Chapter 92

“…So that’s how it was.”

Demius frowned deeply at the truth he had just realized.

The gift of magic appeared sporadically.

That was why every Magic Tower sent out search units regularly to find children with potential.

But now he learned the Temple did the same.

Even as the head of the Grand Duchy’s intelligence division, he had never heard of it. Which meant the priestly families guarded that secret with extreme caution.

The search for children born with the Spirit Master’s gift must have been done in complete secrecy.

They likely adopted children at a very young age, preferably those with no known relatives.

Most of those children probably never learned they had been adopted. And even if they had, revealing that truth would have put immense blame and punishment on all involved, so the secret stayed buried.

Anyone outside the Temple who knew of it, like Natalianne, would have kept quiet, understanding how heavy the truth was.

Perhaps even worse.

‘There might have been criminal acts involved in gathering those children.’

Demius’s frown deepened as that thought struck him.

Meanwhile, Roro’s eyes darted so fast she was getting dizzy.

Ugh.

She finally clutched her head, screaming silently inside.

‘Why do I even need to know this stuff?’

Ten years of surviving on scraps had taught her one thing. When adults talked about complicated things, a street rat like her had better keep her mouth shut.

‘Damn it.’

This was exactly why you never got involved in dangerous business.

Sure, dangerous secrets could sometimes sell for a lot.

But this one? A secret that could put her at odds with the Great Spirit’s church, the official religion of the Empire? That was too risky.

Maybe there were groups out there who traded in such dangerous information.

But anyone bold enough to cross the Temple would have to be part of some vicious criminal network.

‘Agh!’

Roro shook her head violently.

Learning something like this was all loss, no gain. She could get killed before she ever earned a single coin.

Damn it all.

Her face twisted, then suddenly relaxed into a strange, hollow smile.

‘Yeah.’

Forget it. Just forget everything.

I didn’t hear a thing.

She squeezed her eyes shut and covered her ears desperately.

Then, a tiny voice spoke from the top of her head.

Idiot.

Huh?

Roro peeked upward, still covering her ears.

She didn’t understand how, but even with her ears blocked, she could clearly hear the tiny voice of the little creature sitting on her hair.

He only knows one thing, not two.

The spirit pouted as it chattered.

A family blessed by the Great Spirit always produces at least one Spirit Master every generation.

Another spirit perched on her shoulder spoke while preening its wings.

But what good is that blessing? They sinned and were cast out of paradise anyway.

Right, right.

The spirit on the chair giggled and added cheerfully.

The Isle of Abundance that once basked in the warm breath of the sea turned into a land of ice. So sad.

Kyaruk. Kyareureuk.

The sounds of their high-pitched laughter filled the air.

Roro stared blankly, her mind spinning.

What were they talking about?

The Great Spirit’s blessing?

Being banished for sin?

An island turning into ice?

Before she could make sense of it, the spirit on her shoulder turned and looked straight at her.

You really don’t know?

It pointed a tiny finger at something.

It’s about them.

Suddenly, her vision overlapped with the spirit’s.

Ah.

In that instant, she saw them, two figures with jet-black hair.

Natalianne and Demius von Eisenhart.

“…!”

Roro gasped, holding back a sound.

Then the spirit on her head tugged at her hair and spoke as if it had just remembered something.

But it’s strange.

What is?

The one on the chair swung its legs and asked. The spirit on her head rolled over her hair and flicked its gaze somewhere else.

That one. What is she?

Huh?

Roro blinked but couldn’t tell who the little creature was referring to.

‘What are they talking about? Who are they looking at?’

She tried to focus, but her view didn’t change.

The spirits kept chatting among themselves, paying no attention to her confusion.

I’ve never seen one like her before.
So curious, isn’t it?
But she smells so familiar and pleasant. Just like her.
Yes, just like her.

Her?

Roro’s eyes rolled toward the group before her.

Demius and Natalianne were speaking with serious faces, and beside them stood a cheerful woman with bright orange hair, Melissa.

Roro narrowed her eyes at her.

Just then, Natalianne turned sharply.

“So, you.”

“Y-yes!”

Roro snapped to attention.

Natalianne’s sharp gaze swept over her from head to toe, from her tangled hair to her shabby clothes.

“You said you’ve lived on the streets for ten years?”

“Yes.”

“And you make your living as a pickpocket?”

“Yes.”

“You avoided anyone who looked dangerous or important, didn’t you? Then how did you end up stealing from our master?”

“She looked easy…”

Oops.

Roro’s eyes darted toward the man beside her.

That terrifyingly handsome man was glaring at her as if he could kill her on the spot.

But Natalianne smirked.

“Of course, I get it. Our master does look soft, gentle, and kind-hearted. But still, you should’ve known better. You saw this muscle-brained cockroach standing beside her, didn’t you? And her clothes aren’t exactly cheap either. You must’ve realized she belonged to someone powerful.”

“…Yeah.”

Now that she thought about it, that made sense.

Why did she even pick that woman as her target?

Normally, she avoided such people no matter how hungry she was.

No matter how she thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

Just then, something tugged on her hair.

We helped you!

Another voice joined in cheerfully.

We liked her, so we helped you meet her!
Me too, me too! Isn’t it nice? We did good, right?

The air filled with giggles and squeaky laughter.

Roro’s face froze.

‘What did you do?’

The spirits all chimed in proudly.

We fixed your eyes.
You like shiny things, right?
Shiny shiny!
We made her wallet shine so you’d see it first!

So that was why her wallet had looked so bright earlier.

Roro’s eyes twitched.

It was all their fault.

She swatted at her head furiously, trying to catch the little pests, but they only squealed with laughter and took off into the air.

Kyahaha!
You’ll play with us, right? You’re happy too, aren’t you?
We love you!

“You crazy things!”

Roro flailed her arms, shouting, while Natalianne calmly observed the empty air where the spirits hovered.

It seemed the girl’s spiritual sensitivity was quite strong.

“You’ve been lucky,” Natalianne said quietly. Then she gave a small laugh and added,

“If you hadn’t been, the Temple might have killed you by now.”