Chapter 6

The moment I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was 'water.' It was as if my surroundings were entirely filled with a deep blue liquid, making me feel as if I were in the middle of the ocean, unable to touch the bottom.

For a moment, I instinctively tried to cover my nose and mouth with my hands out of shock, but I soon stopped. I realized I could breathe normally. Moreover, when I moved my limbs, I didn't feel the usual resistance of water. It was as if I were in the air, except for the visual sensation.

'Wow... Is this real?'

I already knew I was the Water Spirit King, but I didn't expect to experience such a transcendent situation the moment I opened my eyes. Breathing underwater was so extraordinary that I felt more bewildered than elated.

By the way, wasn't my name Kim Gyu-hyun? I had a classmate who was a devout fan of fantasy novels. I wonder what his reaction would be if he knew about my situation. He would probably be so envious he'd feel like his stomach was about to burst.

'Oh, right. My body! They said I would return to my original form when I crossed the door. Is this my real body?'

I quickly regained my composure and slowly examined my body. The first things I noticed were my almost snow-white skin and slender arms.

'My skin is so pale. My hands are incredibly beautiful. And the scars I used to have are all gone.'

I really have been reborn.

Even though the evidence was undeniable, I still muttered to myself. However, despite knowing it was my body, everything still felt awkward and unfamiliar. I clenched and unclenched my fists repeatedly. The sight of my new hands moving according to my will was a novel and refreshing experience.

One curious thing was that despite being newly born, I was already dressed. Moreover, the clothes I wore were exactly like the round-neck T-shirt and long pants I usually enjoyed. In a world of unfamiliar things, this was the only familiar element, and it made me feel at ease.

'Hmm...?'

Suddenly, I began to feel a strange sensation around me. It was as if something heavy and unpleasant was approaching, and it wasn't just one but several of them.

I lifted my head and turned my gaze in the direction of the sensation. I saw three people walking toward me from a distance.

They looked to be around my age or a bit older. Each of them had striking appearances and noticeable outfits. They were looking around in amazement.

"Wow—look at this. It's all water around us."

"Right? I didn't think it would really regenerate."

"Amazing. For that desolate space to recover so quickly..."

It didn't take long for them to notice me standing there alone. The moment our eyes met, the three of them stopped in surprise. I, too, was unsure how to react to their sudden appearance and could only stare at them.

However, despite the confusion, I had a good idea who they were. They must be the other Spirit Kings with powers similar to mine.

Perhaps because of this, even though I had never met them before, I felt a sense of familiarity, as if I had known them for a long time.

"Um, Elquines?"

The long silence between us was broken by the youngest-looking boy among the three. He had black hair that slightly covered his ears, a dark skin tone as if he had been sunburned, and striking golden eyes.

'Is he a guy...?'

His appearance was clearly that of a boy, but the doubt arose due to his aura. It was almost seductive. While I knew dark skin could make someone look sexy, I had never seen someone who fit the description so perfectly. His eyes, in particular, had a mysterious charm that could captivate you if you stared at them for too long.

He asked cautiously, as if trying to confirm something, and I nodded reflexively. His expression brightened with relief.

"Ah, as expected. I'm sorry for showing up so suddenly. Or should I congratulate you on your birth first? It's quite late, but I'm glad you're here. The situation was quite precarious."

"Trovel, don't add unnecessary comments."

"Hehe, sorry. I'm just so glad to see Elquines."

'So, that's Trovel. The Earth Spirit King, then.'

Perhaps because of this, he exuded a warm, earthy scent. It was the fresh smell of a forest you'd encounter when escaping the summer heat in the mountains.

Next, I turned my gaze to the woman standing beside him. She had long hair that reached down to her waist, with the ends almost transparent. Her calm, expressionless gaze gave off a gentle breeze. From this, I easily deduced that she was the Wind Spirit King, Minerva.

She seemed to be entirely white, from head to toe. Even her eyes were a bright white, but it was not off-putting; rather, it was breathtakingly beautiful.

"What, is this Elquines a female form this time?"

At the high-pitched voice, I slowly turned my head and met the gaze of a red-haired girl who had been staring at me intently.

The first thing that came to mind when I saw her was 'extremely glamorous.' Her fiery, wavy hair, large, rabbit-like red eyes, and even her skin, which was an unusual light pink, were all striking and eye-catching. Yet, everything about her fit together harmoniously, making her look like a magical girl from an anime. Or, more accurately, like the queen of the villainous forces.

'So, this must be... the Fire Spirit King, Ifrit...?'

There were four Spirit Kings, and the only one left was Ifrit, so it must be her.

Compared to the other two who seemed friendly, she appeared somewhat displeased. Her slightly upturned, sharp eyes added to this impression.

'But, what does she mean by 'female form'? Does she think I look like a girl?'

Being called 'feminine' was something I had never heard in my 17 years of life. I wanted to check in a mirror, but in a space filled only with water, such a tool was unlikely to be available.

Perhaps because I didn't react as she expected, Ifrit's face crumpled.

"Why aren't you saying anything? Are you mute?"

"Ifrit."

"But she's just staring at me rudely. Even if Elquines is known for being rude, this is too much. Not even a greeting on the first meeting?"

...What? I'm known for being rude?

No one here should know me, so why would such a rumor spread? Could the Arehis have been spreading bad things about me? It's possible if they held a grudge after I rejected their potion and ran away.

Confused, I couldn't find the right moment to respond and just fidgeted internally. Ifrit, growing more irritated, snapped at me.

"Are you challenging me? Say something!"

"Ah..."

"What?"

"...Hello."

Finally, unable to withstand the pressure, I awkwardly smiled and raised one hand in greeting. However, the expressions of the Spirit Kings receiving my greeting were far from positive. They seemed tense, as if they had seen something unpleasant. I quickly added, trying to smooth things over.

"...Hello?"

"..."

"..."

Oh, is this not right either?

The atmosphere instantly became heavy with silence. I awkwardly wiped cold sweat from my forehead as I looked at the three Spirit Kings, who seemed even more rigid than before.

"Um, did I do something wrong?"

Trovel, the Earth Spirit King, finally seemed to regain his composure and smiled.

"Ah, sorry. Don't worry. It's not your fault. We're just having a hard time adjusting to the personality difference from the previous Elquines."

"Previous Elquines?"

...That must refer to the previous Water Spirit King. A significant personality difference means I'm quite different from them. Could the rudeness she mentioned be about the previous one? What kind of personality did that person have?

"Anyway, welcome. Let's get along well."

"Ah, yeah... I, I hope so too..."

I awkwardly shook the hand he offered and nodded. Trovel's expression took on a strangely nostalgic look.

"It's been a long time, the feel of water."

"..."

"It feels really good."

Trovel smiled lazily, genuinely happy. His unique, mysterious aura made it hard to look away, and his smile only added to the daze, even though I knew he was a guy.

However, what followed was even more bewildering. He pressed his cheek against my palm and closed his eyes. Caught off guard, I couldn't pull my hand away or leave it there, and I froze. My face felt hot, even though we were underwater.

"Um, um, um? T, Trovel?"

Hey, you. You don't seem to realize how you're coming off. Stop being unintentionally seductive! No, wait, I'm a guy! Why am I feeling this way? Get a grip, Kim Gyu-hyun!