/
I explain as weeat dinner in the cave.  Gusu-oyakeearnestly listens to me. Isn’t this what would have happened if shestraight up listened to me in the first place?
She says, “I see,various things make sense now.”
“You believe me?”
“I do.  Zero-san, your wear a peculiar attire, have terrifyingeyes, show ignorance towards magic, show ignorance towards spirits, and haveterrifying eyes.  Occasionally, you alsospeak with people who aren’t there.  Ihad absolutely thought you an unstable person.”
“Bastard, what’swith that
?  Or actually, didn’t you justsay my eyes are scary, twice!? Arghh !?”
“ Hii ! I beg you, please do not look at me like that!”
Damn it
  I’mhappy she believes me and all, but that just ticks me off.
She says, “Well,in conclusion, I believe Zero-san’s words. Therefore, to be able to see spirits
 That’s very likely to be a skill.”
“A skill?  Hold up, that sounds like a new word.”
“Allow me toexplain.  A skill is something like apeculiar characteristic.  For example, myhair is red and fire magic is my forte. With that being the case, [wielding fire magic] is my skill.”
“ Ehh— That’s how you wanted it?”
“Skills are beyondour ability to control.”
Huh?  Holdup?  Doesn’t that mean my friendship withthe chibi
?
I say, “Myfriendship with the chibi is all cause of a skill like that?  No way, I seriously thought I finally metguys who got me
”
“Actually, it’smore like the opposite.”
“The opposite?”
Gusu-oyakereassures me with a gentle voice. Somehow, this is the first time I’ve ever thought her dependable.
She says,“Murderers, for example, do not develop skills like [heart of justice].  In the end, skills are influenced by theperson’s disposition.  In my opinion, beingable to see spirits differs from befriending them.”
“Put short, we’vebecome buds not because of my skill, but cause I had the quality to be budswith them?”
“I believe so.”
Allll riiiighhhhhht!! Safe!  Hearing that much isplenty!  Not bad, it’s great!  Right now, I can do anything!  My tension is spiking!
Gusu-oyake says,“Therefore
”
“ Ah ? I’m feeling great right now, don’t douse me just yet.”
“That’s notit.  I believe it most prudent to keepyour skill concealed.”
Hearing her saysomething different from what I expected is nice, but her face is deadserious.  There’s probably a reason forit.
She says, “I havementioned this before, but spirits cannot be seen.  If others learned you have the ability to seespirits, there would be no end to those trying to use you.”
“Use me?  Like as a specialist?”
“No, Zero-san,they would use you as a way to make contracts with spirits.  Even if they force a contract to occur, thosepeople would be able greatly strengthen their power.”
“ Aughhhhhhhhh !?  They’d force the chibi!?  I’ll kill them!!  Where are they!?  Who wants to die!?”
“Wait, wait, wait,please!  That was merely anexample!?  Although, such peoplecertainly do exist!”
“
 Che , don’t mess with me.”
Spirits are more amazing than I thought.  Using them
 huh?
I say, “Eh?  These chibi are spirits?”
“I cannot seethem, but from your descriptions, I believe so?”
“Although, they’renowhere near as flashy as you said.”
“Perhaps, thetruth was exaggerated
  From how youdescribed them, Zero-san, they sound pretty cute.  I too anticipated them to possess a majestic aura,after all.”
How bothersome. Being majestic is great and all, but how could anyone complain whenthey’re this cute?  Well, me and thechibi ain’t need anything to do with people like that.
Gusu-oyake says, “ Haa , at any rate, I am still at a loss.”
“You mean youdon’t know what you want to do?”
“No, my wish is tomake a contract with a spirit.  I amclueless as to the method.”
“You want to getalong with these guys, right?  I couldask them.  I mean, that should be finesince they’re not being forced, right?”
Something seems tobe troubling Gusu-oyake.  Was it mysuggestion?
She says,“However, that would be your power, would it not, Zero-san?  Likewise, I need to discover a way to connectwith them through my own abilities.  Iwould not be able to accept contracting with a spirit because you asked.  Saying something like that is not very cutethough?”
“Gusu-oyake,you’re pretty decent.”
“You say thatnow!?  I believe I have been an extremelygood person since the start!”
“No, you were morelike a willful idiot with no plan.”
“ Muguuuuuuuuuuu !”
Hahaa, even the chibi are laughing.  I might not fully get it, but Gusu-oyakeshould be able to contract with the chibi. There isn’t anything more I can do to help.
She say, “For now,how about we rest here for today?  I’lldo my best and contract with a spirit tomorrow.”
“Yeah, and if youneed a hand, just say something.  I’ll dowhat I can.”
“Yes!”
And with that, we go to sleep.  There are a lot of chibi here, so this should all be over in a flash.
— — That’s what Ithought would happen, anyway.  It’salready past noon and there hasn’t been any progress what so ever.
“Spirit-sa—n, comehere plea—se.  Will you not be friendswith me—?”
