The Survival of the Third-rate Villain

"I can see a spirit!"

Although not as magical as when Jerusha showed them to me, I was still happy.

"What?!"

Jerusha exclaimed after hearing my words.

"What spirit can you see?"

She asked, looking around.

'She's probably looking at the spirits around us, wondering who I am seeing.'

Slowly, I pointed at the small red slime jumping up and down on the ground.

-Meep!

It was cute as fuck.

Following my gaze, Jerusha saw where I was pointing.

And there, she saw the same thing I was seeing...

"Awwwww, how cute."

Jerusha squealed.

"..."

I ignored her. Then I placed my hand palm-up near the slime.

And as a response...

-Meep!

The slime jumped onto it.

It was really small, it fit my palm perfectly.

I pulled my hand back and looked at the spirit closer...

-Meep! Meep!

It started jumping excitedly.

It made me smile.

Looking at Jerusha...

"What is this?"

I asked her.

The slime looked at Jerusha too.

Then, excitedly...

"That's a newly formed spirit! A baby, you might say."

"That one is an element slime, and based on the color, it's a fire type!"

She explained.

I looked back at the spirit on my palm. It was so innocent-looking and cute.

"It's the only one you can see right now with your mana sensitivity. Actually, I think that slime used a bit of its own mana to show itself to you."

Jerusha mumbled.

"But with just a little more meditation, you could see the low-class spirits. And after that, you could form your first contract with them!"

Then she declared, she was really excited for me.

I was happy to hear that too, but with a slight frown on my face...

"How about this one?"

I asked Jerusha, referring to the red slime.

"Huh?"

She was confused.

So, to clarify things...

"Can't I just form my first contract with this little one?"

I rephrased my question.

"..."

Jerusha was speechless upon hearing my words.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

The slime and I just looked at her in silence.

Then, after a brief moment...

"You can."

Jerusha said. It made me glad.

Though...

"But just so you know, with your current mana, you can only have one contract with a lower-class spirit. And that slime in front of you is the lowest in the lower-class."

She added.

"Do you still want to continue?"

Jerusha asked, waiting for my response.

'The lowest of the low, huh...'

I thought, looking at the slime in my hand.

'Aren't we peas in the same pod?'

And with a smile on my face...

"Yeah, I want to."

I answered Jerusha.

*****

"You just need to feed it with your mana."

Jerusha instructed. We were starting the contract-making.

"First, both parties must be willing, the spirit mustn't reject your mana."

"Second, your mana must be high enough to provide some to the spirit daily."

"And lastly, the compatibility rate between you two... This is the most important part. Without this, everything else will be hard, or worse, the contract could fail."

She explained, making sure to tell me everything I needed to know.

And after all that...

"You can start now."

Jerusha stated.

"Okay."

I replied as I nodded.

-Meep!

The slime did the same while on top of my palm.

'Cute.'

I thought.

Anyway, I closed my eyes.

And carefully...

Swaaaaah~

I started pouring mana into the slime spirit.

"That's good, continue it."

I heard Jerusha, and I followed her words.

I continued.

"..."

A second passed, two, three...

"...?"

But nothing happened.

Jerusha said I might feel a bit of resistance, so I prepared myself. But it didn't come.

Nevertheless, I moved on and continued what I was doing.

...

And after about half an hour...

"Haaah..."

I was out of mana.

"Ugh..."

I'm exhausted and sleepy.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

"..."

And Jerusha's face greeted me.

'Too close.'

I thought as I backed away slightly.

"How did it go?"

I asked.

Then silently, while smiling ear to ear...

"Look."

Jerusha pointed at my palm.

And there...

-Meep!

I saw the slime, much redder than before!

And unconsciously, I felt a strong connection between us!

"I succeeded!"

I exclaimed in excitement.

"You did it! Well done!"

Jerusha said, acting like a proud teacher.

I just let her be, she helped me with all this, after all.

"Thanks."

I said to her.

"You're welcome!"

She replied happily.

"Ah!"

Then she seemed to remember something...

"Did you know you both have a very high compatibility rate?"

She suddenly said.

"What?"

"I was surprised as well. I didn't even have that high compatibility with my first spirit."

Jerusha rambled.

"This means that you both can get stronger fast!"

She exclaimed.

Hearing her words...

"I'm glad to hear that."

-Meep!

I replied as I patted the slime in my hand.

"What are you naming it?"

Jerusha then asked me.

"It doesn't have one?"

I asked back, surprised.

Then, shaking her head...

"It's a newly born spirit, it doesn't have a name yet. So, you can give it one."

Jerusha said that.

"Is that so...?"

I looked at the slime.

-Meep!

After that...

"Hmm..."

I thought long and hard.

Upon entering a contract with the slime spirit, I came to know that it's a boy and only a few months old.

And because I don't like to complicate things...

"Why not Pyro?"

I gave it a simple name.

-Meep!

The slime responded positively. I could feel his feelings now.

"That's a cute name."

Jerusha responded, waving hi to Pyro.

"With that done, I'll give you both an assignment."

Then she suddenly said that to the both of us.

"Huh?"

-Meep?

Pyro and I were both confused by her words.

Seeing us like that, Jerusha laughed a little.

"It's nothing big. I just want you both to create a special skill."

She added.

"What?"

I still didn't get it.

So, to fix that...

"Strengthen your bond with Pyro and make a skill between you two."

Jerusha simplified her words.

"Like this."

Then she opened her right hand.

And then...

SWAAAAAHHH—

An enormous trident made of water appeared in the air.

"!"

My eyes widened at the sight of it. I could feel the surging mana from it.

It made me sweat like bullets!

And just a few moments after that appeared...

Poof—

It simply vanished in thin air.

"I didn't fire it because I don't want to cause a mess in the forest."

I heard Jerusha said.

"..."

I was still speechless.

And while I was like that, Jerusha casually stood up and patted her clothes clean.

"I'll leave now, it's getting late."

She said, walking away.

"Ah!"

But she stopped in her tracks and looked back.

And with a sweet smile...

"Congrats on your first contract with a spirit."

She said that softly.