I Became the Older Brother of a Villainess - Chapter 12.1
Yes. First, I need to capture a wandering spirit and turn it into my familiar in order to properly summon and use it. The process involves using the Black Eyes skill to see the spirit, followed by using the Capture skill.
“You worried for nothing.”
Phew. I let out a deep sigh and used the Black Eyes skill. Focusing my mind on both eyes, I opened a sensation akin to lifting new eyelids…
Snap! As soon as I opened my eyes, the world appeared slightly blurry. It seemed as if a black mist hung in the air. Looking down at my hand, I could see a vivid, somewhat ominous greenish glow.
Even without anyone explaining, I could guess that this was magical or vital energy.
“I can sense it with this.”
Gaining courage once again, I stood up on both feet. As the granny in the small store in the corner used to say, you can’t be satisfied with just one drink.
Since I was by the peaceful lakeside, I might not encounter any formidable spirits, but it’s better to practice the skill in advance. After briefly admiring the flow of magic emanating from my body, I shifted my gaze to the surroundings.
This time, my legs wobbled for a different reason.
“Oh, a foul smell…”
The serene lake that was clear until a moment ago now displayed a dismal appearance. The surface of the lake was filled with the grotesque shape of fish spirits.
I am now looking at fish spirits. Ah, there, I can also see a deer spirit lying upside down. The magical energy emanating from the animal spirits appeared completely dead, with a dull autumnal color, and the shimmer was minimal.
Crude. It’s so crude. The only things I can defeat with fish are plankton at best. Isn’t there anything else?
Nothing.
The scenery in other places was the same. A rabbit spirit shot by an arrow from a hunter, a mouse spirit circling around the roots of a tree.
“It’s disgustingly unimpressive…”
Exhaling a disappointed breath, I leaned against a nearby tree. Like the sound of a spinning wheel, a spider spirit came down next to my face. The spider spirit looked around before climbing back up on its thread.
“Oh, come on, even bugs?”
The feeling of consuming mana as I used the skill was no joke. I had to deactivate the skill soon. But it was too regrettable.
I wanted to see a proper spirit!
As I turned my head around to survey the surroundings, I felt nauseous. Moreover, all I could see were sluggish fish spirits and hamster spirits circling in place. Perhaps expecting to encounter a proper spirit in the forest was a mistake.
What if I came across a human spirit who met a drastic end deep in the forest? Ah, that’s not ideal either. It seems I’m not mentally prepared for that yet.
“Where on earth can I find a decent spirit? I need to think more. Think…”
As I aimlessly tried to move my steps, a strange sound reached my ears. It wasn’t a physical-world sound but rather a buzzing, more like ultrasound or electromagnetic waves than the sounds of the forest.
I can hear sounds with my black eyes open? I learned one useful fact.
To identify the source of the sound, I groped around and explored the surroundings. The strange sound of creaking was coming from the grassy field. It might be just an animal spirit at best, but it wouldn’t hurt to take a look before deactivating the skill.
Pushing through the thicket and scanning the ground, the origin of the sound was revealed. It wasn’t just one creature.
“Oh, the ants are at war…”
A gigantic ant spirit was engaged in a fierce battle with living ants. It was a huge and terrifying spirit.
While a typical spirit might have a cute autumn leaf color, this one had a murky and sticky appearance, like mud stuck to the bottom of a manhole.
This spirit seemed out of the ordinary.
As I observed quietly, it appeared that the ferocious spirit had gained the upper hand. It swiftly grabbed and threw living ants, leaving no room for escape. Despite the large numbers, the opponents were helpless. Some of them disappeared, suffocating in its black aura.
“It’s fascinating. A spirit that can attack living ants.”
The fact that a Necromancer wasn’t a foolish profession served as evidence. By honing the skill of commanding spirits, the likelihood of defeating the Crown Prince, the strongest in the world, increased. It meant that I could command stronger warriors or as spirits, surpassing that guy.
Petty fights seemed to flow in favor of the spirits’ victory. In the distance, an anthill rose like a tomb. They were probably fighting over that spot.
“Since you taught me something good, I want to repay the favor.”
I extended my index finger towards the ant spirit.
“Grant the honor of becoming my first spirit. Well, there won’t be much benefit, though.”
As I concentrated mana, the manhole-like Death’s Door appeared again. When I muttered “Capture,” the Death’s Door seemed to ripple, and the connected parts spread apart, protruding three-dimensionally.
The manhole door transformed into teeth, and intricate patterns turned into multiple eyeballs. Distorted eyelids opened, pouring out viscous liquid, and the grotesque eyeballs rolled around.
If there were a contest for the most terrifying transformation, this form could secure a consecutive victory for ten years.
“Ugh! My stomach!”
[Capturing… spirits… hungry….]
The Door of Death seemed to speak. Though it made my eardrums vibrate like a bass drum, it was a harsh voice with friction like rusty metal plates colliding. The creature opened its enormous and twisted mouth, effortlessly devouring a gigantic ant that seemed modest compared to it.
[…Quite large… spirit….]
The Door of Death, seemingly smiling, tore its mouth open, moistening. Then, one by one, it closed its eyelids and disappeared with a subtle sliding sound. Simultaneously, the Black Eyes skill was also released. It felt like the heart was about to burst out of the throat.
“Do I have to keep seeing that disgusting thing every time I capture a spirit from now on?”
