Chapter 345: The Mystery Unraveled
After a while, the Butler returned.
We had spent some time capturing the Red Lizard, so I thought the Butler would be back soon as well. We decided to stop our Pill Bug Search and gathered around the campfire, sipping tea while we waited.
“You took quite a while, didn’t you?”
Haulon lay on the carpet floating just above the ground, holding the mouthpiece of his water pipe.
Beside him was Dinoss, looking rather haggard. I wondered what had happened after we were released… but I chose not to ask, fearing I might get caught up in whatever trouble it was.
“It seems different from last time. Normally, we can find regular Pill Bugs easily, but the Demon Beasts have been hiding in crevices of rocks or deep within tree roots. If we forced our way in, we might crush them… It took a bit longer to find a specimen we could safely extract.”
I smiled as I spoke with Haulon. The Butler avoided eye contact with Dinoss! He must be aware of his own guilt for abandoning him.
“Ah… It might be because I’m here that they ran away. I’ve crushed them enough to be recognized as a natural enemy.”
Haulon said lazily.
“Magic Power…”
“Magic Power varies from individual to individual. If it didn’t, Spirits wouldn’t have preferences.”
Haulon added, picking up on my muttering.
Now that I think about it, Nefer, whom we met in the Labyrinth, seemed to be enjoying the taste of the glasses’ Magic Power. Is there a flavor to it?
“Ha ha ha! Your Magic Power is quite pleasant!”
There’s a theory that Magic Power can be absorbed not just through the mouth but also through the pores. No, Spirits probably just absorb it normally. Absorbing and sucking are the same in this case; it must be through the pores after all.
“By the way, if Note can’t call out to the Pill Bugs, does that mean it’s up to you, Jean? Retze probably avoided mentioning names on purpose during the explanation.”
Haulon said with a hint of annoyance.
“By the time we went searching for the Pill Bugs, it was clear that Haulon meant no harm! But can you really call out to the Pill Bugs?”
Chris asked.
Ah. Could it be that when I explained why Pill Bugs don’t actively attack humans, Haulon was still on guard, unsure whether to attack? And I was the only one who hadn’t realized it!
“Even if it’s just a single promise, it becomes a kind of contract. Whether it’s a Spirit or a Demon Beast possessed by a Spirit, if they’re nearby, they can sense the Magic Power of their contract partner and will come when called. The reason they come could be friendly, or they might be trying to break the contract, but who knows?”
“Is that so?”
“Don’t ask me. I’ve never tried to do it.”
I replied to Chris, who was looking at me. I prefer to flip over stones and poke at them.
“Just responding to a call and showing themselves allows them to absorb a bit of Magic Power, so they usually appear. However, they might not come if they’re asleep, scared of something, or if the range of Magic Power doesn’t reach the Spirit.”
Haulon explained.
“Ah.”
“What is it?”
“Nothing. Just had a thought about something completely unrelated.”
I answered Retze.
Oh, I see. Is this the Auro Sensor? Since we’re contracted, it must be that he can tell when I go to the Island. I guess I need to hide my Magic Power.
“I have something I want to ask, but since I feel sorry for the Pill Bug, let’s have it remember me first.”
I shifted my thoughts and said this, and the Butler presented a bag with its mouth tied shut. I had more questions about how to conceal Magic Power and other spells.
“Pill Bug, the Haulon you’re about to remember may have been an enemy before, but from now on, I won’t intentionally crush you, so let’s consider this a ceasefire agreement.”
I decided to explain it first.
“If you speak fluently in magical language, it would be troublesome… I have a mountain of questions.”
Haulon sighed.
“I can’t just ask all the questions myself, so I won’t be able to cover everything, but I’ll answer what I can. Alright, extend your hand.”
“Yes, please.”
Haulon extended his hand, looking like someone who turns away during blood draws or injections. Well, if he thought I was an enemy, he wouldn’t let his guard down, so I guess this is a step toward reconciliation.
“Balmoa, if the Pill Bug makes any strange movements, cut off my arm before it reaches my brain, okay?”
“Sure.”
We weren’t making any progress toward reconciliation!!!
The process of the Pill Bug remembering Haulon ended smoothly without any chaos of severed limbs. I wondered if the Pill Bug remembered his scent or his Magic Power.
“Good job.”
I transferred a bit of Magic Power to the Pill Bug before sending it back to the Forest.
In no time, the Pill Bug burrowed under a stone. I wanted to flip that stone over.
“Alright, let’s have lunch.”
I opened the basket, entrusted the Butler with the wine and cups, and laid out the food. Since Ex-Staff was with us today, we had hamburgers, fried chicken, and French fries—this time, I cheated and pulled out freshly fried ones from [Storage].
“Take whatever you like. Ex-Staff, which one do you want?”
“Sunny-side up!”
The one Ex-Staff chose was a burger with a patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and a sunny-side-up egg.
“This is the best part!”
He said, taking a big bite. A perfect imprint of his mouth was left on the hamburger.
Not a bite mark, but an imprint of his mouth. I wonder if he somehow cuts the space to fit it into his mouth? With such a tiny mouth, how does he manage to eat a burger as big as his body?
“… The King’s Branch actually eats…”
“Yeah…”
Haulon and the Butler looked somewhat melancholic.
There’s always a branch drinking wine by the Fireplace, after all.