Chapter 4: Birthdays are special days, of course.
Birthdays are special days, of course.
As I grew up and my head got a bit thicker, it became a day to rediscover the greatness of my parents, who raised me without any shortages in a world where even taking care of myself was tough.
But for kids who still hold onto their innocence, it's the day they count down with questions like, "How many nights until my birthday?" starting a few days in advance.
And my contractor, Linea, had just turned eight. She was still at the age where she harbored fantasies about birthdays.
What does Linea really need?
This birthday was especially significant because Linea had never shown her face in noble society before.
It had been out of consideration for Bellona, but Raidel's opinion was that there was no need for that anymore, now that she'd contracted with me.
So, this birthday for Linea was essentially her debutante ball.
Ah, debutante—is that for adults? Whatever, that's not the point.
Anyway, with the scale ballooning like this, my pride as the Spirit King, and the pressure of it being the first birthday I was handling, my worries about the gift just kept growing.
"Shiri, what do you think?"
[Hah, why are you asking me about a gift for Lady Linea?!]
I tried borrowing the power of collective intelligence by asking the closest one first—Shiri—but I got a cold response in return.
Ever since I'd ditched her in excitement over contracting with Linea and run off, she'd been like this. It seemed like it'd ease up, only to revert right back, and she got extra prickly whenever Linea came up.
This time it's really dragging on.
Spirits have long lifespans, so they hold grudges for a while anyway, but this was a new record.
"I'm really sorry about leaving you behind that time. You know how long I'd been waiting for a contract, right?"
[……]
"And who else am I gonna ask if not you, Shiri? So, come on, get over it already. Yeah?"
Actually, that was a lie. I'd already asked Raidel.
I figured her dad would have some good ideas, but all I got was a dodge: "Just ask Linea herself."
Doesn't Raidel know either?
As my estimation of Raidel kept dropping, Shiri must've sensed my sincerity and desperation, because she sighed and answered.
[Sigh, you've already asked Lady Linea, haven't you?]
"Yup. But she said anything I prepare would be fine."
[I figured as much.]
To be more precise, she said my existence itself was the gift.
My existence itself as a gift—words I'd only heard from family in my past life, now from Linea.
In this life, I'm...
A totem that balances nature just by existing, the youngest plaything for my bored senior spirits who've lived too long, a living Ariel and Nereis factory, and so on.
Sigh.
Linea suddenly felt even more lovable.
I must've smiled without realizing it, because Shiri shot me a glare.
[...Spirit parent.]
"What'd you say?"
[Sigh, nothing. Anyway, how about a dwarf-made accessory for the gift?]
"An accessory made by dwarves?"
[Yes. Humans consider anything born from a dwarf's hands to be the pinnacle.]
True to fantasy world fashion, dwarves were revered here as the ultimate craftsmen. And among their works, dwarf-made accessories seemed to get special treatment.
For a dwarf to craft a luxury accessory like that meant either the gemstone was so extraordinary it ignited the dwarf's creative fire, or the client offered payment so massive even a dwarf—who dealt with continent-spanning powers—would sell out for it.
They were so rare, there were tales of them only being found in dragon lairs, which once tempted me to become a dragon slayer—until Shiri talked me out of it.
[It'd be better if you commissioned it directly, Lord Kalion.]
"Yeah? Hmm... Linea's necklace is blue, so maybe a ruby brooch? But where do I get a ruby?"
[Can't you just tell the spirits to find one?]
Is Shiri a genius among Ariels?
Whoever the Spirit King was that birthed Shiri, they must be an incredibly impressive one.
Anyway, at my special command, every water spirit on the continent scurried around like their feet were on fire.
And just a few hours later, a ruby raw stone so extraordinary even a gem illiterate like me could tell was laid before me.
[With this, the dwarf will be begging for the chance to work on it.]
"Still, in case they refuse, I'm preparing payment too."
Time to pay a visit to my senior.
* * *
"...So, you're asking me for a spirit stone as payment to commission a gift for your contractor from a dwarf, just in case they say no?"
"Something like that."
I'd asked politely with what I thought was some charm, but the woman before me glared instead.
"Can't refuse a junior's request. Geez."
The owner of a blazing space so scorching even an upper spirit like Shiri couldn't enter casually—a far cry from my own domain. The Fire Spirit King, Ignaria, shook her head like she had no choice.
"Here. A spirit stone I made myself."
"You were gonna give it anyway but got shy about it?"
"Hah, skip the thanks and get out already."
Fire and water are natural opposites, so after reincarnating, my biggest worry had been my relationship with the Fire Spirit King. But as you can see, she grumbles but always comes through for a much younger junior like me—a good senior at heart.
Thanks to this cute senior Spirit King spoiling her junior, I secured the commission payment and headed straight to the dwarf.
The dwarf, fired up by the ruby raw stone and insisting no payment was needed for the sake of craftsmanship, flipped his attitude the moment he saw the spirit stone.
I've seen this somewhere before.'Too much money to scold.' Was that it?
"So, what'll you do for me if I pay with this spirit stone?"
"If you want it fast, I'll work through the night. And if there's any material you desire, I'll use it, no matter what."
"No need to rush. I want flawless top quality, so take breaks and work in peak condition. I'll trust your aesthetic for materials too. Just make sure the brooch uses only the best quality from this workshop, right?"
"Of course."
* * *
A few days after entrusting the commission to the earnestly promising dwarf, Linea's birthday arrived. But there was still no word from the dwarf that the brooch was done.
This guy isn't so obsessed with the spirit stone he forgot the deadline, is he?
As the banquet time loomed closer and my distrust of the dwarf grew, word came that the brooch was complete.
"Wow."
"Heh heh, do you like it?"
I rushed over in one go to check, and the result erased every negative thought I'd harbored about the dwarf in my heart.
A brooch shaped like a water droplet in ruby, framed in gold, sprinkled with tiny worked ruby fragments to look like one solid mass.
It could've seemed crude, but the dimensionality elevated it to artistic heights—even a layman like me had to bow in admiration.
"Since you said it was a gift for your contractor, Lord Kalion, I made it this shape. Glad you like it."
"Honestly, I wondered if it'd taken too long, but at this level? Makes me question if you even slept."
"All thanks to the spirit stone you gave me, Lord Kalion. I couldn't have done it without that."
It was a bit late, sure, but since I'd come myself, there was no delivery delay, and the quality was worth it, so I was about to leave without complaint.
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, it was like invisible chains bound my limbs—I couldn't move. As if the world itself refused to acknowledge my existence.
This wasn't official, but it'd been nearly a year since contracting with Linea without issues. So this situation meant only one thing.
Something's happened to Linea—there's a problem with the contract!
[Lord Kalion, are you alright?]
Shiri must've sensed the anomaly too, contacting me urgently.
"Shiri, sorry, but handle whatever mess comes up from now on. I'll sort it all later."
[Pardon? What do you...]
Sorry to Shiri, but I relayed my message and urgently reverted to my true form—my complete spirit body.
Once back in my original state, the restraints felt bearable, and I shot straight to the Silbarein County banquet hall.
And there was Linea, necklace snapped, holding back tears.
Hah.
Looking around, all the high-and-mighty guests from various places were still racking their brains, judging Linea's value even in this mess.
Guess I've been too nice for too long.
They forgot who I am?