We left the Devil’s Tower and traveled for half a day. Today’s overnight stop was decided to be Tatale Village in the northern part of the Tarbal territory. Since we didn’t take the straight route from Tarbarne to Barlon, but instead detoured north through the Devil’s Tower, our path now swung far to the east across the northern part of the Tarbal territory.

As a result, we hadn’t made a reservation in advance and sent knights ahead to secure lodging.

Tatale Village, though technically a village, was so large that it could almost be called a small town — unlike Caso village.

Therefore, the lodging we chose was also at a decent level.

The dinner was a simple meal using locally grown potatoes, but the seasoning was excellent and we enjoyed it thoroughly.

The top hotel in Tatale Village was "Hotel Tataria."

...From a Japanese person like me, that hotel name made me a little uneasy.

Still, this world has magic and spirits, so maybe encountering ghosts wouldn’t feel out of place.

The hotel wasn’t particularly large, but it was kept very clean and felt pleasant. Inside, however, the Coluna Frontier Count family was staying in the largest and best room.

...As usual.

As for me, today I was alone.

...I’m not lonely at all!

Today Irina and Sarina were in the same room, and the Frontier Count family was in their luxurious large suite.

...So I’m definitely not lonely!

Well, whatever. Even though I keep saying I’m not lonely, I can’t just hustle around in the hotel where the Coluna family is staying. I can’t call only Irina to my room while Sarina is already in there with her...

I wonder why... it feels kind of lonely even though they’re calling themselves my wives and there’s nothing particularly special going on between me and them.

Even with Irina, she hasn’t even come out with "Quokka" lately.

She just crushes my left hand.

"I feel kind of lonely..."

I headed alone toward my room... and then—

"U... u... uuu..."

"!?"

A girl’s sobbing voice came from inside the room.

Wait a second. The Coluna family had moved to the largest room after dinner. Irina and Sarina had gone to their assigned rooms after waving at me earlier.

...In that case, there shouldn’t be anyone in my room.

So why was I hearing a girl’s sobbing voice coming from the room where I was supposed to stay?

"Uuuu... ueh ueh ueh..."

"!?"

It’s not just sniffling anymore — she’s full-on bawling!

I had no choice but to open the door.

What if I get cursed... I can’t let that happen.

Gachaa!

I barged into the room.

It was already night. This village hotel had no magical lighting.

The room was dark, but moonlight faintly entered through the window beside the bed. Using that light, I could see.

There was a girl sitting on the bed in a sumo-wrestler squat, hugging her knees while crying.

"Ueeee... uhh ueh ueh... ueeeeeee..."

She was crying very hard.

I sat down quietly beside her on the bed. The girl was still in sumo-wrestler position, burying her face in her knees.

"What’s wrong, Freia?"

That’s right — the girl crying in sumo-wrestler position on someone else’s bed was the fire spirit Freia.

"Ueeeeeee!"

"I don’t know what happened, but I don’t think Wintia, Sylphie, or Belhia-neesan are bullying you..."

I couldn’t understand why Freia was crying.

"B-B-Because... Yabe only ignores me..."

She said that and buried her face in her knees again, starting to cry.

"Hey hey, why would I ignore only Freia? I’m not ignoring you, am I?"

"N-No, it’s not like that... Wintia and Sylphie are called so often and even helped create my original spell together... Belhia is called super frequently and gives me her power too... but I’ve never been called even once..."

Freia cried while sniffling.

"Ahh..."

It was true!

I use the spirits’ powers far more often — especially the water spirit Wintia and the wind spirit Sylphie. Their spirit magic is very convenient. It can be used for pinpoint attacks or wide-range spells with excellent control. But fire is actually difficult. If I use it in a forest, it might spread out of control. When hunting monsters, burning the surface lowers the material value. For campfires, I can just use flint or simple magic tools, so I don’t need to use fire spirits much. But when I use Belhia’s power to make tables and chairs with earth spirit magic during camping, I end up using earth spirit magic very frequently.

So, to put it simply, I had never once borrowed Freia’s power.

"Freia, your power is very strong. I think it’s one of my trump cards. If I use your full power, I can burn enemies to ash. But I can’t just use that powerful ability easily."

I placed my hand on her shoulder.

"Sniff... sniff... b-But I can help make campfires... and I can make fireballs when it’s dark..."

Freia cried while trying to prove she was useful by showing what she could do.

"Yeah, come to think of it, during the Labyrinth Stampede we didn’t use your power either. Sorry for making you feel left out..."

As soon as I said that, Freia looked up with a snap, then threw herself at me and started crying again.

"Yabe! Yabe! Yabe! Ueeeeeee!"

After hugging me, she buried her face in my chest and cried even harder.

"I-I don’t hate you... Right? You’ll use my power and call me again...?"

She lifted her face from my chest, looking up at me with teary, pleading eyes. Cute... When the tsundere Freia goes all dere, she’s even cuter than I imagined!

"Yeah, Freia. I’ll borrow your power a lot from now on, okay?"

I pulled her into a tight hug.

"Uuu... I’m so happy, Yabe..."

Freia relaxed completely as if she’d been saved, sinking into my arms.

"I won’t lose to anyone... I’ll do my best..."

She fell asleep with a soft "zZZZ."

Eh...? Do spirits... sleep?

While holding Freia in my arms on the bed, I was at a loss about what to do next.