Spirits.
These primordial beings, said to arise when souls inhabited mountains, rivers, trees, and plants, were now dismissed as little more than creatures of folklore.
Fran's immediate reaction was a perfect example.
"......Spirits? Aren't those things that only appear in old fairy tales?"
"Spirits are real. It's simply difficult to believe in them."
The greatest reason for that disbelief was that humans couldn't see spirits.
Only a chosen few possessed spirit affinity and could communicate with them.
'But the elf folk, the guardians of nature, are different. They communicate with spirits from the moment they're born.'
That was why the elf race alone wielded the power of spirits across the entire continent.
Fran gave him a slightly anxious look.
"I'm not saying this because I'm actually scared...... but you've done this before, right?"
"Don't worry. I've done it before. I've even succeeded."
Oscar had once visited the elf kingdom at their invitation.
He had performed the spirit-summoning ritual he learned from a friend there as a joke and unexpectedly succeeded.
If his memory was correct, everyone had been astonished by the appearance of the first human summoner in 118 years.
'Of course, I didn't actually form a contract.'
The power of spirits was certainly efficient and formidable.
But to Oscar, then a great mage who had transcended human limitations, it hadn't been a particularly attractive option.
'I could do almost anything on my own without a spirit.'
Oscar turned and looked at Fran.
'But this guy is a different story.'
He was no great mage, and his insufficient mana control kept him from properly using the extraordinary power known as Wind Lord.
If Oscar could implant a spirit in Fran's body, Fran would become much stronger in one leap.
'The wind spirit only needs to control Fran's mana for him.'
One could think of it as a kind of automated system.
When Oscar explained it that way, Fran responded with a deeply dubious expression.
"So...... you're saying you'll implant a spirit in my body...... It's going to hurt, isn't it?"
"......"
Oscar gave him a cold stare instead of answering, and Fran laughed awkwardly.
"A-All right. Fine. I'll endure it even if it hurts. By the way, can anyone summon this spirit?"
"As far as I know, you need something called spirit affinity."
Oscar shrugged, folded his arms, and took a step back.
"Which means we won't know until you try summoning one. Go ahead."
"......"
Fran positioned himself before the summoning circle with a fairly tense expression.
He closed his eyes and began repeating the invocation Oscar had taught him exactly as given.
"Spirit of the wind, pure incarnation of purification who blows away the evil and darkness of the world, I, Fran Sirius, a human who seeks the truth, beseech you to walk beside me with your great power. In accordance with the unyielding covenant passed down since the beginning, reveal yourself before me!"
"......"
Oscar looked around the perfectly still training room and nodded.
"Hmm, I suppose it didn't work. Your affinity is completely hopeless."
"Didn't I feel a little wind just now?"
"That was my sigh."
"Damn it!"
Fran's face turned bright red with embarrassment, and he fumed.
"Then what am I supposed to do now?!"
"Move aside."
Oscar lightly gestured for Fran to come out and took his place before the summoning circle.
"Phew......"
Closing his eyes brought back old memories.
Back then, he had not stood in a desolate training room like this, but before an enormous World Tree surrounded by green in every direction.
"Spirit of the wind."
Before the countless elf onlookers, he had tossed out a single brief phrase.
"Come to me."
"......!"
At that moment, a blinding light erupted from the summoning circle drawn on the floor.
At the same time, a gale fierce enough to block their vision raged through the private room.
"Ugh! Wh-What is this? I can't see!"
Fran's voice came faintly from somewhere far behind him.
The wind had probably pushed him all the way into a corner.
When Oscar looked forward again, an enormous being around 3 meters tall looked down at him.
-Oh, a human......? It has been no less than 27 years since a human succeeded in summoning one of us......
That sounds right. Incidentally, I was the one who summoned you last time too.
Oscar folded his arms and asked indifferently.
"I'd like to make a contract. Do we need to draw up papers or something?"
-Such formalities are unnecessary. What matters is joining our hearts.
The enormous wind spirit knelt on one knee and extended a hand.
-Human. Will you forge a bond of sworn friendship with me, Silestine, a supreme wind spirit?
"Hmm? No."
-......
Silestine was utterly flustered, never having expected such an immediate rejection.
-Wh-Why?
"Ah, I forgot to mention it."
Oscar pointed his thumb behind him, where groaning sounds could be heard.
"I don't need a spirit. I only summoned you because I want to implant you in that guy's body."
-......
Silestine's previously solemn and dignified face took on a slightly dumbfounded look.
Who in the world summoned a spirit, much less a supreme spirit, as casually as calling a server at a restaurant for such a ridiculous reason?
-You are truly insolent!
Thus, Silestine's anger was justified.
The raging wind grew fiercer, and Oscar's clothes fluttered as if they might tear at any moment.
