IVPCB 09

Chapter 09

‘Aigo, my head.’

Where should I even start explaining this for Aegir to understand?

“Master is a mage, and I’m just an ordinary person.”

“Yes.”

“Normal humans experience extreme pain when treated like that, trapped so harshly in water. Since you’ve never experienced it yourself, you probably wouldn’t know.”

“I am aware.”

It was an ambiguous answer. Was he aware that normal humans feel pain when trapped in water, or was he saying he had experienced it himself?

“I separated you from your given name, after all. The power contained in your name was greater than I expected, so it must have been more painful.”

Aegir glanced at my expression. He looked just like a cat that had bitten its owner and was now checking their reaction.

“It was necessary.”

The words sounded like an excuse.

“What exactly was that necessity?”

“I already told you. That noble name doesn’t suit you.”

Ha. Once again, I was speechless.

Did he actually want me to be upset?

But his expression was quite serious for that to be the case.

So, to summarize: he had formed a pact using my ‘name’ as the medium, the pain came from separating me from the name, and all of this was necessary.

“Fine. So it was pain born of necessity, I’ll accept that. But I still can’t accept things like ‘servitude’ or ‘power over life and death.'”

“I think you’re misunderstanding something.”

Aegir sighed wearily, pinched the bridge of his nose, and began.

“I am not seeking your understanding regarding that matter.”

This answer was filled with arrogance and stubbornness.

“And even if I explained, you wouldn’t understand.”

“Why do you think I wouldn’t understand?”

Would it kill him to be a little kinder?

“Any citizen of the Empire, even a five-year-old child, knows not to touch the Sacred Tree. Someone who violated that rule wouldn’t so easily listen to me.”

For a moment, I was at a loss for words and came to my senses.

Regardless of the reason, the crime I committed was a fact, and I was the one who chose to become the Guardian of Heliweka’s Garden as a result. If Aegir distrusted me for that, then it was also my responsibility to accept it and work to change that.

I just hadn’t expected Aegir to be this angry, nor had I expected the method of teaching me a lesson to be so extreme.

Even in the original game, Aegir had a cold and thorough side. But towards Luna, even if he wasn’t initially affectionate, he was at least polite and gentlemanly.

‘But Luna and Aegir’s first meeting was normal, after all.’

Luna, a famous saintess who had come to help with the giant wave that struck Sidonia. How could he be rude to someone who came to help them?

Luna and I had different starting points.

Once I decided to acknowledge that, I actually felt more at ease.

I apologized to Aegir.

“I was wrong.”

“Hm? Suddenly?”

“Yes. Earlier… I was so scared of dying that I got a bit worked up, but thinking about it, it really was my fault.”

“So then, is that apology born from fear?”

“To some extent, yes. I also don’t want to go through something like that again.”

“Hah, how honest of you.”

Was that sarcasm?

I felt a slight twitch of irritation, but considering the situation, I suppressed it.

“I will faithfully carry out my duties as the Guardian of Heliweka’s Garden and reflect on my actions. So please promise me you won’t use threats like that unless I commit another wrongdoing.”

“Why should I? You just admitted you apologized out of fear. If that’s the case, isn’t fear the most effective method to teach you a lesson?”

“Is regretting a mistake out of fear truly sincere reflection? You seem like someone who would want genuine remorse, Master.”

At my words, Aegir made a peculiar expression.

That was my chance.

I clasped my hands together, making my eyes look as earnest as possible, and took a step closer to him.

“I’ll listen well, behave properly, and I won’t run away. So please, don’t do any more of those pacts or whatever they are.”

“Well, we’ll see how things go.”

The conclusion was vague.

Yes, I never expected to convince him easily in one go. Changing the situation from here on out would be my task as well.

“By the way, when are we departing? You kept checking your pocket watch earlier, so I thought we were in a hurry.”

At my question, Aegir took out his pocket watch from his coat and looked at it.

“I calculated ample time, so it’s fine. Including the time needed to inscribe the pact upon you. However, it would indeed be best to leave now.”

“How do we get to Sidonia from here?”

Since this world was a fantasy setting, there were various means of transportation, from carriages to fantasy creatures and scrolls.

Honestly, I asked this question because I had hoped for teleportation, something only skilled mages could use.

“Can you ride a horse?”

However, the mode of transportation that came out of Aegir’s mouth was completely unexpected.

“Yes, well, a little.”

I answered, trying to hide my surprise.

