"Oh! Right!" Mira's eyes lit up. "I need to go help her!"
"But I'll be back here every night because this is where you are, Master-forger-darling!"
She disappeared in a flash of silver light, probably teleporting to the restaurant. Greg put his hands over his face.
"I made a clingy spirit girl by mistake who calls me darling. This is how I go now for the rest of my life until I die."
Marina said, "This is so funny," and she didn't even try to hide how funny it was.
"You now have a spirit that is literally devoted to you. That's like how a harem protagonist acts in a more advanced way."
"I don't have a harem!" Greg said immediately.
"God! Why do you always say that like it's gonna happen!? You know all of this is just a mere coincidence, right?" Greg looks so sick when Marina starts teasing him again about the girls who were interested in him.
Marina shakes her head with a smug look on her face. "Tsk, tsk, you really don't get it, do you, hot shot?"
"Let me show you all the reasons why all of them are interested in ya!" Marina raises all her fingers.
"First, there was Lylia, who always brings you food every day and gets mad when other women talk to you," Marina said, counting on her fingers.
"Second, whenever you hum while you work, Seraphine gets embarrassed and finds reasons to be in your workshop."
"Third, there's Elwen, who draws you in her notebook and touches your arm whenever she can."
"And now Mira, as the fourth, who was literally born from your desire to make someone's life easier, has claimed you as her darling."
"That's four women, Greg. That counts as a harem for sure."
Greg weakly insisted, "It's not a harem! It's a series of bad social situations."
"Maybe you get the fifth, which is me...? But... I'm not into guys with huge muscular bodies, though..." Marina said it while touching her lips to try to tempt Greg, who's already making a poker face.
"Screw you." Greg answered immediately, he was about to say 'fuck you,' but he was being a gentleman about it for once.
"Ehem!" Elwen breaks their conversation, making them realize that they were still in the same room with them.
Marina and Greg were shocked, realizing that they were talking about both of them. "Like I said, there's no harem in this. All of it was just a purely mistaken mess!"
"Call it what you want," Seraphine said trying to change the topic, her cheeks a little pink as she wrote.
"The spirit's claim isn't completely wrong. You did make her with a lot of love and care."
"I take care of everything I make, hoping for it to become a masterpiece! That's just good work!"
"Most craftsmen don't make living things by accident," Elwen said in a low voice. She was looking at the area where Mira had disappeared with a blank look on her face.
"A lot of emotional energy is needed. You must have really liked the person you were making this for."
Greg tried to argue but couldn't. He had been thinking about Lylia, how diligently she worked, and how much she had helped him adjust to his new life. He wanted to make something that would really help her, not just because she asked for it but also because he wanted to see her smile.
He said, "This is bad."
"What's wrong with it?" Marina asked. "You made something wonderful that will help your friend. Isn't that a good thing?"
"It's bad because Lylia is going to see Mira, and things are going to get even more complicated." Greg got up.
"I need to get to the restaurant before anything strange happens."
"Too late," the three women said at the same time.
"Oh, fuck off!" Greg ran.
...
When he got to Lylia's Kitchen, it was in a state of organized chaos. Mira was moving around the dining room, serving customers with superhuman speed.
Plates flew from the kitchen to the tables, empty dishes cleaned themselves, and drinks were refilled before anyone could ask. The customers were shocked and pleased. As she watched the spirit work, Lylia stood in the kitchen doorway with a look of thanks and something more complicated on her face.
"Greg," she said when she saw him. "Your serving spoon turned into a person."
"I saw it happen, and I sincerely apologize for causing all of this trouble." I just wanted to make something that would help you."
"I know." Lylia's smile was soft, but it was sad.
"She talks a lot about how much you care, how great you are, and how dedicated she is to making your wishes come true."
"Lylia, I didn't mean for this to happen."
"I know that too." Lylia saw Mira, who was happily serving a table and humming a happy song.
"She would be ideal for the restaurant. Works quickly, is friendly, and never gets worn out. That's exactly everything I needed."
"Then why do you look sad?"
"Because she's made of your love," Lylia said softly. "She is here because you wanted to help me."
"That's very nice and very difficult to understand, and I don't know how to feel about it."
Mira floated over with her ladle still in her hand before Greg could say anything. "Master-forger-darling! Check out how much I'm helping! Everyone loves the service! Isn't this great?"
Greg said, "It's excellent. You're doing a fantastic job."
"Of course I am! I was made by the best blacksmith in the world!" Mira held the ladle close to her chest.
"I'll do my best every day to make you proud!" She sped off to help more customers, leaving Greg and Lylia alone in an awkward silence.
"This is going to make things interesting," Lylia finally said.
"That's one way to put it," Greg said.
He could see Marina laughing, Seraphine writing notes with a thoughtful look on her face, and Elwen watching with her arms crossed through the window. His workshop family had grown by one spirit girl, and his life had become even less peaceful.
[Quest Update: Take Care of Your Growing Legend]
[New Status: Spirit Maker]
[Congratulations! You now have a loyal spirit friend]
[The gods' betting pool has become more difficult]
[More bets placed on: "When will Greg figure out that they all like him?"]
"Never," Greg said to the system. "I will always live in denial."
However, as he watched Mira happily serving customers and Lylia smiling despite her complex emotions, he had to admit that creating the spirit wasn't entirely negative. Yes, it's annoying and hard, but it's not bad.
His life had turned into a slice-of-life comedy with too many heroines and not enough common sense, but at least everyone was happy. Mostly. Kind of. That vacation was vital for him.
"Hah... it is what it is, I guess..."
"At least I get used to this."