Niisan 9

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Master

Where was it all going?

“Munch munch, munch munch, munchmunchmunch.”

In spite of her petite, frail-looking body, she simply kept devouring any and all food brought to her premises.

More than a dozen empty plates were piled up on the table, and even though the maids and butlers were speedily bringing out more, her speed of consumption surpassed the supply.

She was the elf lady we’d brought back, and her stomach knew no bounds.

“…Burp… That was, a good meal.”

Quietly spoke the elf, topping off at 30 plates.

This elf lady looked 15 or 16, looking at her face. And I couldn’t imagine her body being that big either, so where was all this food going exactly?

Maybe she’s like a sumo wrestler underneath those loose robes?

… No she’s not. I did feel how thin she was when she collapsed on top of me.

“Wow~! You sure can eat~!”

Said Filly. She’d joined us for the meal along with Dad and everyone else.

“This, doesn’t even count, as breakfast.”

The elf girl gave a thumbs up.

Now look here, you glutton.

“Good good, ha ha ha!”

The lord of this house, and also the provider of the food that managed to settle down this elf girl’s stomach, that is to say, my dad, for some reason, looked quite pleased.

“You eat quite well! I like those manners at the table!”

“Thank you, very much. For providing the meal.”

“Think nothing of it. It’s been said for ages that we humans owe the elven kind a great debt. In fact, I’m the one thankful that I had the honor of hosting one such as yourself.”

“My thanks, to my ancestors.”

She said few words, and made a soft smile.

… She was really beautiful… And it wasn’t just with the smile.

Well, she did look young, so maybe cute was a better word?

“Jack and Philene-chan said you’d fallen unconscious in the forest. Is that true?”

Mom said. Did her guests leave already?

The elf girl nodded.

“I… Am called, Rakel. I’ve left my elven home, and have been, travelling… But forgot to account for when I’d go hungry, as I was leaving the last village.”

“What even is ‘accounting for going hungry’…”

No really.

“Jack.”

Dad started.

“Elves are long lived, thus they possess a different sense of time compared to we humans.

It’s like how when we feel hours go by without notice, for the elves it’s days go by without notice. That’s something natural for them, despite them needing just as much food as we do.

As a result, it’s said that most elves die from starvation. And it’s also said that this starvation is caused by forgetting to eat.”

That explanation makes elves sound like a reeeally dumb race… But looking at this elf, Rakel, who’s got this listless look going on, I can kind of believe it.

“So to aid in their self-management, many elves choose to marry humans. And they say that even if their partner eventually died of old age, they would never marry again. Quite romantic isn’t it~”

Mom said with starry eyes, but actually, isn’t that really inconvenient for the human partner?

“Hey!”

Filly suddenly appeared on Rakel’s lap.

Her own seat, empty.

When did she even…

“W-what!” Mr. Posford wanted to warn her, but Filly wasn’t listening at all.

“You said you’ve been traveling, why’s that?”

“Why?… traveling?”

“Yes, why.”

So she’s asking the elf her goals. Rakel tilted her head for a moment, and then consented.

“I don’t have, any goal… per se. Though I have, been collecting, Spirit Arts.”

“Speerit ahts?”

The asker herself didn’t seem to get it at all. But my dad went ‘Oh?’ in surprise.

I was interested too. She was collecting them…?

“What do you mean… Collecting Spirit Arts? Pardon me, but could you tell us?”

“Hmm… It’s faster to show.”

Rakel muttered, and then raised her right hand up to her face, palm facing upward.

“This is the 【Light of Daybreak】 of the Great Spirit, Aym.”

A small flame flared up from the center of her palm.

It was the same 【Light of Daybreak】 that my little sister―― who reincarnated as my maid, Anelie, had.

So Rakel also had the same power?

“And this is――”

Rakel further raised her left hand, mirroring her right.

What happened next caused me, my mom and dad, and even Mr. Posford to gasp.

The glass of water in front of her――

The water was pulled towards Rakel and became a ball on top of her left hand.

“――【Ocean’s Hand】, of the Great Spirit, Focalor.”

On her right hand, there was still the tiny fire.

And at the same time, on her left, there was a sphere of water bobbing up and down.

She was using two spirit arts… At the same time…!?

“Wait… How are you doing that!?”

Dad exclaimed, standing from his seat.

Mom’s eyes also went wide, she put a hand over her mouth in surprise.

They themselves never talk about it, but I’ve always heard other people mention how both my parents were once quite powerful Spirit Masters.

And the only reason they didn’t try to teach me themselves was because both their Great Spirits were of a much different type than mine.

All that said, this must be why they were the most shocked out of anyone here.

Shocked at the impossible reality that one person could wield multiple spirit arts.

“It’s possible, with the Great Spirit… I have.”

Rakel replied after putting out the flame in her right hand, and returning the water in her left to the glass.

Dad returned to his seat, calming down slightly after Rakel put away her magic.

But his shock was far from abating. He still sat there tense, and arms crossed.

“And… Which Art and Spirit might that be…?”

“【Divinity Plunder】of the Great Spirit, Shax.”

【Divinity Plunder】…?

