Children and Spirits
We moved to a different place.
Prior to arriving through to this room we first passed a large empty room before it.
What the scaffold is made of I do not know; it looks as if its spreading through the room.
「Okay? Step on top of that floor and call out to a spirit!」
「Whatever you like, really. Help me! Or, Let’s play!
「… will they really come?」
「Will they?」
The children look at me with a worried face.
Well, I think it will be fine. If no spirits show, I’ll make them appear.
「…Hey, you! You’re making a scary face!」
Hey, brats! Don’t worry. It’ll work out!」
If they don’t show up, all I need to do is call them out myself.
That is, in that case they could obey me without hesitation.
「Since I’m coming along.」
「… Well, I guess that’s fine. Doesn’t matter to me how many people go, but it is narrow. So, since you’re coming, it’s probably best to bring one child at a time.」
Hmph. It’s probably also a good idea to summon a spirit for each one of them.
But anything goes as long as we can avoid negotiating with our fists…
「Alright! One person at a time will go. Who’s first?」
Then, we decided the order.
Then Alice.
And concluded with Chloe.
Let’s get this over with.
A tranquil room.
Only our footsteps reverberated throughout it.
「Sensei, if anything happens to me, please take care of them.」
Don’t be so formal.
We have reached the circular room.
But,『Magic Perception』clearly sees a scaffold in there. Transparent glass? Acrylic fibers or something?
But Gale is trembling in fear,
「Don’t worry, there’s a platform here. If anything happens, I’ll save you.」
I said, having long resolved myself.
He proceeds into the center
「Okay, there’s fine! I’m looking forward to the phrase you choose!」
Ramiris told him.
Kneeling, as if praying to the gods.
After some time has passed, drops of light began to fall from the sky.
And, before us on the altar a single person… no, a single spirit appeared.
Good job! It’s a success.
Will it be able to acquire an ego? Like Veldora’s cave, this place is filled with natural energy.
Then, without any hesitation, I ate the spirit.
「Gale, continue praying!」
「Ramiris, shut up for a second. I’ve got a plan.」
Calmly, I call forth『Great Sage』
After reading my intentions, it began the calculation. And after completing them, it began transforming the spirit.
≪Announcement. Transformation of the spirit using『Great Sage』has been completed.
Furthermore, after analyzing flame giant Ifrit, a pseudo-human personality has been created.
Will you bestow this power on Gale Gibson? [YES]/[NO]≫
I place my hand on Gale’s head, select YES, and grant him the power.
After analyzing Gale’s condition I confirmed that the rampaging magical energy was now at peace.
That is the result of spiritual energy and magical energy offsetting each other. Now, as he continues to grow he will probably be able to acquire many abilities.
I mean, I haven’t ever seen what it looks like and have no idea if it even has a form.
「Yup, all done! Good job!」
I say to Gale.
I gave a big nod.
「You’re okay now. The collapse has stopped, I guarantee it!」
With a face full of tears,
「Sensei, thank you very much!!!」
He bowed.
Everyone was very happy to find out that we had succeeded. But, we have just begun.
It’s meaningless unless everyone is saved.
「Steel yourselves. We’ll celebrate when everyone is saved!」
They were reminded by my words and nodded.
Let’s move on to the second one.
Next was Alice.
Chloe and Alice seemed to bickering about something before, but it’s probably just children’s dispute.
I hope things go just as good this time.
After waiting for a while, light began to fall from the sky just as before.
Ramiris looked as if she had something to say, but I completely ignored her.
I’ve gotten used to this the second time around.
≪Announcement. Transformation of the spirit using『Great Sage』has been completed.
Furthermore, after analyzing flame giant Ifrit, a pseudo-human personality has been created.
Due to excellent affinity, it has fused with『Shadow Step』and evolved into『Spatial Transfer』.
Will you bestow this power on Alice Rondo? [YES]/[NO] ≫
Seems like my ability has evolved after coming in contact with a spirit.
I granted the ability to Alice.
Well, it’s a skill she can just acquire on her own someday.
「Alice, well done! You’re fine now!」
I held her up in my arms and said.
Oi oi, what a precocious child. I mean, should I even be happy to be popular with seven year olds?
Just remember–I’m a gentleman, not some perverted lolicon.
「Thanks!」
She bowed in thanks, and we returned to the rest of the group.
The moment I put her down she began to quarrel with the furious Chloe, but I guess that just shows how close they are.
I returned to the circular room with Kenya.
Just three left. In worst case scenario, I had planned to summon the spirits myself and grant them to children, but there was no need for that.
I should be able to manage three more.
What? That’s a mass of energy far larger than the ones that appeared for the other two.
And there stood a human shaped spirit–a boy.
「Yo! How’s life? I’m good.
I felt like coming over, so I did!」
And extended a casual greeting.
「Ah, ahhhhh!!! You, why did you just come to someone’s house uninvited!」
Ramiris, her eyes wide, asked that of the child spirit.
Seems like they know each other.
「Yo, who’s that?」
To my question, without waiting for Ramiris’ introduction,
「O~su! I am the spirit of light!
