[Side Story] Wind Flower (2)
Spirits have no concept of death.
Even if the head is cut, the abdomen is pierced, and no matter how much blood is lost, it will eventually return to a fluid state and only have time to recover its magic power.
If they rest like that and recover their magic power for a certain period of time, they are beings that can appear again in response to the spiritist’s call as if they had never done so before.
However, the concept of lifespan exists. There is no concept of death, but there can be lifespan… I wonder what that means.
The end of a spirit is difficult to call death, but it is a state in which it cannot even be said to be alive.
The method of calling it varies depending on the animist, but the most common is called ‘natural reduction’.
In order to exist in the world as a spirit, the magical power of a spirit master with excellent spirit sensitivity is required. If you are unable to increase the hierarchy and your magic power runs out, the spirit’s soul returns to a fluid state and becomes a part of nature for a while.
It can become flowing water, a blowing wind… In any case, while living as part of the cyclical structure in nature, it becomes a fluid spirit again, then a lower spirit, and begins a new life.
However, even if a new cycle begins like that, no memories of before becoming a fluid spirit remain.
Circulating forever in the ambiguous boundary of whether it is a new life or a continuing life.
That was the life of a spirit.
“Aren’t you working too hard to go all the way to Pulan to investigate a bear spirit the size of Mount Tai, even though your title as a new professor is not long?”
“You have to work for what you get. In fact, no matter how hard you work, it’s still a surplus compared to what you get, so don’t worry too much.”
Two men were lighting cigarettes in the garden in front of the newly built Trix building.
Ed Rosstaylor didn’t necessarily have a habit of smoking tobacco, but since he often hung out with Professor Kalaid for work, he ended up smoking it once in a while.
Wearing a fancy magic professor’s robe, Department Head Kalide roughly threw the smoked cigar on the floor.
“How much of the school headquarters did you rob?”
“The negotiations were led by Tanya, not me, so it doesn’t mean much if you ask me. Anyway, since I posted the business trip report, are you coming back? “You don’t have any complaints, right?”
While Ed Rosstaylor is away, Kalide takes on the duties as deputy. This is because Assistant Professor Traceiana is not yet able to cook one serving perfectly.
Professor Kalide hated the increase in workload, but he only complained and didn’t say anything else.
After Ed Rothtaylor became a professor, he hung out with Professor Kalide a lot.
Because he was a young boy from a powerful imperial family, everyone hesitated in front of Ed or was busy being polite, but Kaleid was especially someone who broke away from that sense of authority.
In any case, Sylvania Academy is a place where the virtue of learning is emphasized more than status, and Kalide is nominally Ed’s superior, so there is no need to be very polite.
However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t many people in the world who have a strong heart who can treat someone from the continent’s most powerful family without any hesitation.
Since he was a Professor Kalide who had been through all sorts of hardships, I was able to exchange candid stories with Ed.
“I was going to have a drink today, but… it was too hot.”
“It would be a good idea to refrain from drinking during the semester. “Now that you’re the head of the department, aren’t there more people looking at you?”
“That’s true, but… what should I do if the alcohol tastes sweet? This kid is learning something like the beginning of the year. “You shouldn’t smoke this kind of thing… It’s bad for your health.”
He sat down on a bench in the garden of the Trix Building, put his forearms on the backrest, looked up at the sky, and said with a wistful expression.
“If life is dull, alcohol becomes sweet.” There will come a time when spirits from Goron or wine from Pulan will become sweet. What is that expression? The alcohol tastes bitter because life is still sweet. “You will know someday~.”
“…”
“What is that expression?”
Ed looked at Kalide with a pitiful expression and said.
“If you are too pretentious, bad rumors will spread among students.”
“Huh bluff?! Did you think I was just bluffing…?!”
“If the alcohol is sweet, it’s sweet.
