“I see. If Kent says so, I believe you.”
“Ugh, I’m glad you’re convinced.”
Kent then explained the circumstances to Marie, but it took a long time for her to be convinced.
“Fuuko, speaking of which, you said there was a condition for bringing Moe, but can you not talk about it yet?”
“I can talk about it!”
When they left the forest, Fuuko had mentioned that there was a condition for bringing Moe, but she didn’t explain it at the time. When Kent asked her about it again, she easily replied that she could talk about it.
“It seems like an important conversation, but is it okay for us to listen too?”
“I don’t mind.”
Marie, sensing that Kent and Fuuko were about to have an important discussion, asked Fuuko if she should leave, but Fuuko, without any sign of hesitation, replied that it was fine to stay.
“So, what’s the condition?”
Kent got into the kotatsu in the living room, and following his lead, Fuuko, Marie, and Catherine each put their feet into the kotatsu, taking a posture to listen. Moe was on Fuuko’s lap, her stomach touching the floor.
“You know that fairies disappear when their magic runs out, right?”
“I know that. Does Moe disappear too?”
“Yes. When we give our power and become fairies, we are fated to do so!”
Now that everyone was seated, Fuuko got to the main point. She explained that because Moe had become a fairy, like other fairies, she would cease to exist if her magic ran out. Kent, knowing this fact, understood.
“That forest is overflowing with a lot of naturally generated magic. In this environment, all fairies can recover their magic in some way. Of course, Moe can too. So, if she lives in the forest, she won’t run out of magic if she moderately conserves it. You understand this so far, right?”
“Ah, I sort of understand.”
Fuuko explained to Kent that the forest was filled with naturally generated magic.
“And here’s the problem. Moe’s magic won’t recover naturally in this town. So, what should we do?”
“Should I do what I do for the other children?”
“Hmm, well. That would indeed allow her magic to recover. However, if you do that without a contract, a lot of magic will be taken away. We contract fairies can absorb about 95% of the Master’s magic efficiently, but non-contract fairies only get about 1%. Moe needs a considerable amount of magic. That would put too much of a burden on the Master.”
Fuuko brought up the issue of Moe’s inability to naturally recover magic. Kent, upon hearing this, thought she could do what other fairies do, but there seemed to be reasons why that wasn’t possible.
“In that case, why don’t I contract with Moe?”
“I don’t recommend that. You currently have four contracted fairies, including myself. Two of them are high-ranking fairies called Country Gods. Adding another would be too much for your body.”
“Too much for my body? What would happen?”
Kent thought he could increase Moe’s magic recovery efficiency by contracting with her, but Fuuko said it was very dangerous to contract with more fairies.
“The initial symptom would be a loss of energy in your son. Then, efficient magic supply, which you do regularly, would become impossible. I’d also be inconvenienced if the magic absorption efficiency decreases.”
“I would also be very inconvenienced if we couldn’t do such things with you, Kent.”
Fuuko explained the potential physical changes that might occur if a fifth fairy were contracted. Marie, hearing this, let out a surprised cry. Her libido was very high, and she had become so dependent on Kent that she couldn’t live without him. Therefore, she was concerned about such a situation occurring.
“Well, for that reason, we can’t let Moe contract with the Master.”
“Then what should we do?”
“Heh heh, I have a good idea for that.”
Fuuko, seemingly having a good plan, said so, puffing out her chest.
“For a normal person, the limit for contracting fairies is one. Masters who can contract with multiple are exceptional. It’s truly an amazing feat even to contract with one, and I’m surprised you show no signs of strain even after contracting with me and Hanako. Moe also requires a lot of magic, so someone with just a little magic won’t be enough. You need someone with great magical power.”
“I see. The Queen?”
When Kent heard about someone with great magical power in this country, the Queen was the first person who came to mind.
“Hmm, it’s true that the Queen of this country has great magical power. However, even her power wouldn’t be enough to contract with Moe. That’s how difficult it is to contract with Moe.”
