In the foothills of Dragon Peak, we live.
A Whip of Love
The storm whipped up by the Dragon Sword Dance gradually subsided. At the same time, the brilliance of the high-level sorcery, “Nebula’s Whisper,” also faded, and soon a silence descended upon the Beast race village.
Now, there was no more menacing mud to be seen, and the Yōma had been completely annihilated.
“Fuuu. I’m tired.”
Istericia slumped to the ground powerlessly. But her expression, devoid of the satisfaction of accomplishment or the exhaustion of long suffering, was somehow sad.
“Istericia, you did very well,” Ruiseine quickly noticed Istericia’s somber expression and spoke to her kindly.
Istericia had successfully protected the young deer race girl from the formidable Mud Yōma. Yet, she wasn’t rejoicing. Instead, she was looking down with a dark expression, utterly dejected.
Is she lamenting that she couldn’t escape on her own?
Or is she depressed that they couldn’t defeat the Yōma by themselves?
Either way, I think it’s just unnecessary worry.
No one but Istericia could have saved the deer race girl.
We were able to defeat the Yōma because it was us; it would have been too much for the Beast race, whose fighting style primarily relies on their cultivated bodies.
Furthermore, it’s impossible for Istericia, a mere Miko Trainee, to deal with a Yōma that could only be defeated by “Nebula’s Whisper,” which couldn’t be activated without the magic power of multiple Miko, including Jab.
However, Istericia’s dejection was far from what I had imagined.
“I am unfit to be a Miko.”
Madrine asked, “Why?” to Istericia, who murmured sadly and quietly.
“I… broke the rules.”
Hmm, what rules?
Meeting our and the other Miko’s puzzled gazes, Istericia confessed her transgression as if in penance.
“I used arts other than sorcery.”
“…?”
The Beast race people, who had been watching quietly like us, tilted their heads.
“Um. I believe Miko are forbidden from using arts other than sorcery, right?”
Ruiseine nodded in affirmation to my question. While nodding, Ruiseine gently stroked Istericia’s head as if to encourage her.
“However, Istericia, you haven’t received your baptism yet, have you? Observing the rules is for when you become a full-fledged Miko after receiving your baptism. Therefore, you haven’t broken any rules, so please don’t worry!”
“Ruiseine is right. In the first place, magic power won’t reside in you until you receive your baptism. So, how is an apprentice Miko supposed to overcome difficulties without relying on her own arts?”
Madrine’s reasoning is sound.
Even during training, dangers such as attacks by Yōma and monsters exist. In such situations, to be told to protect yourself while forbidden from using any arts other than sorcery, which you can’t use yet, is asking too much.
Therefore, Istericia has no reason to regret.
But even after hearing Ruiseine and Madrine’s words, Istericia didn’t regain her spirits.
“No, no. It’s different. I am unfit to be a Miko.”
When Ruiseine kindly asked why, Istericia poured out her feelings.
“I haven’t changed at all. I don’t hesitate to commit sins for the sake of my goals. I’ll fulfill my role even if it means sacrificing spirits for my clan. I haven’t grown at all since back then.”
We know that Istericia, though still a trainee, was striving in her heart to be a proper Miko.
Ever since she set her sights on becoming a Miko, she had been diligent in her daily practices, striving to be pure and righteous.
As Madrine said, it is not forbidden to use arts other than sorcery during training. However, Istericia had voluntarily prohibited herself from using spirit arts even during her training.
Despite that, this time, she easily broke her self-imposed restraint by convincing herself that it was for the sake of saving the Beast race.
“I know myself. From now on too, I will find various excuses to break the rules for the sake of my goals. Such me is unfit to be a Miko.”
Tears fell from Istericia’s eyes.
She truly regrets it, doesn’t she?
And she blames herself, believing she lacks the qualification to be a Miko.
“Even if I receive my baptism and can use magic, in situations like this, I will surely use spirit arts again.”
It’s obvious to us that spirit arts, honed over many years, are far superior to newly acquired sorcery.
Istericia understood her own weakness, realizing that she would likely rely on spirit arts again when faced with situations beyond the scope of sorcery.
