chapter 173

The messages suddenly appeared. Among them, the last sentence caught my eyes.

Some of the lost soul was restored. A few days had passed since Lyhee had suffered from soul depletion, and there was no sign of recovery. However, all of a sudden, she was starting to recuperate.

What was the cause?

I did not do anything. Five hundred monsters gathered together and tried to find a solution, but nothing came out. Something else might have caused it.

‘I have no idea,’ I thought.

Even I could not guess if it was because of something inside or outside the dungeon. It was only 0.1%. There was no significant change to Lyhee, but it was the first sign of improvement that I had seen. I needed to find out the reason behind this phenomenon.

“Julium, Oswen,” I called.

Krithli was outside the dungeon. She was helping Roy and Rose. Among those who remain in the dungeon, these two were the most intelligent and faithful.

― This Orc is injured.

― Let’s clean the wound!

― We should manage the garden, too. By the way, how do we do that?

― Yo-ho! Yo-ho!

The Spirits of Fire were busy. Almost 100,000 of them moved here and there without a break. What they did were very trivial things, but they revitalized the gloomy dungeon.

The limping monsters regained their energy. The once filthy dungeon was now clean. Cleaning was supposed to be Lyhee’s task, but she had been disregarding it. Now, the spirits did their best to clean the dungeon.

They kept Lyhee’s garden nice and spotless, played with the Tree of Origin, and did their best at whatever they could do. There was only one reason that these young spirits moved actively: their father. They wanted to make him happy.

He was mourning for the fairy’s condition and her absence, so they decided to fill her spot. There was no reason other than that.

The intermediate-grade spirits, Rei and Sera, supervised and divided the work. Each one was weak, but the combined strength of 100,000 spirits was sufficient for the work.

Then, one day…

― Oh!

― Father is a little happier!

The spirits who had made contracts with Father could sense even a little change in his mood. It was not a significant change, but the spirits were satisfied with this.

― Let’s work harder!

― We have to fill in the fairy’s spot.

― Yo-ho! Yo-ho!

The spirits became livelier.

***

I was surprised to receive a report from Julium and Oswen.

“The spirits are the cause?”

Fairies and spirits were similar, but different beings. It was almost impossible for them to affect each other. Nevertheless, Julium and Oswen mentioned the spirits.

“Your Majesty,” Oswen said politely, “there are no other changes in the dungeon. Even if there was any, it actually occurred because of the spirits.”

“I also think the same,” Julium supported Oswen’s idea.

“What did the spirits do to restore the soul?”

I couldn’t help but ask. The spirits did not come near Lyhee. No, actually, they had not come near me lately either.

“I think it’s a matter concerning the heart,” Oswen said.

“Heart?”

I could not understand him. I knew what a heart was, but I hadn’t grasped its importance in this current situation.

Oswen noticed my confusion and explained further, “Your Majesty, I was a blacksmith. I made weapons. And in every weapon, I incorporate a piece of me in them. What is a sword? What is a weapon? They are nothing more than a lump of iron. However, if someone pours his heart into it, or soul, then the sword will return the favor. The harder the hammer hits it, the more special the outcome will be. I think that is the mind of the spirits right now.”

“Just so we are on the same page,” I clarified, “the spirits are working hard for the fairy. And then, it has helped the recovery of her soul. Is that what you mean?”

“Almost. But I don’t think it is that simple.”

I became more confused.

“The spirits were born by Your Majesty. I don’t know why, but I saw how they blindly follow Your Majesty, even though spirits are not usually obsessed with anything…or anyone. Furthermore, they don’t even call their king ‘father’.”

I folded my arms and frowned. But I urged Oswen to continue.

He went on, “Perhaps the spirits had sensed how you were feeling when something happened to the fairy. And with what has transpired during the fairy’s absence, maybe they are trying hard to do her duties.”

“It is unbelievable,” I commented.

“Or she might be recovering naturally… These are just my assumptions.”

Oswen stepped back. Then I looked at Julium. “Do you have the same opinion?”

Julium, the elder of the Dark Elves, sighed.

“According to the shamans, when many people desire something strongly, sometimes it will come true. If 100,000 spirits move together with one goal in mind, I guess they will be able to fill the void in the soul.”

I found it hard to believe as I processed what I just heard from Julium and Oswen—hard to believe, but there was no reason not to consider them. The lack of soul was not something that simply happened. So, what they were saying might be possible.

“Okay. Considering that the spirits are involved… What should I do then?” I firmly asked Oswen.

I wasn’t sure, but I couldn’t just do nothing because a part of me was still not convinced. I had to do something. Everything could be possible.

