124 - - Episode 122 Walking

As soon as we arrived at Izumi's house, we all decided to go out together.

"Together", "coo", "fun", "coo", "hoo", "hoo", "puggy", "puggy".

Sylphy wraps me in a cocoon of wind and we fly through the sky, but Bell and the others are very excited. They must be having a good time because they are flying in a different way than usual. Belle and Fuchu are flying around us, playing with each other.

Usually it's just Sylphy, me and Sara, but this time Dine, Dolly, Belle, Rain, Tulu, Tamamo, Fukuchan, Uri and Mame join us for the big move. I can understand their excitement.

Sylphy is going to have a hard time supporting Belle and Fuchu and the others, though. The fact that they can fly faster than usual seems to have contributed to the excitement of Belle and Fukuchan.

Thanks to Sylphy's boost, the destination is only a little over 3 hours away, even if it takes Uri, the slowest flying spirit, to get there, so it might be nice to travel like this once in a while.

You can pursue efficiency by summoning and repatriating, but you can't have fun if you only prioritize efficiency. I'm the type of person who prioritize efficiency in games, but if it's an outing event, I have to enjoy the trip to and from the event as well.

"Master, I have thought about this before, but the land of death is a big place, isn't it?

Yes, it's a big place. I heard that the whole land of death used to be full of nature, but it's so big that you can't imagine such a thing.

We are destroying the environment too much, a distance that would take more than a hundred days to walk is a barren ...... land, it's not funny.

"So it was full of nature, it must have been a wonderful place. Ah, so the master is going to cultivate the land and return the land of the dead to its former state. I was wondering why you live in the land of the dead.　I'll do my best to be of service to my master!"

"I see!　Master is awesome. I'll do my best!

"Kicka too!"

.................. Huh?　No, it's not. I don't think it's that big of a deal. I'm just a self-satisfied kind of guy. So don't look at me with those sparkly eyes. I have to find an excuse without compromising my master's dignity.

"Well, the land of death is very big, so what I'm going to do is just a start. It will take a long time, so take your time. If you try too hard, you'll get tired."

"Is that so?"

"Ummm, yes, it's hard to restore nature. If you rush it, it will be a waste of time. So you have to go through many generations to get it back.

I'm sure I could get by with the help of the Great Spirit, but I'm content to just slowly and painstakingly pioneer the area around me. I'll leave the rest to others.

"Master, you will be the cornerstone of the revival of the land of the dead!

Sara, I'm not a cornerstone. Where did you learn such a difficult word?　You seem very happy and excited. I'm a little confused.

I asked him to calm down gently, and he told me that he was happy to see his master doing something wonderful. He told me how happy he was to be able to become my apprentice.

I've won his respect in an unexpected way. I don't mean to, but I feel like I have to work a little harder now. Well, I'm going to continue to pioneer. If we take it easy, we can cover it up. Maybe.

Talking with Sara and the others, playing with Belle and the others, and avoiding Dine's tricks, we arrived at our destination in no time.

As we slowly descend toward a large, dense forest, we see a shimmering reflection of light.

"Sylphy, is that sparkling place a pond?"

Yes, it's more of a spring than a pond, but I chose it here because the environment is similar to the pond at the base. Is there a problem?

No, there is no problem. I'm just asking."

The Great Spirit of the Wind knows many places. As we descend slowly, the spring becomes clearly visible. It's quite large.

It's beautiful.

As Sarah and the others said, it is a very beautiful spring. If it weren't for the reflection of the light, I wouldn't have even known there was water. The green threads of waterweed trailing at the bottom of the water create a mysterious scene.

"omizu!" - "cue!"

Oh, Belle and Rain ran into each other. Are they comfortable?　Are you going to test me?　

"Whoo-ooh!" Cue!"　

Suddenly, Belle and Rain were swept away by the wind and slipped into Sylphy's arms.

"Belle, Rain, we're here to catch fish today, so don't make a fuss."

Sylphy gently warns Belle and Rain.

"Okay!" "Cue!"　

Belle and Rain cheerfully raise their hands in reply. They're good kids. But they were amused to be blown away by the wind, and started to ask Sylphy to do it again. Maybe he just found it more fun than to see how it felt to swim.

"I can't help it..." she said. Just one time."

As Sylphy said this, Belle and Rain were swept away by the wind and launched high into the sky. Just one time is too much momentum, unlike before.

"Kyafooooo!" "Queeeeee!"

