GalaxyTL
So, what happened next? Reality came crashing back down when Reki, who’d returned from the infirmary, saw me and said, with an exasperated look, “What are you doing?”
It’s fine, I’d enjoyed Schlie-san’s scent to the fullest. I know I’m a mess, so stop looking at me like that, Reki!
“Well then, Meg-chan, would you mind waiting here in the hall after breakfast tomorrow? I’ll take care of the arrangements.”
“Undershtood! I’m excited!”
“Fufu, me too.”
Arrangements… Probably about an escort. After exchanging smiles and making a promise, Kei-san left with a “See you tomorrow.” Weren’t they having dinner?
“Meg, call out to me if anything happens, okay? I’m always here to help.”
“Thank you, Nika-shan! Awen’t you having dinnah?”
“Gahaha! I’m going out for drinks! See ya later, Meg.”
Nika-san’s off to drink! I’m jealous! I want to drink beer too! But it’ll be a loooong, looong, loooong wait until I can drink with this body… ugh.
“Oh my, Reki, you’re joining us today?”
“It can’t be helped, they said it’s part of my exam.”
Reki replied curtly, adding that he wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t. Oh, so having dinner together was a rare experience for him! I’ll think of it as a treat. I’m an optimistic little girl…
“What an uncooperative boy you are.”
“I’m not a boy! I’m an adult!”
“I know, I know, boy. Well then, shall we go? You must be hungry.”
Schlie-san deftly handled Reki, who was glaring at him resentfully. W-Will this be okay? Will we even be able to enjoy dinner?
In short… I was worried for nothing!
“Mmm! So yummy!”
I muttered the same old sentiment as I stuffed my cheeks with food. Sorry, my vocabulary is limited. But it really was delicious! Because I never thought I’d be able to eat teriyaki fish in an isekai.
They had katsu, miso soup… I thought maybe, just maybe… And they did! Soy sauce too! Ah, happiness! Long live Japanese food!
“You look like you’re enjoying it. Meg, are there any foods you don’t like? Many people don’t like fish.”
Really? Fish is delicious. Especially since I haven’t had any lately! It’s usually more expensive than meat, and you have to cook it! I’d sometimes eat it at set meal restaurants, but I’d always end up choosing meat. Why? Because I needed a midday energy boost! I craved meat!
Glancing at Reki, I saw him picking at the fish with a look of displeasure. …So, there was someone who didn’t like fish after all.
“Reki… don’t you wike fish?”
“…I just… prefer meat.”
He glared at me, as if to say, “Don’t talk to me.” Sorry.
“Reki is a Wolg, after all. Nika, who’s a Leogar, also said he doesn’t like fish.”
Wolg? Leogar? I wasn’t sure, but they were probably carnivorous demi-humans. Maybe they could eat fish, but they found it unsatisfying. I could kinda understand.
“I wuv it! Fishy!”
I declared my love of fish enthusiastically, partly to reassure them, and completely messed up my words. Ugh, is there a cat living inside me or something?
“““Gohuu!!”””
“!?”
Suddenly, people all over the cafeteria started choking! W-Was it that funny? I’m sorry! But if you’re going to laugh, laugh properly! No need to hold it back and tremble… You’re mentally scarring me. Guh.
“You… you’re evil.”
“That’s not true, Reki. She didn’t do it on purpose. Cuteness isn’t a crime.”
“…That’s… what makes it evil, isn’t it?”
Okay, okay, I get it, stop it already, you two! I’m dying over here!
I decided to focus on my food and recover my HP. Sniff.
“Well then, shall we hear what you wanted to discuss?”
Schlie-san, who’d been waiting for me to finish eating, said this. Sensing this, Reki tried to take our dishes, but I told him it was fine. He just replied with a “Just get on with it,” and briskly took them away. The thoughtful tsundere, that’s Reki…!
“Um, sho today… Reki and I were exploring the shecond floor… and I saw this spiwwit-shan I’m curious about…”
“Oh my, you’ve already found one?”
I explained my encounter with the Voice Spirit to Schlie-san, who was staring at me with wide eyes. He listened to my story patiently, but I didn’t miss the slight frown he gave me when I mentioned that the spirit had said it was scared of him. I’m sorry, Voice Spirit-chan…! But I had to tell him everything.
When I finished my story, Schlie-san closed his eyes for a moment, deep in thought, and then opened them again and spoke. I gulped.
“To get straight to the point, you probably felt a sense of fate with that Voice Spirit. It’s safe to say that it’s the most likely candidate to become your first spirit.”
So, I was right. I had a feeling, ever since I’d decided to follow my heart.
“But… the spiwwit-shan might… not want to…”
I said this dejectedly, and Schlie-san smiled and said it wasn’t like that.
“Meg, to be honest, I’m a little concerned about you making the Voice Spirit your first spirit. Its magical power isn’t as strong as those of other nature spirits.”
It would be a bit difficult to protect myself with just a Voice Spirit… I agreed with him. While you could form contracts with other spirits and still use magic, it seemed like it was harder to draw out their power compared to your first spirit.
“I care about you, Meg. So, ideally, I’d prefer a spirit that’s strong and capable of protecting you.”
He said this with a serious look on his face. Ugh, that’s right. But that spirit was so intriguing!
Schlie-san, seeing my conflicted expression, smiled faintly. He furrowed his brow slightly, as if troubled, and continued.
“However, what’s most important is that Meg and the spirit connect, that you both want to form a contract with each other. And it seems like you’ve already cleared that most important hurdle.”
He then gently took my hand. I felt the power of Nephry, the wind spirit, emanating from his warm hand.
“Be confident, Meg. I’m just offering my opinion, what would be ideal. There are very few people who can perfectly follow that ideal. So, follow your heart.”
“I-Is that… ok?”
“Yes. That would be the right answer for you.”
A pale green bird flitted past my eyes. It was Nephry, Schlie-san’s first spirit. It seemed like she was cheering me on, and it gave me courage.
“I… I want to be fwends with that Voice spirit-shan!”
“Yes, let’s talk to it again if we see it. Let me know when the time comes.”
The “time” Schlie-san was referring to was probably when I’d be forming the contract. It would take a lot out of me.
“Okii! Undeshtood!”
My doubts vanished, and I knew what I had to do. Next time I saw it, I’d talk to it without hesitation.
To that Voice Spirit who lacked confidence in itself.