Spirit Summoners could typically form a contract with only one spirit.
Finding the spirit most compatible with the Summoner was difficult, and both forming and breaking the contract was no simple matter.
‘So the only way to break a contract is if either the Spirit or the Summoner dies?’
That meant the opportunity came only once in a lifetime—something to be approached with caution.
As I mulled over the problem, I decided to test the waters by casually speaking to the spirits fluttering around me.
“Um, hi there?”
“_ _ _ _!”
“_ _ _ _!”
It was a simple, awkward greeting, but the moment I spoke, the spirits began flitting around even more excitedly, like I’d said something thrilling.
From afar, they looked like colorful blobs—just differently colored slimes.
But up close, I could see the details: the brown spirits had a rough, rocky texture like miniature boulders, while the blue ones shimmered like perfect little droplets of water.
‘I’ll just take a tiny taste of whatever I can manage…’
Then, one particularly large blue spirit suddenly plopped onto the top of my head.
With a soft squish, it settled in—and before I knew it, a dozen or so other spirits started clinging all over my body, lighting me up like a lantern.
‘They’re so squishy…’
I reached up and gently poked one stuck to my arm with the tip of my finger.
That’s when I heard a voice.
“Who was it just now that said they wanted to bury them? You’re playing well.”
Just when I was wishing to bury him, Dante’s voice rang out from above.
I looked up—and there he was, perched like a cat sunbathing on someone else’s rooftop.
“What are you doing down there?”
“This spot has the best sunlight.”
Maybe he’d amplified his voice with magic or something.
Even without raising his tone, his voice carried crystal clear, as if he were standing right beside me.
“This is perfect timing. I was just wondering… how do you find a spirit you’re compatible with?”
Taking the opportunity, I was about to ask him a few questions about spirit contracts.
But before I could get the words out, the spirits—who had just moments ago been happily playing around on my body—scattered and disappeared into the grass like startled mice.
They peeked cautiously from between the weeds, clearly nervous.
‘Well… he is an Evil God, after all.’
I sighed and looked up at Dante, who was watching the whole thing unfold.
“Sir Dante, I guess spirits really aren’t that compatible with me, huh?”
“What do you expect? It was created by the universe’s biggest coward.”
“…?”
“First, try to get familiar with those things.”
With that cryptic remark, he vanished again without any further explanation, leaving only a confusing assignment behind.
‘Get familiar with spirits… Is he telling me to build affinity with them to improve my mana compatibility?’
As I made my way toward the center of the garden, the spirits—who had been watching Dante cautiously—started inching closer to me.
How do you even befriend spirits when they don’t share your language or species?
Honestly, I was surprised at how well I was managing to interpret his vague explanation.
I hesitantly held out my hand, and the moment I did, the spirits clung to it like they’d never been scared at all.
‘…Huh. This might be easier than I thought.’
Feeling like a walking ball of catnip for spirits, I wandered around the garden with them hanging onto me.
Each time I took a step, the spirits jiggled along with me, giggling like kids on a carnival ride.
They were so cute that just watching them made my heart feel soft and warm, but I couldn’t just play around all day.
Since I was already out in the garden, I figured I might as well do something useful and pull a sickle from the storage shed.
‘Let’s start with a vegetable patch.’
It was the first step toward a self-sufficient lifestyle, and a perfect chance to see what the spirits were capable of.
But before I could till the soil or spread fertilizer, I had to get rid of all the overgrown weeds covering the place.
Thankfully, judging by how well the weeds were thriving, the land didn’t seem too barren or ruined.
‘Even if the soil is bad, potatoes can grow pretty much anywhere.’
And with it being March, it was the perfect time to start planting.
A short while later, I tied the strings of my straw hat, rolled up my sleeves, and got to work pulling weeds.
It almost felt like I had never lost consciousness by the lake—my body was now full of energy.
‘Ten days from now… there’s going to be a small festival in the village square.’
It was basically a kind of welcoming ceremony—an announcement to let the villagers know that a new lord had arrived.
I heard that Dion, who loves doing the bare minimum, had arranged it with only the most basic formalities.
That’s why I wanted to get the manor cleaned up and in order before the event.
At first, the spirits simply watched me pull weeds with curious eyes.
But eventually, their curiosity got the better of them, and they started copying my movements.
Before I knew it, a pile of weeds had grown high in one corner of the garden, thanks to the spirits helping me out side by side.