Gusu-oyake aimlesslywalks around while on the verge of tears. To anyone watching from the side, what she’s doing will appear superfishy.  However, I won’t say anythingcause I can tell she’s doing her best.
She’s aimlesslywandering around, more aimless wandering

Ah, she crumpled down.
I say, “O- ohyeah, for now, how about we start preparing something to eat.  It’ll take a bit, but how does a meal sound?”
“Alright
”
Gusu-oyakesniffles tears as she eats her rice. She’ll burst in wails any second now.
I can’t stand seeing her like this.  There’s gotta be something I can do.
I say, “Say, wantme to ask what those guys what they like or something?  Is there any sort of chibi you looking tocontract with?”
“ Uugh , I’d like to contract with a firespirit.  Would you ask them what they areinterested in for me?”
That’s what Iunderstand through her tears.  Listeningto this is unbearable, but it’s a question for those match like chibi, right?”
I say, “Hey, isthere anything you like?  Mind telling mewhat it is?”
Huh?  It’sdrawing something with its hand
 a circle? Etto
  Ah, is it a fire?
“You trying to sayyou like fire?  You are a fire spiritafter all.”
Ah, it’s nodding its head.  I must be right.
Gusu-oyake says,“Did you figure something out
?”
“Yeah, so quitweeping.  Seems like they like fire.”
“Fire!?  Understood! I’ll give them fire!”
“Yeah, that’s thespirit!”
Gusu-oyake thengenerates fire, creates a bonfire, and even launches fire
 etc.  In the end, it’s all for nothing.  The chibi did have a lot of fun though.
Night time arrives.  Since it can’t be helped, we make an open airfire and call it a day.
Gusu-oyake says,“I am useless, a failure.  I will neverbecome independent.  I am worthless.”
She’s been utterlyoverwhelmed.  I can’t take this anymore.
I say, “Alright,hey, you guys, do you all hate Gusu-oyake?”
Hm?  That’s notit?  Is there a reason?
“ Etto , then, is there a reason you’re notcontracting with her?”
If they’re not doing it for no reason, then why?
Arh?  Me?  What are they pointing at me for?  Is there something on me?
“Is it something Idid?”
Ahre, they’re all nodding at the same time.  Eh? It’s my fault?
“Zero-san, did youlearn something?”
“Aaah, somehowit’s all my fault.”
“Eh?”
“Yeah
”
“Ehhhhhhhhhh!?”
Stop, calm down, Gusu-oyake.  I ain’t getting it either so quit glaring atme like that.
At the same time Ihave those thoughts, I spot a guy making way towards the camp fire.
“Hey, Gusu-oyake,a new fire spirit is being drawn towards the fire!  Ain’t this your chance!?”
“For real!?  Where!? Should I dive headfirst into the fire!?”
“Wait, cut thatout.  This guy, right here.”
I pick up thechibi and show the guy to Gusu-oyake.
“I can’t see
”
“Oh, right
”
She startssniffling again. Okay, I’ve reached my limit. Should I just try relying on the new chibi?
“He-hey, that redhead over there is Gusu-oyake.  She isn’ta bad person. Ya mind making friends with her?”
As I make therequest, I stroke the chibi’s head, just like I always do.
Oh, great.  He’snodding up and down.
“Really?  Thanks a bunch!”
I then, just likealways, ready my hand so we can press our fingertips together.  Gusu-oyake notices and says, “Zero-san, whatare you doing?”
“ Ah ? It’s nothing, just something like a trick for getting along with theseguys.  First I stroke their heads andthen we press our fingertips together.”
“Thaaaaaat!  That’s it!”
Eh?  Whatis?  Am I not supposed to do this?  Then what?
“Pressing yourfingertips together is how you contract with spirits!  Thaaaaaat’s why I could contract withanyoooooone!”
“In other words
?”
“Zero-san, youalready made a contract with them!  Ifthey contract with me, wouldn’t that be creating a second contract!?”
Ah— Is that how it goes?  First come, first serve
?
Afterwards, thenew fire spirit becomes visible to Gusu-oyake due to forming a contract withher.  She’s extremely delighted.
Finally, with this, she’s more or less achieved hergoal.  She told me not to use my power,but it all worked out, somehow.
Gusu-oyake, tiredfrom the day’s events, goes to sleep. With all of this, I now got nothing to do. Whatshould I do next?  I’ll just sleep fornow.  Me and Gusu-oyake can probably talkabout it tomorrow.



Manai Zero
Skill:    The Person Loved by Spirits
Special Feature: Intimidating Eyes
Items:   Stone Ax
(Mithril) Pipe
Light Armor
Objective: Assist Gusu-Oyake [Complete]
T/N: Finally, thistook much longer than I thought it would. But it’s out now, so enjoy.
~Gandire Alea
<<8. Seems like you get it, I guess.
10. Arh? Pretty sure the first strike wins in a brawl.>>