The 27th day of the Earth month. The land in front of me is covered in
pure white ice. I know that I'm okay thanks to Shiro-san's blessing, but
was it because I'm outdoors that I'm feeling it's cold?
[…I'm sorry, Isis-san. Suddenly barging and asking you this request…]
[…No… If it's Kaito… you're always… welcome.]
[Thank you.]
[…Unnn… You need… jewels… right?]
Yesterday, I decided to make a music box as a present for Lilia-san, so I
went to Alice's yesterday and she got some designs and mechanisms
prepared, and I'm currently in the process of gathering materials for
that.
First of all, in order to get jewels for the main mechanism, I went to Isissan's home and rely on her help.
I can't thank Isis-san enough for her kindness in spite of my sudden
visit.
[Yes, what kind of jewel do you think would be good? I'm not really that
familiar with jewels…]
[…You're going to use… that for a mechanism, right?… It might be a
challenge but… I think the Midnight Crystal… might be good.]
[Midnight Crystal…?]
[…Unnn… There's a jewel that has a deeper shade of blue and is quite
rare… compared to the Ice Crystals… and it was called Midnight
Crystal… It's tough… but it doesn't easily crumble… It stores magic
power… but not as much as magic crystals… So it's easy to work with.]
I see, Midnight Crystals are a type of Ice Crystals, but are even rare
compared to the rare Ice Crystals.
When I came to visit Isis-san before, I was allowed to mine it just for
fun, but I don't think I remember seeing anything like it.
[…I see, that means it wouldn't be easy to ind.]
[…Unnn… but… it's alright… If I search for it… I'll immediately ind one.]
[I appreciate the thoughts, Isis-san… but I'd like to try to do as much as
I can… Ahh, of course, I know I can't do it all alone but…]
[…Okay… If that's what Kaito wants to do… I will support you.]
Hearing me say that I want to do as much as possible with my own
power, Isis-san nodded to me with a gentle smile on her face.
After that, she held her hand over a pile of ice in front of her, clad in
lashing bluish-white magic power.
[…However… even a little bit… let me help you.]
[ ! ? ]
In the next moment, a dazzling lash of light shot out of Isis-san's hand
like a laser, punching through multiple holes in the mountain of ice.
Afterwards, a pillar of ice appeared inside, reinforcing the tunnel,
preventing it from collapsing.
In a matter of seconds, the mountain of ice turned into a mine, making
me understand that she's making it very easy for me to mine.
[…The place where I shaved… doesn't have jewels… but… with this… I
think… it's easier to dig… I'll also case… simple Defensive Magic on
you.]
[Thank you! It helps me out a lot.]
[…Unnn… Good luck… While you're mining… I'll go prepare you a
meal… So… don't push yourself too hard.]
[Yes!]
The maintenance of the tunnels, Defensive Magic, she's really helping
me with all sorts of stuff, I'm really grateful for that.
After nodding to Isis-san, who kindly smiled at me and told me words of
support, I entered with pickaxe and all other tools.
I'm still at the beginning of gathering materials, so I have to get the
Midnight Crystal as soon as possible…
Then, three hours mining in the mine, sitting down on the ground,
breathing heavily.
[…I- I can't ind one…]
After entering the tunnels, I diligently started mining and found a good
number of Ice Crystals… However, they are all light blue, and no deep
blue Midnight Crystals have been found.
I suppose it could simply be that I'm not used to mining and my pace is
slow, but really, what a surprise that I haven't found anything close to
bluish, let alone deep blue…
Even though Shiro-san's blessing keeps out the cold, it doesn't seem to
be helping out with my fatigue, so I was completely exhausted.
As I was catching my breath and thinking about where to dig next, I saw
Isis-san loating in the air towards me.
[…Kaito… Have you found one?]
[No, not at all… It's completely dificult inding one.]
[…Really… How about… you take some break?… I brought you…
lunch…]
[T- Thank you.]
It seems that I completely lost track of time that Isis-san had brought a
meal for me.
That being said, I was trying to hide my tiredness, but I was also quite
hungry, so it was really great timing.
When Isis-san came to my side, with the appearance of a loating magic
circle, a desk and chair were prepared for us.
Thereupon, she places a large plate on the table and after releasing the
State Preservation Magic, warm steam rises up.
[…I made you… some stew… I also placed a barrier around us… so it
won't get cold easily.]