If it’s bitter, it’s bitter. What kind of meaning is given to it?…” “I thought this was a pretty macho and cool line…”
“It’s a drunk with nothing to boast about other than being good at drinking. It seemed like Bangi was justifying himself. Please exercise some restraint in front of students. “If you become the head of a department, maintaining authority is important.”
In fact, Ed was in a position to say everything he could not say to Kaleid.
Kaleid is his immediate superior, but he is superior to Edgar in terms of status and influence.
In the end, thanks to that strangely balanced balance, they were able to treat each other without hesitation. It may have been a tiring situation for some, but from Ed’s point of view, there were not many people he could talk to like this, so he thought it was quite okay.
“That’s harsh! Even though I am the head of the department, I am being treated bitterly. “This makes the drink sweet.”
“Anyway, I’ve uploaded all the necessary reports and the handover of duties has been completed, so I’ll go.”
“Okay~. “I’m sure Ed Nari is very busy with his academic work and research, while also acting like a noble.”
“If you know, please do some work. “Okay then.”
Ed lifted the wooden case containing the documents and roughly waved his hand in greeting to Kaleid. It was time for the arranged carriage to arrive, so it was time to leave.
“Hey Ed.”
However, Ed was about to head towards the stairs of the Trix Building hill when Kalide called out to him.
Kalide spoke calmly as he took out a new cigarette and lit up a smoke.
“You are what you will become.”
Kaleid Roxter.
The head of the department who spent half of his life in battlefields or lawless areas and eventually came to teach in Sylvania with the glory of a war hero.
People who don’t shave properly, are always drunk with eyes wide open, or are treated like old people in the back room who are smoking cigarettes. He was the kind of person who was scolded not only by senior members of the department but also by junior professors.
However, even if it is rotten, it is acceptable.
“Don’t be like Glast or Zelan.”
Professor Kalide blew out a puff of tobacco smoke and spoke to Ed, who was quietly looking back while holding his wooden briefcase.
Three heroes of the demi-human war.
Seeker Glast Outlaw Kaleid Cutter Zelan.
Among them, Glast died and Zelan was said to be wandering the world, disillusioned with his life.
Both of them must have been battlefield comrades who had crossed the line of fire together with Kaleid.
Kaleid spoke with his head down, thinking of his comrades who did not end well.
“I’ve seen too many children who were supposed to be bad kids become unhappy for ridiculous reasons.”
“…”
“I hope you don’t do that.”
Ed looked at Kalide, who was lighting up cigarettes, for a moment and then burst into laughter.
The dragon’s roar echoing through the sky soon died down, and the stage that seemed like it would continue forever came to an end.
I persevered until the end in a war-like day where it was not strange to die at any time, and confirmed the end of the story.
What remains is a later story.
──I lived happily for a long time.
Most children’s books usually end like that.
If you close the book with that one sentence as the last sentence, the story ends.
Kaleid wants nothing more, nothing less, just that.
“Thank you for your concern.”
There’s no way there’s anything worth saying in response.
Ed went down the hill steps, leaving only the formal thanks.
“…”
Professor Kalide, who was left alone, leaned heavily on the back of the bench, looked up at the sky, and chuckled.
“It was just rain.”
*“Professor Ed… When I applied the elemental response theory you mentioned last time, my magic response definitely got better… It was difficult for me to realize it on my own… But… I wanted to thank you… .”
It was around this time that I was reading a book while waiting for the carriage to arrive at the plaza at the entrance to the living building.
After completing my work report to Professor Kaleid, all I have to do is leave for Pulan.
The coachman who had been hired in advance was scheduled to come from Baron Palover’s mansion to Aken Island with Yenika on board.
When Yenika comes, we rest for about half a day and then depart for Pulan. Yenika will probably feel special because it will be her first time stepping foot on the bachelor pad in a long time.
“So… I… I… need to give you a gift…”
At that time, the student who approached me awkwardly sitting on the fountain railing looked familiar.
This is the girl who sat in the front of every elemental science class and listened to the lecture with her bright eyes shining.
