episode_0129

I told Pinae everything.

The Blizzard Dragon was a fake I created.

A convincing fake based on the Blizzard Dragon we encountered in the Prophecy RPG.

I couldn’t mimic a spirit contract, so I didn’t,

but a temporary contract was something I could imitate, so I did.

“Why would you do that?…”

“Because it was the fastest way.”

If the Blizzard Dragon hadn’t been there, the elves wouldn’t have surrendered so quickly.

…That was part of it,

but honestly, I just summoned it because I wanted to beat up the elves.

The suffering I went through because of them in the Prophecy RPG was so intense that I needed to vent a little.

…That’s the truth,

but since the elves here are going to be my slaves—no, farm workers—

I framed it as something necessary to quickly revive the World Tree.

“Ahh…”

Pinae nodded with an understanding expression.

“Since the temporary contract is null and void now, you can make a contract with the World Tree, right?”

“Uh… Well…”

“Is there still something else?”

“It’s just…”

“Yeah?”

“Are you really going to make a contract with me?”

“Yes.”

“Someone like… me?”

“Yes.”

“Ah… Is it a temporary contract, then?”

A temporary contract.

Not a lifelong commitment,

but an agreement to stay together only until a certain goal is achieved.

In the Prophecy RPG, it was a temporary contract.

A promise to stay together only until the Demon King was defeated and the ending was reached.

‘Back then, that was the right choice.’

I only intended to lend my power until the Demon King was defeated,

and after that, I planned to return to the celestial realm.

A temporary contract was the correct answer.

But.

Things are different now.

“I want to make a formal contract with you, my dear.”

“……Huh?”

“Is that not okay?”

“N-No! It’s fine! I-I mean, I’d love to, but…”

“Hm?”

“Is it really alright for someone as great as the World Tree to make a formal contract with someone like me?…”

“On the contrary, it’s because it’s you that I want to.”

“Because of me?… Why?…”

“If I make a contract with you… Hmm…”

The World Tree spoke so softly that the other elves couldn’t hear.

“I’ll be able to stay by Lady Serena’s side. And if you marry Cain, I’ll get to live in the same house as Lady Serena forever.”

“Ah…”

Pinae understood.

She fully grasped why the World Tree wanted this contract.

“So… will you make the contract with me?”

“Yes! Though I’m unworthy, I’ll do my best from now on!”

“No need to feel burdened. I’m the one who wants to follow you, after all.”

“S-Still…”

“If there’s anything you need, just ask me like you would any other spirit.”

“Ah… Aah… How could I possibly…”

“It’s fine. Becoming the hands and feet of my contractor is a spirit’s duty, and it’s not even that hard.”

“B-But…”

“Hmm…”

The World Tree thought for a moment before speaking again.

“If ordering me around directly feels too burdensome, how about this?”

She summoned small spirits that looked just like her.

“These are like avatars created from my power.”

“A-Avatars?…”

“They’re close to high-tier spirits, so they should be able to handle most tasks on their own.”

“H-High-tier spirits?!”

“I’ve also given them varied attributes, so they’ll be useful in battle too.”

A fire-attribute spirit.

A water-attribute spirit.

A wind-attribute spirit.

An earth-attribute spirit.

A lightning-attribute spirit.

An ice-attribute spirit.

A light-attribute spirit.

The colorful little spirits hopped around on Pinae’s hand like playful children.

Wow…

Those are all high-tier spirits?

On the same level as the Blizzard Dragon?

‘Well, not exactly the same…’

The Blizzard Dragon is a high-tier spirit,

but in terms of combat ability alone, it’s top-tier.

Meanwhile,

the World Tree’s avatars are barely high-tier.

They’re not on the same level as a dragon.

But.

There are seven of them.

Individually, they’re weaker than the Blizzard Dragon,

but combined, they surpass it.

…Which means,

even just the avatars can unleash firepower beyond a dragon’s.

‘And if you add the main body’s power on top of that…’

Wow.

This is insane.

‘As expected of the World Tree…’

A godlike being indeed.

“But these… uh, what should I…”

“You can call them whatever you like. They’re high-tier spirits, but they’re simple avatars with almost no sense of self.”

Avatars without a sense of self.

They’re practically like robots.

No emotions,

just absolute obedience to commands.

They’re convenient tools you can use however you want.

So,

unlike with the World Tree herself, you don’t need to worry about offending them.

“R-Really? I can just… use them however I want?…”

“That’s right.”

“Ah… Hmm… Then…”

Pinae looked at each spirit and gave them names.

“You’re Red, you’re Blue, you’re Green, you’re Yellow, you’re White, you’re Sky…”

“Wait.”

“Huh?…”

“Wouldn’t it be confusing if this one’s also named White?”

I said, lifting Serena up.

