episode_0238

247.

After that day, Erina spent almost two days in bed. It was partly to recover her physical strength and energy, but mostly because she was mentally exhausted. On her bed, she silently slept, almost as if dead. A compulsive feeling that she should do something tried to rouse her, but the fatigue from everything she had been doing seemed to have overwhelmed her all at once, so she quietly rested and recovered.

Everyone was worried about Erina.

The church was still overflowing with activity and energy, but there was a subtle, dissonant worry lurking in one corner. Even though she had only been absent for two days, her influence within the church was absolute. Despite having constantly fostered deputies, people kept looking for her.

However, there was no way any parishioner would forcibly wake Erina, who was exhausted and asleep.

A subtly heavy atmosphere flowed unnoticed within the bright, kind, and warm church.

Asti quietly places a meal beside Erina’s bed. She carefully covers it to prevent dust and other things from getting in, and using a magic tool, preserves some of the heat, allowing for a warm meal for an hour or two.

“…”

Asti silently looks down at Erina with worry. Her chest flutters in response to Asti’s slight movements. The earnest girl she once was is gone. She unconsciously makes gestures to entice a male.

“Uum… um…”

At the sound of Erina’s sleep-talking, Asti’s elf ears perk up. However, only her breath is audible, and there is no sign of her waking up. Asti shakes her head and leaves the room.

“How is Erina? Is she okay?”

“Same as before. She’ll probably wake up around dawn, eat, and then go back to sleep.”

Aries was waiting for Asti outside the door. With her silver hair flowing, she dashes out, looking exactly like a child. From an elf’s perspective, all humans seem like children, though.

“Hmm… I think she collapsed once before from overwork.”

However, she is older than Erina. Her size and height are like a small child, but her physique is decidedly adult. Her breasts and hips are fully developed, optimized for pregnancy—a veritable adult. Yet, her childlike appearance makes her seem entirely like a child. Perhaps because the church has many different races, she is treated even more like a child.

She herself has almost become accustomed to this treatment and has even reached the point of slightly enjoying it.

“Yes. But the situation seems worse now. Last time, she showed signs of exhaustion, but the lack of such signs now is more troubling.”

“That means there’s something else affecting her besides her energy. It doesn’t seem to be a Magi problem…”

If it were demonic energy, Magi, the priests would have frantically searched for a solution.

“Oh, let’s talk here, we might wake her up.”

“Alright.”

As Aries suggested, they decide to avoid discussing this in front of Erina’s room. While they wonder if she’s sleeping too much, considering her daily routine, letting her rest as much as possible is the right thing to do. The two walk down the hallway and out.

“Should we make some medicine?”

“…I think there was someone skilled in alchemy.”

Aries stands before Asti, places both index fingers against her cheeks, and smiles cutely.

“Hmm. There definitely was one among the elves. Their name was…”

“……!”

Aries winces slightly, maintaining her smile, but Asti tries to ignore it.

“Hey! Alchemy is a mandatory subject in magic school, you know?”

“For a genius beauty like me, it’s a piece of cake!”

“From my memory, I don’t think I’ve seen you do alchemy since you came here.”

Asti’s words hit the mark. Instead of alchemy, she has been developing something mechanical with Hanna. Magic helped her with Hanna, but it didn’t make her knowledgeable about engineering theories. In short, it could be said she has barely touched any herbal remedies.

“Hahahahahahaha! Mortals, how amusing! The sight of you arguing over such trivial matters.”

The one who spoke with a hearty laugh was the dragon, Prim. She has the appearance of an ordinary country girl, but her imposing presence and aura are undeniable. Far from being tamed, she is a being of almost divine status, an ancient being, but somehow, due to a confluence of circumstances, she’s living at the church. More of a friend than a colleague, though their relationship is somewhat awkward without Erina—like acquaintances who don’t know each other well.

“You also… seem to have had a fight.”

“Th-this! Hmm. It’s nothing!”

One side of Prim’s cheek is slightly swollen and red, and a faint hand-shaped red mark is visible.

“Ah, you had quite a fight with your lover, huh?”

“Be quiet! So, mortals, why are you arguing?”

