33 - Thirty-one. Contract.

A great spirit of the forest and a lowly spirit of the forest have joined the group. It won't be long before vegetables are on the menu.

"I don't mean to sound so self-centered, but I'm planning to enjoy the other world, so I'm sure I'll only really be exploring it in small doses," he said. Are you sure?"

"Hmm. If you are willing to make some progress, that's fine. Besides, you'll do me a favor to some extent, won't you?"

"I don't have a problem with you asking me for favors, but please don't ask me to do anything unreasonable."

I won't ask you to do anything rash. I heard that you have a great magic bag, so it would be enough if you could make a contract with Sylphy and bring back some humus and beneficial insects when you go to the Vigorous Forest. If you can afford it, please bring back some animals as well."

That's about right. I don't know if we can store the beneficial insects in the magic bag, but we can put them in a bag and take them home. Can the animals go to ......?　Well, let's think about it when the forest environment is ready.

"I think we can do that much. It depends on Sylphy's cooperation.

I wouldn't mind that much either.

Then that's not a problem. I'm looking forward to working with you.

It's nice to meet you too. Oh, yes. This is a serious matter, so please don't get mad at me. When can we eat the sprouted plants?　I also heard that the spirits of the forest have the power to speed up the growth of plants. If I can make a contract with the fox cub, will they exercise this power?"

"I know you need food, so I won't be offended. First of all, those vegetables can be harvested in about thirty days. He can use the magic to speed up the growth, but he is still weak and it would be better if he could shorten the harvest time by half.

Oh, wow. Thirty days. Or 15 days and vegetables on the table. I'm getting excited.

"However, I don't recommend using magic in the fields now. The soil is not in balance due to the harsh environment, and rapid growth will rob the soil of its strength. It is better to allow the soil to acclimatize a little more.

The magic of growth is not going to allow for an immediate harvest. From what I've heard, Dolly can be harvested the same day if the soil is balanced.

"From the way the soil looks, I'd say that after about five more days of growing, it should be okay to use a little bit of magic. If we can get her to use a little magic every day, we may finally be able to harvest five to ten days earlier.

"That alone would help a lot. I'm a little nervous because I haven't been eating vegetables at all.

I eat seaweed, but I doubt that's all I need. Seaweed doesn't have many calories, right?　What about nutrition?　I also heard that it contains iodine or something like that. ...... What is iodine anyway? I'm worried.

"Please work with her and do your best. You'll be able to eat delicious vegetables. Then will you make a contract with her?

"I'd be delighted."

I looked at the little foxes, and before I knew it, in addition to Belle, Rain, and Tulu, Dine and Sylphy had joined in on the mooching. I wonder if it's safe.

"Belle. I'd like to make a contract with her.

"Yes, sir."

Belle flies in with a fluffy little fox in her arms. ...... A little girl and a little fox cub. I'm going to have as many followers as a little girl and a dolphin. I regret that I can't get a signal on my phone.

"Well, you look a little tired, are you okay?"

I'd like to mooch too, but I'm not comfortable mooching on a small animal whose fur seems to have lost some of its luster.

"Coo."

The vixen nodded weakly. Are you sure it's okay?

"Belle. Let her go."

"Yes."

Belle is a very good listener. The fox cub floats up to my eyes. Her dull eyes fixed on me. I love her pinpoint triangular ears. I'll have to think of a name for her.

Hmm. I'm thinking of a fox cub, a spirit of the forest. Fox...... what do you call a fox cub?　Was it Little Fox?　It would be difficult to use it as a name. Forest is Forest or ...... which is also hard to name.

A name about a fox would be good. I can only think of sky fox or sky fox or nine-tailed fox or ...... Tamamo. Tamamo...... sounds cute, but it is a fox. But she's going to be a very beautiful .......

"It's decided. Your name is Tamamo. It's the name I got from the most famous fox in my country. What do you think?"

"Cu."

He's accepted. We have a deal. I'm a little bit tempted, but I'll do my best to make her a good girl. In this world, Tamamo should be the name of a good fox.

"So we have a contract. Please be a good friend to her.

"Yes. We're going to live together. We're like family. Hey. Tumamo."

When I asked him, he cooed and licked my cheek. Oh, man. Rain and Tamamo are too destructive.

"Hmm. Family. I hope they have a good bond. Now, Tamamo, come here."

