episode_0084

When I came out of the cave, the sky had become dark.

It’s completely night now.

It felt like not even a second had passed before.

I don’t know if it’s Bertain’s whim or if this is the original magic.

Not bad.

Elin must have fallen asleep too.

It was when I went in to lay Elin down to adjust her lifestyle.

“Luke.”

A dry voice was heard from behind.

Leo was still wearing his mask.

“What’s going on?”

“I think I found out something.”

“… … ”

There was no need to ask again.

Leo, who had already learned the family’s dirty secret, left.

Because there was only one thing he could ask.

“Can we go outside and talk?”

“Okay.”

I covered Elin with a blanket and went out of the tent.

Leo followed quietly from behind.

After making sure there was no one around, I opened my mouth.

“If it’s Berthain’s secret, I’ve heard it all.”

“Did you hear? Who did you meet inside?”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t say I met Berthain.

Because I still haven’t been able to say a single word about dragons.

“I have placed a curse on the princess.”

Still, it seemed like this was the extent of what could be said.

“… … did you do it?”

A rare look of surprise appeared in Leo’s eyes.

“Is that so? In that cave, there is also… … .”

Leo muttered to himself.

I didn’t even say anything, but it seems like he had already made a guess in his head.

He returned to his dry eyes again.

“Thank goodness. I won’t be locked in the basement.”

“Oh, I have a question about that.”

Luke was also once imprisoned in Berthain’s dungeon.

The interior of the prison I saw then was somewhat strange.

Prisons in ordinary families are not used much.

It only ends with confining outsiders who have intruded without permission or taking prisoners in war situations.

How many times does that happen?

But Bertain’s dungeon felt overly worn.

“Did anyone continue to live in Bertine’s prison?”

This is something I would not have been able to answer because of the taboo.

“Yes.”

“… … !”

But Leo readily admitted it.

The ban does not apply between people who originally share the same content.

That means Luke learned a lot of Berthain’s secrets.

“Until a few years ago, my uncle lived there.”

Did they really lock the youngest of that generation in Bertain?

It’s a truly disgusting way to prolong life.

“I was planning to take Elin to the secret task force before she became like that. But now I guess that’s not necessary.”

Click.

Leo without his mask.

Bow your head slowly.

“Thank you so much, Luke Bucklin. I’m glad you’re here.”

“Why are you suddenly like this?”

I got goosebumps for no reason.

How can you say something like that in a voice that’s so dry it sounds like it’s going to crumble?

“Maybe… I should have done it like you a long time ago.”

“You realized that after two years?”

“I’m the type of person who can’t believe something without seeing it for myself.”

If it’s poisonous, it’s poisonous.

You didn’t believe me until now?

“Please continue to take good care of Elin.”

Leo’s face, which he had raised his head to, was expressionless.

The emotion in his eyes was definitely gratitude.

“That’s obvious. But… .”

Suddenly, I thought to myself, “Thank goodness.”

If Luke hadn’t paid the price, it would have affected Leo as well.

“Leo, can I ask you a favor?”

“Listen and judge.”

“After the princess becomes an adult, please help her settle down.”

If that were the case, I wouldn’t have been able to ask for this.

“… ?”

Leo looked at Luke, puzzled.

“You didn’t need my help, did you?”

“As people live, their thoughts may change.”

“… … ”

The moment Elin lifted the curse.

There is no need to turn Leo into an enemy.

Because I’m too busy caring about Duke Bertain alone.

“If you need me then I will help you.”

“Thank you.”

A smile came to my face.

Having the Empire’s secret organization behind you was more solid than you might think.

“I’m a little tired, can I just go in now?”

“… Okay.”

Luke enters the tent with a start.

Leo thought as he looked at her back.

Meaningful words, look in the eyes, and even facial expressions.

It looks like the back of a person who is about to leave for somewhere.

* * * * *

The next day.

“Teacher. I feel strange here.”

It was what Elin said as soon as she opened her eyes, pointing to her chest.

If it were normal, I would have thought it was a problem related to secondary sexual characteristics.

Because I removed the curse yesterday.

I know it refers to mana hearts.

“Are you sick?”

“Yeah. Something… I feel so much healthier.”

“It’s not a feeling, it’s a fact.”

Hair that’s shiny even though you just woke up.

Mana’s sparkling eyes.

Soft and smooth skin.

Even his height seems a little bit taller.

It happened in one day when the curse was resolved.

There is no longer a girl covered in bruises and with her belly skin sticking to her back.

There is only the youngest princess who is fluffy and cute.

“You have become much prettier, my lady.”

“… … !”

Ellen’s hair stood on end.

Luke probably doesn’t know.

I’ve told you several times that you’re cute.

It’s really rare for someone to tell me I’m pretty.

So Ellen couldn’t help but be mistaken.

Is the teacher finally seeing me as a woman and not a child?

Knock knock knock.

Even the sound of my heart beating was enhanced by mana and sounded strangely loud.

“… Did he help you get to this point?”

The one Elin was talking about was one… no, there was only one.

“Yes, the curse has been completely lifted.”

“… Completely?”

“Would you like to create a mana sphere?”

I wasn’t sure if it was okay since I hadn’t drunk the potion yet.

Judging from the mana I feel throughout my body right now, it seems like it’ll be okay.

A mana sphere used to practice mana management.

Elin summoned mana spheres on both hands as if she were training.

Hwaaak-!!

