Chapter 21

I had a bit of an unpleasant thought, but for now, I'll just make the fertilizer. After grinding for about an hour, it turned into fine sand-like particles.

Phew. That was quite a bit of work. Next, I should mix it with the soil. If I pour water, the nutrients will flow from top to bottom, so I'll use less fertilizer at the bottom.

"Are you done? What’s next?"

"Yeah, Sylph. I’m done. Next, I’ll mix the soil and fertilizer. The soil has some clumps, so it’s better to break them up. But it’s just mixing, so it shouldn’t take long."

"Okay. Good luck."

A simple encouragement, and I’m already pumped up. Am I that easy to motivate? Well, if it makes me feel good, I’ll take it as a positive trait.

I put the fertilizer from the mortar away and replaced it with soil. Then I added the fertilizer I made. Since it will be at the bottom, I’ll use a lot less.

I mixed the soil and fertilizer in the mortar. The clumps of soil broke apart easily when I tapped them lightly with the hammer. After mixing thoroughly, I put the mortar away and placed it next to the planned field.

I enlarged the shovel and threw the soil from the mortar into the planned field.

"Bel, can you level the soil with the wind?"

"Sure thing."

"Thanks."

"Got it."

As I threw the soil into the planned field, Bel used the wind to level it. "Quo?" Huh? What’s Rain doing?

"Quo-quo."

She’s looking at Bel and then sticking her head into the hole. I don’t get it.

"Rain wants to help too."

Rain nodded happily at Bel’s translation. So Bel can understand Rain. I couldn’t understand her even though we’re contracted.

"Okay. How about Rain helps by watering the soil? Just enough to moisten it, can you do that?"

"Quo-quo."

It seems she can. I was planning to water it heavily at the end, but if the soil is moist enough, I can use less water.

"Thanks, Rain."

"Quo-quo."

Rain chirped, and mist appeared and seeped into the soil. That’s impressive. As I threw the soil, Bel leveled it with the wind, and Rain moistened it with the mist. It’s working smoothly.

After throwing all the soil, I mixed it with the fertilizer again. Once mixed, I threw it into the planned field. I repeated this several times.

"That’s it. Rain, can you water it heavily from the top? Make sure the soil is thoroughly wet."

"Quo."

Water rained down on the field, and when the soil was thoroughly moist, Rain stopped.

"Bel, Rain, thank you both. Thanks to you, the field is complete."

"Good job."

"Quo."

They flew over, and I thanked them while petting their heads. Bel and Rain pressed their heads into my hands. I can’t tell if I’m petting them or they’re rubbing their heads against me. Sylph and Dine came over, so I asked them.

"Sylph, Dine, how does the field look? Is it going well?"

"I’m not sure."

"Yuta-kun, I can tell the soil is well-moistened."

"Thanks, Dine. I hope the earth spirit will come. I did my best, but I’m not sure how it will turn out."

"I’ll call the earth spirit in the morning. There’s no point in worrying about it."

It feels like waiting for a test result when you have no confidence. I hope I don’t fail.

"I know, but I can’t help but worry. I’ll try to think about other things."

"That’s a good idea."

I put away the dried fish and prepared dinner. The fish wasn’t dry enough, so I’ll dry it again tomorrow. For dinner, I’ll have grilled fish.

***

After dinner, I was planning to have coffee, but I have something difficult to talk about, so I’ll skip it. I want to enjoy my coffee in a good mood.

"Sylph, Dine, I have something to talk about. Is it okay?"

"What is it? You look serious. Did something happen?"

She looks a bit worried. Sylph is so kind. Even though we’re not contracted, she helps me within her limits.

If this talk leads to us parting ways, I won’t forget to be grateful. I don’t want to part, but...

"Yuta-kun, are you okay?"

"No, I just had an unpleasant thought. Can you listen to me?"

"Sure. Go ahead."

"Ah, I’m not sure, but apparently, I have a high affinity with spirits, so I can see and touch them."

