Chapter 70

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

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Minji leaned against the window, gazing at the distant mountains while deeply reflecting on yesterday's events.

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In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

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At first, Misaki always supported and cheered for Heidi. Initially, Misaki thought Heidi's life was right. After all, the early Misaki was a newborn spirit who knew nothing.

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“Is this really right, Heidi?”

Kelberon felt conflicted as he watched the dying boy.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into seven years.

“I didn’t want this.”

After seven years, Kelberon realized this was not the life he wanted.

Though he had become a fearsome spirit, in truth, he had always wanted to be a great spirit king, not a fearsome one.

“I want to be a warm spirit.”

But it was too late to turn back.

He had already shed too much blood to become a great spirit king.

He judged himself unworthy of the title.

“A little sad, isn’t it?”

It took seven years to realize.

What I wanted was to water pretty flowers and tend to a beautiful garden.

In fact, all the talk about becoming a great spirit king was just to hide that simple dream.

Spirits with the surname ‘Kel’ were not supposed to have such small desires.

“I can no longer dream.”

The red-blooded spirit, Kelberon.

That’s what he was called on the continent.

He had become a malevolent spirit, accompanying the devil Heidi.

In the final moment, as he broke the contract at the cost of his own annihilation, he said to Heidi,

“I don’t blame you. But if the first person I met wasn’t you, would my life have been different?”

Heidi smiled and replied,

“Fate cannot be changed, Kelberon.”

In a very dark cave where water dripped from the ceiling, Heidi laughed joyfully.

“You were born with the destiny to become a spirit of blood. You lived up to that destiny well. You should be proud.”

No.

I’ve never been proud.

Kelberon wanted to say.

But he couldn’t.

He felt that if he denied his own life, he would also be denying Heidi’s.

Even if the direction was a bit wrong, Heidi had lived earnestly.

More earnestly than anyone else.

I can’t deny that life.

Though it was wrong, he didn’t want to deny Heidi’s life as she was dying.

Kelberon said,

“Thank you. I enjoyed meeting Heidi.”

Kelberon turned into a warm droplet and vanished.

It was the price of unilaterally breaking the contract.

Still, he became a warm droplet, covering Heidi with a bit of warmth.

It was Kelberon’s last consideration and love.

“Stupid spirit.”

Heidi leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.

“I didn’t want to contract with such a weakling.”

Heidi was furious.

How dare a contract spirit break the contract first.

She spat, and her saliva was mixed with red blood.

“Talking about flowers and gardens.”

In fact, I didn’t want to contract with a spirit who had such useless dreams.

I should have contracted with a spirit with a stronger resolve.

It was a mistake to belong to the surname ‘Kel’.

“Because of you, I couldn’t do anything, Kelberon.”

She chuckled.

“Seeing you annihilated is quite satisfying.”

Heidi passed away that night.

---

Violet said,

“We have a huge marguerite flower garden at our house.”

“What, what does that have to do with me?”

“If you help, we can grow even prettier flowers. Think about it.

If a water spirit with the surname Kel waters the flowers, how beautiful would the garden be?”

“I am meant to be a great spirit king. Such a simple story doesn’t suit me.”

“You’ll see.”

Violet stroked her chin.

Kelberon even cared for a wicked spirit mage like Heidi.

He believed it was the proper attitude toward a contractor.

‘He was really pitiful in the end.’

Thinking about it, Kelberon was a very pitiful spirit.

Kelberon could have lived a much happier life.

‘Would it have been better to protect myself rather than protect Heidi?’

Suddenly, the images of the people around him came to mind.

First, he thought of Bichen, who held a sword and smiled slyly.

Then, he thought of Heron, who ruled with an overwhelming presence.

He also thought of Medea, who was already approaching the strongest in the world at the age of twenty.

Kelberon felt a bit sorry for himself.

‘Maybe not…’

He briefly thought it might not have been better.

“Were you born from a droplet?”

“Of course. I am a great water spirit.”

“Since you’re a droplet, let’s call you Pongpon.”

“What?”

“No, Pongpon sounds like a dog’s name, so let’s call you Pongpon.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Just that it’s your name.”

The moment the word ‘name’ was mentioned, Kelberon screamed.

“No wayyyyy!”

The moment a contractor gives a name, it is imprinted on the spirit’s soul.

That was the spirit’s contract.

“What’s your name?”

“My name is…!”

He didn’t want to say it.

No.

My name is Kel!

Beron!

He wanted to shout, but it wouldn’t come out.

In his heart, he shouted ‘Kelberon!’, but his mouth moved on its own.

“Pongpon!”

Kelberon made a sad face.

He felt like he had lost everything.

---

Jermi had a stroke of luck in his own way.

Due to the influence of the magic circle, his spirit affinity temporarily became very high, allowing him to contract with a wind spirit.

“Violet, it’s thanks to you.”

“Huh?”

“Thanks to you, I was able to contract with a spirit.”

