Athena and Karen had just left when Hesty arrived.

  「I’m home……huh? The spirit, is still here?」


  Hesty’s gaze was drawn to the kitchen where the fire spirit was baking apples.

  「It split or something and left this behind. The main body left with Karen.」


  「I see…but to use the power of one of the great elemental spirits for cooking…it’s amazing.」


  「Well, it’s the most practical use for it that I could think of.」


  In fact I really didn’t have much of an idea as to what else it could be used for.

  「Tentatively, it has the power, to penetrate a dragon king’s, skin. It has strong, attack power but…when I think about, your power, you don’t really need to rely on it huh.」


  「In the first place I don’t really think that I’ll be attacking people.」


  Of course if someone tries to harm me I’ll counterattack.

  But, according to Hesty’s words these spirits are quite strong.

  「I wonder if having such a strong spirit stay with me is alright?」


  「Good or not, it demonstrates, how powerful you are. It’ll always be there, you know?」


  「Eh, really?」


  But, what do you mean by demonstrating how powerful I am?

  「You defeated the spirit, and rendered it, helpless right? That would make the spirit have, half a Master-Servant contract with you. Spirits obey the strong after all.」


  「Huh, it’s the first I’ve heard of this.」


  So when the golem stomped it, that was me showing my power?

  After seeing my power it began obeying me huh…


  「Your power, was etched upon it. But, it had a contract with, the King……so it split itself. The spirit should, obey and not, betray you. So it will, always be there.」


  I see. It’s great that Hesty is so knowledgeable. Even if you told me that it split I wouldn’t understand much.

  「Fu~」


  As I thought that, the spirit spoke up.

  It seems the apple had finished baking.

  I entered the kitchen and took the baked apple. It was well done so I patted the spirit to thank it,

  「Fu~」


  It sounded happy.

  It looked just like flames but it wasn’t hot at all.

  「Is it possible that it is lowering its temperature so that I won’t burn myself or my things?」


  I asked Hesty and she had a difficult look on her face.

  「Well…..certainly it is, lowering its temperature, but it’s made of flames, so it should still be hot. Your magic coating, is just too strong, so the heat can’t pass, through.」


  Seriously? It wasn’t because it was emotionally attached to me that the temperature lowered?

  「To lower the temperature, it would need to put out the flames. So, right now, it is attempting to do so.」


  I looked at the spirit again and saw that it was panicking a bit as its body shook. The flames slowly disappeared. When the flames were gone and all that was left was its semitransparent red body, it spread out its arms in an appeal that said ‘I’m not hot anymore’. Now it should be safe right?

  「……well as long as there’s no issues with keeping it, it’s fine.」


  Compared to being hostile, it’s much less troublesome.

  I thought when,

  —Guuu—


  I heard a stomach growling. However, it wasn’t mine.

  It was Hesty.

  「I think, I’m hungry?」


  「Why are you saying it like its in doubt? Here eat this.」


  I handed her the baked apple.

  「Is that, ok?」


  「Yeah, I thought you’d be hungry once you came back, so I made it just in case.」


  「….thank you.」


  Hesty’s cheeks blushed a bit as she took the apple and bit into it.

  It looked like it was delicious and I returned to the counter.

  「Well then, let’s open the store for the afternoon. We’ll wait for some customers~.」