She Professed Herself The Pupil Of The Wiseman (LN) - Volume 10 - Chapter 14

Chapter 14

THEY ADVANCED ONWARD, dealing with many other cleverly designed passages—hidden staircases in the floors, concealed side corridors, and the like. An hour had passed before they knew it. It was then that Mira finally reached their destination.

“I…don’t know what to say.”

“This is definitely unusual.”

Push or pull, the final door would not budge…until Mira grasped the doorknob and slid it sideways. 

A paradisiacal world unfolded before her eyes. Countless blooming flowers were covered in particles of light. The lush grass was like a rainbow-colored carpet, every bit as colorful as the flowers. The trees, overgrowing with leaves, shone gold and silver. In the center was a great tree with snow-white flowers that illuminated the entire room. Anyone could tell that this was a mysterious, sacred place, one full of solemn divinity beyond even that of the Elder Tree’s Forest of the Devout.

Though a little overwhelmed, Mira was still driven by curiosity and stepped inside. She was amazed when her foot sank a little into the soft ground. Mira looked down in confusion and found something incomprehensible: the ground beneath her feet was an unknown substance, one beyond even the Spirit King’s knowledge.

“The world is full of mysteries.” The flourishing, shining plants were also unknown to him. The Spirit King was excited to have found things even he’d never seen in his long life.

Is this a land from fairy tales or dreams? Mira wondered, before remembering her reason for coming: searching for the spirit.

***

Inside this colorful jungle, she used her connection with the spirit to confirm that she was getting closer and pressed on fearlessly. After pushing through the brush for ten minutes, in a direct beeline toward the spirit, she reached a small clearing. There, a large mass clad in vines and flowers stood.

“What could this be?” It looked out of place, and Mira had an odd sense that the spirit was right there. What was this mass? Why did the spirit’s signal come from within? Whatever the case, she’d have to figure that out in order to meet the spirit.

She warily approached the mass until she was right next to it. It showed no signs of moving. Mira circled around it as she examined it closely. First observation: it was about ten square meters wide and six meters tall.

After getting a good grasp of the outside, it was time to search within the vines and flowers. Mira pushed through the colorful flowers, but they were surprisingly dense, so she had to squeeze into the opening she’d made in the mass. Inside the meter-thick layer of flowers, Mira found a glossy, white wall with a door made of black lumber. She began to understand what it was.

“I see. So, that’s it,” she mused. Indeed, this mass was a home that had been encased in vines and flowers over countless years. “Mmgh… It won’t move.” The thickly overgrown vines kept Mira’s weak arms from opening the door. Worse, they began to tangle around her, making it difficult for her to move.

Now what? There was no apparent way into the house, but she was certain that there was a spirit inside. How had this happened? After a moment’s thought, Mira decided to take a different approach. She knocked on the door.

Shockingly, someone replied from inside. “Who’s there?”

“Uh… Er…” Mira was taken aback by the answer, which was all-too-normal for a place hidden deep in a dungeon by the power of a god. “Right. I’m Mira, and I am a summoner. I sensed a spirit’s presence nearby, so I came to check on it.”

“So you’re the one who called out to me earlier!” the spirit replied happily from within. It was now clear that the connection Mira felt was linked to the person behind that door. She was relieved by their energetic voice. The vines and flowers around the door began to part like a curtain. “It’s been so long since I had a visitor. Please, come in.”

The door slowly opened. A floral scent wafted from the building, the mysterious aroma even thicker than the floral scents of the colorful sanctuary around it.

Mira entered as directed, amazed by what she saw in the home.

“This is incredible.”

The house itself was an ordinary stone-and-lumber building, but the inside was all a garden, save for the space around the central table. Moreover, it wasn’t a hodgepodge of colors like the outside; it was sorted by color, in perfect order.

“I’m glad you like it.” The spirit smiled at Mira. Her beauty put even the gardens around her to shame.

Mira was struck speechless by her beauty for a moment, but she managed to squeak out a greeting. “Ah, er, thank you for inviting me in.”

The spirit bowed in response and introduced herself with a kind smile. “I’m the progenitor spirit, Martel. I govern all flora. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

“Goodness, all flora? I’m honored.”

