When I returned to the inn after seeing Anima off, I found Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san waiting in the room where we had been earlier.
The two of them were glancing around restlessly, but their faces lit up the moment they spotted me.
"Miyama-san!"
"Miyama-senpai!"
They rushed over, bombarding me with questions to confirm I was truly alright. I assured the worried pair that I was perfectly fine, and both of them breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
I had intended to strike up a casual conversation with them and Lilia-san’s group, but Yuzuki-san stepped in front of me, her head bowed low.
"Um... Senpai... I, well..."
"Yuzuki-san?"
"I'm sorry... I was so scared... I couldn't even move..."
I understood what she was trying to say immediately. She felt a deep sense of guilt, believing that her own paralysis had been the reason I was injured. Her shoulders trembled as she forced out her apology, her gaze fixed firmly on the floor.
I gave her the gentlest smile I could muster and spoke softly to reassure her.
"I'm just glad you weren't hurt."
"...Sen... pai...!? Senpai!"
"Whoa!"
Yuzuki-san’s body gave a sudden jolt at my words. Tears welled up in her eyes, and a second later, she lunged at me. Because of our height difference, she ended up burying her face in my chest as she clung to me, finally letting the tears fall.
"I... ugh... Senpai..."
"It’s okay. See? I’m safe and sound, just like this..."
"Yes... Senpai... thank you... for saving me."
"Sure. Though, in the end, Lilia-san and the others had to save me, so I can't exactly act like a hero."
Ultimately, I hadn't actually defeated the Black Bear. If Sieg-san hadn't arrived when she did, I would be dead. I gave a self-deprecating smile as I said as much, but Yuzuki-san only tightened her grip on my back.
"That's not true... Senpai, you were cool. You were so, so cool."
"I see... Thank you."
I placed a hand on Yuzuki-san's head and stroked it gently. No more words were needed. She kept her face buried in my chest for a while longer.
I continued to pet her hair until she finally calmed down. After a short while, she loosened her grip and stepped back.
"...Um, well."
"Yeah?"
"Once again, thank you so much! Kaito-senpai!"
She beamed at me with a bright, blossoming smile.
With Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san back to their usual selves, I began explaining the situation with Anima to everyone. Midway through, Rei-san returned, looking utterly drained.
"Welcome back, Rei-san. What’s the word on Anima?"
"Ah, right. She’s currently standing guard over the district where the walls were damaged."
"You look like you've been through the wringer, though."
"...Well, let’s just say she has a very intense personality. She nearly punched the Captain of the Security Force the moment he tried to give her an order... yes. Fortunately, because of what you told her, Miyama-kun, she’s willing to listen to me. Though that means I’ve been roped into joining the Security Force for the time being to manage her."
It seemed Anima had been her usual self at the guard station, snapping at anyone who wasn't me. Rei-san had stepped in to handle the fallout and had effectively been drafted into service as her handler.
"I’m... sorry about that."
"No, while her personality is certainly a lot to handle, her abilities are nothing short of extraordinary. She was hauling massive piles of construction materials for the wall repairs with a single hand."
Despite the friction her attitude caused, a being with the power of a Peerage-class High-ranking Demon was an incredible asset to the Security Force. Even factoring in the headache she caused, the pros outweighed the cons... barely. I made a mental note to tell Anima to follow official orders properly the next time I saw her.
Rei-san joined our circle, and the conversation naturally shifted toward tomorrow’s Treasure Tree Festival—the Harvest Festival.
"So, the Harvest Festival is still going ahead as planned?"
"Yes. It was always designed to be safe enough for children to participate. Ironically, since the Death King-sama exterminated the Black Bears root and branch, the forest is actually safer now than it is in a typical year."
"I see."
With the most dangerous predators in the forest now extinct, the festival’s safety was practically guaranteed.
"By the way, where exactly is the festival held?"
"In the Spirit Forest, located to the east of Rigforresia."
"The Spirit Forest?"
"That’s right. The 'Treasure Tree' the festival is named after refers to the Spirit Tree—a tree where spirits dwell. They only bear fruit during this specific season, and that fruit is a famous specialty of Rigforresia."
Rei-san answered Yuzuki-san's question with practiced ease. The Spirit Forest was, as the name suggested, the home of the Spirit Race, and the trees that grew there were considered sacred.
"Does that mean the participants harvest the fruit themselves?"
"Exactly! For the Elf Race, it’s a wonderful opportunity to deepen our bonds with the spirits."
