A calm, chilling voice cut through the air.
Footsteps approached, punctuated by the faint, raspy sound of someone coughing.
“Even if Luarelle were to return alive, Shuperti is my youngest sister.”
“Oppya!”
I whipped my head around and shouted at the top of my lungs.
It was Elzen oppa.
Even today, he looked breathtakingly pale and delicate, cradling a book against his chest.
“Why… why do you cherish her so much?”
“Because she’s family, Angela.”
“I’m family too!”
Angela’s face flared crimson as she let out a shrill cry. Elzen oppa’s expression didn’t waver, but his voice sharpened.
“Yes, you are. And family does not say such nasty things to one another.”
“That’s…”
“You should apologize. You spoke poorly.”
Soft, yet resolute. There was a granite-like firmness to Elzen oppa that made him impossible to push around.
*His face is like a flower, but his heart is like a walnut.*
Sunlight streamed through the window, haloing him in gold. His long, honey-thick eyelashes fluttered, revealing magenta eyes. He possessed a dreamy, ethereal beauty, though the sharp line of his lips hinted at a stubborn, unyielding streak.
Under his gaze, Angela faltered, her defiance crumbling as she struggled to meet his eyes. It was both exhilarating and pathetic to watch.
“Why can’t you look at oppya properly?” I asked out of curiosity.
Angela’s ears turned a brilliant shade of red.
“You… you, I won’t let this go. To ignore me, to ignore me like th-that!”
“Eh? When did Chu ever…?”
“I don’t even want to look at that vacant expression of yours!”
Tears welled in Angela’s eyes. I stood there, blank and uncomprehending.
Elzen oppa stepped in with the answer.
“Angela isn’t an Awakener, that’s why, Shuperti.”
“Eh?”
“Ah, you wouldn’t know since you only interact with Awakeners in class. It’s a common occurrence. Ordinary people… they struggle to hold an Awakener’s gaze.”
“Aha. But my friends in Carrot Class were fine.”
Besides, she’s looking right at me now!
“That’s because your Bijou hasn’t bloomed yet.”
“I see! Then, when my Bijou blooms, Angela won’t be able to look at me?”
“That would be the case. Unless you wish otherwise, or make a conscious effort to dampen your presence.”
Elzen oppa gave a light shrug. I clapped my hands, finally understanding.
“Uung! That’s a little too bad.”
“You…!”
Angela huffed, her whole body trembling.
“I won’t forget this. Even if you beg and plead to join the social club later, it won’t work!”
Like I said, I don’t need it. I don’t know what a social club is, but it doesn’t sound like it has flour or sugar. In that case, I’d much rather be in the kitchen.
Angela spun on her heel and stormed off, leaving just me, Elzen oppa, and the precious apple pie in the hallway.
“Ah, that’s right. Oppa, how did you know I was here?”
“Lina told me you were visiting. With a delicious apple pie.”
“Ah! Then… shall we eat it?!”
“Yes. Let’s.”
Elzen oppa patted my head. I beamed, basking in the warmth of his touch, then grabbed his hand and trotted along beside him.
“I’ll carry the pie.”
“Uung.”
“Have you been well?”
“Ung!”
I worried about our frail oppa carrying both the heavy book and the pie. I reached for the book.
“I’ll carry this.”
“No. You just need to look ahead, little one.”
“But… Huh?”
I glanced at the title, *‘On the Origin and Names of Spirits,’* and blinked in surprise.
“Oppa, have you become interested in spirits?”
“You’re going to become a Spirit Master, so I thought I’d look into it.”
“Huck! I’m so happy!”
Oppa is interested in me, too. Come to think of it, that must be why he called me his younger sister earlier. I giggled, “Hehehe.”
“When we get inside, I’ll tell you what I found. You need to know their names to contract with the Spirit Kings, right?”
My goodness. It was already on my to-do list, and he knew exactly how to help. Coming to see oppa was such a good idea.
***
“If I contract with the Spirit King, Habdi will be happy. That’s why I want to do it.”
“That would be true. It would feel like having a strawberry cake drop into your palm when you weren’t even expecting one.”
“A strawberry cake…?”
