Chapter 128 - The Captive Sylph

"The Wind Spirit, Harp...?"

This was what lay sealed deep beneath the Niosebuk Royal Castle.

"How terrifying...! Gangastra actually captured a Spirit? To think such a feat was even possible...!" Tamagushi gasped, her body trembling with a mixture of genuine shock and visceral disgust.

She had seemed so well-informed that I’d assumed she knew exactly what was being held here, but it seemed I was wrong.

"I was only told that a 'Great Entity' was imprisoned beneath this castle and that it was the root of the anomalies plaguing the land. My investigation only managed to uncover the name: 'Harp'!"

The skills of humans... sometimes that power exceeds the proper measure of your kind. It breeds arrogance, and I have seen countless souls destroy themselves because of it, Harp remarked.

The Wind Spirit shifted restlessly inside the cramped capsule. It was obvious—this environment was far from comfortable for him (or her?).

That madman is no different. Just because he was born with a powerful "Divine Calling," he truly believes he can bend the entire world to his whims. Such incurable stupidity. Eventually, retribution will find him.

"You mean the Third Prince, Gangastra."

There was no need for further deduction. Building a facility of this scale within the castle without the master noticing was impossible. With the King dead, the de facto master of this fortress was the front-runner for the succession: the Third Prince. If he hadn't raised a finger to stop this construction, it was only natural to assume it was done by his direct command.

"But why? Why would he go this far? To capture and imprison a Spirit is beyond sacrilegious...!"

Is it not you humans who understand your own kind best? The things the people of this nation seek are always the same.

I’m a human, yes, but being lumped in with that vermin was genuinely insulting. However... since they are vermin, it was easy enough to imagine what they craved.

"Power... is it?"

Precisely... Now, it would be best to let the man himself explain the details.

"Wait, what do you mean?"

A presence is descending from above. For a long time, only one person has set foot in this depth. I imagine you can guess who.

"The Third Prince?!"

Since the basement was off-limits to everyone except the Prince, it could be no one else.

Do not panic. The madman has only just stepped into the upper basement. It will take quite some time for him to reach us. Use that time to hide and observe. You might hear something interesting.

The basement was a labyrinth of winding iron pipes; there was plenty of space for one or two people to hide. But I had a much more effective method!

"Tamagushi!" 

"Yes!"

Tamagushi caught my drift instantly. With perfect synchronization, she thrust out her rear. I slid my penis inside.

"Ah-hnh! ❤️❤️"

[Sex Sneaking] activated immediately, erasing us from perception. Well, more accurately, it simply made it so people failed to recognize our presence.

Ho, what a bizarre skill. It has far more charm than a mere blatant display of power.

The Wind Spirit could clearly see us through the transparent capsule even while we were coupling. It seemed [Sex Sneaking] could fool all human senses, but it was no match for a Spirit's perception. But hey, it didn't interfere with the current situation, so it was fine!

Before long, a rhythmic thumping began to echo from above. It had to be the sound of the Third Prince descending the stairs... but the footsteps were far too heavy and loud.

Was this a Gundam walking?! The sound grew louder and more imposing until...

It stopped.

The Third Prince, Gangastra, had reached the lowest level—standing directly before the imprisoned Wind Spirit, Harp. Up close, his inhumanly massive frame, which I’d seen during the execution, felt even more overwhelming.

"Gangastra...!"

At the sight of the giant at such close range, Tamagushi’s canal tightened around my penis. Even knowing we were invisible, she couldn't help but feel the chill of fear. It wasn't just his malevolent aura; it felt like Tamagushi herself shared a dark history with this man.

The Prince and the Spirit faced each other with a hostility that could only be described as a glare-down. Given that one was imprisoned, I suppose they weren't exactly on friendly terms.

The Spirit spoke first. A diligent visit to check on my mood today as well? You have been working hard.

The supernatural entity knew perfectly well that we were hiding, but he clearly had no intention of telling the Prince. The Prince, however, looked incredibly bitter.

"Have you changed your mind yet? Have you decided to accept the honor of serving me?"

At his words, the emerald mist within the glass capsule swirled violently, as if laughing in his face.

You are a busy one. If you wish to check for a change of heart, at least wait a year between visits. To us Spirits, a day or two is but the blink of an eye. How could my mindset change in such a trifle of time?

"I am giving you a chance! A chance to serve Gangastra, the future King of Niosebuk—the man who is the strongest on this earth and will soon rule the world! Is that not the ultimate honor? Stop your stubborn resistance and submit to the strong!"

Small. So small. The "strongest" that a human boasts of is a tiny, fleeting glory. Why should a Spirit spare a thought for such a thing?

I could practically see the sparks flying between them.

No matter how "strong" you may be, that is a title limited to the minuscule race of humans. Before a Spirit, whose existence transcends your dimension, the strongest human and the weakest human are equally insignificant specks to be blown away like dust.

"And yet you are the one captured by that 'minuscule' human, robbed of your freedom. Perhaps you should recognize reality before you talk so big."

It is you who should recognize reality.

The Wind Spirit chuckled within his capsule.

It is true, the design of this device that seals me is impressive. Humans pass down technology, stacking generations upon generations to reach heights one person alone could never achieve. That is truly a commendable human feat.

"Precisely! Not even a Spirit can escape this 'Material Jail'! My power surpasses even that of the Spirits!"

And yet, looking at you, I feel nothing but the most pathetic human stupidity.

