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Summoned Spirits
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Gnomes are spirits that occupies the highest position among earth spirits and possess considerable intelligence. Lisal made desperate attempts to communicate with the gnome, but its conversations were too advanced for her to understand, causing her frustration. On the contrary, the gnomes became exasperated and unilaterally terminated the contract.
“Hmm, can’t really say anything about that.”
“…Always being called an idiot and not knowing anything! It was tough.”
“Oh yeah, I understand. I went through the same thing when I was a new employee…”
That’s right. My first boss was like that, and when I first started working, I hated going to the company. But surprisingly, that person had a kind side, so I managed to endure it. I just remembered that now.
“It’s the gnome’s fault. Well, anyway, such people can be found anywhere. The most important thing is not to let them look down on you, Lisal. Unfortunately, you were looked down upon by the gnome, which is why you received verbal abuse. You can’t let them do that!”
“Yes…”
“It’s easy. Keep telling yourself ‘Don’t look down on me!’ If you do that, you can project an aura that won’t let them look down on you. Now, for one hour, repeat that phrase loudly.”
“I’ll give it a try…”
Lisal once again disappeared into the thickets. After a while, a tremendous roar echoed through the forest.
“Don’t you dare look down on me, damn it! Don’t you dare look down on me, you bastards! Don’t you dare look down on me, damn it!!”
Vivar and the others’ faces twisted, but they pretended not to hear.
Leaving the Sairiuses behind, we were guided by Mei to see their cultivated land.
“…It’s quite moist. It’s all muddy.”
“With such damp conditions, the crops won’t grow. It would be good if we could cut down the trees and let sunlight in…”
“But you said that’s impossible, right?”
“Yes. That’s why I believe the struggles of those Sairuses who cultivated crops under these conditions were extraordinary.”
“They were truly skilled as spirit users.”
“That’s what I think.”
If Mei acknowledges it, then they must truly be exceptional. Lisal’s furious shouts continued to echo through the village. Somehow, they seemed to have gained quite an imposing presence, but maybe that was just my imagination.
As I was contemplating this, there was a commotion among the Sairuses behind me. When I turned around, the fire that had been burning in the center of the village had grown in intensity, forming a massive column of flames.
As we looked closely, at the end of the column of fire, a crimson lizard-like creature was looking around.
“It’s a salamander! It’s a salamander!”
“Who summoned it? Who?”
The Sairiuses were in a frenzy. For now, we headed towards the source of the fire.
“Who dares to summon me? Show yourself!”
The lizard called a salamander was shouting.
“I can’t believe a salamander has been summoned…”
Vivall was alarmed.
“What is that lizard?”
“It’s a fire spirit called a salamander. It’s the highest-ranked spirit among fire spirits. When the fire goes out, the salamander disappears too. Everyone, bring firewood!”
Upon closer inspection, the burning firewood had turned black, and it seemed like it would go out soon. Forest spirits summoned by the Sairiuses were bringing firewood from various trees. The Sairiuses were throwing them into the fire one after another.
“U-ha-ha-ha! When I peek out from the summoning gate, it’s like a rain of fresh firewood pouring down from both sides of the town!”
The salamander was in a good mood.
“Who could have summoned it?”
“Most likely, it’s Lisal.”
“Lisal?”
“That child can summon both earth and fire spirits. Previously, she summoned a fire spirit, but it was a very low-ranking one. She was able to summon the highest-ranked earth spirit, a gnome, so she made a contract with it… But I never expected her to summon a salamander…”
“Hey, that’s not important, but who the hell summoned me! Hey, I’m short-tempered, you know. Hurry up!”
“Someone, go and call Lisal!”
A voice similar to Vivall’s scream echoed through the village.
“Chief, there’s no need to panic like that…”
“If you anger the salamander, this entire area will turn into a sea of flames. We mustn’t anger that spirit.”
For now, I erected a barrier around the area. After a while, Lisal, with a fierce expression, was dragged in.
“Oh, it’s you who summoned me!”
“I don’t know! But I’m grateful that you were summoned! Make a contract with me!”
“Oh, interesting face you got there. I like it. I’ll make a contract with you then. But in return, I don’t want to be bored!”
The salamander disappeared in an instant, and Lisal’s body was momentarily enveloped in flames. Then, the village returned to its previous state as if nothing had happened.
