I was speechless when I saw the flock of rimel birds flying. The sight of the rimel birds spreading their wings and fluttering their tails, with the mine as their back drop, as they descended down to the swamp, was so beautiful that I even forgot to breathe.
As they descended, each one of them went after the grell frogs to feed on. It feels like there’s a bit more of them compared to before, but it doesn’t feel like they came here for revenge.
For the meantime it doesn’t feel like there’s any danger, however, one of the birds within that flock has been staring at me this entire time. It’s the nightmare variant from before. That bird’s been staring at me all this time without eating anything. It hasn’t even moved its gaze from me once. I wonder if it’s cautious because of what happened before.
I noticed from behind me that Elia had already taken her musical instrument from Sebasu-san. Hmm… I might actually get in the way if I stay here.
“Rheinhart-san” [Ryouma]
“What is it?” [Rheinhart]
“I’ll take my leave for a moment. That higher variant from before has been looking at me all this time, so I might get in Elia’s way if I’m…” [Ryouma]
“I don’t mind.” [Elia]
As I was talking, Elia interjected.
“One must tame a magical beast while facing it. For me to actually blame my failure just because Ryouma-san is here… what an absurd excuse. I won’t say something like that.” [Elia]
Different from her normal aura, right now Elia was emanating an aura full of dignity.
“Moreover, I would like Ryouma-san to watch me while I tame. So please stay there. It’s really reassuring to have you here, Ryouma-san.” [Elia]
Said Elia as she showed me her usual smile.
… Well if you tell me something like that, then there’s no way I’d be able to leave.
“I understand. Do your best.” [Ryouma]
“I will!” [Elia]
After words of encouragement naturally left my lips, I went behind Elia.
Elia took a deep breath several times, then she began her performance.
Just like before, Elia played a calm and comfortable melody. Her piece started quietly, and then gradually it became stronger and stronger. The notes she played changed like the ever changing size of the sea’s waves.
But whether it was strong or soft, the notes echoed clearly throughout the marshland without pause.
The rimel birds began to sway from left to right as they matched the song. Their behavior a far cry from their reaction to the two men before.
Elia’s music continued like that, and eventually it ended calmly.
“…” [Elia]
Elia nervously looked at the rimel birds. But the next instant, all of the rimel birds simultaneously started chirping.
This sound was different from their mocking chirps from before. Right now, their voices resounded like pianos and harps. It wasn’t noise, no. Far from that, their echoing voices were like a musical performance.
That performance continued for a minute, and eventually a beautiful rimel bird flew towards Elia, with 8 more following from behind.
When Elia saw that, she was petrified.
“Elia! The contract! Contract them!” [Ryouma]
“Right!” [Elia]
Elia, having seemingly forgotten, began to contract the rimel birds one after another at my words. From the looks of things, it looks like she was able to successfully tame them.
As Elia finished, she began to contract the last rimel bird, the most beautiful of them all. When she succeeded, she shouted cheers of happiness.
“I did it!” [Elia]
“Good job!” [Rheinhart]
“You did well.” [Rheinbach]
“That’s great, Elia.” [Madam]
“Congratulations.” [Ryouma]
“Congratulations, Ojousama.” [Sebasu]
Elia was able to tame 9 rimel birds in total. Just taming one should’ve been difficult, and yet… Who could’ve thought that she would actually be able to tame so many?
“Please look at all these pretty children I’ve tamed!” [Elia]
Surrounded by the rimel birds, Elia was in high spirits as she caressed the rimel birds while she crouched. The rimel birds also seemed to have become emotionally attached as you can even see some standing on her knees and on her shoulders.
That delicate atmosphere was cut apart with a whistling sound.
When we looked over where the sound was coming from, we saw a group of rimel birds headed here.