Chapter 32 - Cosmic Spirit King

I, this Great One, am the Cosmic Spirit King!

I govern all the existing Spirits in this Star (planet).

My daughters, who are so lovely they are wondrous to behold, currently reside in the Human Realm with the aim of finding a contractor.

I believe there is no need for them to do so, but my wife would not allow them to remain as they are.

My daughters finally acquired the ability to refuse a human’s order by their own will, so my wife instructed me to manifest them in the Realm of Humans.

To say I am worried is an understatement.

However, I also recognize that I cannot keep an eye on them forever.

The Spirits’ various problems are all forwarded to me.

That is why I decided to observe their conditions just occasionally covertly. Despite doing that seldom, my wife gets angry and scolds me because she insists that I should have more faith in them and leave them to their own devices.

Worrying is only natural for things that are worrying, so it can’t be helped!

For the time being, my girls safely enrolled in a Magical Academy in the Human Realm. I contacted my human acquaintance and requested that person assist us with the admission procedures and help my lovely daughters if they are troubled. He also promised that he’d assign his most trusted subordinate to be the adviser and professor of my daughters. Because of that, I finally felt at ease, but I am still a little reluctant to let them go away from my sight.

Not a year has passed, and my daughters returned.

Maybe they are lonely at first, so they came back?—This is what I thought.

However, when I heard their story, they already found a master and had formalized the contract.

…Isn’t it a little too early?

Is it really alright?

My daughters are still immature. Maybe they did not know their contractor's true identity but were only drawn to the strength of his magical power?

I must see him with my own eyes.

If I sense even the littlest amount of impurity, I will definitely dissolve the contract. Keeping that thought, I hurried towards my daughters.

“!?”

In a blink of an eye, a strong force drew my body towards the other Realm.

T, this is a [Forced Summoning]!

I, who govern all the Spirits, have never been summoned by a mere human—there should be none who can do so.

During the Demon King’s reign of despair in the world, and when the world was about to collapse due to the Yggdrasil's anomaly, many humans strongly desired to survive, and their wishes reached me in the form of magic, allowing me to manifest in the Human Realm.

Currently, the Realm of Humans should be at peace. There should be no reason for me to be summoned. Moreover, it is a [Forced Summoning] that is pulling me right now.

[Forced Summoning] is advanced-level magic that requires ten times more magic power than a normal summoning. It obliges a spirit to manifest itself in the Human Realm, regardless of its will.

Who summoned me, and how in the world was it done!?

As I mulled over this, I finally reached my destination.

“Who is it that forcibly summoned me!?”

“Ahm...Who?”

A boy stood alone in front of me. He looked the same age as my daughters in their human form.

“I am the Cosmic Spirit King, and the head of all the Spirits in this Star.”

I answered the boy’s question as normal as can be.

I, it cannot be, could this puny little boy be the one who summoned me?

Not only that, but he also did it on his own?

I wanted to ask him what this means, but my body would not move as I wish it to.

This sensation – I cannot be mistaken.

I am under the influence of this young one.

In other words, this boy truly did forcibly summon me. There are many questions that I am concerned about, such as ‘how is this possible’, but the timing is bad.

My wonderful daughters’ contractor has been decided.

I have to return to the Spirit Realm right now before my lovely daughters are summoned because I need to go with them to that contractor’s place.

“Ah, my apologies, but I am in the middle of some matters. Could you kindly send me back?”

“…Is it not possible for you to return on your own?”

“But you are the one who forcibly dragged me here! Even I was appalled that a mere human could summon me; moreover, that a day will come when I’ll be called with such great strength… However, my daughters have very important matters I need to attend to. Please, let me return.”

I bowed my head before the boy. I had never bowed my head to a human since I became the Cosmic Spirit King.

However, in front of this boy, it did not really hurt my pride for the sake of my daughters.

“Alright, I will send you back immediately. I am sorry for causing you trouble.”

The boy immediately dismissed me back to the Spirit Realm.

“…He was a good person. His magical power is pure. If my daughters’ contractor would be a human like him, how good would that be.”

I muttered as I set foot on the Spirit Realm.

No, I must focus and hurry to my daughters!

“Mai, Mei. It is good that you came home.”

“We’re home, dear Father!”

I am glad I made it on time. My daughters are not yet summoned.

“Will Halt-sama summon us back?”

“It’ll be fine.”

After the contract was formalized, they returned here and are currently waiting to be summoned again by the contractor.

“So, the name of your contractor is Halt?”

“Yes! He is really strong!” (Mai and Mei, simultaneously)

“However, he did not summon you immediately after your contract was done. Is it possible that he lacked magical power to do so?”

“That’s impossible for Halt-sama!”

“I’m sure something just happened!”

Hmm, it seems like my daughters are blindly following that Halt person.

Mai’s body suddenly began to glow. It is time.

“Check it out first, Mai!”

“Yes, I’ll go ahead! I’ll request Halt-sama to summon Mei right away!”

“Oka— Wait, dear Father, what are you doing!?”

“I will also go with Mai. I have to scrutinize that Halt person.”

I broke into the spell and forcibly joined Mai in the summoning. This little act is not worth mentioning in the face of my great power.

While manifesting, I grasp the summoner’s magical powers.

Hoh, what a pleasant power it is.

Ah, but it is a different story when it comes to entrusting my precious daughter! Should there be the slightest trace of impurity, I will definitely void that contract!

Alright, I will intimidate him first.

“Are you the impudent one who wanted to form a contract with the Fire Spirit Mai? First of all, show me your power… Hmmm?”

Strange. Standing before my eyes was the boy who did the [Forced Summoning] a while ago.

“Got it, I just have to showcase my power right. Alrighty, go kneel—”

“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait—”

As soon as the boy opened his mouth, I felt my body move against my will. There is no way I will genuflect to a human right in front of my daughter!

I am the great Cosmic Spirit King!

Enduring with sheer will power, I took the boy to the space between the two Realms.

“What are you up to.”

The boy looked offended. But I too have my grievance!

“That should be my line!! Why in the world would you make me kneel abruptly right before the eyes of my daughter!!! You are too cruel!!!”

“Ah, no, you said you wanted a show of power so…”

“Th, that’s because I didn’t know their master would be you, that’s why—”

I am being unreasonable for thinking I wanted to have a power show with the one who did a [Forced Summoning] on me. Moreover, he did it single-handedly.

I cannot be tactless, or else this whole Star (planet) will perish.

“You don’t approve of me being Mai and Mei’s contractor?”

“No, no, no, no, no, no, no!!! That’s preposterous! Your magical prowess is more than qualified! However, you see, hmm.”

“Are there any conditions?”

Originally, as a forcibly summoned Spirit, I do not have the luxury to negotiate with the boy.

It is in our nature to silently obey whatever is commanded us. However, I wanted to protect my precious daughters, no matter what.

I will do anything if it is for them.

That is why I requested, from the bottom of my heart, for the boy to treasure my daughters.

The boy gave his consent. He also stated that when an emergency arises, I have to aid him. This is how I, the great Cosmic Spirit King - together with my daughters, formed a contract with Master Halt.

I returned to the Spirit Realm alone due to my work. Almost at the same time, with my return, an overwhelming amount of magical power flowed in me.

Because of the contract, Master Halt’s intentions were relayed to me.

‘Summoning you requires a great deal of mana, and it’s hard to do it all at once, so I’m pouring magic to you up to a certain extent only, okay?“

—so he said.

“Even if you say, ‘to a certain extent’…No matter how you think about it, it is enough for me to manifest myself in the Human Realm for a few years already.”

My murmurings echoed in the empty throne room.