The testers, upon arriving at the Dark Elf village, couldn’t hide their excitement due to their young age and the unfamiliar sights.
Various reactions were elicited by the slightly unusual buildings and even the horses pulling the baggage carts.
To put it plainly, they were like students on a school trip.
Photographing was prohibited due to information leakage concerns, and the use of recording devices such as smartphones and digital cameras was generally forbidden as there was no signal in such a place.
Although there were some complaints about this, explaining that they were here for work, not tourism, and further detailing the dangers and penalties in case any photographed information was leaked, could at least lead to understanding, if not completely eliminate their dissatisfaction.
Therefore, to resolve their dissatisfaction, some light sightseeing was permitted.
However, this place was not a tourist spot but an ordinary village.
The scenery itself might be unique, but there were few bars and few places to see.
These individuals were given documents, and the restricted areas were clearly communicated. Their schedules for the following day were explained, and they were to stay in the vacant houses prepared for this occasion, divided into groups.
And so, the next day arrived.
“Haa.”
“Senpai, good work.”
“Yeah, it’s not a school trip, you know.”
Unlike yesterday, when the day’s schedule was cut short by a mere teleportation transfer with strict baggage and personal checks due to the incident, today was the real Spirit Contract.
Despite that, was the mental fatigue due to being an unfamiliar chaperone?
Even though one night’s sleep had removed the physical tiredness and their bodies still felt capable of movement, they were a bit mentally exhausted from disciplining the testers who had caused problems last night.
It was understandable that treehouses, the continuous night, and the village illuminated by moonlight larger than Earth’s were novel, but they wished they wouldn’t cause any trouble.
He now understood the feelings of his high school homeroom teacher.
He earnestly wished they would refrain from the easy-going actions that made them think, “This much should be fine, right?”
Thanks to them, dark clouds had already gathered on the first day.
“I wish they’d understand that this isn’t Japan…”
As he muttered this complaint about the complacent Japanese, Kaidou responded with a wry smile, “But we’re Japanese too, you know,” laughing in agreement.
“This is another world, after all.”
“Yeah, well, fortunately, they were understanding this time, so nothing happened, but if this is how it starts, I’m worried about what’s to come. Speaking of which, where’s Katsu? He wasn’t here this morning.”
“Katsu-kun? After preparing our breakfast, he went to wake Min-chan. Apparently, she has a really hard time waking up.”
“Min-chan, who seems like she’d stay up late, but surely she’d be able to sleep early here since there’s no gaming environment? Well, in Min’s case, there’s likely a pattern where she’s not sleeping enough because she was so excited, like a child.”
“That’s possible. Come to think of it, I’m a little sleep-deprived myself.”
“Hey, you too?”
He glared lightly at Kaidou, who was scratching his head as if embarrassed, but Kaidou accepted his gaze, which was already tinged with resignation, with just a wry smile.
Seeing a hint of remorse in it, he didn’t mind too much and headed towards their destination.
Our party was mixed in gender, so our accommodations were separate, and we were to meet at the designated location. Moreover, as I was the chaperone, I had to go to the assembly point in the plaza earlier than anyone else to serve as a landmark.
Therefore, I prepared my equipment and arrived at the meeting place first.
“Still, moving around at night feels a bit strange. It’s brighter than I expected, though.”
“You just have to get used to it. I felt the same when I came before, but since I had been experiencing the daytime world prior to that, it wasn’t something that bothered me too much.”
Streetlights of a sort existed even in this magical world, and above all, thanks to the moonlight, it wasn’t so dark as to be a major concern.
However, if one looked at the slightly shadowed areas, one couldn’t help but feel a darkness that suggested it was indeed night.
“We’re going to contract with spirits from now on, right? It kind of feels like a haunted house test.”
“That’s true.”
The place where spirits could be contracted was a secret among the Dark Elves, and only Keiri-san, a Dark Elf herself, knew the details.
Kaidou’s comment, which conveyed a sense of a mystery tour, made him inexplicably laugh, as it reminded him of a summer tradition.
As we chatted, testers began to gather sporadically.
“Oh, my son-in-law.”
“Muil-san. Thank you for making arrangements for this occasion.”
