Page 16

After a long journey looking for suitable magic books, I still had quite a lot of money left. I managed to get two magic books and one book about the Demon Rune script. This should be enough, right?

I spent my free time at the Adventurer's Guild while reading magic books. Elemental magic techniques caught my attention, especially the part about utilizing reactions between elements such as the combination of electric magic elements with water magic elements that created a combination of two elemental attacks into one. This magic book was very fragile. So, I had to be careful when turning the pages. I didn't want to damage this magic book before understanding its contents.

This magic book turned out to be written by someone who was calculating and creative. If only I had the capacity and ability to use magic. I would try elemental magic according to the guide of this magic book.

On the other hand, the magic book about spirit contracts was very different from the elemental magic book. Instead of using magic, someone who successfully made a spirit contract would gain spirit power and be able to use spirit magic based on the spirit's attributes. That meant that if I successfully made a contract with a spirit, I could use spirit magic without having the capacity and ability to use magic. This is very efficient and terrifying, fortunately, only the Demon race has this kind of knowledge. Moreover, the spirit contract ritual uses hard-to-find catalyst materials such as dragon bones, wyvern scales, kobold skulls, and so on.

I have never tested my magic capacity because my father did not allow me to leave the house. So, I do not know whether I can use magic or not.

With this magic book, there is no harm in making a contract with a spirit, right?

In theory, spirits are not included in the category of magic.

I closed both magic books. Currently, the table I am sitting at is our former lunch table. After lunch was over, Mio held my body and accompanied me to read the magic book. Because lunchtime was over, Mio's mother left to continue her work.

"Nee.. Mio, are dragon bones very expensive?" I asked.

"Dragon bones? That is very expensive Lily-sama. If I am not mistaken, even poor-quality dragon bones range from 100 Silver Coins to 1 Gold Coin," Mio replied.

"That means I can only buy some dragon bones with the remaining money and rely on luck for their quality to be bad or good."

"Lily-sama, what does Lily-sama want to do with the dragon bones?"

"Just to satisfy my curiosity."

"..." Mio fell silent.

"It feels like Lily-sama is hiding something from me," Mio puffed out her cheeks and turned her gaze away from me. My body position was sitting on Mio's lap, but when we spoke our eyes met. It was a little strange if Mio turned her face away from me.

"A-Ah.. this is for Alice and Alyssa. The magic book I read was a magic book about spirit contracts. To make a spirit contract, the right catalyst materials such as dragon bones and such are needed."

"Spirit contract?" Mio asked in surprise.

"Wait a minute! Lily-sama can read this writing?" Mio continued.

"Eng? At first, I did have difficulty but after understanding a few lines of words. I can understand the writing inside."

"T-That's amazing, Lily-sama. Could it be Lily-sama is a genius?"

"Eh? Is it that hard to learn foreign sentences?"

If it was direct knowledge given by the Goddess, I would not have asked that question. However, if we are talking about the Demon Rune script that needs to be learned. Some of the curves and symbols of the Demon Rune have their characteristics.

The Demon Rune script and the human alphabet are not much different, only the letters and symbols used are different but the placement of the meaning of the sentence still uses human language.

Did this Demon Emperor do it on purpose so that humanity would learn the Demon Rune script?

Or did this Demon Emperor do it on purpose to introduce the existence of a spirit?

"Nee, Mio.. have you heard of spirits before?" because I was curious, I asked Mio.

"Spirits? If I'm not mistaken, there was once a group of adventurers who met them but the truth of the story is still questionable because the existence of spirits is difficult to prove."

"Hmm.. that gives me a little idea. Isn't today Mother Mio's birthday? May I give Mother Mio a small gift?"

"T-There's no need to go to such trouble Lily-sama. I-I would be troubled if the gift was that valuable."

"It's okay, this is a thank you for helping me earlier."

I didn't hear Mio's answer but Mio's behavior of turning her face away.

"Lily-sama..." Mio looked back at me.

Eh? Why is this? It feels like I did something wrong.

"C-Can I kiss Lily-sama like Mom?"

"Hue?" I could only be surprised to hear Mio's question.

"Um! No problem!" I answered.

I immediately handed my cheek to Mio. Different from Mio's mother, my heart was beating fast when Mio's face approached mine. This feeling was very different from before and a little embarrassing.

"M-Mioo.. Umph!!"

Eh? Isn't this a little wrong? Mio's mother only kissed my cheek but why did Mio kiss my lips?

I slightly felt Mio's hand holding my cheek.

T-This isn't bad either and I like this gentle side of Mio.

On Mio's lap, a gentle kiss like this was very difficult to do but I didn't mind it.

I could hear a group of adventurers whispering around us, but Mio ignored them and continued our kiss.

After being satisfied, Mio slowly released her small kiss and hugged my body tightly.

"Lily-sama.." ignoring the gazes of the people around her. Mio hugged my body tightly until a small blow hit Mio's head.

"Hauu!! Who hit me?! Oh! Mama.." Mio's mother stood behind Mio.

"Are you satisfied?" asked Mio's mother in a cold tone.

"Huh?" Mio was a little confused by her mother's question.

Mio realized the stares and smiles of the people around her until a blush adorned her face.

"Eh.. aren't I already became Lily-sama's property??" Mio replied while holding back her embarrassment.

"That's true, but don't do it in public!" replied Mio's mother in a high tone.

"Lily-sama is cute but please hold back your predatory attitude and don't give them strange imaginations!" continued Mio's mother.

Strange imaginations?

What does she mean?

I realized the meaning of Mio's mother's words. Around us, several adventurers smiled at us. Expressions of surprise, smiles, and holding back shame were engraved on their faces.

At that moment, shame began to attack me. I turned my face away and covered my face with Mio's chest. I hugged her body a little tighter.

"Hyaaa! Lily-sama!" Mio was surprised when I hugged her body tightly.

"Ahem! Lily-sama.." Mio's mother moved to my side.

"If this place feels uncomfortable, Lily-sama can use the private room available."

I shook my head.

"I like this place" I replied while burying my face in Mio's chest even deeper.

"Uguh!!" Mio's mother suddenly held her chest.

"What is this? Why is it so cute like this? T-This is wrong but.. somehow I don't want to throw away this view" Mio's mother muttered.

Mio stroked my hair slowly, my body felt comfortable, and started to get sleepy.

"Mmph.. Fuaah!!" I took a deep breath and smelled Mio's body scent.

My eyelids felt heavy and the soft caresses given by Mio made me even sleepier. Mio's soft caresses felt very comfortable and I wanted to fall asleep in her arms.

If I fall asleep in Mio's arms, it's okay, right?

I gave in to my drowsiness and fell asleep in Mio's warm embrace.

"Lily-sama.." Mio kept stroking my hair until I fell asleep.