19-Episode 17: The First Spirit User




 Spirits are--invisible.

 A spirit is - is a fickle thing.

 Spirits are - and they are everywhere. They are everywhere, even now, flying around you.

 You can't hear the spirit's voice.
 But you can talk to them.

 A long time ago, in the days when the Titan god race talked to spirits.
 This book is a compilation of some of the conversations they had at that time.

---- "One Minute a Day. The First Spiritual Language You Can Start Talking to Today


' ... I wonder if there was a better title for it.
 I flipped through the instructional book Marie had lent me and laid down on the water(⋅) surface(⋅).

 This is the side of the waterway that runs behind the Adventurer's Guild.
 The guild also has a training ground, but according to this book, water spirits are often found near the water.

''For now, let's chant something.
 Spirit words are complicated to pronounce and difficult to vocalize.
 If it's not pronounced correctly, it can't reach the spirits.

 However, when invoked, the effect is immense, and it can change the weather and generate large amounts of water that can cause a flood.
 A thousand years ago, there were many spirit users of the human race, but now they've fallen into disuse.
 I wonder why.

''Ah, Makoto-kun! What are you doing!
 Emily found me.
 Come to think of it, she told me to rest up still this week.

'I'm reading,'
You're using water walking magic!
Isn't this nice? Isn't Jan with you?
 Let's deflect the subject with Jean's name.

"Today is a day off from adventure. You'll get tired of that every day. Come on, Makoto, just go upstairs.
 I couldn't fake it.
 I had no choice but to climb out of the canal and onto the ground.

Geez, I told Lucy to keep an eye on you.
I didn't know you said that. But Lucy's the one who's in training.
 I've been working harder and harder lately.
 I can't wait to go on an adventure with you.

What's that book you're reading, by the way?
 Emily peeks in.
'It's a book on spirit language,'
Wow, does it work? Oh, but not yet. I'll get better when I'm feeling better.
I just started studying yesterday. I can't use it that quickly.
'Hmm, but spirit magic is minor. I've never met anyone who uses it before.

 I guess so.
 I'm not sure if it's great or not because the Adventurer's Guild doesn't have any users, either.
 To begin with.

It's so complicated to pronounce. Maybe that's why it's out of style.
Really?
'Oh, for example, 'Water, overflow,' even if it's a short sentence, it's spirit language.

--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 Casually, I said it out loud, just like it said in the book.

'Well, I can't hear you.'
'Right? It's really hard to remember this...

 That was as far as I could talk.
 Roughly, a lot of water landed on my head.
 It must have taken about five seconds.

 The only ones left were a soaking wet Emily and I. "Hey..., Makoto-kun?

"Hey..., Makoto-kun?
 He stared at me.
 His light brown hair has turned dark gray and is now moist.
 The fluffy monk's uniform now shows off the lines of her body perfectly.
 You have a pretty good body, Emily.
 What do you mean, what am I saying?

"Excuse me...
 First of all, let me apologize.
 I didn't think it would be this easy to trigger.

"Oh my God, what are you doing? I'm wearing the new clothes Jean bought for me. I'm soaking my underwear too.
No, I'm really, really sorry. Just give me a minute. I'll dry you off.
It can't be that quick...
 Touch Emily's clothes lightly.

(water magic, dehydration)

 Drain the water from Emily's clothes.
 Too much, and it will damage your clothes.
 It's a pretty delicate, careful spell.

"Huh? Ehhh.
 In a matter of seconds, Emily's clothes were back on.

'What is this?'
I used water magic to dry myself off. That's normal.
It's not normal! I've never seen this kind of magic before. Wow, wow. Even my underwear is clean and dry.
 You don't need to know that.
 I'm blushing.

"Oh, that's great. Your magic.
Um, are you okay?
 Emily sighed and groomed her hair with a sigh.

'Well, fine. Then you can read, but you shouldn't practice yet. Rest up for the week.
 With that, Emily left.
 She seemed to have forgiven me for getting her soaked.
 I'm glad to hear that.

 ◇

 To be alone and think.
 The amount of water that just fell on our heads.
 Where did that come from?

 The amount I can generate with my magic power is far beyond what I can generate.
 That said, I didn't manipulate the water in the channel. 
 The water quality of the water just now was different from McAllen's water.

''Was it generated by a spirit........''
 That easy?
 One word?

 I look around.
 Emily is gone.

--xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

 Instantly, a large amount of water appeared above his head.

(Water Magic, Water Flow)

 Control that water.
 It's a giant water ball.

 What is this.........!

 It could be useful, couldn't it?
 Have the spirits generate water and control it.
 Maybe you don't have to be near water to fight.
 Yo, okay.
 Let's use it on our next adventure.

 I pull out my dagger and clasp my hands together.
 Thank you, Goddess.

(Good.) (Work hard.)

 I was praying for a while when Lucy came in.

'What are you doing?'
"Thank the goddess.
... hmmm.
 He is in a bad mood.
 Is the anger from yesterday still lingering in the air?

What's the matter with you?
Because just now. So, Emily said you got soaked to the bone. What did you do?
!
 Miss Emily!
 I thought you'd forgive me.

Hey, you're a little old to be enjoying flooding a girl with water, but...
 Miss Lucy's eyes weren't angry, they were contemptuous!

It's not! 
 It was a tempestuous moment, even though it had been a long time since I'd used the 'clear water' skill.


 After that, Jean was also pissed off.