539 - - Episode 537 Scouting

After making snow bunnies and snow dharma dolls, everyone made kamakura and enjoyed hot pots and pans in them as much as possible. It was the first time for Belle and Gina and the others to experience snow, and we are very grateful to the intermediate spirits who made the snow fall.

It was fun playing in the snow yesterday.

Above all, the hot pot we had at Kamakura was delicious.

Nabe is a dish that tastes best in the cold season, I guess. Stew, oden, gratin, etc. are also good in winter.

And there are more kinds of nabe. Curry nabe can be made even now, and oyster nabe and mizutaki look delicious.

But it is hot all year round in this continent. There is no time to enjoy good food in winter.

We need to take countermeasures.

"Yuta, what are you worried about with a serious face?"

"Hmm?　Yeah, I was just thinking about it.　No one is here but Sylphy?"

I thought we were all having breakfast. .......

"Belle and her friends went to play in the snow, Gina and her friends went to train to be a necromancer, and Mel went to train to be a blacksmith. They all went to talk to Yuta, and Yuta answered, didn't he?"

Apparently, he was thinking and responding to the question.

I'm glad they're such good students.

Thanks to my concentration I have come up with a simple solution and time is running out, so let's get moving.

"Sylphie. I'm the child of the intermediate spirit who brought snow to paradise, do you know where I can find him?"

You don't know because Sylphy wasn't at the tea party when we met the spirit of snow?

"Oh, that girl. She's having breakfast at the cafeteria in paradise."

I know. That's the Great Spirit.

I'm going to go to the cafeteria. What about Sylphy?

"Sounds like fun, I'll go with you."

There's nothing interesting here, since we're simply going to scout for snow spirits, but it's reassuring to have Sylphy with us, so I don't mind.

We arrive at the Paradise Restaurant.

The cafeteria is busy as it is breakfast time, and Ruby and Onyx are busy moving around.

Well, it's so crowded that it might be a nuisance if we go inside to talk with them, and now that we see them, we wait until they come out.

Seeing the crowd, I have a small question, so let's kill some time by chatting with Sylphy.

Hey Sylphy! I don't know if it's too late, but why do the spirits have to be on time for dinner?　We don't have to eat when it's crowded, right?"

People are usually active at the same time of the day, and it is not surprising that the timing of hunger coincides with the time of the day.

However, since spirits do not need to eat, they do not need to eat at the time of congestion. Rather, it is better to eat when the restaurant is empty so that you can enjoy the taste of the food more slowly.

"It's for entertainment."

"Heh?"

I'm a little confused.

"You're eating and enjoying the taste, but at the same time you're experiencing and enjoying what you see in the human world in the same way."

"...... Oh, I see."

Is it OK if it's crowded because it's unusual, or is it more exciting if it's crowded?

It might be like going to a certain dreamland during the holidays even though you know it will be crowded.

"I don't care about that... I'm coming out... Don't you have to say hello?"

Oops, I should get back to what I came for. First, let's apologize for the awkward breakup last time.

No, it's not like I did anything terribly wrong, just that I was not very attentive, so it's probably not a good idea to apologize, as if I'm dredging up the past.

Let's talk to him as if nothing happened. If you feel like you should apologize, do so then.

Good morning, snow spirit!

"...... Good morning."

Hmm, what about this reaction?　This snow spirit is a cool type, so I can't read his emotion from his expression.

"Um, may I have a word with you?"

"...... if only for a little while."

After a little bit of consideration, an intermediate level spirit of snow responds to our request. Hmm?　He talked to a girl who came out of the cafeteria later and then came back to us.

Our eyes met, and I bowed to her. She had sparkling blond hair.

"I'm sorry to bother you in the company of your friend."

I know it sounds a little formal, but I'm a scout now. Trust is important.

No problem.

Thank you very much. I'm not sure if this is the right place, so let's go somewhere else.

The intermediate spirit of snow nodded at me and we moved to a new location. I could invite her to my house, but since she is a girl, let's talk over a cup of tea in the Rose Garden.

We enter the gazebo on a small floating island in the Rose Garden, take out tea and tea cakes from our magic bag, and prepare tea while making small talk.

When I told her that Gina and her friends had built the Rose Garden, she looked a little wide-eyed and surprised, so I puffed out my chest.

"So, I was wondering if you would like to sign a ...... contract or move to paradise?　The top of the island floating in the sky is unused, and I want you to turn it into a snow island."

If it's too hot all year round and you can't have good food when it's cold, then provide a cold place for it.

It's a simple solution, but only I, who can communicate with spirits, can change the environment, and I'm secretly proud of it.

"You seemed to be thinking about something, but that's what I was thinking about. I know you wanted to be able to play in the snow, mostly because Belle and Gina and the others are happy, but ...... aren't you being overprotective?"

Unusually, Sylphy is misreading my thoughts.

I'm not saying that there isn't a part of me that does this for Belle and Gina and the others. But my deepest desire is the pure desire to enjoy the delicious winter dishes......... Oh, I see.

I don't think even Sylphy would want to make a part of paradise snow all the time for that reason.

