Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 87 - Blooming in the Swamp (4)

Low-ranking forest spirit nymph.

 

The expression of the nymph flapping her butterfly wings was serious.

 

“It’s gotten weird.”

 

Unfamiliar scenery was overlaying the swamp of the predators.

 

“But it seemed to be a forest…”

 

The nymph frowned and struggled.

 

Even if she was a low-ranking spirit, she was the spirit of the forest.

 

Even if it looked strange.

 

That forest must also be a forest that existed on the Arcana continent.

 

If she communicated with the forest, she would know what was going on.

 

“…Huh?”

 

However, no matter how hard she listened, she couldn’t hear any sound.

 

It was impossible to talk, let alone communicate.

 

Confusion appeared on the nymph’s face.

 

“I am totally lost.”

 

Sag–

 

The fluttering wings drooped.

 

A sigh came out of her mouth.

 

How did this happen?

 

Yeah, it was all because of the demons.

 

‘The forest where I was born by now…’

 

The nymph had believed without a doubt.

 

The forest was stronger than anything else.

 

Even if animals broke the branches and humans cut down the trees.

 

The forest didn’t groan.

 

Even in the face of natural disasters.

 

The forest of the Arcana continent endured it silently.

 

However.

 

“I’m sorry everyone.”

 

The forest that had been burned by the demons screamed.

 

It was a horrible scream, as if it was burning in hellfire.

 

The nymph fled from the forest to the Predator’s Swamp.

 

If she had remained in the forest, she would have been corrupted and become like a demon.

 

Even if she knew it was inevitable, her heart didn’t feel light.

 

“In the Predator’s Swamp, I don’t have to worry about demons.”

 

Forest, wind, water, fire…

 

Nature existed all over the Arcana continent.

 

Spirits living in such nature were well aware of the news of the Arcana continent.

 

How the demons expanded their power.

 

The demons were clever.

 

Demons only invaded places that they could destroy.

 

In that sense, the predator zone.

 

This swamp of predators wasn’t an easy place for the demons.

 

“…No matter how hard I try, I just can’t get used to it.”

 

It was understandable!

 

The nymph pouted her lips.

 

Seriously, in the swamp, there was always a battle day and night.

 

If she had known what this place was…

 

She would have flown a little further.

 

“Even if it’s probably impossible to fly to Zero Mountain.”

 

Well, she could have found a quiet place

 

A better place than here.

 

But now, she didn’t have the confidence to fly to another area.

 

“That’s right, I don’t know the outside news.”

 

The demons would have expanded their powers further.

 

They must have gotten stronger along the way.

 

Even places that were safe in the past were likely to fall into the hands of the demons now.

 

“And the swamp has become something strange.”

 

That alone was a headache.

 

A forest mixed with the swamp.

 

An unidentified landscape.

 

What else had happened?

 

The nymph shook her head gently.

 

“Whatever. I’m going to rest for now.”

 

She needed to get some sleep under the mistletoe.

 

Her mana was consumed when she struggled to communicate with the forest.

 

She was able to supplement their mana with the energy of the mistletoe.

 

However.

 

“…?”

 

The nymph’s sweet sleep didn’t last long.

 

Tap tap–

 

Because she heard the sounds of impossible unfamiliar footsteps.

 

The nymph woke up from a sound sleep and thought in her slumber.

 

‘I’ve never heard such footsteps in the swamp…’

 

No, wait a second.

 

Before that, how could the footsteps sound so loud?

 

‘Isn’t this the top of a tree?!’

 

The question didn’t last long.

 

Soon, the owner of the footsteps revealed himself.

 

It was a man with silver hair.

 

The man made the sound when climbing the floating stairs.

 

She couldn’t understand.

 

She hadn’t seen a human in a long time.

 

‘What? I was surprised for no reason.’

 

But let alone being able to see spirits.

 

Ordinary humans couldn’t even hear the voice of the spirits.

 

Well, she was a spirit with no name or rank.

