The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower-Chapter 318

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Chapter 318: Companion (7)

The day had come to give an answer to the contract proposal.

Ignious left his domain with a confident air.

‘It’s been a while since I last formed a contract.’

This time, the contractor was someone who could allow even a Spirit King like himself to remain in the Middle Realm for a long time—the best kind of partner imaginable.

Ignious never doubted that the human would accept his offer.

‘After glimpsing my power, refusal would be impossible. Especially for a mage.’

He had observed countless humans over a long stretch of time.

Enough to believe he understood them quite well.

Mages, in particular.

‘Seekers of truth.’

Among all humans, they possessed the strongest desire to complete themselves at the end of that arduous pursuit.

After showing even a fragment of truth to such a person, how could they possibly refuse?

‘I suppose I owe Silaphrion an apology.’

To be honest, it did feel like a loophole.

But what could he do?

He, too, wanted to visit the Middle Realm again after so long.

—You’ve arrived.

In the Domain of Tranquility, Ignious lightly nodded at Silaphrion’s voice and turned his gaze to Fran.

—It’s been a week, human. You’ve prepared your answer to my proposal, I presume?

“Yes.”

The human looked clearly tense.

Ignious chuckled softly.

—Relax. If you’ve made up your mind, answer comfortably.

“I…”

Ignious had already prepared himself to extend a hand in greeting.

Once the contract was complete, he would accompany this human as a soul-bound companion until the day he died.

“…I won’t be entering into a contract.”

—Good. From now on, you and I will—hm?

Thinking he must have misheard, Ignious asked again.

—What did you just say?

—Didn’t you hear? He said he didn’t want to contract with you.

Silaphrion’s unusually cheerful voice went unheard.

Ignious’s mind was filled with a single question.

‘Why?’

—You’re refusing a contract with me? Truly?

“Yes. I’m sorry.”

—…I don’t understand.

By wielding the power of fire, he could purge every impurity within the human body.

Drawing upon his own experience, he could even grant the body of a perfected archmage.

Ignious could not comprehend rejecting such overwhelming conditions.

—Wait.

Still reeling from the shock, Ignious finally looked properly at the human before him.

Only then did he notice what had been invisible until moments ago.

—So that’s it. You erased my sensory imprint.

The trace of his perception he had left within the human was completely gone.

Ignious glared at Silaphrion, anger flaring in his eyes.

—Disappointing. Silaphrion, to violate the unspoken laws…

—It wasn’t me.

—Do you think I’d believe such an excuse?

—But it’s true. Mu intervened this time.

Ignious, who had been about to erupt in fury, froze.

He knew very well what kind of existence Mu was.

—Mu…

The corrector of errors in the Spirit Realm.

The only true neutral—belonging to no domain, a lone wanderer.

To act freely within territories ruled by kings required power to match.

—Tsk.

Ignious clicked his tongue.

If Mu had intervened, there was no point in confronting Silaphrion.

He turned back to the human.

—One day, you will regret rejecting my offer.

“Regret…”

Fran rolled the word around in his mouth, then lifted his head proudly.

“I don’t think I will. I don’t regret my choices.”

—What?

A faint fury flickered in Ignious’s eyes.

—Do you mean to say that the power to burn mountains with a gesture and evaporate lakes is insignificant?

“It’s incredible power. Of course it is. But that’s your completed power, Ignious. It isn’t mine. I want to see how far I can go with my own strength.”

—…Foolish.

“Foolish. Maybe it is.”

Fran nodded easily, his expression oddly refreshed.

“But doesn’t it sound exciting? Wondering what kind of future self is waiting at the end of that foolish choice.”

—……

They often say genius and madness are separated by a thin sheet of paper.

To Ignious, the so-called archmages of the Middle Realm and the eccentrics were much the same.

That was why he had to ask.

—Human. What is your name?

“Fran. My name is Fran Sirius.”

—…Very well. I’ll remember your name, at least. And if you end up in a miserable realm, I’ll be sure to laugh at you for making such a foolish choice.

“I’ll do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

—Hmph.

Despite having his contract rejected, Ignious didn’t seem particularly angry.

If anything, he looked more regretful than upset.

Before leaving, he spoke so only Silaphrion could hear.

—Unfortunate for you as well.

—Out of nowhere?

—It seems that boy has no intention of contracting with any of us.

—T-That’s not true! Maybe it’s just because it was you, Ignious!

—How naïve.

Snorting derisively, Ignious departed.

—If you’re rejected, come visit my domain sometime. I’ll pour you a drink.

—As if! I’m not getting rejected!

Fuming, Silaphrion looked at Fran with anxious eyes.

‘After all this effort… he’s not going to be stolen by some other spirit, right?’

‘From today on, I’ll have to keep an even closer eye on the others.’

For quite some time afterward, the cries of spirits echoed through the Domain of Tranquility.

* * *

Time passed.

Day 367 of drifting through the Spirit Realm.

“Ah.”

Fran let out a small sound of wonder.

A shiver ran through him, as if lightning had pierced his crown.

