Volume 5 Chapter 15: En Route
Volume 5 Chapter 15: En Route
After walking through the Spirit City with Parum for several minutes…
We arrive at a location called the “Spirit’s Spring” lying away from the residential districts of the Spirit City.
It was a circular spring surrounded by trees.
Before we arrived, Parum explained that the water of the Spirit’s Spring once had a refreshing blue hue, blending beautifully with the surrounding green trees. It was said to be a sacred place, filled with pure magical energy. It had long been used for weapon refinement, where magical weapons would receive blessings through the spring’s sacred water.
However, contrary to that description…
「…The water of the spring is black and murky?」
The water of the Spirit’s Spring was clouded and dark. Moreover…
「…Friend, I can sense a foul magical energy coming from the spring.」
「Is that… why we can’t do anything?」
When asked, Parum nodded with a disappointed look.
「Yes. Along with the instability of the Spirit Road, the spring has started to become tainted. As it stands, if we perform any refinement here, the weapons would actually degrade.」
「Do you know the cause?」
「At one point in the past, a similar situation occurred when the Spirit Road became unstable, and the spring started to get tainted. At that time, the magical energy in the spring was devoured by magical beasts.」
Magical beasts feed on magic. They consume animals and even humans for sustenance, and it appears the Spirit’s Spring was no exception.
「Then, there might be magical beasts nearby?」
Looking around, there was no sign of any monster.
「…No. That’s the thing. Despite searching, we couldn’t find any monsters. Even skilled ‘Hunters,’ who can detect them, couldn’t find anything.」
「Got it… There’s definitely no sign of magical beasts here, at least. What about you, Daisy?」
「I don’t sense anything either. No traces of sorcery as well.」
Daisy, as a member of the rare and hence often targeted race called Carbuncle, has heightened abilities to detect nearby threats, Even surpassing in scale my ability to sense presence. Yet, she, too, couldn’t find anything.
「If they’ve covered their tracks, or if they’ve already fled, we don’t have any information on that?」
Parum’s brows furrowed, and she sighed in disappointment as she confirmed.
「Yes. The instability of the Spirit Road has led to many overlapping unusual events, and we’ve been so busy investigating everything… We know the timing aligns, and there’s a strong suspicion that it’s all caused by the same thing, but… sorry. There’s too much we still don’t know.」
「No need to apologize. It’s not like you can solve every problem immediately.」
Problems like this can’t always be solved quickly. As long as they’re working on it, there’s no need to apologize.
However, I do have one thing I want to confirm…
「…The people in the human Spirit City don’t know about this, do they? No reports have been made?」
The information from this world hasn’t reached theirs, and vice versa. As I ask, Parum again gives a confirming nod.
「Yes. The Spirit Road is unstable, and we’ve been unable to secure communication lines. Furthermore, opening the Spirit Road itself is also problematic.」
「Another problem.」
「Yes, truly. So sorry.」
「No worries. What’s the issue with the Spirit Road?」
Parum hesitates for a few seconds, lowering her gaze as if collecting her thoughts, then answered.
「Well… to explain this properly, I should speak with the representative of the city. They oversee the management of the Spirit Road.」
「A representative? You, the guild master, aren’t the leader of the city?」
「No. I’m merely the guild representative. I don’t actually rule the city… So, excuse me if it seems like I’m dragging you around, but if it’s alright with you, I can take you to the person who manages the Spirit Road.」
Right. Now that we know the spring isn’t usable at the moment, there’s no point in staying here any longer.
It’s better to start with what we can do.
「Sure, let’s go.」
It wasn’t just me—Daisy seemed to feel the same way.
「I’ve got no objections either. It’s easier to understand specialized matters when you hear them from the experts.」
「Thank you. Then, I will escort the two of you to the palace, where the ‘Spirit Princess’ who governs the innermost Spirit City of Imbolc resides.」
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