Chapter105: Melal, what’s the matter?

After finishing the discussion with Marie, I returned to my room and found a spirit named Melal? It seems that Bell brought him along. Is he a friend?

“Hello. I’m Yuta. Can I call you Melal?”

While holding Bell, who flew towards me, I spoke to Melal. He looks like a boy around elementary school age, similar to Sara. Well, he’s probably older than me, but using respectful language with a young boy feels really awkward, so I hope he doesn’t mind.

“Yeah. I heard the rumors, but it’s true that you can see and talk to spirits.”

Rumors? So it has become a rumor, huh? Well, I’ve heard that being able to see and talk to spirits is extremely rare, so I guess it could be called a rumor.

“Yeah. I can see, talk to, and even touch them. So what’s up? If you came to play, you’re more than welcome, but do you have something you need?”

While initially appearing energetic, the boy now seems a bit down. Maybe he has some worries.

“Oh, well. When I was troubled, Bell said that Yuta would lend me his strength… Can you help me?”

“Yuta is amazing!” “Kyu.” “Don’t worry.” “Kuuu.”

Huh? Is it possible that I’m now expected to solve Melal’s problem? The expectant gazes from Bell and the others are subtly pressuring me.

“Well, um, can you at least tell me the story? I’ve been helped by spirits before, so if there’s anything I can do, I’ll help.”

“That would be really helpful.”

“Yeah. Well, I can’t do what I can’t do, though.”

I want to set some boundaries because I have no idea what kind of worries a spirit might have.

“If you can’t do it, then it’s fine. I am enshrined at a blacksmith in the Labyrinth City, and there’s been a problem at that blacksmith.”

“You’re enshrined there?”

It seems like some kind of deity. In Japan, we had various things we worshipped, so it’s not that strange, right?

“Yeah. I’m a fire spirit, and the first generation of the blacksmith was also a spirit shaman. The forge in the blacksmith was always burning with fire, and it became the living quarters for the blacksmith’s successors who made a contract with me throughout generations.”

I see. So it’s a contract passed down through generations. I didn’t know something like that existed.

“But not all children have the talent to become spirit shamans, right? How have you managed to continue the contract until now?”

“Yuta, not everyone, but some degree of talent is inherited. Perhaps only a handful of privileged spirit shamans have been passed down through generations.”

I see. So accumulated knowledge and being contracted with that family for a long time make the spirits accustomed to their way of doing things. Silphy quickly provides an answer to my question.

In that case, it’s probably impossible for wandering spirit shamans. To succeed, you need either exceptional talent or to become an apprentice in a prestigious family, I guess.

Well, there are no laws about it. It’s natural to monopolize and utilize the knowledge rather than spreading it around. I also intend to choose who I teach rather than risking my simple methods spreading to the world.

But I wish they would pay more attention to the reputation of spirit shamans in the world. They might say things like, “We, the prestigious spirit shamans, are not meant to be adventurers!” I’m just imagining, though. Well, if someone is unpleasant, the spirits will probably abandon them. I won’t know until I actually confirm it.

“I think I understand the situation to some extent. Sorry for interrupting the flow of the conversation.”

“No, it’s easier to talk when you understand. So, about six months ago, the owner of that blacksmith passed away due to illness.”

It means he passed away on his journey, right? Melal also had a sad expression, so he must have been the contract holder.

“The problem is about the successor. The master had only one daughter named Mel. She is skilled in blacksmithing, but she’s troubled and suffering because she can’t make a contract with me.”

Um, so Mel is the daughter and the spirit is Melal. It’s a bit confusing. Did they name her after the enshrined spirit? And it feels really strange for a daughter to be a blacksmith.

“Doesn’t the girl have any talent as a spirit shaman?”

If she doesn’t, there’s nothing I can do about it.

“No, she does have talent as a spirit shaman. However, I evolved into an intermediate spirit in the previous generation, so her magic power is insufficient for her to contract with me.”

“Doesn’t she realize that the lack of magic power is the reason she can’t make a contract?”

“That’s right. The previous contract holder also dabbled in being an adventurer when he was young, so his magic power increased, and there were no issues. But Mel hasn’t realized that the lack of magic power is the problem, so she has only raised her magic power to the level that has been passed down through generations. So she’s suffering, thinking that it’s because she’s a girl or because she’s not recognized as a blacksmith by me.”

I see. If it has been passed down through generations, they should know the necessary magic power for the contract. But there seems to be a discrepancy because of the evolution.

“Didn’t Mel’s contract holder realize that you evolved into an intermediate spirit? It seems like your presence would have increased, and if she fought monsters, she would have noticed the improvement in magic power and the effectiveness of her magic.”

“When she succeeded the blacksmith, she made a contract with me, so she didn’t notice the difference well. She doesn’t use much magic power when she’s at the forge. The contract holder when I evolved was also indifferent to things other than blacksmithing, so they didn’t think much of it, just considering it as feeling good.”

Listening to the story, it seems like I can easily handle this. However, if the contract holder when Melal evolved had just confirmed it properly, there wouldn’t have been any issues. They just let it pass as feeling good…

“In that case, it should be fine. Just let her know that her magic power is insufficient and, if necessary, accompany her for power leveling. But if her magic power stops growing midway, there’s nothing I can do, right?”

“If you can do that, it would be a great help. Mel’s family lineage has always had high magic power, so unless there’s something really significant, her magic power should continue to increase until she can make the contract. But if it stops growing midway… at that time, I would like to have a proper discussion, so I’ll need your help.”