He first spread both palms to calm Silestine down.
"Calm down, Elastine. Ah, was it Silverstine?"
-It is Silestine! And how could I possibly calm down in this situation?!
"Calm down and listen to me."
-I refuse! I do not wish to hear a single word!
What kind of supreme spirit acts like such a childish brat?
Oscar immediately looked annoyed and spoke in a cold voice.
"......Calm down while I'm still asking nicely."
-How amusing! And what will you do if I refuse? What can a human like you possibly do?!
"Silaphrion of Tranquility."
At the single casually uttered phrase, the wind subsided and Silestine's attitude became markedly cautious.
Like a child summoned before a mother after causing trouble, the spirit asked meekly.
-......Human. How do you know that exalted one's name?
"I've spoken with her before."
Silaphrion of Tranquility.
That was the name of the Spirit King who ruled the wind.
It was nearly impossible for an ordinary person even to learn her name. And even those who knew it were not easily permitted to utter the name of a demigod.
Oscar continued.
"Tell her the White Mage has returned."
-What does that mean......?
Silestine, who was about to ask, suddenly shuddered as though struck by lightning.
Then the spirit stared at Oscar as if seeing a creature for the first time, with wonder and fear mingled in the gaze.
-Human, what in the world are you......? The King issued an order personally......
"Just tell me whether it's possible. If it isn't, I need to find another method. I don't have time."
-Urgh.
Silestine swallowed a deep groan and nodded heavily.
-She has granted permission. However, she will provide only a lesser spirit, and even then, she permits only a simple implantation rather than a contract.
"That's enough."
Although Fran would not be able to grow stronger by communing with the spirit, even this much was more than Oscar could ask.
By the standards established by humans, a lesser spirit was roughly equal to a Level 4 mage.
That was more than enough to control Fran's mana for him.
-She also told me to convey these words.
Silestine spoke in a majestic voice, as though imitating someone.
-Do not forget the ancient promise.
"......Don't worry. I'll keep my promise without fail."
In his previous life, Oscar had only failed to keep it because he died suddenly. He hadn't forgotten.
Personally, he felt grateful to Silaphrion.
Thanks to her, he had saved countless members of the White Tower.
'So I'll repay you properly. With generous interest.'
After organizing his thoughts, Oscar nodded.
"My business here is finished. There's nothing else, is there?"
-Would you perhaps reconsider contracting with me......?
"I said no."
-Understood......
Silestine drooped and dispersed into the wind.
At the same time, Fran screamed.
"Aaaagh! O-Oscar! It itches like bugs are crawling around inside my body!"
"Stop making a fuss. That isn't a bug. It's a spirit."
The lesser spirit was probably burrowing into the guy's soul.
In the language of spirits, it was the act of joining hearts.
Ordinarily, spirit affinity made it easy, but the guy lacked any, so they had no choice but to force the connection.
"Huff, huff."
Apparently, the link had ended, as Fran flopped onto the floor of the private room.
Oscar approached and asked.
"How do you feel?"
"What do you mean, how...... Huh?"
Fran sprang upright, rolled his shoulders several times, then stood and made a few quick hops.
Then he blinked eyes brighter than ever before.
"Doesn't my body feel a little lighter somehow?"
"Of course it does."
As a rule, contracting with a spirit removes impurities accumulated in the body.
The guy was delighted when he heard that.
"This is great! I think I can concentrate better too. It always felt like my head was full of fog."
"That's brain fog."
Brain fog is a condition that reduces concentration and memory, usually as a result of stress.
'He always seemed so cheerful that I didn't notice, but he must have been under quite a lot of stress.'
At the same time, Oscar was curious.
Fran had not been weak before, and Oscar wondered how powerful he would be at 100 percent of his strength.
"All right, shall we get started?"
"Hmm? Started with what?"
"......What did you think our goal was?"
Oscar smoothly pulled a wooden stick of unknown origin from inside his clothes and spoke.
"You need to train your unique magic, Wind Lord, and rise to Level 4."
"But as I told you, the trauma keeps me from......"
"Ah, don't worry about that."
Oscar smiled and explained kindly.
"You said it activates on its own whenever your life is in danger."
"?"
15 hours remained until noon the next day.
It was exactly enough time to turn one immature child into a Level 4 mage.
***
A forest stood behind the White Tower, and an outdoor training ground had been established near its entrance.
Razly, Gran's escort knight who had already arrived, asked carefully.
"My lord, how much force should I use in today's contest?"
"There's no need to hold back. Fight with all your strength."
"......Pardon?"
"I've already made an allowance by forbidding sword aura. How much more do you intend to indulge him?"
Gran shook his head.
"If that guy fails to show me anything convincing, then it ends there. He'll have proven himself nothing more than a braggart with a glib tongue."
