nice having Mika in my room.”
“Do you usually sleep at this time every day?”
“Mm-hmm… Actually, the Empire doesn’t stop functioning just because there’s no Emperor. This time, there are many things to listen to and ask the God of Records.”
“What kind of request…?”
“It’s about compiling new textbooks. As the noble class expanded, I felt the need to educate commoners who couldn’t enter the Academy. However, all current educational methods are only usable by those with sufficient funds and time. It would be good to receive help from a god in such situations. We could also learn about educational methods from other dimensions.”
“…Ah.”
“Because I’m helping you, I don’t know when I’ll be able to see you again after the work is done, so I’m extracting as much as I can right now. So today…”
As Ruben was about to launch into work talk, as he always did, I simply scooped him up and sat him on the bed. The child, who had naturally draped his arms over my shoulder, became flustered, unsure of what to do.
“…Huh? Why, why the bed…?”
“I thought you must be tired after a long day. It’s nice to face each other, but… before it gets any later, I’ll give you a simple Acupressure and Blood Manipulation session and leave. We can discuss the rest during the day.”
“…Huh?”