In some cases, exercising power even if it means breaking the rules might be useful. However, if one knows that by disrespecting even one promise, a cascade of self-imposed restraints will begin to unravel, then it is indeed dangerous.
I find myself thinking about it.
Would I do anything to protect my family and loved ones?
Would I overcome problems even if it meant selling my soul to the Demon Lord?
Perhaps my past self might have fallen into dangerous thinking.
But now, I should be able to arrive at a different conclusion.
Because…
“Istericia.”
Madrine looked at Istericia with a serious gaze.
Istericia responded to Madrine’s earnest voice and looked up, her eyes wet with tears.
“Listen carefully, Istericia. You are still immature. Everyone goes through such thoughts.”
Madrine knelt and lowered herself to meet Istericia’s gaze, speaking to her as if admonishing her.
“Listen well. And strive to improve. The magic of an immature Miko can only do so much, like watching over a sleeping baby, it’s unreliable. If the baby cries then, would you stop it from crying using forbidden methods? No, that’s wrong. You must learn through daily life so that the baby can cry at any time. Does it want milk? Did it wet itself? Increase your knowledge and train yourself to be prepared for any situation. Before lamenting what you cannot do, strive to be able to do anything and stand with pride. That is training.”
Sorcery cannot handle it. Therefore, she relies on spirit arts. If that’s the case, then raise your sorcery to a level where you don’t have to rely on spirit arts. Istericia’s eyes widened at Madrine’s words.
“However, it’s impossible for you to surpass the spirit arts you’ve acquired overnight. Besides, there are some magic spells that we cannot activate without cooperating with each other.”
Ruiseine smiled with a “fufufu.”
The advanced sorcery “Nebula’s Whisper” could not be activated by Ruiseine alone, nor by Madrine alone. It was a miracle that could only be achieved through the cooperation of multiple Miko.
“Istericia, you don’t have to bear everything alone, you know? If you don’t know what to do when a baby cries, ask for help from those around you. Relying on someone. Getting help. Those are not sins or evils, you know? It’s the same with sorcery. If you’re immature, you can cooperate with others.”
We don’t know the details of the situation when Istericia saved the deer race girl. However, if Istericia had a personality that allowed her to ask for help from those around her.
Perhaps she could have rescued the girl without enduring over two days inside the Yōma.
Well, that’s just a result, and it’s unsightly to say it.
But it seemed to have resonated with Istericia’s heart.
“I was overthinking things and acting alone. That’s where I went wrong, isn’t it?”
“Come to think of it, I don’t recall receiving any instructions from the young lady of the Mimicho Race. Perhaps if we had coordinated a little better, it might have been good.”
The Beast race warrior scratched his head as if reflecting.
Training to compensate for immaturity. If that’s still not enough, then cooperate with others and ask for assistance.
Yes. This is the answer we are arriving at now.
There are countless problems that even we cannot deal with.
But we have learned from our past experiences how to deal with such situations.
If I cannot do it alone, I cooperate with my family. If that’s still not enough, I ask for help from those around me.
Before any outrageous actions like selling my soul to the Demon Lord, there are many measures we can take. Knowing this, we will undoubtedly choose the path that Ruiseine and Madrine have described.
And I hope that Istericia will be able to make the same choices as us.
Convinced by Ruiseine and Madrine, Istericia realized her own shortsightedness and, though tears flowed freely, her expression softened slightly.
Phew. It seems that even with a lingering issue, Istericia’s worries have been resolved, and it’s been solved without issue.
Or so I thought.
Just as Istericia, who should have been cheered up by Ruiseine and Madrine’s encouragement, her expression darkened once again.
“However… I am still unfit to be a Miko.”
“Oh my, oh my, this is troublesome. Istericia, what are you finding problematic?”
Ruiseine, who had been stroking Istericia’s head all along, tilted her head in a troubled manner. Then, Istericia honestly began to voice another problem.
“I arbitrarily decided that becoming a Miko would be atonement for the spirits. But that was my own selfish idea. Wanting to become a Miko for my own selfish satisfaction is a grave sin. Until you all came to my rescue, the Wind Spirit King had been constantly rebuking me. Saying I was sinful. That I was wrong…”
Right after she fought and was captured. Istericia was stubborn and tight-lipped. Yet, now she can honestly express her thoughts and feelings. I never thought she’d soften up this much. But this is not the time for such emotional reflections.
