''So I don't know anything about 'Fairy Seeds' (Fairy Seeds) or anything like that, and I don't remember attacking you guys in the park at all.

　We introduced ourselves to each other, and my claim of innocence was finally over.
　We are now at a cafe next to the ticket gate at the Main Street subway station. We didn't want to stand around and talk, so we looked for a quiet place to talk, and this is where we decided to meet.

That's right! I've been waiting this whole time, waiting for him to tell you how much he loves you! I never went to the park you guys were called to in the letter!
Uh-ul! Don't say anything else!

　I thought he might confess, but I'm sure he wasn't so anxious to do so. 'You chattering fairy, you're missing a snack today.

'I'm telling you that Sanda doesn't look like she's lying either.
So it sounds like it's at least true that you're not the one who attacked you in the park.

　Oh! Maybe it's because I explained it to her that she finally believes me.

I'm so sorry!
I'm sorry, sir!

　And then the apology fest began.
　Two girls bowing with tremendous force, and a high school boy being bowed to. No one is watching, but it's a great picture.

I don't mind if you understand me, but please lift your head. It's totally fine if you understand, so raise your head.
'No, I made a mistake and almost hurt you badly. Let me make some kind of apology.
'That's right. This is our responsibility, and we want to make sure that we apologize properly.
You're sorry...

　Ah! Then I'll take this opportunity to ask you to teach me about jutsu and fairies and all that stuff. It's not something I can look into casually.

'Then I'll ask you to teach me a lot of things to make up for it. About fairies and this warding art. Because when you're a freelance wizard, you don't get many opportunities to talk to other wizards like this.

　I had heard from Black before that there were some freelance sorcerers who did not belong to any organization. So that's what I passed on this time.
　In fact, I don't belong to any organization, so it's not wrong.

''That's totally fine. I'll explain the warding first. This 'Foggy Illusion Field' is a ward that is effective in avoiding people and hiding. So if you use it locally, you can do this. The voice inside is not leaked to the outside, so you can talk about anything without hesitation.

　While looking at the fog-like ward set up in a corner of the café, Junna-chan, the younger sister committee chairperson, told me that this ward is the 'Foggy Phantom Ward' that was used in the Battle of Main Street earlier.
　This ward is the same one that was used in the battle on the main street earlier, the "Foggy Phantom Ward", and it is a pretty amazing ward technique that Junna can use, she said.
　It is said that if you set it up so that it only surrounds your seat, you can create a space like a private room like this one. It's convenient, I'll try it next time I'm studying.

Next, about the spiritist, but Kosuke-san is also a spiritist, right?
'Maybe so, but I only met Uru the day before yesterday, so I don't really know what the spirit arts are.
The day before yesterday?
''Then, I just signed a contract with that spirit the day before yesterday!
Well, sort of.

　We just signed the contract properly, though.

It's amazing. You just signed a contract, and yet I've never heard of you being able to use such a wide variety of techniques.
''I don't know what kind of jutsu it is, like a beautiful ward I've never seen before, or a stone golem, but it's pretty advanced! Aul's technique of controlling the 'Golden Giant Soldier (Gogan)' was also amazing!

　The golem, or rather........the cobblestone doll was a product of a different ability, and Nia was the one who controlled the gilded giant, but she apparently took the liberty of mistaking it for a jutsu.
　I've been told by Black that talking about Nia might make things more complicated, and that it's better to keep quiet about the fact that she can use both 'jutsu' and 'xenophobia', so let's just go along with the story.

''But the power has increased too much and I still can't control it well.
''It can't be helped. Spiritual arts use the magical power that exists in nature, so it's both more powerful and larger in scale.
'If you're under contract with such a powerful spirit, it must be quite difficult to control it.
A powerful genie?

　I look at Uru who is playing with the three colored balls of light.
　The balls of light don't seem to be able to disobey Uru, and are having their shoulders and limbs massaged.

What's wrong, master?
No, it's nothing. And stop jerking off those balls of light.
Yes, sir.

　Such a pompous talking elf is powerful? Did I mishear them?
　I looked at the two of them with that thought in mind, and they were astonished as their mouths crunched together.

