Ch.33The Eve of the Storm (1)

Ruide was lying by Dellin’s Lake as usual, gazing up at the sky.

The weather was beautiful. Could it possibly be any more splendid than this?

Ruide’s daily life was as peaceful as the weather. Three days had passed since that incident, but nothing unusual had happened.

Just like always, he was being completely lazy, rolling around on the grass by Dellin’s Lake. He ate when it was time to eat, slept when he wanted to sleep, and chatted with Hersy when he got bored.

It was truly the daily life Ruide had always wished for.

However, Ruide knew that this tranquil daily life was like the calm before a storm.

Just as the weather is clearest right before a typhoon hits.

“I wonder if the sky might fall down.”

“Pardon?”

“The sky is so high up, it would hurt if it fell.”

“…You must be very sleepy.”

But worrying about things that haven’t happened yet is foolish.

Rather than vaguely worrying, one should prepare properly.

But that’s too much trouble.

Ruide mumbled absentmindedly.

“So Hersy, it’s stupid not to go outside because you’re worried the sky might fall.”

“…I don’t think normal people worry about the sky falling.”

The words of a genius are hard to comprehend. Hersy seriously wondered if there was some profound meaning hidden in their conversation.

Of course, what Ruide was actually thinking was quite different from Hersy’s imagination.

‘I need to put tape on. I should check if the windows are closed properly. And maybe put some bubble wrap on top just in case…’

What will happen, will happen.

He could sleep comfortably here in the peaceful Dellin’s Lake, but the great wave called “story” was steadily advancing even now.

The second episode would begin soon.

Ruide decided to prepare thoroughly.

To prevent the windows from breaking in the approaching storm…

**

Thinking he should get moving, Ruide, who had been napping, slowly opened his eyes.

Right beside him, a fox was curled up, gently swishing its tail.

Ruide grabbed the fox by its armpits and lifted it up.

“Your name is Fox.”

[…Why suddenly?]

“Because I like foxes.”

[…..]

Ruide put the fox back down on the ground and got up.

After stretching once, he did some light exercises.

Having had enough sleep, he was thinking about getting moving. But perhaps it was because of the lazy afternoon?

Growl~

He was hungry.

There’s a saying that even a visit to Diamond Mountain is better after a meal.

Let’s eat first and then get moving.

“Hmm.”

Ruide looked behind him.

Zzz…

Hersy was lying on her side, sleeping. She was smiling—she seemed to be having a good dream.

‘I’ll wake her up later.’

He didn’t particularly want to wake her now.

At that moment, Miho transformed into human form and hugged Ruide.

Her hair tickled his face.

‘She doesn’t seem to want to let go.’

Miho had been sticking close since right after their contract. Whether in fox form or girl form, her behavior was the same.

She said she had missed human warmth.

Fortunately, she didn’t talk as much as he had expected. Whether it was because he had warned her or not, she mostly just said things like “play with me” and “pet me.”

It wasn’t as annoying as he had thought it would be, so he was somewhat satisfied. Regardless of her true nature, her outer appearance was that of an Arctic fox, which was also satisfying.

“I really do like foxes.”

“Play with me. I’ve been waiting for so long.”

“Wait, I’m going to eat.”

Ruide dusted off his bottom.

“By the way, what can you do?”

“You’re asking quite early. It’s already been three days since we made our contract.”

Miho said with a proud expression.

“I specialize in mental abilities. Because I’m a spirit of the stars.”

‘…What does being a star have to do with mental abilities?’

Ruide just accepted it.

Anyway, if it’s mental abilities, that’s an unexpected gain.

Mental magic was extremely difficult. As seen before when he incorrectly cast the Vow of Covenant and it turned out differently than intended, it was magic that didn’t have much to do with innate mana capacity.

“You’re unexpectedly useful.”

“Right? I told you Miho is very useful! So in that sense, how about a formal contract? Hehe.”

“I wonder how much a used spirit costs. It would be nice if it’s expensive.”

“I apologize for my slip of the tongue.”

“Good that you understand.”

Ruide looked at the dejected Miho and asked.

“Is that all?”

“…I can use basic magic effects that humans talk about. Among them, I’m a bit better at healing magic. And…”

“And?”

Miho lifted her head suddenly and grinned.

“I can become an adult.”

He could immediately understand without asking.

There was a flash of light all over her body, and Miho grew larger.

She didn’t just grow in size but matured. The appearance of a perfect adult. Her chest was quite large.

“How is it?”

If her girl form had looked very plain, now she looked even seductive.

Ruide said firmly.

“Don’t grow taller than me.”

…It was his only complex. Miho became gloomy again and returned to her small form.

“You don’t like it?”

“No. Mental abilities will be useful. You mean things like manipulation, right?”