Hearing Istericia’s confession, Alicia’s brows furrowed slightly as she listened quietly.
“Hey, Spirit King! What kind of treatment are you giving to this devoted Mimicho girl!”
Alicia put her hands on her hips and expressed her anger with a huff. Beside her, Priscilla-chan also puffed up her cheeks in protest.
However, no matter how much they searched for a presence, not only the Wind Spirit King but even the spirits could not be felt.
It seems there are no spirits around.
But, there was the presence of the Wind Spirit King just until now, right?
It was thanks to the Wind Spirit King who was nearby that we were able to quickly recognize Istericia struggling within the Yōma.
Unlike the sisters protesting to the Wind Spirit King, Ruiseine, for some reason, smiled with a look of amusement.
“Oh my, oh my. Istericia, you are loved.”
“…?”
Istericia looked back, wondering why she would smile and say such a thing.
Why did Ruiseine smile when Istericia was lamenting being confronted with harsh reality by the Wind Spirit King?
I understood the reason well.
“Because, isn’t that right? Normally, if you truly disliked someone, you wouldn’t even talk to them. You wouldn’t even want to see them in your sight. But the Wind Spirit King was by Istericia’s side the whole time, wasn’t he? Isn’t that because he’s not displeased, but rather worried about you?”
“I…”
“And besides. Istericia seems to have protected the deer race girl with all her might, but could she really maintain her full power inside the Yōma for over two days?”
Full power, like the flame of a candle before it burns out, can only be exerted for a short time.
During the fierce battle with Orta, we fought in shifts with many comrades to maintain our full strength.
Even the Dragon King and the Dragon race had to take turns multiple times a day, so I don’t think Istericia could have maintained her full power for over two days.
This means that another power must have been assisting Istericia’s full strength.
And at that place, the only one who could lend power to Istericia of the Mimicho Race was the Wind Spirit King.
“I believe the Wind Spirit King was watching over Istericia, who was working hard. Besides, considering those harsh words were to correct Istericia’s misunderstanding, aren’t they a kindness rather than sarcasm?”
Responding to Ruiseine’s words, Istericia immediately looked around.
However, the presence of the Wind Spirit King was indeed nowhere to be found.
Perhaps he judged that his role was over by our arrival and went off to play with the other spirits.
“Now that I think about it. The wind spirit that flew to us might have been at the Spirit King’s command. Without it, we wouldn’t have known about the Yōma or Istericia.”
In the northern land where the Beast race lived, only Istericia of the Mimicho Race could command spirits.
However, Istericia did not send a messenger to us. This means that the Wind Spirit King, in order to save Istericia, sent spirits around to find us.
“Yes, there’s no mistake. Istericia is loved by at least the Wind Spirit King!”
Everyone nodded at my certainty.
Istericia, sensing the Wind Spirit King’s affection for the first time now, shed tears again, this time like a child, and began to cry loudly.
Ruiseine gently embraced her and soothed Istericia.
“Phew. It truly was a noisy two days!”
“Indeed. It’s been a whirlwind of chaos since you and Laira went ahead.”
Yeah, it’s been a very intense two days. Truly.
It feels like so long ago that Laira and I snuck out in the middle of the night.
But it’s only been two full days since then.
During that time, we went to pick strange flowers with adventurers, and had a banquet at Anya’s village. Then, the next night, we were defeating Yōma in a distant northern land.
It truly was a dense and noisy two days.
Even everyone else looked exhausted, and they sat down.
But that’s when I get strange ideas.
“By the way, I was wondering. Aren’t Yōma appearing quite frequently lately? I know a lot of them appeared when the Evil Race showed up, but this place is far from where the Evil Race appeared. Normally, aren’t Yōma foes you rarely encounter?”
Of course, one could say that the frequency of encounters is high because we’re involved in various disturbances.
But even so, doesn’t it feel like it’s too many? Is it just my imagination?
Then, at that moment.
“That’s exactly right!”
Suddenly, we were addressed from behind, and we turned around.
And we were surprised by the appearance of an unexpected person.
“Micheila!”
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