 

She used to talk to humans who visited the forest without knowing that fact.

 

But she never got a single answer.

 

‘I want to sleep more. I’m tired.’

 

It was the spirit’s common sense.

 

The man couldn’t see her.

 

Yeah, it should be like that.

 

For some reason.

 

She could feel his gaze.

 

When she slowly opened their eyes, it wasn’t her imagination…!

 

The man was clearly looking at her.

 

That too, with a very cold gaze, for some reason.

 

The nymph opened her mouth, thinking that it couldn’t be.

 

“By any chance, can you see me…?”

 

*

The study of spirits.

 

One of the schools that exised in the Magic Tower.

 

The senior mage was Peiyan Lot.

 

I remembered her.

 

‘I don’t know anything about her, but she has a good appetite.’

 

After the Banglet Tom incident.

 

Twenty senior mages, the meal I had with all of them.

 

Peiyan was the one concentrated on eating her meal amidst the grumbling senior mages.

 

Of course, the spirit school also presented its research at the regular conference. In other words, I also knew about the spiritology at the surface level.

 

So.

 

‘…How can I see this?’

 

I couldn’t help but feel startled at the sight of the spirit.

 

Among mages, the spirits.

 

They were a rare ‘existence’ that only a few could see.

 

I tried to roll my brain.

 

I had read so many magic books.

 

Was there a mistake in my knowledge?

 

‘No, it might be a different case for Lee Hoyeol.’

 

But there was no such mistake in Grandfel’s brain.

 

Then the story was simple.

 

Grandfel was able to see spirits…!

 

As soon as I acknowledge that fact, my mind went blank.

 

Yeah, I recalled the conditions to see a spirit.

 

It was in the introductory book on spiritology.

 

The first page.

 

This phrase was described in the second paragraph.

 

『There are only a few humans who can witness the spirits in a state of no contract.

 

This is because it requires excellent mana sensitivity and an extremely clear mind.

 

That is why most spirit contractors sign contracts with spirits at a relatively young age.』

 

Clear mind.

 

And a relatively young age.

 

To put it bluntly.

 

It meant that you could see the spirits of nature only if you were immature.

 

I realized it again.

 

Grandfel was a dark history from my school days.

 

Yes, whether it was the demon king or the great evil.

 

I considered them all to be insignificant demons.

 

It was safe to say that Grandfel’s state of mind was like a flower garden.

 

Anyway.

 

‘I am not looking at nothing.’

 

A spirit was tossing and turning under the mistletoe.

 

Of course, with my shallow knowledge that was only scratching the surface.

 

I couldn’t guess who she was just by staring.

 

However.

 

“By any chance, can you see me…?”

 

That being said, Grandfel wasn’t someone who would listen to informal speech calmly.

 

In addition.

 

‘How did she find this bi-herb, and this mistletoe, at that?’

 

I, Lee Hoyeol, had no intention of yielding to the spirit.

 

So I said in a cold voice.

 

“I am Lee Hoyeol, the chief co-researcher of the Mage Tower.”

 

“…The Mage Tower?”

 

“Identify your affiliation and identity. Unknown spirit.”

 

She was half asleep.

 

The spirit didn’t seem to understand the situation.

 

But that couldn’t be an excuse to remain silent.

 

I recalled my knowledge of the introductory spritology book again.

 

The second table of contents.

 

The first paragraph.

 

The first sentence.

 

– Spirits have a hierarchy.

 

Lower, middle, upper.

 

And spirit king.

 

There was a thorough hierarchy between spirits.

 

Because I knew that.

 

I had to say.

 

“I’ll ask you again.”

 

Just like the spirits.

 

There were classes in the Mage Tower.

 

“Peiyan lot.”

 

Why did she take the senior position?

 

It was because the spirit who signed her contract was a high-ranking spirit.

 

His exact name was Fire Drake, a high-ranking fire spirit.

 

So I said the truth without adding or subtracting anything.