"The Fruit of the Spirit Tree is quite mysterious; its flavor actually worsens unless it's harvested in cooperation with a spirit. However, spirits are incredibly shy. The secret to a big harvest is finding a way to interact with them in a friendly manner."
Fia-san and Rei-san took turns explaining the nuances of the event. Because spirits were so timid, participants would head into the forest individually to try and coax the spirits into helping them gather the fruit.
"Technically, we rank people based on how much they gather, but that’s really just a formality."
"Yes, because when it comes to spirits, a Spirit Mage has an unfair advantage no matter what."
"""Spirit Mage?"""
The Harvest Festival had rankings like the Hunting Competition, but the prizes were modest—mostly assortments of local fruit—and it was much more laid back. Kusunoki-san, Yuzuki-san, and I all tilted our heads at the new term Fia-san had used.
"A Spirit Mage is someone who is loved by spirits and can borrow their power. Among the Elf Race, it’s a very prestigious title. Actually, Fia is a Spirit Mage herself."
"Oh! Then, Fia-san, can you summon one right now?"
"Certainly. Since you’re interested, shall I?"
Women always seemed to have a soft spot for things like spirits and fairies. Yuzuki-san leaned in with excitement as Fia-san gave a gentle smile and manifested a small magic circle in her palm.
The green circle pulsed with light, and a tiny, translucent fairy less than thirty centimeters tall appeared. She looked exactly like one would imagine—a miniature, see-through girl shimmering in green. Yuzuki-san’s eyes sparkled.
"Wow, she’s so cute! Can I touch her—oh!?"
"Fufufu, I told you, didn't I? Spirits are very shy. Usually, only a Spirit Mage is allowed to touch them."
The moment Yuzuki-san reached out, the spirit darted behind Fia-san to hide.
"What about Kaito-senpai?"
"Eh? Me?"
When Yuzuki-san turned the spotlight on me, I looked at the spirit peeking out from behind Fia-san’s shoulder. The spirit noticed me and stared back... and after a moment, she began to fidget and squirm.
It was a strange reaction, but I slowly extended my hand, trying not to startle her. The moment she saw me reaching out, she seemed to panic and vanished into thin air.
"I suppose spirits are too much to handle even for Miyama-sama."
"I think you’re misunderstanding something here... wait, Fia-san?"
"She’s gone? I didn't dismiss her... She didn't just hide, she actually vanished?"
I gave a wry smile at Lunamaria-san’s teasing remark, but then I noticed Fia-san’s expression. She looked dead serious, muttering quietly to herself. As I wondered what was wrong, the magic circle in her hand flared again, and the spirit reappeared.
The little spirit slowly drifted toward me. Still fidgeting shyly, she reached behind her back and pulled something out—a small nut—and held it out to me.
"""!?"""
"Um... is this for me?"
The three elves in the room—Rei-san, Fia-san, and Sieg-san—all looked like they had just seen a ghost. I was confused by their reaction, but I focused on the spirit first. She gave a tiny, adorable nod.
"Thank you."
When I accepted the nut with a word of thanks, the spirit began to twirl around me happily. Then, she started patting and touching me all over my arms and shoulders.
Wait. Didn't they just say only Spirit Mages could touch them?
"Um... what does this mean?"
"...Mi-Miyama-kun!? What in the world did you just do!?"
"Eh? Nothing, really..."
"When a spirit gives you something they’ve gathered on their own, rather than just helping you harvest, it’s a 'Proof of Affection.' It means that spirit just asked to be your friend."
"I-Is that so..."
I had no idea why, but this spirit had taken a massive liking to me. To prove it, when I reached out my hand again, she didn't run. She leaned into my touch.
Fia-san watched this with her jaw hanging open, looking utterly stunned. A moment later, her shoulders slumped in total defeat.
"...Are you alright, Fia?"
"...Rei... Listen... It took me twenty years... twenty years of training to become a Spirit Mage... but in an instant? He did it... in a single instant..."
"Fia-sama, please find your strength... This man is the only one who's broken. He’s an anomaly."
"She’s right, Fia-san! It’s just Kaito-san being weird! This man is a monster in so many different ways..."
Lunamaria-san and Lilia-san tag-teamed me with a barrage of "consolation" that felt more like a character assassination. Lilia-san was especially blunt, treating my "monster" status as a simple matter of fact. I hadn't even used Sympathy Magic this time like I did with the baby dragon... So why did it end up like this?
Dear Mother, Father—I learned all about the Harvest Festival and the spirits today. And for some reason—I’ve gained the affection of a spirit.