Magic is passed down through bloodlines, huh? It seems like magicians also place importance on lineage.

“Yeah, as long as it’s something like that, I don’t mind. But I need Mel to keep the things I taught her about spirits a secret. It would be problematic if that information got out. I qill threaten her that if she breaks the promise, Melal will abandon her, but is that okay?”

“If Mel promises, then it’s fine. That girl doesn’t break promises lightly. And if she ever does, I’ll take responsibility too.”

When he says it with such a serious expression, I start to get a little nervous too. Please don’t go to extremes like self-sacrifice.

“If you’re that worried, let’s decide on it properly. If Mel ever breaks her promise, Melal will leave her side. And Melal should inform me about breaking the promise. Silphy, is that okay?”

“That’s fine. Spirits don’t break promises, so rest assured.”

“It may sound strange coming from me, but what worries me is the human side. But if Melal says Mel will be fine, I’ll believe it. Should we go tomorrow morning then?”

“Yeah, she’s been focusing on improving her blacksmithing skills in the workshop lately. If you come tomorrow morning, that would be helpful.”

“Okay. I’ll be ready, so it would be great if you could come to pick me up.”

“Also, sorry for the additional request, but can I ask you to teach Mel more about being a spirit mage? What Bell taught me was really helpful.”

He’s talking about communicating with spirits. As long as he’s not someone who would misuse it, it shouldn’t be a problem.

“As long as you can keep it a secret and won’t misuse it, then it’s not a problem.”

“I appreciate it. You can trust me that I won’t let it be misused. Well then, I’ll go back now. I’ll count on you tomorrow.”

He bows his head and flies away. I didn’t even have time to invite him for dinner.

“Yuta, you’re amazing!” “Kyu-kyu!” “Good boy!” “Kuu-Kuu!”

When Melal leaves, Bell and the others come floating over and praise me one after another. It seems that saying I can solve Mel’s request was a good thing. As a thank you for their praise, I stroke Bell and the others.

“By the way, Silphy, even if we’re not contracted, there are times when spirits act for the sake of humans like that, right? I always had the impression that spirits don’t interact with people much, so I was a little surprised.”

“Well, I’ve been involved with you, haven’t I? Melal also seems to like that lineage of blacksmiths.”

“I wonder if the first generation was such a good person for Melal to be attached to them like that. It seems like he cares about that child a lot, so maybe there’s some affection there.”

“Yeah, that’s right. So tomorrow we’ll go to Melal’s place.”

“Yes, that’s right… Hey, Yuta. Tomorrow is a day off, right? I think Sara and the others will be going out, but what about you?”

“Oh, right. Since I want Silphy to go with Sara and the others, I’ll rely on Dyne and Dolly.”

“Understood.”

“It’s almost dinner time, so let’s go to Sara’s place.”

I received a letter of introduction from Marie-san, but will I have time to visit the carpenter? It might take a bit of time.

“Did I keep you waiting?”

After having breakfast and summoning Dyne and Dolly to explain the situation, Melal came to pick me up.

“It’s the perfect timing. Hm? What’s wrong?”

Melal seemed surprised about something.

“Oh, it’s just that there are more Great Spirits, and that surprised me. What do you plan to do by contracting so many Great Spirits? Are you aiming to conquer the world or something?”

He suddenly said something exaggerated. Conquer the world?… Can I actually do that? I vaguely remember someone saying that conquering the world is a man’s romance, but should men aspire to that? World domination.

“So this is Melal-chan. I’m Dyne. Nice to meet you. I heard the story from Yuta, so leave it to your Oneechan. A hidden love where a spirit and a blacksmith’s daughter can’t exchange words. It’s wonderful. Your Oneechan will do her best.”

“Hey, hey. Something feels off about this. What explanation did you give? Hey. Don’t ignore me.”

“Yuta, Yuta! I don’t know what you’re thinking, but someone is asking for help.”

Just as I was imagining myself conquering the world and laughing maniacally on a throne, Silphy’s voice reached me.

“Hm? Silphy, what’s wrong?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but can you just ignore that? Can you?”

Silphy urges me, and when I turn my face, I see Dyne passionately talking about love and Melal desperately reaching out for help. Around them, Bell and the others nod with an atmosphere that suggests it’s a useful lesson. It’s chaotic.

“Why did it turn out like this?”

“I don’t know.”

Do you really not know? I can feel an atmosphere like you don’t want to get involved. Dolly is also looking in the other direction. Let’s rescue Melal for now.

“Dyne, calm down for a moment. Melal is in trouble.”

What kind of conversation do you have to have for the word ‘love’ to come up like this?

“Oh? Oh my, I’m sorry. I got a little carried away, didn’t I?”

Seeing the exhausted Melal, Dyne calms down a bit. Bell and the others are discussing with nods, saying things like “Love is wonderful!” “Kyu-kyu!” “Flying high!” “Coo-coo.” It’s chaotic.

“Well, well, let’s go now since we’re about to leave. We’ll talk about it another time.”

“Yes, let’s. Melal-chan, let’s talk later.”

Melal’s face is filled with despair. Sorry, Melal. I chose my words poorly. I’m sorry, so please don’t look at me with such resentful eyes.

“Melal, please guide us since we’re leaving.”

“Y-Yes…”

I ask Silphy to take care of Sara and the others and leave the inn. I’m already tired even before leaving.