Volume 5 Chapter 14: The True Spirit City
Volume 5 Chapter 14: The True Spirit City
The moment I stepped onto the other side of the Spirit Road, the world before my eyes transformed.
Where there had been a grassy plain moments ago, I now found myself in a bright, fantastical city bathed in glowing light.
「So, this is the Spirit Realm, huh?」
It was far more artificial, yet beautiful, than I had anticipated. Or rather, I wasn’t standing on solid ground; I was hovering above the city.
…At the very least, there shouldn’t have been a town in this direction…
I landed, dismissing the thought that I might have simply run into another town.
「H-Huh?! Wait… are you… a human?」
Standing before me was a female spirit holding a large, crimson bell. Her eyes, wide in surprise, fixed on me.
「Yeah, human by species. And you’re a Spirit, right? Just to confirm—this is the Spirit Realm, right?」
I asked, assuming she is a local. Then,
「Y-Yes, that’s correct…」
「Good to know. So, the Spirit Road really did lead to the Spirit Realm. Glad my run paid off.」
「Wait… you mean you ran through that fragile, unstable Spirit Road?!」
「Well, yeah. It was the only way to get here, after all.」
When I explained this, her expression turned dumbfounded.
As I wondered what was troubling her—
「Parum. Guild Master. Why are you just standing there like that?」
Several other Spirits appeared behind her.
One of them, a male Spirit, called out to the woman—Parum—and then noticed me.
「Uh… you’re an unfamiliar face. Could it be… you came here from the Human World?」
「Yea, that’s right.」
The Spirits exchanged stunned looks.
Was this some kind of customary Spirit greeting? Before I could ask—
「A human… A person came from the Human World!」
「W-What?!」
「For real?! Is that even possible?!」
The Spirits, both men and women, erupted with expressions of shock and joy. Then—
「Welcome to Imbolc, the Spirit City of the Spirit Realm! We are honored to have you here!」
Putting aside a few curious points, it seemed I had successfully arrived at the Spirit City they spoke of.
—
Having set foot in Imbolc, the Spirit City, I was escorted into a nearby building marked with a sign reading “Spirit Guild”.
Guided into a reception room, I was surrounded by a handful of Spirits, visibly excited and restless, watching me closely.
Across from me sat the woman called Parum.
「I’m sorry for all the commotion. We weren’t prepared for something so sudden and unusual.」
「No problem at all. I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me.」
「Thank you for saying so. I am Parum, the Guild Master of the Spirit Guild here in Imbolc, the innermost Spirit City.」
「I’m Axel. You’ve mentioned ‘Spirit City’ a few times now. So, there are Spirit Cities on this side too?」
She had called it the innermost city, and the name was different, so it was probably unrelated to Velutina from the Human World.
When I asked about this, Parum nodded.
「Yes, most people who visit for the first time make a similar comment. You see, the Spirit Cities in the Human World were originally founded by Spirits who migrated there. This city is their origin point.」
「Huh, so that’s how it is.」
「Yes. But it truly seems your first time here… and judging by that item bag… are you perhaps a carrier?」
「Oh, yeah. That’s right. Speaking of which, I actually have some stuff they asked me to deliver to the Spirit City. Let me hand it over now.」
I took out one container from my transport bag and placed it on the table in front of me.
「These seals… It’s from the Magic Research Institute and the Medical Guild, right?」
「That’s right. I was originally planning to come here anyway, so I was asked to bring it along. So here you go.」
「T-thank you. I’ve certainly received it.」
Parum then took the container and handed it to a male spirit behind her.
Afterward, she looked back at me and shifted her gaze to my transport bag.
「To fit a container of that size, that is definitely an item bag… But are you really a carrier? Not someone with a higher-tier transportation-type job?」
「Yep. That’s correct.」
「But… how did a carrier manage to traverse that path…?」
As Parum tilted her head, her eyes shifted to my chest. Curious, I also lowered my gaze, and from my pocket, Daisy slowly emerged.