Her lover is Erina’s retainer, the fairy queen Titania. Even they can hardly explain how they got together; it was just one of those things. Prim strokes her swollen cheek and speaks loudly. Her yell carries a powerful presence, although everyone is slowly getting used to it. Of course, it’s still strong pressure on those without combat abilities.

“Erina…can’t seem to get up…”

“What? It’s nothing. Our dragons sleep for hundreds of years, by your human standards.”

“Even by elf standards, that’s extremely short, but Erina is human.”

“Indeed, a truly fragile creature.”

The words, ‘It’s just that dragons are extremely strong,’ rose to the throats of the two, but they restrained themselves out of maturity.

“So, that’s how the idea of making some medicine came up. Do you know anything? You’ve lived a long time…”

Aries subtly probes. She had managed to make it sound plausible to Asti, but wasn’t entirely confident in her ability to actually make something. Asti, immediately understanding Aries’s intention, shakes her head.

“Medicine. Something humans might take… hmm. In my distant old abode, there was something that could be called an elixir…”

“An elixir?”

“Dragons must hoard treasures, after all. However, the location of that abode is unclear.”

“It exists, right?”

Prim nods.

“I know the general location. Should we go there?”

“If you’re not confident, don’t say you can.”

“I am! But if there’s a shortcut, wouldn’t that be the best way?”

“You’re good with words.”

The two bicker. Seeing this, Prim adds,

“Watching a fight is nice, but you don’t seem to have much time, based on what you’ve said. Hmm, I’m not sure if that’s the right expression; human language is difficult.”

“……So, where is it?”

“I’ll warn you beforehand. It’s quite possible other humans have already looted the place.”

“There will be herbs along the way. We can think of it as an extra task. Right Asti?”

Asti crosses her arms, shrugs, and presses her chest, which heaves slightly, as there’s nothing to argue about.

“Hmm. Can’t you give us a ride?”

“I’ll take you close. But you’ll have to go to the entrance yourselves.”

Prim’s back flutters with the characteristic dragon wings. But they are human-sized.

“If I use my magic carelessly, I’ll be scolded by Tina… hmm. Anyway, the meaning lies in overcoming the ordeal yourselves.”

“Thank you.”

Even in human form, she possesses many times more magical power than most grand mages, and she can also convert it into physical strength. Prim immediately grabs the back of their necks and lifts them into the air. With a single wingbeat, they soar high, leaving them breathless and unable to scream. They were launched into the air in an instant.

And she flies them directly to their destination.

“Hyaaa―!!”

They lacked the time to even consider a protective spell. With their cheeks and hair fluttering wildly, desperately trying to force out air from their lungs, screaming, they quickly traversed the mountain range, arriving at the snow-capped peak in moments. A biting cold wind strikes them.

Before they could even steel their hearts, they arrive at their destination.

“Wheeeek! Wooeek―”

“Ghhup―.”

They wiped the tears streaming from their eyes as a wave of nausea washed over them.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

Flap, shwooong―. Prim disappears from sight instantly, leaving only the force of the wind in her wake. They cough several times before they can regain their composure. The icy cold of the snow-capped peak pierces them.

“Achoo! Oh, my. What a mess. That’s how dragons are, according to the texts, but…”

“It’s cold…”

Aries smiles, chuckling softly.

“A warm-up spell for you! 50 percent off if you buy now!”

“Even if you say it while shivering, it won’t work. Hurry up.”

“Aw, Asti, when will you accept a joke? You’re no fun.”

Aries pouts and grumbles, imbuing her magic with heat and enveloping them.

“Thank you.”

“There, there, don’t mention it. Let’s go!”

Asti inwardly grumbled about how bothersome she is. Prim’s location is about an hour’s walk from here.

“No. Come here.”

“What?”

“It’s faster if I carry you. Not as fast as Levi, but still.”

“You don’t think I’m a normal mage just because I’ve been cooped up in my room all day, do you?”

Asti honestly nods.

“…I’m a physical-type fighter! Let’s go!”

Rather than training her muscles, she strengthens them through magic. She uses magic to fight at close range, an extremely illogical method for a mage.

Aries said that, and dashed up the mountain path.