Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Armor Is Armor

A witch follows her instincts.

When she feels like staying in, a landslide may block her usual path. When she feels like handling herbs, she’ll often create her best potions. Such hunches are common, even when they conflict with established teachings or long-held beliefs. Most of the time, witches follow their intuition.

But intuition isn’t always correct. It’s a vague sense, often impossible to explain, and it can easily lead to nothing. Because of this, witches rarely try to make ordinary people understand their “hunches.” They probably wouldn’t understand it anyway.

It’s just a feeling, after all.

This time, I had no proof that the armor Rafa wore was a “Spirit’s Armor.”

It was just a feeling, something that reminded me of my teacher’s words.

The Spirit’s Contract was similar. No matter how many times a non-witch attempts it, nothing will happen. This ritual only works for witches, not even for magicians. I knew it wouldn’t work for anyone else.

Yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should try.

Truthfully, I, Tatiana, had never performed a Spirit’s Contract before. I wasn’t even sure witches could perform it.

‘What if it doesn’t work? What if nothing is solved…?’

I kept a calm smile, but the moment I saw that armor stuck to Rafa’s arm, my heart nearly stopped.

It wasn’t normal.

I knew that the instant I saw it.

Something terrible was within that armor. I didn’t know what it was, but it sent shivers down my spine.

Fragments of stories from my teacher rushed through my mind: objects that drain life, cursed items that bring misfortune, artifacts that turn humans into something else.

My teacher knew of many strange and dangerous things, so as a child, I thought the whole world was surrounded by terrifying forces.

The forest, I believed, was the safest place.

When my teacher realized my fears, she told me it wasn’t so, but that childhood dread still lingered.

The sight of that arm armor brought it all back.

It was something brutal, something sorrowful, something that chilled me to the core.

Only when I laid my hand on it, hiding my fear, did I feel a faint sense of relief.

The armor was dreadful, but beneath that dark layer, there was something gentle.

Perhaps it was what they called a spirit.

Tatiana took a deep breath.

‘It’s okay. I am a witch.’

She murmured these words inwardly.

A witch drinks tea.

It wasn’t my favorite flavor, and the bitter taste made me want to spit it out, but ever since my teacher told me that’s what witches do, I’d learned to manage at least one cup a day.

Even now, I hated this strange-smelling tea.

Every sip made me want to gag.

Yet I could smile through it now.

Because I was a witch.

A true witch, as recognized by my teacher.

‘I must trust my intuition.’

The Spirit’s Contract would help Rafa.

I wasn’t sure exactly how, but I felt it would.

Somehow, it felt as if something within the armor was whispering, wanting to connect with him, to escape that eerie, confining place and reach out to him.

“Well, let’s begin.”

I rested my hand on the armor, and Rafa, looking weary, nodded.

“I’ve been waiting. Please, hurry.”

“Alright, I’ll really start now.”

My heart pounded with nerves.

A sincere, desperate wish is the strongest force there is.

Recalling my teacher’s words, I offered a deep, inward prayer.

‘May fortune and the spirit’s blessing find this man.’

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Tatiana placed her hand on the armor and took a deep breath, visibly tense.

She looked like a grade-schooler attempting a high-school science experiment, and I hesitated, wondering if I could really trust her.

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Then again, no one else I knew had any knowledge of curses or spirits.

Setting off to find an expert now didn’t feel wise; this armor felt ominous, and there was no guarantee I’d find anyone. Tatiana was my only option.

Sigh.

“Hear me, spirit. I command thee to heed my voice and transcend the laws of this world,” she began, then suddenly paused, eyes widening.

Pulling her hand from the armor, she waved me over.

Right, I had forgotten—

This contract was mine to perform, not hers.

It seemed odd to need to touch it, since it was already attached to me, but I got her point and placed my left hand on the armor.

Tatiana began whispering the incantation softly.

“….”

The words felt like something straight out of a fantasy novel, and I hesitated to speak them.

“Hurry,” she urged.

With no other choice, I repeated her words quietly.

“Hear me, spirit. I command thee to heed my voice and transcend the laws of this world. Lend me thy power and move as I desire. While you dwell in this realm, I am your master, and beyond all laws, you will obey my voice. Your strength shall be mine, and my soul shall be your friend. Hear me, follow me, obey me, spirit.”

The embarrassment was unbearable.

If a hole had opened in the ground, I would’ve crawled into it.

I chanted the spell despite the humiliation, but nothing happened.

No light flashed, no whispers filled my mind, not even a gust of wind stirred.

What’s going on?

My shoulders slumped in disappointment.

So the Spirit’s Contract, whatever it was, really didn’t work after all.

I’d have to find another way.

As I pondered, Tatiana continued studying the armor before lightly tapping it with her fingertip.

Then it happened.

The area she touched emitted a clear, resonant chime and began to crack.

“What the…?”

Klang, klang, klang.

Right before my eyes, shards of metal began to break off the armor in a series of clear, ringing sounds.

Piece by piece, the armored plates broke apart in a cascading effect, disassembling as if reversing the order they’d been forged. Before long, not a single fragment remained.

“It worked…”

Tatiana whispered in disbelief.

She looked at me with a wide-eyed expression.

“It worked! The contract is complete! My goodness…”

Her eyes were round as coins, even wider than before.

