08: Shining in a Storm (Time Sale)

When I finished the talk with the Fire Spirit, it was already evening. Let's go shopping and then go home. With that in mind, I headed to the shopping district.

Demon lives in the shopping district

No, it's a personal impression. Just think about where I'm going... I was also surprised to live alone. What? Let me explain it now.

Location: Supermarket Online Grocery Store

Time: After 17:00 in the evening

Participants: Housewives in the neighborhood

Do you understand?

Well, for those who still don't understand, let me describe it in detail.

The beasts were waiting for the time to be released.

The supple muscles (imagination) that have been trained and has devised numerous business strategies. He (clerk) is coming. Holding the referee's trumpet (half price sticker) in his hand. The spectacle that will occur here from now on is just right to call it chaos. But even though they know it, they don't stop their hands. It's as if it's fate... While I am describing it, he's already put a half-price sticker on it! I've gotten a late start!

Going through the waves of people as if I were going through rough tidal waves, and I aim for an egg! (Pack 79 yen) Then half-price cut off beef... was already sold out. It shouldn't have been five minutes yet. Also, it's a pass because I can't handle fish related ingredients. I don't like ready-made side dishes as well. I wonder if the bean sprouts are pork toppings because I need them to add in bulk. It seems impossible to magically turn a pig into a cow, right?

"That's impossible"

That's right...! Wait, why is an answer coming back? When I thought that, the Spirit of Fire was there.

"Because I'm here, I was able to communicate by using magic. That's why, best regards."

Well, it's good for me because it's invisible to other people and my ears don't have to be exposed. They'll be surprised!

After paying at the cash register, I went home. I met people along the way, but they didn't seem to be suspicious. Eh, supermarket? You see, it was a beast over there... Anyway, it's time to prepare dinner. Fry in sesame oil and salt and pepper, as usual. When I'm working, I feel like the fire is better than usual.


"Are you frying? Let me help you."


Fire spirit! Well, will you help me like this when cooking? It might be a little convenient. ...... It would be more convenient if you cook instead. I want a bride.


"Oh, this is well cooked and delicious!"

"Hehehe."

He was happy when I praised him aloud. As expected, he's a child (?). Must be complimented and stretched. Once I ate the food and filled my stomach, I decided to call my friend. She is an Otaku who invited me to Net Games.

07: Fire Spirit's Mirage

When I was groaning about that and I heard a voice from somewhere.

"Are you the one who gave my children magical power?"

Where, where? While I'm wandering around looking for the owner of the voice there was a big red macho person above me. There it is.

"Uwah!"

I screamed unintentionally. If something like this comes out in front of me, I'll definitely be scared.

"You seem to be surprised. I'm Ifrit. I'm the top spirit of fire."

Ifrit. Oh, I've heard of it. From what kind of game was it?

"I was delighted that my children received high-quality magical power. I wanted to see what kind of person they were."
"Oh, is that so. Nice to meet you, my name is Hitomi Shimotsuki. I'm wondering if I'm a high elf, but I'm not sure."
"Hmm... I'm sure you are a high elf. You are able to communicate with me, after all. "

Ifrit said, stroking his plentiful beard (doesn't it get burnt?).

"Can't elves talk normally with you?"
"Humu, if you try to talk to us superior spirits forcibly, you can't keep up with your spirit and will collapse."

Oi!

"Don't worry. You can communicate with us because you are okay."
"Oh, is that so?"

No, no, I'm glad I didn't go crazy, but if I was not good at it, my life would be over, right?

"It seems that you are troubled by something?"

It was washed away smoothly! But I'm sure I'm in trouble.

"I want to make these ears look like normal humans, because they stand out as they are."
"Then cognitive inhibition would be good."
"Cognitive inhibition?"
"It's a way to distort the surroundings of your space and show illusions."

Oh, it's like a mirage. That's right, because he's a spirit of fire, he seems to be good at that kind of method.

