Beyond The World Plan

It's past midnight and I still wake up sitting in front of the desk. On the top of the desk there are irons, mithrils, dragon scales, harpy wings, slime orbs, clear orbs and some blades that I failed to make. I want to make a pair of blades using those materials. My current weapons doesn't suit me anymore with my fighting style so I make a new one. But I stuck with the composition.

I need something that can support my speed and easy to move. Like my current daggers but with wider attack range. Those materials can be lighter if I can forge it. But after trying several times, all of them failed. Some become havier than it supposed to be and some become wider than I want. Right now I taking a break and reformulate the recipe. I can make weapon easily with <Creation Art> but still, I need the right composition. Damn, it's frustating if I can't finish it this morning. I laid my back on the chair and close my eyes trying to relax a bit. Suddenly, the usual voice can be heard.

"Are you really need to do this? I mean, you can do that tomorrow too, right?" (Beelzebub)

She is Beelz, the queen of dark spirit that known as spirit of destruction. Somehow she is following me in this past six years and I didn't notice it even when I got <Spirit's Eye> with me.

"Maybe you're right but I need this quickly. I need some times too to fully adapt the new weapons. I can't waste my time because the deadline is too close."

"When?" (Beelzebub)

"Before the party."

"Why?" (Beelzebub)

"Because I will continue my journey after that."

"To where?" (Beelzebub)

"I'm will stop answering before you completely ask me with 5W 1H."

"No one ever dare to do that to me you know." (Beelzebub)

"Now you know that there is someone dare to do that to you."

"Tch!" (Beelzebub)

After that, the room completely silent. It's kinda weird to suddenly be like this. I stood up from the chair, stretching my hand and began the conversation again.

"By the way Beelz, didn't you mention you will make a contract with me?"

"That's right. Then, I will start the ritual. Child of hu..." (Beelzebub)

"Wait wait wait!"

I stopped the ritual at the moment it just started.

"What now?" (Beelzebub)

"You know...it's kinda weird if we make a contract like this but I never see your appearance. At least now please show yourself to me."

My voice begging at something that even I can't be seen. If I among my friends, they surely thinks I weird. Thanks tot he night that provide a time for them to sleep.

"Didn't you also never saw Sylph when you make a contract with her?" (Beelzebub)

I let out a chuckle while raising my shoulder.

"This and that is a different matter. Now, can you show me your trueself?"

Hearing that, the voice answer me like she was regretting my request.

"Are you sure? I am not taking any responsible from what will you see." (Beelzebub)

"Don't be afraid, just show me yourself."

I answer it instantly since I also curious with her appearance in the first place. The moment I say that, my shadow budges. <Dark> mana can be seen by me come out from the shadow. Bit by bit, Beelz's appearance can be seen clearly. She has a black hair and crimson red eyes. Her transparant black wings with deep violet pattern make her look adorable with her black-red dress. Looking at her appearance, I can't take my eyes from her for a moment. She who looking at my face quickly hide her faces with her hands and turn her back to me.

"N-now...you have seen my true appearance. I-I am not responsible if you dislike me and cancel the contract. It's...it's clearly your fault!" (Beelzebub)

I snap out and come back to reality when she suddenly shouting like that. I let a laugh hearing her words.

"Hahahaha.... What are you talking about? Even the hero has the same hair color like you, you know. I think you are the most beautiful spirit I ever seen."

Hearing me, her body jolts and slowly turning her face to me again.

"You...you must be lying, isn't it?" (Beelzebub)

"Why would I do that. You always following me for past six years and I never telling a lie to anyone, right?"

"You are right b-but you provavly lie to me.... My hair and wings.... You feel disgusted to it right? Everyone told me like that when they look at my true appearance, even someone who has been corrupted by me. But...but you...." (Beelzebub)

I am aproaching her and touch her face. Even though it's impossible to normal people do this but, someone who can see spirits can make physical conact with them too. She startled that I suddenly touching her. Her appearance is like a girl around my age but a bit higher because she is flying now. It's not too height grom floor so my hand can reach her face easily.

"That's impossible. You are beatiful even I also captivated by you. Don't say something bad about yourself. I will say it once again then. You are the most beautiful spirit that I ever seen so, be glad of it. Whoever told you something like that, they didn't know how a true beauty are."

I gently smile to her and I can feel her tears touching my hand. Her height going down and her foot touching the ground. She rubs her cheeks to my hand and c.a.r.e.s.s it with her hands.

"Shall we start the ritual?"

She took my hand off her cheek and hold it tightly with her hands. She remove her tears from her face and look at my face.

"Yes!" (Beelzebub)

She smiles brightly and start the contract ritual.

"Child of humans, I am the Queen of Dark Spirits, Beelzebub with this giving you my power and create the contract that bind us together. I will always protect you no matter what happens to you." (Beelzebub)

"I also will do my best to protect you and all of my frieds with the help of your power."

After that, a light surrounding both of us and with this our contract officially made. Both of us smile each other, leaving a warm atmosphere between us.

"But still, to think that you are hiding in my shadow all along this time."

"Then it's your fault  to not thinking about it." (Beelzebub)

"Where do you learn that?"

She giggles when I asked that.

"Where do you think I learn that?" (Beelzebub)

"Tch!"