"Understood."
Razly bowed his head and waited for his approaching opponent.
After a while, two mages approached them.
"Good morning, Vice Tower Master."
"Indeed. The breeze is cool, and it's a delightful day."
Gran asked the good-naturedly smiling Vice Tower Master.
"May I take your presence here to mean that you've approved the terms of the deal?"
"To be honest, I deliberated a great deal, but I decided to accept."
The Vice Tower Master's gaze rested on Oscar for a moment.
"The treatment developer was far too stubborn."
Of course, he saw no need to mention that Elder Fidelina had foamed at the mouth in opposition and that Elder Maxim was still restraining her.
"I see. Then I won't ask any further questions. This is the knight who'll fight today."
"Level 5 knight, Razly Morgan."
"Level 2 mage, Oscar Crucian."
"Then I'll explain the contest."
Gran took out two necklaces and listed the conditions.
"Each of you will wear one of these necklaces while you fight. The first person to take the opponent's necklace wins. Simple enough."
"......"
Necklace snatching.
It was a very traditional format.
"If 5 minutes pass without a winner being decided, we'll consider it our defeat."
This part was likely an allowance from his opponent in consideration of their difference in level.
The Vice Tower Master looked at Oscar as if asking whether he was satisfied with those terms.
"That works."
Oscar nodded as if there were no problem and clasped his hands behind his back.
"Let's begin at once instead of dragging this out."
"Will you be all right in those clothes? They look quite inconvenient for a fight."
Oscar was currently wearing the flowing robe of a White Tower mage.
The robe possessed fairly good elasticity, but it couldn't compare to combat attire.
"Ah, it's fine."
Oscar smiled and took one step to the side.
"I'm not the one who'll be fighting anyway."
"......What?"
Gran Sirius was about to ask what that meant when he abruptly clamped his mouth shut.
He had spotted his younger brother approaching from behind in White Tower combat attire.
Gran narrowed his eyes and stared at Oscar.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"You told me to prove I had the ability to deal with you, but you never said I had to fight personally, did you?"
Oscar shrugged and patted the approaching Fran on the back.
"This guy will prove my ability. I've taught him a few things since yesterday."
"How much could you possibly teach in less than a single day?"
Gran warned him in a slightly sharpened voice.
"If you're harboring some petty expectation that we'll go easy because you've sent Fran out as the opponent......"
"That isn't it. I'm sending him because I believe his chances of victory are high."
Oscar cut him off and declared.
"Wouldn't a Level 4 mage be better than a Level 2 mage?"
"......Level 4? But until yesterday, he was clearly......"
"Level 3. If I'm to make him a leading mage within 2 years, shouldn't I show at least this much ability?"
"......"
After maintaining his silence for a moment, Gran slowly nodded.
"It was my mistake not to include a clause requiring you to participate personally. Since I made a fatal mistake as a merchant, it's only right that I bear the consequences."
"Thank you for understanding."
"There's no need to call it understanding."
Gran sat in the spectator area and arrogantly crossed his legs.
"A merchant's word must weigh more than a thousand pieces of gold."
Then he raised his voice so everyone could hear.
"Razly."
"Yes, my lord."
"Do not go easy on him under any circumstances. If you disobey this order, you will be severely punished."
"I'll remember that."
It was a rather trivial warning, but its effect was excellent.
Fran's body visibly stiffened with tension.
'This isn't good.'
Noticing this, Oscar approached him and swung his open hand.
SMACK! Fran looked at him in disbelief after being struck on the back without warning.
"What? Why did you hit me?"
"To help you relax. Feel a little better?"
"As if something like that would make me relax...... Huh?"
Fran's eyes widened.
He could feel that his stiff body had genuinely loosened.
"I used mana to loosen your knotted muscles and ease some of the tension. Think of it as a massage."
"......Where did you learn something like that?"
"Learn? I was simply born with it."
"Ha, my mistake for asking. Fine, you're amazing."
"And you're so talented that even someone as amazing as me is determined to keep you here. So don't be afraid."
Fran looked startled at those words.
They had been together for years, but he had never seen Oscar evaluate another person so highly.
Perhaps that was why he felt some of the confidence that had fallen to rock bottom return.
"......But my opponent is a Level 5 knight."
An opponent of such strength that Fran had never faced once in his 20 years of life.
It would have been stranger if he did not tremble before such an opponent.
"Hmm. It can't be helped. Then lend me your ear."
Oscar spent a long time whispering instructions for the plan before finishing.
"As long as you follow this, you'll win without fail."
It was an absurd claim that a Level 4 mage could defeat a Level 5 knight.
Ordinarily, Fran would have argued that it was absolutely impossible, but today was different.
"......All right. I'll give it a try."
Fran stepped onto the training ground with a determined expression.