The Great Spirit Shax rules over theft. So any Art relating to that Spirit will do things like collecting things from a distance, and basically, anything that aids in stealing.

But how would she use it to…?

“Can’t be…”

Dad let out in a bit of a shaky voice.

“Your 【Divinity Plunder】―― can actually steal the Spirit Art of others!?”

“…Yes.”

Rakel affirmed with a nod.

A Spirit Art that steals other Spirit Arts, what…!?

“ Steal… Or rather, it’s the power to… Imitate. Since I simply imitate another’s Art, it’s not the case that the one I imitate will become unable to use theirs…

I can… Replicate a Spirit Art after seeing it… Once. Though, I can only manifest, 2, at the same time.”

“Oh, so that’s how it is… Like how a craftsman tells their apprentice to watch and learn, you have the ultimate form of it, I see…”

So a cheat ability…

They say that elves are close to the spirits, so maybe that’s why their Spirit Arts are like this, greatly surpassing mankind?

“Then when you said ‘collect’, you meant that you’ve been traveling around seeing and learning different spirit arts?”

“… Yes. I figured… I might find something I need, someday.”

“How long have you been traveling?”

“Let’s see…”

Rakel began counting on her fingers.

“… About, 100 years.”

Oof…

There goes my time scale…

“If you’ve traveled that long, haven’t you collected all the Arts by now?”

“No… Though the sum of Great Spirits are finite, the Arts people can manifest are, multifarious…

Not to mention, people with Spirits such as Rank 1, Baal, or, Rank 32, Asmodeus, are quite… Rare to happen upon.”

“I see… No, you’re quite right. Hmm…”

Hummed dad with a nod as he chewed on the thought.

“You must be tired of all the questions…”

“No. I’m glad to answer, as thanks for the delicious food.”

“Well then, that makes it easy… So, Rakel-san, you don’t happen to have Andrealphus’ 【Veiled Wings of Freedom】, do you?”

“…!”

I gulped.

Dad, what are you planning?

‘Erm...’ went Rakel, bringing a finger to her temple to peruse her mind.

“...Yes, yes I do. That’s the Art that removes the weight from yourself or anything you touch, is it not?”

“I see. One more question then. Do you happen to have any urgent business at the moment?”

Rakel inclined her head for a moment.

“…No. Actually, I haven’t even thought of my next destination…”

“Excellent!”

Dad clapped with a wide grin on his face.

… I know what you’re thinking. It’s obvious now.

“Rakel-san―― Might it interest you to stay at our manor for a time?”

“Eh?”

Rakel blinked.

“Well, no… I can’t, abuse your hospitality.”

“Fret not. You’ll be paid satisfactorily, I guarantee. ―― I want you to teach Spirit Mastery to my son.”

… Yup, as expected.

Rakel gave a tilt of her head, and looked at me.

“… I believe you can find, many such instructors… Why me?”

“It may sound like I’m bragging, but my son Jack here is what you’d call a genius in the art. Your everyday instructor can’t stay long with him. Can you belive it? After awakening to his Spirit at only 8 months old, he became this bizarre kid that trains in it every day like it’s his hobby.”

“Ho! At just 8 months…” Mr. Posford voiced.

And what’s with you calling me a ‘bizarre kid’, Pops!

“But you, Rakel-san, you’re perfect. In addition to your elven heritage that puts you above us human practitioners, you can even use the 【Veiled Wings of Freedom】 that Jack has.

And let’s not forget your 100 years worth of experience. You don’t need to limit it to Spirit Arts, please also try to transmit that diverse breadth of experience to my son.

How about it, will you accept? If needed, I’m ready to spare no expense”

“Hmmm…”

Rakel started considering it in a hum.

And in the meanwhile, I decided to get my say in. It just didn’t sit right with me with them deciding everything without my input.

“Dad. Can I say something?”

“What, don’t want her? I’d imagine, if you’re any sort of man, you’d be ecstatic to have a cute girl become your personal home tutor.”

“… Dear?”

Mom made a sweet smile.

“Ah, I-in general, I meant, in general.”

“Hmm. Did you now.”

“Y-yes, I did…”

RIP, Dad.

… Though he’s not wrong. Rather than some middle aged ball of pride like my 3rd instructor, I’d much rather have a cute girl teaching me.

But even I had some pride.

These past 6 years, I’ve been using all the knowledge from my previous life in honing my Art.

She may be an elf, but I’m sure I’m plenty strong as a Spirit Master.

I won’t stand being taught by someone inferior to me―― Well, I’m not that haughty, but there was the worry that she won’t actually teach me anything.

After all, that’s what the others did.

“… Alright.”

Rakel said, facing forward.

“I’d like to see for myself, your son’s power… That is, I can decide if I have something to teach, after that.”

“Very well, that is reasonable. That fine with you, Jack?”

“… Yes. Of course.”

I stood from my seat.

Thinking of all the ways I’m about to wow this dumb looking elf.

◆ ◆◆― ――― ――― ◆◆ ◆―― ――― ―― ◆◆ ◆

“Hm~… Not bad.”

Rakel looked around my training area.