According to Fuuko, even the Queen, who was said to be the most skilled magician in this country, was not powerful enough to contract with Moe.
“What about Rachel? She had great power, just like me, didn’t she?”
“Indeed, she has great magical power, but she’s already contracted with a fairy, isn’t she? And adding Moe would be too much for her body.”
“So, as it stands, Moe will disappear? Damn, did I just bring her here out of pity?”
Kent then thought of Rachel and mentioned her name. However, Fuuko replied that since she was already contracted with a fairy named Mike, an additional contract was impossible.
“Master, your horizons are too narrow. Isn’t she right there? Someone with great magical power.”
“Huh? Catherine?”
“Me?”
Fuuko turned to Catherine and said she was the suitable candidate. Both Kent and Catherine let out cries of surprise upon hearing this.
“Besides, it’s quite something for the country’s Saintess to not have any contracted fairies. Most Saintesses in other countries have contracted with fairies.”
“Ugh, that’s…”
Catherine seemed to know this, as she was unable to retort.
“She might be a bit of a gas-guzzler, but Moe is a prime candidate. We just have to contract her. However, I won’t force it, so it’s ultimately up to her will. If Catherine refuses, Moe will have to return to the forest.”
“I was thinking of a humanoid fairy, but a lizard… It’s not that Moe-chan is bad, you know? A Saintess acting with a large lizard… How would that look?”
Fuuko was trying to sell Moe, but she did not force the contract. However, Catherine seemed to be in great distress.
“I want to live in this town with Dad and Mom.”
“Ugh, don’t look at me like that.”
Moe, wishing to live with Kent and Fuuko, implored Catherine with teary eyes.
“Since the Country God of the Duchy recommends it, there’s no mistake… Alright. I’ll contract with Moe.”
Catherine felt Moe’s emotions keenly, and with Fuuko’s recommendation as further support, she decided to contract with Moe.
“Alright, I have your word. Let’s contract immediately. It’ll only hurt at first. Catherine, hold out your hand.”
“L-like this?”
Before Catherine could change her mind, Fuuko prepared for the contract. When she told Catherine to hold out her hand, Catherine hesitantly extended her hand toward Fuuko.
“Moe, the contract is ready.”
“It might hurt a little, but please bear with it for a moment. Nom!”
“Ow!”
Fuuko embraced Catherine’s outstretched right hand with both of her arms, immobilizing it. Then, signaling Moe, she bit down hard on Catherine’s hand.
“It hurts, but it feels strange. What is this feeling?”
“That’s enough. Moe, you can let go now.”
“Yes, Master. I’m sorry for hurting you. Slurp slurp.”
Catherine, bitten by Moe, endured the pain with a bewildered expression. After a while, when Fuuko told her to let go, Moe released Catherine’s hand from her mouth. Then, she licked the bite marks on Catherine’s hand, which were clearly visible.
“Wow, the bite marks are gone. This child can use recovery magic.”
“It’s not just recovery magic. Her basic attribute is wind, like yours, but she can also use fire, water, and earth, making her capable of all the basic attributes.”
“She has all attributes!”
After Moe licked her hand, the bite marks that had been on Catherine’s hand disappeared cleanly. Catherine was surprised that Moe could use recovery magic, but she was even more astonished when Fuuko told her that Moe possessed all attributes.
“Well, anyway. Moe, I look forward to working with you from now on.”
“Yes, Master. I look forward to working with you too.”
After finishing the contract with Moe, Catherine held Moe’s foreleg with both of her hands, and they exchanged greetings. At this point, the information Catherine had was that the Kingdom’s Army that had headed for the Duchy had retreated from the forest for some reason and was returning. She had no idea that the fairy she had agreed to contract with possessed power strong enough to repel 40,000 kingdom troops single-handedly. And so, the Saintess Catherine inadvertently gained immense power.