“!!!”

“That’s amazing.”

What Elin summoned was a huge mana sphere.

…it was so huge that it almost covered the tent. It was so ridiculously huge.

If you just throw it away, it will show tremendous destructive power.

“Seo, teacher… .”

A bewildered Elin looked at Luke.

It was a look of what should I do?

If it were to explode by any chance, the damage would be enormous.

“It’s okay. It’s just slowly returning the mana back to the body.”

Luke approached cautiously and placed a hand on Elin’s shoulder.

Shudder-

Elin’s trembling body.

I held on tighter.

“Don’t be nervous. I’m here with you.”

“Ugh, yeah… .”

Swoosh… .

Fortunately, the mana sphere was released safely.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

I could feel Elin’s pulse on the shoulder I was holding.

Since there is so much mana, even things like this are being transmitted.

“You don’t have to be so scared. The princess can handle this kind of power.”

I just thought it was because he was nervous and let it go.

Of course, Elin’s heart rate didn’t increase because she summoned a large sphere of mana.

Luke’s hand that just touched me felt so warm.

It was because the overflowing mana made the senses overly sharp.

“… What did I just see?”

When Elin was barely able to calm her pounding heart.

Aurora approached slowly, letting out a blank voice.

“Mana management practice.”

“… Does Princess Elin always do this kind of training?”

Gently, gently.

I shook my stupid hair and thought about it for a moment.

The scale is not quite this big though.

It’s true that I trained every day.

Let’s nod our heads slightly.

Aurora frowned at Luke.

“I understand that you want to raise a talented wizard, but I think it would be better not to push her too hard. After all, your highness is still young.”

“I think there is some misunderstanding.”

Luke was dumbfounded.

I just put a curse on you.

Elin has become so strong that she is being misunderstood like this.

“Hmm, I guess it’s not right to interfere with other people’s education.”

Aurora pursed her lips as if she had more to say, but quickly changed her words.

“Anyway, the reason I came here was to say hello.”

“I know that the Saintess’s work is done.”

Zero, who was behind, continued Aurora’s words.

“The schedule of the Holy Land is being pushed back in real time. I came to greet you all.”

“Ah, then… .”

“There’s no need to wake up the others. I think we really need to go back quickly.”

I tried to wake up Dien, who was still sleeping soundly with her hair wrapped around her head.

Zero waved his hand.

If that’s the case, then yes.

Luke bowed.

“I am truly indebted to you for this matter. Please say hello to the princess too. If it weren’t for the saintess, nothing would have been resolved.”

Aurora’s contribution was really big.

I also purified the magic stone I picked up in the cave.

It also instantly destroyed the barrier blocking the cave.

These are problems that would have been daunting if it weren’t for the Aurora.

Because it was Elin who knew that.

“Thank you.”

He bowed obediently.

“Haha. Don’t be so mean. Just keep your promise, Luke.”

“Of course.”

“… Promise?”

Elin slowly raised her head.

“Next time we meet on a trip. Do you have to take me with you for two days?”

“… What are you talking about, teacher?”

Because I was asleep at the time, I didn’t hear what Aurora had agreed to receive in return.

Elin’s stupid hair shook uneasily.

The teacher and the saintess are going on a trip for two days.

What on earth did you promise while I was sleeping?

“I just decided to repay you later.”

Luke explained the situation.

In return for her help, the saint lends Luke two days.

In the meantime, I plan to go on a tour of the empire.

That was the end of it though.

“… Hmm.”

Elin’s stupid hair shook in discontent.

It’s not that I didn’t understand.

In the end, it is true that the saint helped.

In fact, it was a really, really big help to Elin.

I also know that opening a portal for a saint with a disability isn’t an incredibly difficult task.

I understand it all in my head… .

I feel uneasy.

It feels like something is resting on my heart.

It’s only been two days.

On the other hand, it felt like I was deprived of my teacher for two days.

Ellen asked cautiously.

“Can I go too?”

“Of course, the princess will go with you.”

“… Really?”

The momentum of the fool’s hair fluttering has softened.

Ellin felt slightly better.

I was afraid that the corners of my mouth would go up, so I hid behind Luke’s back.

But I feel like I have to say what I have to say.

He squinted his eyes, only sticking his face out.

“Just two days. After that, never take it away.”

“Yes?”

“Teacher… should be with me.”

“Hmm?”

Aurora looks back and forth between Luke and Elin.

“Aha.”

He smiled as if he noticed something.

“You’re going to have a hard time, my lady. But I’m rooting for you.”

“… Yes?”

“It means that I won’t take Luke away except for the two days we promised.”

“… … !”

Elin’s stupid hair fluttered.

Indeed, is this why she is called a saint?

All I did was say I wouldn’t touch Luke.

Elin felt Aurora’s kindness.

“Now it’s really time to go.”

Zero looked at his watch with an anxious expression.

Aurora chuckled and waved her hand.

“Then please, take care of yourself.”

Aurora boards the carriage with Zero’s help.

The Holy Nation’s carriage quickly moved away without even a slipping sound.

“… After.”

Luke let out a short sigh that no one noticed.

It’s a good thing Aurora went back in a hurry.

If Luke’s body had been diagnosed, his condition would have been immediately discovered.

I might not have been able to control my facial expressions.

“We are also preparing to go back, Your Majesty.”

“Yeah.”

Luke sighed inwardly.

I took Elin’s hand and went into the tent.