episode_0045

On my way back with Elin.

“… The groom is fine.”

A voice that had let go of its foolishness rang in my ears.

“The other members of the unit have brought you to the Bucklin family. They will compensate you sufficiently. The matter will be concluded quietly.”

Somehow there was no sign that the coachman had been murdered.

That’s why.

“I see.”

I didn’t think it was something to be thankful for, so I just nodded.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

“I know it’s shameless to say this, but… .”

“Then don’t do it.”

Why would I just sit there and listen to such shameless talk?

He covered Elin’s ears with both hands and walked out waddling like a penguin.

Leo opened his mouth without paying any attention.

“Please take care of Elin.”

It was certainly a shameless thing to say.

“I’m not saying this as your older brother.”

“Is this advice from the head of the secret task force?”

“Yeah. It’ll be hard for Elin to escape the events that will unfold in the future.”

Leo muttered, looking at the distant mountains.

“I guess we’ll meet again a few times in the future… .”

“Yes?”

“I’m not saying I’ll follow you around on purpose. I can swear on my position as leader.”

I squinted my eyes and looked at Leo.

Even so, it was impossible to discern the secret task force’s true feelings from their expressions.

“I will believe you.”

There’s nothing I can do.

What if Elin becomes the main character of an incident against her will?

Leo will stay by Elin’s side as long as he carries out his mission.

“… Please protect Elin.”

“There is no need to ask for such a thing.”

Holding Elin in one hand.

He opened a portal with his other hand.

“Because it’s the best thing I do without anyone asking me to do it.”

Along with Elin, who had not been able to hear it until now because her ears were covered, tilted her head.

Shu-

The space has changed.

*****

A few days after the kidnapping incident that wasn’t a kidnapping.

Despite the worst reunion with Leo, things quickly returned to normal.

The secret task force also does a clean job of handling the follow-up.

Luke doesn’t open his mouth either.

It became an incident that no one knew about except the parties involved.

No wonder Nia contacted me that evening to ask if I was doing okay.

This is what changed from my usual daily life.

“I finished my homework.”

“Are you done already?”

After the bold declaration that ‘I will protect you, teacher’.

Elin added fuel to the fire of her already burning passion for learning.

“It’s not good to overdo it. Take it easy.”

“Yeah, it’s okay.”

“What’s okay? The dark circles are coming down like this.”

“Woong… .”

I swept the dark circles under Elin’s eyes with my thumb.

How did you get rid of dark circles?

I guess I’ll have to drink more tea soon.

“Because I have to work hard.”

Was it because he was afraid that Luke’s body was slightly scarred?

Elin no longer refused to drink potions.

Instead, he demanded that they be whipped.

So, I gave him some homework that I originally had no intention of giving.

“Who can do a week’s worth of homework in one day?”

Excessive passion is the problem.

Fearing that she would ruin her body, she gently stroked Elin’s hair.

“There’s no need to be impatient. The princess is growing steadily.”

“… … Not enough yet.”

Knock knock, knock knock.

He speaks well even though he is already slowly opening his eyelids.

“I’m not good enough to beat my brother.”

How can you say something like that with such a serious face?

It was both strange and absurd.

Even Luke would have a hard time competing with the leader of the secret task force at a similar level.

“When the knife was put to the teacher’s neck. I almost lost the teacher without being able to do anything.”

“Do you really think he killed me?”

“… … You never know.”

bean.

Elin buries her head on her chest.

“I was scared.”

Subtle tremors are transmitted throughout the body.

“But you can’t become strong enough to defeat the special forces leader right away.”

“But… .”

Elin shook her stupid hair in frustration.

I think it might be Bertain.

I want to be stronger than anyone else.

Ok, Ok.

I knocked on the crown of my head to empty my mind.

“Go to sleep first. Take a deep breath, wake up, and go for a walk.”

“… A walk?”

“Sometimes you need a break. I’ve already done a week’s worth of work, so I’ll take a break today.”

“Hmm.”

“Or do you not want to go out with me?”

“That’s not it… .”

Elin buried her head in Luke’s arms and shook her head.

Is it because I’m tired?

It feels like he’s acting more spoiled than usual.

A soft smile naturally appeared on my lips.

“Koo… .”

Elin fell asleep right away.

He sleeps soundly, clinging to me like a koala.

Shake shake.

Even though I deliberately shook my body, my sturdy posture did not waver.

“Ugh… .”

“Oh, sorry. Sleep tight.”

Because I felt like I was going to break it if I kept fooling around.

Luke rubbed Elin’s back and put her to sleep.

