Chapter 288: Is it OK to Show Up?
Zabuton, who was sprawled on the bench, raised half of its body and waved one of its corners.
「Why are you here… 」
「The spirit that followed us earlier — no, this one seems to be bigger. 」
Ash knitted her brows. She had a scary scowl again. Maybe she was trying to squint to see the spirit better?
「Perhaps… 」
「It is Zabuton. 」
I declared its identity before Butler could guess it right.
「Why is it here? 」
「Did you have a contract with it already? 」
Ash.
「Ah, no, there’s no — 」
Way — was what I was about to say, but Zabuton hurtled itself behind me and knocked my knees, effectively forcing me to sit on it.
Ash and Butler’s jaws dropped. Yeah, me too, I was shocked too.
「Hi Jean~ 」
「You’re not home these days. 」
「Mischt, Halalfa. 」
Why are you guys here?
「I only return to the house early in the morning. 」
Ash and Butler seemed to be frozen stiff, but yep, this isn’t my fault.
「The light spirits seemed to be at a loss since yesterday. I tried to request them to do something for me, but it turns out they’re all Namina’s underlings. It made me wonder what’s going on, and it turns out you visited Namina’s temple? 」
Halalfa chuckled, seemingly amused.
「I didn’t realize right away that it was you because of your 【Cut Ties】, Jean. Even those children didn’t know why they were flying around. 」Mischt.
But I didn’t go to the temple yesterday, I didn’t go there! I subconsciously stared at Zabuton. Its corners were twitching. So you’re the culprit, huh!
「We’ll look after them for now. We’ll be taking them with us when we return to your house, so please 【Release】them. 」
「Rather than snatching somebody else’s underlings, it’s much better if Jean【Liberate】them first, right? 」
Mischt beamed.
Eh, does that mean there’s another Temple Desertion Group?
「I’m fine with doing the 【Release】for them, but won’t that pose a problem down the road if we take them from one place like that? 」
「There might be some implications to the Human Realm, but that doesn’t have anything to do with us. 」
Halalfa answered me while staring at Zabuton, who was still under my butt, with great interest.
Zabuton raised its corners and seemed to reciprocate that interest, so I went down and sent it to her. Seems like Zabuton will become Halalfa’s underling, huh.
「It’s okay, if they like the place then they’ll return there. Ah, but Namina’s believers must prepare conditions that will satisfy the spirits first if they want to request something from them. 」
Mischt pointed her forefinger on her chin and tilted her head in thought.
「Then there shouldn’t be any problems, huh. 」
「But I think the majority of them will opt to stay where Jean is. 」
Halalfa leaned her upper body on Zabuton as she lay down midair.
「Don’t worry, they won’t be able to pass through the barrier, after all. If you make a contract with them, they’ll have a connection with you and feel as if you’re with them, so they’ll be satisfied with that, Jean. 」
「The tiny ones are so overcrowded that they even merged together into a bigger spirit. 」
Halalfa meaningfully glanced at Butler.
「Fufufu, so it was based on this person’s image, huh? 」
Mischt giggled while looking at Butler.
Ack, so they’re talking about Note…! I was keeping it a secret because it felt like a violation of the right to use his image!
「Perhaps he will become as powerful as us. 」
「We’ll go back before Khadar scolds us. Good luck, Jean~ 」
The two of them vanished just like that.
Zabuton went back under my butt.
「Jean…sama…? 」
「Jean, who are they? 」
Ash’s voice sounded stiff, but Butler’s body seemed to be stiffer. Both of them moved so unnaturally as they turned to look at me that I seemed to hear them make a creaking sound.
「Halalfa and Mischt, they’re my protectors. The former governs light, love and beauty, the latter light, wind and romantic love. They’re whimsical creatures. 」
「So that’s how it is. 」
I answered him as nonchalantly as I could, and he replied with a smile. Ahm, actually, he remained frozen with a smile plastered on his face, so his mind must be in chaos now.
「Noth, can you brew tea for us? 」
「Yes, right away. 」
Butler moved robotically to light the fireplace after Ash called out to him.
「Jean, wanna sit down on the bench? 」
「Yeah. 」
Seems like I also had to do some calming down too.
Ash was still composed as always, how enviable. We sat side by side on the bench and waited for the tea. Butler’s thoughts might’ve blanked out, but his movements were still perfectly on point. As expected of you, Butler.
「The spirits are beautiful. 」
Ash put her elbow on her knee and leaned her chin on her hand. It’s rare for her not to look at me.
「Hm? Mm. 」
Mischt was fluffy and cute, and Halalfa is gorgeous enough to draw you in every time she appears. And not sure if it’s because they’re light spirits, but they also have this sense of purity in them.
「Jean is also beautiful. 」
「Uh, thanks? 」
I should compliment Ash that she’s a beauty too at this time, but her expression was terrifying, for some reason. Uhm, can you show me your relaxed face, at the very least? It’s already a huge hurdle for me to say sweet stuff as it is.
Should I do my best to learn from Chris?
「You’re beautiful, but it felt as if you might go to their realm, so it really made me anxious, Jean. 」
I didn’t expect Ash to say that. Uh, well, I’m technically a human, but… wait a sec, is she doubting this body?
「I’m a human. Besides, there’s plenty of beautiful things in this world. We have everyone, and of course you, Ash. 」
At any rate, the heroes are considered human, so I’m probably one too. As the saying goes, whoever declares and claims it first wins.
The spirits we left at the temple passed through the wall and came closer to me one after the other.
Good timing, their effect on the ambience is nice, but then, Butler’s putting the tea leaves inside the cup, so….
I have to do something about this before Dinosso and the others return, or else…!
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
I Got Transferred in the Middle of a Mountain
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 80 hours
Thanks.