Prologue
A desert composed entirely of red sand stretched in every direction.
The sun blazed overhead, radiating heat intense enough to burn everything away.
Yet in that desolate place, there was something giving off heat even more intense than the sun itself.
Dark crimson flames that blanketed both the sun and the sky.
As though the desert's heat were nothing, the flames devoured everything around them merely by existing.
That enormous mass of fire slowly came crashing down toward the desert.
| [Fire(EX)'s possessed skill, 'Hellfire(EX),' activates.] |
| -------------------------------------------------------- |
BOOOOOOM!!
WHOOSH!
Countless monsters inhabiting the desert were completely swept away by that single attack.
It was all thanks to this fellow running around like an excited puppy.
-Hehehe! What a wonderful place! It's warm, and even the sun's heat feels so nice!
| [Fire(EX) is in an extremely good mood!]
| [Fire(EX) is enjoying the scorching heat!] |
| ------------------------------------------ |
It seemed Fire had already completely forgotten what I had told him before we entered.
I was pretty sure I had told him to stay still.
A mass of fire shaped like a human.
Fire, the King of Fire Spirits, was scampering around wildly on all fours.
If you have a human form, at least walk on two legs.
Then again, he had been like that ever since he was little.
We had not even properly started yet, and things were already getting chaotic.
A puppy would probably obey orders a hundred times better than he did.
Whatever.
Despite appearances, he was still a Spirit King.
He had already wiped everything out, so it should not be dangerous anymore.
Besides, Fire was not the only one I had to worry about.
A cool sensation lingered around my neck.
-It's too hot, Contractor. Hurry and get moving.
| [Water(EX) says it is far too hot!]
[Water(EX) says it wants to leave this place as quickly as possible!]
| [Water(EX) hates hot places!] |
| ----------------------------- |
As expected of an attribute completely opposite to fire.
Water remained pressed tightly against my neck with absolutely no intention of letting go.
And on top of that—
"Your hat is blocking the sunlight, isn't it? Just bear with it a little longer."
-Contractor, can't I just go home? I'm so scared because we don't know what might appear.
SPLASH.
| [Water(EX) says this place is frightening!]
| [Water(EX) says it prefers the Contractor's home to this place!] |
| ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
Water began pouring down from my neck.
It was crying.
The two of them really could not have been more different.
Should I call this being overly sensitive?
It had bothered me at first, but by now, I had simply gotten used to it.
"Here, what I promised you. So stop crying. There, there!"
-Sniff! What's that...? Wow! It's the A-Rank Potion I like!
Water skillfully tore open the sealed A-Rank Potion and poured it straight into its mouth.
The expensive potion, which had been completely full, disappeared in an instant.
-Me too! Give me something tasty too! I worked hard, so I want one too!
| [Fire(EX) glares heatedly at you!]
| [Fire(EX) declares that he will torment you if you do not give him something immediately!] |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
When did this guy get back here?
He was certainly quick when food was involved.
Before he could cause another commotion, I hurriedly took out an A-Rank Mana Stone.
"Here."
-Yahoo!
CRUNCH! CRUNCH!
That expensive Mana Stone vanished in the blink of an eye.
A potion and a Mana Stone.
I could only handle them like this because I had raised seven younger siblings.
'Anyone else would've gone broke from the strain a long time ago.'
I decided to look on the bright side.
They earned me more than they ate, after all.
Thanks to that—
"Hm? Water? Water? Where did this one run off to now?"
I could no longer feel anything around my neck, so I reached up and touched it.
There was nothing there.
There was only one reason Water, who normally clung tightly to me, would disappear.
About ten meters ahead of me—
Water was trying to shove an empty plastic bottle into its mouth.
-Blech! It tastes awful.
| [Water(EX) says it mistook the plastic bottle for a potion!] |
| ------------------------------------------------------------ |
Then it started crying.
I immediately went over to comfort Water, only to realize that Fire had disappeared this time.
After looking around for quite a while, I finally spotted him far away, playing in the sand.
I smiled brightly and nodded.
"Another perfectly ordinary day."
Just thinking about all the Spirits that would be added to this group in the future filled me with anticipation.
A whole lot of anticipation.