"If you don't mind, could you please tell me how to do it?"
"Hmm, that's right, let me teach you to repay the favour you had given my child."

Alright, I think I can walk around the city. If I can't walk, I can't cook rice.

"Thank you."
"Then... hey, do you guys have anybody who can follow this Ojou-san?"

Ifrit called out to the spirits of fire. Then the child who first spoke to me reacted.

"I'll do it. I got an Ume-mon after all."
"Then the shape of the ear is... this is it."

I show my driver's license. I don't really like the photo, but it can't be helped because it was taken at the license center. Well, it's enough to know the shape of the ears.

"Hmm? Okay, that's okay. Let's do it."

I felt that the temperature of the surrounding air had risen for a moment.

"It's over."
"Eh?"

I feel like that was over too soon. I take out the hand mirror and look at my face. No, it hasn't changed!

"It hasn't changed at all!"
"I made it look like this picture to ordinary humans. You would know if you weren't a human who could see through the spirits."

I see. In other words, I'm an elf and I can see the spirits, so it's just not working, and I don't have to be afraid of my ears attracting the attention of the ordinary people. I'm grateful for that.

"Oh, that's right. I didn't realize it, but thank you."

I go shopping and go home. There are other things I would like to try, but I'll ask someone who is familiar with them even on holidays.

06: And I'm At a Loss

I got an order from the branch manager, so I decided to go home quietly.
I asked Dryad, "What are you going to do?", But I decided to leave it because "I can't leave the main body for too long". It's unfortunate, I was thinking she could teach me various things.

"Excuse me first."

It's before 15:00, so I haven't closed the shutter yet. So the greeting of leaving early is also quiet. No, there are no customers. Even so, I feel guilty about going home alone even though everyone is working, so I naturally become quiet.

It's still past 14:00 when I go out. The sun was strong as it was. For the time being, I'd like to know about practicing magic. There is something to talk to when I think about it.

"Yo, Nee-chan, give me the promised magical power."

It was the spirit of fire. Oh yeah, I promised.

"OK, but..."

As expected, the city is bad. If I give it and make it ignite, it will become a big fuss.

"Then follow me a little. I'll give it to you in the park over there."

 Pass through a shopping street that has become a shutter street in the middle.
Fifty years ago, this area was the most downtown area, and the arcade area extending from the station was full of people.
Now, its appearance has been featured on national television as a dark and eerie shutter street even in the daytime with no shadow to see.
Thanks to that, it's convenient for not meeting people. Many shops are closed until the evening because no one goes through the shutter street on weekday afternoons.
Personally, I think that the more such streets are there, the faster the depopulation will be...

"Yes, arrived."

I arrived at the park. Originally created as a playground for customers who came to the shopping district and children in the neighborhood, it is quite large. There are four across the street. As usual, there are no people.

"Well, isn't it a place that seems to be easy to burn?"

No, it's true that the wisteria trellis haven't taken care of, so that which has become empty is still wrapped around in ivy, but it's not good to burn it!

"Then I'll give it to you at the table there."

Under the wisteria shelf was a large table for lunch breaks. Somehow, stones are used to sculpt chairs. Thanks to that, I don't have to worry about being burned.

"Then I'll put it out."

Well, gunpowder, gunpowder... It's different because it's "additive" when you write it in kanji, but it's a match that's easy to imagine. I don't smoke, but I know it because I use it at Buddhist altars and graves. Alright, it's a match. Since the tree part is a plant, is it a dryad?

"Thin wood? I understood the size..."

Dryad said this inside my mind. The voice is a little different, so it's probably another child. The rest is the ignition part. Phosphorus is surely excavated... Then is it the spirit of the earth?

"Oh!"

My hands were shining and a heap of matches appeared.

"Hmm, somehow I have managed to succeed."

I'm relieved. Although, I felt like I could do it. And If I couldn't I wouldn't be able to fulfill my promised.

"Yahoo."

