episode_0048

Ellen’s mood was at its peak that day.

It’s a shame that I have to take a break from practicing magic.

My skills aren’t improving as much as they used to.

I couldn’t concentrate because I was overdoing it.

But Luke suggested they go for a walk.

Hold hands too!

Elin walked around the square with a smile on her face (of course, she was always expressionless).

It didn’t really matter that I saw the same scenery.

The important thing is spending time with Luke.

-Let’s go to some different places.

When I heard those words, I felt like I had received a birthday present.

It was perfect, sending Dien north and telling Luke stories until he fell asleep… … .

Dreaming.

Elin opened her eyes.

I can’t feel the warmth that was next to me.

“… … ?”

I woke up rubbing my sleepy eyes with emptiness.

As your eyes adjust to the darkness, you can see your surroundings.

“Teacher?”

Luke was nowhere to be seen.

Swish.

Ellen lay down again.

He must have gone to the bathroom.

That’s because I thought so simply.

But Elin Bertain is a woman who can’t sleep unless she holds something in her hand.

And there’s no rabbit doll.

There was no way I could sleep without Luke.

“… Where did you go.”

Elin, who had completely woken up, jumped out of bed.

Because I didn’t think I could fall asleep until Luke got back.

“Huaam… .”

He yawned with his small mouth and came out into the hallway.

I squinted my eyes because I was suddenly exposed to a bright light.

I stayed in that state and concentrated without opening my eyes.

This was the homework Luke gave me a while ago.

Scatter mana to learn the surrounding terrain.

A spatial magic specialized for finding your way.

Elin, who had been concentrating, wrinkled her nose.

“… … Teacher, the smell of Mana.”

Dim but unmistakable.

Luke’s scent continued to linger.

“…?!”

The problem was that it wasn’t just Luke’s mana smell.

A very faint mana was mixed next to Luke.

Looking at the extent to which mana has been restrained, it is one of two things.

Or an extremely skilled wizard.

Or someone who doesn’t use mana at all.

Of course, there were exceptions, such as the secret task force that thoroughly hid their traces.

Ellen hadn’t thought that far.

So here’s one possibility I can think of.

“… Wizard?”

Luke meets a very talented wizard.

And secretly, in the middle of the night!

At this point, my imagination was spinning.

Ranian, Dien, and Anne.

There were many women around the teacher.

Then, wouldn’t it be a woman this time too?

I remembered the puppet show I saw there a few days ago.

A man and a woman who cannot normally meet due to certain restrictions.

A forbidden love that we meet secretly every night because we miss each other so much… .

“Ugh.”

Elin, who had imagined it that far, was startled by herself.

Somehow I felt like Luke could really do it.

You can contact us using long distance communication paper.

You could open a portal and bring them in secretly.

Besides, if he’s a wizard of Luke’s level.

“Does your teacher have a lover…?”

This conclusion was reached through such a complex process.

It was an imagination that would have made Luke vomit if he had suddenly heard about Leo and his lover.

“… No.”

But Elin, who had already come to that conclusion, hurriedly followed Luke’s trail.

I’m not saying that teachers can’t have lovers.

Because I feel like I’d feel bad if I did that.

Elin, who was following the trail, felt something strange.

“… My room?”

Luke’s trail leads to Elin’s room.

How could you enter your disciple’s room with another woman!

I can’t even think of the word “that”.

“Why in my room…?”

He approached the door slowly with a shocked face.

Who on earth is it that they spend the night in Elin’s room with the teacher?

I need to at least see your face.

With that thought in mind, I opened the door just a little bit.

I found it.

“Would you like to join us for the future of the empire?”

The scene where Luke’s lover… no, Leo tries to steal his only teacher…!

* * * * *

… … That was the reason why Elin was sitting on Luke’s lap and glaring at Leo.

“… … ”

“… … ”

A three-way meeting that started unexpectedly.

The atmosphere was unusual.

Elin’s Wrath Stage 1.

A wildly shaking fool’s hair.

Anger level 2.

A softly burning wall.

Stage 3 anger.

Even the cheeks are puffed out and swollen.

This is because Elin’s anger gauge has passed level 3 due to her happy day with Luke being interrupted.

Leo, unable to bear the gaze of overwhelming resentment, spoke first.

“How have you been, Elin? It’s been a while… Eun, no.”

It wasn’t a very nice greeting, though.

“Why are you here?”

Growl.

It was a voice full of hostility, as if it were saying something like that.

“I came to ask Luke Bucklin a favor.”

“No.”

“… Did you hear what I said earlier?”

Dori dori.

I didn’t hear it from the beginning though.

Ellen shook her head for a moment.

“Whatever you ask. Don’t take away my teacher.”

Elin grinding her teeth.