“Rafa… could you be a witch?”

“No. I’m a man.”

“Witches aren’t defined by gender. It’s just what you are.”

Seeing the armor shatter, she seemed to think I might indeed be a witch.

But I didn’t think so.

At any rate, I was relieved that the cursed armor was gone… or so I thought. I stopped mid-motion, testing my arm.

I bent it, straightened it, pressed it against my side, wiggled my fingers.

“….”

Wait a second.

As my expression hardened, Tatiana tilted her head in confusion.

“What’s wrong?”

She seemed thrilled by the success of the contract, smiling brightly.

But now was not the time for smiling.

I reached over with my left hand and touched my right arm.

It was there.

I couldn’t see it, but something was there.

As I fumbled around, Tatiana extended her hand to check my arm.

“What’s wrong, Rafa? Um?”

As her fingers drew near, her eyes widened again.

“Something is there, isn’t it?”

“….”

“Armor?”

“….”

The armor lay in shattered pieces on the ground, yet I still felt something around my arm.

Not merely stuck on—it was as if I was still wearing the armor.

Tatiana felt around my arm and looked up at me.

“Uh… the contract was definitely completed. The armor broke, after all.”

“Then why is this happening?”

Tatiana offered a sheepish smile.

“I’m not sure, but maybe… it’s because it’s armor?”

“….”

“A spirit’s armor.”

Great, then nothing’s really been solved, has it?

But then again…

If it’s merely air—an intangible shield—then maybe it’s harmless. It may feel tangible now, but it’s still just air.

At least the kind of curse Hans had, which made him unnaturally strong, should be gone.

Yeah, I was probably fine.

The embarrassing ritual did command the spirit to obey me, so it should be under control.

My heart raced.

I felt a trickle of cold sweat.

To calm myself, I reached for the teacup on the table.

Maybe drinking some tea would settle me down.

The tea was cold now, the steam long gone. I slipped my fingers through the handle.

Snap!

The handle broke.

“….”

I stared at the piece in my hand.

Was this… real?

Was I dreaming?

I opened and closed my hand a few times, then quietly stood and walked over to my trusty axe.

The teacup wasn’t mine.

I’d always been strong, so maybe it was an accident.

But this axe was my own, something I’d grown up with, practically an extension of my hand.

No one knew how to wield it better than I did.

After a deep breath, I gripped the axe.

Snap!

It broke.

“Rafa, what incredible strength you have,” Tatiana murmured awkwardly, scratching her cheek.

She flashed me a nervous smile.

Hey, wait a minute. It wasn’t the time for chuckling as if nothing was wrong.

“Tatiana, are you certain the Spirit’s Contract worked?”

“Yes.”

“Is there any proof?”

Tatiana shook her head.

“It’s really just a feeling.”

I swallowed, struggling to find the words.

“…Could it be that the curse is now active?”

Otherwise, I wouldn’t suddenly be breaking everything I touched.

Tatiana shook her head emphatically.

“No, absolutely not. You definitely formed a contract with the spirit. It’s not a curse or anything malicious—I don’t sense anything harmful in that arm.”

“….”

Then what was going on?

I didn’t blame Tatiana. It was my decision to let her try, so the responsibility was mine.

But I was thoroughly confused.

‘If this isn’t a curse, then what is?’

As I stood there, dazed, Tatiana came over and touched my right arm.

Her palm hovered slightly above my skin, unable to touch it directly.

What was this?

Tatiana held my arm gently, then sighed.

“I’m sorry. I don’t fully understand it either. It’s definitely something good… but it’s definitely not harmful.”

She looked so dejected that I instinctively reached out to comfort her—only to stop myself just in time.

If I wasn’t careful, her head—

The terrible thought flitted through my mind.

After confirming that my left hand was still normal, I sighed in relief and patted Tatiana’s head with my left hand.

“It’s alright. We’ll figure something out.”

“Thank you. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not your fault.”

Chirp!

Above me, Rella cried and leaped onto my shoulder, adjusting her wings and pecking at my arm.

Instantly, something invisible burst outward, throwing Rella back.

“Chirp!”

Rella flapped wildly, hovering in the air before fluttering to the ground.

She didn’t seem hurt.

Tatiana looked at me, wide-eyed.

“I… I saw it—Rella’s feathers were pushed back, like something invisible created a barrier around you.”

“….”

Could it be?

“Armor… is for protection,” I muttered softly.

The Spirit’s Contract might have created some kind of invisible shield around my arm. It could usually appear in armor form but spread out like a barrier when anything touched it.

Tatiana puffed her chest with pride.

“See? It’s not harmful. It’s protecting you, I’m sure of it.”

That could be true.

But still…

If it’s a shield, fine. But why did it break everything I touched?

Sigh.

I exhaled deeply.

For now, it seemed wise not to touch anything with my right hand.

Otherwise, I might cause a disaster.

Chirp!

Rella climbed back up to the bed, then leaped toward me again, flapping her wings to reach my arm.

Since it happened once, it was probably safe.

Watching her, I noticed a definite stirring of air just as she neared.

Rella’s gray feathers hit the invisible barrier, then bounced back, as if repelled by a soft, resilient surface.

Chirp!

Was she enjoying herself?

With another delighted chirp, she rolled midair and flapped her wings, bouncing off the shield and tumbling back down.