Chapter 170: Formal Contract
Fairies are said to be a type of spirit that can appear human. Just because they look human doesn’t mean they possess great power, but among them, there are those who are incredibly curious about the human world. Sometimes, their curiosity leads them to swap their own children with humans.
First, they steal the appearance. There are two patterns: one where they completely swap, and another where they mix. In the mixing pattern, the result can either become beautiful or ugly.
If the swap goes unseen, it’s completed overnight, and the human child is taken away by the fairy. Whether the child lives with the fairy or is discarded somewhere is up to the fairy.
If someone sees the swap midway, the process inexplicably slows down. In that case, the things they take tend to be less noticeable to those around. Moreover, the fairy often transforms these items into something that makes people believe they are human.
Voices, smiles, tears, and the like. While these can easily evoke sympathy, once there are two children, both are likely to be killed or thrown into the Spirit’s Branch.
If you can identify which one is the fairy, the transformation will stop. If you guess wrong, the moment you do, the swap is complete, and the human child disappears.
Since they are spirits, trying to find consistency or meaning from the human side seems pointless, but from what I gathered from Kingin’s stories and my research in the Library, it’s roughly like this.
Fairies that have swapped with humans tend to get bored around adulthood and return. They lose a lot of their power and become more like lesser spirits. Thinking about it, Gold is a rare existence.
“Hmm. I was planning to accommodate the workers’ residences within the castle, but maybe it would be better to build some in the square as well?”
“…Could you do that for me?”
Soleil must be thinking of the black-haired woman he wants to hire.
I don’t intend to separate the residents from the servants, but I also can’t feel at ease with too many people coming and going.
Since this is an old fortress, the main keep isn’t very large, but the garden is spacious enough for everyone to take refuge in during emergencies. Well, the main keep is still quite large for individual living. Most of the garden is separated by a stone bridge, giving the main keep a sense of independence.
“It seems the square had a kitchen, servant quarters, barracks, smithy, stables, livestock shed, barn, and warehouse. Renovations are possible. —Was it the stables and livestock shed you ordered, Soleil-sama?”
That’s because of Ruta and the livestock.
Those buildings are integrated with the walls surrounding the fortress, and while some parts have crumbled, they are not as damaged as the main keep. The main keep seems to have used a lot of wood, as the roof and floor have collapsed.
“Do we need maids, stable hands, cooks, and livestock managers?”
“Given the scale, please hire guards as well. Ideally, I’d like one or two knights who aren’t contracted externally.”
“To deter thieves?”
“There’s also the need for a show of strength; if there are none, we’ll be looked down upon.”
I nod in agreement with Gold, and Silver adds a note.
“Even large merchant houses hire guards. For a lord, having knights and soldiers is a status symbol.”
Come to think of it, having loyal knights is a status symbol, especially for Free Knights.
“Why do you want horses but are skipping over the knights?”
“We already have horses; we just need a place to keep them.”
Ruta is for me.
“We also need a few workers for the menial tasks, and we’ll need attendants and maids for internal matters.”
Gold shifts the topic.
The maids and attendants were originally those who worked in the castle’s grand bedroom. Now, simply put, they take care of personal needs, and as the household grows, their roles get divided into things like wardrobe management.
By the way, the term “grand bedroom” seems to be a remnant from an era when nobles and aristocrats shared a single room for sleeping without exception.
“The steward duties will be shared between Auro and Kiel, but will they also double as butlers?”
The steward manages the territory, while the butler’s original role began with managing wine and the household’s assets.
There are cases where the butler manages the territory and the attendant manages the household assets, so it varies depending on the size of the household and the country. Many places have multiple roles combined.
“Speaking of which, the contract was for the craftsmen to oversee the building and negotiate the goods.”
Once the construction is finished, my contract with the two will end.
“Oh? You’re hogging the sweets.”
Marlu reacts. It might be hogging, but since I’ll be making less, the amount per person shouldn’t change.
“Oh, are Auro and Kiel not working?”
Soleil asks, surprised.
“You’re the one who’s working, right?”
“There’s nothing else to do, and the conditions are exceptional.”
Silver checks with Soleil.
“I see. —Call their names.”
The latter part is directed at me.
“What do you mean by that? How does this lead to a contract discussion?”
Isn’t this a bit sudden?
“Redoing the contract or oath document would be troublesome if he shows up again.”
Gold shrugs as if it’s unavoidable.
“I’ll receive a decent salary, and of course, I’ll be taught how to make the sweets.”
“Eh?”
Does he not realize I’m the one making them?
“What? Do you have a problem with that? I’m the one who’s being tied down here.”
Silver glares at me.
“Despite appearances, he’s a musclehead.”
I glanced at Gold, who quickly looked away.
A musclehead, huh? Well, I guess it’s not surprising if he makes decisions for reasons I don’t understand. Half of it is probably because Soleil is getting a job here.
“Eh? What? Are you perhaps going to form a spirit-like master-servant contract? With Auro and Kiel?”
“Shut up. You should hurry and finalize your work contract.”
Silver is fuming.
“Auro, Kiel, nice to meet you again.”
“Yes, Soleil-sama.”
“I’ll stick around until you kick the bucket.”
Calling their names doesn’t change anything for me, nor does it alter Auro and Kiel’s appearances.
I’ve named various spirits, but I only noticed a difference with the horse. That one resisted and caused a ruckus.
“Wow, I’m really tied down. I can’t believe it!”
Marlu seems to be taken aback, as if it’s different from a changeling.
“Soleil, you too.”
Ignoring Marlu completely, Auro pulls out a contract created by the Merchant Guild and writes down the conditions for both parties to sign.
Since the island has various things, they make all craftsmen sign the most expensive contract. It wouldn’t do for the renovation plans of the castle to leak out, and with mortar, glass, and… at some point, Auro came back with a bundle of contracts, all smiles, so there are plenty.
“We’ll introduce and explain everything later; let’s take care of your leg first. Also, let’s have a woman buy what we need at Naruadeid before the shop closes. Write down the necessary items.”
Kiel escorts Soleil out of the barn.
“Is it love?”
Marlu asks with a strange grin, like a mischievous cat.
“You should hurry too.”
“Yes, yes.”
I believe she’s not just a flustered maid, as she’s thoroughly checking the contract details.
“Eh, wait! Why!?”
Ah.
“Is this from Van’s lineage?”
After finishing the signatures, Van appeared and then vanished. A fire attribute, and does he actually have high combat abilities?
“It’s not an oath document, but…”
Auro picks up the contract, which is now scorched, and the penalties that were originally written have changed. No, it’s just that the spirit imposing the penalties has become Van, but the content of the penalties remains the same.
“Yikes! Van? Van!? He’s not someone you can escape from, no matter what you do!”
“Just like with the two of you, he probably came to recommend a contract. Nice to meet you, Marlu.”
Since it seems troublesome, I quickly finalize the contract.
“Wait, wait! The bracelet, the bracelet is—!”
“The bracelet?”
“Can’t you see? Once the contract is finalized, a pattern appears around the wrist of the changeling.”
Saying that, Auro tugs at his sleeve to show his left wrist.
Is that it? You can’t see it unless you can see spirits. When I thought of that and looked again, I saw a green leafy pattern circling Auro’s wrist. Marlu had a flame pattern.
“Kadal and Van, who are you?”
“I’m Jean. I recently became a lord.”
I answer Auro’s question.
“Your name is different…”
“Well, I don’t remember my real name.”
“…”