Matan’s Shooter

『Achievement: One Who Has Stepped into the Spirit Realm (S+)』

Congratulations!

As a living being of Middle Earth, you have entered the Spirit Realm, a realm where no physical or mortal being can exist. Here, only the essence can be tangible! What do you look like now? How do your spirits look? What will you discover and gain in the Spirit Realm? And what kind of relationship can you establish with the spirits residing here? Under the name of ‘Allen Srna’, the spirits will watch over you. However, remember that their goodwill does not last long.

Reward: 30 Stat Points

Spirit Realm Affinity for the described attributes +20%

(Applies to Wrath, destruction, chaos, lethargy and sloth)

Other Spirit Realm Affinity +10%

You are the first registrant of the 『One Who Has Stepped into the Spirit Realm』 achievement.

The names of the first three registrants of the achievement will be recorded in the Hall of Fame, and double the initial effects will be granted.

Effect: 60 Stat Points

Spirit Realm Affinity for the described attributes +40%

(Applies to Wrath, destruction, chaos, lethargy and sloth)

Other Spirit Realm Affinity +20%

“An S+ rank… and even Spirit Realm affinity!”

It is not divided by dark or light attributes, but by specific Spirit Realm affinities!?

If we assume that the four attributes listed belong to a broader dark attribute, then this affinity would add to the existing dark attribute spirit affinity.

‘If Prea had gained this achievement, then?! She already claimed a 50% affinity with the entire dark attribute. This would mean—’

She would have 100% affinity with at least the four dark spirits: Wrath, destruction, chaos, and lethargy and sloth!

Leeha quickly turned his head.

Prea was gazing at the air with a look of ecstasy.

Since this achievement is categorized under ‘special experiences’ rather than ‘discovery of a new location,’ and the Hall of Fame exists, both Leeha and Prea would be entitled to it.

If she had reached 100% affinity with each specific attribute spirit, she might have obtained achievements that Leeha hadn’t.

‘That’s highly probable. That expression, that face… Pfft.’

Prea turned to Leeha with a satisfied smile on her face, brimming with tension and excitement. Leeha couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

Prea’s smile conveyed far more emotions than a simple thank you ever could.

Only then did Leeha look at the Spirit Kings.

“Thank you for accepting us.”

The tension and fear that had gripped him moments before were now gone.

Their affinity had risen sufficiently, and it was their acceptance that triggered such an achievement.

If they had rejected or refused to accept Leeha and Prea, they couldn’t have obtained the achievement.

『Don’t be so happy; it’s not because we like you.』

『Hmmm… Just when I thought someone other than that guy might enter, it turns out to be humans and wood elves. What are our folks even doing outside? It’s infuriating.』 ℟

The Spirit Kings of Destruction and Wrath grumbled.

Their tone was still somewhat jarring, but at least Leeha could now discern their spirits’ tendencies.

“Um, Spirit Kings! Have you made any contracts recently?”

“Prea? What suddenly—”

“Heh, Leeha-nim may not know, but we must verify such things.”

Having likely reached 100% affinity, Prea took a more proactive stance than Leeha.

『Recent? We don’t operate within your temporal units; a comparison would be confusing to us, don’t you think?』

『No, Allen Srna is recent.』

The Spirit Kings of Chaos and lethargy and sloth also answered.

It was clear that none of the four Spirit Kings were easy conversationalists.

“Allen Srna is recent… I see. Among dark elves?”

『You should know, wood. Dark elves don’t use spirits, only their power.』

The Spirit King of Destruction clenched his fist.

In the black void, his fist rippled.

『You should know. If you know, inform us in advance and save us the trouble.』

The Spirit King of Wrath spoke with an annoyed expression, his gaze falling on Leeha’s necklace.

The necklace, used by the dark elf hero, able to manifest ‘Forbidden Wrath’, served as proof that dark elves used not spirits but their power!

“Yes. I couldn’t clarify due to my lack of insight. I apologize.”

『Hmph, I thought you ignored us because you hung out with Fear, but apparently not.』

Though Leeha could have assumed, the difference between certain facts and assumptions compelled him to verify.

The Spirit King of Wrath crossed his arms as he listened to Leeha’s polite apology.

At this point, Leeha began feeling as if he were dealing with irritable old men.

