Ch.159159. Sione and the Spirit (1)

After finishing the contract with the spirit, we finally left the clearing and returned to the carriage.

“Then I hope you and the lady have a pleasant meal. I’ll see you next time.”

“Yes, I’ll see you next time.”

Finally bidding farewell to the elves, I approached the carriage that Sione and I had arrived in.

In front of it stood Diolia, the reliable knight of the County.

From the way she was lingering at the entrance of the carriage, it seemed she had come looking for either Sione inside or me with some business.

“Lady Diolia.”

“Ah, Ray. I haven’t seen you around for a while. Did something happen?”

“I was just having a conversation at Friel Arielt’s request.”

“Hmm… you went alone, without Sione? When there was no answer, I peeked inside the carriage and saw that Lady Sione seemed to be sleeping.”

Diolia revealed a slightly disapproving expression.

She looked around briefly to check if there was anyone else nearby besides us.

Fortunately, there was no one else to be seen in our vicinity.

“I’ve also heard from the head of the family about the elves, who are unfamiliar friends of our County… It would have been better if you had gone with Lady Sione rather than alone.”

It seems Diolia had also learned a bit about the elves from Ainel Sianella before setting out on the carriage journey with us.

I smiled with subtle satisfaction at her commendable attitude and replied.

“Don’t worry. The reason Friel came to me this time was merely an extension of the advice on spirit magic that we couldn’t finish at the County. I just received some brief advice and help.”

“An extension of advice.”

“Yes. Thanks to this opportunity—”

Wiggle wiggle.

I felt something moving on top of my head.

“I was able to meet this spirit.”

—Kyung!

The spirit that had been hiding, lying flat within my hair, suddenly popped out.

It looked like a cotton ball, with a rather cute appearance.

Diolia, the calm and rational knight, momentarily had her attention completely captured by the spirit.

“A spirit…?”

“Yes, and I’ve also gained quite a bit of information about the Great Forest… I’ll explain everything when I’m with Lady Sione later.”

What I heard from Friel Arielt was no small matter.

From the potential discrimination against people from our County within the Great Forest, to information about the Ianet family who, unlike the friendly Arielt family, harbored opposition toward us.

It would be good to give a heads-up to Sione and Diolia, of course, as well as other trustworthy people on our side.

Diolia, seemingly fascinated by the spirit, nodded while keeping her gaze fixed on the small cotton ball above my head.

“…I see, I’ll wait for that explanation then.”

“You seem intrigued by the spirit.”

“Well…”

Indeed, Diolia nodded gently in response to my question.

“Since many legends describe spirits as powerful beings that bring typhoons, floods, and droughts, I was expecting something… well…”

“Cuter than you thought, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I never imagined it would look this adorable.”

“Would you like to see it up close?”

“Would that be alright?”

“Of course.”

I raised my right hand to my head.

—Kyung?

“Would you come down for a moment?”

—Yaang.

Hop!

The spirit jumped energetically from the top of my head.

Flap flap!

Fluttering its small wings, the ball of fur landed on the back of my hand and puffed up its fur proudly as it looked at Diolia, as if showing off.

…Though it ended up looking rather insignificant due to its appearance. But it probably thinks it looks impressive.

—Nyoong…

When I just stroked the back of its head a little, it lowered its posture and lay down on its belly on the back of my hand.

It seemed quite different from the majestic spirit that Diolia had imagined.

“Hmm…”

Diolia folded her arms and covered her mouth with her right hand, looking at the spirit with a serious gaze.

As if determined not to forget, she even bowed her head in front of me, intently taking in the spirit’s appearance with great solemnity.

Whoosh!

She suddenly lifted her head to look up at me.

“May I pet it once?”

A gaze with a hint of determination.

Despite appearances, Diolia seems to have a weakness for cute things.

“Of course.”

Well, it’s not like the spirit will wear out from being touched. I extended my hand to bring her and the spirit closer.

She stretched out her hand, calloused from daily sword training, toward the spirit.

She seemed quite excited, with the corners of her mouth slightly turned up, which was unlike her.

But the spirit, oblivious to her feelings, suddenly turned its head away.

