Chapter 71

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After Ruria fell asleep, Kuro stroked Roa.

"Welcome back, my lord."

Even if a spirit dies, it will reincarnate as long as its soul is not completely destroyed. This time, Roa seems to have reincarnated as a spirit with a physical body, in other words, as a guardian beast.

It must have been a strong regret that Ruria's past self, Luisa, couldn't warm her up. That's why Roa reincarnated as a guardian beast with a physical body.

"There's nothing to worry about. Lady Ruria is living happily and healthily."

"Uu..."

Roa is sleeping quietly. Perhaps because of the reincarnation from a spirit without a physical body to one with a physical body, Roa seems to have no memory.

Luisa's memories remained when she reincarnated from a human body to Ruria's human body. Ruria, while being a guardian beast-like entity and also a spirit king-like existence, is fundamentally human. The main change was in the magical circuits, which is why her memories remained.

Even without memories of the past life, the thoughts etched into Roa's soul remain. That's why Roa appeared by Ruria's side.

Kuro, troubled, went outside the annex and headed to the owls and goats, who were in the forest a little away from the annex. The goats were being rained on in the shade of the trees.

"Aren't you cold?"

"Me"

The goats are fine. The fur of the guardian beasts repels water. Unless it's a winter rain or snow, a spring rain is no problem.

"If you're not cold, that's good... You all really saved us."

"Me me me (It was just a matter of course.)" "Hoh (There's no need for thanks.)"

"If it weren't for you, Roa's curse would have progressed even further."

Roa must have been captured by a bad sorcerer somewhere and cursed.

"A barrier to keep spirits and guardian beasts away..."

The magical circuit embedded in the giant stone Ruria destroyed created a barrier that reduced the number of spirits in that area.

The barrier had the effect of preventing spirits and guardian beasts from approaching that area unconsciously. It was likely set up to prevent interference while Roa's curse progressed.

In fact, until Ruria destroyed the barrier, the owls and goats didn't even notice Roa's presence.

"Reincarnating a guardian beast as a cursed one is very difficult and takes a long time."

Roa, even as an infant, is a guardian beast. It's not easy to curse a guardian beast.

"...Me (But, is it really possible to curse a guardian beast?)"

"Bubobo (Roa was actually on the verge of becoming a cursed one. It must be possible.)"

"Hou (But, it's certain that an extraordinary method was used.)"

"Moo? (Lord Kuro, do you have any idea?)"

"Even so..."

Kuro thought seriously. The guardian beasts are right. Guardian beasts are the natural enemies of cursed ones. They have a very high resistance to curses.

Cursing a human or turning a human into a cursed one is a different matter.

"Umm... A method to greatly strengthen the curse... Using the power of the land, perhaps?"

"Piyu (Lord Kuro, do you think that's the purpose of the magical circuit?)"

"I don't know."

"Me (What is the power of the land, anyway...)"

"I don't know either."

The first thing that comes to mind as a method to strengthen a curse using the power of the land is a place where a lot of blood has been shed. Lands that have been battlefields many times are more likely to have the power of curses.

The history, legends, and other aspects related to the land can also enhance the power of spirits and curses.

"But... I've never heard of this area being a battlefield..."

In fact, given the legend of the spirit rain, if anything, the spirit power would be stronger.

"I don't know!"

No matter how much Kuro thought, he couldn't reach a conclusion.

"The only thing I can say is that, if a magical circuit was prepared to turn Lord Roa into a cursed one..."

"Me? (Do you think it was a planned action, Lord Kuro?)"

No matter how you look at it, it wasn't a plan that started yesterday or today.

"Since Lady Ruria's trip to the lakeside annex was decided suddenly, it must have been unexpected for the enemy..."

"Moo (The idea of Lord Roa becoming a cursed one is terrifying. I don't even want to think about it.)"

"Bubobo (It could be considered a stroke of luck.)"

If Ruria hadn't been there, and if the goats hadn't come, and if the citizens hadn't mistaken the grand duke for the duke and come to appeal...

The spirits and guardian beasts wouldn't have noticed Roa until he had completely turned into a cursed one.

"Me (The most unexpected thing for the enemy must have been Lady Ruria and her power.)"

Even a top-notch mage would find it difficult to destroy that magical circuit. Even a top-notch healer couldn't have removed Roa's curse.

If they had entered the area where Roa was, even guardian beasts would have been killed by the large number of cursed ones. It was that dangerous a place.

"Having so many powerful cursed ones gathered there was unexpected for me too."

"Hoh (I was chilled to the bone. I exposed Lady Ruria to danger.)"

"Given Lord Roa's crisis, I think I would have sought Lady Ruria's help even if I were in Kuro's position."

Kuro comforted the owl, who regretted his judgment.

