56 Episode 55: Contracts and Promises (2/2)

”Yeah? He said he decided... what?

”Shall I return home too for a long time? There's no shadow left.”

”... eh!? Are you going to come to Wangdu!?”

To Llumiel's words I opened my eyes and revealed my surprise. Is Uffi surprised, too, staring straight at Llumiel?

”Funny kids like you don't always show up in the future! Besides, Uphilia is already one of my countrymen. Maybe I shouldn't be helping you with that?

”That helps...”

”... isn't the world of men painful for you?

”Once upon a time. But you're gonna build a new era, aren't you? Then maybe it's why I survived so far.”

That's what I say and smile. Llumiel cuddles us in.

I don't even feel like shaking it off somehow, making Llumiel want to keep it that way. Did Uffi feel the same way about me, and the time passes for the three of us to turn ourselves in just like that?

This is how we were brought back to the King's Capital as spiritual contractors and our distant ancestors, Lhumiel.

If I went back out of the woods, Raini greeted me with joy as if I were a ho. The Commander of the Sprout Knights was with him, but when he saw Rhumiel, he opened his eyes like a ghost.

”Lord Lumi!? Why are you out of the woods?!?”

”Oh, Matthew's boy. You've grown up, haven't you got any more Orphans escorts?

”How many years do you think it's been since then! Boy, I want you to stop!

”Really? Hehe, I came out of the woods because I liked Anis and Uffi. I'm going to see what happens to these kids for a while. Is it disrespectful for someone who's not even a nobleman to want to enter the castle?

”Something like that! Queen... Master Silphine will be delighted!

”Oh, that's the horse girl. Maybe that heartless thing got a little better.”

The two people whose conversation bounced to warm up their old relationship left early if they didn't put in a report to Father as well.

Raini prepared dinner to relieve the fatigue that was diving in our woods. Though not as luxurious as the outhouse, it was a heartwarming meal. So I explained to Raini what was happening in the forest.

So, you're sure you got what you came for?

”Yep.... I will push Yuffi to the king. That's what I'm going to tell your father.”

”Really?... Congratulations, Master Uphilia”

”Yeah, thanks.... Raini, will you support me from now on?

”Of course it is. It's not what they say.”

Raini laughed at Couscous and responded with pleasure. You must be tired, so I was told to rest on my bed for a long time.

I look up at the ceiling as I fall asleep in bed and my thoughts circle. But it doesn't feel real and fluffy as a cloud.

”... oh, you really don't have to be king”

There seemed to be a hole in my chest. I even felt like something that had been tied up and suppressed all along somewhere would be solved.

Is that pleasant, regrettable, or vain? Anyway, I can't get my emotions together. I'll put my hand on my forehead at this rate for a while.

”... this is what Raini said, you should rest early”

I guess I'm tired too. I knew a lot of things, and I showed the way.

All you have to do is push on. Me too, for what I want. If Yufi is building a new era and expecting me, I can't lose either.

The sound of a knock echoed where I tried to close my eyes to try to renew that thought from tomorrow.

”Who?”

”It's me, Master Anis.”

”Uffi? I'm still awake, go ahead.”

Uffi in her bedroom came into the room if I gave her forgiveness. If you keep in your room, you'll walk up to me.

”May I put you to bed here today?

”I don't mind...”

”I'm sorry. I couldn't stand it...”

And Yufi's eyes narrowed. That gaze seems to tangle with me, and it runs on my spine.

This is a red flag, I don't know why, but my body complains it's dangerous. Yufi's eyes seemed to be more true than I had ever seen before, and he wanted me in agony.

Yuffi approaches me as she is and hugs me to bury her face in my chest.

”... you wanted to be sweet?

”Yes, not... I'm really, really sorry...”

Just apologizing earlier, Yuffi looks up at me as she buries her face in her chest. My eyes wet enough to cry are turning a feverish glance at me.

”... magic.”

”... magic?

”... I want the magic of Lord Anis.”

From the bottom of my heart I seem sorry, I meditate on my eyes and Yufi squeaks weakly.

Well, magic? And it was me tilting my neck, but it immediately occurred to me.

”Maybe, the impact of a spiritual covenant?

”Probably...”

The Spirit feeds on magic. Then it is not surprising to say that Uffi, who housed the Great Spirit, has also begun to seek magic as food.

But that's where I tilt my neck. Then I wonder if my magic without the Spirit is a food magic for Uffi.

”Can't it be someone else's magic?

”... why are you saying such a mean thing”

Phew, and Yufi, swelling her cheeks and staring at her, seemed younger than her age, no.

Until now, I suppressed my emotions and my emotions other than those I needed were an unlikely trick to Yufi, who had cut them off before they got high. It even seems ironic to me if I wonder if this is also the effect of becoming a spiritual contractor. I can't believe I got rich because I quit people.

”... I thought you said the Spirit had the magic of his choice. Well, for me, it's Lady Anise.”

”But I'm a rare man with no spirits, right?

”So, it is. I had it all from the beginning. No talent, no power, no position. I've never been hungry. I had nothing to wish for. It was just about fulfilling what I was given. That's why I wanted you. Lady Anise has everything I need. So the truth is, I want it as much as I want to take it all away, and I'm a little surprised myself.”

”... I'm surprised you let me out of your mind.”

Are you going to kill me with shame, Yuffi? I don't see how you can speak such a do-on-the-ball favor.

But I think as I stroke Yufi's hair. I'm sure Yufi hasn't grown any more minded than she is old. That opened what was lidded by the Spirit covenant.

That's why I don't want it. It's like a toddler doesn't stop looking for it. Though he enjoyed being deceived as an aristocrat, Uffi still seemed to have become more emotionally unstable than he could bear.

”Magic is like sipping blood like Raini or something?

”No... you just have to touch me like this”

Yufi shrugs in her dreams as she cheeks on her chest like a jerk.

The Spirit exists close to man. He watches over us as we take people's wishes, prayers, and all of that.

Maybe that's why Uffi also wants to lean in and feel the person he seeks. Maybe you want to get my magic food and fill it up. That was embarrassing, but it never seemed like a bad thing.

”... now, I will put up with that”

”Now...?

”... you want me to say something ahead?

I thought I was laughing innocently. Uffi narrowed his eyes and turned to the sight of that chill.

Oh, I finally figured it out. This is a crisis of being “eaten”. In the sense of predation or otherwise.

I can put my strength into the arm that was turned to say I wouldn't let you get away with it. I'm pointing my lips at you somewhere dissatisfied to delude you. I stroke Yuffi's head.

”... you can laugh at me if you don't”

”Yufi is cuter now. I'm sure Lord Grants and Mrs. Nerschel will be surprised to see Caindkun.”

Speaking of cute, Yufi comes over with her eyes closed and her cheeks rinsed.... My heart jumped by accident. There's a gap, but it made this kid seem really cute because he was a jerk.

”... only when we're two, forgive me, right?

”Of course. It's a promise.”

”In front of everyone, I'll do it right”

”Yeah. Yufi would be fine”

”Dear Anis,”

”What?”

”... I admire you”

I accidentally bit it in my cheek. Will I be able to withstand Yuffi's onslaught and welcome him safely into the morning? I'm sure it's a happy thing to worry about such crap.

It would be a lot harder if we went back to Wang Du. Still, I'm not lost in my mind. If you've decided on a way forward, you can go straight ahead. I'm ready for that, because I've already decided.

”... oh, the moon is beautiful”

Off my gaze, I looked at the moon floating in the sky and I shrugged so small.