78 - Episode 76 Floating Spirit

We left the labyrinth city and arrived at the forest. Before returning to the land of the dead, we must bring back Sara and Marco's spirit contract and a lot of living soil.

"Hey, Sylphy. Can we take the soil and trees from the forest without permission?"

Yes. As long as you don't take it all from one place at once. If you ask Tulu and Tamamo's opinion, you can be sure of that.

"Yes, sir. Tulu. Tumamo, I need you to tell me what to do.

I'll do my best.

Tulu shows his motivation by clenching his fists. Tamamo, the spirit of the forest, is also fired up in the forest that is his home. Her cute fluffy tail is also buzzing with enthusiasm.

I don't think foxes wag their tails. ...... Well, I guess it doesn't matter since they are spirits. Rain is a dolphin, but it flies on land. It's not worth thinking too much about.

"Belle and Rain, you're to guard me and Sara and the others. Sylphy, bring me a floating spirit that Sara and Marco can contract with."

"Goei. Beru ga mamoru no!" Cue cue."

Belle and Raine thrust their right hands and right fins high in the air and proclaim. They're so reliable. Are they practicing their synchronized gestures?

"You're a floating spirit of wind and earth. Can you ask Sara and Marco if they want to sign up for wind or earth?"

"Okay. Well, Sarah and Marco, have you decided whether you want to sign up with the wind or the earth spirits?"

We talked about it yesterday. I want to make a contract with an earth spirit.

Oyo?　That's a little unexpected. I thought Marco was a wind spirit since he was interested in flying.

"Then Sarah must be the wind spirit. Is that a problem for Sara?"

Yes. Yes, I'm fine.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you, Sylphie. I'm counting on you.

Yeah, I'll be there.

Sylphy watches her fly away.

"But I was a little surprised because I thought Marco was going to make a contract with the wind spirit. You wanted to fly, didn't you?"

"Yes, but I've heard that earth spirits are the best protectors. I'm going to protect Sara and Kikka."

Oh. You're a man. Marco seems like a hero in this way. Sylphy said that a floating wind spirit can use a wind wall... but a floating spirit's defense is weak... It seems that a floating spirit doesn't have enough power to fight against physical force with wind. Marco... You listened well...

Then earth spirits are the right choice.

I can't help but grimace at Marco's head. The chemomimi is wonderful, it's just a shame that the first person to touch it is a boy. Oh, he shakes my hand off.

"Master. Don't treat me like a child!"

You're a child. You know, that age when you want to act like an adult?　

"Oh, sorry, sorry. What kind of beastmen are Marco and Kikka, anyway?　A dog?"

"It's not a dog. It's a wolf!"

I see. Wolves. ...... Hmmm. It's hard to tell the difference between a wolf and a dog. But to Marco, it's a big difference. He strongly denied it.

"Oh, so it's a wolf. I won't make that mistake again. Well, I'd better go get the dirt. Everyone."

Following Tulu and Tamamo's instructions, we scoop up the soil with the magic shovel and store it away. As they do so, the shovel is covered with a few insects that did not fit into the magic bag.

There are a lot of insects even though I only scooped a little. The only insects I know are earthworms, but I guess it is a sign of the richness of the forest. I have to take these bugs home with me. I took out the cloth bag I bought at the general store and turned around to ask Marco to help me, only to find a stunned Sara and the others.

"What's going on?"

I asked, and Marco reactivated.

"Master is a spiritualist, isn't he? How can he lift such a large amount of earth with such a big shovel?　Does being a spiritualist make you stronger?　What's more, why does the shovel change size?　A magical tool?"

I see. I didn't explain the pioneering tools at all. I guess they are more powerful because they are at a higher level, but that doesn't really matter.

"The higher your level is, the more powerful you are, but it doesn't matter much in this case. I'll explain the details when things settle down, but for now, please help me here.

He hands Marco a cloth bag and asks him to fill it one-third full of soil. He pours the remaining insects from the shovel into the bag.

"Master. Are you going to eat this worm?　I don't think it tastes very good."

Please don't say things that creep me out. I know there are cultures that eat bugs, but I don't want to experience it. Sara and Kikka don't seem to like it either. I'm a little relieved. I'd cry if they said that bugs are a treat in the slums.

"I don't eat them. Bugs are important collaborators in making good soil, so we have to keep them."

Sarah and the others nodded ambiguously, as if they understood or not. If you see the land of the dead, you will know what I want to do. For now, I'm going to concentrate on collecting the soil.

Escorted by Belle and Rain, we store soil and wood as instructed by Tulu and Tamamo. If I get enough wood, I want to build a log cabin or something. I don't know how to build it, but will it work?　Or get an introduction to a carpenter?

Hmmm...but I'm worried about the pain of a wood house in such a dead land with so much sun. I hope there is some kind of paint to protect the wood.

