Chapter 67
Chapter
[Ugh….]
The Undine stuck her tongue out at the pitiful sight of the front and back of the Succubus.
“That one, I can overlook, but the brutality is too much. Even an Undine who has seen all sorts of things feels a bit iffy about this.”
“Ugh….”
Rionne looked slightly pale too. The human man? He had gotten so enchanted by the Succubus’s allure that he bucked his waist against the ground a few times before fainting after doing his business.
“By the way, I didn’t expect the spirit fusion to be so quick.”
Eri, who had been frustrated, had given a subtle signal, but it was still much faster than expected. Normally, you would figure it out after a lot of trial and error.
*Sigh, honestly.*
But that was all thanks to having a well-placed spirit. Hadn’t Eri been continuously signaling?
For someone who didn’t know any better, they might think, ‘What’s that?,’ but spirit fusion is a very sensitive act from a spiritual perspective.
Umm…, I think I can do spirit fusion now…
If you were to roughly translate that, it would mean,
Um…, I really need to go today…
There’s not much difference at all. A virtuous woman grabbing a man’s sleeve and shaking it in that sense.
Of course, it’s not that I liken such acts to spirit fusion, but it’s saying that it’s quite embarrassing for the spirit to suggest it first.
[But they sure are ungrateful. Tsk, tsk.]
“E-Enok…?”
Unlike the grumbling Undine, Rionne carefully approached Enok. Enok had realized only after the fact that he was before Rionne and rolled his eyes, feeling awkward.
[Um…, Rionne, there’s something…]
“Let me see your hand.”
[…Okay.]
Enok casually tossed away the Succubus’s remains he had been holding. Then he shook the dirty liquid and blood off his hand a bit in the air before extending what seemed like a relatively clean hand to Rionne.
“How can you touch such things? Goodness gracious. What if you catch a disease or something?”
[…Huh?]
Taken aback by the unexpected remark, Enok was confused, but Rionne held his hand, washing it with magic repeatedly, before tightly clasping it with both hands, as if to banish the dirtiness.
“From now on, just smash the head or heart, okay?”
[Uh…, yeah.]
After receiving a firm answer, Rionne’s expression softened, and she gently played with the fox ears sprouting on top of Enok’s head.
“By the way, the spirit fusion form is quite unique. Is it because Eri takes the form of a fox?”
[……!]
“Wow? Your ears are sensitive like a Beastman’s?”
As Rionne fiddled with the ears, Enok’s body shivered slightly. It was clearly made of Ki, but the sensation felt remarkably like touching real Beastman ears, which was fascinating in many ways.
“The tail too…, oh.”
Swish-! The Ki scattered, and Enok’s appearance reverted back to normal. It seemed that the time he could maintain the spirit fusion had simply run out.
“Aw, I was curious.”
Rionne pouted in disappointment at the prospect of not being able to touch Enok’s fluffly tail. Enok rubbed his prickly body, feeling a strange sensation that was different from when a human touched his ears.
“Touch it later.”
“Really? Will you let me touch it?”
“Yep. Of course.”
As Enok nodded, the languid Eri flopped down on her belly over his head. In the eyes of the spirit, Rionne appeared. Poor Elf.
[…Mother.]
“Huh? What’s wrong, Eri?”
[Nothing….]
I couldn’t bring myself to say it. When I got closer to being one with father and could faintly read his thoughts, was there someone out there who could comprehend the feeling of being suffocated by just those hazy fragments of heavy emotion?
Since the destination of that feeling was none other than mother, there would come a day when she would surely realize it too. Huh? This doesn’t seem right?
[…Just hold on, okay?]
“Okay? Haha, thanks. But can I really get any more strength from here?”
Rionne teased, stretching Enok’s cheek with a smile. Eri glanced around uneasily. The remains of the Succubus were strewn everywhere.
[Umm….]
Was it not that mother didn’t seem entirely normal, so perhaps she would take it surprisingly well? Is this destiny?
The worries of the young spirit deepened.
*
After a while of being fussed over by Rionne, Enok gazed down at the floor. The human man lay unconscious and twitching. As Enok looked down at him with a look of disgust, he met Rionne’s gaze.
“Rionne, what should we do with this?”
“Um…. I heard that this dungeon is connected to Tetika, right? Wouldn’t it be better to take him there?”
Do we really need to? Can’t we just tell him to find his way back? Enok pursed his lips but nodded in silence.
“Let’s see….”
Rionne expanded her Ki Sense. Seeing Helldogs or Succubi had appeared, it seemed like the dimensions had overlapped for some reason, but then, even if the spaces were far apart, it wouldn’t be strange if they were connected.
The illusions of the past were also probably byproducts born from the process of bending space and dimensions.
Though it was unclear why it took the form of glass beads, thinking about that made his head ache. Just let it be. This was a problem that those theorizing mages should solve.
“Right over there?”
“Yeah. Looks like it.”
Enok nodded as he confirmed the line with his Ki Eye too.
