Chapter 20 - Spirit Summoning

Spirit.

 It was a legend that was created before humans were able to use magic. The existence of spirits was known after the Demon Emperor introduced spirits to the public. Based on the kingdom's historical records, a spirit contractor from humanity was once found but records regarding the summoning ritual and the type of spirit summoned were not recorded.

 Luckily, I found a magic book that contained a spirit-summoning ritual. The magic book wrote that spirits live in another realm and to summon a spirit requires a catalyst strong enough to open the gate to their realm. The spirit summoning ritual is not too dangerous because the spirit contract will protect the contractor and regulate the power level of the summoned spirit.

 The piece of paper that Mio gave me was enough to make a spirit contract suitable for Mio mother. Our little fight gave me a clear picture of what spirit suited Mio mother. A spirit that could be relied on to support Mio's mother attacks and help her daily work.

 The spirit contract that I drew was not too complicated, for some reason my brain seemed to understand every line and curve of the spirit contract.

 "Um! I think this is complex enough."

 One ready-to-use spirit contract has been successfully created!

 Next is the catalyst needed to summon the spirit.

 Kreeek!!

 I was surprised by the sound of Mio's room door opening. From behind the door, Mio walked in towards me. Since this spirit contract was a surprise gift for Mio's mother, I borrowed Mio's room to maintain this little privacy.

 "Mio, please help me to give this little gift," I said while handing over the paper containing the spirit contract.

 "Lily-sama, what is this?" Mio looked at the spirit contract I made and a complicated expression was drawn on her face.

 "Spirit contract" I replied.

 "Spirit contract?" Mio looked confused by my answer.

 "Um! When Mio's mother accompanied me shopping for magic books in the Adventurer's Guild trading area. I found an interesting magic book about summoning spirits and spirit contracts. If this magic book is correct then we only need a catalyst to activate the spirit contract. The problem is, this catalyst is divided into two parts, namely a catalyst that uses physical material from monsters and a catalyst for inanimate objects that have someone's memories. Since spirits do not have a physical form in this world, they need a catalyst to adjust their body shape. So, with the right catalyst, the summoned spirit can adjust to the common body shape in this world."

 Hearing my explanation, Mio's face turned pale when she heard the topic of magic.

 Ah! Mio hates magic, right?

 I hope Mio doesn't hate me for telling her the contents of the magic book that discusses spirits.

 "I-It's more or less like that.." I said, hastily ending the topic.

 "Lily-sama.. S-Sorry... I-I don't understand what Lily-sama said and please don't talk about this," replied Mio, who had a sad expression.

 "M-Mio doesn't like topics like this, right? I-I understand that, so please forgive me, and please don't hate me or leave me-"

 "No! How could I hate Lily-sama just because of this? Especially leaving Lily-sama? I can't do that!" said Mio, cutting me off.

 "Miiiiioo~" I moved closer to Mio and hugged her body.

 "Thank you for always understanding my wishes, Mio" I whispered.

 "Lily-sama.." Mio stroked my head and carried my body into her arms.

 "Isn't Mio now Lily-sama's property? Of course, I will work hard for Lily-sama's happiness because... Lily-sama is my goal and reason for living now" Mio said this sentence with a sweet smile on her face.

 "Ah! Does Lily-sama need to use a slave contract to-"

 "No need!" I immediately cut off the crazy idea that Mio was about to say. Just that one word alone described the crazy idea in Mio's head.

 The relationship between Master and Slave in this kingdom is very cruel. Slaves who get slave contracts are the same as living humans who live a fake life to serve their Master's every command.

 I don't want to have a relationship like that!

 "If I do that then Mio won't be the Mio I know."

 "Lily-sama! Lily-sama! Lily-sama!" Mio suddenly buried her face in my body while letting out sobs of happiness.

 "E-Enough Mio.." I held back a little embarrassment from Mio's childish attitude.

 Mio let go of her hug and invited me to the dining room to enjoy the dinner that had been prepared.

