508 - - Five hundred and sixty. - Crow?

When I went to Marie's store in the labyrinth city to stock up on goods for use in paradise, I found her in a big pinch. After some trouble, I solved the problem by wholesaling additional rejuvenating herbs, but I felt sorry because I suspected a lot of things.

"Marie's face, it was a big mess.

When we left the general store after the business meeting, Sylphy muttered something to me.

(......Yes, that's right.)

It was the first time I had ever seen a grown woman cry seriously, and the look on her face was indescribable.

I guess she must have been pushed so hard by the upper class aristocrats she was doing business with, but I guess even a beautiful woman can't follow up a big cry with tears and snot running all over her face. I learned something.

I have heard somewhere that a woman's tears are beautiful, but I guess it is just a matter of degree.

I'm feeling a bit down, so I'm going to join the others and head out to camp.

（Sylphy, is everyone already gathered at the Adventurers' Guild?)

While I went to a business meeting, Gina went to her parents' diner and Sarah and the others went to the Adventurers' Guild to greet Mr. Lee and the others. Belle and her friends are out for the usual food stall tour.

I've told them that we may move after the business meeting, but I wonder if they've gathered yet.

"Bell and the others are still looking around the stalls, and Gina is still at ...... at her parents' house. Shall I call them?"

(No, it's a family reunion, and I want to say hello to Lee and his family, so you can call them a little later.)

What happened to Gina's parents' house, which they said was under renovation?　I don't want to see it, but I don't want to see it. ...... Yeah, I don't want to see it. Maybe it's better for my psyche.

（How are the belles?　(Does he look bored?)

"They're having fun looking around at all the new stalls. Maybe they'll drag me around after this."

I was planning to go to camp after saying hello to ...... Lee and the others, but it doesn't look like we'll be leaving anytime soon. Hmm?

(Sylphy. Are there that many new stalls?)

I thought that at one time, when Bell and his friends went out to search for food stalls, they were sulking because they couldn't find any interesting stalls.

"There seems to be quite an increase. Some of the food stalls are serving the dishes and desserts that Yuta taught Toruku.

Ah, so the food I taught Mr. Toruku is making its way into the food stalls now. It's just a start, but I'm a little proud if I've played a part in increasing the number of food stalls in the labyrinth city.

(Are there curry stalls too?)

"...... I don't see any curry."

(I see.)

I guess they didn't have curry yet. Well, they have only just started to have a stable supply of spices, so you can't serve it at a food stall, can you? It depends on Betty's efforts.

On the surface, the labyrinth city doesn't seem to have changed much, but it seems to have changed unexpectedly without our knowledge.

I'm looking forward to visiting the stalls with Belle and the others later.

While we are walking around, feeling good about the little changes, we see the Adventurers' Guild.

Come to think of it, the Adventurers' Guild has changed a lot since I first came to the labyrinth city. ...... No, the Adventurers' Guild is different, I think it has been forced to change, not changed. It's not going to be a very beautiful memory and I'll try not to think about it.

I go through the door of the Adventurers' Guild with irresponsible thoughts. Well, is Sara and the others in the training grounds?

"Hey Yuta, look at that. The counter."

As I was about to move to find out where Sara and the others were, Sylphy called out to me happily.

Was there something in the Adventurers' Guild that piqued Sylphy's curiosity?　I think it's pretty rare.

My curiosity is piqued as well, so I look at the counter, expecting something interesting to happen.

...... hmm?　There is a boy who is somewhere between a boy and a young man, but there doesn't seem to be anything unusual about him.　

(What's wrong with that boy?)

"It seems that the boy has a talent as a genie, and has come out of the village to learn genie magic."

Hmmm, is that it?　Does it mean that my training as a spiritualist has been well-received and people are flocking to my place?

I'm glad to hear that, but I don't understand why Sylphy seems to be so happy that a boy is coming to her to learn the art of the spirit. I don't remember her putting that much effort into training spiritists.

"So, look in the shadows over there."

Sylphy pointed her finger at me as she continued talking, oblivious to my question.

I looked in the direction Sylphy indicated and saw ...... well, is that a raven?　I can't be sure because of its white color, but I think it's a raven. Albino, maybe?

It's probably a spirit, since it's in the guild and it's not making a fuss. Hmm, that white raven staring at me looks like the boy at the counter.

(Does that mean the boy and the white raven already have a contract?)