—Kyung.

Flap flap!

The spirit floated up into the air and returned to the top of my head.

“Ah…”

All that remained was Diolia with a blank expression, her eyes meeting mine as she had been reaching for the spirit.

“Hmm. That’s unfortunate.”

Diolia quickly returned to her dignified knight persona and cleared her throat.

“Well, the meal will be starting soon, so wake up Lady Sione and come out. Understood?”

“…I will comply.”

“I’ll see you later.”

Diolia, perhaps embarrassed by her actions, quickly turned and left for where the others were.

I entered the carriage while having a one-sided conversation with the spirit on my head, asking why it had avoided her, but receiving no answer.

“As expected.”

Our master was still fast asleep despite the considerable time that had passed.

I wonder why she sleeps so much.

“Lady Sione, please wake up.”

First with words.

“Please wake up.”

Then I shook her shoulder.

“Mmm… why…”

Even after shaking her several times and poking her cheek with my finger multiple times, Sione still seemed to be struggling in her sleep.

I let out a small sigh and spoke with a bit of force in my voice.

“Wind. Strong enough to wake her from sleep.”

—Kyung!

The spirit, as if understanding, floated up into the air and began to flap its wings.

No matter how much it looked like a ball of fluff that might fall over if hit with a flyswatter, a spirit is still a spirit.

The spirit that had made its nest on top of my head created wind according to my command.

“Ah… wait, what is this…! R-Ray!”

As the unexpectedly strong gust hit her face, Sione finally opened her eyes wide in surprise.

At last, her heavy eyelids opened and blue pupils appeared to the world.

And the first thing those eyes of hers focused on was not me, but a white fluffy cotton ball.

“W-what is this moth?”

The spirit had suddenly become a moth.

* * *

After finishing lunch with our usual peaceful chatter, Sione and I returned to the carriage.

Normally, the carriage that Sione and I rode in alone would have a rather calm and quiet atmosphere.

But this time was a bit different.

Because there was another small but noisy friend in the carriage besides Sione and me.

—Kyaang!

The cotton ball spirit was completely absorbed in flying around and exploring the interior of the carriage, finding it fascinating.

Sione’s eyes were shining just as brightly as the spirit’s glowing eyes.

Her gaze followed the spirit as it flew around effortlessly with its small wings, and her head turned this way and that accordingly.

“Ray, did you say it’s a spirit?”

“Yes, a lesser wind spirit.”

“…How did you get the spirit? You said you’d tell me in the carriage during lunch.”

“I’ll explain now. It’s—”

I began to explain slowly to Sione.

Starting with the scolding about why I had separate conversations with the elves without confidence, the opinions about us within the Great Forest that the elves had shared and Friel had added his own views to, and finally about the spirit.

By the time I finished talking, my mouth felt parched.

Since the content was quite substantial, there were many questions and I gave many answers, which took quite a bit of time.

I found something to drink from what was prepared in the carriage and moistened my throat.

“So… that little one flying around is the spirit that will be with you from now on?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“It looks so fluffy… can I pet it?”

“Of course.”

Since the spirit and I had formed a bond, and I could instinctively read the impressions it allowed at times.

I strongly wished for the spirit to return to me, and the spirit, which had been on a small adventure in a corner of the carriage, turned its gaze toward me.

When I raised my hand, the spirit flew over and climbed onto the back of my hand, rubbing its cheek against it. This must have looked quite cute because Sione, just like Diolia earlier, had an expectant expression as she slightly extended her hand.

But then.

Tap.

—Kyung!

“Huh…?”

The cotton ball spirit knocked away Sione’s fingertip with its short leg.

The spirit then climbed up my arm onto my shoulder and stared at Sione.

Then suddenly.

—Heng.

It turned its head away and began rubbing its face against my cheek.

I stroked its head with my index finger, roughly meaning for it to back off a little.

Sione looked at the spirit and me alternately with a dumbfounded expression.

“Really…”

She even let out a voice filled with exasperation.

“Ray.”

Sione spoke with a tone mixed with slight irritation and jealousy.

“I don’t like that thing.”

…Why on earth are you jealous of this cotton ball spirit?