LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 81
Chapter
Suddenly, what’s this ghost? I looked at Tsukiyo with bewildered eyes as she had a fit.
“G-g-g-g-g-ghost! It’s a g-g-g-ghost!”
“If you hit it, the ghost will die too, you know?”
“No! A ghost is a being that resides in the realm of souls, close to being a god! It’s not something I can just deal with!”
Is that so? A ghost is like a demigod? That doesn’t make any sense.
“There are things like Benshi and ghosts. Monsters.”
“They are different! They aren’t just made of souls; they have bodies made of mana too!”
Tsukiyo shouted, shaking as she did.
“I know! I’ve seen a ghost before! They are disasters that mortal beings cannot handle!”
What nonsense. Enok replied, unimpressed.
“When did that happen?”
“I was seventeen!”
“You mean you saw a being made only of souls back then?”
“Of course! You know about the God of Life and Death, right? Each of its countless armies is a ghost! Even if its power doesn’t match a demigod, mere mortals can’t even approach them!”
“Oh….”
That was a bit persuasive.
But if we think about it, the God of Life and Death is a demigod’s power, and would a ghost, made only of souls, really be something to fear? I pondered.
“If they’re made only of souls, then they can’t do anything anyway.”
If one can draw upon the power of a soul, that’s just a demigod.
“That’s…! But….”
“See? You have nothing to worry about.”
As Enok waved his hand dismissively, Jatum nodded awkwardly at Zikfrein, who, with an embarrassed smile, began to guide them.
“Well, this time Tsukiyo might be right.”
“What? You’re saying that again?”
“Isn’t it possible that after about two thousand years, ghosts could handle the power of souls? I’ve heard rumors that such ghosts exist.”
“What?”
Two thousand? Lately, the units of measurement floating around sounded weirder and weirder.
“Ah, I don’t know. I’ll think about it when I see it later.”
Ghosts or whatever, if they’re not lacking in power, then they’d eventually die if struck.
*
Jatum led them to the training ground. After smoothly navigating the complex path, they arrived at a large training area. Strangely, Zikfrein was the only person there.
“Oh! You’re here? Where’s the Swordmaster?”
“I don’t know either.”
“What? Did you guys fight?”
“No. Suddenly, it turned into a tree when it ascended to demigod status.”
“Huh?”
Zikfrein’s eyes widened as he exchanged glances with Jatum.
“Seriously? Another demigod is coming?”
“That’s surprising. But is it okay for you to tell us like this?”
“What’s the harm? You already know there’s nothing you can do with Rionne anyway.”
Jatum seemed to be at a loss for words.
“W-well, I guess so.”
“Well, anyway, what’s going on here? Of course, I’m glad to see you, but I honestly didn’t expect it.”
At Zikfrein’s words, Enok slyly wandered to the center of the training area.
“Just. The topic came up, and I thought it would be nice to gain some experience.”
“Ah, experience. Right. My dad always says that experience is important at higher levels.”
“Yeah, you’re still far from that.”
Zikfrein’s smiling face suddenly stiffened. Tsukiyo looked at him curiously and whispered to Enok.
“That’s the Ziwei Star, right? It must be a star that pairs with the Heavenly Death like you….”
“That’s an odd way to put it.”
“I didn’t mean it in a weird way, just that they appeared in the same era.”
Tsukiyo, glancing around cautiously for a moment, approached Zikfrein and poked his body.
“Hmph…. You’re weak. Then again, this should be the norm….”
“Weak? No! I was always told there was no one my age who could match me!”
No rivals….
Tsukiyo glanced back and forth between Enok and Zikfrein. Expert and Grandmaster. Hmmm….
“Yeah, well. Good luck.”
“No! No…!”
Zikfrein, who had been bouncing around, shouted.
“Enok! What’s this!? Why is this happening to me?”
“Choco.”
“Choco? What kind of lame name is that….”
Chills! Zikfrein shivered and quickly backed away from the feel of danger coming from Tsukiyo’s narrowed gaze.
“Ah, no! I didn’t mean to say anything about your name…!”
“Didn’t you?”
“Uh… um….”
Plagued by doubt, Zikfrein ultimately bowed his head in remorse.
This really is a strange one. As Enok clicked his tongue, Zikfrein, somehow winning Tsukiyo’s forgiveness, brushed the dirt off his head.
“Anyway, if you want to gain experience, there’s a good opportunity.”
“Are you going to let us fight your dad?”
“…No? There’s going to be a meeting for engaging with people of similar generations soon. Besides, are you really going to fight my dad? He’s super strong.”
“Stronger than Rionne?”
“Hmmm.”
Zikfrein stroked his chin. No matter how he thought about it, that was a no.
“That’s not true.”
“Then I’ll win.”
Enok declared without a hint of hesitation, making Zikfrein chuckle.
“Well, putting that aside. So, are you going? If you are, I need to know in advance.”
“Yeah. But what about a duel with your dad?”
“Got it, got it! Don’t say anything later, okay? I said my dad is strong.”
“Okay.”
