316 - - Out of the hustle and bustle

"Yes, all right. I have to go hunting for a while, don't I?"

Yes, please.

I'm visiting Paltin with a souvenir. A large steamed bun, the meat is cut into small pieces larger than minced meat and filled with bamboo shoots, dried shiitake mushrooms, onions, and a few scallops.

The difference between "nikuman" and "buta-man" is that in Kansai, where most beef is produced, the word "meat" means beef, so to avoid misunderstandings, the word "buta-man" is used for simplicity. It would be different if it became a product name.

"During this period, if you ask Liddell or Reno who are in the <>, you will be served a meal.

He looked at Reno and nodded seriously while holding a bun in his hand.

The warehouse is filled with meat and other dishes. I should probably add some ...... sweet stuff too.

"Mmm. The red ones and the green ones have been bothering me lately, so I'll let them stay."

Pertin is holding a steamed meat bun in both hands. It's bad manners, but I'm glad it looks so delicious.

I'll have one myself, soft and juicy. The juices are overflowing, but the dough is not sticky and the bun is nice and hot. The texture of the bamboo shoots is a nice accent to the large size of this dish.

"The spirits are so strong on the island of Homura that my staying a little longer won't have any effect on them.

"Is that so?"

Paltin called the spirits of the wind for us in the sky, come to think of it.

"Mm."

"First the wind spirits, then the water spirits brought by Soong the sea dragon, they never leave that island and they are increasing. Even though it is the wish of Master Pertin and Soong the Sea Dragon, this is not normal.

Leno's white smooth face is covered with bean paste.

"By the way, there was a spirit in the < that Val and Fal gave me as a housewarming gift ......."

They must still be there, maybe.

"From the gods ....... "The gods have commanded you to protect the island?"

"If there is a mighty spirit, the little spirit shouldn't leave it ......."

He stops eating and mumbles as they look at him.

"I didn't sign up for this."

Since we didn't sign a contract, we can't be commanded to protect it.

"Why?

A double shout.

"No, I just thought you might like the freedom."

Hey, maybe if you don't sign a contract, you'd rather not leave the ?　

I've felt their presence, but I've never seen them. I've left half of the production to Liddell and Kuzunoha, but I've been going to the island quite often to change the demons, so I've been keeping an eye on the <>. The other day, I planted trees and vegetables that I got in Fuso.

I forget the existence of summons during the battle because I go to attack by myself, and I didn't feel the need to make a contract with them. <, but it was not because I liked the but as a result of taking away my freedom.

<

I should also go and say hello to the spirit who has taken over the white role for me. I am in such a hurry when I go to the temple that I try to move quickly without stopping at the courtyard. Partly because the rabbit girl is hanging around if I'm not careful, not to mention Ekaterina, but more because I feel a little guilty and can't make up my mind to visit the temple.

I was bound to a spirit instead of a white one, and a freedom-loving wind spirit at that. Back then I was fine with it because I was crazy about fluffy things and didn't know much about the tendencies of spirits, but the longer I've been in this world, the more guilty I feel. .......　

So here I am in the courtyard of Fast's temple with a souvenir. The souvenir was a flower, for the wind spirits often like to see branches and flowers swaying. On the way to the temple, I meet Ekaterina for the first time in a long time and offer her a dish.

By the way, when I came to the courtyard, I didn't see anything in particular.

"Spirit of the wind, Mr. Winn, are you home?"

I knock on the big tree in the courtyard.

One knock is reserved for people of low status, two knocks are for urgent mail or business, three knocks are for family members or close friends, four knocks are for aristocrats or upper class people who want you to open the door quickly, and four knocks are repeated twice for royalty or millionaires.　

I don't know about the current business manner of knocking.

>

When I thought I heard a voice, I felt myself entering the event space. At the same time, a spirit of the wind appeared as if oozing from the trunk of a tree. The spirit took the form of a boy who looked like a piece of silver glass.

"It's been a long time. I don't know if you remember me, but I'm the one who caused you to take this role.

>

"Yes. You remember me well."

>

Winn tilts his head, a little strange the way he moves so softly.

"Since I've been forced to play the white role, I thought I'd see how you're doing."

He smiles in an echoed voice, saying that he is now a better genie.

I talk with Winn for a while and then go outside. He tells me that the giant tree in the temple is about to give birth to a spirit, which will take over the role after Winn. It is a good thing that the tree spirits do not like to move, and I am relieved that Winn's period of captivity is not as uncertain as that of White.

Feeling a little lighter, he strolls through the city. I'd hoped to relax a bit, but the surroundings are a bit unsettling. The production workers seem to be busy at their consignment terminals, producing consumables for the war against the empire, while the combatants are running around trying to secure materials whose prices have gone up due to the increased demand.