Mira had met flower and tree spirits before, but Martel claimed that she governed all flora. She’d expected this spirit to be high-ranking, given the difficulty in reaching her, but Martel was at the very top. However, the surprises did not end there.

“Hmm? A progenitor spirit? How does that differ from primordial spirits?”

Just as spirits who resided in man-made goods were called artificial spirits, those who governed nature were called primordial spirits. But Martel had called herself a progenitor spirit. Was she something different, or was it merely a difference in human and spirit terminology?

“As you know, Mira, those who govern flora are also primordial spirits. It’s natural to be confused.” When those words echoed in her mind, the Spirit King’s blessing glowed all over her. Then, right next to her, a human-sized image of the Spirit King himself appeared out of thin air and began to move freely, thanks to his blessing upon Mira.

“You just love to appear without warning…” Mira muttered in annoyance.

“Well, I have much to explain. Forgive me this once.” But the Spirit King laughed her off, guiltless. In truth, Mira didn’t mind the Spirit King’s interruption. He was a more casual conversation partner than she’d ever expected, and his bountiful wealth of knowledge was a major boon in her adventures. “It’s been too long, Martel. The limited information fed to me through Mira made me wonder, and it seems I was right. I’m happy to be able to see you again,” he said, relieved.

“Thank you, Sym. I felt your presence, but I’m surprised that I got to meet you this way,” Martel replied, smiling joyfully at their reunion. Sym was surely a pet name based on his full name, Symbio Sanctius—and proof of their bond.

Hrmm… I can’t help but feel like this is no mere reunion.

They had both said that they were glad to be able to meet again; did that mean that they had thought they wouldn’t be able to? What were the circumstances behind that, and what of this sealed place? Mira watched the reunion curiously.

“Sym… It’s been so long since anyone has called me that,” he mused.

“Oh? Have they stopped using that name?”

“Yes. Some call me Your Majesty, some Symbio. Others use the full name and title.”

“My, my. Things have certainly changed since the old days.”

“They sure have…” 

The Spirit King chatted happily with Martel. Clearly, they had a lot to catch up on. Mira wondered just how long ago those “old days” might have been as she listened to their conversation.

***

The Spirit King suddenly perked up after a while and turned to Mira. “Ah, whoops. I was so steeped in nostalgia that I’m chattering away. Sorry, sorry. About progenitor spirits…”

“It’s been ages, hasn’t it? Don’t worry about me,” she dismissed him. 

It must have been hundreds, maybe even thousands of years since the two had last met. Mira sat a short distance away as the pair conversed. She was happy for the excuse to relax and snack on cookies and all-season au lait.

“I’m happy just knowing where she is. Besides, I’ve come to enjoy playing the part of a wise man and answering your questions for you.” The Spirit King smiled cheerfully, relief evident on his face.

Mira laughed at his joke, and Martel smiled at their relationship.

***

According to the Spirit King, primordial spirits and progenitor spirits were similar but very different. Multiple primordial spirits who governed flora, as Martel did, certainly existed. They were among the top of the spirit world, and there were primordial spirits governing flowers, trees, and the like below them. The progenitor spirit Martel was not only a primordial spirit but also the origin of all other primordial spirits of the plant world. In other words, she was the first spirit to govern flora. Furthermore, she had created the Gopher Tree, the progenitor of all trees. The beginning of the plant world, and the mother of all flora—that was the progenitor spirit Martel.

“My word… It’s unbelievable.”

The sheer grandiosity of the story, rivaling that of mythology, suddenly made Mira feel distant from the Spirit King and Martel. A distance that could only be made up for by the closeness of their hearts.

The Spirit King was delighted by Mira’s shock. Martel struck a rather silly pose upon being introduced as the top of the top.

Though spirits lived a tremendously long time, they all had feelings and personalities, just like humans. Mira felt a complex affinity with these two, who overflowed with humanity despite being such great beings. It was as if the distance between them had closed a little.

“That isn’t the only difference, though,” the Spirit King added, once he was satisfied with Mira’s surprise.

Martel urged him to get on with it. “You haven’t changed, Sym.”

It seemed the Spirit King had a knack for drawing things out. Martel smiled at his immature glee and stood in front of Mira. Though she complained, she looked just as excited to surprise Mira. She was clearly the expressive type.

Mira stood firm, challenging them to amaze her.

