We get walking again after finishing our lunch, and start getting dinner ready before the sun goes down.
Apparently the spirits that ate lunch are expecting more for dinner, because they’re staring at me as I prepare it, and not moving at all.
At this rate, I’m going to have to cook breakfast tomorrow morning too.
I supposedly made plenty, but the spirits eat so much, that it gets me wondering where it all goes. I made enough to easily last ten days if it was just the three of us, but…
The spirits are only about as big as my head. Well, that’s what I assume based on the size of the lights, but Chris tells me I’m right.
This means that they eat more than their own size. Where is it all going?
They’re just light from my point of view anyway, but according to Chris, they come in all shapes and sizes. Some look like people, some like animals…
“They really have an appetite.”
“They’d get along great with Hikari.”
It’s Sera’s second time seeing them eat, but she can’t hide her surprise. I can’t blame them, considering just how much they eat.
Also, the spirits that aren’t eating are just spending time their own ways.
“Tomorrow we’re going to where they normally live, right?”
“Yes. It’s on the way to the next staircase, and they say there are more of their friends there.”
Says Chris, but when I use Magic Energy Detection again, I don’t see any more concentrations of magic energy reactions on this floor.
But my skill won’t pick them up if they have an ability that hides their magic energy, so I can’t say for certain they aren’t here.
“Let’s decide the order in which we keep watch today, and go to sleep.”
The spirits seem satisfied too, as they float gently from left to right.
And I’m also done cleaning the dishes with purification magic.
“About that, Sora. The spirits say they will keep watch for us.”
“…Are you sure about that?”
We heard there aren’t any monsters, but just being in the middle of a dungeon is enough to worry me.
Come to think of it, I’ve never asked Chris if her spirits were capable of keeping watch.
“Yes, it’s fine. I don’t understand why, but I feel a strong connection to the spirits here. I feel like I can use more power than usual.”
More than usual… That makes me twitch a little.
The sight of Chris using spirit magic in Elesya pops into my mind. As well as the monsters that were hit directly by it, and the big craters it created.
“All right, I’ll take your word for it. Let’s go to sleep.”
I cast shields with enough magic energy to hold until morning just in case, before the three of us go to sleep.
Like my Map said, and like the spirits said, no monsters appear, meaning we can sleep the whole night for the first time in a while.
◇ ◇ ◇
When I wake up the next morning… It’s time to cook.
“Can you help me, Chris and Sera?”
They help me cut things, but the final seasoning is all up to me.
“Sora’s cooking is the best, surely.”
“Yes, the way you season it is very good.”
You’re not getting anything out of saying that. If you think I’m that soft, keep thinking it, I guess.
I kind of feel like having something someone else cooked for once. It’s been a while. They’d probably do it if I asked, but…
And also, pretty much everything that I have that I haven’t cooked is stuff I bought at stalls and kept in my Item Box. And that’s what I present to the spirits this time.
Hikari might get mad if she learns about it. She was looking forward to having this when she picked it. Among them, there’s stuff that can only be found in the capital of Elesya too… I guess we’ll have to go back and get more.
Stuff like that crosses my mind as I season the food, and it’s successfully completed. The Cooking skill is working well as always.
Once we’re done eating, the spirits guide us as we walk through the forest.
Sometimes they bring berries and fruit to me. Are they thanking me for the food?
“Or are they telling me to cook with these?”
I ask, and Chris says they’re just thanking me, so I put it all in the Item Box.
Of course, I also use Appraisal to check if they’re edible. I think it’s fine, but there’s a lot of stuff I’ve never seen before.
Then we take a break to have lunch, keep walking after that, and reach a certain place before the sun sets.
I gulp at what I see. Chris and Sera also open their eyes widely with surprise.
There are several wooden boxes lined up. Well, actually, they aren’t wooden boxes, more like containers made up of flowers and wood?
And in each container there’s what looks like a doll lying down.
I don’t know what that is, but it makes me forget I’m even in a dungeon.
“Really…?”
Whispers Chris.
I turn around, and see her looking pale.
“Are you all right?”
“…Yes.”
“Do you know… What this is?”
I ask, and she nods.
“Apparently… They’re spirits.”
I look there again, but they really just look like dolls.
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Thanks for the treat.