Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 63: The Dark Spirit Is a Good Spirit
Early the next morning, Tauro went straight to the guild, accepted a medicinal-herb gathering quest, and entered the forest.
On the way to the shrine, he gathered the herbs required for the quest along with the occasional rare herb he discovered.
When he arrived, he used [Presence Detection] to confirm that no one was inside, then entered.
As before, dark spirits were densely gathered throughout the shrine.
Continuing the previous day’s work, Tauro began using [Purification] to break what appeared to be a curse on the round stone atop the altar.
Until now, he had never considered varying the intensity of [Purification]. Rather than casting it as many times as possible, he tried putting his full intent into every use.
“[Purification]!”
The black spheres of the dark spirits surrounding the round stone pressed noticeably closer to it.
It seemed to be working.
He cast it again, concentrating just as intently.
Using mana recovery potions, he continued for a long time.
After half a day, even Tauro was exhausted.
His stomach was also full of liquid.
The dark spirits had moved much closer to the round stone on the altar, but something was still pushing them back.
I’ll return tomorrow and try again. Encouraged by the progress, Tauro left the shrine.
For the next several days, Tauro visited the shrine and repeatedly cast [Purification] on the round stone.
Bob noticed that Tauro had been visiting the shrine day after day, but he focused on eliminating the monsters in the surrounding area.
For now, he believed the village’s safety took priority.
That day, Tauro followed a different route while gathering herbs. As soon as he reached the shrine, he began casting [Purification].
After using the spell for so long, he had begun to sense a higher level above his [Purification], as though its true power lay beyond a ceiling.
Perhaps that ceiling was the limit of his own ability.
As he pondered this while casting [Purification], the moment arrived without warning.
During one of his countless castings, Tauro felt something like a thin membrane of glass shatter, making him catch his breath.
As if in response, the dark spirits clustered around him streamed into the round stone as though being sucked inside.
Then, in the next instant…
“One activation condition for special skill [Garbled Text], <One Who Saved the Dark Spirit>, has been confirmed. Acquired [Restriction on Dark Spirit Magic Lifted].”
The Voice of the World echoed in his mind.
“What? One Who Saved the Dark Spirit?”
“Indeed. You’re the one who saved me.”
“What?!”
Darkness gushed from the round stone before him and took on a human shape. It remained pure darkness, allowing no light to pass through it.
“I’m Pluto, the Spirit of Darkness. A curse was placed upon this stone, which served as my vessel, and it appears some of my power flowed into the village whose people worshipped me. I thank you for breaking the curse.”
The darkness appeared to bow its head.
“I have little power left now, but at the very least, I can enable you to use dark spirit magic… Hm, you’ve already acquired dark magic. In that case, I shall grant you <Dark Spirit’s Blessing (Weak)>. It’ll strengthen your dark magic and increase both your resistance and magical power. You also appear to possess resistance to status abnormalities. Combined with this blessing, the mental effects and ability reductions caused by dark magic should have almost no effect on you. Forgive me, but this is the most I can do at present.”
“No, that will be a great help. Thank you!”
“I’m glad to hear it. Then I believe I shall venture into the outside world for the first time in a long while.”
With that, the darkness moved toward the entrance and disappeared.
“It’s noon, so the sunlight outside is strong. Will Pluto be all right?”
Still dazed by the sudden turn of events, Tauro pulled himself together.
If the dark spirit had spoken the truth, the curse afflicting the village should now be broken.
It had apparently been much like a mental spell cast upon the entire village.
If so, its condition should naturally improve with time.
When Tauro emerged from the shrine, Bob appeared.
“The acrid smell is gone! Tauro, did you do something?!”
“Well, I don’t completely understand it myself, but it seems the curse on the village has been lifted.”
“It has?!”
“That’s what the spirit told me, so probably.”
“Spirit?”
“A spirit who had been suffering because of the Goblin Sorcerer’s curse thanked me, so I think everything should be all right.”
“You can even speak with spirits, Tauro…? That’s incredible…”
Bob was impressed, but the conversation had drifted away from the point, so Tauro steered it back.
“In any case, let’s return to the village and see for ourselves.”
“R-right!”
The two ran back to the village.