Chapter 633: The Green Spirit’s Blessing

It appeared Lady Fabienne and I were the last to arrive. The rest of the family must already have introduced themselves. They watched with faint anxiety, waiting to hear what the spirit would say.

The Green Spirit radiated a soft, gentle atmosphere. It didn’t seem as though this visit brought bad news.

“I’m the Green Spirit. Recently, the members of the Heine family fulfilled their covenant with me, allowing me to manifest upon the earth once more. You have my gratitude.”

The Green Spirit bowed deeply. The Heine family, having absolutely no idea what the spirit meant, maintained their fixed smiles and looked at one another.

What covenant? Father, did you know about this?

Everyone’s eyes converged upon him. His smile deepened further until, apparently resigned, he addressed the Green Spirit.

“Forgive me, Green Spirit, but what’s this covenant? The tradition seems to have been lost at some point and never reached our generation.”

“Goodness! Is that so? And yet you still fulfilled it. This can only demonstrate the profound bond between the Heine family and me!”

For an instant, I had expected the spirit to become angry. Instead, the Green Spirit appeared more delighted than ever.

We all sighed with relief. Some unseen force appeared to have saved us by the skin of our teeth.

“I knew it would take a very long time for me to recover after exhausting my power. I also required the assistance of the Heine family to return.”

“Our assistance?”

Father looked around at us as though asking what we had done. His gaze finally stopped on me.

It wasn’t me! I hadn’t done anything this time! His suspicion was deeply unfair.

Admittedly, my previous record made it understandable, but on this occasion, I was innocent.

“Indeed. Once my power had returned, members of the Heine family were to offer flowers and prayers at the memorial monument. Yet you presented me with such magnificent gifts as well.”

I see. We had certainly prayed and offered ornaments made from flowers instead of loose blossoms. I had never imagined those acts would become the key to the spirit’s return.

That meant this wasn’t my fault, right?

Right?

“I understand. We never imagined we had unknowingly fulfilled the covenant. Erm… Congratulations on your return.”

“Congratulations.”

We all bowed. The Green Spirit shook their head vigorously, trying to stop us. I had never imagined that the Heine family and the Green Spirit shared a bond stretching so far into the past.

Father, make sure you record everything in the family head’s journal beginning today. Our descendants mustn’t face the same confusion.

“I’m the one who should offer thanks. Whatever led you there, I owe my return to all of you.”

What had led us there was… my request to collect clover seedlings.

Wait. Did that mean I was the cause after all? Still, the covenant had been fulfilled safely, so Father wouldn’t be angry.

“I must reward you all. Allow me to bestow my blessing.”

Sparkling light flowed from the Green Spirit and surrounded everyone. Flower patterns appeared upon the backs of our hands.

The Green Spirit’s blessing—acquired!

Oh. Everyone else was staring open-mouthed at their hands. They had never imagined they would receive a blessing themselves.

“Th-thank you. We never dreamed you would bestow such a magnificent gift upon us.”

“It’s only a fitting reward. These splendid ornaments, which you made with all your hearts, have granted me greater power than I possessed even in the past.”

Come to think of it, I had heard that people’s faith served as the source of a spirit’s power. My method of increasing a spirit’s mana had merely treated the symptoms and should never have been necessary in the first place.

If people placed greater faith in the spirits, perhaps the entire world would become purer.

As for the Green Spirit, the bond with the Heine family seemed exceptionally strong. The faith of our family carried greater weight than that of ordinary people. The result was the Green Spirit’s dramatic increase in power.

This was all right, wasn’t it? The Heine family hadn’t done anything outrageous, had we?

“Lord Julius, I have also received the Green Spirit’s blessing. Is that truly permissible?” Lady Fabienne asked.

“Of course. You’re already a member of the Heine family. Sister-in-law Daniela received it too, so there’s no problem.”

I looked towards Sister-in-law Daniela and Brother Alex. They were showing each other the flower patterns on their hands, wearing complicated expressions that mixed delight and bewilderment.

“Look, Brother Julius! It appeared on my hand too!”

“Kyuu!”

A flower pattern was clearly visible on Rosalia’s hand.

And one had appeared on Mira’s paw as well.

What? Seriously?! I rubbed the mark, but it didn’t come off. Was this safe?

“Kyuu…”

“Sorry, sorry. You helped make the flower crowns too, Mira. Of course you should receive one.”

“Kyuu!”

Was this truly acceptable? It meant the Green Spirit recognised Mira as a member of the Heine family. In other words, the family had now formed a deep bond with a Holy Dragon.

What were we going to do? House Heine was already a powerful margravial family within the Spencer Kingdom, and its influence was about to grow considerably.

We would undoubtedly have to report this to His Majesty. Someone would be suffering a headache already.

Father, mostly. Not me.