episode_0143

“In exchange for a healthy body through the contract, your lifespan was reduced to 3 months.”

When I asked, “You look much healthier than last time?” was the reply I got.

“… … Can you explain in a little more detail?”

“I’m sorry. As you can see… .”

Luke’s mouth suddenly shuts as soon as he tries to speak.

It was a ban imposed because the contract with the dragon could not be revealed.

“Did you make a contract with an ancient being?”

With that alone, Leo guessed the answer.

“… … ”

Leo, who took silence as an answer, tilted his head.

“But what does it mean that you quit being a tutor?”

“The tutor contract was until the princess became an adult.”

“So you came out right after the contract ended?”

“Yes. I feel a bit awkward letting you know that I am a poet. Wouldn’t it be better not to involve the princess in this kind of thing as much as possible?”

Leo had no choice but to agree.

In the first place, wasn’t the reason he left the family and joined the secret task force to gain strength and take Elin away from Bertain?

Since Luke was by my side, I would sometimes protect him from a distance (this is usually called tailing him).

I agree that we shouldn’t worry Ellen and drag her into anything dangerous.

But is it okay if Luke isn’t next to Elin?

“Did Elin just let it go?”

“I was chained up, but I managed to escape.”

“… … ”

There was no way it could be okay.

How much affection Elin showed towards Luke.

Are you saying that they just shook it off and came all the way to the North?

“Why do you see it that way?”

“I think we should take him to Bertain right away.”

“…Why are you suddenly like that?”

Luke steps back, startled.

It seemed as if Leo would pull out his sword at any moment.

When life prickles your skin.

I quickly changed the subject.

“Shouldn’t we hurry and complete the objective? If we find the mark related to the devil, the princess will be safe.”

“That’s… …right.”

Leo, who was drooling, decided to put it on hold for the time being.

Of course, Luke’s spatial magic will be helpful, and the magic tower that appeared in the northern outskirts will definitely be helpful.

Let’s get this done as quickly as possible and return Luke to Elin.

That was Leo’s idea.

“But do you know what the secret task force’s goal is?”

“I guess I’m looking for the devil’s mark.”

Luke pointed out the window where he couldn’t see an inch ahead because of the blizzard.

“I think it would be better to follow the trail of Duke Berthain rather than searching for signs here.”

“… We were thinking about that too.”

Leo was surprised.

There was an opinion that said, “How about we just catch the peacock and wipe out the base of the devil followers?”

Luke got it exactly right.

“We explored about 3/4 of the northern outskirts.”

“The area to be investigated has been greatly reduced.”

“Yes. I plan to explore the remaining areas and chase the peacock.”

“My space magic will be a great help in the chase.”

Leo nodded obediently.

Now that I’ve made up my mind, I’ve decided to carry out the operation without delay.

He looks fine now, but they say he only has 3 months left to live.

If I wrote it quickly and returned it, Ellin would be able to maintain her sanity.

“It may be a little bit shorter than that.”

“… … ”

Shouldn’t we be sending him to the Bertain Mansion now?

Leo, who was momentarily troubled, let out a deep sigh.

“Then we should resolve this quickly. Let me introduce you to the secret service agents.”

Leo pointed to a boyish woman with green hair.

“Tristine Glaze. We seemed to know each other last time I saw you.”

“Yes, I am your junior at the academy.”

“… Senior, are you okay?”

Tristin made a trembling expression.

“What are you talking about?”

“Hmm, I wonder if it would be okay to leave the princess behind… .”

Luke shut his mouth for a moment.

Judging from the expression on your face the last time I saw you, there’s no way it’s okay.

Maybe I’ll just stay locked in my room for a few days without eating.

“So shouldn’t we succeed in the operation quickly?”

Now I can’t go back to Elin.

Instead, we must prevent the devil’s resurrection as soon as possible and eliminate the threat.

Then, what if you don’t know?

There might be time left to say hello properly.

“… Okay. Welcome to the Secret Service. Even if it’s just for a little while. ”

“Behind are the Howard twins.”

Leo pointed to the dark blue-haired woman and the blue-haired young man in turn.

“Sherrell Howard.”

“Watt Howard.”

The cross-eyed twins briefly introduced themselves.

“They are battle magicians who fight by combining water and lightning. They are skilled, so you can trust them and leave your back to them. ”

“Yes, please take care of me too.”

Luke nodded, unfolded the map, and got straight to the point.

“Then let’s move straight to the nearest place.”

If you use every second of the remaining time, you can find the work quickly.

*****

“How are you going to… …find it?”

A cracked voice heard after four days.

Anne looked at him seriously.

“Somehow. We have to search everywhere Luke could be hiding.”

“… … ”

“You want to see Luke, right?”

Nod.

Elin’s head shook slightly.

“At least you should hear the reason why you did that, right?”

“… You have to listen.”

Elin’s eyes changed.

I pulled Anne’s collar with difficulty.

“Can I have some vegetables?”

“Yes, of course!”

I quickly brought the cup to Anne Bank, fearing that she might change her mind.

Gulp.

The water disappeared in one sip.

Gulp!

After four days, my stomach screamed for more food.

“I’ll prepare your meal right away.”

“Yeah.”

Ellen tore at the bread Anne had brought with trembling hands.