Other than my sand zone, I also had things such as rocks piled up for climbing practice, and a small water hole to use in liquid floating tests.

Among those, Rakel’s eyes finally stopped at the tall rock-climbing zone.

This pile of rocks stood at approximately 7 meters tall, with an inclination surpassing 70 degrees.

Rakel pointed a finger at the top of this structure, and told me this:

“Use your Art to touch the top there and come back. It’s fine if you just tap a foot on it. However, you’re not allowed to touch anywhere in the middle.”

So she’s telling me to make it to the top in one jump, is she?

“I can do that.”

I walked towards the climbing construct until I was about an arms length away.

After a glance at the summit, 7 meters high, I shifted my eyes to the craggy rock surface in front of me.

Le~t’s see now…

“Excuse me~!”

I turned to Rakel and asked,

“You said no touching in the middle, so I can touch it now right~!?”

Rakel cocked her head with a dubious expression.

“Well, yes, I suppose you can.”

“Alrighty then~!”

Gotcha.

I quietly laughed and licked my lips.

This was getting fun. Like I was about to pull a big prank.

I put one hand on the rock.

And then cast my Spirit Art.

“…? What are――”

What happened next, was quite simple indeed.

I grabbed one of the protruding holds in the rock and――

――Lifted the whole thing up, just like that.

“OH! OHHHH!?”

“Awesome~!”

Mr. Posford, who’d come to observe, fell as his knees had given out. As for Filly, she raised her hands in a cheer.

“He... Actually lifted the whole thing...”

I made a light knock on the now floating giant structure.

This 7 meter―― Or rather 10, as I’d dug up the length holding it in the ground, hill of rocks, then made a 180 degree turn in place.

And naturally,

The part called the summit came to ground level.

I then made a light tap on that part with the tip of my foot.

“I just have to tap my foot on the top―― isn’t that right?”

I couldn’t tell if she was actually listening or not―― Rakel just fixedly stared at the 10 meter structure I still had afloat in the air.

“That is clearly over 500 kgs... Is he, perhaps...”

“Yes. A Roost.”

Dad explained.

Rakel took a hand to her lips,

“I see... Roost... of High Divisioner Andrealphus... This is the first time, I’ve seen such output...”

My heart―― skipped a beat.

After I showed them something of this nature, all my previous teachers fell into one of three patterns of thought.

Dumbly stand and stare.

Madly fume and glare.

Sadly concede and despair.

Yet――Rakel’s reaction was unlike any of the previous.

Behind the hand covering her mouth, I could see.

I caught a glimpse of the corner of her lip from the gaps of her fingers.

Right now―― Her pink lips were.

Making a big, fat grin.

“He’s... Promising.”

I could feel a hint of joy to those words.

It seems I was the one surprised by her.

To think she would consider my talent,

To think she could see my god-given talent and,

Smile and accept it――

“I accept... I will teach him.”

Rakel said decisively, to which dad went ‘Ooh!’ in excitement.

“You’re... Are you, sure?”

I asked, feeling a bit hesitant. I tried to sound as polite as possible.

Rakel replied in a smile,

“I have nothing against teaching someone. ...And in your case, seeing someone with so much talent not using it properly, irks me.”

“Huh?”

What? Did I just get dissed?

“I don’t know if you, for some reason, considered yourself the strongest user of the arts, but――”

As she spoke,

Rakel’s body slowly lifted up.

“――You’re not even close, little boy.”

And right after,

Rakel launched skywards, like a rocket.

Then, rotating herself vertically―― She now appeared standing upside down in the sky.

And it didn’t stop there.

She bent her knees as if building up power, and in a burst――

―― She kicked the air.

“AH...!?”

Rakel had turned sharply mid flight.

And she did it again, and again, and again, and――.

If I had to make an analogy, it was like there were invisible boxes in the sky and she was a super bouncy ball ricocheting off them.

Rakel the elf was moving through the sky as if it was her own domain――

That multi jump that I could only manage to do 3 fold, she was doing it over and over with ease.

“――You can’t do this, can you?”

“Whaa!?”

A sudden voice from behind.

When I looked up, Rakel was no longer in the sky. She’d landed behind me.

I attempted to turn around, but she pulled me into a hug before I could.

“Caught you.”

I felt a chill run up my spine as she whispered so in my ear.

The sweet scent from her blue hair ravished my olfactory senses.

“You have great power, but control, not at all. That’s why you can’t do refined techniques like this.”

It seems she’s already in teaching mode, but I had bigger problems to deal with.

Th-this feeling...! It’s not obvious from her baggy clothes, but the feeling on my back, they’re... They’re big...!

“U-umm... Could you please, kindly, sto...!”

“Speak to me casually. But, you are to call me Master. Agreed?”

“Y-yes, I understand―― I agree! I get it! Master!”

“Good.”

Said Rakel――Master, and finally let me go.

Holy... balls, man!

My secondary sexual characteristics were this close to popping at age 7.

“Once again... My name is, Rakel.”

Master’s expression softened slightly as she offered me her hand.

“And I’ll be your Master starting today... Pleased to meet you, Jack.”

A tad timidly... I took that hand.

And this, is how I met my Spirit Arts Master.

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