🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter : 26
Spirit master Rolf was the most promising and talented in the Siloque Empire.
Having made a contract with a high-ranking lightning spirit, Rolf nurtured numerous talents and authored many books on spirit arts.
However, his existence was shrouded in mystery. Even the Emperor and Valentis had never seen Rolf’s face.
“You’ve never seen Lord Rolf’s face either, Your Highness?”
“He doesn’t want to show it.”
Valentis explained that ever since Rolf was burned in a fire, he avoided showing his face.
He always wore a black robe that completely covered him.
“After the accident, his vocal cords were damaged. Now his spirit speaks for him.”
Spirits are closely connected with spirit masters.
So, a spirit could always convey their master’s voice.
Valentis said Rolf hid his ruined face and voice.
And whenever Rolf spoke himself, it sounded like metal scraping — eerie and chilling.
“Even high-ranking nobles rarely meet him. He’s almost never present.”
Before meeting Rolf, Arthur and Valentis gave Sophie a few explanations.
The repeated warnings suggested how difficult he was to deal with.
Or perhaps Rolf himself found it difficult to deal with others.
As they neared Rolf’s room in Kebaris, Sophie could feel the unique aura of affinity.
“Rolf, we’re coming in.”
Without even knocking, Valentis flung the door open.
Your Highness… really… Arthur muttered disapprovingly.
Rolf, shrouded in mystery, was dressed in a pitch-black robe.
He had pulled the hood low enough that his face was completely obscured.
“……?”
As Rolf checked the people entering, he glanced at Sophie and seemed momentarily shaken.
She couldn’t be certain since his face was hidden, but that’s what it felt like to her.
“……It’s nice to meet you.”
Sophie gave a slight bow to Rolf.
Hidden in the shadows, Rolf gave off an odd combination of wariness and excitement toward Sophie.
Tense, Sophie swallowed nervously and watched Rolf’s reaction.
[Our great and mighty master asks for your name.]
A thundering, rough voice rang out from the mysterious presence.
It was the spirit speaking. So different from the atmosphere.
“His spirit has an immense amount of pride. Too much, in fact,” Arthur whispered in Sophie’s ear.
“……Excuse me?”
“It means he’s extremely boastful. His love for his master and himself is unbelievable.”
Arthur chuckled.
“My name is Sophie Shericas.”
Through the gap in the robe, she saw a glimpse of his lips move. Sophie Shericas.
It seemed Rolf was mouthing her name.
‘This feels strange.’
For some reason, Sophie felt a sense of familiarity. She didn’t know why, but she did.
She thought she might have glimpsed a strand of gray hair under the robe.
Curious to see more of his face, she stared into the robe.
Then, Rolf turned his head away.
“Rolf. I came about the matter I requested earlier.”
At Valentis’s words, Rolf gave a small nod.
Then he reached out his hand toward Sophie.
From under the long sleeve of his robe, a pale white hand emerged.
[My master wishes to shake your hand.]
All of a sudden?
[Pardon? My master? A handshake? Yes, sorry. He says shake his hand!]
The lightning spirit, seeming flustered, emerged from the darkness. Unlike the yellowish earth spirits, this one had pale blue-tinted white hair.
His sharp eyes narrowed as he grumbled in embarrassment.
Sophie, without hesitation, stepped forward and grasped Rolf’s hand.
“……The spirit stone……?”
A sharp, chilling voice escaped from Rolf’s robe.
His true voice. So his vocal cords really were damaged.
“Here.”
Sophie pulled out the spirit stone from her coat and held it up.
The burns and voice damage… I can’t fix those.
Even facing the greatest spirit master, Sophie felt pity for Rolf.
According to what she had heard, the accident had happened quite a while ago.
[This stone isn’t good enough for your use.]
The lightning spirit conveyed Rolf’s judgment.
[Your affinity might not be great, but you seem to possess a unique disposition.]
“Is it because of that unique quality that my curse was lifted?”
[That needs more investigation.]
Even Rolf didn’t have a clear answer.
But he immediately recommended replacing the spirit stone.
[What is this?! I’ve never seen a spirit stone so shabby and worn! You trapped a spirit in this thing?!]
That doesn’t sound like Rolf at all…
The prideful lightning spirit scolded Sophie relentlessly.