Indeed, if Ruria hadn't shown more power than expected, they might have all been wiped out. The enemy must have planned to counterattack if Roa was found by a guardian beast and then turn the killed guardian beast into a cursed one.

"...Lady Ruria is strong. I was thinking about how to escape halfway through."

Ruria swept them away with her power. It happened in an instant. Neither Kuro nor the guardian beasts had expected her to be that strong.

"Piyu (That healing wind was extraordinary.)"

"As the hawk said, that wind not only healed everyone but also eliminated the cursed ones."

The healing wind Ruria released to destroy the cursed ones purified and eliminated them, while healing the guardian beasts' wounds.

It was similar to how healing magic can damage the undead.

"I have something important to tell everyone. ...Lady Ruria is strong."

"..."

The guardian beasts looked at Kuro as if to say, "What are you telling us now?"

"Among you, there might be those who think she doesn't need protection."

"Me" "Moo" "Bubobo" "Hoh" "Pii"

The guardian beasts are saying, "No matter how strong she is, protecting Lady Ruria is our pride!"

"Thank you."

After expressing gratitude, Kuro said to the guardian beasts,

"Lady Ruria's power is very strong. No, it's too strong. ...Too strong for her small body."

"Me?" "Hou?"

"If she uses too much of that overwhelming power, her small body might not hold up."

"Me me?" "Hou!?"

Kuro also thought, "Maybe it will hold up?" given how much power Ruria used and how much she had left.

Historically, many prodigies and saintly women have used so much magic that they collapsed and died. But Ruria is different. She's not an ordinary saint.

However, it's impossible to experiment and see if it's really safe. If the experiment results in harm to her body, it would be irreparable.

"Lady Ruria should use as little magic as possible. At least until she's twenty, or at least eighteen."

The guardian beasts listened to Kuro's words with serious expressions.

"Everyone, please take care of Lady Ruria."

"Hou!" "Kyu" "Pii"

The guardian beasts said, "Leave it to us!" with determination.

"Thank you. It's reassuring."

The goat said to Kuro, who was expressing gratitude,

"...Me (Lord Kuro, shouldn't we teach Lady Ruria how to protect herself?)"

"Protect herself? No, no, using magic would be bad for Lady Ruria's growth!"

"Moo! (Unfortunately, we can't always protect her.)"

In fact, when the infant Ruria was attacked, only the weak infant Daru was nearby.

"Indeed, that's true... If she learns how to use it, she might want to use it."

"Bubobo (Even if that happens, it's better than Lady Ruria not being able to protect herself and losing her life.)"

"Hoh (Besides, Lady Ruria is wise. She won't use it recklessly even if we teach her.)"

"But, practicing magic requires using magic."

To practice magic, one needs to actually cast spells.

"Piyu (We can only let her practice by imagining. Like sword training.)"

"Imagining? Ha."

Kuro remembered Ruria's sword training. Ruria would imagine an enemy and swing her sword, and the sword instructor would praise her highly.

"If she can do that with magic too..."

It might be possible to practice without using magic and without hindering her growth.

"But, what should we teach her? Lady Ruria is a seasoned mage."

Ruria is a five-year-old, but Luisa fought against strong enemies frequently. There might not be a mage with as much combat experience as Ruria in the world.

"Me (Lady Ruria isn't accustomed to spirit power.)"

"Spirit power..."

Mages convert spirit power into magic power to cast spells. This was true for Luisa as well. However, Ruria doesn't need to convert spirit power. The result is the overwhelming power of the "Healing Wind."

"Let's do a little... experiment. I need your cooperation as guardian beasts."

Guardian beasts, like Ruria, are half-spirit. They have physical bodies but can cast spells directly using spirit power, though they have less spirit power compared to spirits.

"We'll teach Lady Ruria about spirit power... and have her practice using it."

"Me (She must do this without actually casting the spell, only in her imagination.)"

"Moo (It's difficult, but we must do it.)"

Kuro and the guardian beasts thought about how to teach her while experimenting.

The other day, Amaria thought about taking Ruria outside to teach her common sense. Today, Kuro and the guardian beasts thought about teaching Ruria how to fight. Both aimed to teach Ruria how to fight and protect her from danger.

Kuro returned to Ruria's room at dawn. He informed Carol and Korko, who were already awake, about the results of the spirit king guardian beast meeting. Carol and Korko listened seriously.

During this time, Daru was lying on his back next to Ruria, sleeping contentedly.

"Daru... Well, it's fine."

Daru is strong but still a child. In a way, he is also someone who needs protection, like Ruria.

Finally, Kuro stroked Roa, who was sleeping next to Ruria's face.

"Lord Roa, welcome back. May you be happy in this life."

Kuro kissed Roa's forehead.

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