“Li… Lisal.”
“I’m fine. I’m okay, Chief. Maybe I leaked some MP when I shouted, but fortunately, I was still able to summon. …May I go to the gnome for a moment?”
Lisal walked towards the field with brisk steps, and we followed after. When we arrived at the field, Lisal began chanting a spell. However, there was no response. Still, she continued to chant the spell with concentrated power.
Then, flames erupted from her body. It was extraordinarily hot. Yet, through those flames, I could see the bodies of the Siruses around her, translucent and visible. It was erotic… I could see everything about that person… Oh no, my rationality…
“You’re so noisy! I told you I didn’t want to see you again!!”
A hoarse voice resounded through the forest, and that voice brought my sanity back. Upon closer inspection, there was an old man with a small shovel-like object at Lisal’s feet.
“You old man! I don’t have any business with you. Those people over there are the ones who have something to say to you!”
“Who do you think you’re talking to, little girl! You shouldn’t be talking to anyone! Alright, I’m angry now! I’m going to destroy this whole forest’s field…”
“I apologize for the disturbance.”
Mei was speaking to the gnome from behind Lisal. Mei, aren’t you affected by the heat?
“Who are you?”
“I am Meirias. I have a proposal for the gnome, so I asked Lisal to summon you.”
“What? A proposal?”
“Isn’t this field too moist? With this condition, crops won’t grow…”
“I’ve told this girl countless times to remove the moisture!”
“Yes, I understand. So, if we remove the moisture here, the crops will thrive, right?”
“Yes, I’m confident in that.”
“On my end, I will create Congralite. We’ll put it in the soil with the Mastructica method, and then we’ll level the soil with the Leitance method. How does that sound?”
“Hmm, you seem to know what you’re talking about. But if we’re going to use Mastructica, we’ll need some Coaicans, won’t we?”
“I will make them.”
“What material will you use?”
“Mensa wood.”
“No, Jugokan wood, and the white part is the best.”
“I see, it dries out, doesn’t it! I’ll make it…”
“And then…”
…They seem to be getting excited together. The old man is saying, “So that’s the way! Yes, that’s good!” and he looks genuinely happy.
“…That old man is unpleasant, isn’t he?”
“Rico, don’t say that. It’s been a long time since he talked to a young woman. Let’s understand his feelings.”
“…I’m young too, you know.”
“Lisal, you’re too young. If your chest swells up like those older girls, the old man’s attitude might change.”
Lisal had a somewhat understanding, yet perplexed expression. And beside her, for some reason, Rico is glaring at me.
“Master, it seems we can do something about this field. I’ll return to the mansion now and make the tools.”
“Mei-chan, take your time. We can take it slow until this soil dries out. Slowly.”
“Yes, Gnome-san.”
“Hehe. Mei-chan is cute.”
That perverted old man… he’s leering at Mei. No, Mei is my wife!
“Drying the soil, huh? Impossible, right?”
Suddenly, Lisal murmured and started chanting something towards the field. Then, a salamander appeared and lay down in the middle of the field. At that moment, smoke rose up from the field, dissipating the dampness.
“Well, that’s how it’s done!”
The salamander proudly shouted and disappeared. Upon investigation, the previously moist soil had changed.
“Oh, ho. With this, we can grow good crops. You did it!”
The old gnome smiled satisfactorily.
“But there’s still too much humidity here…”
“That’s right. It would be great if Mei-chan could make the tools as planned.”
“Understood.”
“Then, May-chan, call me if you need anything.”
“Yes.”
Saying that, the gnome disappeared. Afterward, Mei explained to us how she would rework the field aiming for this year’s autumn harvest. Vivar and the Siriuses seemed relieved.
“Well, Linos, we leave the rest to Mei. Let’s go back.”
“Huh? Go back?”
“We’re going back.”
I informed Mei and the Siriuses that we would temporarily return to the mansion, then activated the teleportation barrier and returned home.
As soon as we arrived, Rico grabbed my arm and forcefully dragged me to the room.
“R-Rico, it’s not even noon yet.”
“So what?”
“Can’t we at least have lunch first?”
“No!”
“Calm down, Rico, calm down…”
I was forcefully silenced as she took my lips, and then pushed me onto the bed.