 

“The contractor of Fire Drake, the high-ranking fire spirit.”

 

“…!”

 

Indeed, class society was great.

 

Their eyes were wide open as soon as I mentioned the high-ranking name.

 

Of course, she had to listen to my speech until the end.

 

“Senior Mage, Peiyan Lot.”

 

“Peiyan Lot-nim…!”

 

“I am the chief co-researcher who ranks one level higher above her.”

 

“…Y-Yes?!”

 

“Identify your affiliation and identity. Little spirit.”

 

Me and the nymph.

 

Strictly speaking, we were unrelated to each other.

 

But there was something in common among fellow class societies.

 

‘It’s not for no reason that movie prologues always mentioned the directors.’

 

I was so good at class society.

 

The moment I admired my social skills.

 

A reply came from the spirit.

 

“I am a nymph, a low-ranking spirit of the forest.”

 

It was working great.

 

I didn’t expect her to bow politely.

 

However, the nymph’s expression was strange.

 

The nymph continued with her head down.

 

“Lee Hoyeol-nim, a chief co-researcher of the Mage Tower, who is one rank higher than Peiyan Lot, the contractor of Fire Drake, the high-ranking fire spirit. May I risk being rude and ask you a favor?”

 

…Wait, what kind of modifier was more verbose than the main point?

 

These were harmful consequences of class society.

 

But I was satisfied.

 

I couldn’t express my embarrassing inner feelings.

 

I answered brazenly.

 

“I’ll listen.”

 

Why is the forest spirit in the swamp of predators?

 

My original question was solved after talking to her.

 

In fact, I could guess to some extent even without listening to it. Considering the current situation on the Arcana continent, most of the culprits of all the incidents were the demons.

 

“Meanwhile, just like now.”

 

“?”

 

“Suddenly, the landscape of the swamp changed. The swamp seemed to be overlaid by a forest, so I tried to communicate with the forest.… Maybe it’s because I am incompetent. It was useless. I, nymph, didn’t hear any voices.”

 

It was about the rupture.

 

The nymph blamed herself for being incompetent, but it couldn’t be helped.

 

If you asked the forests of Scandinavia in Europe about the situation on the Arcana continent, you wouldn’t get an answer.

 

“I was so discouraged so… I took a break.”

 

Even in the middle of this conversation.

 

The four-colored mistletoe was radiating subtle mana. That area of the mistletoe would be a good place for a spirit to relax.

 

“By any chance, Lee Hoyeol-nim, the chief co-researcher of the Mage Tower, who is one rank higher than Peiyan Lot, the contractor of Fire Drake, the high-ranking fire spirit… About this forest. No, do you know anything about this situation?”

 

I did.

 

However.

 

‘Before that, can we do something about that title of address?’

 

But I couldn’t reveal my true feelings.

 

I answered her with a shameless face.

 

Well, the explanation of the ruptures was simple.

 

The nymph must have known to some extent.

 

“The villages or the forests that disappeared. And the Mage Tower, all of them are like this…?”

 

“Yes,”

 

“T-That means. I’m going to the same world as Chief Co-Researcher?”

 

“No, it won’t happen.”

 

It happened when an area was added.

 

Or when the rupture collapsed.

 

Predator’s Swamp.

 

No matter how powerful the monsters that appeared. Considering the potential of the players gathered here, it was unlikely that the rupture wouldn’t be cleared.

 

But, wait a minute…

 

Suddenly, a possibility popped up.

 

After clearing the Predator’s Swamp.

 

The space of [『oddity』], the rupture, would be gone.

 

The Predator’s Swamp would return to the Arcana continent.

 

Suddenly, I shifted my gaze and looked at the relieved nymph.

 

“Whoa. That’s a relief.”

 

Her relief would be useless.

 

‘Information about the Arcana Continent.’

 

The information I knew about the Arcana continent was extremely limited.

 

The gruesome scenery that I had witnessed at the [Qirnberg Machine Tower].

