The Darkness Was Comfortable for Me

I let the Great Dark Spirit take care of the Great Water Spirit, and we went through the crowd of people, north…to the north. 

“Hikaru, the Great Spirit-samas can’t enter the domain of other Great Spirit-samas, so if we can pass the dungeon, it will be okay!” (Rifreya)

Rifreya said this while we were running. 

Even if our residence is located in the Great Water Spirit’s domain, the dungeon is close to the center of the city, so it didn’t take long for us to escape from the water domain. 

It should be plenty enough with the Great Dark Spirit holding it back.

The dungeon city of Meltia has created the dungeon with the existence of 4 Great Spirits as the pillars.

North is the Great Earth Spirit.

West is the Great Fire Spirit.

South is the Great Water Spirit.

East is the Great Wind Spirit.

We have to run away as far as possible for now.

The dungeon is already really close. 

The presence of the Great Spirit is far. It seems like the Great Dark Spirit is properly keeping her in place.

“North, east, or west; which would be better?” (Hikaru)

“If we are running as it is, it would be north. What should we do? Should we leave the city just like this?” (Rifreya)

“Right. It would be better to get distance first.” (Hikaru)

It may look like we can escape, but the danger is still there. 

We…no, humans in general can’t match Great Spirits.

“Are you okay, Grapefull?” (Hikaru)

“Running is my specialty-nyan. But what are we going to be doing nyow? I still don’t know well what’s going on here-nya.” (Full)

“Sorry. We will explain when we manage to run away.” (Hikaru)

The surroundings of the dungeon is a plaza, and it is easy to go in any direction.

North and east is different from the west and south in that there’s not that many buildings. 

There’s a decent amount of buildings on the outer side of the plaza, but if you go a little further from there, agricultural lands spread. If we go that far, there would be no issues with running at full speed.

We go past the side of the dungeon and head north. 

According to Rifreya, the Great Water Spirit won’t be able to chase us all the way here, but…

“Let’s go all the way to the neighboring settlement. We are going to be leaving the city anyways, so might as well journey off just like this.” (Rifreya)

“We can’t just leave Jeanne behind.” (Hikaru)

“Really? Then, we will have to find her…one day.” (Rifreya)

“One day, you say.” (Hikaru)

Once we reach the highway where the vast arable land spreads, it is pretty much certain that we can get out of the city. 

The Great Water Spirit can’t chase after us anymore. 

I didn’t imagine that I, being a Loved One, would be exposed to the Great Spirits, and I can’t really say that won’t be happening in the future again.

I am a Chosen, and I am being watched by billions of people. 

But once we get out of the city, there will barely be any people who know me. 

It should be safe to assume that we will be able to escape danger for now.

“It might be a good idea to take refuge at my home. It is not that far.” (Rifreya)

“Isn’t your home where the Great Light Spirit is at? I don’t want the same thing happening.” (Hikaru)

“The Great Spirit-sama of Siltion is a Natural Church, so it will be okay. It hasn’t had a record of killing Loved Ones.” (Rifreya)

“Is that how it works?” (Hikaru)

Hearing that, it makes me feel like dungeon cities keeping Great Spirits in place is pretty messed up. 

Well, the benefit of Spirit Stones you get from dungeons is big, and once they learned about it, they probably couldn’t ignore it.

The people on Earth probably can’t live without electricity anymore, so it is probably the same.

“That’s right, that’s a good idea! I would like Flora -ah, my little sister- to thank you, Hikaru!” (Rifreya)

Rifreya was totally into the idea while running.

It is true that if we are going to leave the city and move to a far continent, there would be the need to go to her home once and tell them.

A farewell of a lifetime…would be exaggerating, but this is a world where transportation isn’t advanced. With the future being unknown, living without regrets might be even more important than in the lifestyle of Japan. 

“Then, let’s do that. Where is Siltion?” (Hikaru)

“Northeast of Meltia. It is just one highway apart, so it is pretty close.” (Rifreya)

“You say it is pretty close, but it would be impossible to get there in 1 day, right?” (Hikaru)

“It would take around 3 days running.” (Rifreya)

In that case, we would have to do so after reuniting with Jeanne. 