It would be better to have a carpenter build the house at first. It is tempting to build a lot of things by yourself, but it would be safer to start with a shed. Even if you have good tools, you can't expect to build a comfortable house out of the box.

The magic axe will come into play for the first time in thinning. I think a magic saw can easily cut a tree, but if you are going to cut down a tree, you should use an axe.

If you lightly hit the tree with the magic axe to mark the tree, the axe will slide right into the trunk and go right through it.

I think ...... that pioneering tools are so good that they all seem to be the same. What's the difference between an axe, a saw and a survival knife?　Looks?　Is it a matter of mood?

...... Well, okay. Easy is good. A magic bag, a hammer, a chisel, a hacksaw. There are many other tools that are easy to use. You will see the true value of pioneering tools in time. ...... maybe.

The occasional demon attack is killed by Belle and Rain in an instant, so Sarah and the others, who were scared at first, now don't mind and help me with the work.

On the contrary, how much do you get for killing goblins? How much for killing orcs? How much is this for killing a demon I don't know..." he muttered.

"How does Marco know so much about the price of demons?"

"I studied because I was planning to become an adventurer when I had enough money to register as an adventurer."

He had been eavesdropping on adventurers by accident. It's amazing that he can even tell the difference between a demon and an animal. He can even recognize simple medicinal herbs. I think I'm losing in terms of basic knowledge as an adventurer. Just as I was feeling a little down, Sylphy came back.　

"Welcome back, Sylphie. Are those the spirits of the wind and the earth?

A small owl and a small wild boar are flying behind Sylphy. Very cute. Like Rain and Tamamo, I wonder if there are many spirits imitating children of animals.　Of course they are cute.

Come to think of it, all the floating spirits in the labyrinth city and in the forest are cute. If spirits could see, they'd be very popular.

Yes, they would. I brought a girl who is conscious and seems to be a good match for Sarah and Marco."

So there's chemistry. Can we call the little owl a pea owl?　She is about the size of two clenched fists, with round, fluffy eyes. Very cute. It's a bird and a spirit of the wind.

The little boar is Uribo. They are about the size of a small dog and have a distinctive cucumber-like pattern on their bodies. His dull eyes are cute. Boars are spirits of the earth. When he grows up, will he become a wild boar like the one in the movie "Jiuri"?

"Thank you, Sylphy. You guys are welcome too."

I reach out and pet the pea owl and the cucumber. Animal children are so cute that it's almost cowardly. At first, they were surprised to be touched, but after I took the time to stroke them, Mame Owl and Uribo squinted their eyes pleasantly.

"Yuta. You're getting too carried away. You're not the one who's going to sign the contract, are you?"

Sylphy's voice, which sounds like she's about to give up, brings me back to my senses. Yes, it was. Oh, no, little animal. They have terrible power.

"Uh-huh. Yes, it does. Sara. Marco, come here. Can you see the genie's in the bottle here?"

"It's hard to feel their presence compared to Sylphy's and Belle's, but I understand.

Sarah answers. I don't know if it's hard for you to feel my presence, because I can see it as it is.

"Because I'm a floating spirit. They're still weak. They are very cute kids. I hope they grow up together.

I give Sarah and Marco a detailed description of their appearance and ask them to think of names. If they name it and the spirit accepts it, the contract is complete.

I hear that the contract will be a little more complicated without my or Sylphy's mediation, so Sara and Marco are lucky.

Sara and Marco are pondering over the contract. Meanwhile, Bean Owl and Uribo are surrounded by Belle and her friends. It's good that they are getting along well, so let's leave them alone. But I'd like to mix with them a little.

"Okay, I've made up my mind!　I'll be Uri."

Oh, no. Did I get pulled in by the fact that I taught my hometown to call a kid boar "Uribo"?　Hmm. Is it bad to give too much advance information?

"I'll be Huk-chan."

This one was influenced by my saying bean owl. Hmm. Well, okay. As long as Sarah and the genie are okay with it.

"Okay. Then let's start with Sara."

We collect Huku and Uri from Bell and the others, and have them stand by in front of Sara and Marco.

"Okay, Sara. You see the genie is in front of you. Tell them the name you thought of.

"Yes, sir. Let's see. Your name is Huku. Is that correct?

Fuchu nodded his head. I guess we've got a contract. As usual, it was a little too easy, and a little unsatisfying.

"Master?"

Sarah is puzzled by the lack of response. I know exactly how you feel. Fukuchan is jumping around happily, but Sara doesn't know what's going on. Just for Sara: ......ppu.

"Don't worry. We have an agreement. Try communicating the way I taught you yesterday."

"Yes, yes. Yes, sir. Huku, come here.

Sara is calling out to Huku, who is flying around her, explaining to her how to communicate. Marco is next.