38 - (xxxvi) Terms and Conditions

"Were you satisfied with your vegetables?"

Yes, it was very satisfying. I had never grown vegetables in my hometown before, so I learned a lot and had a lot of fun.

"Hmm. "Hmm. That's good. So I guess you know what I'm talking about.

"I know about the expedition, but why Dine. Nomos. Why is Dory here?　You don't always attend, do you?"

I have a bad feeling about this. I have a feeling they're up to something.

"Yuta, that's the thing. If you can make a contract with Sylphy on this expedition, it means you can make a contract with us too.

Since we are the same Great Spirit, does that mean we're okay in terms of magic?

"Oh, yeah. So we'll be able to make a contract."

"So, you know. Yuta, I know you want to make a contract with your sister, so I'm going to tell you the conditions!"

Deanne said with an exuberance that seemed to burst out in the background. Do you want to ...... make a deal ...... with Deanne?　I feel like Rain would be enough.

".................."

"Yuta. Why don't you look at me?　You want to sign up with your sister, don't you?　Hey, are you listening to me?"

Well, I thought I'd let you know the terms of our agreement.

"Don't go on with your story, Nomos."

Deanne, shut up for a minute. I don't want to talk about it.

Ah. I sulked. He's sitting there with a puffy face, mumbling. Are you sure you want to go on like this?

"So, about the contract, my condition is that you expand your current base. You plan to add more space around it when you run out, and I'll give you a contract if you expand it to twice the size of the current one.

Two times around means ...... well, five lengths and five widths each, which means a space of 500 meters square, right? We've built two blocks now, so there are 23 blocks left. ...... seems too big.

What are you going to do with that much space?

"I don't know yet. If it works out, it should be interesting.

This definitely has something to do with the daytime sanctuary. Do we have to do it?　Just thinking about it, the amount of rocks needed is endless.

"I'm fine as long as you bring enough forest soil and beneficial insects after signing the contract with Sylphy. If you want to expand the site, please bring more soil and beneficial insects.

This is a condition for staying here, so it's not much of a problem. Even if the quantity increases, it won't be that much of a hassle since we have the magic bag.

"Dolly's conditions are not that different from the original conditions, so that's not a problem."

"Here. Dine is all that's left. Now tell me your terms.

"Yuta, I really want to make a contract with your sister!　I won't tell you unless you say so."

Dine, with her cheeks puffed out, expresses that she is very angry with me. Is this a pattern that the conversation will not end unless I break?

Dineh has been a great help to me. Sometimes I think it's a bit troublesome, and I honestly wonder if a contract is necessary. ...... But more than anything else, I can't take the chance that if I break at this point, Dine's smug face will explode on me.

Sylphy looks at me with a troubled expression. Nomos urges me to hurry up. I guess I'm the one who's going to break.

"Ah, I want to make a deal with Dine..."

"By all means?"

He glances at me for confirmation. She's beautiful, though. Normally, a contract with a beautiful great spirit would be a matter that I would be happy to make with all my hands, but I guess it is Deene's quality to be disappointed.

"Yes, by all means."

"I can't help it now. Yuta is a big sister, you can't help it.

Are there any veins floating on my forehead?　Too bad physical attacks don't work on spirits. Hmm?　I can touch it, so can I touch it with my bare hands?

"Don't be a hussy, just tell me what the conditions are."

"Nomos, you have a temper. You'll never be popular with the ladies.

Oh, the veins appear on Nomos' forehead. I guess spirits have veins too.

"Deene. We need to make plans for the expedition, so hurry up."

"Okay. Your sister's conditions are... You're to channel the water through the area that was expanded under Nomos's condition. If you do it right, I'll give you a contract.

He's so good at it. I mean, he looks great.

"Oh, yeah, I'll do my best."

I thought of a way not to complete the canal, but I don't want to ...... make a fuss about it, because I'll be the one who breaks it in the end.

"Will Sylphy sign the contract as is?"

"I promised to sign a contract when my magic power reaches B rank. I won't make a mistake.

Sylphie assures me without changing her expression. Thank you. The contract with Sylphy is like a lifeline for me, so the more conditions, the harder it is.