We run through the Great Earth Spirit’s domain where agricultural land spreads left and right. 

That’s when the connection with my summoned Great Dark Spirit cut off.

I don’t know if it is because there was too much distance between us or it was defeated by the Great Water Spirit.

“The Great Dark Spirit has been defeated.” (Hikaru)

“No problem. The Great Water Spirit-sama can’t chase us all the way here.” (Rifreya)

Rifreya answered lightly, and the next instant…

A water pillar rose in front of us…no, a wall rose.

It rose vertically as if blocking off the highway, and we had no choice but to stop our feet. 

The people on the highway were also surprised by this and looked around.

“Ahyahyahyahya! You were still at a place like this! Humans are so slow!” 

I heard that voice really closeby. 

Water Spirit Energy. With that being of unbelievable power showing up, I immediately understood what that was. 

It was like teleportation.

…No, it was most likely actual teleportation.

“N-No way…” (Rifreya)

“Didn’t you say Great Spirits can’t leave their domains…?” (Hikaru)

“It should be…it should, but…why…?” (Rifreya)

It was the Great Water Spirit that was aiming for our lives until just now. 

It is now reduced to the size of a human, but there’s no way I would mistake it.

The god of water that has massive Spirit Energy. 

“I will catch you and get a bit of a taste before going back! Hohoho, this is a way too easy job!” 

It is more cheerful than the big Great Water Spirit, or like…it feels stupid. 

Rather, this size, the feeling of the Spirit Energy, and that off sensation…

“It doesn’t seem like the Great Water Spirit-sama. But it looks like the Great Spirit-sama…” (Rifreya)

“Rifreya, this is most likely a Great Spirit that was summoned by the Great Water Spirit.” (Hikaru)

“You can tell that?” (Rifreya)

“Somewhat. It is the same way of clustering Spirit Energy or like…it feels similar but of different elements. The size is completely different though.” (Hikaru)

In that sense, you could say the Light of Rifreya and my Darkness Fog are the same thing from different elements. 

When checking the Status Plate, you can see the type of ability like Revelation of Darkness and Call of Darkness. I haven’t seen many abilities, but it is not like there’s definitely going to be the same type of ability. 

Rifreya’s Photon Ray and Cure Glow don’t have a darkness counterpart, and the Water Screen of Jojordan doesn’t have a darkness counterpart either. 

That’s why countering an ability of the opposite element is only limited to  an ability of the same archetype.

On the other hand, I have no means to block Photon Ray, and Rifreya has no means to block Shadow Bind.

Anyways, if it is a Summoning Ability, it is possible to deal with it. 

I held the hand of Rifreya and Grapefull before it could act, and broke a Barrier Stone after moving to a corner of the road.

A half-transparent barrier wraps around us in an instant. 

It won’t be able to do anything to us with just that, and it should disappear with time since it is not an actual Great Spirit.

There’s no need to face it upfront. 

“Ah! That’s not fair! I can’t put a hand on you if you use that ability. You…!” 

The Great Water Spirit (summon) was jumping in place, fuming, but it is human size, so it isn’t that scary. 

The people passing by were curious about this, but it seems like they don’t think this is a Great Spirit. It is probably because a Great Water Spirit looks pretty similar to a human.

A Great Dark Spirit is darkness itself after all…

“So a Great Spirit-sama could use summoning abilities too…” (Rifreya)

“If a human can do it, a Great Spirit obviously can as well. What the Great Spirit used just now was probably Water Screen. More importantly, what should we do from now on…” (Hikaru)

We can’t move as long as that summoned Great Water Spirit doesn’t disappear.

“U-Uhm, what should I do-nyan?” (Full)

“I will explain.” (Hikaru)

I have troubled Grapefull.

No, it can’t be wrapped up with a simple ‘troubled’. She might have been killed at worst. 

It originally had absolutely nothing to do with her. She was targeted simply because she was my weak point. It is completely my responsibility. 

In other words, this is what it means to be watched by billions of people and being exposed to malice.

I…didn’t properly understand this.

I thought I did, but I can’t deny that a part of me was a bit too optimistic.