「Whoa, sorry about that, buddy. I got hit with some strange magic while crossing the Spirit Road, and I zoned out.」
「It’s fine. Are you feeling okay?」
「Oh, yeah. But… this magic feels like it’s from the Spirit Realm. I was certain you could made it here, buddy, and yeah, you are amazing after all!」
As I spoke to Daisy, who had moved to my shoulder from my pocket,
「Is it possible that the person with you is the alchemist hero Daisy Cosmos?」
「Hmm? Oh, I’m sorry for the delayed greeting, especially since we’re face to face. Yep, that Daisy.」
Hearing Daisy’s response, Parum took a deep breath and nodded with understanding.
「I’ve heard about her—before the Spirit Road became unstable, through some fleeting rumors. Apparently, in the Star City, there’s an incredible courier named Axel, who is strong enough to work hand in hand with the heroes. I never thought… could you be…?」
「Well, yeah, working with heroes and starting as a courier in the Star City are both true.」
Hearing this, Parum’s expression shifted to one of half surprise, half realization.
「Rumors often exaggerate and are usually unreliable, so I didn’t give it much credit. But… for Axel the Carrier to actually exist… It’s a big surprise…」
Judging from those words, it looks like some rumours about me have even reached this world.
「Has it spread to this world too, the nickname of my dear friend? Ever since the Spirit Road became unstable, the flow of information must have diminished… So, it means you must’ve made quite an impact from the start?」
「I wasn’t involved in spreading that kind of information, so I’m not really sure. Plus, there’s the question of whether the Axel they’re talking about is really me or not.」
Parum quietly shook her head.
「No, I’ve never seen a carrier capable of passing through the current Spirit Road like you did, and to be honest normally, it wouldn’t even be possible. Most couriers would be blown away by the winds of the Spirit Road, much less being able to traverse it to this side.」
「Well, yeah, the winds were somewhat strong.」
The winds weren’t as strong as when I was riding Berzelia , so I could still make it through without a problem.
「…Being able to call those violent winds somewhat strong… I think it confirms that the Carrier Axel from the rumors has to be you. Plus, having Daisy Cosmos, the hero, with you… that provides further credibility. Though, even if you weren’t the rumored Axel, we’d still give you a warm welcome. We’ve had no visitors for such a long time.」
Indeed, the guild staff mentioned that they are honored to have me. Thinking back on it,
「It seems like it’s been a long time since anyone from the human world visited here.」
「Yes. We’ve had no information about what’s happening in the human realm. Having you here is truly helpful. Before you arrived, we only knew that the Spirit Road had become unstable, limiting the manifestation time to just a few seconds.」
Indeed. Up until I arrived, they didn’t even know what the situation was like in the spirit cities of the human world. Just explaining a little bit of the current situation had surprised them.
「Well, there’s more to it than that. I’ll tell you what I know.」
「Thank you. …Oh, but you can tell me that later. You must have other matters to attend to. We don’t want you to focus only on our problems.」
Even in such difficult times, Parum still remains considerate.
「So, first, tell me why you’ve come here, Axel-san.」
Hearing this, I explained by objective.
「Well, my goal’s simple. I want to go to the ‘Spirit’s Spring’ in the Spirit Realm to refine a weapon.」
Parum’s expression stiffened slightly.
「Refining in the Spirit’s Spring… you mean, you want to give it the spring’s blessing?」
「Exactly. I’ve come here to do the refining work for my friend’s weapon.」
「So, that means the Spirit’s Spring actually exists?」
Parum nodded softly to my question.
「Yes, it does exist, but… right now, it might not be accessible.」
She responded with a sad gaze.
「Not accessible? Do you mean you can’t guide me there or something of that sort?」
「No, I can guide you. It’s nearby. But… you’ll see when you get there. Let me take you to the location first.」
Hearing this, Daisy and I exchanged glances and nodded in agreement.
「Alright. Lead the way.」
「We’d like to see this Spirit’s Spring for starters anyway.」
「Yes, understood. It’s a short walk, so please bear with me.」
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