Since I am also human, I can’t help but feel more affectionate toward students who have a good attitude toward class. I remember that he gave me a lot of advice regarding elemental magic because I felt like he was seeing me working hard in everything I did when I was a student.
The girl, whose bangs were cutely arranged with a small hairpin, held out a small box to me with a hesitant movement.
“My poetry skills… are still a bit lacking… so it might not taste good…!”
“…”
“Still, I wish I could at least repay you… That part was really helpful to me! So… I wanted to at least show my sincerity…”
I held out one hand and took the beautifully wrapped box.
“Okay, thank you. Were you a Fjorn student of the Celcus family?”
“yes! “You remembered my name…!”
“To begin with, I remember all the students in charge. However, it is best to refrain from giving or receiving personal gifts or money since this may lead to misunderstanding. “What I’m giving you now doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a huge deal in terms of money, and it seems like it shows good faith, so I’ll accept it.”
“Yes yes…! I’ve never thought of that. “I’m sorry if I was inconvenienced!”
“No, I didn’t mean it would be a problem, it was just a matter of caution. “Thank you for the sincere gift.”
When I sincerely expressed my gratitude, the girl just fidgeted with her fingers.
It seemed like he probably wanted me to open it right here.
It wasn’t that difficult at all, so it was time to sneakily look for the entrance to the box.
– Hee hee
– crackle sound.
The sound of a tired horse slowly walking in.
After completing the entrance and exit procedures for Sylvania Academy, a large carriage came along the street at the entrance plaza of the living building.
Baron Palover’s carriage with its cosmos pattern is not flashy, but it is old-fashioned.
The door of the carriage that stopped in front of me across the noisy residential square slowly opened.
Eventually, Baroness Yenica, owner of the Barony of Palover, slowly appeared inside.
A name that no one who practices elemental arts in the central region of the empire would know. The appearance of Yenica Palover, a rare spiritist who was actually serving as a shield for Duke Rosstaylor, attracted the attention of the surrounding area.
I don’t find it too surprising since I see it often, but it may be an interesting sight for passers-by in the student plaza.
Perhaps due to her simple nature, Yenica Palover does not often wear fancy dresses.
Rather, a plain blouse and skirt with various flower-shaped embroidery look much better on her.
Still, although it is a robe with various pretty patterns harmoniously embroidered to preserve the dignity of an aristocrat, the overall impression of it being a simple attire does not disappear.
Jenica came down the carriage steps, the hem of her skirt fluttering, and looked around. It’s been a while since I last looked at Sylvania Academy’s bachelor’s degree program, but it must have changed quite a bit.
“Are you here, Yenica?”
“Ed!”
Yenika, who approached me with a smile, suddenly froze for a moment when she saw the girl next to me blushing and looking at me.
Student Fjorn felt like he had suddenly become frozen as he saw the appearance of the legendary spiritist who suddenly appeared.
“Who is this kid…? Are you a student studying with Ed?”
“yes. I am a Fjorn student from the Kelcus family that manages the northeastern plains. I’m an honor student. Now, say hello.”
There are not as many opportunities to meet Yenica Failover as you might think. It would be good luck for Fjorn.
However, Yenika looked alternately at the box in my hand and at the trembling Fjorn… and then she broke into a cold sweat with her pupils shaking for no reason.
“Eh Ed… I guess you’re very close with the students?”
“…? No, we’re not particularly close, but… we don’t create walls. “These are the kids I have to teach.”
“Yeah… I see… I’m a Fjorn student, and I’m really grateful for giving this gift to Ed, the master of the Duchy of Rosstaylor…”
“Huh…? “Yes, yes…”
Even as Jenica thanked Fjorn, her pupils dropped as if she was afraid of something.
As we exchanged greetings for a while, Jenica looked at Fjorn as if she was deep in thought, and then quickly turned her head towards me.
“Eh Ed! What we always do! Hey! “You have to wake up every morning and do it like eating!”
“what?”
