My Childhood Friend Told Me to Go Marry the Most Beautiful Woman in the Kingdom, So I Seriously Started Improving Myself—and Somehow Ended Up Making Women Fall Hard - Chapter 24 & 25

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Chapter 24: A Lesson on Spirit Summoning

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In front of the request board, Uru crossed her arms.

 

“Element Slimes? The reward’s way too low, isn’t it…?”

 

Uru, the beastwoman warrior, looked at the job I’d chosen with clear suspicion.

Beside her, Ramune—the mage girl in a robe, holding a staff—peeked at the board.

Nearby, Zina the elf hunter watched the two of them with a relaxed expression.

Nagi stood half-hidden behind my back, clinging to me like my shadow.

A beastwoman. A mage girl. An elf.
And an oni child.

What a strange group we’d ended up with.

 

“This time, it’s not about money. It’s for training.”

“Training? We’re adventurers, you know. If we don’t earn daily pay, what are we supposed to live on?”

 

Uru had a point.

But rushing around chasing rewards wouldn’t get us what we needed.

This was necessary for Nagi—to help her understand her own power.

 

“I’m planning to teach Nagi magic control. If you don’t properly understand and handle magic, it can cost you your life.”

 

I flicked the request slip with my finger.

 

“Element Slimes are creatures formed from mixed magical elements. They’re often used in magic research to test theories.”

“So… test subjects?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

 

When I looked at Nagi, she touched her horn and looked a little embarrassed.

She was probably remembering what had happened yesterday.

Uru still looked doubtful—but Ramune’s eyes suddenly sparkled, and she leaned forward eagerly.

 

“Magic control training? And using test subjects? That sounds interesting! Um—may I join too? Is that okay?”

 

At Ramune’s reaction, Uru gave her an exasperated look.

 

“Ramune! What are you even saying?”

“I’m good at water magic! But everyone says it’s a boring element. Fire and wind are flashy and cool, and I’m jealous of that!”

 

Ramune puffed out her lips.

She looked childish—but it was clear she was genuinely frustrated.

I grabbed the request slip and said,

 

“Water isn’t a boring element. It’s a versatile one.”

“Huh?”

“It can change shape. It can soak, flow, freeze, turn into mist. You can apply pressure and turn it into blades. You can even save lives by making people drink it. …I think the smarter the user, the stronger that element becomes.”

 

Ramune blinked rapidly.

Zina nodded slightly.

Uru snorted.

 

“You sure know how to talk. So what does that have to do with Element Slimes?”

“Come with us and see for yourselves.”

 

I took Nagi with me and headed toward the forest.

Uru kept throwing questions at me, but she followed along anyway.

Before reaching the area where Element Slimes appeared, I stopped and gave Nagi a lesson.

 

“Do you know that magic in this world is basically based on mana particles?”

“Yes.”

“These invisible mana particles exist in the air, in the ground, and in the water. And there are beings where those particles gather and take shape.”

 

I traced a circle in the air with my fingertip.

 

“Spirits!”

 

Ramune answered energetically.

This was a lesson for Nagi, but it wasn’t information that needed to be hidden.

 

“Correct. Spirits. They’re always around us. When we use magic, they lend us a little bit of power—just enough that we usually don’t notice.”

 

Nagi’s horns gave off a faint glow.

They were reacting.

 

“Element Slimes are monsters formed when mana particles become dense and solidify. In other words, they’re rougher than spirits, with weaker will. But that makes them perfect for training.”

 

Uru nodded, looking like she understood.

 

“So basically, you take her to a place where lightning mana is dense and practice releasing lightning without it going out of control?”

“Close—but not quite.”

 

And here was the main point.

 

“Nagi has a large amount of mana, and her affinity with lightning is extremely high. For someone like that, trying to control it alone is very difficult. That’s why making a contract with a spirit makes control much easier.”

“A spirit contract…?! Even among court mages, only a handful can do that!”

“You know your stuff, Ramune.”

“I’m aiming to become a court mage!”

 

At those words, my chest tightened slightly.

I had no intention of denying her dream.

