Nighttime Encounters - Chapter 44
The elderly Barbossa stared at Rosia with discolored yellow eyes.
[Enough with the lengthy explanations. Come to me.]
Nervously, Rosia swallowed hard.
[Come to me and I will hand over the throne of the Empire to you in exchange.]
Rosia’s eyes widened at Barbossa’s unexpected words. A dead man gunning for the imperial throne? What kind of absurdity was this?
While Rosia was trying to figure out his intentions, Barbossa raised his hand and held it out to her.
[Give me your body.]
Barbossa stroked Rosia’s cheek lazily with his wrinkled hand and whispered solemnly.
[Though you may be small and insignificant, I will use your body well. I will bestow upon you the greatest wealth and power of the empire.]
At that moment, a strong spiritual power surged out from behind Rosia.
Caught off guard by the sudden attack, Barbossa stepped back from Rosia, unable to finish his statement. Frustrated by the interruption, Barbossa snapped.
[What are you doing? Can’t you see that I’m in the middle of negotiating with the Mediator?]
The spirit that had slithered out from behind Rosia spoke harshly.
[This foolish old man has nothing sensible to say to this child.]
Barbossa shook off his cloak with an uncharacteristically sour expression.
[Why are you acting this way? It’s good for me, and it’s good for us. We died when we defeated Jennifer and never had the chance to experience ruling the empire. This is our opportunity.]
The spirit that suddenly appeared seemed to have no intention of controlling his anger. With a fierce expression, he cut off Barvosa’s words and snarled.
[How about you be careful with bringing your terrifying face up close? What will you do? If she gets scared and doesn’t come to school, are you going to take responsibility?]
Barbossa pouted.
[No. Why my face?]
[Your very face is a nightmare. So back off and stop scaring the girl.]
The spirit who thwarted Barbossa’s futile greed took a moment to catch his rough breath, then elegantly brushed back his disheveled blond hair. Straightening the collar of his gleaming golden jacket, he turned towards Rosia. His once harsh face was now plastered with an angelic, gentle smile.
[Surprised, aren’t you? That old man lacks social skills.]
What’s all this?
The spirit’s golden eyes narrowed as Rosia gave him a dumbfounded look.
[I am Erwin Grebner.]
Erwin Grebner?
He was the last of the three archmages who founded the Escalona Empire.
[I heard from Luperne that you’re entering Kantaea this year.]
Erwin held out his hand with a crisp smile.
[Let’s get along well from now on.]
Rosia lowered her eyes, staring at Erwin’s hand floating in the air. As she stared in disbelief, Luperne flew over.
[No, why are you all here? I’ve suffered ten years in life and 670 years in death because of you, and now you’re going to take away my apprentice?]
Luperne demanded, and Erwin calmly replied.
[Not at all. We just want to get along well with the Mediator.]
Barbossa interjected, unable to contain himself.
[You are the noble Mediator, aren’t you? You should take this opportunity to use her to reclaim the throne and restore the Empire’s past glory.]
Erwin and Luperne both glared at Barbossa.
[Barbossa.]
[Sir Barbossa.]
Rosia looked blankly at the three great archmage’s souls fighting each other. Even the lively spirits of Kantaea seemed to be enjoying the drama.
Rosia’s purple eyes darkened. It was hard enough getting dragged into this strange school, but now she had to live with these things.
“Can I adapt well to school life?” Rosia mumbled weakly.
The staff who had been taking her measurements replied, “You’ll be fine.”
After finishing the last of her measurements, she picked up the record sheet and stood up. After lightly dusting off Rosia’s blouse and patting her shoulders, the staff member offered words of encouragement to the nervous newcomer.
“Don’t worry too much.”
How could she not worry? She was going to live with spirits like this and humans like that…
This was all that bastard’s fault. Rosia’s eyes, tinged with resentment, turned to the spirit floating over the staff member’s shoulder.
Beyond one mountain, there was another… But Rosia didn’t realize then that there was an entire mountain range of interconnected peaks beyond her that never seemed to end.
