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683. The Truth Of The Spirit Lord
“Because of the simple fact that the Spirit Lord hates Humankind.”
Willy spoke as he faced the room. It was a revelation— to them, at least. But to him, he had known this fact for a very long time.
Edithe, Faith, Clayton, Marie, Centina, the juvenile Wyverns, and Rachel all exchanged a confused glance. Kron was still hiding in the corner of the room.
Willy thought for a moment, before he quickly clarified what he meant.
“Or rather, the Spirit Lord hates all mortals. Whether it be Humans, Elves, or Dwarves. It matters not to him.”
“That’s…”
Edithe tried to work her jaw, before shaking her head.
“But why? He helped us during the time of Alexander—”
She tried to argue. And Willy countered quickly.
“The Spirit Lord did not offer Humankind his aid. Instead, he saw an opportunity. That is all.”
“I… what?”
Edithe blinked as she heard what the [Will O’ Wisp] had to say. But he didn’t elaborate. He couldn’t elaborate. So he stayed quiet.
Even Clayton Skyshredder, who had been against Edithe’s plan, seemed to be flummoxed by this. He placed a hand on his chin as he spoke in thought.
“I do not understand what you are saying— why would the Spirit Lord hate us mortals? What have we done to offend him?”
“Nothing.”
Willy replied without a moment of hesitation. He looked towards the Humans gathered in this room— not just them, but the monsters too.
“None of you have done anything wrong. And yet, the Spirit Lord despises you. Because he believes you are all… imperfect beings.”
“Imperfect beings?”
Edithe blinked when she heard that. She crossed her arms with a frown.
“I mean, is anyone even perfect?”
“Maybe Salvos is perfect?”
Rachel piped up, raising a hand. Novis and Bellum nodded next to her, while Oriur just smacked his forehead.
“Although… Salvos isn’t a Human.”
Edithe chuckled when she heard that. Even Willy snorted. But he quickly focused his attention back to the topic at hand.
“Because you grow sick. You grow old. You do not evolve with your levels, instead you make small strides in power. That is all. That is why the Spirit Lord abhors you. Because you are nothing like us.”
“I…”
Edithe pursed her lips, before exchanging a glance with the Headmaster of Mavos Academy. Clayton stroked his beard as he nodded understandingly.
“To be more precise, you are saying the Spirit Lord views us as inferior, is that correct?”
He asked, facing Willy. The [Will O’ Wisp] replied simply.
“Yes.”
“So why would he form this pact with Humankind? Why would the Spirit Lord make a deal with a Human— so that Spiritkind will work alongside Humankind?”
Edithe stepped forward, gesticulating vaguely around her. If Willy had eyes, he would be rolling them right now. Instead, he just sighed as he explained.
“The Immortal King Alexander was different. It is in his Title— he had shed these imperfections, which was why he was able to obtain an audience with the Spirit Lord.”
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“And what about the fact that Spirits are literally working with [Summoners] as their partners? As equals? How does the Spirit Lord justify that?”
Edithe asked with furrowed brows. Willy scoffed dismissively.
“As I said, it is an opportunity. A transaction. To the Spirit Lord, he does not care whether his Spirits fraternize with mortals. All that matters is he gets what he wants.”
The [Will O’ Wisp] flitted back and forth. But he refrained from mentioning the fact that most Spirits held disdain for their [Summoners]. Many of them treated it like a simple job, refusing to even acquaint themselves with the Humans who summoned them.
That was how Willy was towards the Humans who worshiped him in the past.
Before he met his own [Summoner] who he grew to adore and love.
Until she died in the Bloodied Gulf.
And there, Willy learned to respect other mortals like monsters too, in that sanctuary in the Bloodied Gulf.
“And what does he want?”
Clayton asked, breaking Willy out of his thoughts. The Headmaster of Mavos Academy harrumphed.
“I always believed that he was training his Spirits here in the Mortal Realm. Is that not the case?”
“I cannot answer that question.”
Willy answered truthfully. Edithe gritted her teeth together as she shook her head.
“That doesn’t matter. Even if the Spirit Lord sees us as inferior, we should at least try something—”
“I didn’t say we should do nothing.”
The [Will O’ Wisp] cut her off as she paused. The frustration on her face vanished, and she eyed him suspiciously.
“What are you implying, Willy?”
“There are others who can offer us aid in the Spirit Plane. Others who are unaffiliated with the Spirit Lord.”
Edithe stared in disbelief. Marie Schofen backed up as her jaw dropped.
“Others who are able to… fight against a Level 200 threat?”
“That is correct.”
Willy said as he flew back. He hesitated for a moment as he thought of a name. And he looked towards Edithe once again.
“The Archangel.”
“The… Archangel?”
She narrowed her eyes when she heard the name. Willy’s flames flickered even just from saying it.
“But I must warn you, he is a force that you cannot control easily. You could die.”
“I…”
Edithe chewed on her lower lip, and Clayton crossed his arms.
“If that is the case, wouldn’t bartering with the Spirit Lord be a better option?”
“No. Because it is an impossible option. It would be the equivalent of trying to convince the Fairy Queen of trying to offer us her aid. That will never happen.”
Willy explained casually as he flew up to the Headmaster of Mavos Academy.
“However, the Archangel has helped Humans before. Such as bringing about the destruction of the Miriam Empire.”
Clayton’s eyes flickered when he heard that. Edithe raised a brow curiously.
“What is that?”
The Headmaster of Mavos Academy pressed his lips into a thin line.
“The Miriam Empire. It was a vast nation that existed over a thousand years ago— shortly after the Melissian Empire came to an end. It was said to be an empire that equaled the size of the Vaun Qieur Empire. But in only a single night, its armies were crushed, its capital destroyed, and its empress was killed.”
Clayton shook his head, before looking up at Willy.
“Nobody knows why it was destroyed. It is one of the greatest mysteries of the modern age.”
“It is not a mystery. The Archangel did it.”
Willy said matter-of-factly.
“Because the dying princess of an enemy nation summoned him by accident. And he heeded her call.”
“I see…”
The Headmaster of Mavos Academy scrunched up his brows, clearly uncertain as to how to process this information. But Edithe stepped forward, her eyes glistening as she peered into the [Will O’ Wisp].
“So we can summon this Archangel? We can get him to help us?”
“Summoning him will not be easy. As I said, it was an accident that resulted in him being brought to the Mortal Realm. Replicating his summoning will be a difficult task.”
Willy shook his body, and Edithe rubbed her chin.
“Which means crossing into the Spirit Plane will be the best plan of action.”
“Or maybe not.”
A voice piped up from the side. Faith spoke up for the first time in a while, raising a hand almost meekly.
“I might have an idea…”
She hesitated as all gazes in the room bore into her.
“But we need to return to my nation— speak to Rowyn. Because he has an artifact that can help us.”
“Then we’ll need the barrier to allow us to pass through and return through teleportation. Will that be possible, Headmaster?”
Edithe asked, turning to face Clayton. He nodded.
“For the sake of this plan? That will be possible. However, you will only have a short window of time to do this.”
“That’s fine.”
Edithe smiled at him, and Willy spoke up.
“You must understand, seeking out the Archangel’s help may not produce the results you may want. It may result in your death— or worse.”
Willy gave her a serious look. And Edithe stood resolutely as she responded.
“I understand that.”
Willy paused for a moment, before he exhaled.
“Very well, then let’s do this.”