Martel looked at the cookie in Mira’s hand. “If you want snacks, I have plenty. What is your favorite fruit, Mira?”

A flash of realization ran through Mira’s mind. That’s it. She’s the progenitor spirit of flora, so I’m sure she plans to produce whatever fruit I call my favorite. Heh heh, I’ve seen through your trump card. You will fail to amaze me!

“Favorite fruit, hmm? I know… Those snow-white peaches from Alisfarius are a strong contender.” Mira had visited the Holy Kingdom Alisfarius in her search for clues about Soul Howl. Their specialty good, snow-white peaches—purchased from a classy inn in a station town—had left a real impression on her taste buds.

She grinned as if to say, Let’s see what you can do. 

Martel grinned at Mira’s words. “Snow-white peaches, hmm? Those are one of my favorites too. I’m glad you like it.” A vine stretched out before her, bearing a beautiful white bloom at the end. The petals of the white flower parted and swelled, turning into a snow-white peach. “Eat up.”

A snow-white peach fell from the vine. It was a mystifying sight, but Mira had expected this from the start. She caught the fruit, unmoved. Just as expected. This will not be enough to amaze me!

“Bottoms up, then.” Maintaining her calm, she dug a nail into the peach.

When she did, Martel added, “Thin-skinned, so you can eat it without bothering to peel it.”

“O-oh. I see. Well, here goes.”

So she’s able to make easy-access peaches, Mira thought to herself, somewhat impressed, as she chomped directly into the unskinned peach. That’s the progenitor spirit of flora for you.

The instant she bit down, a mellow aroma spread through her mouth, and the sweetness of the flesh flooded in. The snow-white peach Mira had eaten at Alisfarius was from a classy inn, so it was a carefully selected, first-class item. But this one was so exquisite that it completely blew away the one from back then. It was like the climax of a hunger-sating euphoria.

Though she’d thought herself ready for something delicious, she reflexively piped up in amazement, with a gleeful look in her eye, “Mm, delicious! What is this?!” 

Mira devoured the snow-white peach like a woman possessed, even licking up the juice from her fingertips. When she recovered, she glared at Martel and the Spirit King, who grinned smugly at her. “I clearly underestimated you…”

“Hee hee, I’m glad you like it. So glad, in fact, that I’d be happy to fill a second order. Are there any other fruits you’d like to eat? I’m also willing to give you another peach, of course.”

Her words rung in Mira’s ears like a lewd dream’s seduction. She could eat another of that fruit, the manifestation of pure pleasure—or she could choose a different fruit and experience another flavor of paradise.

“I see… Maybe you’re—” Mira stopped herself before she could be lured into begging for another snow-white peach. 

No… Not yet. I haven’t lost yet! Despite the overwhelming sense of bliss, the shame of defeat quelled her growing lust. Then, she calmly analyzed their previous bout. The snow-white peach was probably the deciding factor in my defeat.

Martel had said that the snow-white peach was one of her favorites, which would mean that it was among her strongest moves. That much was clear now, too; Mira couldn’t hope to defeat a progenitor spirit, a being with wisdom far beyond human ken, in a fair fight.

She was fighting in enemy territory. But not anymore; this time, she’d draw the enemy onto her turf. It was up to mankind to muster its wisdom and stand strong, even when faced with the power of nature. That was how humanity had survived this harsh but beautiful world. 

Steeling herself, Mira challenged her foe to their next bout. “Then, next, I would like a Queen of Hearts!”

The Queen of Hearts was the ultimate fruit, the crystallization of human toil, the result of thousands upon thousands of generations of selective breeding. It was proof that humanity’s ingenuity had overtaken nature’s power…or so Mira convinced herself as she indulged in human narcissism.

Would her strategy to best these two work? Maybe, maybe not.

After a moment, Martel cocked her head curiously. “What is a Queen of Hearts, exactly?”

“It’s the first I’ve heard of such a name,” the Spirit King added.

They were long divorced from the outside world—spiritual shut-ins. They knew nothing about fruits that humanity had bred and named on their own.

What sort of fruit was the Queen of Hearts? When asked, Mira replied that she had no way of telling them, for she’d only heard the name. One might expect the bout to fizzle out at this point, but in Mira’s hand was the original fruit—the progenitor of the Queen of Hearts. The battle had only just begun.