The spirit of fire did not hesitate to jump in. The flames danced on the stone table. Yeah, it didn't fly up to the top. It was burning with a crackling noise. Yeah, it's just an arsonist when viewed from the side, this...

"Okay. I'm satisfied. Thank you!"

It disappeared with a big smile as if it was satisfied with burning for a while.

Well, personally, the real thing is about to begin only now. First of all, I want to make sure that it does not interfere with my daily life. To do that, I have to hide my ears. I don't know how to hide it with hallucinations or change its shape like a normal human being. I wonder what I should do……

05: Ruthless Checkmate

A teller noticed when I entered the store from the back door, the teller was waving his hand while his mouth was fluttering. Well, that's usually how they react, right. However, this person is different.

"Hmm? What are you doing so secretly?"

They found me! Oh, they are not Japanese people. But they sure are good at Japanese. I can't help it, so I stand up. I also get on the counter. Yeah, it feels good to be in high places. Let's decide on the pose as well. It's the ship that I stowed away on. Shipwreck? Don't say that!

"That's it!"

Seen from the side, it looks pretty stupid, but let's keep going as it is. While pointing to the trio, I declare. This also aims to draw the attention of the trio here. In the meantime, let the spirit of fire separate and have the dryad make a separate body and then surround them.

...... No, in the first place they can't see the dryad even without doing that.

"You guys are done. we've completely surrounded you. You can't do anything more. Surrender yourself quietly!"

The trio looked around with Kyoro Kyoro. Of course, there is no apparent physical change in the surroundings. Yes, nothing that is visible to them. However, in reality, the spirit of fire is separating and the dryad's body is approaching towards their feet.

"I don't understand what you are saying! For the time being, you're dead!"

A spinning magazine, blazing up iron, and a finger pulling a trigger without being afraid. The firing pin struck the chamber... but the gun did not respond. A click, a click and a dry sound echo. Well, it's natural because the spirit of fire has completely moved out...

"Tsao, Tsao!"

They are saying something, but is that Chinese?

"!?"

Did they notice the mishap? The other two also pulled the trigger. But, a click, a click and a dry sound echoes ruthlessly. Then it's time to start the counterattack.

"Then please, dryad!"
"Okkey."

There was a light response, and the dryad's body at the feet of the three became like ivy and entwined with them. Three people are restrained in the blink of an eye and pressed against the floor. Oh, it’s wonderful.

"One order ready!"
"That expression is not used these days."

Senpai said in a laid-back tone.

Everyone in the line got up after seeing the trio of thieves got caught.

"Shimotsuki-san, what the heck just now..."

The branch manager looked at me with frightened eyes.

"It's okay, branch manager. I caught everyone!"

I confidently thumbs up, but his eyes looks like the are still scared . It seems like it'll hinder future relationships, so let's be quiet and amiable.

"What is it? (Cheerful Smile)."

I did it, a perfect smile!

"... No, it's nothing. It will become troublesome when the police comes, so you should go home."

"Eh, but..."

 It's still working hours...

"Go home, go home, no, please go home."

He finally went ahead and did a dogeza... What should I do about this?
It cannot be helped. Well, all sorts of things happened and I'm feeling tired, I'm very grateful to be given permission to go home. There are still various things I want to try.

"Understood, then I'll be heading home first."

Senpai in the back says it's foul play, but it can't be helped because it's a branch manager's order!

04: Standby・Ready

When I returned to the branch office, I went straight to the computer system. Alright, I'm going to do it, and after doing so for a while, the nearby room starts to get noisy.

"Hey, Hey, it smells like a pretty big fire spirit~"

Fire spirit? I think the only place where fire is used here is the hot water supply room. The smoking area is non-smoking inside the bank, so it's outside. Of course, there is no one in the hot water supply room. I didn't call the spirit unknowingly, right?

"From where?"
"Well, from the main body"

Body... It's on the floor, right? I wish I could see what it was like.

