Published: August 2, 2025
Today, three chapters were updated simultaneously.
This story is the first chapter.
I was speechless as I watched the flock of limule birds flying toward me.
Against the backdrop of a red mountain-faced mine visible through the trees, the limule birds spread their translucent blue wings and fluttered their green tails as they circled. I had no words in me that could fully express the beauty of their landing on the swamp.
The number seemed to be slightly more than before. However, it didn’t seem like they had come as reinforcements for retaliation. Each bird, upon landing, was eating grell frogs.
For now, it didn’t seem dangerous, but among the flock, there was one bird that stared intently at me. Upon closer inspection, I immediately recognized it as the higher-ranking species from earlier. It didn’t eat the grell frogs and never once took its gaze off me. Had it become wary because of what happened before?
Behind me, the young lady was receiving a musical instrument from Mr. Sebas and starting to prepare...
“Mr. Reinhardt.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll step away for a moment. That higher-ranking species has been watching me constantly since before. If I stay here, it might disturb the young lady’s performance...”
“That’s fine.”
She interrupted my words herself.
“The contract must be made face-to-face between oneself and the magical beast. Saying it failed because Lord Ryoma was here is nothing but an excuse. I wouldn’t say such a thing.”
The young lady said this crisply with an unusually dignified air.
“Besides, I want you to watch me make the contract. Please stay here. Having Lord Ryoma here is reassuring.”
With that, she showed her usual smile.
Having been told this much, I had no choice but to stay.
“Understood. Good luck.”
“Yes!”
I naturally offered words of encouragement and stepped back.
The young lady took a few deep breaths and began playing.
It was the same slow-tempo piece as before. It started quietly with small sounds and gradually grew louder. Like the waves of the sea, the volume ebbed and flowed.
No matter the volume, the clear notes echoed uninterrupted across the swamp.
Looking closely, the limule birds were different from those men earlier—they swayed their necks and bodies left and right in time with the music.
Then, the gentle melody came to an end.
“...!”
The young lady watched the limule birds intently, tense. Suddenly, the flock all cried out at once. The sound was not the mocking cries directed at the men earlier, but sounded like music from instruments such as a harp or piano. And it wasn’t just noisy clamor.
The cries, which truly sounded like a performance, continued for about a minute. Then, led by a particularly radiant limule bird, nine limule birds gathered at her feet.
This must be a success! Now, for the contract... just then—
“Young lady, the contract, the beast taming contract.”
“Oh, right!”
Had she forgotten in the joy of success? The young lady, who had been frozen in place, snapped back to reality at my words and frantically began the beast taming contract. Watching her make contract after contract, it seemed that she was indeed succeeding.
At the very end, when she contracted with the most beautiful limule bird, Eria was the first to loudly express her joy.
“We did it!!”
“Well done!!”
“You did great.”
“That’s wonderful, Eria.”
“Congratulations.”
“Congratulations, young lady.”
A total of nine limule birds were contracted. I had heard it was difficult even to contract just one, so I never expected to contract so many.
“Look, there are so many beautiful ones!”
The young lady was crouching, surrounded by limule birds, happily petting them. Some seemed already quite attached, perching on her knees and shoulders.
It was a little sad how, as she tried to open the pigeon feed bag, it looked like she spilled some feed because her movements were a bit too enthusiastic. Why do my eyes and brain recall such trivial things during such an emotional scenes...?
A scene like this could easily be titled "A Beautiful Girl Playing with a Flock of Birds" and made into a painting...