Dolly calls Tamamo up to her.

"The lowly spirit I brought here made a pact. We can at least celebrate. Tamamo. This is a celebration of the contract. It contains seeds of various trees and grasses. Talk with Yuta and do your best."

"Coo-ooh!"

Tamamo happily holds a package about the size of my two fists and wags her tail. So cute. But this celebration was prepared in advance in anticipation of the lack of plants.

I guess the celebration is a way out of the penalty. It's a big relief not to have to deal with the situation in front of Dolly. I hug Tamamo when she comes back and ask Dolly a question.

"Dolly. Is it safe to put this seed here right away?"

"I just saw that the soil is not well acclimated. It would be better to moisten it with water and give it time for about five days.

"Okay. Tamamo, do you mind if I keep these seeds?"

"Coo."

Yes. So I guess it's all good. I'll put it away. All right, let's go back. But the contracted spirits are a little girl, a dolphin, a boy, and a fox cub. ...... It's chaotic.

I'm not sure what to do.

"Yuta. I'm glad you got the contract. Shall we go to the next level?

Sylphy asks happily. Well, it's still mid-morning, so we have time. But Sylphy likes battle-related events even though she's not going to fight herself.

"Ah, yes. But first we have to see how well Tamamo can fight.

"Oh ...... sorry, Yuta. Tamamo is still a low grade spirit, so she can't fight if there is no green around her.

"Is that so?"

"Cu."

I don't like it. Tamamo's depressed.

"Tamamo. Don't be depressed. We could use all the help we can get growing plants. And when we get to town, we'll be close to nature, and you can help us then."

As if my words had changed his mind, he looked up and wagged his tail as if to say "I'll do my best. Is it that simple?

"Okay. Let's go level up. You stay here and keep an eye on the fields. Please."

"Coo!"

I feel like he's saying, "I got it. It's going to be okay.

"Okay. Come on, Tamamo. I've got a few things to discuss, so you go play with Bell and the others. Your buddies who have a contract with me. Belle, Rain, Tulu. Take care of Tamamo."

Yes, sir.

"Cue."

"...... touch."

The spirits, who had been watching the tamamos from a distance because they were in the middle of a discussion, got permission and came charging in. But was Tulu a Mohler?

"Tamamo has only just arrived. Don't be too rash."

Belle and Rain's cheery replies are conversely worrisome. I hope I'm not being too hard on them. We see the spirits running away and return to our discussion.

"So, Sylphy. So, Sylphie, we're going to the den of demons, aren't we? Tell me what to look out for and what kind of monsters are there.

Yes, that's right. The first one we'll go to is a small nest, so there won't be many demons. The nest is controlled by a skeleton knight, so it's mainly skeletons except for the zakos.

"Hmm?　Skeleton knight?　Is it the main body?　I don't understand. Can you elaborate on that?"

Sylphy explained it to me. They are the same undead, so their ranks seem to be the same.

Soldier. Sifu. Archer. Mage. Knight. General. King. It seems to depend on the experience of the person during his/her lifetime. In the case of a skeleton, a rich man can take the place of a king. Also, they say that Thief is not good against zombies, so you don't have to be careful.

The main body is that the strongest demon gathers monsters of the same kind to rule, so the upper level is often unified. However, the king and rich class have other demons of the same kind under their control and form a huge horde.

"I understand roughly. But how do you know who is in control of the nest?

I am the Great Spirit of the Wind. If there is air and I can make the wind blow, I know most things. It's hard to know if you're too deep, because you can't sneak the wind around. But you can rest assured that I've checked most of the nests."

"When have you ever checked something like that?"

"When I'm leveling up or when I have free time. I used to avoid the nests when I guided Yuta to them, so I knew where they were. I also looked at the inside of the nests, so I know most of the areas around here.

I guess I made you go through a lot of trouble without realizing it. I had no idea. I'm not in Sylphy's good graces anymore. I don't think I ever was.

"And a word of caution. Yuta's weapon is too powerful. You don't want to be buried alive, do you?"

Surely, a hammer smack in a subterranean space is scary. Maybe I should switch to a survival knife.　But it's easier to smash the undead.

"Can't we manage to bury them alive if we have Tulu?"

"We'll make it if we can get there in time. If we get there in time.

I'll be careful.

Hmm. Well, I'd better get going."

Nest attack. It's all right for leveling up.