No, wait—no, that's not right.

It's obvious where the raging spiritual energy is coming from: the blazing thing over there.

The surrounding spirits are buzzing with agitation.

I think the temperature has even risen.

"Wait, that's the Great Spirit of Fire, right?"

"The Great Spirit... is that really it? Can it really burn that fiercely?"

"Great Spirits take their natural forms. The Great Spirit of Fire appears as a majestic figure embraced by flames. Hikaru hasn't shown up at the temple yet, has he?"

"That's right. There was no need."

I've already made a contract with the Great Spirit of Darkness, and I've been keeping a low profile, avoiding attention from viewers, so I've never really gone to places that aren't necessary.

"Still, why is it out here, outside the temple...?"

"Is it really rare?"

"Yes. To keep the Great Spirit confined to a single place requires immense effort... no, sacrifice( )and (offering) of great magnitude."

I tapped my tongue against the yakisoba, not thinking too deeply.

Whether it was the Great Spirit or the "Great Spirit of Darkness" I had summoned myself, they were different.

That was my thought.

I leisurely gazed down the main street.

The Great Spirit floated gently forward, approaching us.

When it got within about a hundred meters, a voice reached my ears.

— Smells delicious! Smells delicious! The scent of something tasty is coming from over here!

— It's the scent of someone who desires to be eaten by me, who longs to be found by me!

— Found it! Look, I found him! There’s someone who wants to be loved by me right there!

The Fire Great Spirit was staring at me—straight on, with blazing eyes that shone fiercely.

A man wrapped entirely in flames, bare-chested and wild.

Bound by countless chains, the priestesses, clearly women of the temple, strained desperately to pull on the restraints.

But their strength was no match for the Great Spirit, and they could only drag him along.

"I-It’s strange… No, it’s abnormal for the Great Spirit to appear on the main street like this—"

"Reflia, sorry. I think its target is probably me."

I stood up, touched Reflia’s shoulder, and shattered the "Barrier Stone" I pulled from my Shadow Bag.

Same pattern as when the Great Spirit of Darkness appeared. No matter how you look at it, I'm the target.

— Hmm~? What's this technique?

— Damn it! I can't get close! Even though it's right there!

— Hey! What the hell is this! Oooh!

The Great Spirit of Fire, furious, gradually retreats.

The barrier stone is a "barrier that repels danger." The closer you try to get, the stronger the resistance becomes.

And luckily, this one is even more simplistic than the Great Spirit of Darkness.

"……That was close. I never thought getting near the temple would cause something like this."

From now on, I'll have to recognize that approaching the temple itself is dangerous.

It's a pity I won't be able to visit this delicious restaurant anymore.

"Hikaru...? What's this membrane-like thing?"

"A barrier to keep danger at bay. Since that great spirit seemed to have me as its target, I had it erected. ...I'd have been devoured if it hadn't been for this."

"Devoured...? So, does that mean Hikaru was really someone beloved...?"

"No... I'd like to say that's not true, but I just can't be sure."

Is being 'beloved' essentially someone favored by a spirit?

From the way the conversation's going, it seems like that's exactly what it means.

"Refleia, what exactly is this 'beloved' thing?"

"Not knowing that... Hikaru really is a bit strange, aren't you?"

In other words, lacking common sense.

Well, that's true. I've only been in this world for a few months.

Should I just come clean like that Alex guy did, and admit I'm from another world?

Honestly, I don't see any point in hiding it now.

"Um... haven't you ever felt someone's gaze, even though no one was around, or heard laughter coming from nowhere? Haven't you had that experience?"

"Huh!? Oh, yeah! Why...?"

"Exactly! That's a sign of being loved. Spirits gather around those who are loved."

Could all those sounds—the laughter, the stares—really have been spirits?

Even mockery? Even curious glances?

So everything was just my imagination?

"I see, so I guess I'm one of those 'loved ones.' Probably."

"But I don't get it. If I'm a loved one, why can I use spirit magic...!?"

"C-Close, close!"

I panic as Refrea suddenly grabs both my arms with incredible force and rushes toward me.

But I'm completely lost about what's going on.

"The gazes and laughter Hikaru felt—they were all from tiny spirits. To hear their voices, feel their stares, and sometimes even see their forms... that's what it means to be 'the beloved one.'"

"So you're saying I'm that beloved one? And how does that relate to spirit magic?"

"It's not just related—it's that originally, the beloved one can't learn spirit magic."

"Why not?"

"Because whenever they try to make a contract, the Great Spirit eats them."

"Eek!"

"I mean, yeah, that makes sense. The Great Spirit today kept saying how delicious I looked, so tasty, so tasty."

"I think the Great Spirit from the dark forest said something similar too."

"The Great Spirit loves those who are beloved. Hikaru too... be careful. If it's a Great Spirit bound within the temple like today, that's one thing, but if it's a Great Spirit out in the wild and it finds you, you'll be devoured."

"Ah... yeah. Got it. I'll be careful."

I know what I'm talking about...

That embodiment of darkness was indeed the Great Spirit of Darkness. It was trying to devour me completely.

If the barrier stone hadn't worked, I'd be dead.

No, even today, I don't know what would've happened if I hadn't had the barrier stone.

Maybe I could've escaped to the labyrinth, but if it had pursued me seriously, I don't think I could've gotten away.

"Well, anyway, does that mean there's some connection between being beloved and spirit magic?"

"Yeah. That's what 'the one beloved by spirits' means. Originally, spirit magic is about harnessing the power of spirits. In Hikaru's case, I think there are dozens of spirits willing to lend her a hand, far more than we have. There was this old joke among my sister and me—'If someone beloved by spirits could use spirit magic, they'd be unbeatable'... I never thought it'd actually be real..."

"I guess that's how it is..."

"Hikaru. Do you know how many times a spirit mage can use magic in a single day?"

"No..."

"Three to ten times. Even the most skilled only manage around fifteen. Pushing beyond that would cause you to pass out."

"Seriously...?"

I never thought the difference would be so great.

I'd love to say that 'Spirit's Favor' at thirty points is what makes the difference, but considering there's a great spirit enemy out there, it's probably a mixed blessing. It's a tricky situation."

Still, it's ironic—being loved is a burden.

I'm the one who's disliked, after all.