Immediately,

Pinae bowed her head deeply in apology.

“I-I’m so sorry!!! How dare I try to name a spirit ‘White’ when Lady Serena is here!!!”

“Hey… If you react like that, the other elves will think it’s weird… Just act normal.”

“B-But…”

“Tch!”

“Yes!”

Pinae stiffened and quickly straightened up.

“Relax. I get that it’s hard, but really, you don’t have to be so formal. You can even think of me as just a dog.”

“J-Just a dog… How could I possibly…”

“I said it’s fine.”

“B-But…”

“If I were the type to get angry over something like this, Cain would’ve died ages ago.”

“True. If our Serena got mad over this stuff, I’d have been dead long ago.”

I said, pinching Serena’s cheeks and stretching them.

See?

Our Serena doesn’t get angry even when I do this—

“That hurts!”

Crunch!

“Ow!”

Serena bit me.

I must’ve pulled her cheeks too hard because it really hurt.

“Sorry. Here, have a snack and forgive me.”

“Hmph!”

After one treat, she immediately forgave me and climbed back into my lap.

“See?”

“I-I could never do that!”

“I’m not telling you to do this exactly. I’m just saying things much milder than this are fine.”

“She’s right. If you’re traveling with us, you’re basically our comrade. And if you get married, you’ll be family.”

“Family…”

“Just act like you would with family. Think of us as friends, or even as your mom.”

“Mom?… Ah… Uhh…”

“Whatever works. Just be comfortable.”

“Comfortable… Okay… I’ll try my best to relax…”

“Good.”

“So, about the spirits’ names… What do you want to do?”

“Well…”

Pinae thought for a moment.

At first, she tried naming them after colors,

but since “White” was already taken,

she needed something else.

“How about Burny, Splashy, Gusty, Rocky, Zappy, Icy, and Shiny?”

Fire spirit – Burny

Water spirit – Splashy

Wind spirit – Gusty

Earth spirit – Rocky

Lightning spirit – Zappy

Ice spirit – Icy

Light spirit – Shiny

…And so, their names were decided.

“Simple and nice.”

“R-Really?”

“For battle, short and distinct names are best for quick summoning. I think it’s good.”

Long or complicated names reduce combat efficiency.

Spirit magic requires calling the spirit’s name, after all.

Short and simple is the way to go.

“Now that the spirit contract is settled… Should we talk to the elves about something important?”

“Something important?”

“About the slave contrac—no, farm management. There are a few things to discuss.”

I plan to properly run the farm after defeating the Demon King,

but it’s good to lay the groundwork now.

How the farm will be structured.

What skills they’ll need to learn.

It’s better to explain in advance.

So, I handed them materials—

from elementary-level science books to advanced biotechnology textbooks, all translated into this world’s language.

“Ahh… Thank you!”

“We sincerely thank you for choosing us as Lady Serena’s workers!!!”

“Thank you for giving us a path to redemption!!!”

The elves’ reactions were fervent.

‘Well… I expected as much.’

The moment they touched divine power, their bodies burned.

They experienced firsthand that the Goddess of Light, Serena, had abandoned their race.

So,

they’d do anything for forgiveness.

If they could be forgiven, they’d do whatever it took.

And to these elves, I delivered a task that would please Serena.

Grow new fruits.

Research tastier vegetables.

If they succeed, she’ll forgive everything and embrace them.

…I even told them that.

Of course they’d be sincere.

So,

my work here is done.

The World Tree is saved,

the elf farmers are recruited,

and Pinae has joined us.

Time to head to the next village.

Pinae joined us with all her belongings packed.

“Are we leaving today?”

“Yeah.”

“But it’s almost evening… Wouldn’t it be better to rest and leave tomorrow?…”

“Well… Normally, yes.”

It’s close to dusk.

If we walk for about an hour, we’ll have to prepare dinner,

and then we’d end up sleeping outdoors.

Under normal circumstances, resting in the elf village and leaving the next day would be the smarter choice.

…That’s the common-sense approach.

But.

Our hero party is different.

“Cain! It’s ready!”

Alice had prepared a more refined version of the ice rocket from before—a means of transportation (?)

With this, we can reach the next village in under 10 minutes.

‘The problem is…’

It’s so fast it feels like my insides will twist.

But.

I’ll endure it.

The faster we progress, the sooner I can spend my first night with Marianne.

So, mentally prepared, I boarded.

Pinae boarded too.

“What is this?”

“It’s like a carriage… but listen.”

“Huh?”

“You might want to brace yourself.”

“Brace myself?”

“This thing is so fast you’ll feel like puking.”

“That fast?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ll be fine. Elves are the fastest race in the forest. We don’t get sick from speed.”

“I think this speed is on a whole other level…”

“Is it?”

“Well… You’ll see.”