'What's wrong?'
'No, you really do have a contract with that spirit.
''Oh, I'm surprised. I've never seen a sorcerer who could argue with such a powerful spirit on an equal footing before. It's amazing.

　You were surprised that I was arguing with Uru as an equal.
　I don't think there's any need to pay respect to such a talkative fairy........

''Master, are you thinking something rude?''
'No, I just thought Uru was an excellent elf.

　As expected of a fairy, you're quite perceptive.

'Come to think of it, what's the difference between a "fairy" and a "spirit" in the first place? I don't even know that...

　I'm referring to Uru as a fairy, but the two of us have stated that he's a spirit. In a casual conversation, I suddenly noticed the discomfort.

''Fairies and spirits are simply different in rank. It is said that fairies take a long period of time to ascend into spirits, and after an even longer period of time, they ascend into great spirits.''
"The way to tell them apart is that the ones that look like balls of light, like Gran, Sanda and Deeney, who are under contract with us, are 'fairies'. If they have a distinct human or animal-like appearance, they can be considered 'spirits'. Most spiritists have contracts with fairies, and it is very rare for a spiritist to have a contract with a spirit.
I see.

　Then Uru isn't a 'fairy' but a 'spirit'. I didn't know that.

''Rather, though, it's beyond the realm of rare to have a contract with such a powerful spirit. Where did you meet Uru-san?
'If you ask me where, I'd say it was born in our yard and that's when I met him.
Born? Of?

　The two of them tilted their heads to ask back.

'A stranger handed me a seed the size of a child's fist, and when I touched it, it gave birth to an uru.
"Ta, born of a seed! of!
Uh-huh.

　Is it really that rare? No, even though spirits themselves are rare.

''That means........''
I think there's a good chance...

　The two of them look at each other, and then they look at me. What's going on?

Mr. Yuki. Maybe that seed that Ur-san was born with...
This is the 'fairy seed' we're looking for.
...What?

　When I heard this, the mysterious seed that Ur-ru was born matched perfectly with the characteristics of the 'fairy seed' or whatever it is.
　I'm not sure if it's a 'fairy seed' in the sense that it's a seed from which fairies are born, but I'm convinced it's a 'fairy seed'.

''So that means 'Fairy Seed (Fair Real Seed)'' doesn't exist anymore...''

　When I asked for details, it seems that the 'Fairy Seed (Fairy Seed)' was the supreme treasure of the magic organization to which Auru-chan belonged, and was of immeasurable value.

''Really........''

　I look sideways at Uru, who is enjoying drawing with the water droplets on the glass cup.

'Master, what's wrong?'
No, you're a better artist than I thought. Is that Nia?
'Yes! Heh, heh, it's pretty similar!

　Yeah, it looks like...! That's not what I'm talking about! I lightly escaped reality.
　 It seems to be the first case of a 'spirit' being born from a 'fairy seed', and they want to know what happened next.
　He said he'd be happy to report back to you if you'll allow him to do so. Well, I'm really glad.......I wondered what I would do if I was charged a ridiculous amount of money in compensation or something.

''The real culprit who stole the 'Fairy Seed' (Fairy Seed) has yet to be caught. It was probably a trap by the criminals that caused us to fall out this time, too.
'There is a good chance that Yuki-san will be targeted in the future. I just want you to be careful.
Okay, I'll be careful.

　I then exchanged contact information with the two of them to let them know how Uru was doing in the future.

''Master, your nose is growing underneath~''
You're not growing!

　I just felt a little happy to exchange contact information with two beautiful girls. I never meant to stretch the bridge of my nose or anything.
　I guess we're going to skip the Ur's snack tomorrow.

'There may still be some clues left, so I guess we'll be going.
Call me when you know what's going on!

　With that said, the two left. They're going to continue searching for the killer for a bit longer, and they're going to take another look around the park and escape route designated for the rendezvous.

'I hope to see you again!'
There is a low probability of meeting in the middle school building.
That's for sure. Well, maybe we'll see each other again when the time comes.

　While exchanging such chatter, me, Ur and Nia were also heading home.




◇




'Chromium, what the hell have you been doing?
'I am sorry, that I am. The boy that Io-dono found for me was a tremendous spiritist and didn't have a chance to interrupt the fight, that he did.