It was just like a wild kitten hunting for its last remaining food.

“But El―”

“No.”

“Let me hear what you have to say―”

“No.”

“Let me talk―”

“No.”

Elin, who seems to be building an iron wall to prevent anyone from making a sound.

“… … ”

Leo looked at Luke blankly, asking for help.

Something the secret task force leader can’t solve alone.

That was my ex-sister who was very sharp.

“Shouldn’t we still let them talk?”

“… … ”

“We can’t keep going like this.”

“… That’s right.”

Elin, barely able to calm down, nodded.

It was an opportunity for Leo to speak.

“The Secret Service needs Luke―”

“No.”

“… … ”

Of course, it was taken away right away.

If things continue like this, Elin will give up being human and turn into a pumpkin.

Luke opened his mouth.

“I’ve refused several times. Leo keeps trying to take me.”

Of course, I never offered to help Leo.

“No, you definitely weren’t worried earlier.”

Leo’s bland expression cracked.

It was like getting hit in the back of the head when I asked for help.

“Me?”

“Weren’t you interested in the secret task force’s information?”

“But I never said I would abandon my precious princess.”

“Growl… .”

Now, with her somewhat fabricated words, Elin began to make real animal sounds.

“Let me be clear. I will not join the secret task force. There would certainly be a lot to gain, but there is too much to lose.”

Although I was overwhelmed by the information.

Then wouldn’t I have to cut off all the connections I’ve built up so far?

This was absolutely unacceptable, as it included Elin.

“… You’re kicking away a good opportunity.”

“Yes? I’ve never thrown away an opportunity.”

Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m going to cut ties with the secret task force.

Think about it.

It’s a bit like that because it’s our first meeting.

Strictly speaking, it is a special force directly under the imperial family.

Isn’t it a group associated with the Emperor, the highest authority in the empire?

“Can’t we cooperate sometimes?”

So, we keep a loose distance.

Just taking what each other needs.

So that you can always pretend not to know.

If caught, it would be a tightrope walk that would be condemned by both the royal family and the dukedom.

Tightrope walking is originally something you have to do with the risk of falling.

If you don’t get caught, it’s a jackpot.

“You can’t operate the secret task force like that.”

“If you don’t like it, drink it.”

Of course, even if this format didn’t work, Luke had no regrets.

I don’t know exactly what kind of crisis is coming.

Because I was confident that I could protect Elin somehow.

“Isn’t that the secret task force that’s urgent?”

On the other hand, what is disappointing is the secret task force.

Otherwise, Leo wouldn’t have come to see me in the middle of the night.

The one in the lead here was Luke.

“… … ”

Leo shut his mouth tightly as if he had been hit with a nail.

He lowers his gaze and strokes his chin.

Even here, the sound of heads rolling could be heard.

Swish.

Leo looked up when the calculations were finished.

“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think that’ll work.”

“You’re kicking away a good opportunity with your own feet.”

“… … ”

Leo pressed his temples as he repeated what he had just said.

“I recognize your abilities, but somehow, the more I get involved with you, the more my head hurts.”

“Why are you doing this to me when you approached me from that side?”

Leo, who was at a loss for words, stood up from his seat.

After putting on the mask, I stood by the window.

“I’ll take my leave now. The doctor said it for sure, so I’ll refrain from coming to Bertain. I hope you change your mind later.”

After finishing speaking, Leo tried to open the window.

Clink.

The tightly locked window would not open.

“… Luke.”

Leo, who immediately noticed the trick, glared at her through his mask.

“You’re only just noticing it now. You should step down from your position as the leader of the secret task force.”

“… Are all the other places blocked off too?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

Both windows and doors.

It was locked with space magic during the conversation.

Luke smiled faintly.

“Where in the world would an outsider who invaded Bertain just go back?”

“… … ”

Instead of answering, Leo glanced out the window.

“I hope you don’t try to break the window and get out.”

If you break the window in the middle of the night, all of Bertain’s security systems will activate.

Even for a secret task force, it will be a difficult environment to escape from.

“Do you really think I can’t subdue you?”

Crunch.

Leo places his hand on the hilt of his sword.

“… Are you trying to hurt the teacher again?”

Ddddd-

Immediately, Elin’s mana vibrated the atmosphere.

Elin, who has been training hard due to the recent incident.

I was sure I would have destroyed the room rather than just sit back and watch this happen.

Then, it is obvious that all kinds of security guards will come rushing in.

“I don’t want to make a fuss. First, please sit down again.”

Leo clicked his tongue at the threat that wasn’t a threat and sat back down on the road chair.

“What do you want?”

Since we are unable to cooperate, the plans have changed.

“What can you do for us?”

We’ve taken the best hostage, the captain of the secret task force.

Now it was time to negotiate.