Anaïs might have been a troublemaker, but she was still the daughter of a count. She could at least ride a horse, a basic requirement for nobility.

‘But…’

It took about ten days to travel from the capital, located in the central part of the Bergen Empire, to Sidonia by horse. I was worried he actually intended to go by horse, but then he took a step forward.

“Pipi.”

As Aegir called out low into the air, red flames blazed up in the distance.

Flames, about the size of a decent carriage, swirled once in the air and then came towards us.

As it drew closer, the flames took the form of a bird, and a giant bird with a crest-like headpiece and blazing red feathers arrived before us, folding its wings.

“Is this perhaps… a Phoenix?”

“You recognize it quickly.”

Of course I did.

In the game, during the massive wave where monsters poured in furiously, Luna had ridden a Phoenix and rained down divine power from the sky, dramatically reducing the number of monsters. I just hadn’t expected that Phoenix to belong to Aegir.

“I read the ‘Bergen Empire Rare Animal Encyclopedia’ a lot when I was little.”

It was a convenient excuse, but it wasn’t a lie.

Among the few childhood memories of Anaïs I had inherited since my first possession were books her mother used to read to her when she was young. The ‘Bergen Empire Rare Animal Encyclopedia’ was one of them.

“That’s surprising to hear.”

Aegir scoffed lightly and then, holding the reins, mounted the Phoenix first.

Pii—

As Aegir got on, the Phoenix let out a long cry and shook its head roughly once. It looked like a clear sign of refusal.

“Still doesn’t recognize its own master and dislikes him, I see.”

Aegir grumbled softly and then looked at me.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and get on.”

‘I’m a bit scared.’

I hesitated, not approaching.

Its back seemed quite high, and the Phoenix was even trembling slightly.

‘Since Aegir is a water-attribute mage, a fire-based Phoenix probably doesn’t suit him.’

To ride it safely, the priority seemed to be to calm it down first.

I walked towards its head, knelt on one knee to meet its gaze. Its fiery red eyes, like burning flames, were very beautiful.

Pii?

The moment it met my eyes, it stared at me with wide eyes, and its trembling stopped as if by magic.

“I’m the one riding you today. Please take good care of me on the flight to Sidonia.”

I spoke softly and gently stroked its nose bridge and beak.

Pii!

The Phoenix, pleased with my touch, lowered its head and nuzzled my hand. The soft texture of its feathers and its warm heat transmitted to my fingertips.

Then it bent its legs fully, lowering its body. As if to make it easier for me to mount.

“Thank you.”

I gave the creature a small smile and then sat comfortably behind Aegir. Suddenly feeling a gaze, I looked ahead and saw Aegir frowning at me.

“What is it?”

“Nothing. Even a worm has its tricks, it seems…”

‘If you’re going to be sarcastic, at least don’t let me hear it.’

With a dissatisfied expression on Aegir’s face, I nonchalantly shrugged.

“Shall we depart, Master?”

“Flying is different. It’s fortunate you can ride a horse, but if you don’t want to fall to your death, hold onto my waist.”

Before I could even be flustered by his sudden command to hold his waist, Aegir pulled the reins attached to the Phoenix’s beak, and the Phoenix let out a long cry, leaped lightly, and soared into the sky.

A slight dizziness that made my temples ring. A queasiness that wasn’t unpleasant.

By the time the queasiness subsided, I opened my eyes, which I had shut out of fear, and felt the refreshing wind brushing past my nose. I was flying through the air.

It was instantaneous. The slight humidity in the sky. The blue mountains and yellow-brown earth, looking as small as miniatures. People looking the size of fingernails.

The texture of the feathers against my feet and legs was soft and warm, and there was no trembling at all. It was a truly perfect flight.

“Wow, Phoenix, you’re amazing!”

A small exclamation of admiration escaped me, my heart fluttering with excitement.

Pii—i!

As if responding to my praise, it let out a long, high-pitched cry. Then it tilted its body and flipped over at high speed.

“Wuaaah!”

‘Surely I’m not falling?!’

Instantly, my body lost its balance, wavered, and turned upside down.

‘I’m falling. This is dangerous!’

A red warning light flashed in my head. Slowly, everything around me seemed to move in slow motion, and I felt my body descending.

“Aigo, you’re going to get someone killed!”

And in that moment, what came into my view was Aegir’s face, holding the reins and looking at me. He was unmistakably smiling at me, looking very amused. It was even the brightest smile I had ever seen from him.