"Yes, I’ve heard that your affinity is extremely high. You can even talk to spirits. It’s rare for anyone to see and touch them, let alone you being the first."

"Even I was surprised."

Dine’s comment eased the tension a bit.

"So, what I’m worried about is that my tools might affect the spirits. My tools are powerful, and if they hit a spirit, it could be bad."

"I’ve said before that your tools can’t attack intangible things, so they’re not a threat to spirits."

"I thought so too, but I can touch spirits. Bel was holding my clothes tightly. I can’t say for sure that the tools won’t hit them. If I don’t check and end up hurting Bel or Rain, I’d feel terrible."

I said it. Sylph and Dine’s expressions changed. What will happen?

"…You’re right. Let’s test it. Yuta, bring out your hammer."

I brought out the hammer as Sylph asked.

"Then, I’ll try to touch the hammer without using magic."

"O-okay."

Sylph’s hand passed through the hammer’s head smoothly. Wow, it didn’t hit.

"Next, Yuta, try to hit my hand lightly with the hammer. Just enough to touch it, please."

"O-okay."

I moved the hammer cautiously, intending to touch Sylph’s hand. It passed through without any reaction.

"It’s fine. I was a bit tense."

Sylph, Dine, and I all breathed a sigh of relief.

"That’s a relief."

I was genuinely relieved.

"I panicked when I thought about what you said, Yuta. But Yuta, the ability to affect spirits is incredible. It’s unusual to be glad it doesn’t work."

"Well, my only friends are spirits. If they start to distrust me, it would be too lonely."

"Oh, I didn’t move away when you touched me. I just warned you."

"Me too."

"True, but spirits I haven’t talked to might be wary of me. They might see me as a threat. It’s better not to have that kind of power."

"You’re a good kid, Yuta. I’m impressed."

If spirits target me, I’m in big trouble. It’s the worst to have a weakness against an enemy.

"You’re right. Some spirits might be wary. So, Yuta’s concern isn’t wrong. But, Yuta, you can catch us with your bare hands."

"Can I fight with my bare hands and manage?"

"…Maybe against floating spirits. But even if you catch them, it won’t end well, so don’t do it."

"I’ve never wanted to catch a spirit. By the way, where did the floating spirit Bel brought go?"

That moss ball. I forgot about it because I was busy, but it’s nowhere to be found.

"Oh, it was carried away by the wind and is drifting somewhere. Don’t worry, it’s fine. But it’s getting late. What about leveling up?"

"Ah, I’ll ask for your help today."

I’m relieved. It was a pointless worry, but the stress built up, so I’ll vent it on monsters.

***

When I woke up and went to the kitchen, Bel and Rain flew over. I petted their heads and exchanged morning greetings, then had breakfast.

When I went outside, Dine appeared. I greeted her and asked about Sylph.

"Sylph is going to bring a spirit. I wonder who she’s bringing. It’s exciting."

A new spirit. I wonder what kind. Since she talks about the mother earth, I hope it’s a sexy, alluring older sister. Dine is good-looking, but she lacks charm. I’ll look forward to the earth spirit.

"Yuta-kun, are you thinking about something naughty?"

Dine narrowed her eyes. What, she’s sharp about these things despite being innocent? How troublesome.

"No, I’m not."

"Really?"

She’s unusually persistent.

"Ah, I was just thinking about what kind of spirit will come and how the field will be judged."

"That’s it? Strange. My ‘sister’s radar’ was reacting strongly."

Does she have a radar? Does that even exist in this world?

"Does a radar exist in this world?"

"Does it exist in your world? It’s a magic that sends out magic power to detect things."

"Something similar, I guess."

From the name, it sounds like someone who transferred from Earth like me created it.

"Has that radar magic existed for a long time?"

"It’s relatively new. I think it’s been less than five hundred years."

Five hundred years is new. I underestimated the spirits. And the person from my hometown is probably not alive anymore.

"Ah, Yuta-kun, they’re back."

Dine pointed, and I saw Sylph and two spirits I’ve never seen before flying towards us… They’re a dwarf and her child.

Thank you for reading.