There's usually a way to make a contract with a genie without my mediation, right?　Huh?　Come to think of it, do spirits have albinos?

I think melanin deficiency or something like that was the cause of albinism. ...... Melanin in spirits?

"No, it's not. That white raven is a lowly spirit. That boy can't make a contract yet."

(What do you mean?)

There are a lot of things bothering me, and I don't quite understand what Sylphy is trying to say.

"That raven is a spirit of darkness, but he seems to like that boy a lot. I don't see much talent in him. ...... Why is that?　My gut is whispering to me that it's going to be very interesting."

A white raven, but a spirit of darkness?　No, I don't mean to say anything about the color difference, but isn't it wrong to have a white raven for a spirit of darkness?

What is it, a hunch?　Is Sylphy so excited by a hunch?

"This is going to be fun, so I'm going to call you over here for a minute. It's going to be difficult for you to speak, so I'll call Bell and the others back to translate."

Sylphie is talking fast and furious. She seems confident in her intuition and is very aggressive. But, I don't think it's necessary to call back Bell and the others who are having a good time.

Even if it's easier for the little ones to communicate with each other, there's nothing that Sylphy and her friends can't understand, right?

Ah, Sylphy did something, a white raven noticed us and flew towards us.

"Well, isn't that the Great Spirit of the Wind? What does the wind want with me, the ruler of everlasting darkness?

The white raven that flew over spoke normally. Huh?　I thought a lower level spirit in animal form could understand language but not speak it.

And he seems so pompous. I wonder if they are spirits of higher rank, even though they are small.

"Oh, you can speak even though you are a lowly spirit. Then you don't have to call Belle and the others."

Huh?　Are you still a lowly spirit?　If Rain, Tamamo, and Moon can't speak, but the white raven can, does that mean he has a higher spec than Rain and the others?　It's kind of complicated.

"Of course. When you're as good as I am, it's no big deal to control the language. So what do you want?　If you have any idle business, even the Great Spirit will have to answer to me."

...... I feel like I'm speaking slower than the humanoid Belles. What do you mean?

"Hmm, I'm sure it's not a trivial matter, so why don't you tell us a little bit about it?"

Sylphy, you said you had a hunch, or that it would be interesting, right?　How can you say it's not a trivial matter? I'm more nervous than you are.

"Hmm. ...... Well, that's all right. I'll listen, and you can tell me."

"Right. First of all, I would like to ask you something before going into the main subject. It must take a lot of mental strength to be able to manipulate words so well with a lower level spirit. Do you have any tips for me?　Of course, I'll pay for it."

Maybe I'm the one who pays the price. But it's a good question. I'll be very happy if I get the hang of it and can talk freely with Rain and the others.

I'm willing to pay whatever price as long as I can do it.

"I see, that's what you wanted to know. But I'm sorry."

"You're sorry?"

"Oh, there's no trick to it. I'm just special.

I shouldn't be able to tell a raven's expression from its face, but somehow I can see it clearly. This white raven is making a very smug face right now.　

"What do you mean?"

"You want to know?"

"Yes, tell me."

"...... Given our greatness, it is not surprising that you would be interested. Very well, I will tell you."

You white raven, you look very proud.

"When I was a child, I was a mere spirit in my infancy. But even then I understood. I am special."

It sounds like a story that makes me want to pout. But the white raven doesn't seem to be interested in me, and Sylphy seems to be enjoying the conversation, so I won't interfere.

"And I was not wrong. When the time of evolution came and went, I had become the great master of everlasting darkness, clad in white and free with words!

...... eh?　What do you mean?　I can't keep up with you, the story is moving too fast, you know?　Reason.　What made you special?　You said you were wearing a white robe, but when you were a floating spirit, you were just an ordinary black raven?

"Well, thank you, that makes sense."

What?　I don't get it! I don't get it at all!

"So, why was the great ruler of the ever-darkness paying attention to that boy in the Adventurers' Guild?"

What, Sylphy, you're just going to leave me here to get on with it?

"You're a curious girl. I'll tell you what you need to know. One day I had a feeling. That's him. He had the potential to be great, to be like me."

...... I look like a normal boy to me, okay?

"Okay. I can help you with that. I'll help you."

Sylphie?

"I do not need help from the great one, but I am not so narrow-minded as to disregard those who wish to cooperate with me. Very well, I allow you to cooperate with me."

"Uh-huh. Thank you."

...... It's about time we were allowed to give it our best shot at tweaking, right?