"If you put out a water mirror, I'll show you a video ~"

Oh, yes. I concentrated and floated the water mirror in the air. What was reflected was a trio masked, and in their hand was... a gun. Robbery! Is it the stowaway that the aunt said earlier? Hmmm, what the heck, go to a bigger bank! Wait, that isn't it, isn't this dangerous?

"Oh, the spirit of fire has grown bigger."

The gunshot echoed and I heard a yelling, "Do you now think it's a fake?" My senpai looks completely scared. I want to do something about it. In return for the help from sexual harassment... Is it okay if it's after the chief has been shot?  I guess not. Even if it's shot, senpai might become a shield for the chief. I though about it and talke to the Dryad.

"Okay, then, I want to do something about it, but can't it be done with magic?"

"Hmm, why don't you ask the spirit of fire without using magic?"

Oh, is that so. Well then it won't be a problem. ...... Not!

"No, I want to catch them."
"Well, then the spirit of fire, if you can do something about it, I'll catch it with my ivy."

Alright, let's get into negotiations. For the time being, go to the floor!

The floor was noisy. There are few other guests. Well, there aren't many customers who come to the store on a regular basis. Meanwhile, the trio who wore balaclavas pointed their guns at their senpai.

"Hey, Fire Spirit-san."

Negotiations have started.

"Ah? What a rare situation, do you understand me, neechan?"

"Well, from this morning onwards. More importantly, that is dangerous, so I hope you don't move it."

"I know what you mean, but this explosive is delicious. I can't stop it in my mouth."

Is it cola! Well, maybe the spirit of fire likes stimulants only. Well, then...

"What about the magical powder that I make?"

How to make gunpowder... You can find out if you look it up, right?

"Oh, it's magical, it looks like it's worth the effort. Okay, I'll be quiet."

It was easy, but negotiations was a success. This is the start of the counterattack!

03: I Started Using Magic

"Of course, you're an elf. Unlike humans, you have a magic circuit."

Dryad said plainly. Magic circuit?

"Human beings in this world don't have a magical power circuit. Albeit mana being abundant here, the humans don't have the power to use magic. Therefore, ordinary human beings can't feel magical power, and they cannot see the existences like me who is composed of magical power. No. Well, there are people who can do it, but that is a story of a past, when there was an old person with a magic circuit. "

But I can see the dryad and have a conversation. Does that mean I have a magic circuit!

"So how can I use it?"

"Magic is an image. I want you to imagine that in your mind. Of course, not everything is fine, you'll need the power of spirits."

If you want to burn something, do I ask the spirit of fire? Well I am convinced.

"Why don't you try it? For example... Drinking water."

Does it mean that there is no learning that is better than practice? Alright, let's do it.

First of all, water. Well, I think one glass of water is enough. I'm not so thirsty. Oh yeah, a cup. Glass? How is it made? I think I saw a woman who was blow popping something. Do it with Puku and Palin... it'll break! Then let's make a bowl. If it's a pottery bowl, I can use soil... Oh, it should be heated. If I don't heat it at a high temperature, it will be thick and dark like Jomon pottery (Ancient Japanese Pottery). If I overcook it, I won't be able to make it well, so let's make a breeze and let it cool down. Just like the image and... it's done!

"Eh? Didn't you use all four spirits right now!?"

It seemed that Dryad couldn't hide her surprise in the water that was put out there.

"No, I imagined it exactly as I was told, but it didn't go well. After thinking about it, this happened."
"No, it's quite a performance that you can use all four spirits... As expected of an elf. I wonder if you are an high elf, not like I know about them."

Apparently, my specs are abnormal. But magic sure is convenient. With this, I won't have to worry about water wherever I go... I mean, if you live in the modern Japan, you don't have to worry about water. Oh, wait, this means that I can...

"Hey, then what if I want to completely finish all of this work?"
"Hmm, the spirit of the electric box seems to be there... maybe because it's a new child, it may not be used to handling with magic."
"... In other words, I have to do the work steadily?"

I was disappointed with the ruthless words. Apparently it can't be used very much for work purpose. Most of my work is relied on the computer system.