"In summary, we need to expand our base. Securing soil and beneficial insects. If we build the canal, he'll sign the contract.

Yeah, that's the way it's going to be.

There's nothing we can't do, but it seems like a delicate and time-consuming process. ...... Well, we'll just have to do it.

"Well, I guess we'll just have to work at it, but if we can get a contract with Sylphy first, we should have no problem getting into town, right?"

"Yes. We'll go to the town anyway, because we need to secure the soil and so on. Besides, it's a condition of the contract, so we don't have to do it if we don't have to. It's not like there's a deadline, so you can do it at your own pace.

I see. It's nice to know that I don't have to push myself too hard.

"Would Sylphy be happy if these conditions were met?"

"Me?　Yes, it is. It's going to be interesting for me, too, and I'm glad."

If Sylphy is willing, I'll do my best. I'll try to repay her as much as I can, even though she is the one in the stronger position this time, since she didn't add or change any conditions.

I will do my best. I'll do my best."

"Hmm. Thank you very much.

Once the story is set, Dineh. Nomos. Dolly got up and left. She is completely uninterested in the expedition. But it would be a shame if the magic stops rising after all this talk. If there is a God, please give me at least a B rank in magic.

"Well, Yuta. About the expedition, the place I'm thinking of is the underground space where the rich are located, about three days' walk away by Yuta's foot. It's a mine site, it's big and there are a lot of enemies. What do you think?"

"Rich is the guy who said he's often the Lord instead of the Skeleton King, right?　You've never even had a fight with a general.

"I'm not afraid of my abilities, but would you like to fight with a general?"

Well, I feel safer that way.

It may be a futile procedure if I am good enough, but my life is on the line, and I want to take the steps I can.

"Yes. I understand. But there's a reason we skipped a step. There's no skeleton general within a certain distance. So they'll be general zombies. Yuta doesn't like zombies. Are you okay?"

I see. You're very considerate. I certainly don't like it. I don't like it, but if it's even ...... a little bit less risky, I'll take the general zombies. I don't like it.

"Well, I certainly don't like it, but I'll take it one step at a time. Just suppress your disgust and you'll be fine. It's worth it, and I'll take the magic stone."

"Okay. We'll fight the general zombies on the way to the mine site where Rich is. Is that okay?

Yes, that's the plan.

"Well, we'll leave in the morning. Good night. Don't oversleep.

"Yeah, good night."

**

Okay, Tamamo. Take care of him, okay?

"Coo."

His tail and ears are floppy. He's probably sad to be left behind. We can summon him on the way, but it's not the same as repeatedly summoning and repatriating him just for the sake of loving him.

"Tamamo. When this expedition is over, perhaps we can go to town. I will have a lot of things to do in the forest, so please help me then, Tamamo."

He seemed to have accepted my persuasion and gave all the members of the expedition a big smooch and a cheek rub. I can't get enough of their fluffy fuzziness. We leave Tamamo with our hair pulled back.

I can't wait to see her again.

"At this rate, it's going to take significantly longer to get there. ......"

"Yes, but there are not enough rocks to fulfill the requirements of nomos. If there are any rock piles, we have to collect them, and the number of nearby rock piles is getting low."

"Well, it's more efficient this way. But if we can get a contract, we can fly right up to the rock pile, right?"

"It would not be a problem if I could raise my magical power enough to make a contract during this expedition, but the pace of my magical power is slower than my physical strength. There is a possibility that I won't be able to reach it. And I hate to say it, but it would be hard if you were injured or something on the way back.

"Okay. We'll take it easy."

Thank you.

Sometimes I see Belle, Rain, and Tulu playing, and I collect rocks while being healed. I am happy to see Belle on Rain and Tulu flying next to me to cheer me up.

Whenever we find a rock pile, we return it to the cleared land and continue our expedition. I am happy to see that the mobile home has come in handy for the first time.

It took us five days to arrive at the general zombie's dwelling, whereas it would have taken two days according to Sylphy's plan. We need rocks to bring the soil back to life, but we have to cut down the rocky mountain that has endured for so many years. I wonder intensely whether we are regenerating the environment or destroying it.

I was escaping from reality a little by looking at the gaping hole in the ground, but I had to get in there to get started. Let's go kill some general zombies!