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Chapter 330 part 1

While Lenia was imposing unreasonable demands on Zebe, who struggled to find a solution through her proposals, Romel Shija, who had failed to secure Earthima and Hadiya after being defeated by Lenia in battle, was retrieved by members of the Romel clan who had been lying in wait around the cold Crescent Moon Inn.

Although Shija was officially said to have acted on his own, the fact that he returned without the Gift Child or the Great Warrior and was defeated by a outsider girl, was shocking to the Romel clan.

As Earthima had told Lenia, Shija was a problematic individual who enjoyed inflicting violence on those around him. At the same time, he had a record of unflinchingly enduring grueling training to remain strong enough to be permitted such behavior, and of carrying out the dirty work thrust upon him by the Romel clan.

The Romel clan members had thought that even with Earthima being the country’s top spirit warrior and possessing the national treasure spirit sword Soreiga, Shija would not fail to capture her while she was burdened with Hadiya, given his ability to handle both frontal assault and underhanded tactics. That’s why the news of Shija’s defeat in battle was met with considerable surprise by the Romel clan.
Unaware that the Gift Child, Great Warrior, and the foreign girl who had interfered with Shija had actually taken refuge with Maffa Zebe, the Romel clan and other powerful clans frantically searched for their whereabouts. In this situation, Shija regained consciousness, received minimal treatment, calmly reported the situation, and then secluded himself in the Romel clan’s training grounds, where he remained to that day.

The training grounds where Shija was holed up were located in the basement of a mansion in Romel clan territory, away from the port city of Dezalta in Maffa clan territory. Deep underground, the specially prepared training grounds intentionally slowed and reduced the movement of spirits, making it a place where it was more difficult than usual to interact with spirits and wield their power. It was also almost completely dark, a place where one could barely see their own hands and feet.

The oppressive and claustrophobic atmosphere, where one could hardly feel the flow of air and couldn’t tell if their eyes were open or closed, began to wear down one’s spirit from the moment they set foot inside. Shija had been secluded there for several days. He had brought in only minimal preserved food and water, with no lights whatsoever. Darkness spread in all directions, a space where it felt like one’s body and mind might dissolve and disappear into that darkness.

「Phew…」

In this environment, Shija’s mind was being honed to the utmost. In a situation where he could barely sense wind, earth, water, or fire, he was immersed in the task of calling out to the few existing spirits, drawing out their power, and strengthening it. He had faced death many times before, prepared to throw his life away in battle. It was precisely because he had encountered such formidable enemies, been driven into dire straits, and overcome them all that Shija was still alive today.

For Shija, who had experienced all this, Lenia had been the first to make him feel utterly defeated from the top of his head to the tips of his fingers, and to the depths of his mind. It had been a complete defeat, leaving no room for excuses. That’s why Shija had to overturn this defeat. He understood better than anyone that the reason his unreasonable behavior had been tolerated until now was because he possessed such strength and had actively taken on dirty jobs that benefited the clan.

Shija still had value to the clan, but there was no doubt that his defeat by Lenia had diminished that value. To secure his position within the clan and to satisfy his personal grudge, Shija had to kill Lenia at all costs. This resolve was extremely pure. Pure thoughts, whether they were killing intent, anger, or even compassion and pity, attracted spirits. Shija was steadily increasing his capabilities as a spirit user.

「Time’s up huh…?」

Shija muttered and suddenly turned in the pitch-blackness.

There was basically no way to know the outside situation while in the training grounds. One exception was for high-ranking sorcerers who could communicate with spirits outside the training grounds even in this situation—in other words, Shija, who had achieved dramatic growth in a short period.

As Shija sensed, the stone door sealing the training grounds opened, and light from outside streamed in. Shija, shirtless, looked up at the Romel clan messenger standing beyond the door.

「I think I’ve been cooped up for quite a while, but has the situation changed? It feels like it’s been ages since I talked to anyone, though.」

Shija addressed the messenger with the same frivolous attitude as before losing to Lenia. The older woman, the Romel clan messenger, answered, showing signs of fear and trembling.

「We have received word that the Maffa clan has secured the Gifted Child and the outsider girl. There is also a summons to assemble at the ritual chamber.」

「Oh? The Maffa clan securing the Gifted Child without offering her seems unlikely. That little girl Lenia must have suggested something, but the other clans won’t easily trust an outsider’s words. So, what’s my role? I already know, but let’s hear it anyway.」

Shija’s smile shifted from a frivolous to a sinister expression as he anticipated his chance to face Lenia again, sooner than expected.

*

Hadiya gradually sensed the presence of spirits gathering around her and listened intently to their will.

She closed her eyes and took deep, long breaths to concentrate.

Beside her, Earthima was also in a meditative posture, and the two were engaged in basic spirit user training.

The location remained unchanged – the guest room prepared in Zebe’s mansion.
Hadiya and Earthima sat cross-legged on a cloth spread over the carpet, calming their minds and bodies.