 

“U-Um! Mr. Hort—can I also make a contract with a water spirit?”

 

I’d meant to teach Nagi, but Ramune’s enthusiasm was intense.

 

“There’s a chance. But of course, there are conditions.”

“Conditions?”

“Yeah. That’s what the Element Slimes are for.”

 

Remembering the research I’d once done with Rina, I carefully began preparing things step by step.

 

♢

 

Outside the royal capital.

Damp grasslands. A small stream. The fresh scent after rain.

Element Slimes gather in places where moisture and mana collect.

Our destination was a shallow wetland.

Zina the hunter had strong affinity with spirits and excellent scouting skills.

She moved ahead, looking up at the trees and listening carefully, guiding us toward the spot.

 

“…They’re here. Three presences. Two water, one lightning.”

“Honestly, figures.”

 

Zina spotted them, and Uru drew her sword.

The coordination between those two was smooth—clearly the work of seasoned adventurers.

I didn’t even need to step forward.

 

“Alright. I’ll crush them from the front. Hort, stay back and protect the two kids.”

“No. I’m not stepping in. Nagi—you can do this.”

“Eh? Y-Yes!”

 

Ramune tightened her grip on her staff.

A moment later, Nagi drew her blade beside me.

 

“…Big brother.”

“Nagi, first calm your breathing. Settle your mind. Yesterday you were exhausted—but you slept well and ate properly. You’re in better shape today than yesterday, right?”

“Yes!”

 

The surface of the wetland bubbled.

A transparent mass of slime slowly rose up, wobbling as a pale blue light flickered inside it.

A water Element Slime.

Another one appeared from the grass—this one glowing yellow with lightning.

The water slime attacked first.

Its body stretched out, bending like a whip.

 

Uru instantly caught it with her blade and smashed it from the side.

 

“Too soft!”

 

Zina’s arrow flew, keeping the lightning slime in check.

 

“Zina, that one’s core is shallow! If you scatter it, it’ll just reform—pin it down!”

“I know.”

 

As an elf, Zina’s arrows were precise.

One of them pierced straight through a water slime.

 

“Water Needle!”

 

Thin needles of water shot forward.

They pierced the slime’s surface, making the light inside waver—but it wasn’t a finishing blow.

 

“Hort! What’s the plan?!”

 

Uru shouted while dealing with the attacking slime.

I placed a hand on Nagi’s shoulder and spoke to her from the side.

 

“Nagi. Can you see it?”

“Huh?”

“The Element Slime’s shape is its mana source. And your lightning is an element meant for one-hit kills.”

 

Just then, the yellow Element Slime surged forward, releasing lightning.

The bolt shot toward Uru and the others.

 

“Earth!”

 

I raised the ground, blocking the lightning aimed at the three of them.

 

“…Amazing!”

“Magic control is about deciding where the power comes out—like that Element Slime—and narrowing the ‘outlet’ so you can aim properly.”

 

Nagi’s horns began to glow.

Fear flickered across her face.

 

“Deep breath.”

“…Okay!”

 

Nagi slowly repeated her breathing.

 

“Good. Now decide where to release it. Aim for the Element Slime’s core—right at the center, the pale blue glowing spot.”

 

The lightning slime stopped moving right after firing its attack.

 

“…Lightning!”

 

The lightning was thin.

Thin—but perfectly straight.

It was the same element, yet it pierced straight into the lightning slime’s core.

Crack. A dry sound rang out.

The flashing lightning stopped, and the body lost its shape, collapsing as it was defeated.

Nagi’s shoulders trembled—but there was no rampage.

 

“I… did it.”

“Yeah. Now we repeat this and let your body remember it. That was magic control.”

“Nice one, Nagi.”

“Yes!”

 

When Uru praised her honestly, Nagi smiled brightly.

Ramune gripped her staff, looking frustrated.

 

“Me too! I want to defeat one in a single hit too!”

“Water doesn’t need to win in one hit.”

“Huh?”

“It’s versatile—an all-purpose element. First, learn how to win by stacking your moves. Here—one left.”

 

The water slime stretched its body toward Uru’s feet, trying to make her slip and fall.