A little while later, I had finished off the pie, apple preserve smeared all over my mouth. Elzen oppa barely touched his, though he managed one bite. I, however, had polished off the rest. The pie was the size of an adult’s palm, and I felt wonderfully full.
“Of course, it’s good to contract. Whether it’s a High Spirit or a Mid Spirit. But such utility doesn’t define your value.”
Oppa wiped my mouth with a handkerchief.
“You are just you, and no matter what anyone says, you’re our family’s youngest. A person’s worth isn’t just in their abilities.”
“…R-really?”
“It doesn’t matter if your Bijou doesn’t bloom, or if your powers are nothing special. It’s okay if you can’t contract with a Spirit King. That’s what Grandfather wants, but it’s not what I wish for.”
Elzen oppa’s tone was steady, gentle, and hypnotic. I wanted to listen to him forever.
“And… even if, by some chance, Grandfather tells you to leave, Father won’t.”
“Uung.”
“I heard you found Mom’s belongings, too. You did great.”
*Pat, pat.*
His hand was cool and comforting. I had been sitting still like a napping bunny, but I suddenly snapped my head up, a thought dawning on me.
“But what about Habdi?”
“Hmm?”
“If Chu is pathetic… will Habdi hate me now?”
“He’ll just become indifferent.”
That… I don’t like that!
I became quite serious. I like Grandfather, so it would be terribly sad if he didn’t like me back.
“Don’t trust Grandfather too much.”
“…….”
“Before I became like this, I was very close with Grandfather, too. I used to sit on his lap. But look. He hasn’t visited me even once while I’ve been sick.”
“Ah….”
What do I do? *Oppa must be so hurt.*
Unsure of how to soothe him, I scrambled over and hugged Elzen oppa tightly.
*Thump, thump.*
Our heartbeats synced. The teacher at the Ppeokkeum-Ppeokkeum Daycare taught me that this makes sadness go away.
“Are you comforting me?”
“Ung… Habdi was bad.”
“Grandfather?”
Elzen oppa chuckled, a dry, fragile sound.
“To think you’d declare that the Head of the Pashayen family was wrong. You came here wearing a bunny ear headband, but it seems your guts have grown larger than your belly.”
Even as he teased me, he bowed his head, trying to hide the moisture welling in his eyes. I maturedly pretended not to notice, just patting his back in rhythm.
[The Spirit King of Emotion, ‘■■■’, is sobbing.]
[Sniffle, this is it! This is what I wanted to see! A scene of beautiful sibling love!]
[The Spirit King of ○○, ‘■■■’, speaks for the first time.]
[A rarely seen, heartwarming sight.]
*Ah!*
Wait, just now… just now!
I was so surprised and excited I nearly reached out to grab the sparkling letters. They wouldn’t have been tangible anyway.
*Maybe they won’t come out one more time?*
I stared into the empty air in anticipation, but the Spirit King of ○○ remained silent.
*That’s a shame. It was a chance to get a hint!*
Just then, Elzen oppa raised his head. His eyes were red, but he looked composed.
“It’s strange. I’ve moved so much today; I should be exhausted. But I feel energized. Is it because I’m with you?”
“Yes! Chu is oppa’s vitamin.”
“Vitamin?”
Oh, right. What is that? I just thought it was the perfect word for the moment.
[The Spirit King of Earth, ‘■’, thinks you are admirable.]
[The day you first met Elzen. There were six things to do. You’ve already done five of them.]
Ah, that’s right!
And now, Elzen oppa was going to help me solve the final piece of the puzzle.
“For starters… I want you to continue being loved by Grandfather. That’s why I’ve narrowed down the places that might hold clues to the names of the Spirit Kings. I left out overseas locations and stuck to the mainland.”
“Okay!”
“Look at this.”
Oppa opened his book and pulled a single sheet of paper from between the pages.
*True Name of the Fire Spirit King – Baratheum of Resurrection*
*True Name of the Water Spirit King – Pashayen of the Horizon*
*True Name of the Chaos Spirit King – Bellarion of the Lunar Eclipse*
*True Name of the Luck Spirit King – Laksimon of the Dawn*
*True Name of the Emotion Spirit King – Ishel of the Afterglow*
“First, it’s certain that the name of the Fire Spirit King is within the Imperial Family.”