“What’s the spirit’s name?”

“Kel-Tertas, I named him Storm.”

At this, Pongpon screamed.

“What kind of name is Storm for a guy who smells like wind!”

Pongpon felt wronged.

My name is Pongpon, and his is Storm.

“Come out now. Let’s have a match.

As a candidate for the great spirit king!”

Jermi laughed lightly.

“Storm is very shy and doesn’t want to show himself.”

Jermi was also amazed.

A small fairy floating in the form of wind appeared.

This fairy was only visible to Jermi, his contractor.

Meanwhile, Violet, who had been lost in thought, asked,

“Kel-Tertas?”

“Yeah, why?”

“It’s nothing.”

No, it’s not.

The spirit Jermi contracted didn’t have the surname ‘Kel’.

I had seen a setting where a spirit king was almost the first to achieve this without the surname ‘Kel’.

“Maybe it’s because of your unexpectedly high spirit affinity that you were able to come here.”

“It seems so.”

“Thank you.”

Jermi grabbed Violet’s hand.

“After all, it’s more fun to be with Violet.”

He had unexpectedly gained a stroke of luck.

For someone with very low spirit affinity like Jermi to contract with a spirit prince was indeed a surprising event.

Jermi Pallar was the one who could contract with a regular spirit and elevate it to a spirit king.

But this time, he had contracted with a spirit prince with the surname ‘Kel’.

“If I hadn’t been with Violet, I wouldn’t have had this luck.”

Smiling, he continued,

“Will you marry me?”

“Huh.”

Violet cleared her throat.

No, why did the conversation turn to this?

“No, in two years, you’ll be able to marry. Bella, who contracted with a spirit prince, and the successor of the Storm Sword, who also contracted with a spirit prince. Wouldn’t it be amazing if they got married?”

“Stop it.”

“Why?”

Jermi, you’re a hero in this world, and heroes bring adversity. To be a hero, you must overcome adversity.

I have no interest in such adversity and hardships.

Unable to answer, Violet hesitated for a moment, and Jermi smiled mysteriously.

“Oh! I get it.”

What do you get?

I didn’t say anything!

I wish you didn’t understand.

Hiding her unease, Violet listened silently to Jermi.

“Do you think I’m still lacking?”

No, you’re overflowing with it.

“After all, you’ve seen the excellent abilities of Lady Medea up close, and your own abilities are so outstanding. I might not be good enough yet.”

Jermi genuinely believed this.

He was the one who had brought out and contracted with a spirit prince.

Jermi didn’t think it was a coincidence.

Even if it wasn’t a coincidence, it would be a terrifying outcome if it were.

‘With that level of potential and insight, and the excellent abilities of the white Bella, I might seem lacking.

Yeah.’

Jermi smiled.

If Violet is too great and we don’t match, I’ll become even greater to match her.

That was Jermi’s positive theory.

“Then I’ll become even greater and propose again.”

For some reason,

Does his statement sound like ‘I’ll overcome even more difficult adversities and hardships!’?

Violet sighed softly.

It seemed that no words would reach the current Jermi.

She felt the reality of being reincarnated into a fantasy world.

At the age of twelve, when one enters society, engagements are common among nobles.

“Look forward to it. I’ll become an excellent knight.”

Jermi, who was already a hero-level supporting character, made a deep vow.

---

Violet sent Pongpon back to the spirit world.

A spirit contracted with a human could return to the spirit world at any time to rest and be called back when needed.

“I need to find the way out.”

When entering, Pongpon had guided her, but she had to find the way out on her own.

This was a square room with all sides blocked.

She needed to find the exit.

“Find Zeno’s aura.”

“Okay, that should work.”

Zeno couldn’t enter this place.

‘He probably deliberately separated from us.’

He might be hiding somewhere, watching them.

Zeno would do that.

“This way, I think.”

Jermi felt along the wall.

Suddenly, the wall sank in.

Swoosh~

The wall moved geometrically, revealing a wide passage.

It was a bit dark.

But there were magic torches hanging here and there, making it not too difficult to see.

“This path seems to lead to the exit.”

Violet could also sense Zeno’s presence.

She felt Zeno at the end of this passage.

‘This body is truly amazing.’

Violet’s body was capable of such things.

Indeed, the author’s setting is the best.

Being born with such abilities is the greatest.

With these thoughts, she walked forward.

Jermi’s voice came from behind.

“I can sense Zeno in the distance, but it feels strange.”

Violet stopped in her tracks.

Jermi was right.

It felt strange.

‘Is this… killing intent?’

For some reason, she could sense killing intent from a distance.

A red light flickered in the darkness.

Instantly, she felt her hair stand on end.

‘This is dangerous.’

A damp wind blew.

A wind filled with sticky killing intent.

Thud, thud.

With the sound of footsteps, Zeno’s voice echoed.

“You must die here.”

It was the most chilling moment since being reincarnated into this world.