With that in mind, my expectations grew. I heard that King Rabelion is a Grandmaster, but isn’t a Duke or Marquis likely to be a Master at best? But maybe not.
In a small town of the Elf Union, there are probably as many Grandmasters as one can count on one hand. If it’s a kingdom, there must be a decent amount.
“So, when’s the meeting?”
“Three days later.”
“What do we do until then?”
“Hmm?”
Zikfrein looked at Jatum.
“Is there anything to do in Demisto?”
“Well, I know a place where the beer is good.”
Tsk, Jatum licked his lips. Eri sighed.
[Demisto is famous for swords. There are quite a few mines and it’s well-known for its iron and steel industry, so there are many quality weapons.]
“Ah, that’s true. But there’s probably nothing particularly eye-catching.”
Jatum, a local of Demisto, tilted his head. While Demisto is indeed known for swords, Enok doesn’t use one, and whatever gear he’s wearing looks quite impressive.
“Are those gears…?”
“Made by Riraum? Rionne’s friend made them for me.”
“R-Riraum!? The legendary craftsman Riraum!?”
Then he wouldn’t need gear, so there’d definitely be nothing much to see in Demisto, right?
Ignoring Jatum, who gaped in shock, Eri stretched her tiny front legs.
[Let’s just go. I think it’ll be fun.]
*
The Marquis of Demisto’s territory is vast. It’s a given, but the territory doesn’t consist only of Demisto.
However, there’s a reason why Demisto is named Demisto. The territory of the Demisto House is the most developed city among the vast lands of the Marquis.
“Oh.”
Kaang! Kaang! As the sunset began to dim, the sound of hammers echoed.
Walking down the street recalling memories of the old volcano where Rionne had lived with the dwarves, Enok meandered.
“It’s spacious. There are so many forges.”
“There are quite a few. If a war breaks out somewhere, weapons will pour out from here, and that’s quite a sight to behold.”
Enok nodded at Zikfrein’s words. If you’ve lived your whole life in Demisto, you could just accept it as routine, but for Enok, who hadn’t seen numerous forges, it was quite an impressive sight.
Especially for Eri, who hadn’t even been to the volcano where dwarves lived, it seemed to be quite stimulating.
[Dad! Let’s go in there! It feels good in there!]
“Should I buy you a sword?”
[Me? How could I?]
“You just need to bite it.”
[What nonsense is that… Oh?]
As Eri furrowed her brows in thought, she suddenly tapped Enok’s head with her short forelegs.
[I think that’s a good idea! Let’s go quickly!]
As Eri entered the smithy, contrary to expectations, there was no sudden heat wave or anything.
It seemed the forge itself was inside, and this was a place selling the products.
“Welcome… uh, Zikfrein young master?”
The eyes of the girl who looked like a shop attendant widened in surprise.
“Oh, hello? I came to look at swords for my friend.”
“Yes, yes! Please, make yourselves comfortable and look around!”
The girl’s face turned bright red as she nervously rushed to lead the group.
“What kind of sword are you looking for…?”
[It’s for me. I think a long sword about the size of Dad would be nice….]
“Y-you’re a fox…?”
Looking at Eri’s excited figure as she tugged the attendant away, Enok glanced at Zikfrein.
“Have you gone out a lot? The shop attendant knows your face.”
“Well, yes. How much is there to do in the castle? When I’m bored, I come out to the streets, and it’s unexpectedly fun.”
“Don’t you think about us who are acting as guards? We found it boring.”
“Don’t lie! You guys enjoy it the most!”
Zikfrein grumbled. Seeing him like this made me suddenly think.
“Wait, is it fine not to tell the marquis anything? Now that I think about it, he’s the house owner, right?”
“Hmm? Well, isn’t it okay? Dad’s not a stingy person.”
Is that so? Just as Enok was nodding his head.
“I-I’m here! I saw it! I saw it…!”
Tsukiyo, her face pale, jumped and clung to Enok’s face.
“…I can’t see in front of me, so step aside a bit.”
I grabbed the back of Tsukiyo’s neck, dangling her like a toy as she flailed her arms and legs.
“Daddy! I-I’m out! It’s a ghost! It’s a ghost, I tell ya!”
“There’s nothing there.”
“I-I saw it!”
When I looked at Zikfrein, he shrugged.
“I didn’t see it either. But they say it exists. There’s some damage too.”
“Damage?”
“Yeah. But whether it’s a real ghost or a criminal using the ghost as an excuse is still unclear.”
“Ah, I see.”
Nodding, Enok thought it seemed there was indeed something, but honestly, it didn’t pique his interest that much.
“By the way, you have a daughter too? Aren’t we the same age? If she’s that small….”
Zikfrein was horrified.
“Five or six? What age did you have a child!? Isn’t that a crime? What about her mom…!”
“Could it be? She’s eight hundred years old.”
“That still makes her seven hundred, though!”
“Ninety-seven.”
“Ugh…!”
Zikfrein was even more shocked.
“What on earth are you doing at that age…!?”
He bumped his head once more after that.