“Ahaha Ed too…! Have you already forgotten…? Now here… that… forehead…”
Although there were many eyes watching, Yenika quickly approached me and exposed her forehead right in front of my nose.
I finally understand. The story is that here I will try to kiss your forehead, which I have failed to do several times due to overload.
Boldly sticking out her forehead in a place where so many eyes are watching is an expression of Yenica Palover’s will.
No matter how many times I practiced, I couldn’t believe that Ssukmaek, who had been falling off with a nosebleed all by himself… Now that it’s almost time to go to Pulan, I wonder if my heart has become stronger.
If I want to sincerely repay Yenica’s efforts, I have no choice but to agree with her.
I wrapped my arms around Jenica’s shoulders and kissed her forehead.
The heat of Yenika felt in that short period of time was almost like a furnace. It seemed as if he was holding back an explosion somehow as he muttered his mouth with a blushing face and fidgeted with both hands holding the cane.
I remember that when we first kissed, it seemed like Yenika was the one who attacked first… Then, how much courage did she have at that time? Looking at Yenika now, I wanted to applaud Yenika even more then.
“Nothing…”
Yenika, who didn’t think it would be strange if she fainted right away, opened her mouth with difficulty.
“It’s no big deal! It’s like a routine kiss that we do every day, so it doesn’t feel particularly special and it’s just normal! That’s right, for us, a kiss like this is like saying hello!”
I was about to point out that he should take a breather before speaking. If I get pointed out like that for no reason, I feel like my shame will reach its limit and I will collapse.
Yenica quickly lowered her forehead and spoke to Fjorn proudly.
“Oh, I’m sorry, student Fjorn! I was suddenly embarrassed! This is our daily life! daily!”
“Huh…uh…”
“That’s right! If we want to meet our research schedule, we have to go to Pulan quickly! We have to leave right now! Isn’t that right, Ed?!”
“what? You must have had a hard time just coming all the way here from Ross Taylor’s territory, so I took a break for about half a day and looked around the school for the first time in a while…” “
No! I have to go now! You can’t put off work! Let’s go! ruler!”
Yenika quickly pulled me into the carriage, holding my arm tightly and pulling me.
It doesn’t matter to me because it’s good for me to get things done quickly, but I was worried that Yenika would be tired after coming a long way, so I set a loose schedule.
He stubbornly refused and pulled me toward the carriage, saying it was okay, so I had no choice but to nod that I understood.
-bang!
Just like that, the carriage door closed. I could see Fjorn’s dumbfounded expression through the window.
A gentle breeze blew as she stared blankly at the carriage moving forward. Fjorn had no choice but to quietly welcome the carriage, brushing away his flowing hair.
*“Wow, these cookies are delicious! no! “Actually, it’s not that delicious!”
Jenica ate almost all of the homemade cookies that Fjorn gave her.
“It doesn’t taste very good! No, but… a lot of sincerity went into it… I worked so hard to make it, but to declare that it’s not delicious… isn’t it a bit disrespectful to sincerity… I must have worked hard to make it…” “
. ..”
“No, it still doesn’t taste good! “It’s not like it’s not!”
“…”
It’s not like I’m asking myself any questions… Yenika, who was criticizing the cookies, steeled herself and declared that they were not delicious.
Still, it was Yenika Palover who could not give up her kind heart and ignore the sincerity put into the cookies.
If you make up your mind to do something, do it until the end. His attitude, which was neither of these things, was almost laughable if you watched him from the side. No matter how hard you try to be stoic, that is your limit.
“Aren’t you tired, Yenika?”
“I think it would be more tiring to stay in the bachelor’s together…”
The carriage that had left Aken Island was slowly heading towards Pulan.
Flowers were blooming here and there in the plains visible outside the window.
A peaceful sight with a few butterflies flying in the warm sunlight. The sound of the carriage wheels rolling and the languid sight of the coachman cracking his whip from time to time put me at ease.
“You know… Ed gets a lot of presents like this…?”
“What to the students?”