　In a room at a luxury hotel adjacent to Sapporo Station, there was a figure of Chromium bowing to Io.

''Well, okay, you're not a combat-oriented magician. As for the rough stuff, I'll let Ferme and I handle it.''
Well, I'm sorry to have bothered you, that I am.
You'll be held accountable for your actions after your mission.
Hi.

　Io's angry voice, which is laden with magic power, caused Chromium to back away, trembling.

''Well. Chromium, you must infiltrate the school and gather information. Is that clear?
I understand, that I do.
I'll take my chances with Ferrum. Ferrum, do you understand?

　Io calls out to the black-robed girl standing in the corner of the room.

''........Yes sir.''

　The black-robed girl returned the word and quietly sharpened her magic.




◇




　The next day.
　The next day, I heard that there was going to be an exchange meeting for overnight recreation in the gym today.
　I didn't know this because I entered the school as an external examinee, but I heard that not only high school freshmen, but also junior high school seniors will be assigned to each group.
　It seems to be an event where the third year students are assigned to each group, and they spend a couple of nights together while getting to know their juniors.

''Oh! That's good.

　Takigawa looked at the entrance of the gymnasium with an excited look on his face.
　When he looked, the juniors from the middle school entered one by one.

''E's one is here! Here, here!

　Starting with Takigawa's shout, the other squads are also shouting the names of their squads to call the juniors in.
　Our high school has five classes from A to E. There are about forty students in each class. Each class has about forty students in it, and each class has eight teams, because each team has five members.
　By the way, we're in Group E, so our name is "E-1".

"Oh! Looks like the middle school kids are on the move!

　Just as Aihara-san had said, the middle school kids also began to look for their own groups.
　It seems that a lottery will decide which team they will be assigned to, and they are moving one by one while looking at the paper of the lottery that they have just drawn.

'Ai-chan is very excited too,'
Because we can't wait to see the girls who show up!

　Beside me, Aihara-san and the committee chairman were happily discussing with each other.
　It's true that I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of girl will come.

''What's with those two, they're so beautiful...''
Cute!
Oh, my God, you look like you're on fire!

　In the midst of all this, there were two beautiful girls who were attracting a lot of attention.
　One was a beautiful girl with short blonde hair and doll-like features. The other was a short ponytailed beauty with semi-long black hair tied back in a bun. Or rather, it's Auru and Junna.
　Those two were third year students in the middle school?

Squad 3-A!
Team C-5 is here!
You're in D-2!

　At the same time as the two appeared, the tension of both the high school boys increased even more.
　The group that has already found the members is quiet, but the group that hasn't found them yet is desperately calling out for them, expecting those two to be members of the group.

''What squad is this?''
I'm in B-6!
'Oh, I see. No, I'm sorry, excuse me.
'Oh, um...'

　As soon as they realized it wasn't their group, the men nodded one by one. Huh? I think I've seen something like this before.

"Takigawa, do you need to go talk to those two guys?

　The two men's gazes were all over them, and Ishida teasingly asked Takigawa.

It's not a problem. It's a good thing we have Mizukami-san and Aihara-san, who are the most popular people in their grade. It would be punitive to ask for more....
"What?

　Takigawa's unexpected response startles Ishida and I.
　Normally Takigawa would have said, "Of course I'm going without being told! Hee-haw! But I would have gone in there screaming. Today, he's awfully humble.
　This guy is the real Takigawa!

'Jesus! I don't need to be told! Hee-haw!

　It was real.

'It's E-1, E-1 team!

　Pushing aside the men crowding around the two, Takigawa shouted the name of the squad and rushed in.

''Oh, come back...!

　The scene behind Takigawa, who is returning home, further astonishes Ishida and me. To our surprise, both Auru and Junna are following Takigawa.

'They were both in E's first team!

　The men in the surrounding area who had been listening to Takigawa's words were sinking into tears.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

''Oh, sister! And, Yuki-san!
'Yuki-san is also in the E squad! It's nice to know someone who knows!

　As soon as their eyes met mine, they left Takigawa behind and rushed over to me.
　The men around me stared at me as if they were crying tears of blood. It's complete déjà vu.

'So it's Kosuke after all!

　With that one word, Takigawa kicked me in the shins and ran off somewhere else.
　Ouch.