[Thank you. Thank you for the food.]
[…Unnn… Yes… Ahhn.]
[…Eh?]
The white stew that Isis-san prepared for me smelled delicious and
made my hungry stomach growl.
After thanking her again, I was about to take the spoon… Isis-san held
the spoon and spontaneously scooped up some of the stew and held it
out to my mouth with one hand.
Eh? Is this what I think this is? Is this another one of those meals where
I can't feed myself?
[…Ahhn.]
[A- Ahhn.]
[…What do you think?]
[It feels warm and really delicious.]
The stew, which wasn't too hot and had a pleasant temperature for my
tongue, its creamy and smoothness soaked into my stomach, gently
warming me from the inside.
It was somewhat relieving and delicious, as if this stew is Isis-san's
kindness given form…
[…That's good… Eat lots… Okay?]
[…Yes.]
I guess I'm still really embarrassed to admit it but… I wholeheartedly
enjoy such moments of relaxation, enjoying Isis-san's gentle care that
warmed me to the depths of my heart.
After enjoying Isis-san's delicious home-cooked meal, just as I stood up
to say that it's time for me to resume mining, Isis-san suddenly spoke,
as if she thought about something.
[…Speaking of which… Kaito… have your Sympathy Magic… right?]
[Eh? Ah, yes.]
[…The Midnight Crystal… could store magic power… so if you use your
Sympathy Magic… Wouldn't it be easier to ind it?]
[…T- There's such a way!?]
[…U- Unnn… I don't really know… if it would really work though.]
I haven't thought of using my magic that way. I've been using Sympathy
Magic only for reading the emotions of others.
However, this magic is originally something that was derived from a
power specializing in sensing others, so it should also be used to sense
feeble amounts of magic power.
According to Isis-san, although the Midnight Crystal isn't as good as a
Magic Crystal, it still has the ability to store magic power… That's also
true for Ice Crystals, but it seems that Midnight Crystals store a bit
more magic power.
[I'll try it!]
After listening to Isis-san's advice, I start using the power of my
Sympathy Magic to search for magic power around me.
I'm not that great of a magic-user, so I can't search around a large area
but… Searching within a radius of a few meters should be suficient
enough.
When I focused my attention to my Sympathy Magic, I could deinitely
feel faint magic power here and there among the tunnels… However, I
don't understand well the difference between each of the things I've
detected immediately, so I decided to walk around, focusing on my
senses for a while.
After about half an hour of going through the tunnels, I felt something
that has a little bit stronger magic power than the others, so I began
hitting my pickaxe at that spot.
It seemed to be pretty deep, as it took me some time to get there… And
after digging for a while, I found a deep blue… a navy blue jewel
peeking out of a crevice in the rock.
[Ahh!?]
[…Unnn… No doubt… That's the… Midnight Crystal.]
Having successfully found the Midnight Crystal, I carefully mined it,,
changing tools so as not to damage the jewel, and dig out a few inches
of it.
I was unintentionally moved, seeing the Midnight Crystal that I inally
found… but I want to get some more, including some spares, because I
don't think it would be possible for me to successfully make something
on the irst try.
[…Wait… A- Arehh? I feel faint…]
[!? Kaito!]
The moment I thought about going through this pace and digging for
some more, I felt the strength on my legs disappear and almost fell
down.
Isis-san, who reacted quickly, supported my body, but a feeling of
considerable weariness assaulted my body.
[…Wide Area Detection uses a lot of magic power… so you have to take a
break… for about an hour.]
[…I- I see… I understand.]
[…I'll carry you.]
[Eh!? Wait, Isis-san!?]
[…Kaito… you're tired… so I'll… carry you.]
[I- I'm thankful for that but…]
[…Unnn?]
Even though Isis-san is stronger than me, I'm still extremely
embarrassed, being princess carried as a man.
However, I couldn't ask Isis-san, who was seriously concerned about
me, to put me down just because I was feeling embarrassed being
princess carried by her, so in the end, I had to be carried by Isis-san
while enduring my shame.
Unnn, next time, let's properly think about our usage of magic power…
I'll deinitely be more careful…
Dear Mom, Dad——- I've come to Isis-san's home to look for gems as
the irst material I needed to collect for the music box. I've only barely
gotten one Midnight Crystal, which is my objective, but still——– I
think it deinitely is one step forward.