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Chapter 220: Study

「Can I check something first? 」
「What is it? 」
Retze called out to Khan, so the latter turned to face him.

「Spirit or human, which are you? I’m different from these three guys; just an ordinary human so I won’t be able to sense it. 」

That’s coming from the guy who can correctly guess things just by inference and various rules of thumb.

「I’m neither of the two, but also both of them, somehow. Even I myself don’t know what I am. 」
Khan then brought his hands in front of him. Uh, what are you doing? Imitating a surgeon raising his hand pre-operation or something?

「The 『King’s Bough』when it was sane is here on my right hand. 」
A thin, silvery white branch sprouted out of his palm and from the back of his hand. It stretched until it’s up to his elbow.

「The left hand houses the 『King’s Bough』 that had descended into madness. 」
Same thing happened, but this time it was a black branch.

Black and white mixed together would produce the most powerful… Ah, nevermind, it’s gray huh.

「I can only say that I’m a former human that had been possessed by the spirit of the 『King’s Bough』, who then prolonged my lifespan. 」

As soon as Khan lowered his hands, the branches were retracted back into his hands like a reverse video.

「The 『King’s Bough』 can possess humans…? It’s something I’ve never heard about before. As far as I know, spirits that have their own original bodies can temporarily control humans; they cannot possess the person, however. 」
Butler seemed perplexed.

「Here’s a live example right in front of you so it can’t be helped. 」
Khan shrugged.

「The color is different, but that’s a mistletoe, isn’t it? Maybe because its original form is a parasitic plant? 」
Retze commented. Whoa, amazing, he already knew what it was just by a glance at that black and white metallic branch?

「Our ancestors found evergreens on the branch of fallen winter trees while on their quest for the 『King’s Bough』. They apparently wished for verdure that would never wither, or so it was said. So that’s a mistletoe, huh? 」
「Yeah. If that was a round thing with evergreen leaves and was clinging on to winter branches then that’s definitely a mistletoe. It’s considered a lucky tree around here. 」

Khan’s 『King’s Bought』 was very different from my X-Stick and even the 『Spirit Tree』that granted me a Bough. Is it because 『King’s Bough』based its the outward appearance on the wish, to a certain extent? Maybe?

「I see, so it’s called mistletoe, huh… 」
Khan seemed deeply moved.

「So? From which country’s 『King’s Bough』are you? 」
「The Green Kingdom of Tirdonai beside the banks of the River Es. 」
Khan answered Dinosso’s question this time around.

「It’s the kingdom that had been buried in the sand, isn’t it? I haven’t heard the ending of the tales of discovery, but it is said that several adventurers ventured on the land of the dragons in search of the legendary land. 」
Butler commented.

「Hey, did you even go that far just to do some poking around? 」
Yes, I did. I nodded to Retze.

By the way, why do you have to cover my mouth, Retze? Ah, it’s not like I can’t shake him off since he’s just putting his hand lightly, but still, I won’t be able to open my mouth at this rate, you know?

「Butler might faint beyond recovery if you’re the one explaining things, so just be quiet for a while, alright? 」
I tried asking him with my eyes, and that’s the answer. How cruel.

「Unlike the『King’s Bough』that can repel monsters and gather spirits just by its existence alone, I couldn’t do those things without expending power. My contractor Jean doesn’t have any intention of making me do anything, so just treat me as an ordinary human 」
Eh, if I do have something to order him to do, does that mean he’ll transform or change shape…?

「However, the aura and presence you have are absolutely unimaginable for a mere human. 」
「Don’t know the exact details, but in short, you got pulled into a contract by this guy here who nonchalantly waltzed into your territory, huh. 」
Butler and Dinosso.

Hey! I also had to suffer a lot, you know, my chin almost split!

Khan said he wished to learn about how people behave in town, how organizations and systems work starting from money and the Adventurer’s Guild, the current social landscape and the like. There’s a 1000 year gap that he needs to fill, after all!

I was a bit worried about taking him to Nalluahdid, but since the person himself stated that he wanted to walk around as an adventurer, I decided it’s better to bring him here.

I’m not sure if it’s because of Marina’s 『King’s Bough』 located near my island, Nalluahdid own『Fae’s Bough』, or the dragons that monsters rarely appeared over there.

Well, it’s not like the dragons exterminate monsters for the humans, but simply because monsters were food for the dragons.

They don’t appear that much during the seasons when River Eth overflows, probably because the spirit of River Eth becomes stronger during those times.

Khan decided he would live in Canum for a while, and once he’s used to it he’ll start traveling all over the place. He doesn’t have any problems with his strength, and he’s also a former king, so as long as he has the knowledge then he’d be fine roaming the world, I guess.

Plus, I’m also set to study the origin of the main kingdoms, places that travelers weren’t allowed, the kingdom where the heroes are, and stuff like that with him.

I thought Khan was also my comrade, but why! Why did he learn the names of the kingdoms way too easily!? Not only that, he’s way too perceptive when it comes to the conflicts among the kingdoms! So what happened to the ‘essence’ of my study group…!!

「I cannot stand this anymore, please allow me to rest. 」
Ash and Butler taught me a quick rundown on the kingdoms and what not and I also learn a bit from them every time we have lunch together. The sheer number of countries and kingdoms is the problem. Plus, too many of them had already been annihilated, and even more rose and flourished!

Shortage of supplies frequently occurred during war, and travelers were usually attacked by the soldiers, apparently. Moreover, because of the rampant overuse of spirits, the fields no longer yielded crops and people were starving, leading them to rob their neighboring countries. Ahh, such is the vicious cycle of war.

I would never, ABSOLUTELY NEVER go to the Central Plains!!

「Today’s wine is also delicious. 」
Khan was downing sake even while studying. He’s a heavy drinker, a really heavy drinker.

「Yeah, that one in particular is really tasty. Well, everything that Jean makes is delish, you know. 」
Dinosso’s comment earned a raised brow from Khan.

「I’m actually shocked that Jean is living normally within a city. 」
「It is dangerous to deem this room as ‘normal’. 」
Butler replied to Khan.

「Isn’t being comfortable such a nice thing? ]
I quipped while clearing the table top and serving the dishes nonchalantly.

Barbecued chicken, grilled green peppers, manila clams seasoned with salt and sake then steamed, stir-fried pig ears and celery, plus a bit of Japanese sake as part of the taste test.

「I forgot to explain this to you, but it’s better to think of this room as another dimension. 」
Dinosso, what’s up with that ‘other dimension’, huh? There’s no traps or mechanisms here! It’s just a plain and simple room!

「Allow me to introduce an ordinary room to you another day. 」
「You might not be able to go out of Canum if you get used to this, you know? 」
Butler poured me some tea while Retze stretched his hand towards one of the chicken skewers.

Great, the Japanese sake earned favorable reviews.