“Just let them do what they’re doing,” Oswen answered with a smile.

***

I carefully watched the spirits, but I did not meddle, as Oswen suggested. I just observed them quietly, contemplating the relationship between their work and Lyhee.

‘Simple effort can instigate change,’ I thought.

Lyhee’s depleted soul recovered little by little. It was only 1% a day, but it was enough to hope for some improvements.

I still did not fully understand this phenomenon. I had never thought that helping others could inspire a change in the matter that the 500 monsters and I couldn’t figure out.

The spirits did not do many things. Had I not known that they were helping Lyhee, I would think they were just playing.

Their actions did not have a lot of impact on the dungeon. However, every day, they were improving things in the dungeon. They found and fixed small things that I had never even noticed before.

― Father is watching us.

― I am working the hardest here!

[The Fairy of Origin, Lyhee, has recovered by 0.2%.]

[14.5% -> 14.7%]

As I watched them closely, the spirits worked harder. The harder they worked, the more Lyhee improved. Hence, I was now convinced that the spirits were helping to revive Lyhee’s soul.

“Making efforts for somebody else…it’s a challenge for me as I have only been working for my own gain.”

I kept quietly observing them, but I was mentally burdened. I had not done that much for the spirits. Even so, they worked as hard as they could for my affection and attention. It was very different from the monsters I had bought from the auction or the store.

A blind faith…they had it from the beginning. It was similar to Lyhee, but she was tied to me with a contract. Krithli became my subordinate due to the ceremony.

I had made contracts with the spirits as well, but they had been following me even before the contracts. When I had tried to amend the contents, they didn’t question me nor complain about it.

This was the first time. I didn’t know such faith could exist in the world. I had never felt this kind of emotion in my previous life or Devildom. I felt awkward. I didn’t know how to react to it.

“I believed I could change, but I hardly ever tried.”

I frowned. When I returned, I pledged to live a completely different life this time. I decided to accept other monsters’ ideas. I thought I would go beyond the regular demon to become a true Dark Lord. Those were what I had in mind.

As I assessed myself, I realized that there was no transformation to a fundamental part of me. If I believed in those who followed me, then that would be a huge development.

I might not be a warm wind, but at least I could be a cool breeze for them. As I reformed my mindset, I saw the spirits with warmth and affection.

[The nature of your mana has slightly changed. It is now pursuing a little ‘harmony’.]

[Pure intelligence and mana have increased by 2.]

[The limit of your potential has increased by 5.]

It was a kind of enlightenment. It was only a little, but I had once again crossed the barrier.

What a change in mindset could do… I wasn’t expecting this kind of transformation.

“Just when I thought that there will only be destruction on my path…”

But the message mentioned ‘harmony’. I laughed. Even a dog would laugh at it, too. I was self-righteous, deriving pleasure by pointing out others’ mistakes, but now I was pursuing harmony.

From now on, I would reserve my coldness towards my enemies. I would try to return the favor to those who had followed and trusted me since the beginning.

― Father is in a good mood.

― I like it.

― Let’s work harder!

Lyhee was recovering rapidly every day, and she was healed within 10 days.

“Oh… I am so stiff.” Lyhee yawned. “Lyhee slept very well.”

Lyhee casually woke up, rubbed her eyes, and looked around.

“Huh? Master? Why is Lyhee here? Lyhee fell asleep in the garden.”

Lyhee found it strange. The spirits were hovering around Lyhee who was tilting her head.

― The fairy is awake!

― Then we don’t have to work anymore?

― Yay! I will go play now.

The spirits rushed out as if they were waiting for this moment.

“What the? What are they doing? Master? When you look at me like that, Lyhee feels shy.”

“How are you feeling? Any changes?”

“Change in me? Hmm… Oh!” Lyhee checked her body. She was surprised at what she found out. “Lyhee has more wings!”

Originally, she had two wings. They had now increased into four. This change occurred when her soul recovery rate reached 90%.

“Huh? Why did my wings multiply? I am filled with strength, too…”

Lyhee spread her wings. At the same time, her wings emitted a bright light. The light reached beyond the top floor and swallowed up the entire dungeon.

“Eh… eh…”

Lyhee’s eyes widened with surprise. Also, numerous messages started popping up.

[The soul of the Fairy of Origin has risen by one level.]

[The Tree of Origin has awakened. It will have a stronger influence on the dungeon than before.]

[The spirits will have a faster growth rate.]

[The dungeon’s rating has been upgraded to ‘Unique’.]

[Further information can be found in the inside affair mode.]