Chapter 362: The Spirit’s Case Files
“The only way to approach the island is by small boat, so the invasion routes are limited. It should be fine,” Auro said with a smile, and I felt relieved knowing that for now, Lady Rosa’s elimination was secure.
There was still the concern of attacks from Spirits, but under the old man’s guidance, appropriate magic circles had been drawn at key points. I should also reach out to the Spirits of the island and the neighboring areas.
“Lord Paorul has been instructing us on security and how to communicate and respond to the surrounding cities in case of emergencies. I’m not sufficient for external dealings,” Auro explained, bowing slightly in respect to the old man.
The old man is quite capable…!
“Soleil is skilled at networking with merchants, so—” Auro looked down this time instead of bowing.
“Ugh. Even the floor is a work of art…” I muttered, noticing Soleil sprawled out on the floor. Although a cushion was placed against her face, she was lovingly admiring the ground.
The fabric of her dress flowed, accentuating her shapely rear. Is that really appropriate for a woman?
“Ahem.” Kiel cleared his throat dramatically, pulling a sheet off the table and draping it over Soleil.
“Impressive!” I exclaimed. It was like one of those magic tricks where you pull the cloth from under the objects without disturbing them. Most of the items had already been taken to the sink, where Faramia was washing them, but how did he manage that with such a large piece of fabric?
“Hmph.” Kiel snorted proudly.
Whether he’s truly skilled or not remains a mystery. No, he might be competent, just a bit of a musclehead.
After some light banter, we wrapped things up and used [Teleportation] to return to the House.
After being sniffed by Rishu, who rushed over, we played tug-of-war. The rope given to us by the Earth Folk was as sturdy as I had hoped and quite useful.
But since it’s consumable, I need to find a replacement before we run out. Rishu seemed to be enjoying himself, biting and tugging with great enthusiasm, so it felt like only a matter of time before it wore out.
When Rishu plays or leans against me, he has a weight that matches his size. Normally, he makes no sound, floating around like the other Spirits, seemingly weightless.
But since he’s about the weight of a puppy, when I pull with all my strength, he ends up floating. I tug at a low angle or adjust my strength so he doesn’t float away, but it seems he finds it amusing to spin around while floating.
After our playtime, I brewed some coffee and began the Spirit Naming. For ordinary Spirits, they would sign their names on their own just by placing a notebook, but I sometimes opened it seriously. Even as I named them verbally, the Spirit Note would automatically record everything, making it quite convenient.
I also regularly captured Black Spirits in the Demon Forest. A notebook covered in a light similar to a will-o’-the-wisp would follow me around, or it would appear as the Spirit Note, automatically recording everything. I fondly remembered the days when I would run around naming them and just jot down the last number I had assigned.
The Spirits of the island reside within the Spirit’s Branch, so there’s no need to set up a notebook. If I ask through the Ex-Staff, it should be fine. It seems that if one wishes for anything other than sworn matters with a normal King’s Branch, it might just disappear.
The Spirits that come to the tower are under the command of Blue Lizard-kun, but I should set up a notebook just in case.
To give birth to a Spirit Note, I need to fill out three or four notebooks on my own. I wonder if that many Spirits will visit the tower, but later, while gazing at the sea and the Dragon Continent, I’ll try naming some.
The next day, I finished my fieldwork early in the morning and headed to Kanum.
I went for a ride with Ash. It was the season when soft grass began to sprout, and Ruta was in high spirits, running joyfully.
When we reached our usual landmark tree, we both laughed and dismounted from our horses. We proceeded to groom them. Recently, the Butler had stopped accompanying us, often just sending us off with a “Have a good day” at the door.
Ash and I stood side by side, wiping the sweat off our horses and brushing their coats.
“Hmm…” I pondered.
“Ah, should we light the insect repellent first? I prepared a gentle blend for Ruta and the others.”
For some reason this year, the flies and gnats that usually increase in summer have started appearing early in spring. Ash and I had applied insect repellent before leaving the house, but the horses were defenseless.
As I watched Ruta swat away the flies buzzing around his rear with his tail, I lit the candle-like insect repellent. The waxy ingredients melted, releasing a subtle yet indescribable fragrance. It had a fresh, almost minty scent.
Though the smell had a bit of a quirk, it wasn’t overpowering, and after five minutes in the air, you hardly noticed it anymore.
Maybe I should make insect-repellent horse gear? The island has few biting insects like flies, which is a plus, but I felt it might be too hot for Ruta, so the plan for movement hasn’t progressed.
“Really, why are the flies coming out so early?” I wondered aloud.
“Note and Dinoss are investigating it now,” Ash replied as we resumed brushing Ruta.
Ash often preferred silence, but there was a subtle happiness in doing the same thing together or sharing a meal side by side.
“Is there a possible cause?” I asked.
“Indeed. It seems there are Black Spirits moving between Kanum’s sewers and the forest.”
Also, even though our conversations rarely turned to anything risqué…