Prea continued her conversation with the Spirit Kings of Chaos, and lethargy and sloth.

To make a contract, what should one do, and what is the true nature of this spirit world?

『This is the dark attribute spirit realm. Or should I say, a part of the spirit world? Perhaps it’s more accurate to say it’s a part of the dark attribute spirit realm? Although we took it apart, not all dark attribute spirits are here.』

『The comprehensive spirit world is a bother. Ah, the place where everyone interferes with everyone and all have power. Those other spirits are remarkable, being able to live in such a place.』

“Does that mean you’ve moved a part of the spirit world here?”

Leeha asked this while listening to the story of the Spirit King of Chaos and lethargy and sloth.

The response came from the Spirit King of Anger.

『Yes. Someone like Allen Srna understood it straight away. But you lot still have a long way to go.』

“I think I get it!”

Prea raised her hand and looked at the Spirit King of Anger.

Before he could utter a complaint, she quickly spilled out her thoughts.

“A comprehensive spirit world where all spirits are together! And it can be largely divided into the light and dark spirit realms—so you mean you’ve taken a part of the dark spirit realm and brought it here! The four of you did this, so not even other dark attribute spirits can be here! Right?”

『Correct. Strictly speaking, it’s not that we took it but rather we destroyed a part of that place and made it into a fragment.』

The Spirit King of Destruction nodded in agreement with Prea’s thought. Only then did Leeha get a clearer sense of what this place was about.

“Oh…”

The reason neither the Spirit King of Darkness nor the Spirit King of Fear was visible was because this place was a spirit realm and at the same time an isolated spirit realm.

The Spirit King of Anger shouted around that time.

『That’s why it feels wrong! This was supposed to be our own space!』

“Huh, what?”

Leeha asked in confusion.

Prea, who had been chatting with the Spirit King of Chaos and lethargy and sloth, was also startled by the high-pitched tone.

The Spirit King of Destruction, who was standing in front of Leeha, looked at him.

『What are you?』

“I— I’m a human. As I mentioned earlier, I’ve met the Spirit Kings of Water and Fire, but it wasn’t a direct contractual relationship―”

『I am not talking to you. What are you?』

The Spirit King of Destruction’s eyes were intense.

Leeha made eye contact with him. However, he could only gaze into his eyes but could not truly “meet” his gaze.

The Spirit King of Destruction, a male with thick, bushy eyebrows, wasn’t looking at Leeha.

‘Huh…?’

His eyes were fixed behind Leeha, beyond him.

Feeling a sudden prickly sensation, Leeha slowly turned around.

There was something dark there. Since the surrounding universe was filled with darkness and there was nothing else besides the surrounding “stars” to see, Leeha hadn’t paid attention to his rear.

But there definitely was something behind him.

A black mass that moved too naturally to be smoke and had too much form to be a liquid.

It was then that an all-too-familiar voice was heard.

―Heh heh heh… This spirit world is marvelous, isn’t it, contractor?―

Leeha couldn’t fail to recognize that voice filled with arrogance and confidence.

“Ahhhh!? Bl-Black?”

He quickly grabbed Black Bass that was slung over his shoulder.

The cold, hard feel of metal was just as it always was. The weight was no different from usual.

There was just one difference.

―I can come out like this, you see.―

Even as Black Bass spoke, no light emitted from its bolt.

* * *

“H-H-How―”

―Heh heh! This is the spirit world, after all, isn’t it? No reason to be surprised.―

“Ha Leeha…?”

At Black’s words, Prea looked blankly at Leeha.

Although her question was ‘What kind of spirit is this?’, the one truly bewildered was Leeha.

“Because it’s the spirit world? So what? You’re not even a spirit! How could―”

『It’s because it has a consciousness. Damn it, this is why I hate bringing just any old thing into the spirit world.』

『Hmm, but it’s quite a curious type. It’s not related to God, nor is it a dark attribute spirit. If we had to classify it―』

『Is it demonic. You, do you have any connection to Le, ghibrid or Pyrot-Cocri?』

『Ugh… Those entities are too diligent, I don’t want to deal with them.』

Each Spirit King offered their own comment.

Even amid the buzz, Leeha could still hear all their conversations.

At least one thing was certain.

“In the spirit realm, beings with self-awareness must have a tangible essence—oh! Come to think of it, this was mentioned in the achievements earlier!”