For a moment I wondered if she was OK, but she was a spirit and sounded happy, so I guess she was OK. Oh, Tulu, Tamamo, Fuchu, Uri, and Mame are all gathered around Sylphy.

"Well, I guess it can't be helped..."

As Sylphy said this, Tulu and the others were launched high into the sky with joyful shouts. So that's what happened after all.

"Um, Master. Huku and the others are at ......."

Sara, Marco and Kikka are looking at me anxiously. Oh, yeah, of course. You must be anxious when the presence of your contracted spirit is suddenly launched high into the sky.

"Oh, don't worry. I just begged Sylphy to let me fly away for a bit, so I'll be back soon.

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, so I'm fine."

As we were talking, Belle and Rain, who had flown out with the first group, came back. Their overflowing smiles were proof that they had had a good time. The returned Fukuchan and the others, who had been launched, finally came back, and Sarah and the others felt at ease.

"Well, I know I'm getting off track here, but this is our destination for today. It's even more beautiful than I imagined.

Back on topic, we need to accomplish what we came here to do today. I pat the belles down and calm them down as they excitedly report how much fun they had.

"Deanne, Dolly, do you think the plants and creatures in this fountain will be safe in the ponds of the land of the dead?"

I asked, and Dine and Dolly checked the fountain and came to a conclusion.

"It's fine. The water is circulating in the spring, so it is not rich in nutrients, and there are only organisms that can be moved to the pond without any problems.

"Yes, it is. The plants are not particularly sensitive, so I don't think there will be any problem moving them.

I guess that's what Sylphy is all about. Water and plants are not his specialty, but he brings us to the best places just because they have a similar atmosphere.

"If it's all right, we'll collect from this spring. Are there any precautions?"

Nothing in particular. But it's better to collect them before you leave. It will take a long time to get back, so it's better to make the situation as short as possible for the plants and animals.

I see. That's true, too. I was planning to fly back home with everyone, but considering the creatures we caught, it would be better to repatriate everyone and return home as soon as possible.

"Okay, then, let's take a walk around the area, have lunch, and then go back to the site to collect the creatures.

It would be tasteless to go out to collect food and then rush back home without eating. This time we will be safe from danger with the Great Spirits, and we can relax and play in the forest.

"Master, are you sure we don't have to do anything?　I can't imagine just relaxing and taking it easy."

Marco nodded his head. He sounds like a workaholic businessman. Not a good thing to do when you're a kid.

However, I don't know what I should do even if I just tell him to play. Well, let's go on a treasure hunt for medicinal herbs. This is work too, but it would be better if we can make it enjoyable.

Do we offer a reward for being the best?　I don't know what kind of reward to offer. ...... Dragon steaks might be nice, but I'm sure Belle and her friends will bite, and if the kids who can't eat are kikkas, I'm ....... Geez, educators are awesome. I can't do it.

"Well, let's take a walk in the woods and look for medicinal herbs."

Just give them a safe purpose.

"Okay!　We're going to find a lot."

Marco is fired up. It's not exactly what I had in mind, but if it's fun, why not?

"In moderation. Let's get going."

For now, we take a walk around the fountain and ...... Sarah and her friends start walking toward the forest. Yes, medicinal herbs are easier to find in the forest than in the sun.

We walk through the forest, keeping an eye on Sarah and the others who are vigorously searching for medicinal herbs, and on Bell and the others who are flying around in the forest in all directions. Occasionally, there are animal spirits floating around in the forest. Are they spirits of the forest?

"Hey, Sylphy, I don't see many human-shaped spirits, are they rare?"

"Well, it's not that they are rare, but not many. The way of spirits is to be with nature, so it is true that the animal type is much more common.

Well, for me it helps that there are so many animal types. To be honest, I'd be scared if I saw a fluffy human-type spirit flying around while I was walking in the forest.

"I see. So, are there spirits that look like elves, spirits that look like demons, spirits that look like dragons, etc.?

With nomos, there are definitely dwarf-like spirits.

"Yes, most of the creatures are covered.

Spirits can be lumped together, but there is a wide variety of appearances. I'm the only one who sees ...... an amazing zoo if we contract with various types of spirits, so I guess it's impossible. A zoo with dragons would be very popular.

"Master, herbs!"

"Hmm?　Oh, thank you."

Marco quickly found some herbs and brought them to me. As soon as I take care of it, he runs off to find the next herb. He's full of energy.

It's good to be in high spirits. Sara, Kikka, Belle and the others seem to be having a good time, so I consider our walk in the woods a success.