I tell everything to Full.

It seems like she didn’t understand completely even after hearing the explanation.

I haven’t told her that I come from another world to begin with.

We are in a business relationship, so she didn’t try to learn about my background, and she was most likely involved with us while drawing a clear line. 

I myself was trying to protect that line because of my standing. 

I at least did so myself.

But this is the result.

The masked man should still be around, and as long as he might be targeting me, I can’t just have her go back to the city.

“Full, I will properly pay you, so please tag along with us. Is it possible for you to leave the city for a while?” (Hikaru)

“Nya nya nya… I think there won’t be anya problems if you apply for it properly in the Mutual Aid Association.” (Full)

“Aah, then I will go tell them. I do have to find Jeanne-san too.” (Rifreya)

“Sorry about that. Can I ask this of you?” (Hikaru)

“Well, it can’t be helped. You owe me one, okay?” (Rifreya)

“I definitely will pay you back.” (Hikaru)

It is not like there’s no danger with Rifreya acting separately from me, but the Great Spirit won’t be harming Rifreya who is not involved in this and is a resident of the city. The masked man has no means to capture Rifreya aside from confirming by sight. That goes the same with the other Chosen.

And right now this place is an open space and there’s no shadow of anyone resembling a Chosen around.

“I think the masked man is still in the city. The chance of him hurting you might be low, but please be careful. Well, even if he has a map, you are not a Chosen, so he wouldn’t know where you are, so I think you will be fine though.” (Hikaru)

“You really are a worrywart, Hikaru. In that case, I will go out from the street once, then do a long turn, and return to the city from the Great Fire Spirit-sama’s domain. Should I disguise myself?” (Rifreya)

“Disguise, huh. That might be a good idea. If you change your clothes and cover your face, it will be hard to get discovered.” (Hikaru)

“…I was just kidding though. Well, if that gives you peace of mind, Hikaru.” (Rifreya)

I bring out the cloak I bought for Rifreya from the Shadow Storage, and a scarf to hide her face. We planned on going out on a journey, so it helped out that we were storing our luggage.

“Then, I will be going. What will happen if I go out of this barrier?” (Rifreya)

“Speaking of which, I wonder. I will prepare another Barrier Stone just in case.” (Hikaru)

The Great Water Spirit is outside.

It really might be dangerous to go outside right now, but Rifreya doesn’t seem to be nervous at all. She probably holds outstanding trust in Great Spirits.

Rifreya leaves the barrier. 

We thought of the possibility that the barrier might disappear at that moment, but it was maintained without issues. 

It seems like it won’t disappear as long as someone is still inside.

The Great Water Spirit (summon) raised a brow after seeing Rifreya come out.

“Hm? Hohoho, what’s the matter? Are you not protecting that brat, Rifreya Ashbird?” 

“I have business elsewhere.” (Rifreya)

“I see, I see. You have been getting stronger lately. Do your best.” 

“Thank you very much, Great Spirit-sama.” (Rifreya)

A carefree conversation was exchanged between Rifreya and the Great Water Spirit.

That difference from when she is dealing with me is incredible, but I see, so this is how a Great Spirit really looks. 

The protector of humans and God. 

I -a Loved One- am the outlier here.

…Or more like, Great Spirits even remember names?

“Then, Hikaru, I will be going.” (Rifreya)

“O-Okay, counting on you. Be careful.” (Hikaru)

Rifreya ran off north. 

I can’t move from here until this Great Spirit summoned from the Great Spirit is gone which is who-knows-when.

(With my summoning ability, the effective time is 5 minutes, but one created from a Great Spirit definitely will last longer… It doesn’t disappear even after 30 minutes have already passed.) (Hikaru)

There’s even the worst possibility of ‘it won’t disappear ever’.

If it doesn’t at least disappear by the time the barrier I used runs out of time, I will have to think of my next move.

That said, it will be alright while I have a barrier. 

I don’t know if I can do it, but there’s the choice of trying to call the Great Dark Spirit again.

The Great Water Spirit was throwing a tantrum at the beginning, but it is now standing there, spacing out. 

Now, if only Rifreya can manage to bring Jeanne…

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