I forced it into my mouth.

But his skinny body had no strength at all.

Blue eyes regained their vitality.

No, it would be more accurate to call it anger.

I felt like I had to grab Luke and make him kneel in front of me to relieve this feeling.

Elin munched on her food to gain strength.

“… Ann.”

“Do you need anything?”

“Can you stay out for a moment?”

“… … Your Majesty.”

“I’m not trying to lock the door.”

As Anne looked at her with a heartbreaking look on her face, Ellen quickly added an explanation.

“This. The teacher left it behind, but I haven’t read it yet.”

Ellen showed me the crumpled letter.

At first, I just cried without saying anything, like a breakup letter or something.

Until my throat is hoarse and my tears dry up.

I couldn’t even look at the letter because I was pouring water all over my body.

After the tears stopped coming, I tried to tear up the letter.

As I watch this, the reality of Luke’s departure becomes more apparent.

But in the end, I couldn’t tear it to shreds.

Because if I get rid of it, I feel like I’ll have to admit that Luke isn’t by my side.

It just kept repeating the process of folding and unfolding.

“But now I have the courage.”

If Luke had left when I was even a little younger, I would have been completely shattered.

But Ellen is a mature adult.

A great magician better than Luke.

Bertain’s legitimate kick is given.

Above all, isn’t she a woman who loves Luke?

But I still haven’t been able to make a proper confession.

I’ve never received a definitive rejection.

The more I think about it, the more angry I get.

How dare you just say what you want to say and then run away.

Instead of suffocating in her grief, the adult Ellen decides to burn her anger as fuel and pursue Luke.

“… Are you really going to just read the letter and come out? Can you not close the door? ”

“You can’t close it anyway. Anne broke the wall.”

“Uh, um… .”

Anne looked back and was convinced.

Come to think of it, the wall was completely destroyed and there was nowhere to secure the door.

… I guess I’ll have to move rooms for a while.

“Okay. I’ll prepare a bath for you, so you should come out right away?”

“Yeah.”

Anne checked several times and left Ellen’s room.

Ellen took a deep breath and unfolded the crumpled letter.

Ellin, who was reading slowly, let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha… …Just try to catch me, teacher.”

Exactly.

Elin snapped her fingers.

From now on, I was thinking of building a space to confine Luke.

*****

Elin after receiving a thorough bath.

I decided to put off making a space to confine my little Luke for a while.

I went to find Benawania.

“Help me.”

Currently, Benawania remains in the Bertain mansion.

Originally, I was going to say hello and leave after the coming-of-age ceremony was over.

-Oh no… Aaug…!

It was because Elin was crying in a way that was so painful that I had never heard it before.

I ended up staying there for four days.

There was no way Benawania could return.

“Oh, princess… Are you okay?”

“You look like this… sigh… .”

Benawania hugged Elin tightly when she appeared four days later.

Ellen felt somewhat relieved.

But still, they didn’t betray me.

And in the end, he repented and said he would help.

The teacher left like that and hasn’t contacted me since.

… … So you’re only irritating the teacher?

“Oh, your highness?”

“Huh?”

“Why all of a sudden the magic power… .”

“Ah.”

Ellin, who had been unconsciously pressing down on the air around her, came to her senses.

Nia, who was pale from the pressure of magic, asked.

“Is this okay?”

“Yeah, I got angry for a second.”

“… … ?”

Usually, when you get angry, your magical power doesn’t come out to the extent of crushing the surroundings.

How angry are you…?

“So what can we help you with?”

“The teacher disappeared.”

“Hmm.”

“Hmm.”

Nia and Bena exchanged glances.

It was as expected.

It was because Anne had already heard that Luke had left the mansion.

“Are you going to go find oppa now?”

“Of course I should help you!”

That’s how I made Elin.

Of course, neither of them could forgive Luke.

“!”

Elin’s stupid hair stood on end.

Even though we were close, I didn’t know you would accept it so immediately.

“Is the time okay for both of you?”

“Profit…! The princess has just been humiliated like this. Is my time important? How dare you hurt my young heart!”

Bena got angry as if it was her own business.

Ellen was moved by the sight.

Even though my tears hadn’t dried yet, I might have cried for about an hour.

“It’s okay whether you’re Benado or not. They both graduated from the academy, so if you want to take some time off, you can take some time off.”

“… Sister.”

Elin buried her face in Nia’s chest.

Nia patted Elin on the back and deliberately raised her voice playfully.

“Okay, Captain Elin? So where should we look first?”

“… For now.”

Elin took out a piece of long-distance communication paper from her inventory.

I wonder if there is a blocking function.

Or are you just ignoring it?

I sent messages up to the limit of capacity, but Luke didn’t read them.

Because I made up my mind.

Elin changed the recipient without hesitation.

“I’ll try contacting Lanian.”

Luke clearly said he was heading to the tower.

Among the people Elin knows, the only one related to the Magic Tower is Lanian.

Square square-

I wrote a letter to Ranian.

…with the pen Luke gave me as a gift.

Phew!

When I realized it, there was a hole in the long-distance communication paper.

“… How about loosening up your hands a little?”

“I’m trying too.”

Phew!

I had to rewrite it several times because the paper kept getting ripped off.