"Oh, If it's a Gremlin, I have them."

Even I can understand that. That's the not good spirit.

"That's ok."

I returned to back to the work of data entry once again. When I'm focused on it, it's already lunch break in a blink of an eye .

"I'm going to eat lunch, but what do you do?"
"Give me that water. It looks delicious with a lot of magical power."

I see, it is a plant.

"Okay, then drink it. If you still need more, I can make more."
"This much is enough, thank you."

Leaving the dryad, I go outside... Indeed my ears still stand out. I wear a hood and enter a local set meal shop.

"Welcome. Oh, if isn't Hitomi-chan. What's wrong?"

The aunt at the shop counter calls out to me because I always come here for luch.

"No, there are various things going on..."

I use ambiguous words. Or rather, I can't explain it well. The simple explanation is that "I became an elf when I woke up in the morning", and any further explanation than that is going to be difficult. I don't think you can tell what I'm saying by talking about what happened as it happened.

"Hmm. Well, the bank seems to be having a tough time. Recently, there has been a lot of trouble here and there..."

"Did something happen?"

Today's daily set meal was boiled mackerel miso soup. Delicious.

"No, it seems that a stowaway was on board a cargo ship."
"Hey..."

Since this city is also a port city, many fishing boats come and go. There are those who hide in those boats and try to come to this city.

"Thank you for the feast. Then I'll be heading back to work!"

The strong seasoning was delicious. Satisfied, I triumphantly returned to the branch. Well, what I do is the same as in the morning.

02: Magic, Spirits, They Do Exist

"Are you playing around?"

Such words popped out from the most senior person in this branch. The place is in front of the branch manager's desk. It's not hidden from the eyes around me.

"No, so when I woke up in the morning, it looked like this..."
"Don't make excuses. You're a member of society. Don't you think it looks strange?"

They seem to think I am joking. I wish I could prove something. ...... I don't want to be touched.

As I was thinking, I saw something waving at the edge of my field of vision. I wonder what it is? It's glittering.

"Oh, you can see me."

Glittering and emerald green, it talked to me. A potted plant of foliage plants placed next to the branch manager. There was a little girl on board.

"What?"
"Where are you facing? When I'm speaking to you, you should look at me properly..."

The branch manager is still saying something, but that's not what's on my mind. It was a slight culture shock and an encounter with the unknown. It's not Devils Tower, but here.

"Well, what are you?"

"I'm a dryad. Isn't it obvious."

While saying so she laughs happily.

"Even so, there are still elves left. I saw it for the first time in a while."

...... Did you say an elf now?

"Is that about me?"
"Yeah. You. There used to be more, but they're gone."

Elves... they used to exist... I wonder if I'm a descendant. Is it Atavism?

"What have you been muttering about from a while ago!"

Oh, I forgot the branch manager. Hmm? by the way……

"Can the branch manager not see this child?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Ahaha, Impossible, Impossible~. A normal human being cannot see us. You're special."

Then, when I was being given a lecture by the branch manager a while ago, did I make noise while talking to myself? Wow, that's really bad. I have to do something about it.

"It's about time, so I'll dispose of you after work."

Oh, it's about 9 o'clock. I have to open the branch. The branch manager stopped when I tried to press the shutter switch.

"You should organize the slips behind the scenes. You can't show yourself in that outfit in front of the customers."

Well, that's right. No matter how you look at it, you can only think that I am playing around with cosplay. I obeyed quietly. What is this?  The Dryad is also coming with me.

"I want to chat with people other than my family for the first time in a while."

Then I go to the conference room and take the cardboard boxes filled with forms. Even at our bank, where the wave of going online is coming, we are taking steps to enter old forms into the database. It's just a job of typing on a computer.

"Something it looks like a boring job."

Dryad said to me, who had been rattling for an hour.

"It can't be helped, because this is also a job."
"Ok, I'll help you."