“Yes. To put it more simply, I can turn lies into truth.”

Ruide imagined going to a jeweler with a stone and utilizing Miho’s abilities.

-My goodness, such a pure gem!

-What a beautifully refined gold!

…But no matter what, he had his pride as a gentleman, so he decided not to commit fraud.

“Can you catch fish too?”

“…Fish?”

“Yes. Today’s lunch is sushi.”

“What’s sushi?”

“Secret.”

“…I’ve figured out your speech pattern now. When you’re too lazy to explain, you just say it’s a secret, right?”

“Secret.”

“…I was right.”

Miho somehow lost her energy and slumped.

“I’m confident in catching fish.”

“Don’t catch too many. One is enough.”

Ruide said worriedly.

He was concerned about destroying the ecosystem of Dellin’s Lake.

“Got it!”

Miho answered energetically and ran toward the lake. Just before touching the water, she transformed into a fox and jumped in with a splash.

‘She’s a spirit after all, so she won’t drown, right?’

Ruide decided to trust Miho and walked into the forest.

Recently, he had been eating poorly. With various things happening, he often ended up eating at the dining hall.

The food here was terrible. To begin with, the menu only consisted of stew or steak.

The stew had no taste at all, and the steak tasted like chewing rubber. Basically, the spicy, sweet, and salty flavors that should be in food didn’t exist at all.

Because of that damn detoxification magic.

He just couldn’t get used to that taste. So today, he decided to cook for himself.

The reason the menu was sushi was because the ingredients were simple to obtain.

Of course, there was no rice here, but there was an excellent substitute.

“Rice or mushrooms.”

Ruide looked around searching for mushrooms.

“It should be around here.”

He was looking for faintly glowing mushrooms. Unlike ordinary mushrooms, they had a high flavor density, with a taste and texture similar to slightly sweet rice.

‘There it is.’

He quickly found the mushrooms, but also unexpectedly found someone else.

“Oh?”

Nia Ryan.

A first-year student in the same magic department, a girl with talent in alchemy.

She spotted Ruide and waved brightly in greeting.

“Nice to see you!”

Ruide walked over to the girl and asked.

“Why are you stealing someone else’s mushrooms?”

“…Are these yours too?”

“No, actually I don’t mind if you take them.”

Nia slumped with a dejected expression.

But soon her eyes lit up with curiosity as she asked.

“What is the Fairy of Dellin doing here?”

“Getting those.”

“…Is someone sick nearby?”

“Does someone need to be?”

“Well, gena is the main ingredient for potions…”

That was a fact he didn’t know. Ruide only remembered the mushrooms for their taste.

“Y-you didn’t know.”

Nia laughed awkwardly. Ruide approached and harvested the mushrooms.

“I’ve actually come looking for you several times, but you were never around. I’m lucky today! To see the Fairy of Dellin.”

“I’m human.”

Ruide answered indifferently. He harvested about five mushrooms and stood up.

Looking at Nia with her sparkling eyes, he thought.

‘Of all people, I had to run into her. I wanted to avoid her until the second episode started.’

The second episode, ‘The Commoners’ Rebellion.’

Nia Ryan was a key figure in this episode.

True to the episode title, commoners band together against injustice and cause a disturbance to occupy the ‘Every Library.’

It was somewhat natural for commoners to target the Every Library. In the original story, it was described as “what was bound to happen eventually.”

Because the nobles had occupied it first and prevented commoners from using this library.

The Every Library was a library in name only—it was essentially a storage warehouse filled with various materials.

With only nobles being allowed to use such a place, commoners were angry—

And under someone’s leadership, they united to make this library accessible to commoners as well.

The person who incited this was Nia Ryan.

“You’re still interested in alchemy, I see.”

“Huh? Yes! Classes are boring, but research is fun!”

“…Is alchemy the only thing you’re interested in lately?”

“Um…?”

The reason she moved, despite being called a power player from the prestigious Ryan Count family, was just one.

Because it seemed fun.

Nia Ryan incited the commoners to attack the library purely for entertainment.

That’s why Ruide asked.

“Nothing? Like something fun?”

“Something fun…?”

Nia tilted her head.

‘Has it changed, or…’

Had the story changed due to his intervention?

Ruide didn’t care either way.

To be precise, he was fifty-fifty on it.

If the second episode proceeded, it would be good to have confirmation that the future he knew would continue.

If it didn’t proceed, it would be good to have one less worry.

But still.

“Ah, yes. I did find something as interesting as alchemy recently. But why? Are you bored too, Ruide? Want to play with me?”

It seemed that what was meant to happen would happen after all.

Ruide turned around silently.

He planned to eat his mushroom sushi first before dealing with anything else.