This place did not permit physical, corporeal forms. It meant that one’s essential form had to be revealed.

So, what happened to the egos, the Ego items, that existed “within items” from the start?

How could their essence be manifested?

“They must reveal their form!”

Leeha muttered.

『Myong!』

This implied they had to be taken out of the items.

As Leeha murmured to himself, jellypong gave him a pleasant smile.

Seeing something that shielded and protected him appearing in its essential form, Leeha responded with a smile.

Meanwhile, black Bas and the Spirit Kings were still in a standoff.

Black Bass let out his trademark laugh for a moment, then spoke.

—If it’s said to be related to the Demon King, wouldn’t it be the same for you? All dark-element spirits must have been born in places where the Demon King had stayed.—

『Insolent! Remember that I can pull you out right this instant.』

The Spirit King of Destruction frowned but made no special move.

Leeha was momentarily confused about whether he was angry at what Black Bass said or the tone in which it was said.

However, he had to admit that what Black Bass said was not entirely wrong.

“Yes. Even water spirits—and didn’t the general elemental spirits also emerge from where gods resided?”

Though it happened a long time ago, he vaguely remembered incidents related to the Dragon Palace. Prea certainly had this knowledge.

If light-element spirits were born from where gods had resided, then what would be born from where the Demon King had been?

It seemed almost obvious when thought through carefully.

While Leeha organized his thoughts, the Spirit Kings directed their gazes toward him.

『You. Are you related to the Demon King?』

『If you were to become a successor of Allen Srna, wouldn’t such a path be impossible? Wasn’t that your goal?』

“Huh? Me? Uh, excuse me?”

『Yes, you. Who else? No one else would roam around with such a repugnant being.』

As Leeha pointed to himself and asked, the Spirit King of Wrath became heated.

To think he would be accused of siding with the Demon King’s Fragment just for using Black Bass.

Leeha was also momentarily bewildered.

Just a few days ago, he had fought against the Demon King’s Fragments and risked his life in battle against Chiyou, the first minion of Bluebeard.

What should he say, and how far should he go for them to believe him?

With so much to explain, Leeha’s tongue got tied momentarily. Prea was the one who opened her mouth.

“That’s not true. While it might have something to do with the Demon King, it’s not necessarily on the same side, right? Even dark-element spirits like the Shades didn’t like the Demon King’s Fragments. I don’t think the ‘thing’ embedded in the item Ha Leeha used is on the same side as the Demon King’s Fragments.”

Prea stared directly at the Spirit Kings.

Looking into their eyes, she added with a guileless smile.

“If you think that way, then you yourselves could also be related to the Demon King’s Fragments, right? As the ‘thing’ said, all dark-element spirits are born due to the Demon King.”

It was a statement that could trigger the wrath of the Spirit King of Wrath perfectly.

* * *

『Impudent Wood Elf!』

『There’s no need to intervene.』

『Does she think she’s a special Wood Elf? Sure, dark-element spirits may not dislike her, but… does she believe she’ll gain anything by showing such an attitude to us?』

The Spirit King of Wrath looked ready to charge at Prea, but the Spirit King of Destruction and the Spirit King of Chaos restrained him.

Being suspended in midair while simultaneously feeling the sensation of falling, Leeha and Prea found it difficult to respond properly.

If they had been attacked just now, Prea would have been in great danger.

Moreover, in this place, where their skills might not even function properly, any action would have been risky.

Leeha was nervous.

He appreciated Prea standing up for him, but it certainly was out of character compared to her usual demeanor.

‘Someone who desired dark-element spirits more than anyone—’

To see her confronting the king of the dark-element spirits for his sake.

Leeha looked at her with momentarily surprised eyes.

As Black Bass’s faint laughter echoed, Prea shrugged her shoulders.

“Rather, you should be thanking me. If the noble Spirit Kings heard ‘the truth’ that you wrongfully attacked an innocent spirit approaching you out of misunderstanding, bad rumors would surely spread.”

『Ha! Rumors, you say. Didn’t we tell you that we control this spirit realm? No spirit can come here now.』

“But I can certainly deliver this truth to others. I can leave here, after all.”

Prea was confident.

The Spirit Kings’ expressions twisted.

Rather, those who saw her attitude, including Leeha, grew more anxious.

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