...... Let's say it's ostensibly for the sake of Belle and Gina and the others, just like Sylphy said. The snow will accomplish my goal.

"It's important to have a variety of environments, not to be overprotective."

"......Yuta. You're kind of smelly, aren't you?"

He has been acting suspiciously in an attempt to hide his true purpose.

"Sylphy, now is the time for you to talk with this snow spirit.

If I continue talking at this point, I'm afraid he'll find out something unnecessary, so I'll get back to the main topic.

"...... is the only way."

"So, Snow Spirit, how do you feel about emigrating?"

Sylphy agreed with me, so I returned to the main topic and talked to the snow spirit.

"No, I can't."

The answer was immediate.

"Well, why is it impossible?　If we can follow up on it, we'll follow up as best we can, okay?"

If you give up easily when you are told that it is impossible, you cannot be a scout.

Well, I'm not a scoutmaster and I don't have that knowledge.

I'm not a scout and I don't have that knowledge. I can make it snow and keep the environment somewhat stable, but it is difficult to keep changing the environment for a long period of time."

......I see, if you don't have enough power, I can't help you.

I thought it would be easy for intermediate level spirits to create a snow world, but it's not that easy.

I guessed their power from the fact that they could easily destroy a city, but I guess there is a difference between destruction and continuity.

"By the way, if I make a contract with you, won't I become a senior spirit right away?"

"No, I don't."

"...... Thank you very much."

Scouting fail!　Or rather, I was scouting off the mark. I apologize and leave the intermediate snow spirit.

Well, the intermediate spirit of the snow was pleased with the tea, and I learned a little more about intermediate spirits, so it was not a waste of time at all. Let's put it that way.

"Sylphie. Do you know of any spirits that fit the criteria I just mentioned for the intermediate snow spirit?"

If I can manage to negotiate on my own, I will, but if I have no clue at all, then I have no choice.

Dr. Sylphy, please!

"Hmmm, a snow spirit. If you think about what Yuta wants to do, he's more than just an advanced spirit of snow. ...... Why bother to ask him to sign a contract or stay?　Why not have the kids who came to visit create a snow field, like they did this time?"

"That's true, but I think it would be better if it were more authentic."

As I thought about welcoming the spirit of snow, my imagination grew more and more.

I built a log house on an island floating in the snowy sky and set up a fireplace and ate cheese fondue in front of the warm fire. Isn't it simply the best?

Of course, not only cheese fondue, but also one-pot dishes would be delicious.

"Hmmm..."

Sylphy is not very enthusiastic, which is unusual for her.

"Are you sure you don't know any snow spirits?"

"No, there are some, but they are ...... a bit troublesome spirits. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that."

Hmmm... Sylphy is so honestly a jerk .......

"Is she a dangerous spirit?"

I can't imagine any dangerous spirits from my experience, but there are a lot of spirits out there, so that doesn't mean there aren't any dangerous ones.

"They are not dangerous, but they are tiring to deal with.

Tired spirits. Is he a spirit with an annoying personality?　I'm not the type of person who wants to deal with spirits, but if they are spirits, we have a trump card. We can give them alcohol.

"Sylphie. I'll take care of him. Bring the spirit to me."

"No."

"What?"

Why?

"You said it would be tiring to deal with them. It's too much work to take him out. I don't want to."

Is that all you got?

...... give up already?　But I think building log cabins is a good idea.

You can order them from Labyrinth City, but I've seen log houses being built on TV, so there's no reason why you can't try yourself.

It is an event that will surely be a great success with pioneering tools, and it will be fun to build a log cabin with Belle and Gina and others.

"...... Do you know any other snow spirits?　I don't mind if it's not only Sylphy's acquaintances, but also Dineh and her friends' acquaintances?"

We can solve this problem by getting an introduction to a decent genie.

"There is no doubt that there are some, but they are ordinary spirits who respect the harmony of nature, which is unlikely considering Yuta's purpose. Also, Dine and the others have settled down in one place, so they have a lot of familiarity in the neighborhood, but with the snow spirits on another continent, I think they've only talked to them if they exist at all.

On the other hand, Sylphy has traveled all over the world, so she has a lot of acquaintances all over the world.

"Hey, Sylphy. Doesn't the term "ordinary spirits" imply that you are not ordinary?

Is it self-deprecation?

"Wind, water, earth, forest, fire, and life used to be common here. The conditions are different from snow, which never fell here in the first place."

It was like teaching a bad child, but I understood what he was trying to say. It is true that snow is not suitable for this place.

"...... I get it. Then I'll convince the spirit, and you take me to the place where the spirit is."

In addition to spirits, I will also bring back some of the liquors from various countries that Marie has stocked for me.

"Well, if Yuta wants to do it, I won't stop him.

All right, let's tell everyone we're going out and get going. It's just me and Sylphy.

"Oh yeah, Yuta. You might be thinking of using alcohol, but that genie likes alcohol, but he likes something more than alcohol, so it will be hard to convince him with alcohol.

My trump card became useless before I left.

...... what should I do, give up?