 

“Ramune—freeze it!”

“Huh, freeze it!? But it’s water?!”

“Because it’s water, it can freeze! Control the temperature—picture it freezing, and pour your mana into the slime!”

 

Ramune took a deep breath.

 

“…Freeze!”

 

A thin layer of ice spread across the wetland’s surface.

The water slime slowed, its core exposed.

Zina’s arrow pierced the core, and Uru’s sword smashed it apart in the final blow.

Subjugation complete.

In the now-quiet wetland, Nagi stared at her own hands.

She looked scared—but also happy.

I quietly let out a breath.

 

“This is what it means to control an element.”

 

All of a sudden, I remembered a friend from my student days.

The elemental research she’d worked on was still helping me now.

By observing Element Slimes, we could understand attributes better.

And now, I wanted to introduce Nagi to a partner of her own.

 

“We’re going to make a spirit contract. For that, there are three conditions—no, four.”

 

Nagi’s ears perked up.

 

“Four…?”

 

I raised four fingers.

Ramune was listening right beside Nagi.

Uru and Zina stood back, watching over us.

It seemed they’d stopped doubting me.

 

“First—having a large amount of mana. You just need enough to summon one. Nagi and Ramune both clear this condition.”

“Yes!”

“Yes, we do!”

“Second—affinity. Matching your wavelength with the element, just like you did earlier.”

“Matching the wavelength…”

 

Nagi clenched her hand, remembering how she defeated the lightning slime.

Ramune also seemed to recall freezing the slime with her spell.

 

“Third—the magic circle. You need to prepare a proper summoning seat.”

 

Ramune nodded so hard it looked like her neck might snap.

Nagi listened just as seriously.

Watching the two of them, I started to feel oddly embarrassed—like I’d somehow become a teacher.

 

“The last one is the most important.”

 

Both of them swallowed at the same time.

I chose my words carefully before continuing.

 

“The fourth condition is the spirit’s will.”

“…Its will?”

“Yes. Spirits have their own will. A contract won’t form unless the spirit wants to make one. It’s not about being strong, or being good at magic control.”

 

Nagi’s eyes wavered.

Ramune frowned in dissatisfaction.

 

“Eh—then in the end, isn’t it just luck?!”

“It might look like luck—but it isn’t.”

 

I shook my head firmly.

Back when I was researching together with Rina, and we finally succeeded—that was when I learned this.

 

“Spirits hate having power forced on them. They live freely as mana. A contract binds them, after all. That’s why you have to respect them—and make them want to stay with you.”

“Make them want to stay…?”

“Yeah. Thinking ‘I’ll dominate them’ or ‘they’ll contract if I summon them’ is too shallow. Spirits see right through that kind of thinking—and they won’t answer you.”

 

Rina used to say that spirits didn’t have wills of their own.

But I didn’t think so.

Just like people, spirits have individuality through their attributes.

Each one has its own will—its own preferences and personality.

 

“…So we let them choose?”

 

At Ramune’s question, I shook my head again.

 

“Not exactly. The spirit responds to the summon. And in return, you show gratitude. You build a relationship where you respect each other and stand side by side.”

 

That was the kind of bond a spirit contract truly was.

While explaining, I completed the spirit summoning magic circle—the same one I’d once drawn together with Rina.

The catalyst was the magic stone obtained from the Element Slimes earlier.

 

“Lightning is an element made for one-hit kills—but it’s easy to lose control. That’s why, if you can make a contract with a spirit, you’ll be able to control it like sheathing a blade.”

“…Yes.”

“Water is flexible. It can change shape freely. That’s why, if you contract with a spirit, you can handle it more delicately. Your techniques will increase.”

“Yes!”

 

Ramune’s eyes grew just a little more serious.

 

“…Water isn’t a boring element, right?”

“Yeah. There’s no such thing as a boring element.”

 

Zina chuckled softly while talking with Uru.

 

“That’s a nice thing to say.”

“We’ll see.”

 

I turned back to the two of them.

From here on, this would put a heavy strain on their bodies—and if it succeeded, they’d gain a partner they’d be with for life.