The Spirit’s tone turned even more mocking.

This device can trap me, yes. But that is all. You believe that simply keeping me locked up will make me do your bidding? It is the ultimate proof of your shallowness.

"What?! You wish to be free, do you not?! If you want to be released, you have no choice but to obey me! Now, enough of this! Engrave the mark upon me! The proof of one recognized by a Spirit! Give me the mark I need to become the strongest... Give me the [Air Stigma]!!"

[Air Stigma].

As soon as those words were uttered, a heavy, deafening silence filled the basement. Then, a peal of mocking laughter rang out.

Kukuku... so it comes back to that in the end? Do you crave my mark so badly? Like a starving dog begging for a treat?

"Wrong. You shall offer it to me. Having knelt before my strength, you will give it of your own free will as a sign of your submission! The fame of Gangastra, the man who brought even a Spirit to heel, shall echo across the world!"

Fascinating... and when exactly will this "fame" of yours echo? A hundred years from now? Two hundred?

"Guh...!"

That is why I call you a fool. To challenge a Spirit to a contest of patience...

A Spirit is a being that transcends humanity. They are the forces of nature themselves. Having met the Spirits of Fire and Earth, I understood this all too well.

I have existed in this form for tens of thousands of years since the world was shaped. A year or two is merely the duration of a suppressed yawn. And yet you try to break me by simply locking me away? You have no means of subjugation other than trying to rob me of my freedom and hoping my patience runs out.

"Ngh...! Damn you...!"

If that is how you wish to play, then let us test our patience. Let us start with a thousand years. Let us see whose will lasts longer.

"SHUT UP!!"

The Third Prince finally lost his cool, letting out a thunderous roar. A normal person would have fainted from the sheer force of it. I was fine, but I needed Tamagushi to stay conscious and keep gripping my penis. If she fainted and my cock slipped out, our invisibility would vanish.

"No matter how you bluff, you cannot escape that narrow tube! You pathetic creature! You have no choice but to give the mark to me! Realize the truth and swear your submission! Stop wasting my time!!"

There is no such thing as "wasted time" for us Spirits. For all time is equally meaningless.

"ENOUGH!!"

The veins on the Prince’s forehead looked like they were about to burst. Realizing he was getting nowhere, he turned on his heel and stomped back toward the stairs.

"Make up your mind by tomorrow! Decide that I, Gangastra, am your master! Bask in the happiness of knowing you can help me rule the world!"

Tomorrow? Far too short to be interesting. Spend at least two thousand years killing time with me.

"Ngh...!"

Faced with the Spirit’s overwhelming scale of existence, the Prince couldn't even manage a parting shot. He sprinted back up the stairs in silence.

Once the Gundam-like footsteps had faded into the distance, I deactivated the invisibility.

"Ngh... ❤️❤️" With a wet pop, my cock slipped out of Tamagushi’s canal.

"Are you okay, Tamagushi?"

"Yes... but Gangastra is even more foolish than I imagined. To challenge a Spirit to a contest of patience..."

She was right. As the incarnation of nature itself, a Spirit’s lifespan—or rather, its duration of existence—was on an entirely different level. How could a human, who lives less than a century, hope to beat a being that sees a thousand years as a mere nap?

"Furthermore, we humans don't have that much time left," she added, her face growing grim.

"What do you mean?"

"The windless state centered around the capital... it really is because the Wind Spirit is imprisoned, isn't it...?"

Even I am not entirely without stress, being trapped in such a cramped place. That frustration is likely leaking out and affecting the surroundings.

For days now, no wind had blown in Niosebuk, and the air had stopped circulating. It was clear Harp was the cause. Airflow is vital for us humans. Stagnant air is purified when it’s stirred and replaced by the wind. Moreover, wind is what gathers water vapor to bring rain. If the stillness continues, the crops will fail, the water will dry up, and everyone in Niosebuk will die. And if the stillness expands beyond the borders...

"That’s horrible. The Third Prince is a total menace. Why does he want the Spirit’s mark that badly?"

Is that a question coming from you? You, who have already received the marks of my friends Napalm and Blast-Hole?

At those words, Tamagushi let out a surprised "Eh?!" What, she didn't know?

"Well... I thought being recognized by a Spirit was an honor...?"

An honor? An honor, you say? Fuhahahaha!!

Whatever I’d said hit the Spirit’s funny bone. She began laughing hysterically inside the capsule. Tamagushi and I exchanged a confused look.

Kukuku... hahahaha! ...Pardon me... an honor. It has been a long time since I heard that word. Especially in this country.

The Third Prince certainly lacked even a shred of reverence for nature.

But perhaps we Spirits should also feel privileged to be revered by humans. I wonder when we began only mocking and looking down on each other? I have existed for an eternity, yet it seems I have forgotten something important...

"I think the humans are probably the ones at fault," I said.

If there are people like you, perhaps not. Now then, human who takes pride in our connection. Since you are here, why not do me a favor and earn some points with a Spirit?

"Which is?"

Don't ask what is already obvious. Won't you get me out of here? I talked a big game about waiting thousands of years, but if I can leave now, I’d much prefer that. You are a human with a heart, capable of pitying my misfortune, are you not?

"Gladly!"

Whether it's a human or a Spirit, I don't have the kind of rotten soul that can ignore someone in trouble!

Hang tight, Spirit! I’m going to rescue you from this cramped cage right now!

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