They headed to the floor where the Earth Jewel had been installed in the Northeast Tower.
It was Kousuke’s first time entering a floor where a large number of spirits were generated, and the sight of translucent spirits approaching him felt strange. While there were spirits on the twelfth floor of Amamiya Tower, they weren’t this numerous. Of course, not all the spirits were gathered in one spot, but it was still overwhelming. It was even more so because there were quite a number of intelligent spirits.
Incidentally, spirits and intelligent spirits can be distinguished by the color difference of the aura-like substance around them. Spirits have no distinct color, while intelligent spirits have a faint bluish hue. The number of intelligent spirits here was clearly greater than in Amamiya Tower, which was quite a sight (?).
While observing such a scene, they advanced through the Dungeon Map. When managing Amamiya Tower, they didn’t advance through the Dungeon Map, so it felt fresh. Of course, they had come here once when clearing this Northeast Tower, but the feeling was completely different when clearing the tower versus managing it. Moreover, since Peach was handling the management completely, they could see it from a different perspective. This floor’s experiments were almost entirely conducted based on Kousuke’s instructions.
With all that said and done, they proceeded through the floors and arrived at their destination. In the center of a space roughly the size of a general gymnasium, the Earth Jewel was placed. This space was free of any summoned beasts other than spirits and intelligent spirits. It seemed that whether or not they were Kousuke’s familiars determined whether they could enter the barrier cast by the Earth Jewel. In return, the spirits and intelligent spirits had gathered there as if it were a sanctuary. When the two noticed Kousuke and the others had arrived, they parted ways, clearing a path to the Earth Jewel. Everyone exchanged glances and smiled. They hadn’t expected spirits to possess such intelligence. They had thought they were merely drifting, but it seemed that wasn’t the case. Although they had summoned spirits in Amamiya Tower, they hadn’t shown themselves like this, so they hadn’t noticed. Peach had visited frequently, but had never elicited such a reaction, so she hadn’t noticed either. It was clearly because Kousuke was present, but they didn’t know if it was because an Avatar was present or if it was a reaction as a familiar.
The group proceeded through the opened path to the Earth Jewel. As they approached, they could discern that the Earth Jewel was faintly emitting a green light. Apart from being a large crystal ball emitting green light, there was nothing particularly noteworthy. Whether it had been attached when installed, or if it wasn’t just a crystal ball but was placed on a proper pedestal, it was properly set.
“Hmm. I don’t feel anything particularly special,” Colette said.
“Yes~. If I had to say something, it would be that I can sense its power to cast a barrier,” Peach replied.
“I don’t feel any special power from the spirits either,” Kouhi added.
Of course, it wasn’t that there were no spirits at all; with such a large-scale barrier erected, there were bound to be a certain number of spirits drawn to it. From Colette’s senses, the spirits present did not exceed that certain number in any special way. In other words, regarding the Earth Jewel, its influence on spirits was limited strictly to the barrier. Beyond that, they felt no particular power from the Earth Jewel before them. However, this perception was based on their standards of the World Tree in Amamiya Tower and Vermilia Castle. At that point, no one realized that simply being able to freely carry and erect such a barrier would be of considerable value from a general perspective.
“Well, it’s probably best to think of it as just a useful base for Wraiths and such,” Kousuke mused.
“Yes~. I’m a little disappointed,” Peach said.
Kousuke and Peach, resigned to the fact that things wouldn’t be as grand as Amamiya Tower due to the difference in scale, accepted it.
“Well, maybe we should think there might be *something*,” Colette interjected, as if cautioning the two who had already given up. Even so, Colette herself was thinking that she probably couldn’t expect much from the South Tower either.
***
Even though the group had entered a state of resignation, they decided to stay a little longer since they had installed it, to watch if anything changed. Since there was nothing in particular to do, Kousuke focused on the Wraiths drifting around. Of course, he wasn’t just looking at their statuses but also trying out new powers. Given the sheer number of spirits and intelligent spirits, he was hoping to find something different, but unfortunately, he couldn’t confirm anything unusual. Regarding the spirits, he couldn’t confirm anything at all. The other summoned beasts were in the same situation. For individuals that had not evolved, new powers simply wouldn’t activate. He believed this was a capability exclusive to evolved individuals. While he didn’t fully understand what these new powers entailed, he checked them out whimsically, and unfortunately, his assumptions had not been wrong so far. Therefore, he was mainly observing the intelligent spirits, and that’s when it happened as he was observing one particular intelligent spirit.
“Whoa!? Seriously!?” Kousuke exclaimed, drawing the attention of Peach, Colette, and Kouhi, who were with him.
“What’s wrong?” Colette, who happened to be nearby, asked Kousuke.
“No. …My right eye’s power reacted to the Earth Jewel…”
“Eh…!?”
“Is that true~?” Colette and Peach were the ones who cried out, but Kouhi also showed a rare expression of surprise.
“…Yeah. It’s true.” He reconfirmed, this time making sure it didn’t overlap with the intelligent spirit, and indeed, he could confirm it with the Earth Jewel alone. Unfortunately, it still displayed “Bud of Evolution.” Nevertheless, being able to confirm it on something other than a living being was significant. Moreover, “Expansion of the Soul Vessel” was also clearly displayed. This brought up the next problem. Kousuke voiced his doubt about it.
“It’s a jewel, but does this thing have a soul?”
“Hmm. I don’t feel anything like that~?” To Kousuke’s question, Peach tilted her head. As Peach’s power as a shrine maiden was increasing, her words could be trusted.
“I can’t say for sure~. If you really want to know, it would be best to bring Sylvia.” In matters like these, it was indeed time for the professional.
“Should I bring Sylvia?”
“Wait. Let’s return to the Amamiya Tower Management Layer for now,” Colette said, and Kousuke stopped her.
“Did you think of something~?”
“Ah, just a little,” Kousuke said with a smile to the tilting Peach.
“I don’t know either,” Colette added mysteriously.
“We’ll confirm the answers when we get to the management layer, I guess? Honestly, explaining it twice is a hassle.”
“Ugh, how mean,” Peach protested.
“That’s mean~!” Kousuke’s lighthearted remark drew protests from Colette and Peach. Of course, they weren’t serious; it was merely playful banter. If his prediction was correct, his dormant right eye power might also see some progress. Kousuke was thinking such things with a certain premonition.