Dryad waved lightly after saying so. A heavy cardboard box floated softly towards me. No, it really helps, but.

"What is this?"
"What do you mean by what is this, isn't it magic?"
"Well... how? Can you use magic?"
"Hey, you're an elf, so you can also use it, right?"

Are~? I can use magic?

01: The Beginning is Sudden

When I woke up in the morning, I was an elf.

 I don't know what it is, and I also don't know what's going on.

 I drank a lot at the welcome party last night. That's okay. Since I was a new employee, the branch manager gave me a drink. There was also a chief who tried to sexually harrase me, but since senpai was with me, I was somehow able to work it out.
Then karaoke. I'm the type who wants to scream when I drink alcohol, so I sang with a loud voice. I felt like I was being pulled a little, but that's okey. ...... No, it's not good. Let's apologize to senpai.

 Not that!

Yeah, then I surely logged in to the net game's bonus event and fell asleep. Yeah, I'm not wrong.

I was surprised that my morning awakening felt so refreshing, but the moment I looked in the mirror while rubbing my sleepy eyes, I realized. The face is my face. After all, it's been 20 years since I've been seeing it, so there's no doubt about it.

However, my ears stretched long sideways. The so-called elf ears.

The first thing I did when my drowsiness disappeared... Was to call the company boss.

"Oh, the branch manager. Good morning. I became something like an elf, so I'd like to take a break..."

Even I don't know what I'm talking about.

"Huh? What are you talking about? Elf? What's that? Are you still sleeping? Get to work early!"

Well, it is our mission as the cogwheel of society to go to the company no matter what. I decided to get ready quickly and head to the company. I didn't have time to eat breakfast!

I was fortunate that the branch office was within walking distance.

"Good morning"

I open the thick door and enter the store.

"Oh, Shimotsuki-san, good morning... Uh?"

The person who called out to me was Ota-kun, who joined the company at the same time as me who always came first to clean up. He ended the greeting strangely, so when I looked back at him, he was frozen to the spot with a broom and dustpan.

"Yeah, Ota-kun, good morning."

Perhaps my words had unfrozen him, Ota-kun dropped the cleaning tool and ran up to me.

"Dodododododo..."
"Calm down."
"What's wrong with that ear!? As expected, it's not good to cosplay at the company!"

Ah, I also think so. I said so, while moving my ears.

"You know, I had grown this when I woke up in the morning."
"Huh?"

Well, no wonder. If I were in the opposite position, I would also say, "What is this guy talking about?"

"Good morning, both of us. As fast as ever."

The deputy branch manager has come. Our deputy branch manager comes early in the morning. ...... Is there no place for him at his home? He is a calm person who has an aura of retirement age. After retirement, he looks like a person who will hold a cat while drinking tea on the porch. Mostly, he is a virtuous person who calms the branch manager.

"Oh, Shimotsuki-san, I feel like there's something different about you today."

Well, that's about it?

"Oh, actually ... my ears ... stretched out when I woke up in the morning."

I will explain it in a clear and understandble manner.

"Is it the Mumps? Are you in good physical condition?"

No, I don't have the Mumps! But I have to answer properly because he's my boss.

"Oh, yes, I don't think I have a fever, or sneezing or coughing."

"If so, I think then it's okay."

"... Is it okay?"

Not good, when I talk to this person, I'm slowly dragged into his pace! ...... Is it a different space time point?

"It's enough for the branch, if you can still work. Now, let's start preparing."

While doing so, everyone at the branch came to work. Teller's senior was the first to comment, "What's that?" The chief will not be happy! I was going to complain, but when I said that it was real and that I was in trouble, He just said, "Does it matter to me!" and went back to his seat. Others... are working busily without commenting about it. The morning at a small financial institution in the countryside sure is busy.

The branch manager's car arrived, so everyone went to welcome him. At One Two Three.

"Good morning!"
"Oh, good morning... Hmm? Shimotsuki-san, could you spare me a little time."

I was called out by the branch manager. Just what is going to happen...