 

And, through the space of  [『oddity』], I could interfere with the Arcana continent through the ruptures.

 

That was all about it.

 

Still, that could help me.

 

Other players were all dependent on the new update history.

 

However.

 

‘If there is a being on the Arcana continent who can communicate like this…’

 

The specific situation of the Arcana continent.

 

That meant I could get information about it, right?

 

Depending on what the information was.

 

I could make various plans.

 

Depending on the situation, I might fully prepare myself.

 

But there was a real problem.

 

Even if there were beings on the Arcana continent who I could communicate with.

 

‘I have to calculate the probability of meeting that being again.’

 

The Arcana continent.

 

How could I know which place would be caught in the rupture and make an arrangement for the next meeting?

 

To expect such a coincidence, the probability was lower than the probability of winning the lottery.

 

‘But if that being is a spirit, the story is different.’

 

Yeah, if I signed a 『contract』 with the spirit.

 

I might be able to overcome that odd.

 

I remembered the spirit school’s top priority.

 

『Overcoming a disconnected relationship』

 

Reality and the Arcana continent.

 

Because they were completely different, those two worlds were completely disconnected.

 

Even if I made a contract with the spirits.

 

In the reality, it was impossible to summon the spirits of the Arcana Continent.

 

But I knew.

 

Because I saw the possibility.

 

I had talked arrogantly at the regular conference.

 

– “It will need verification, but it will be worth the research.”

 

Indeed.

 

In the space of [『oddity』], in the rupture.

 

Maybe I could summon a spirit.

 

Grandfel’s brain was telling me.

 

‘There are plenty of possibilities.’

 

If I signed a contract with the nymph.

 

I might be able to summon the nymph from the rupture.

 

In other words, I could obtain information on the Arcana continent.

 

So I said proudly.

 

“Nymph, low-ranking spirit of the forest.”

 

“Oh, I’m listening.”

 

“I want to make a contract with you.”

 

I realized it all over again.

 

I really had an iron plate on my face ^[1] Iron plate in one’s face = thick-skinned/brazen. .

 

In this contract, A was Nymph, and B was, of course, me.

 

As I said, no one could see spirits.

 

The fact that Arcana, which had thousands of classes, didn’t have an elementalist class was proof.

 

The abilities of the spirits were in the realm of {nature}, different from [skills] or 『magic』.

 

‘If you consider my level.’

 

It wouldn’t be strange if I got rejected by the nymph.

 

The spirits had nothing to gain from me.

 

However.

 

“A-Are you sure? H-How could you say that to me…?”

 

The nymph’s response was unexpected.

 

The nymph was crying with an emotional expression.

 

Her next words made me realize why.

 

“Lee Hoyeol-nim, the chief co-researcher at the Mage Tower, who is one rank higher than Peiyan Lot, the contractor of Fire Drake, the high-ranking fire spirit…! Why are you signing a contract with a lower spirit like me…? Of course, it’s a great honor for me, as a nymph!!”

 

A contract with a spirit.

 

I should be happy.

 

But, for some reason.

 

I feel truly ashamed of myself…

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

The floating stairs.

 

Even while hunting the attacking monsters.

 

The players’ attention was focused on Hoyeol.

 

“What the hell is he doing up there?”

 

They couldn’t possibly guess.

 

However, it was impossible to follow Hoyeol’s footsteps.

 

But the anxious wait didn’t last very long.

 

“!!!”

 

Because something came up in their sight.

 

In the Predator’s Swamp rupture.

 

A message appeared to every player who entered.

 

[Someone has signed a contract with the spirit.]

 

[The spirit king of the forest, Dryad, blesses the contract.]

 

[The blessing of the spirit king of the forest, Dryad…]

 

Although messages were constantly coming up.

 

The interests of the players remained the same.

 

“L-Lee Hoyeol again!”

• 1. Iron plate in one’s face = thick-skinned/brazen.