Unlike that depressing and fallen descendant of darkness spirit, I am a pure spirit!」
He said.
Kenya, in a panic, was staring at us. Stop it, already.
After listening to our story, and perhaps maybe because Kenya had a good disposition towards light…
「So, I decided to help Kenya!」
Is how it happened.
Seems like he’s also capable of bestowing divine protection onto heroes. In the first place, Ramiris and him are supposed to do that together, but that rarely happens.
「The last time we blessed a hero together was… what? Two thousand years ago?」
Is what he said.
A pointless discussion, but it seems that Ramiris has inherited her “self” from previous generations.
And to each one of these clone-children she gave a sense of self.
A race that continuously strove to grow out of weakness.
Random outbursts of anger are expected from the selfish Ramiris, but their relationship can be described in only one word–terrible.
Doesn’t it seem like most of demon lords are selfish? Can’t say that all of them are like that, but so far…
「So, until Ken-chan grows up, I’ll be protecting you.
Maybe, Ken-chan, you can even become a hero!」
Saying so, and without waiting for permission, he entered Kenya.
Much too quickly Kenya’s body completely stabilized.
「Sensei…」
「Hmm? It’s okay. All according to plan!」
Whose plan! I retort to myself; just remember, me: if you let it get to you, you lose.
Though Kenya seemed to doubt my words he did believe the fact that his condition stabilized.
Somehow, he seems to have matured a bit.
Next would be Ryouta.
Just as previously, he bowed to pray before the altar.
Now, what will happen?
Before anything strange could happen, I ate it.
The rest is up to『Great Sage』.
≪Announcement. Transformation of the spirit using『Great Sage』has been completed.
Furthermore, after analyzing flame giant Ifrit, a pseudo-human personality has been created.
Due to excellent affinity, it has fused with『Cloning』.
Will you bestow this power on Sekiguchi Ryouta? [YES]/[NO] ≫
Cloning is something that is very difficult to use without『Great Sage』support.
On that note,『Quantum Manipulation』huh? I have no idea what such a skill could do.
Unlike the system of this world that people ardently study–magic, my abilities are far more unreasonable.
Perhaps that’s why the evolution had failed.
And so, only one person left.
The last person, Chloe was very afraid to walk there, so I carried her over.
Seems like she lied about her fear.
「Umm, sensei,.. I… I l-love you!!!」
Red to her ears she so told me.
I wish I had such a problem in my past life…
However, as a result I was able to acquire the wonderful『Great Sage』skill. So it’s a fair trade… probably not.
That’s something they can only do when they are in school.
But it was never too late for me. I mean, if something never even started, it can’t be too late.
Now, what kind of spirit will she summon.
She’s the last one. Not a time for failure.
Like everyone else, she bowed to pray.
That’s when things started to change.
Should I call it that…? For example, something did fall from the sky.
It had the vitality unbefitting a spirit.
Rather than a spirit, she radiates some form of soul energy. At this rate, she will dissipate.
Without a body, we’d need to create some system for keeping her here.
That girl (?)… celestial maiden suddenly saw me and grabbed on to me. And locked her lips around mine.
Such a beautiful girl, even if she was a ghost… I would never! I mean, what’s going on?!
The celestial maiden, with a look full of disappointment, moved to touch Chloe.
「Stop!!! I won’t let you! I won’t let you do as you please!」
Suddenly, Ramiris held up both of her hands, prepared for combat.
A black light covered her hands which she shot out at Chloe. I jumped in front of Chloe to protect her, and it absorbed into my body.
〈Annihilation〉magic of instant death… It’s hard to believe, but she seriously intended to kill her.
「H-hey! What was that for!」
「I don’t?! What’s dangerous?」
While we were busy arguing, the celestial maiden overlapped with Chloe and disappeared.
No problem, right…?
「Ooooo! Mou! Too late. I give up… I don’t even care anymore!」
Puffing her cheeks, Ramiris shouted.
No idea what just happened.
「That’s why I’m asking… what was that?」
Ramiris did not respond to my question.
When I asked her again,
「I don’t know! I have absolutely no idea,
Something that came from the future, and not a spirit.
Ahh….. I don’t know!!!
If that is born in the future, it’ll cause many problems.
That’s the first time I’ve seen such a being. That… maybe that was the spirit of time…」
Hmph.
Well, whatever. Chloe is perfectly fine.
It’s pointless to consider the future we have no control over right now.
「Good for you, Chloe! You too were able to avoid danger!」
I said, lifting her up in the air.
Ramiris, looking at us, could only sigh.
「Well, I guess it’s fine. There was nothing more I could do since the moment it possessed the girl…」
She said, and turned away from us.
「I think everything will be fine. Chloe is fine and all.
By the way, thanks. Thanks to you, the children are safe!」
When we returned to the group I thanked Ramiris.
The children showered her in thanks.
「Ba! That’s enough, already!」
Her face red, she tried to shake off the embarrassment.
The other fairies flew next to Ramiris creating a beautiful sight.
To light the fire of happiness in their hearts.
And naturally, a smile formed on the kids’ faces.
And so, I was able to save the kids.