After that, there wasn’t really anything noteworthy. In fact, at the point where Rionne was, it would be strange if anything notable occurred.
Up till now, it was simply something entrusted to Enok as practice; if Rionne had gone out from the get-go, it would have finished swiftly.
“Is it really Tetika?”
Upon exiting into the bright light, an exotic scene unfolded before them. The cave’s exit was perched atop a rather tall hill, and the scenery below was distinctly reminiscent of a port city.
“It’s different from Ratbelion.”
Rionne nodded at Enok’s words.
“Being near the seaside makes a big difference. The inland side feels quite different too.”
“Well, I guess we’ll stop by someday.”
Even if there was no particular reason to go, living a long life alongside Rionne, wouldn’t they end up visiting as a trip at least once? Enok roughly rolled the human man he had been holding by the nape of his neck down the hill.
Roll, roll, kicking up dust, the man came to a stop down below. Yes, satisfied, Enok nodded his head and stepped back into the cave again.
“Let’s head back soon.”
*
By the time they returned to the Forest of the Elf Union, a day had passed since departing, and the sun was high in the afternoon sky.
“Whew…! It seems like there wasn’t much relation to monsters after all.”
Rionne stretched and opened the front door to step inside the house. Enok followed and flopped down on the floor.
“…I’m tired.”
“Hehe, I suppose so. Rest well for a few days, Enok. You’ll need to sort through your revelations too.”
“Yeah….”
Crawling sluggishly toward the bed, Enok found himself caught by Rionne.
“We should wash up and lie down. Would you like to wash with your sister for a change?”
Rionne’s cheeks flushed slightly as she pretended to take off her clothes.
“…….”
However, there was no obstruction. Huh…? This, this is a bit troubling…? Startled, Rionne stole a glance at Enok.
His intense gaze made her feel somewhat embarrassed. As she slightly released the hem of her garment she had been holding onto while pretending to undress, Enok tilted his head.
“We’re going to wash together?”
“O-Okay? You really…?”
What the? Are we really going to wash together? Could this be a signal that it’s okay to touch each other…!?
Rionne’s eyes fluttered as she swallowed hard. Enok chuckled at her response.
“I’m just joking. I’ll be right back.”
Rionne stared hopelessly at Enok’s retreating figure toward the bathroom before letting out a small sigh.
“Ah… I was a little excited.”
[…You really. Sigh, better not say anything.]
Tsk, tsk, the Undine clicking her tongue lay sprawled across the dining table. Only Eri, who had been watching closely, quietly swallowed her saliva.
When the day of those two’s union comes, what on earth will happen…?
[Oh no…!]
Imagining it for a moment, Eri’s body trembled.
*
A few days later, on a morning like any other, Yonia, who visited every day, knocked on the door with vigor.
“Why again?”
“Why again, you say!”
At Enok’s indifferent response, Yonia grumbled.
“I heard everything.”
“Heard what?”
“That you’re going to duel other Elves? The streets have been buzzing lately that something fun is finally happening after a long time.”
Has that become news? Enok tightened the gloves on his hands a little more firmly before stepping out of the house.
“Well, that’s what happened.”
In this village, there are dozens of Masters, and plenty of Grandmasters to boot. It’s an insane strength that denies the common sense of being human, but that’s Elves for you.
“One by one, and the last will be Rionne.”
“Eh, you think you can even reach Rionne?”
Elven Masters have probably lived for hundreds of years. Setting aside the realms, their fighting skills are of a different caliber; even Enok would find it hard to beat them.
At Yonia’s scoffing demeanor, Enok calmly opened his left eye. His penetrating gaze flowed quietly.
“No, I will win.”
Even if there is a technical difference, it wouldn’t matter if he could steal it. Even against an Elf, he had no thoughts of losing to anyone other than Rionne.
*
“Hmm…. You’re going to duel with a human boy?”
“I heard he’s Rionne’s disciple. The villagers are still busy preparing for the festival right now.”
“Hmph, seems boring and unlikely to last long.”
“Eh, if the others have any sense, they’ll probably take it easy and not hurt him. I heard he’s barely in his twenties.”
A small woman with an adorable stature followed behind the smiling Elf, puffing away at a lengthy pipe. As she walked, the tail dangling near her rear swayed gently with each step.
“Tsukiyo, you’re going to watch too, right?”
“Well, there’s nothing wrong with just spectating. Lead the way.”
“Yes~. Oh, by the way.”
The Elf pulled something out from her pocket. Upon seeing that, Tsukiyo’s Beastman-like ears perked up excitedly.
“Would you like some candy?”
“If you really want to give it, I’ll gladly take it.”
“Wah, really? Here, open wide~.”
“Give it to me! I’ll eat it with my own hand!”
Tsukiyo, having stolen the candy from the Elf while simultaneously putting the pipe in her mouth, exhaled tobacco smoke.
“Having a Churu while observing won’t be boring at all.”