Just as people started to gather, the key figure who made the Dark Elf side’s reception possible appeared.
We hadn’t been able to meet yesterday as it was the final inspection of the place for spirit contracts, but judging by his demeanor, there seemed to be no issues.
“You’re too formal. You can be more casual, you know?”
“In private, perhaps, but this is work, so…”
“So you maintain a distinction between public and private matters. Hmm, I understand. This is also a test to see you, my son-in-law. You should act as you see fit.”
“Is it okay to say that?”
“There’s no problem. You probably feel it too, don’t you?”
“Yes, well…”
The gazes I’ve been feeling lately were not so much wary of me as a tester and a human, but rather as an individual named Jiro Tanaka.
The gazes I’d felt since yesterday, combined with Muil-san’s words, made me realize that this project wasn’t just to create an opportunity for spirit contracts, but also intended to gain recognition for me within the tribe.
I couldn’t help but think how well-prepared he was, and I renewed my resolve to banish the mental fatigue from yesterday, knowing I couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.
“Senpai, who is this person?”
“Hmm, I don’t know this man either.”
“Ah, you’re right, we’re meeting for the first time. This is Kaidou Tadashi, a member of my party and a colleague. And this Dark Elf is Muil-san, Suella’s grandfather.”
“Oh, wow, you’re Suella-san’s grandfather! Kaidou Tadashi, introduced by Senpai! Dark Elves really do look young, don’t they?”
“A lively human. I am Muil Hendelberg, Suella’s grandfather. The secret to youth is to stay energetic. Young man, remember that?”
As they introduced themselves, their wavelengths seemed to match.
An atmosphere that was both cheerful and gentle enveloped the place.
“So, that means I’m young forever!”
“Indeed! Energy is the secret to youth, and I’m still active!”
It’s like they say, “birds of a feather flock together.” I had thought their vibes were similar, but I didn’t expect them to be this much alike.
“Good morning. Is something going on, it seems a bit noisy… Oh, isn’t that Muil-san? Long time no see!”
“Good morning, everyone.”
As the meeting time approached, people naturally began to gather.
The two chaperones also gathered, maintaining a distance of about, or rather, one meter between them.
Their reactions were different.
Keiri-san, whom they knew, greeted them in a casual manner, as if greeting a neighbor’s grandfather, while Nostalfer, whom she was meeting for the first time, exchanged elegant morning greetings.
“Alright! Let’s go, Katsu! The spirits are waiting for me!”
“…”
“Karen, are you okay?”
“It seems you were making a lot of noise with Min last night.”
“Sorry, Kitamiya-san, it’s my Min.”
Our party members also gathered, albeit a little later.
Min, excited like a child, and Kitamiya, whose eyes were barely open as if she hadn’t slept, were behind her. Amelia walked beside them, looking worried, and Mike mentioned the reason for Kitamiya’s lack of sleep.
Katsu, sensing what had happened between Kitamiya and Min, apologized apologetically.
“Good morning. Are you alright, Kitamiya?”
“I’m not alright. Some idiot barged in saying she couldn’t sleep because she was too excited, so I barely slept. This is the result. And that idiot looks perfectly fine.”
“Don’t be so lazy, Kitamiya! It’s normal for gamers to stay up for one or two nights without sleep!”
“Hmph!”
“Ow! What are you doing, Leader?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Get your physical condition right before tackling today. What are you doing dragging your comrades down, you idiot?”
“Ugh.”
“Haa, as a punishment, your contract today will be supporting Kitamiya and Amelia. Your contract is canceled until they finish their contracts.”
“What, that’s tyranny! Rare spirits are first-come, first-served!”
“Then, you should fully support Kitamiya and the others. That way, you can also contract, and Kitamiya can rest. Two birds with one stone.”
“That means I’m just the one struggling!”
“No arguments. If they haven’t contracted and you had, I’d ask Muil-san to make you unable to use it for a while.”
“That’s cruel!”
“Then do it.”
“Ugh, understood.”
After finishing his lecture, I met his gaze while rubbing the spot where I had punched his fist.
“Haa, Katsu and Kaidou. I’m sorry, but please support them too. Honestly, if I leave it to Min alone, it might become too focused on efficiency and performance.”