 

“I want you to choose. From here on, it’ll put a serious burden on your body. And if you succeed, you’ll gain a partner you must cherish for the rest of your life. Are you prepared for that?”

 

Depending on their answer—I had no intention of teaching what came next.

 

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Chapter 25: Spirit Summoning

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“…I’m ready!”

 

Nagi looked straight into my eyes as she said it.

She was seeking results.
And I was showing her the path—magic control, and the outcome she wanted.

 

“I-I am too… ready!”

 

Ramune hugged her staff tighter and nodded.

Her lips were trembling—but her eyes didn’t waver.

At the resolve in both of them, I let out a breath and looked down.

The wetland soil was soft. The mana here was dense.

If anywhere could carry their call—it was here.

The fact that Element Slimes lived here meant the mana density was high.

In other words, this place was perfect for spirit summoning.

 

“Alright. Then let’s begin.”

 

First, I prepared the field.

To prevent a rampage and failure, I reduced unnecessary disturbances in the mana.

 

“Sanctuary.”

 

Magic bearing the name Sanctuary was the highest-difficulty spell I could use—the very spell Rina had learned in order to succeed at spirit summoning.

Aside from this, I couldn’t use advanced magic.

But I didn’t regret it.

Because right now, thanks to this spell, two girls were about to gain new power.

Mud and moss slowly retreated, and the ground’s surface smoothed out.

Two magic circles began to glow.

Ramune’s circle was Water.

Round, gentle lines formed flowing paths.

At its center sat a small orb of water—the pale magic stone taken from the earlier slime.

Nagi’s circle was Lightning.

Sharp, cutting lines carved a clear path.

At its center lay a yellow fragment—a lightning magic stone.

The summoning was about to begin.

 

“Both of you, sit in front of your magic circles. Steady your breathing and calm your minds.”

 

The two of them knelt down, placing their palms in front of the magic stones.

 

“Don’t force your mana in. Just touch it first. Don’t think—feel the flow of mana.”

 

Ramune closed her eyes.

 

“…It feels cold… yeah… it wants to flow…”

 

Nagi closed her eyes too.

 

“…It’s crackling…”

 

Both of them focused on their breathing and entrusted themselves to the magic circles.

The air of the wetland grew just a little quieter.

 

Uru and Zina stayed alert, watching the surroundings so no stray monsters would approach.

 

“Alright. Now—call out to the spirits and invite them. Show respect when you summon them!”

 

Ramune spoke in a trembling voice.

 

“…Water spirit. Please come.”

 

Nagi followed after her.

 

“…Lightning spirit. Please come stay by Nagi’s side.”

 

The two girls offered their wishes to the spirits.

The magic circles began to glow softly.

Without warning, Rina came to my mind.

When she had summoned a spirit for the first time, she’d been praying just as desperately.

 

“Please! Spirit, come to us!”

 

That desperate wish was answered.

The water circle moved slowly.

The surface of the wetland rippled, as if it were breathing, and tiny droplets gathered together.

The lightning circle was fast.

The air tingled, hair floating lightly—yet it didn’t rage.

It was lightning with its sharp edges softened.

And then—form was born.

Above the water circle, a tiny fish leapt.

Transparent and sparkling.

A fish made of water.

Each time it flicked its tail, a faint splash echoed.

 

“…A little fish…!”

 

Ramune’s eyes went wide.

The fish spirit gently tapped the tip of Ramune’s staff—plip—leaving behind a single drop of water.

Above the lightning circle, a small puppy of violet sparks appeared.

Not violent sparks. Calm, steady sparks.

The puppy walked around Nagi, ears perked.

 

“…A puppy.”

 

Nagi’s voice bounced slightly.

The puppy spirit touched Nagi’s horn with its nose.

Crackle—a weak spark scattered.

It didn’t hurt. It wasn’t scary.
It wasn’t rejection.

Zina whispered softly.

 

“…They answered.”

 

Uru narrowed her eyes.

 

“That’s amazing! But they’re still pretty small, huh?”

“Small doesn’t mean weak. The meaning lies in the contract. From here on, they’ll grow stronger—together.”

