* * *

...When a spirit has lived for a long time and accumulated a certain amount of magical power, it ceases to be a "ball of light" and transforms into the shape it desires.

It's a once-in-a-long-lifetime transformation.

To be precise, even after transforming, they can make minor changes to their clothing and patterns, and they can return to the ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) form of a ball of light at any time... but in any case, the general appearance after transformation, once decided, cannot be changed.

The spirits call this transformation 'self-realization', and the lesser spirits look forward to the day they can become their ideal selves.

Now, that "ideal self".

It can be the form of a brave beast, or the form of a beautiful woman, and so on.

Truly, a variety of forms.

You could say, anything goes.

And since the sensibilities of spirits are different from those of humans.

From a human's perspective, there are many spirits that make you want to say, 'Why did you choose that form, of all things?'.

◇ ◇ ◇

<<<Haaa...>>>

This spirit, sighing as it floated through the shining Spirit Forest... is one of those spirits.

After all, he is in the form of... a mop for wet wiping, with a lot of strings attached to the end of a wooden stick.

Why did he, despite being able to become any form, wish to become a mop?

The reason lies in the unique sensibilities of spirits, so even if it were explained, humans probably would not be able to understand it.

Well, that aside.

<<<Hey, hey, Mop. Don't sigh like that.>>>

The spirit floating next to the sighing Mop Medium Spirit admonished him with a wry smile.

That spirit... was in the form of a rag.

A Rag Medium Spirit.

<<<That's right, cheer up! Ahaha!>>>

And the one who said that and laughed was the tawashi... Tawashi Medium Spirit, floating next to the rag.

Mop, Rag, Tawashi. TL Note: Tawashi is a type of Japanese scrubbing brush

They are a trio of medium spirits who are usually close, and are currently on a forest patrol mission, ordered by the Forest Spirit King.

<<<But, don't you feel like sighing?>>>

The Mop Medium Spirit was admonished by his companions... but he didn't agree, and with a displeased face, his lips pouted, he complained.

By the way, his face is on the bulging upper part of the handle's stick.

<<<We underlings are patrolling the forest like this, and yet, the powerful ones are having a banquet in the "flower garden"! I want to drink too!>>>

...As the Mop Medium Spirit said, the great spirits and the higher-ranking medium spirits are currently holding a celebratory banquet in the flower garden in the deepest part of this Spirit Forest.

It's a banquet to celebrate the fact that their beloved Forest Spirit King has finally taken his beloved child into his care.

Spirits generally like alcohol, and of course, the Mop Medium Spirit also wanted to join the banquet and drink.

<<<Hey, hey, don't say any more, Mop. We were directly asked by the Forest Spirit King-sama to patrol this forest... Don't complain. It's disrespectful, you know?>>>

The Rag Medium Spirit said that, looked around nervously, and after confirming that there were no other spirits who had heard his words, he breathed a sigh of relief.

<<<If the Whistle Medium Spirit heard you, it would be terrible! He'd definitely exaggerate the story and make a fuss! Ahaha!>>>

The Tawashi Medium Spirit also said that and laughed.

<<<That's right. The Whistle Medium Spirit has a bad personality.>>>

The Mop Medium Spirit said that, and obediently accepted his companions' advice.

<<<I wish the Whistle would just make a contract with a human and disappear from the forest...>>>

The Rag Medium Spirit expressed his dislike quite openly.

The Whistle Medium Spirit was disliked...

<<<Speaking of which, a contract! I'm a little interested in that!>>>

And here.

Perhaps to change the heavy atmosphere caused by the topic of the disliked colleague, the Tawashi Medium Spirit mentioned the "spirit contract".

<<<Eh, Tawashi, are you serious?>>>

<<<Isn't it a lot of trouble? To stick with a mere human, and please them. It seems stressful.>>>

The Mop Medium Spirit and the Rag Medium Spirit said that in surprise.

Spirits basically look down on humans.

To serve such a human, even if it's according to a contract, is what a spirit contract is.

Since it's a business mediated by the Forest Spirit King according to the "ancient pact", they can't refuse if they're chosen as a contract partner... but honestly, they don't want to do it.

It was a fact that many spirits thought so.

<<<But, you know, you slowly and carefully reshape the contractor's soul to your liking... and when the contract ends, you get to eat it! I heard that the taste is exceptional, you know?>>>

...The Tawashi Medium Spirit's statement just now contains a fact that the humans of the Hyupuet Spirit Kingdom are not aware of.

Namely, the predation of souls.

What is the merit for the spirits, who look down on humans, to lend them their power?

One of them is the contractor's soul.

Spirits eat magical power and souls.

Over the lifespan of a spirit contractor, which is long for humans and short for spirits, the spirits "season" their souls to their liking.

And when the contractor dies, that's when it's time for...!

..."dinner".

<<<And, that wasn't mediated by the Spirit King-sama, but... 60 years... no, 70? 80 years ago? Anyway, recently, there was one who made a contract with an outside human and left the forest, wasn't there?>>>

<<<Ah, the dark one.>>>

<<<That one was also quite a high-ranking one. Did he find a beloved child? I was surprised at that time.>>>

<<<Just before he left the forest, I happened to see him... he looked very happy! I thought, 'How nice!'!>>>

<<<No, but that's because it was a beloved child...>>>

And so on.

They were chatting idly as they patrolled the Spirit Forest.

...They're not on guard.

After all, there are almost no humans who would enter the Spirit Forest at this time of night.

And even if there were, there's no way that they, as spirits, would lose.

They believe so.

And it was then!

<<<HYUPIPIPIPIIIIIIIIII!!!>>>

A high-pitched sound echoed through the surroundings!

<<<【Great Spirit Whistle】!?>>>

<<<The Whistle's, right!>>>

<<<It sounded pretty close, didn't it?>>>

The three knew well that it was the warning whistle that the Whistle Medium Spirit sounded when it discovered a crisis.

And they understood that the fact that it sounded meant... at least, that the Whistle Medium Spirit was in a crisis.

And on top of that!

<<<...What do we do?>>>

<<<The Whistle... do we have to... go and save him?>>>

<<<Eeeh, no way!>>>

Saying that, they consulted each other... and hesitated to take immediate action.

The Whistle Medium Spirit was disliked...

<<<No, but, that's right... We were ordered by the Spirit King-sama to patrol this forest! Honestly, I don't care about the Whistle Medium Spirit... but if we ignore the crisis he recognized and the forest is put in danger, it's a big deal!>>>

However, the Mop Medium Spirit cleared his throat and pulled himself together.

At his words, the Rag and Tawashi Medium Spirits also nodded with serious faces.

Like the other spirits, they revere the Forest Spirit King, and are loyal to his orders.

<<<<<<<<<We, the 'Spirit Cleaning Trio'! For the sake of our beautiful king... we'll "clean up" any filth!!>>>>>>>>>

Finally, they shouted in unison... and they sniffed for magical power, and while following it... they started to move towards the source of the 【Great Spirit Whistle】.

There is not a single trace of their previous carelessness on their faces. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

With the sharp, harsh, and ruthless faces of "cleaners"... the Spirit Cleaning Trio rushed to the scene!

------

【The dark one】

Refers to Himetal, the dark spirit contracted with the Adventurer's Guild Vice-Commander Geistpfenanjeshiriard.

Appeared in Arc 13, etc.