 When we entered the dining room, Mio's mother and Mio's father were in a hugging position and filled with a harmonious atmosphere.

 "Ara? Our special guest has arrived. So, please restrain yourself and we will continue later..." said Mio's mother who let go of Mio's father's hug.

 "Ahem! Lily-sama. Sorry about what just happened," said Mio's father while holding back his embarrassment.

 "Mom, look at this.." Mio gave a piece of paper containing a spirit contract to her mother.

 "Mio.. What is this?" Mio's mother looked confused after seeing the spirit contract I made.

 "This is a gift made by Lily-sama... a spirit contract."

 Mio seemed to want to explain the contents of my gift but she was also confused about how to explain it.

 "Spirit contract?" Mio mother had the same expression as Mio.

 "Um! That is a spirit contract that I have learned from a magic book and to activate a spirit contract a catalyst is needed. Ah! behind the paper, there are instructions for use." I said to explain the content.

 "Catalyst? Does that mean I have to hunt monsters again to find the right catalyst?" Mio mother asked.

 I shook my head.

 Once again, I explained the two different catalysts that could be used to activate a spirit contract to Mio mother. Unlike Mio, it seemed that Mio mother understood what I said.

 "So that's it... we can use those clothes..." Mio mother muttered softly.

 "Lily-sama, can I use this gift now?" asked Mio's mother.

 "Eh? Isn't this already Helena-san's property?" I replied while turning Mio's mother question back.

 "Fufu.. Lily-sama is truly wise. Then, I will go get catalysts."

 Mio's mother got up from her chair and left the dining room.

 Silence fell in the dining room.

 "Do we have catalysts?" Mio asked her father to break the silence.

 "Did you forget that your father and mother were former adventurers? Having one or two catalysts is not a problem for an adventurer," Mio's father replied.

 "That's right, I almost forgot."

 "Mio! Even though the father is now a Blacksmith, he used to be the greatest adventurer who was able to conquer your mother's heart!" said Mio's father while patting his chest.

 "..."

 "..."

 Mio and I did not respond to him.

 "H-Hey.. no comment on this one?" asked Mio's father while getting our attention.

 Mio's mother returned while carrying a small stick and a small box.

 "M-Mom?" Mio looked at her mother's belongings and a sad expression appeared on her face.

 "Lily-sama... can I use the spirit contract now?" Mio's mother asked,

 I just nodded. After all, it was already Mio's mother's right.

 "Mio, help your mother..." Mio's father suddenly ordered Mio to help her mother.

 "E-Em!" with a sad expression on her face, Mio fulfilled her father's order.

 When Mio and Mio's mother left the dining room, Mio's father revealed what was on Mio's mother's mind after hearing the explanation about the spirit contract and the catalyst.

 "Lily-sama, actually Mio has a little sister who is skilled at using magic but a tragedy happened in our house that made her little sister leave this small family early..."

 "Because of that incident, Mio hates magic and everything related to magic until now. For her, magic is a painful suffering and reminds her of her little sister."

 Hearing Mio's father's words, one big mystery about Mio has been answered. A reason why the Yurification System knows Mio's hatred and the bitter reality mixed in it.

 "Thank you for telling me this."

 "It's okay, just think of this as my approval of your relationship as her Master. Um! If possible... please make Mio happy."

 "Of course, leave it to me."

 Hearing my answer, Mio's father smiled at me.

 "I want to see Mio smile freely again after being freed from the agony that always binds her."

 After that statement, a small cry from Mio's mother and Mio was heard.

 From behind the dining room door, the light that penetrated from the gaps in the door answered the spirit contract that had been activated.

 Yes, the spirit contract ritual was successful and it seems... I understand a little what Mio's mother feels.

 The longing for a mother figure for her daughter and the guilt that haunts her older sister.

 Even though the spirit uses the appearance of someone who has long been dead it is enough to heal the wounds of a broken heart.