NOVEL NEXT 39: The Secret Between Me and the Spirit
The jam was in a clear glass jar, tightly sealed with a screw cap.
The lid had a mysterious circular pattern with a detailed illustration of radberries.
A label on the side of the jar clearly listed the jam’s ingredients, manufacturer, and distributor in the local language.
Ingredients: radberries, lemon juice, beet sugar
Manufacturer: Spirit Botanical Garden Jam Workshop
Distributor: Radcliffe Territory, Rook Village, Baron Radcliffe
*Please consume quickly after opening.
Wow!
Over-technology!
Once again, it was something that couldn’t be released to the public!
The spirits are so free!
“You too.”
Huh?
I suddenly heard a voice near my ear and glanced sideways.
There, floating above my right shoulder, was a little person with moonstone-colored hair and eyes, wearing a pitch-black poncho, looking at me.
It feels like I’ve seen this somewhere before…?
“You’ve seen me before, haven’t you?”
The moon-marked spirit swung their round moon-shaped staff, pouting.
Ahhhhh.
“Nice to meet you, Moon Spirit? What should I call you…?”
“Call me whatever you like. You give the other kids random names anyway.”
Random? That’s harsh.
Wait, do Guri and the others also dislike their names?
“No, the others are happy with their names! That’s not what I meant…”
The spirit looked embarrassed and fidgeted while glancing at me.
Oh, is this a tsundere attribute?
“What are you thinking!”
The spirit poked me with their staff, their cheeks turning red!
It doesn’t hurt because the tip is round!
“So, can I give you a name?”
“Do whatever you want!”
Ah, definitely tsundere!
“Then, since you’re the moon, how about Moon, Luna, Tsuki, Getsu, Gatsu…”
“Take that!”
The spirit chopped my head with their staff!
Ouch!
They seem really angry.
I’m sorry!
“How about Yue?”
The spirit’s expression changed dramatically.
“Yue, Yue! It has a mysterious sound, but you can call me that!”
“Uh, thank you?”
The now-happy Moon Spirit, Yue, danced around me, twirling their staff.
Before I knew it, Pikka, Kuu, and Fuu had also gathered.
Even Pikka and Kuu had transformed into poncho-wearing spirits!
Fuu also showed up for the first time!
Guri and Poko jumped out of the skill screen.
My room was filled with spirits!
Wow!
Pikka wore a bright yellow poncho and carried a sun staff, with golden hair and eyes, looking cool and cute.
Kuu had a light blue poncho and boots, with long blue hair and indigo eyes, looking cool.
Fuu had a light green poncho with small wings on their back, fluffy milk-colored hair, and jade-green eyes.
Guri wore a green poncho with a flower brooch, light green hair, and light brown eyes.
Poko wore a brown poncho with brown gloves, dark brown hair, and black eyes.
They were all about fifty centimeters tall and as light as plush toys!
Sorry for not describing them properly before!
I love them because they’re inherently cute!
Love them!
We all hugged tightly.
“Take this!”
“Ouch!”
Once again, Yue hit me with their staff!
“Are you all spirits of my botanical garden?”
“Technically, we’re the embodiment of your plant-related magic.”
Huh?
Yue poked my forehead with her staff as I looked puzzled.
“You look like you don’t understand. Your plant cultivation skill is abnormal, but you yourself are irregular.”
“Well…”
Even if you call me abnormal or irregular.
Maybe it’s because I carried over from my previous life?
“Hmm, your magical power itself is just too immense. The magic inside you gained direction through your gift, and we are the manifestation of your childish imagination.”
What?
I feel like I was dissed just now.
Are you saying my mind is childish?
At least call it whimsical.
“If we hadn’t manifested, you would have died from excessive magical power.”
What!?
“In other words, we’re part of you. By expelling such immense magical power, you’ve been reduced to using only simple life magic, but you’ve been able to live normally. Your botanical garden and storage are ever-expanding alternate spaces, right? Your magic is abnormal.”
I was shocked by the truth!
Being dissed like this is a bit depressing…
“You’re not easily fazed, are you?”
Yue sighed in exasperation.
Yeah, I think worrying about it would be a loss.
I don’t remember, but if I died once and came back, my capacity would naturally increase.
Surely!
Since I get to do what I love again, I want to live happily.
“So, thanks to you all, I can live a long life now, right? Just being able to be friends with you all means there’s no downside at all!”
“…”
Yue looked troubled, her eyebrows lowered, but her mouth twitched.
All the other spirits hugged me, and we formed a tight spirit bundle.
“I’m clumsy, but let’s stay friends forever!”
We all laughed and hugged tightly.
Yue said she took the form of a moon spirit because I wished for moonlight grass.
Originally, my skill didn’t include moon magic.
Yue could only use the “Shalala” magic, so she was a bit sulky about it.
She felt a bit inferior because she was the last and the lowest-ranked.
Yue said she could talk because she was born differently.
She had been watching us having fun secretly all along.
“I was so jealous…”
She said in a small, tearful voice, her mouth trembling.
What should I do? My heart melted.
I hugged Yue gently.
She blushed and kept mumbling.
Yue, let’s be friends from now on too!
I introduced Yue to my family afterward!
She blushed and fidgeted when my father patted her head.
Tsundere spirits are so cute when they’re shy!
I felt warm and smiled!
If we can all laugh and live happily together, that’s enough for me.
Everyone around me is so warm, like a sunny spot!