Chapter 272: Before Sleep
“Well, let’s get back to the topic. Why are you contracted with the Black Spirit?”
“That smile is so unnatural!”
I jabbed at Dinoss, who was clearly forcing a grin.
“Ah, it’s because the conversation wasn’t progressing.”
Retze soothed him.
“It seems that contracting with the Black Spirit alleviates its pain?”
“Why the doubt there?”
Now that I think about it, aside from Uma, the Black Spirit wasn’t contracted at anyone’s request. It feels wrong to say that I entered into the contract mostly on a whim.
“The purpose is also to reduce the number of Spirits that are exhausted by the Heroes’ magic, but my sister has the ability of 【支配】, and both the Spirits and the Black Spirit are forced to obey her commands. I contracted first to prevent that.”
Alright, that’s a solid reason!
“That ability sounds ominous just from the name. Can that 【支配】 ability be nullified just by the contract?”
“I have the ability of 【解放】, so…”
“【解放】, you say…”
The Butler murmured as he gazed at his gloved right hand.
“Is it because Gene is by my side that I no longer feel the pressure of my family name?”
Ash said.
“Maybe seeing someone carefree and laid-back like you made me realize how ridiculous it is to be so uptight?”
Dean chimed in. Who’s carefree? Who’s laid-back?!
“That’s quite a complementary pair of abilities.”
“My sister chose 【全魔法】 and 【支配】, so I had to counter that. I got caught up in it and was left in the mountains for a while without anyone noticing, so I was able to choose later.”
I replied to Retze.
“So, Gene was left alone?”
Ash’s expression turned frightening, but that’s in the past. Being left alone was troublesome, but I’m really glad I didn’t end up in the same place as my sister.
“I see, so you also use magic—Spirits—besides the fake dolls?”
“It seems that when using big techniques with a sword, they draw power from Spirits too. The other male Hero has 【全剣術】, if I remember correctly.”
“Sounds like they all have some unpleasant abilities.”
“That’s the mark of a Hero!”
Dinoss grimaced, while Chris maintained a bright tone.
“Does that 【支配】 ability only affect Spirits?”
“No? It affects humans too. But the people from the country that summoned them seem to be in a mutually beneficial situation, and I have no intention of doing anything or getting close.”
I answered the Butler’s question.
“Well, when I heard about it a long time ago, it was said that if left alone, they would self-destruct. I have no intention of getting involved in national-level matters either.”
Dinoss added.
“Now, finally returning to the Pill Bug, the only contract you have with a Demon Beast is with the Pill Bug, right?”
“Yeah.”
I nodded at Dinoss’s confirmation.
“Isn’t that troublesome?”
“Not really, since I mostly leave it alone. The troublesome part is the Black Spirit that has possessed a person. I contracted with just one, but even though Spirits are supposed to be pure, for better or worse, this one is oddly self-deprecating and cunning, always trying to get involved. I think it must have been influenced by the person it possessed.”
I wondered if Shahira had been possessed by Karn. Well, let’s leave that aside.
“Ah, since the Demon Beasts mix the traits of both the possessed Spirit and the host animal, it’s better to avoid contracts if you want to keep things simple.”
“There are plenty of others, so I won’t.”
Unlike other Spirits, I’m scared that this one might pull some tricks on me. The reason it keeps coming close is probably to steal my magic power. I couldn’t help but issue a no-contact order.
Dinoss gave me a lecture about avoiding dangerous contracts and not revealing the contract with the Black Spirit and Demon Beasts to others, and that wrapped up the discussion.
“We still have some time before bed. Let’s help search for the Pill Bugs. You need to provide them with magic power, right?”
“No, I’ve been told that I can give them magic power when I notice them. Besides, I’m not stopping my self-defense, so if anyone else finds them, they’ll attack.”
I declined Ash’s offer.
“Hmm…”
“Can’t you just grab them?”
Dean chimed in from the side.
“I hear they’re good at burrowing into flesh from the palm of your hand.”
“What a nasty Demon Beast!”
Dean grimaced.
“If they go unnoticed, they can burrow in through the ear in no time. When a stone is flipped over, they can slip in without hesitation, traveling through the skin and flesh to reach the brain or heart. In dark, damp places like caves or this Labyrinth, it’s best not to carelessly flip over stones.”
“That’s terrifying! What if one was hiding under a stone I accidentally kicked?”
Dean said, looking disgusted.
“If noticed, I would cleave it in two… But, being a small Demon Beast, its presence is also small. It’s difficult during combat.”
The Butler remarked.
“Yeah, so if we find a Pill Bug, I thought we could help it remember everyone’s scent so it won’t attack.”
I added that I wanted it to refrain from attacking if it saw a Pill Bug.
“Alright, let’s search for stones that might have Pill Bugs!”
Dinoss shouted with a somewhat reckless enthusiasm.
“At the very least, we should check around where we plan to sleep.”
The Butler agreed.
So, before bed, we all set out to search for Pill Bugs.
“Gene, what about under this stone?”
Chris called me over immediately.
“Wrong, nothing’s there.”
I flipped it over and confirmed the Pill Bug was absent.
“What about this stone?”
Now it was Retze calling me.
“I feel like I’m teaching a child where to find Pill Bugs… Not a Demon Beast, just a regular one.”
“Why is this such a relaxed situation when it should be serious?”
“Don’t ask me.”
Dinoss and Karn were having some kind of discussion.