“huh.”
I thought for a moment and finally answered.
“I get paid quite a lot. Thankfully, there seem to be quite a few students who want to express their gratitude for what they have been taught. When I was a student, I didn’t know anything about that kind of thing… but after my position changed, I realized I should have expressed myself that way too. Well, my life was in danger at the time, so I couldn’t afford it.”
“I see… Then it happens quite often…”
“That’s right.”
Yenica lowered her gaze for a moment and then spoke hesitantly.
“You know… Ed, it’s not that I’m jealous…” “
…”
“No, I’ll correct you.”
Yenika seems to have had a change of heart in the meantime…
“I’m jealous.”
After taking a deep breath, he says this with a dignified face.
“…For someone who says it with such an energetic face, the content is a bit strange…”
“I, too, have self-awareness! But what can I do when I feel jealous?”
“…”
“From my experience, I feel jealous, but if I pretend not to be jealous, I will only become more miserable!”
“Yes… The attitude of trying to learn something from experience is highly regarded…”
“But even if I admit that I am jealous, I become miserable… What is this… Am I bound to be miserable no matter what I do? ..”
“Why is there any need to be miserable?”
I was wondering how to comfort Jenica, but decided to just tell it like it is.
“It’s the same even if you change your position. “If you’re talking to another man like you’re getting along well, I might get jealous.”
“Eh Edgar? To me? “Jealousy?”
“I told you. “I take pride in being on good terms with you.”
“Really…?!”
Well, it’s just an assumption that something like that would happen, but Yenica raises the corner of her mouth as if it makes her feel so good.
“But the premise is so unrealistic… It’s a man other than Ed… I’ve never really imagined it…
”
“Well… when I was at the bachelor’s, it was nice that everyone treated me comfortably, but after becoming the baron’s hostess, I didn’t know how to behave… so I’m having a hard time.”
“Time will tell everything.”
“It seems like I’m the only one losing money by doing this! Structurally, I have no choice but to be jealous…!”
Yenika was shaking her head and sighing as if she suddenly felt despondent as she spoke.
“Ugh…”
It was a sigh filled with many emotions. If you were to give me the reason…
“I used to be a jealous person.”
“In the first place, people cannot always live with only positive emotions. is not it?”
“But I didn’t want to be a burden to Ed.”
“No luggage.”
“It won’t bother me if you grunt like this.”
“Do you think human relationships can be maintained without that much bickering?”
It was hard to just leave Yenika sighing about her emotions for no reason, so I made sure to tell her.
“And you said it once. Is there any relationship that isn’t completely inconvenient to each other? You owe me what you do, and I owe you what I do. “That’s how we live, fighting against each other.”
“I see… Ed is probably right. “There is no such thing as a match made in heaven, promised by fate, like the princess and prince in a fairy tale… Yes, it is reality.”
While saying that, Yenika suddenly straightened her shoulders with a gasp.
I’m suddenly hesitant. It’s not something that happens in a day or two. Perhaps he belatedly realized what he meant by comparing himself to a princess and a prince.
“No, that’s what I mean!”
[Aha, everyone is full of energy. ]
The moment Yenika blushed and was about to say something, a wind spirit suddenly appeared across from the carriage seat.
The original form of the spirit, which took the form of a girl, was a wolf the size of a house. However, it is currently manifested in a form with minimal magical power consumption.
“Merilda.”
[It doesn’t look like I need a companion on the trip. Both of you. Still, I came here because I wanted to say something. ]
Inside the carriage heading to Pulan.
Merilda, the high-ranking wind spirit who had been astutely quiet until now, hummed to the sound of the spinning carriage wheels… and eventually continued speaking.
[ Speaking of the highest-ranking wind spirit ‘Tirkalax’… I recommend that you do not delve into the fate of that giant bear.]
This is a guy who rarely appears suddenly of his own will.
Still, Merilda was sitting down with a seductive look on her face, waving her white bare feet as if she wanted to say something.