 

I lowered my voice as I spoke to the two of them.

 

“This is where it really begins. You’re not binding the spirit. You’re promising to walk beside it. Asking it to walk together with you.”

 

Nagi and Ramune’s eyes turned serious at the same time.

 

“Nagi. Say it—in your own words.”

“…Yes.”

 

Nagi looked at the puppy spirit.

Its violet-spark eyes stared straight back at her.

She took a deep breath and spoke.

 

“Nagi wants to grow stronger together with you. I want to become lightning that doesn’t go out of control. …So please, lend me your strength.”

 

The puppy spirit stopped moving.

Then it gently pressed its nose against Nagi’s palm.

Crackle. A weak spark.

The glow of the magic circle deepened slightly.

A faint purple ring appeared at the tip of Nagi’s horn.

 

“…It answered me.”

“That’s a control ring. The contract is complete.”

 

Nagi’s eyes filled with tears.

The puppy spirit wagged its tail happily.

When Nagi gently patted its head, it closed its eyes in delight.

 

“Next—Ramune.”

 

Ramune looked at the fish spirit.

It flicked droplets of water and did a neat little flip in the air.

 

“…Water is versatile.”

 

She muttered it quietly, as if reminding herself.

 

“Say it. In your own words.”

“…Yes.”

 

Ramune reached out her hand toward the fish spirit.

Her fingers were trembling.

But she didn’t pull them back.

 

“I want to… grow better together with you. I want to be able to change water in many ways. I want to become water that can protect someone. …So please, lend me your strength.”

 

The fish spirit jumped lightly.

A splash of water landed on Ramune’s fingertips.

Cold—but comfortable.

The fish then flicked its tail once on Ramune’s palm.

Splash.

Acceptance.

The magic circle’s light swelled softly, and a pale blue ring appeared around Ramune’s wrist.

 

“…I did it…!”

“You both succeeded!”

 

I finally let out a breath.

Uru whistled.

 

“Phew—nicely done!”

 

Zina smiled gently.

 

“Congratulations, both of you.”

 

Nagi looked up at the puppy spirit and spoke softly.

 

“…Can I give you a name?”

“Yeah. If you don’t give them a name, spirits will go back.”

 

Rina hadn’t named her spirit the first time she summoned one.

 

“There must be a spirit more suited to me.”

 

I never forgot those words.

After hesitating for a beat, Nagi puffed out her chest.

 

“Inazuma.”

 

Inazuma lifted its head proudly, as if puffing out its own chest.

The two of them would make a good pair.

Ramune also looked at her fish spirit.

 

“Fishy… no…”

 

She thought for a moment—then smiled.

 

“Fee!”

 

Splash. Fee flicked its tail happily.

The two spirits nestled close to their partners’ mana, quietly lending them their strength.

 

“The spirits are still weak too. They were just summoned into this world. And the two of you—you’re still inexperienced as well.”

 

Both of them nodded.

It felt like Inazuma and Fee were quietly watching us too.

 

“That’s exactly why it’s good to grow stronger together. That’s what spirit summoning means to me.”

 

The spirits they’d summoned would surely become powerful partners one day.

 

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[Afterword]

 

Hello, this is the author, Iko.

This time, the rankings were updated!!!

Thank you so, so much—truly, my deepest gratitude!!!

Romantic Comedy Daily: 1st place
Romantic Comedy Weekly: 1st place
Romantic Comedy Monthly: 12th place

Overall Daily: 8th place
Overall Weekly: 13th place
Overall Monthly: 71st place

Kakuyomu Contest (Pro Division): 4th place
Kakuyomu Contest (Overall): 10th place

 

We managed to get into the top 100!!!

Thank you so much to everyone who read this!!!

I’ll keep updating while doing my best to think carefully, so the story doesn’t lose its fun. I hope you’ll continue to support me!

Follows, ☆ reviews, and ♡ likes are always welcome.

 

Reviews and comments seriously boost my motivation, so I’d be very happy to receive them!

If you notice typos or awkward phrasing, please let me know gently (´༎ຶོρ༎ຶོ`)