As Hadiya connected with the consciousness of the slowly increasing number of spirits, Leania’s voice reached her.

Leania, meanwhile, was calmly observing the two meditating from a rattan chair.
Hadiya was once again in awe of Leania, who exuded a strength and spiritual rank far beyond that of the spirits.

「It goes without saying for you, whose country has been built on relationships with spirits, but lower spirits have almost no sense of self and virtually no intelligence.
The reason they exert their power according to the will of trained spirit users or those who resonate with them is because of that.
And as time passes, or due to external factors, when high-ranking spirits that have raised their status and gained self-awareness become your counterparts, communication becomes difficult in reverse.
It’s only natural since humans and spirits see different worlds and live in different worlds.
Making up for it with numbers of easily manageable low-ranking spirits is one option, but the downside is that you become disadvantaged all at once if the opponent is using higher-ranking spirits of the same attribute」

Although Hadiya and Earthima didn’t respond to Lenia, they were listening intently, not missing a single word. The content of Lenia’s speech was the most basic knowledge for anyone studying spirit magic, not just in this country. Although there was no need to be told this again, the twcontinuedue to listen, believing that Lenia wouldn’t do anything unnecessary.

「When it comes to great spirit class, many move their residence to the spirit realm, but there are also individuals who settle on this side. It’s good to summon great spirits from the spirit realm, but it’s less burdensome to exert power if you make a contract with or establish a friendly relationship with great spirits already on this side.
It’s not important now, but when the time comes that you desire greater power, it will be useful to investigate places that seem to be residences of great spirits.
」

Leania said that becoming able to freely summon great spirits and mid-level spirits from the spirit realm would make one a higher-ranked spirit user, but for Hadiya and Earthima who heard this, summoning a great spirit was a feat that only spirit users with innate talent could achieve in a lifetime.

It might have been because it was someone else’s business, but they wanted to interject at least one objection to Leania, who spoke of it so casually.

Little did Hadiya and the others know that from Leania’s perspective, not just great spirits, but even spirit kings and spirit gods were inferior beings.

「Hmm, Earthima is experienced. Your response to the spirits is flawless, and you can convey your uncluttered will to the spirits.
You have both experience and talent. I suppose you could summon most mid-level spirits if you wanted to?」

「I don’t particularly enjoy using them for battle」

「So you limit the power of spirits to support and only stain your own hands with blood? Well, do as you like.

As long as it’s not a nuisance to others, I have no intention of stopping you from following your own principles.

Now, as for Hadiya, she has the qualities to be chosen as an offering.

Thanks to the results of her daily prayers and training, she’ll likely be able to communicate with great spirits in the future.
If you consider safety, there shouldn’t be any problems if you start with mid-level spirits」

「Even if it’s nothing to you, Leania, from our perspective, this is a very presumptuous conversation…」

Hadiya opened her mouth while continuing to call and communicate with the spirits, to which Leania responded with a snort.

Given the temperament of the spirits, they probably wouldn’t seek worship from humans.
Even the great spirit that brought vast amounts of water to Shandia probably didn’t desire to be revered like a god.

Perhaps they would respond if asked – Leania was speculating about the feelings of the great spirit she had yet to meet.

「From my perspective, you’ve created too clear a hierarchy between yourselves and the spirits.
If it’s a relationship decided through mutual discussion, that’s one thing, but if you’re continuing it because of past customs, it will eventually distort and change.

What was initially just a contract for survival might evolve into something for gaining wealth or solidifying power, or the communication of wills might be neglected in favor of continuing customs.

I have a strong feeling that’s what’s happening in this country as well」

「Leania makes observations that are exquisitely difficult to refute.
Indeed, I cannot deny that we tend to be fixated on maintaining past customs, but Hadiya, what did you feel during that ritual?」

「I couldn’t understand it clearly in words, but how should I put it… I was returned, I was allowed to go back.
That kind of impression, I guess. I wonder if that’s why Leania is encouraging us to confirm the great spirit’s will once more」

Leania answered while stifling a yawn.

「It’s something you’ll understand in time.

If you were more skilled as a spirit user, you could have read the great spirit’s will, but without rough methods, it can’t be forcibly done overnight」

「Ugh, I’ll work hard」

「You have more than enough talent. Let’s see, about one in a million talents?
You’ll probably be able to summon great spirits without dedicating your entire life to it.
If they had focused on education as spirit users instead of education as offerings, Shandia’s situation would have changed much sooner」

Saying that much in an exasperated voice, Leania closed her mouth and ended the conversation.

Hadiya and Earthima also focused again on meditation to continue their dialogue with the spirits, pondering what Leania’s true intentions might be.

The days of training to improve their abilities as spirit users for Shijya and Hadiya’s group continued until Zebe, who was beginning to show signs of fatigue, came to inform them that she had persuaded her mother, the clan leader, to allow them to set foot in the ritual chamber again.