A blue-haired tall man landed next to Yumiko. At a first glance, one wouldn't think he's the huge blue dragon from earlier. He's almost not at all different from the Spirit Race compared to the Transformed Spirit Beasts I saw marching with the numerous Spirit Beasts.
Since Yumiko kept on calling him 'old thing', I thought his Humanoid form would look like an aged old man. However, the Spirit King is a handsome guy who's probably more handsome than my Ember disguise which the Spirit Race girls adore.
"Is this him? The guy who managed to kill someone way above his current realm?"
He asked when his gaze landed upon me. Even his voice compared to when he was a dragon was different.
"Old thing, isn't it rude to ask a question without introducing yourself first?"
Yumiko reprimanded him.
What is this? Why does Yumiko somehow give off motherly vibes?
"Eh? They all know me. The one and only Spirit King."
He proudly said while puffing out his chest.
"Don't you have a name?"
However, Yumiko frowned upon it, seemingly displeased by how he acted.
"…Yes."
Like a child being scolded, the Spirit King lowered his head.
"Then say it."
There's no doubt, Yumiko is this guy's mother. Err. No, she acts like his mother.
"But even so, you still call me 'old thing'."
So that's his only complaint? I don't know. The image of the mighty Spirit King I have in mind already shattered. He's just Yumiko's son now.
"Isn't it fine for me to call you what I want, hmm? Your wife will be sad if she hears you whining like this again."
Yumiko shook her head as if disappointed at what the Spirit King was showing.
So there's really no cool and powerful Spirit King? All I see here is a kid being scolded by his mother.
I looked back to see the others' reactions. With a wry smile on their faces, it seems they're already aware of this.
The Spirit King fell silent for a moment before looking at me again.
"I'm Ezyn, the Spirit King. However, I don't allow anyone to call me by my name unless it's someone I recognize."
Bearing his former grace when I haven't seen him being scolded yet, the Spirit King introduced himself.
"He's my companion, old thing. He's not as simple as he seems to be."
Yumiko commented at his side, still with the tone of a mother correcting her child.
"But Yumiko, I won't be convinced without any evidence."
That's always the case. Without seeing with their own eyes, it will be hard to believe something one only heard from someone else.
"Ah. It's fine, I'm pleased to be an acquaintance of the only Ruler Spirit in this world, I'm Daisuke."
I mentioned his uniqueness and that earned me a good impression from him.
"You. I like you. I wish Yumiko could be amiable like you."
The Spirit King, Ezyn, let out a hearty laugh upon hearing my words.
Oh? At least his laugh sounded old.
"Old thing, are you saying I'm not one? Let's see, why don't we cancel our visit to your territory?"
Cutting his joy short, Yumiko's cold voice made him tremble.
His change in attitude when it comes to Yumiko is really something, eh?
"No! You already promised me, Yumiko. I will help you and you'll agree."
He shouted in desperation.
I wonder, what's really in there that he wanted Yumiko to see?
"But it isn't over yet, I can still change my mind."
Yumiko's gaze traveled to the still ongoing battle at the fortress.
Ouram and the three 4-leaf Dark Elves with him were holding the fort quite well. However, it seems that they still haven't received the news that the thing they're trying to protect was already obliterated. Harlan and the other two were keeping the other Peak 4-leaf and his subordinates busy.
"Just wait here. I'll have them end this fortress soon!"
With a newfound determination in his eyes, the Spirit King flew up and transformed back to his original form before shouting to the Spirit Beasts at the battlefield to increase their pace.
"Yumiko, is it fine to be that harsh on him?"
I couldn't help but ask when the Spirit King left our vicinity.
"Uhm. I found out that it's easier to talk to him that way. His wife told me to do that."
So, he's a natural M? His wife got him in the palm of her hands and she even taught Yumiko about it.
Should I say, Poor Spirit King? However, his strength is undeniable. He's really the strongest existence here currently. Before he showed his non-hostile attitude to me, my Adaptability kept on warning me to get away as fast as possible from him.
"I see. I was actually worried about the Spirit King being hostile to you. Good thing that's not the case."
If he is, we will have to fight him at some point but for him to turn out to be an ally, this world could be said as safe for the time being.
"I'm sorry for not telling you earlier, Daisuke."
With an apologetic expression, Yumiko bowed in front of me.
Though nothing really happened, I still felt a little bad when it was revealed that I was worried about nothing. However, I was also keeping some information from her, especially the ones I heard inside the fortress and the fact that I met the World's Will. I'm going to use it to trade with the Principal again.
Heroes were already burdened saving one world. Though some of them might've already known that the real target is our homeworld, not telling everyone about it is better for the time being.