After Elin completely fell into dreamland.

Woof-

Opened the inventory.

It’s not like Luke was playing around while Elin was training.

“Hmm.”

He skillfully makes coffee and takes out a long-distance communication paper.

Now, it was something I could do without any worries even if Ellen was hanging in front of me.

Flash- flash-

A notification comes from the long-distance communication paper.

“You’re my brother.”

The sender was Victor Bucklin.

It was Luke’s older brother who had arrived in the North not long ago.

Victor wrote down a brief account of the situation as Luke had requested.

His brow furrowed.

The situation is much more serious than I thought.

Victor’s serious face comes to mind.

Well, he’s the next head of Bucklin.

This is not a place to worry.

“… Huh.”

But I thought it would be okay since I had status.

The most dangerous person was interested.

It’s obvious what will happen if Duke Bertain finds out.

“The puzzle is almost falling into place.”

That Elin must be hidden from the Duke who returns from the North.

The damage won’t end with Elin.

Was Leo originally trying to take him to the secret task force to prevent this situation?

Rather than confronting Duke Bertain head-on, it seemed wiser to hide it in advance.

That was a blessing in disguise.

Long distance communication paper that had not been answered for a while.

Victor began to take an interest in Dien.

That’s definitely true.

The curse of mutant creatures is that they consume mana.

I also solved a similar curse of Elin.

I’m sure Dien will help.

schedule?

Luke let out a laugh without realizing it.

I guess they mistook me for a very busy alchemist.

It makes sense, since the potion you developed is so capable.

In reality, he is just an unemployed hikikomori.

I don’t think they’ll like it if I give them a job since they probably have nothing to do.

It was such a simple thought.

Of course, it was an idea that would have made an alchemist, who was soundly sleeping with his hair wrapped around his neck, scream.

That’s how my communication with Victor ended.

This time, I changed the recipient and contacted Dien.

Of course, there was no reply.

I wish I could have sent you a clapping emoticon.

Will this satisfy Diendo?

Luke, who had just given her a job, smiled proudly.

Not even realizing that Dien, who had slowly gotten up, was preparing to run away in terror… … .

* * * * *

Flapping, fluttering.

“There is nothing to find fault with.”

Luke took a sip of his coffee as he checked Ellen’s homework.

Teach one and you will know a hundred.

It was because I couldn’t practice due to the curse.

The theory was already close to perfect.

I felt it last time too, but now it’s time to graduate from sitting at a desk and studying.

“Hmm… ?”

When I finally finished grading.

Elin slowly got up from my arms.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Ugh… .”

“If you’re tired, it’s okay to sleep a little longer.”

“No… .”

Elin rubbed her eyes with her small hands.

“Let’s go for a walk.”

Did you listen carefully to the story before you went to sleep?

I pat my soft cheeks to drive away sleep.

“Then go take a bath and come back. Let’s go around the capital at least.”

“Yeah.”

Gently, gently.

Elin walked along, shaking her stupid hair.

After some time had passed.

Back to Luke’s room.

“Let’s go.”

“You did a good job bringing Anne.”

The power of a proper dedicated maid was great.

It looked like a withered vegetable just a moment ago.

After taking a bath and changing clothes, she looks like a fresh, green flower.

“Then let’s move.”

I was about to open a portal to a suitable place in the square.

“Just a minute.”

Ellen took a step to the side and held out her hand.

“Just in case scary people come again.”

Hug.

A warm, soft hand takes hold of Luke’s large hand.

“For the time being, it will be like this.”

He shook his stupid hair as if it was something that should be done naturally.

That actually made some sense.

I was kidnapped a while ago.

Because there is no guarantee that it is safe right now.

however.

“You’ve never been particularly scared, have you?”

Didn’t you just destroy it with space magic?

“… Anyway.”

Elin, who had been avoiding the question like flowing water, grabbed his hand tightly.

“These fingers are mine anyway.”

“Yes?”

“… Last time, you promised me.”

Oh, right.

I promised not to worry you before, but then I lost ownership of your fingers.

“So I’m just carrying mine.”

Ellin blinked as if to ask if there was a problem.

“… You don’t like it?”

It was an astonishing logic though.

How can I say no when you look at me with that kind of face?

“How could that be?”

Kuk.

As she adds strength to her clasped hands, the corners of Ellin’s mouth slightly go up.

Flap flap.

The fool’s hair was already shaking excitedly.

“Wherever I go from now on, do I have to hold your hand?”

“If the princess wants, by all means.”

Since that day, holding hands has become a natural ‘common sense’ between the two.