“…You’re all pretty strong, huh?”
“_ _ _ _.”
The spirits twirled happily above my head, wagging like puppies pleased with themselves.
Thanks to them, I managed to clear all the overgrown weeds around the manor in less than half a day.
And even after pulling out that huge mess of weeds, they didn’t seem tired at all. Instead, they tugged playfully at my hair like they wanted more praise.
“Good job. You did great.”
Smiling with satisfaction, I reached up and patted each of their translucent little heads one by one.
That’s when Dante, who had been lounging lazily on someone else’s rooftop all this time, decided to butt in again.
“First time I’ve ever pitied a spirit.”
Said the evil god, barking from the rooftop.
“Alright, guys—since we’re on a roll, how about we spread some fertilizer next?”
“_ _ _ _!”
The spirits had grown braver now—they no longer ran away at the sound of Dante’s voice.
They even nodded in agreement.
With a cheerful line of spirits trailing behind me, I crossed the now-tidy garden, unable to hide the smile tugging at my lips.
Spirit mage supremacy. Even the countryside spirits love me.
As I continued working in the garden with the spirits, the once weed-filled grounds had completely transformed into a neat little vegetable patch.
Wiping the sweat from my brow, I looked up to see the sun beginning to set.
‘Perfect. If I plant the seed potatoes in about two weeks, everything will be right on schedule.’
I gently patted the tired spirits in thanks, but just as hunger started to creep in and I turned back toward the manor…
Meanwhile, Dante—who had been napping on the roof just a moment ago—had disappeared without a trace.
‘Come to think of it, Isabel still hasn’t gotten up?’
Earlier, Dante had mentioned that Isabel had helped guide him to the mansion.
She was the very definition of a capable servant, so it was strange to see her oversleeping like this.
I began to worry that the shock of encountering the monster had affected her more than I thought, and just as I was about to head back to check on her.
“Miss? What are you doing out here?”
To my surprise, Isabel stepped through the front gate, when I had assumed she was resting inside.
She had a small, squirrel-like boy in tow, who was panting under the weight of a heavy-looking box.
“Isabel? Where are you coming from?”
“I made a quick trip to the blacksmith in Lucein Village early this morning. But Miss… did you really pull out all these weeds by yourself?”
“Uh-huh. Well, sort of.”
For now, it seemed best to keep the fact that I had awakened as a spirit mage a secret.
“G-good morning! I mean—greetings, my lord! I’m Nicol, the new coachman assigned to Lucein!”
The boy, clearly trying his best to sound confident, still had a youthful, baby-faced look.
“Coachman? Weren’t you supposed to arrive tomorrow?”
“He apparently got the date mixed up and ended up arriving yesterday.”
“I look forward to working with you!”
Had I cut costs too aggressively?
As I stared awkwardly at young Nicol, still unsure, the two who had just returned from the village delivered some shocking news.
“What? The monsters on the mountain all disappeared?”
Apparently, during the early hours of dawn, they had all crossed the border near Lucein Village and scattered in different directions.
Even when some merchants encountered them and screamed, the monsters didn’t so much as glance their way.
‘What kind of nonsense is this? Monsters just packing up and leaving?’
Seeing the disbelief on my face, Nicol added more details.
“The villagers said it looked like the monsters were being chased by something.”
“Seems like no one realized just how many of them were hiding in the mountain behind the estate.”
Well, that made sense. The back mountain was part of Duke Salome’s private land, so the average villager wouldn’t even think of setting foot there.
‘Could this be Dante’s doing, too?’
Whatever the case, it was a relief.
Now that the monsters were gone, I could finally start clearing the mountain and properly developing the land.
‘Living with an evil god isn’t all bad, I guess.’
The power of positive thinking!
I clenched my fists with determination and rubbed my eyes, which had grown misty without realizing it.
“Gasp—My Lord, are you crying?”
“No, no. I just worked too hard today, and now my eyes are sweating.”
“Are you really okay? If anything feels off, I’ll go fetch a doctor from the next village.”
Lucein was such a remote place that it didn’t even have a proper clinic. From what I’d seen on the village map, the best they had was a small dispensary run by an elderly couple.
“I’ll feel better after a good meal. But, what’s that?”
I nodded toward the heavy metal box Nicol had been carrying all this time.
At my question, Nicol exchanged a knowing glance with Isabel, then opened the lid of the box with a dramatic flourish.
