Chapter 5

"Sorry, I just got a bit flustered. It's been a while, Eni."

"U-um, if you've calmed down... that's good."

Eni, who had been thinking about hitting her, lost all such thoughts when she saw Misaki's slightly sad smile and her direct gaze.

Even though she wanted to ask what had happened, the atmosphere wasn't right, and all she could do was forgive her. The phrase "it's been a while" also caught her attention.

Despite the situation, the contract was proceeding, so Jike sent Eni to the contract area and went to stand next to Rau.

"I'm sorry for losing it."

"I didn't know what to say either..."

Rau scratched his head awkwardly. Jike felt relieved and clear-headed after crying, but no one would think she was in a good mood after seeing her red, swollen eyes.

She felt embarrassed about what she had done, crying in front of everyone and then clinging to a girl in a moment of emotion.

She had expected Eni to push her away or even hit her, but nothing happened. If Eni had hit her, it might have settled things, but now she was left feeling awkward.

"I'm sure I'll get a good job. I'll work hard and take care of you! I'll make sure everyone in the slums can live a bit better, so cheer up."

Rau's words, which sounded like a kind of declaration or even a proposal, echoed in Jike's mind. In the past, she had heard similar words and rejected them, interpreting them as pity or sympathy.

Rau just wanted to repay a favor, and because he was still a child, he didn't express himself well. He was trying to cheer up his best friend. Rau had truly supported her, but she couldn't accept it.

If she were to look at it objectively, Rau was choosing his words carefully and doing his best to comfort his best friend. His earnestness was endearing and grateful, and she found herself smiling naturally.

"Thanks, Rau."

This time, it was different from the past. She could face her best friend's pure kindness.

"Y-Yeah!"

Rau was taken aback by her easy acceptance. He knew he had said something strange, even if he hadn't intended to lie.

When asked with a smile, he realized he had made a strange promise. He had received a lot from Rau in the past.

But it wasn't right to just keep receiving. He needed to change too.

Jike also vowed to work hard to give something back to Rau.

"What, what is this light?!"

The most powerful monster of the day, a phoenix, a divine beast, appeared in a blinding light. The light was so bright that it could be seen even from outside the contract area, and the phoenix sat in the center of the magic circle.

It was the pinnacle of avian monsters, a phoenix with the ability to regenerate and control fire. It was both a monster and a spiritual beast, a majestic creature.

It was probably the pinnacle of monsters, not just for the day but for the entire country. The soldiers were so captivated by the phoenix that they didn't even raise their spears.

"Hehe, isn't it amazing?"

Eni, who had summoned it, laughed awkwardly. When the phoenix moved, sparks flew. It bowed its head and gently touched Eni's cheek with its beak, showing submission.

Eni stroked the beak in return. Everyone had forgotten about the other children waiting.

The phoenix was always beautiful. Even though it was the second time seeing it, it was hard to believe such a legendary creature was right in front of them.

"Isn't it amazing?!"

Attracting everyone's attention, Eni, who was at a loss without the soldiers' guidance, approached Jike and Rau in a joking manner. The phoenix followed her, of course.

A larger circle formed than when the Thunderlight Tiger appeared. The phoenix approached and, for some reason, looked at Jike and bowed its head.

Confused, Jike bowed back. The Thunderlight Tiger stepped forward in front of Rau.

The Thunderlight Tiger didn't hesitate to protect its contractor even in the presence of the phoenix. It was a brave act.

Jike didn't know how much experience the Thunderlight Tiger had. If it was a seasoned Thunderlight Tiger and the phoenix was young, it might not be a match.

"Amazing..."

Rau was also stunned, staring at the phoenix in amazement.

"Right? Your tiger... it's not even comparable..."

Eni had completely forgotten about Jike's monster in the excitement. She boasted easily, but her words trailed off.

"Slimes aren't bad either."

"Kuruu."

The phoenix seemed to agree with Jike's words and chirped. Fios also jumped in Jike's arms.

With her tear-streaked face, Eni wondered what Jike was saying. She didn't look satisfied with a slime.

Feeling guilty, Eni scratched her cheek, and Jike was at a loss. The abilities and status of a monster couldn't be compared to a phoenix.

But what mattered was how deeply one could bond with their monster and how they could apply its abilities. Even if Eni slacked off and Jike worked hard, it would be difficult to catch up.

The results after that were not impressive. However, a few people, including Rau and Eni, stood out, so they weren't as noticeable. A few others also did well.

After the children's contracts were completed, they received verbal instructions and basic knowledge about monsters. It was important information, but since many children couldn't read, it had to be explained simply.

A few, including Rau and Eni, who had summoned impressive monsters, were called by officials for further discussion. Jike wasn't worried because he knew what it was about.

The other children, including Jike, were returned to the slums on the wagons since they had no other business. When they parted ways, everyone knew about Jike's slime and offered words of comfort, which he accepted with a smile.

When they arrived in the slums, everyone dispersed, and Jike returned to his home. It was a small, dilapidated house that could at least protect against wind and rain, located relatively close to the civilian area.

This area used to be a regular civilian district but became a slum during a major war. The house was where the old man who had taken care of Jike lived.

The old man had no family, and after he passed away, Jike continued to live in the house. The house was small, but it was more than enough for a child, so he had taken in Rau and Eni, who were living on the streets nearby.

These two didn't return every day; they often went to earn money or stayed elsewhere, but Jike's house was their main base.

Jike threw himself onto the futon on the floor. There used to be a bed, but it had broken, and the wood was used to repair the walls, so he had been sleeping on the floor since then.

The wait for the contract had been long, and the sun was already setting. He thought they should have been given at least a meal since they were gathering poor children.

He needed to think about dinner, but he didn't feel like moving, either from crying too much or because his child's body lacked stamina.

He moved his hand to stroke Fios, who was beside him. The joy he felt from this simple act made him happy too.

"Is this a dream?"

It wasn't like a near-death experience. His consciousness was unusually clear, and pinching his cheek hurt.

When Rau had kicked him awake, it had hurt too. The events were as he remembered, but he didn't recall the phoenix bowing to him or crying so much.

If this wasn't a dream, it could mean he had returned to the past with his memories intact, but he didn't know what had caused it.

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