Even if they sell at a high price now, they will probably have to buy at a higher price when the fighting starts.

Residents are also busy buying food for preservation and other things that can be kept for a long time. I don't think the war will reach Fast, but it seems to be dragged down by the restless atmosphere of the gentiles who are participating in the battle and the knights who have drifted to Fast.

I've come to a used bookstore because I feel so restless.

"Hello."

"--Newly arrived on that shelf."

The owner, as brusque as ever, looks up from his books and points to a shelf with his gaze.

"Oh, thank you."

He takes a step ladder/chair to pick up the high wooden books and settles down in front of the shelves. I pick up a book with a title that interests me with one of the little << light> floating on it and start to read.

The owner, Cadiz, seems to have known my taste and has collected mainly old stories and fairy tales. I want to know about the time when Verna, the goddess of darkness, was still visible to people, about the sealed beast, and about the mysterious voice when I logged out of bed in the <>, and about the evil god.

Asha's Sealed Beast, Nue the Thunder Beast.

Val's Sealed Beast: The White Beast Hasfarn

Dru's Beast: The Mad Puppet Hamel

Ruscha's Beast: The Nine-Tailed Kuzunoha

Phalu's Beast: The Poison Bird Sirene

Tasha's Beast: The Serpent of the End, Krulkan

The Beast of Verus, once the Dragon King Bahamut

Verna's Beast: Alice, the Eternal Girl

I have already encountered Hasfarn, Kuznoha, Krulkan, Bahamut and Alice. The ones whose whereabouts are almost certain are Nue in the empire, Sirene who is said to live in a giant tree in the elven forest, and Tamamo, the body of the nine-tailed beast.

If Sirene is with the elves, Hermel must be with the dwarves or with the demons, but we have no clue.

The number of books related to the legend of the moon and Verus, the god of light, is abundant and growing again, as if Cadiz is also interested in them. The ruins that we stopped by on our way to Fuso one day seem to be related to Verna.

Hmm, this one is related to guardian beasts. I'm afraid I won't be able to finish my research if I start this one, so I'll have to put it off for later.

What?

I noticed that Kulurkan was making some kind of appeal with his face.

"Oh, you want to read it. Cadiz, I'm sorry, but do you mind if I read this book to you?

He turns to the counter where Cadiz is and asks permission, showing Kulkan the cuff. Kulkan, too, bows his head when his eyes meet Cadiz's.

"How do you read?"

After a short pause, Cadiz's mouth dropped open and the question leaked out, a perfectly reasonable one.

Then it was time for Krulkan, now in human form, and me to read. Normally Cadiz would not take her eyes off the book at the counter, but she seemed to be having a hard time concentrating on Kulkan and kept glancing at him.

Kulkan is not bothered by the glances and is absorbed in his book. There are not a few books at Kuzunoha and Liddell's place, but they will be bottled up when I get there. ....... When the empire thing is done, we will build a house for Kuznoha in . If we're going to separate the three of them, maybe we should build Liddell a lovely house like in a fairy tale, too?

"Cadiz, would you like some tea?"

It seems strange that I, the customer and not the owner, should be the one to invite them, but since I am the one who prepares the sweets and tea every time, it can't be helped.

Crispy cake made of chestnut flour instead of flour, with pine nuts. Bite-sized meringues of different flavors. Cadiz seems to like crispy cakes and chunky ones like apple pie, not so good with cream ones.

She usually drinks tea, but this time she opted for coffee since the meringue is a bit sweet.

"Lord, if it's coffee, I'll have it."

Krulkan never touches tea, but coffee seems to be safe for him. I wonder what Cal's criteria are for "safe" and "out.

"Oh."

The smell of sweetness and old books overshadowed by the aroma of the coffee Krulkan brewed.

He is dressed in a black suit with white gloves and a slightly long hem of his jacket. With his well-shaped white face and straight, well-proportioned figure, he is a butler in every way. Ur-Lolo was a maid, and what is it about these siblings?　I almost wondered what would happen to my sister, but then I stopped because I knew she would come barging in on me.

"So?　What's with the guy?"

After eating a meringue and sipping a cup of coffee, Cadiz asked.

"You must be Kulurkan, my snake.

"Krulkan ......?"

Cadiz makes a subtle face, as if she is fighting something she doesn't want to admit, as if she is very unconvinced.

"My name is Krulkan, the serpent of the end, sealed in Tasya. Thank you for allowing me to take this book from your collection.

Krulkan puts his hand on his chest and makes a graceful bow.

"......"

Cadiz froze.