138 – Negotiation (1)

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“Pia. That’s…”

“You don’t plan on saying no, do you?”

“…”

I shut my mouth at Pia’s firm voice.

Can I honestly deny Pia’s claim that I treated her like a convenient tool?

Only then did I look back on my relationship with Pia.

I cherished Pia.

If you ask me in good conscience whether I did not value Pia, I can confidently say that I did not, without any shame.

I definitely cherished Pia.

The time alone that lasted about a month since the day I was rescued by the green lady.

It was clear that the terrible time of loneliness, the first I had ever experienced since entering this forest, or perhaps in all the days I had spent so far, would not have been bearable without Pia.

At that time, it was in the form of a fox that could not even have a conversation, but that was enough.

Even before I realized it, I definitely cherished Pia, who was always by my side.

“…”

Since when did it start?

Since when have I been mistaken?

“Ash always asks me for favors.”

“…”

“You don’t talk to me unless you have a question or need something.”

Pia said, sobbing.

I was speechless at her reprimand.

But once Pia opened her mouth, it was as if a dam had burst, and she began to pour out all the frustration she had been feeling and building up inside her.

“Ash doesn’t spend any time with me. He’s always flirting with Sylvia, and he completely forgets about me, only calling me when he needs to.”

“…”

“I want to talk to Ash too, I want to go for walks with him, play with him, and even take naps with him, but Ash doesn’t call me unless there’s a reason.”

“…”

“You called me today to help you learn how to handle spirits.”

Deep lament and reproach flowed out through Pia’s wet voice, pounding my heart.

Since when has Pia been thinking like this?

I don’t know for sure, but I’ve probably been thinking that way for a very long time.

It’s only now that he’s grown up that he’s finally able to find the words to fully explain his sad feelings.

I closed my eyes tightly and lowered my head in guilt.

Since when did I start thinking of piano as convenient?

Since I found out I was a spirit sorcerer?

Since the time you set fire to your own body and kept me warm?

Since I found out that Pia amplifies my magic?

I couldn’t know for sure, but what I did know was that I had made a big mistake.

Spirit alcohol wasn’t about dealing with spirits.

‘There is something else that a spirit sorcerer must be born with.’

‘A shaman is someone who has the ability to do whatever they want with us, who can use us, and who can sympathize with us.’

‘Because he is such a person, we willingly serve the sorcerer as our master and love him.’

The words the green woman had told me flashed through my mind, one by one.

A spirit master is not someone who deals with spirits, but someone who is loved by spirits.

Spirits were not simply magical powers or weapons.

The spirits did not obey me, they loved me.

Pia me,

He loved me, the person who only looked for me when I needed something.

“Sorry.”

“…Ugh,”

Pia frowned at my empty apology and let out a yelp like a fox’s bark.

Judging by the red, bloodshot eyes, trembling eyelids, and twitching nose bridge, it seemed like he was holding back tears.

I slowly hugged Pia.

Because I thought it would convey my feelings better than just an apology in words.

Pia raised both arms and put her hands on my shoulders as if pushing them away, but there was no strength in her hands.

Pia’s ears, which were drooping down, tickled the back of my neck, but I ignored her and held her tightly in my arms, whispering to her over and over again.

“I’m sorry, really. I’m really sorry.”

“… joy,”

“I was so anxious to go catch the Demon King… I needed Pia’s help to help those two, even though I’m much weaker than Sylvia or Alice… No, no. This must be just an excuse.”

I shook my head, biting back the excuse that was bubbling out of my mouth.

Of course, it was also true that the Demon King’s resurrection was just around the corner.

It may be a bit of an exaggeration to say that the hope of humanity lies in my hands, but it may not be entirely wrong.

But that was no reason to neglect or mistreat Pia.

Rather, if it was for the sake of the world, it would have been the right decision to devote my whole heart to Pia, my only spirit.

“It may sound like an excuse, but I never stopped caring about Pia… I guess I was just too drunk.”

“…”

“I, who have never been a great person, was so intoxicated by the fact that I had the power to control spirits… that I treated Pia carelessly.”

It was a stupid mistake.

I have no power whatsoever.

I had no hidden talents.

I was just loved.

To the point of being overflowing,

“I hate you.”

“… huh.”

“Don’t do that again.”

“I won’t do that.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise.”

Pia’s ears slowly rose.

When I opened my eyes slightly, I could see Pia’s tail slowly wagging from side to side.

I told Pia.

“Pia, what do you want to do?”

“…Huh?”

Pia’s voice had become brighter, to the point where it felt noticeably different from before.

“Let’s do whatever Pia wants.”

“What do you want to do? Anything?”

“huh.”

“Are you really going to do anything for me?”

“I may not be able to grant your impossible requests, but I will try my best.”

Pia’s tail wags more and more vigorously.

Pia hugged my waist tightly and sat quietly in thought for a moment.

What on earth are you trying to ask me that makes you take so long?

As I waited nervously for her answer, Pia soon began to slowly open her mouth.

“I don’t want to do anything. Just hug me like this, talk to me often… pat my head, and that’s all that’s needed.”

“…Pia.”

“Because I like being with Ash the best.”

“…”

Pia’s love, which felt as pure as a child’s pure kindness, seemed to roll into my turbid heart.

Even if I drop a drop of water on the mud, it is still a muddy field, but Pia’s clear and clean drop of affection seemed to neutralize and clear my muddy heart little by little.

I said, trying hard to hide my excitement.

“Really, is that okay?”

“Yeah. It’s okay.”

“but…”

“Instead, I have a favor to ask.”

“…huh?”

Pia slowly pulled away from my arms and looked at me.

Pia’s young face was overflowing with a cute aegyo that could make anyone’s heart flutter, but her expression was utterly serious.

I felt a little sorry that I was the only one who could see such a cute girl.

But the serious expression floating on that cute face like a painting soon turned to face me and slowly began to open those small lips.

“There’s nothing I want Ash to do, but there are things I want him not to do.”

“I wish you hadn’t done that?”

“Yeah. I have a complaint.”

My heart sank again when I heard that there was a complaint.

Actually, it was strange that it wasn’t there.

Even if Pia is a spirit who loves me, not all of my actions will be viewed favorably by her.

I nodded and promised.

“If you resolve that complaint, will you forgive me for being so mean to Pia all this time?”

“What the…?”

“…Ah, so that’s what I did to upset you.”

“Oh, yeah, I’ll forgive you, Ash, if you just do me a favor.”

“okay.”

“Are you promising?”

“Okay, I’ll definitely listen.”

I nodded and made a firm promise.

Of course, there was some calculation done.

It may be difficult to change ingrained habits, but at least since it was a request not to do something but to do something, I decided that there was nothing I couldn’t grant if I tried.

No, rather, if it meant that I could relieve myself of the guilt of having neglected Pia all this time, there was no way I wouldn’t grant her any favor.

I asked with determination.

“So, what’s the complaint?”

“… Uh, now that I think about it, it’s a little… Yeah.”

“It’s okay. I don’t have to be upset with Pia or anything because of that.”

“… Okay, okay… Then I’ll tell you.”

“Yeah, just tell me. Anything…”

Pia answered, cutting me off mid-sentence.

“Stop having s*x with Sylvia.”

“… uh?”

“I know you two are in love, but you still do too much.”

“… Huh”

“Please think about me having to see that every night.”

“…”

It seemed that I had done Pia a bigger wrong than I thought.

.