ACIEL'S DIARY : INDIGO
SHEET 4.16: BOND REQUIRED

"Become my subordinate? Can I ask for a reason?"

Repeat me, looking at Keika who lowered her head. The rabbit-eared girl immediately raised her face, looked at me and directly said it.

"Aciel ... Even though you're human, you're very strong and it makes me believe that by becoming your subordinate, I can become stronger as well as while I help you and you protect me."

Keika flashed a subtle smile on her shining face. Before I could respond, he continued.

"But the biggest reason why I want to be your subordinate is because you are not hesitant at all to help a lowly Spirit like me, then the gaze you give when you see us Spirits ... Aciel, it makes me want to be your subordinate, grow with you and keep an eye on you."

Keika lowered her face once more. His voice strengthened with a slight tremor that brought about anxiety and nervousness.

"Therefore, do you want to make myself your subordinate? I will definitely be useful and any orders you give me will be granted without asking."

Weak, huh? Honestly speaking, I have not seen Keika like that at all, even since the first time we met before. And seeing her being able to fight back against those two spirits that were bothering her, I knew very well that Keika was the type of Spirit that would continue to grow.

There was not a single lie or a tactic behind the gaze and speech he gave. He actually said what he wanted, straight and forthright.

After seeing all this, how could I possibly judge him as a weak Spirit, right? It was the opposite, I could only look at him as a powerful Spirit. And for a powerful Spirit to seem to want to be my subordinate already makes me quite happy

But—

"I'm sorry, but I can't do it."

—For a strong Spirit like him, being a subordinate of a weak person like me would only be a hindrance to his development. I am not a strong human being at all.

There are so many things less than me, that I cannot accept them. Moreover, I had absolutely no intention of making the Spirits my subordinates. It's something you do, but I'll take a different path.

"Huh?"

Raising his eyebrows, tears came out at the end of his eyes. Then on her quivering lips, Keika tried as hard as she could to suppress the emotions she felt. He clasped his clothes as much as possible with his trembling little hands, looking for something to say.

"Why is it because I'm weak? Is it because I won't be of any use to you? I'll practice for it, I'll learn for it so you don't have to worry about it ... Because, I'm sure I'll be able to do it if it's under you ... Wh why? Tell me why."

All right, how should I answer that, huh? I had never been faced with a situation like this before because most of the Spirits who met me were always looking down on me. For a Spirit who wants to be my subordinate, this is enough to make me fret to find the answer.

I have to answer it as clearly as possible. That's all I can do right now to answer that feeling.

"Reason, huh? I have some for that."

I reached out my hand, reaching for the shiny gray hair Keika had, it made her startled and her body slightly jerked. With my hand, I rubbed her hair slowly while thinking about what I should say.

And at that moment, a flash of inspiration came to me. I immediately arranged it well and prepared it in seconds.

"For the first, I don't need any subordinates. I don't want to be bound by something like that, making Spirits become subordinates also means bearing the burden they have. At least the present me still could not bear something that big. Whats—"

I lowered my hand towards Keika's cheek, rubbed it and pulled it. The rabbit girl immediately closed her eyes.

"Ah, that hurts."

His reaction made me unintentionally let out another smile and giggled.

"More, rather than the relationship between master and subordinate, I would prefer the friendly relationship between us. How about that?"

"friendship? Man and Spirit?"

"Yes, do you mind that?"

"Well, I should have said that. Keika, do you want to be friends with me?"

The warmth of the sun rained down on us, bringing with it a gust of cool breeze that made our hair move against each other, touching each other, revealing a clear look at the face we had.

This atmosphere ... I think I cheated a little.

With this atmosphere, how could Keika possibly reject it, right?

"Yes, I want to. Please be friends with me."

Really, really cheating.

It took time, but we ended up friends. After that, I asked Keika to tell me a few things while we played to fill the time and time passed quickly, revealing a yellowish-red sky.

Just in case, I took a clock on the bag and checked it and then spoke to Keika who was sitting beside me while looking at the view of the forest and mountains that were behind the cliff.

"There's only half an hour left until I can get back to the inn. Keika, I think I'll be back and for some time now, it seems I can't play here anymore."

"Oh, Aciel said that if you were here with many other human children it was because of the visit you made to this mountain, right? When are you gonna be back here?"

"I don't know but I think I'll stop by here a few times in a year after this. Maybe I can't come too often because the distance is far enough."

Keika turned her face at me and tilted her head.

"A few times a year? That's quite a lot."

Oh, in their perception a year is not too different from a day. So if I think again, that's quite a lot.

"Yes, do you mind that?"

"No, I'm quite happy. Come to this forest again, on your next visit I may have been a great Rabbit Spirit with three horns and four ears, along with the cloud pattern of my fur."

"That's pretty cool, I'm looking forward to it."

"Yes!! It might take hundreds of years but I don't think it's a problem. I'll definitely show it to you."

"Eh? Ah ... Well, I'm looking forward to that? Yeah, I'm looking forward to it."

Hundred years? It was a little longer than I expected. Well, maybe I can live for a hundred years? That's not impossible.

I also had time to read some articles that mention humans with ages up to two or even three hundred years. A hundred years is not something that is difficult to achieve.

"Alright, Keika. I'll go first, see you."

"Yes, I look forward to your arrival again."

That is, I left while waving her hand, with the rabbit-eared girl replying to my hand twice. It took me a long time to talk to him but I'm sure it wasn't something bad.

Moreover, I have also completed all the tasks given. All that was left was to return to the inn, meet Ella and Mona and gather observation duties.

Although, this trip is indeed quite tiring for a vacation.

"Well, whatever it is, it's all done. All that was left was to wait for Master to return from the big party he attended."