“Understood.”
“Got it!”
“Amelia, well, you can’t do as you please, but please enjoy yourself. Opportunities like this are rare, you know. Oh, and ‘spirit behind me,’ don’t threaten the spirits, alright?”
“I understand! Jiro-san, you do your best too!”
“Hmm, I don’t intend to do that, but I’ll be careful.”
“Kitamiya… if it seems impossible, perhaps you can take a nap first?”
“I’m alright. Yes, I won’t be late.”
While giving instructions on how to proceed, addressing any points of concern, I believe our party will be fine.
The problematic testers will now be under the watchful eyes of Keiri-san, Nostalfer, and the Dark Elves that Muil-san has arranged.
“Indeed, it seems the son-in-law is blessed with quite good companions.”
“Yes, they are troublesome, but…”
“That’s included. Treasure them.”
“Yes.”
“Alright, then that’s settled. Now, it’s almost time. Has everyone gathered?”
No more idle chat. The time to achieve the purpose we came here for has finally arrived.
Muil-san’s demeanor, which had been like that of a kind old man until just now, changed.
For the Dark Elves, who had maintained a neighborly relationship with spirits for many years, this ritual was not something to be trifled with.
It was natural for them to become serious.
In response to that expression, I replied, “I’ll confirm,” and finished taking the roll call of the noisy testers.
“Keiri-san, everyone is here.”
“Yes, good, good. Now, ‘Everyone, attention! The Spirit Contract Ceremony will now begin. If you continue to whisper, I will send you back to the company!'”
Keiri-san, who had gathered the testers’ attention with her amplification magic, nodded with satisfaction as the testers fell silent.
Then, with a nod, she yielded the floor to Muil-san.
“‘Indeed. I am Muil Hendelberg, the initiator of this spirit ceremony. First, I will state the precautions for contracting with spirits. Spirits are beings with will and emotions. I believe everyone here is aware of this, as we have sent out documentation beforehand and made it public.’”
I had mostly only seen Muil-san as a cheerful, kind old man, but watching him speak so boldly now, I could see the dignity that comes with age.
Overwhelmed by his presence, the testers quietly focused and listened intently.
What Muil-san said were things that were obvious to the Dark Elves, and experiences of a race that had interacted with spirits for many years.
“‘There are various forms of spirit contracts. Some establish friendship through dialogue, some subdue spirits by showing strength, and others borrow their power by offering sacrifices. The method by which you contract with spirits is left to your own will. Additionally, we will have some of our tribe accompany you to guide you to the place you will be going. They have all contracted with spirits, and I am sure they will be of help to you.’”
I had heard that the accompanying Dark Elves were quite seasoned, contrary to their appearance.
Being able to learn know-how from such people was a great thing.
It was truly a lifeline for us beginners.
“‘Now, having spoken at length, I will conclude by stating what must never be broken. We will never forgive those who harm spirits and forcibly take their power. We will never forgive those who despoil the forest. Keep that in mind and do your best in this contract.’”
The last part was like a threat, a warning from the entire Dark Elf race.
And Muil-san’s words carried a heavy pressure.
Unless one was an absolute fool, Muil-san’s words had such presence that they wouldn’t be mistaken for a joke.
As Muil-san slowly smiled towards me after gracefully yielding the floor to Keiri-san, the atmosphere in the place finally eased.
Then, each person was guided by one or two to three Dark Elves assigned to their group, and they headed deep into the forest.
“Alright, son-in-law, this way. I must first pay my respects to the clan leader.”
And so, I would be acting separately from here.
“Senpai, do your best!”
“Leader! I want to see it if you can contract!”
“Jiro-san, good luck.”
“Well, try your best.”
“Good luck! Jiro-san!”
Seeing them off, who knew the situation.
“Yeah, you guys better not slack off either.”
Led by Muil-san, I headed to a different location.
Today’s Quote:
Conforming to a mold is not a bad thing.
Sometimes it is absolutely necessary.
I apologize for the delay.
My mouse broke, and I was unable to post.
I bought a new one today and am posting later than anticipated.
That’s all for today.
If you enjoyed this, please leave comments, ratings, and bookmark.
Thank you for your continued support of this work.