A familiar voice followed.

—F-Fran.

Turning slowly, he saw a woman standing there, tense from head to toe.

—C-Can you see me?

“…Yes.”

After spending more than a year together, this was the first time he could see her form.

Fran smiled brightly.

“I can see you clearly, Lady Silaphrion.”

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—Congratulations. Your spirit affinity has finally reached a stable stage.

High enough to visually perceive a Spirit King—

a level achieved by only a handful throughout continental history.

—Good thing you reached this stage before leaving.

“It’s all thanks to you.”

Without her protection, surviving here safely would have been impossible.

—The day you leave is approaching.

“I think I’ll miss my time here.”

—You really mean that?

“Of course.”

—Th-Then…

After hesitating for a moment, Silaphrion gathered her courage.

—How about contracting with me? Then we could stay together forever.

“……”

Fran gave a faint smile.

Ever since Ignious had made his proposal, he’d had a feeling this moment would come.

For months, he had thought about it—hundreds, thousands of times.

“I’m sorry.”

That was his answer.

“I think I have an aversion to accepting already completed power.”

A contract with a Spirit King meant wielding power perfected by someone else.

That wasn’t the path he wanted.

“If my companions heard this, they’d probably scold me and beat me up… but I want to stand beside them with strength I completed myself.”

Not as a Spirit King’s contractor—

but as Fran Sirius.

Anything else felt like something he would deeply regret one day.

—I figured as much.

Silaphrion looked a little lonely.

Her voice carried moisture, yet sounded calm.

—I’m sorry. I expected this answer, but I acted selfishly because I didn’t want to lose you.

“Lady Silaphrion…”

—Hey! Let’s not get too gloomy. You’re leaving soon—we should have fun until then.

Changing the mood instantly, she asked,

—Then is there a spirit you do want to contract with? An attribute or rank?

“Well… there is someone, but I don’t know if it’s even possible.”

—Who? If you asked, even Spirit Kings would agree without hesitation.

“Mu.”

Silaphrion tilted her head, then her eyes widened.

—Mu? You mean the colorless spirit?

“Yes.”

—That’s… certainly complicated.

After thinking for a moment, she continued.

—As far as I know, Mu has never contracted and gone to the Middle Realm. Probably never before that either.

“But it’s not impossible to contract, right?”

—That part… honestly, I don’t know either. Mu is very different from ordinary spirits.

There were many Spirit Kings, even among the greatest.

But only one truly singular existence.

Mu alone.

—But why Mu? His power… it seems compatible with harmony, but it’s not fully understood yet.

“That’s exactly why I like him.”

A power not yet fully defined.

A being that still had to grow, explore possibilities, and wander in uncertainty.

It felt a lot like himself.

“With him… I think we could grow together. Helping each other somehow.”

—I see.

Silaphrion murmured softly, then smiled.

—Why are you telling me that? Go tell Mu already.

“Oh! You’re right. Thank you!”

Watching him leave, she felt the breeze gently pass and muttered:

—They say raising children is pointless in the end… I think I finally understand that feeling.

For the first time, she understood a parent’s heart.

* * *

Mu was, as always, on the floating island.

And as always, gazing down at the Spirit Realm.

“Don’t you get bored?”

The biggest change over the past year was this—

Mu no longer ran away when spoken to.

Without looking over, Mu replied,

—I don’t. The more I look, the more beautiful it becomes.

“That much, huh?”

Fran sat beside him and casually continued.

“There are even more beautiful places outside.”

—Outside?

Mu finally turned his head.

Sensing interest, Fran nodded.

“The Middle Realm. There are countless beautiful places—oceans that mirror the sky, temples lined with colossal statues…”

—The Middle Realm…

Mu quickly lost interest and looked away.

“Hey, wait. Why the disappointment?”

—I cannot go there.

“Why not? You’re a spirit. Just contract.”

—Impossible.

“Why?”

—I exist, yet do not exist. No one knows of my existence. Therefore, no one exists who can summon me through a contract.

“Then what about me?”

Fran spoke solemnly.

“I’m looking at you right now.”

—…Your talent as a spirit caller is excellent. You could form a contract with a Spirit King.

“I just turned one down.”

Mu paused.

—Why?

“I want to complete my own color.”

He gazed at the same scenery.

“You’re called the colorless spirit. I think you won’t overwrite me. You’ll let me remain myself.”

—……

Mu stared at him, hollow eyes asking.

‘Are you sure that’s enough?’

“I am.”

—There may come a day when you find me useless.

“Even then, I won’t regret this choice.”

After a long silence, Mu muttered,

—I’ve never seen humans before, but you seem especially hopeless among them.

“That’s not true. There’s this guy named Oscar—he’s truly hopeless.”

—Sounds interesting.

“It is. Every day will be.”

Fran extended his hand.

“Come with me.”

—……

After a moment’s hesitation, Mu gently took his hand.

Their souls meshed together, a calm warmth spreading through them.

—Synchronization complete.

“Nice to meet you, Mu.”

Fran smiled brighter than ever.

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