Chapter 226: Population Ratio
The Spirit Lamp can create a room where only those who can see Spirits—or their contracted partners—shine brightly by drawing a thin stream of magic power from the Magic Stone. The corridors of Es’s Underground Temple are just like that.
What I created, however, releases a bit more magic power. It’s not quite at the level of light magic, but it glows due to an excess intake. This method is more common and simpler than fine-tuning it. Honestly, fine-tuning is way too difficult!!
“Even just water stands out…” Soleil murmurs weakly.
I’m currently challenging myself to see just how much can stand out.
While I care for Soleil, Faramia’s gaze wanders over the mosaic beneath the water.
“Are you curious about the mosaic?”
“Yes. I wasn’t this captivated until the water filled up…”
Ah, the butler’s Spirit is “Quinn, the Spirit of the Snowy Night,” right?
“Underwater… sinking into the water?”
Faramia reacts slightly to my words.
“Sinking black glass… no, there’s probably no glass here.”
It doesn’t quite fit the image, and I doubt black glass exists in this world.
“Sinking black crystal?”
“…!” Faramia freezes, her eyes wide.
“I see, that’s the true nature of the Spirit mixed with Faramia.”
“Faramia’s?” Soleil asks, intrigued.
“They say that when a Spirit changes its form and its true nature is guessed, it tends to freeze up a bit. It’s a black Spirit, but a black crystal Spirit.”
Most Spirits change their form to deceive humans, and it seems that disguising their true nature is a burden for them.
“I am—”
“Faramia.”
This time, Soleil seems to be supporting the astonished Faramia. They really get along well.
“Faramia is a black crystal? Then until now…”
Kiel frowns in thought beside me.
“My lord.”
Auro, stop looking at me with those sparkling eyes.
“Next, we’ll have another contract, right? Shall we move on?”
I only guessed, so it makes me uneasy when he looks at me like that.
I urge the pensive group to move along. A new contract with a fresh employee (Changeling) awaits.
Now, we face each other in the completed hall.
“Isn’t this too many…?”
Seriously, it really is.
Contracts with the new servants and villagers A through G. Isn’t there an excessive number of Changelings on my island? Is this the usual ratio? Am I just not noticing it in Kanum? I don’t walk around the town much, so I’m not confident. The population ratio is concerning.
“After eliminating any troublemakers, is there any inconvenience?”
Auro asks with a smile. It’s a smile, but I feel like if I say there is, he’ll immediately kick these people off the island…
“Well, not really. But if they’re not working at the castle, isn’t a contract unnecessary?”
A palpable sense of relief washes over the room. Auro, are you threatening these people somehow?
“Those mixed with Spirits may be exploited for their Spirit side. By contracting first, we can prevent that to some extent, and if the contract is broken, we’ll at least know something went wrong.”
The contract terms for the hopeful townsfolk—no intentional harm to the town.
There were other clauses about not harming me and a few more, but I cut those out. Since I’ll be the contract holder, I’ll be somewhat protected. Just keep it simple, please.
Still, the Gods only showed up during the time of Kingin and Marlu. Was it just a coincidence that a retainer Spirit was mixed in, or are Auro and Marlu primarily Spirits?
It seems more like the latter. It doesn’t really matter since it’s not much different.
Next, we have a normal face-to-face meeting. Here, Soleil is handling a standard contract with the Merchant Guild, but I need the guards and castle staff to remember my face so I can wander freely.
“I am Soleil, the lord. You can call me Ni outside of public settings.”
It’s confusing and troublesome, so let’s stick with Ni.
“My lord, I believe it’s unnecessary for your servants to call your name.”
Auro gently conveys this.
But the island’s children and the older folks have already gotten used to it. I’ll have to let them be.
There are also those in the professions I requested. Finally, livestock caretakers. But honestly, the livestock I got from Dinoss have already blended into my mountain, so they require little effort.
I thought the pigs would be the most troublesome, but if I let them roam in the forest, they manage just fine. When I muttered about how to process the meat, they somehow started showing me where the mushrooms were. The two goats are for grass trimming, and I have free-range chickens and cows.
Sometimes, some of them just sleep in the forest, but they return to the Livestock Shed in the evening. They’re just so cute.
I plan to buy new livestock for the island while shaking hands. Next up is the blacksmith.
“Huh? Earth Folk?”
The one introduced to me is an Earth Folk.
“Oh? You know of us, Earth Folk!”
“Yeah.”
I met three of them recently; they were quite intense.
“I thought you lived further north.”
His beard looks hot in this weather.
“I’m sensitive to the cold, so I wandered here seeking warmth. I’m glad to meet someone who knows us; it reminds me of my homeland. I am Washiku of the Black Iron Pit.”
Washiku… a cold-sensitive, wandering dwarf. Quite the character.
“Nice to meet you.”
The Black Iron Pit, is he a kin of Gamri? I thought about asking, but it feels like it would take too long, so I’ll keep quiet.