No matter how much they matured during the 3 years, they're still teenagers. Ah. I'm also one of them but this Adaptability keeps me sober even with shocking things like that.
"There's nothing to apologize to, Yumiko. What do we do now?"
I decided to turn the topic away from that. It's already done and she already told me what's the deal between them so it's already fine to leave it at that.
"Honestly, we've already accomplished what we're here for but for the sake of the help I asked, I have to see to it that the Dark Elves will either be annihilated or be sent in retreat."
Yumiko said with conviction. When she said she has to see to it, then she's thinking of going back to the battlefield.
"I'd like to say take me with you but I guess I'll sit this one out."
It's already chaotic there and I'm not like her who can easily fly. When there's an option to slack off, I'll take that one. With the Spirit King at the helm, if they still lose, it will be the end of this world.
"You've done enough closing the breach, even if you insisted on coming I'll have you and Jayna take a rest. Wait for us to wrap this up."
Yumiko gave me a meaningful smile when she mentioned Jayna. She probably noticed how that girl suddenly turned like that.
She then turned to her three companions. After telling them a simple reminder, she started channeling for another Higher Spirit that could aid her.
As her support, I used the 3 kinds of Boost I could give her and also I used the Orb of Enhancement for her.
Though the bonus of the Enhancement seems negligible for her now, any additional stat points are valuable.
I still couldn't appraise the orbs properly despite leveling up my Adaptability. That could only mean that its level is still insufficient or I'm still missing something else. Do I have to collect a certain number of them yet? Maybe I need seven to summon Shenron?
Ah. I should stop thinking about this for now.
"Daisuke, you two stay here in the carriage, Rei and I will scout the area in case there are some strays that could threaten us."
Ren tapped my shoulder and broke me out of my thoughts.
I turned to him and his twin sister who's also telling something to Jayna. Afterwards, she left Jayna sitting there in the carriage while gesturing for me to look after her.
These two. They're not deliberately leaving us alone, right?
With the sight of ongoing battle at the distance, I went and sat next to Jayna. I noticed how she tried to move away but decided not to in the end. If she won't speak then I won't as well.
Thinking back to what happened with the three girls and now with Jayna. I guess even if I don't deliberately do anything, somehow or another we'll still get drawn towards each other.
This might just be me dubbing them as 'main characters' of their worlds but that's what I want to believe after seeing their progress. This strange connection I had with them, it's really hard to explain.
"Daisuke. What do you think about me being curious about you?
Finally, Jayna opened her mouth and asked me a question.
"Err. It's fine to be curious about someone. The question is, what are you curious about?"
I answered her honestly. If she's just curious, does that mean she's also kind of innocent when it comes to that? She knew about becoming a spirit-pair but she didn't know about the feelings that should come with it.
"That's what's odd. I don't know what I'm curious about in you."
With a puzzled look on her face, she could only shake her head as an answer.
"Is that why you started avoiding my gaze?"
"Uhm no. I'm just embarrassed about being carried that close by you."
Ah. So this and that is different. I guess I did overthink again.
"I'm sorry about that. I only did what's the best option for us."
"Eh? You don't have to say sorry. It should be me. If you don't do that, I will be left behind."
She hurriedly put her hand up to stop me from apologizing to her.
"Huh? Leaving you behind is not an option. If you're embarrassed then I'll be honest with you, I liked it. Carrying you that close to me."
Hearing my words Jayna flushed red from her neck up and reflexively hit me with her staff.
"You just made me more embarrassed! Are you an idiot, Daisuke?"
After a few more hits, her embarrassment turned into indignation as she stopped and turned her back to me.
"No. I was expecting this kind of reaction from you."
I said with a smile. Well, she couldn't see it.
"Idiot. Don't talk to me again."
Even if I couldn't see her face, I'm sure she's currently pouting and fuming in anger.
"See. Your embarrassment was dispersed."
I smirked and stood up leaving the surprised Jayna. She probably had just realized that her embarrassment towards what happened was already gone.
After that, I focused on the fortress again, the Spirit King has just bashed his tail on the wall. The defensive barrier they erected was shattered with some Dark Elves on the rampart thrown out because of the impact.
Yumiko on the other hand chased one of the 4-leaf Dark Elves who shouted earlier about killing her. With her borrowed power which provided her with a stronger light element, the poor 4-leaf Dark Elf was burned by it.
Ouram, seeing that there's no hope defending when Yumiko and the Spirit King joined the attackers, issued a sound retreat as they immediately turned back towards the interior of the fortress.
There he will finally find out that he had just wasted some of their troops to defend. With the breach gone and their defenses failed, it's only a matter of time before the end of this fortress battle.
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