She had gone through so much to even find that one spirit stone. With spirit masters being rare, spirit stones were also extremely hard to come by.
Buying one was ridiculously expensive. And Sophie didn’t have much talent. So she quickly gave up on becoming a low-rank spirit master and opened a pharmacy instead.
[Oh, hush! Silco’s doing just fine. Why do you care so much?]
[Just change it already. No need to yell! So uncultured!]
[Fine! I’m uncultured!]
Sophie’s own spirits jumped in to defend her against the rude lightning spirit.
“……You’ve contracted with them too?”
Amidst the bickering spirits, Rolf asked Sophie.
“No. They just follow me.”
“They follow you?”
“Yes.”
“……Spirits don’t bind themselves to someone without a contract.”
You’re still a mystery. Rolf told her.
Still? Sophie pondered the meaning of that word.
“……Excuse me?”
That must mean… he already knew her? Sophie glanced sharply at Rolf. But he quickly averted his gaze.
“……Hal.”
At Rolf’s call, the lightning spirit quickly responded.
[Ahem, my master says he’ll gift you a proper spirit stone.]
“Thank you. I accept it gratefully.”
Sophie was surprised but accepted the rare offer without hesitation.
“Then, you still don’t know the reason, Rolf?”
[I need to research further. I can’t say for sure yet.]
Since there was still no clear answer, Sophie decided to wait.
If the most famous spirit master was on the case, it should be resolved soon enough.
“……?”
But Rolf kept staring at Sophie.
More precisely, at their still-clasped hands.
“……Ah. I can let go now, right?”
“…….”
Sophie withdrew her hand.
[Would you consider entering Kebaris?]
Hal spoke.
[We can give you proper training as a spirit master.]
Rolf made an unexpected offer.
Working in Kebaris was a great honor. It was where the empire’s finest gathered.
“……No. I’m satisfied running my pharmacy.”
That was the issue. Sophie didn’t think she was worthy of Kebaris.
She was happy that she had helped heal Valentis and Arthur, but once they were fully cured?
She would have no place left.
Sophie didn’t want that.
Besides, any gain obtained easily must be paid for — one way or another. Valentis and Arthur may have approached her simply as patients, but now she was standing inside Kebaris because of them.
If she stayed thanks to their help, others would envy her, and politics could become involved. Sophie didn’t want any part of that.
She hated complications.
“You can train here,” Rolf said.
A man who barely spoke raised his voice to stop her.
“It’s fine.”
Valentis and Arthur still looked unconvinced.
“But if you ever need me, please don’t hesitate to call.”
“…….”
After hesitating, Rolf opened his mouth himself instead of speaking through Hal.
“If you ever need me… call me.”
His voice was eerie and distorted, but Sophie felt a strange sense of familiarity.
She was sure she had heard that voice somewhere before.
Arthur and Valentis looked stunned — it was the first time they had ever seen Rolf speak this much.
He always used his spirit to communicate, so this was unprecedented.
“Yes. I will,” Sophie replied with a bright smile.
Why? Why does it feel so familiar…?
As Sophie left Kebaris, she kept thinking about the strange familiarity she felt with Rolf.
She hadn’t even seen his face or eye color properly, but something about him felt familiar.
He reminded me of that person.
The man who took her in when she was ten. He wasn’t silent like Rolf — he was warm and kind.
He was just entering adulthood and always looked after her before suddenly disappearing.
After that, Sophie had formed her spirit contract, applied to Kebaris, and opened her pharmacy.
Maybe because of that man, Sophie had found the strength to live on her own.
It must be a coincidence.
She shrugged it off. That man had been like her “tall uncle” or maybe even her first love.
“Sophie. Are you really not going to join Kebaris?”
Arthur looked truly disappointed. And rightly so — Rolf had personally made the offer.
Even if they didn’t know the full reason, Sophie clearly had talent.
And if she joined Kebaris, they could meet more often.
“If you enter Kebaris, you’ll receive tremendous support. You could meet many people, too.”
She already knew that.
Kebaris offered great benefits. But Sophie shook her head.
“No. It’s fine.”
“…….”
“I’m satisfied with how things are now. Besides, if I join Kebaris, I’d worry about the greenhouse and my spirits…”
