Chapter 76: New servant

Someone screamed. It’s not just Leslie, everyone else’s voice too. However, only Astina-denka watched without saying a word. She knows that she doesn’t have to worry about anything.

With its bared black fangs, the snake that is headed towards me came into a halt. I then hold my hand over the snake –I felt like the sacred tree, Yuserish was telling me to do so.

「―Mistilteinn that lives in my branches, out of this tainted water, bring out the drops that are the source of all life. 」

“…Aaahhhhh…!”

Noin produced a voice laced with suffering –it was also the agony of death of the dark spirit that dwells inside her as it was pulled out from her. It’s the type of pain that afflicts both mind and body which occurs when a spirit is purified.

However, the one that healed her is also one of the sacred tree’s familiars, the mistletoe. As it entwined on Noin’s legs, it sucks up the vitality that was taken by the dark spirit. And as we look on, it withers as it returns the tainted power to its original vitality and gives it back to Noin and Apsaras.

Apsaras, who was on the verge of death after being incapacitated, regained her energy –her whole body is tinged with faint light, her figure with a light silk was exactly as the one referred as a celestial maiden.

Then, the dark spirit disappears completely –no, it returned to the realm of the dead.

Noin, who was just freed, looked at me. It was the first time that our gaze met and it was done purely by her own will.

“…This…this is really…”

Noin covers her face. Truthfully, I think that she has tormented herself too much. Dragged by the word “death”, Noin’s appearance could only be described as tragic but brave. But there is no need for her to despair anymore. The dark spirit that was bound to her was already purified by the power of the sacred tree.

When the mistletoe leaves Noin, it undoes its materialization at once. Then it materialized again as if it was entwined in my arm. Yuserish tells me not to be afraid.

The will that dwells in the mistletoe is directly calling me.

「―Through the Great Mother, Yuserish-sama’s order, we will recognize you as our master and serve you. From here on, we’re pleased to make your acquaintance. 」

“Yeah, please treat me well.”

「―Please do not hesitate to order me in case of danger. Other than the one I showed you this time, I have an “original role”.」

That’s right. This is why I’m always attracted to plants as they have more than just one feature. And the more I research about them, the more different aspects I can see.

Mistilteinn will also be useful in other situations as well. Arlaune too, as well as Mandrake, the plants I met in the garden of the sacred tree, the floating prickly water lily –I really want to study the healing power of plants. I’m grateful to them for helping me fight in this way.

“Noin, you are now free from the dark spirit. You no longer need to listen to their orders unwillingly…”

Before I finished speaking, Noin knelt on the magic circle and bowed deeply to me.

“Y-You don’t have to do that since we are about to fight together. Raise your head.”

However, she only looked up slightly. Does that mean she’s thanking me separately?

The battle isn’t over yet, but rather, this is just a stepping stone. After defeating Alejandro and we have a truce with Zirconia, we must take countermeasure against our opponents. I know it’s not within the military doctor’s scope to think about the Knights’ future. I did not forget that but, I just want to do what I can.

“I thought that I’m living just to die. When I killed lots of knights from Isle Rose, I know that there’s no place I can return to and I will just end up being exhausted by Zirconia… But, you changed it.”

“…I just wanted to get Noin’s help because I needed it for the Knights’ sake. That’s all of it for me. There’s nothing for you to be thankful towards me.”

“But still, I can’t help but say that I’m living this way now because of your power that freed me.”

There is no hesitation in Noin’s eyes. It wasn’t a one-time thing, those words showed her intention to join in a long-lasting battle.

“Grass Weed… No, Grass-sama. I pledge allegiance to you and the Knights of Isle Rose. Please use this life that you saved for that.”

“…Astina-denka was the one who told me to. I think everyone knows that Noin was forced to obey the enemy’s orders.”

Those who have died will not be resurrected. But Noin is not the one to be blamed here. There is another person we need to pursue. With the current Noin, she can say that without being restricted.

“Noin… Who is our enemy who sent you to Zirconia?”

“…Second Queen Cassandra. There is a court magician who is close to her. Jorg Frost, he’s the man who led the magicians unit on the Northern front. He was the one who put the dark spirit inside me and sold me to Zirconia. Shortly after that, he went up to the Royal Capital to serve the second prince, Cassandra’s son.”

Corruption is deeper than I have imagined and it’s endless –no, it appeared to be so only because from the start, we didn’t know the actual situation. As expected, the Second Queen was working behind the scenes to dismiss Astina-denka. However, there is a limit to what Cassandra can do alone, and apparently, there are people who have helped her.

Jorg Frost. The achievements of a court magician belonging to the military may or may not be publicized so I don’t know much about him. I only know his rank as a court magician.

14th Ranked –Three ranks higher than Millenia Weed, “The Jade Witch”.

“…At the time when he was studying the spirits, as a magician, he committed the taboo in this Kingdom. We have to do something about that man named Jorg or we can’t do well in the future.”

“I will do anything to beat that man…”

“You may be praised for winning even if there are sacrifices but it doesn’t suit my nature. I don’t think alone as I don’t stand alone.”

“…Yes. I will follow Grass-sama’s instructions.”

Somehow, some parts of her answers are too obedient and baffling, but when it comes to showing her sincerity, it seems unwise to correct her each time.

“Well then, this is my first command. Noin, move the warship right away.”

“Understood, Master-sama.”

Is she making fun of me? Or…

―It is natural that my contracted spirit’s calls me as “Summoner-sama” but I never imagined that a day will come when a human will call me as such…

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

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