Chapter 141 - 2-23
"Meow, meow... chel... Rachel."
A small cry reached my ears as I looked around in confusion. The sound quickly shifted into a voice calling my name. I looked down to find Kuro circling my feet.
"Kuro, you can speak now! Wait, does that mean... this is..."
"This is the Spirit King's house!"
"His house?! You mean we're in the Spirit Land?"
Since Kuro could hold a conversation, this was undoubtedly the Spirit Land where the Spirits of Darkness resided. But I didn't quite understand what Kuro meant by the Spirit King's house.
"The Temple! This is where the Spirit King lives."
The Temple of the Spirit Land? This magnificent place?
Nel-sama let out a playful chuckle as I scanned the surroundings, trying not to be rude.
"Yep. This is like a home for me and the other spirits. You can stay here for a while. I'll even personally oversee your magic practice."
"Stay here? But..."
"Ugh, is this going to be a long story? Explanations are such a pain. Just ask him all your questions. Those guys will take care of your daily needs."
Nel-sama frowned at my reaction and scratched his head, gesturing behind me with his chin. Standing there were the High-ranking Spirits I had met before—the black horse I had once ridden and a girl who looked to be about eight years old. The girl-like spirit shifted restlessly, but the moment our eyes met, she shyly hid behind the black horse.
"Anyway, that's that. I'm going to go rest for a bit."
With those parting words, Nel-sama vanished in an instant. Left behind without a grasp of the situation, I listened as the black horse explained everything to me. This was the Spirit Land, and Louis-sama had been brought here as well. The horse explained that the sacred mana of this environment, combined with the Spirit King's own power, would gradually heal Louis-sama's body. The High-ranking Spirits then led me to the room that would serve as my temporary home, informing me that they would provide for all my needs during my stay.
"It has been centuries since a human last stayed in this land. If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask the black cat. However, the Spirits of Darkness are not accustomed to humans and may rarely show themselves."
Just as the black horse said, Kuro stayed by my side and showed me around the Temple. I rarely saw the other High-ranking Spirits. Meals would appear on the table, and preparations for my bath and clothes would be made before I even noticed. Sometimes I would sense a presence and turn around to see someone peeking at me with curiosity, only for them to vanish the moment our eyes met.
I had only seen a small part of the forest during my previous visit, so I was amazed by the vastness and natural beauty of the Spirit Land. It was as peaceful as the Detached Palace I had visited with Louis-sama. The grand Temple was built on the shore of a lake, and Louis-sama and I were staying in a separate wing.
It had been three days since I arrived, though I couldn't be sure of the exact time. Time flowed differently here, passing more slowly than in the outside world. After all, the master of this land was the Dark Spirit King who controlled time itself.
I spent most of those three days in my room, though Nel-sama would occasionally invite me to eat with him or show me around the forest to introduce me to other spirits. Despite that, he playfully dodged all my important questions. I still didn't know when Louis-sama would wake, what the game was, or even why he had brought me here.
Still, I have no choice but to trust the Dark Spirit King for now...
I was lost in thought while watching Louis-sama sleep when a sudden tap on my shoulder made me jump.
"Hey, are you listening?"
I looked up to see Nel-sama scowling at me.
"You've got some nerve, ignoring me like that."
"N-not at all! I would never ignore you, Spirit King-sama."
"See, you're back to that stiff way of addressing me. I told you to call me by my name."
"M-my apologies."
"Well, whatever. You're good for killing time. Anyway, I'm going to take you somewhere great today!"
"Eh?"
I had learned that Nel-sama was like a cat; he would drop by whenever he felt like it and leave just as suddenly. I gave a wry smile, stroking Kuro's head as he curled up in my lap, thinking how similar they were.
"Where are we going?"
"That's a surprise. You're going to be amazed!"
Nel-sama grinned brightly and hurried me along. I stood up with Kuro in my arms, wondering where he could possibly be taking me this time.
He had helped me practice dark magic once before on a whim, but today seemed different. We descended a long flight of stairs that led deep into the Temple's basement. I followed him, observing the surroundings in the silence and the growing chill.
"This is the first time I've thought about bringing someone here."
"Why bring me to such a place?"
"I thought it might surprise you. I couldn't wait to see your reaction when I showed you this room."
At the bottom of the stairs was a large, sturdy door. Nel-sama stroked it affectionately, his eyes shining as he looked back at me. He looked like a child about to show off a precious treasure, his face full of innocent confidence that I would be delighted by what I saw.
"Well, let's go."
The moment the door opened, a brilliant light spilled out into the hallway. I stepped into the room behind him, and the space was suddenly enveloped in darkness. At the same time, a night sky filled with countless twinkling stars stretched out above me.
"What is this place...?"
"This is my special playground."
Nel-sama wore a soft smile in the middle of the starlit void, a space so vast its depth was impossible to gauge.