To think that I will have that back to me. But, I am quite satisfied witht his kind of developement. I have made contract with two spirits right now and both of them are the queen itself.

"Well, I think it's my time to get back work so please don't disturb me."

She let go of my hand and smile to me.

"Fufufu...I understand. Then, could you close your eyes for a moment, please?" (Beelzebub)

I don't quite understand so I just do as she told me to. Not long after that, I can feel something touching my lips. It's soft and somehow I know what it is. I move back in response because of my own surprise and open my eyes. I see Beelz is smiling and get back to my shadow.

"You once again win the bet. Don't make me disappoint." (Beelzebub)

And alongside with that, she has fully back to my shadow. I who still shocked from the last event not moving from that position. I finally regain my mind and body work and shook my head. I sit back to the chair and start to thinking the formula of my new blades.

In the end I wake up all along the night with only a little time to rest. At least, I finished it in the end. Even though I have spent much mana and not taking enough rest, my body seems to be okay. I wonder what's wrong with me but it's almost time I and Cecil leaving the castle. I wake her up who sleeping on the bed.

"Cecil, wake up. It's morning already."

And she pull the blanket covering her faces.

"Just a bit more....let me sleep a bit more...." (Cecilya)

"Who do you think you are? WAKE UP!!!"

I pull the blanket and her off the bed. She obviously fell off to the floor and instantly stand up and looking at me.

"Can you hear me to let me sleep!?" (Cecilya)

"What?"

I just stare back her and her face that turned red before because of her anger changed to the face that full of regret and hurriedly bowing her body many times.

"I-I am truly sorry, master. Really really sorry, I didn't know it's you." (Cecilya)

"Don't worry about it. Get yourself ready, we'll be going now."

"Y-yes!" (Cecilya)

I pass a small bag and a robe to her.

"Put that on, that is a magic bag I made and for the robe to cover your face when we are in the town."

"Yes." (Cecilya)

"Also don't go too far from me when we are still in the castle area or else it will be a trouble. Just follow behind me."

She nodded and do as I order.

"Beelze, I am counting on you."

"I know." (Beelzebub)

Beelze casted a high level [Stealth] spell to her to make sure no one can trace her. Preparation complete, I walk to the castle gate when the sun is start to rise. I lucky there are some knights I know guarding the gate. They are the one who with me when I went here with the princess. They already know me so I went through it easily when normal people with questioning someone who leave the castle so early.

The town is so lively in the morning. Many peoples on the road with their own objectives. Selling, buying, trading, even robbing, I can say those are normal things to seen in this era.

Beelze release the [Stealth] and Cecil can be seen by normal people again. Her face covered by her robe because I do not want to have any problem. Dark elves is rare to see now so if someone see them, they surely want to catch them and sell them to slave merchant. Even though her face covered by the robe, I am sure she is afraid right now.

"Master...where we will go?" (Cecilya)

"Armor shop."

"Do you need anything to buy? I can buy them for you." (Cecilya)

She is afraid but still offering herself to help me. What a nice person she is.

"Thank you but I not buying anything."

"What do you mean? Then why master go to that place." (Cecilya)

I chukle a bit before answer her.

"Alright Cecil, this is an order. You will buy your own set and I will pay for it. Don't mind the price just choose what suit you the most."

"Eh!?" (Cecilya)

She shocks a bit when hear that.

"For me?" (Cecilya)

"Yeah, for you."

She looks down and with that we arrive at the shop. We enter the shop and the merchant greet us and tell us to take our time. Of course we will take that offer since who knows how long woman choose what will they buy. She timidly looks at me full of afraid if she misheard the order. I just give a look that said 'go ahead' and she immediately do the order.

Surprisingly it is not take a long time. She seems like already know what she need. She bought light armor set that make her easy to move. A bow that made from Aldania Tree. It has a strong grip and also light. She also bought an arrow pouch. I pay for her new equipment and ask the shop clerk of there is a room for her to change and he points a room at the corner of the shop. I asked her to change use the armor there and not long after that she come out from the room still using the robe. She still remember to cover her face when we are in the town. We leave the shop and heading to the next destination.

"Master, I am truly grateful you let me buy this but what will we do next?" (Cecilya)

I take a glance at her for a moment and answer her question.

"You need to reshape your combat ability so you can follow us in our journey."

"What kind of journey?" (Cecilya)

"Dangerous one. Also, I not bought those for free."

"What do you mean?" (Cecilya)

"Remember that I will not buy anything from that store. Basically, I lend you the money so you need to pay it back."

"Eh!? Really? But I do not have any money." (Cecilya)

She sounds panick hearing my statement.

"That's right. So you need to pay it in different way."

She stopped her movement and immediately cover her body. She shook her heads many times before she finally turn her gaze to me.

"But...if it master then I will have no problem."

Don't suddenly say that when we are on the road! Fuuuh.... I must stay calm right now. That's not good for suddenly shout at someone who only get her life back.

"Not that kind of thing. You must pay with workhard as a part of our team, as our rearguard, as our archer. So don't make me regret to choose you before."

Her aura suddenly turns bright and full of spirit answer me.

"Yeah! I will not make master disappoint! This Cecilya swear with her heart and soul!" (Cecilya)