The Curse of the Connection (2)

The length seemed just right.

Parania wrote "I want to pinch you" on the stone slab with a half-doubting expression.

A moment later, the letters glowed, turning into particles of light that scattered and vanished.

"Has it been delivered?"

"Yeah. If Agnes saw that message, she'll write something back."

It was like a 'read' receipt on a phone call. But since we didn't know when it'd arrive, we decided to eat first.

The tablet-sized stone slab was portable anyway.

For some reason, during the meal, Ashu sat right next to me.

She said she'd teach me dining etiquette while we were at it.

This girl is killing my appetite right before good food.

If we're going to be together, we have to put up with each other's quirks to some extent.

In cases like this, I just need to learn properly, so I accepted it meekly.

Surprisingly, it wasn't that hard.

"Kirgil, are you from nobility by any chance? I didn't expect you to handle the spoon, fork, and knife so naturally."

People here drink soup from cups or bowls they hold in their hands, and they eat most foods with their bare hands unless it's too hot.

Even in Prosek Castle, dining etiquette was pretty lax.

In this world without stainless steel, spoons, forks, and knives are made of silver or even more expensive metals.

Commoners usually use wooden skewers or a small dagger the size of a palm as eating utensils.

I think I've seen wooden spoons occasionally.

They're for the elderly or young kids who need them.

Dining etiquette in Parania's mansion felt like eating at a family restaurant in front of adults by my world's standards.

Forks and knives are easy tools to pick up—just cut some pork cutlet a few times.

Most people in this world have never even tried them.

I've used chopsticks, which are harder than these.

You lay a large napkin on your lap and wait, and a servant gives you meat or food.

You eat when the host offers it, or follow what others or the host are eating.

In short, just eat a bit slower and more leisurely than usual.

"You don't have to be too stiff about it. I've dealt with a lot of adventurers. This city has all sorts of races. If you nitpick every little thing, you can't even invite important guests."

"Thank you for your consideration. I was worried Kirgil might unintentionally offend you, Vice President, but it was just my needless concern."

"Exactly. After saying it, I realized my consideration was unnecessary. Kirgil, you eat so comfortably without even being taught by Saintess Ashushikara?"

The only uncomfortable part was not letting my arms go under the table.

It's to prevent drawing a sword or casting magic from below, or to avoid suspicion of it.

Anyway, the food is delicious. As expected from a ducal princess's hospitality.

"……."

"Hey, Kirgil, why aren't you talking? Did I make you mad?"

I must have shown too perfect a posture, making Princess Ashushikara a bit intimidated. She's gauging my mood.

Like pulling a face in front of a pupa?

"……."

I finished swallowing, wiped my mouth with the napkin, and spoke.

"It's rude to talk with food in your mouth."

"Pfft!"

Parania desperately covered her mouth to hold back her bursting laughter.

Ashu looked stunned at my words ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for a moment, then whispered in my ear.

"Really, the more I learn about you, the more curious your true nature becomes. I'll figure it out someday."

A bit aggressive. Well, it's cute provocation.

Even in our intimate relationship, there's still a lot we haven't revealed.

Ashu hasn't probed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠deeply, fearing she'd touch a sensitive spot.

I plan to tell her when the chance comes. And it seems like that chance is coming soon.

"I can't say it myself—ask Agnes when she gets here. She'll explain well."

"Hehe, now I'm even more looking forward to meeting Teacher Agnes. It's been a while; I need to receive lots of guidance."

A somewhat aggressive laugh. Is she planning to interrogate Agnes into confessing?

No worries—Agnes will handle it fine. She's not as easygoing as she seems.

"Ah!! It's here! The slab's letters are glowing! Word from Agnes!"

It went against dining etiquette, but we all stood and went to Parania.

Light gathered on the stone slab she'd placed beside her like dust, forming letters.

The reply was even simpler than what we'd sent.

The slab left those letters and cracked like glass before shattering. It's a magic tool for one send and one receive only.

As expected of Agnes. A very short, clear reply.

The single word implied she understood it was me calling, not Parania.

Of course she'll come.

Just my name, but it felt like Agnes calling me in a desperate voice, stirring my heart.

It has meaning only we two understand.

"Yes! She's coming! Let's go!! To the transfer circle!! Hurry!!"

Parania looked thrilled too, ready to bolt mid-meal.

She'll come, but not right away.

Knowing Agnes, she's probably packing a bunch of stuff again.

Even when I was in the village, she stuffed me with things.

Thinking back, that might have been Agnes's clumsy way of showing affection.

For now, I stopped the excited Parania.

I told her she wouldn't come immediately and we'd have to wait at least a few hours even if she did.

"Alright, I believe you. Your words after getting Agnes's reply must be right."

"I'll wait alone at the transfer circle. If possible, I want to greet Agnes first."

"You'll have tons of questions for me anyway. I'll make time for you for a few days. Let's even put a desk there and work together!"

As soon as she finished speaking, her ears twitched as she ordered Paranil to bring furniture to the transfer circle.

The servants moved swiftly. They must be used to such sudden orders.

Ashu left after the meal for cathedral duties and such. Being a saintess means people seek her everywhere.

We decided to stay the night at Parania's mansion while waiting for Agnes in the evening.

"Kirgil, you're not a mage, yet you cast magic. You even stole and toyed with my magic. I've never seen records of magic theft even in the academy. What technique is it?"

Parania asked as soon as she dismissed everyone. She'll keep asking questions like this while waiting for Agnes.

"Technique... Honestly, I learned it by chance, so I don't know well myself. Maybe because I'm too good at ancient language?"

Mages all react the same. Agnes did too at first, until I corrected her pronunciation bit by bit later.

"I've wanted to point this out before. Your pronunciation is terrible. You might write well, but it's a mess when spoken."

"It's real. Your skill is genuine. Agnes must have learned from you. But we can read from books, yet pronunciation is passed mouth to mouth. That's our limit. Kirgil, join our academy..."

"Whoa, don't rush me. Weren't you surprised by Ashushikara's prayer yesterday? All the prayers from devotees so far have perfect pronunciation. Why not research prayers first?"

"Really!? That's a huge discovery already!"

Parania brought more books and asked me to interpret them. Just like Agnes asking me.

Being an academy, books poured out.

Studying after so long made me crave coffee and something sweet. Keep craving it.

"Paranil!! The finest snacks!! Tea with awakening effects too!! All the best!!"

"Sister, again!?"

"Right now, Kirgil has devoured a year's worth of our academy's research in this spot!! Hurry!! Use research budget if needed!! Approved!!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Um, I want to rest a bit. It's been four hours already. I'd like to tour the city too."

"Hiiing…."

Why ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is she tearing up? I've been surrounded by books for hours and I'm the one who wants to cry.

Being with this elf makes me feel like the villain. I was about to storm out but decided to tour the mansion instead.

It's an awkward time to go out, not knowing when Agnes will arrive, so I looked at the collections and magic tools.

From swords, shields, armor you see in smithies to staves, instruments, planks!? Even underwear!?

Is the plank some hero's starter gear who defeated the Demon King?

I wanted to appraise it with Status Window, but touching others' collections is rude. Be grateful just to look.

I toured the mansion like that and read a few more books. This time, I requested ones I wanted.

I got curious about the gods and dungeons here.

Surprisingly, ancient texts call dungeon cores 'seeds' too. Is that 'Seed' I met in the forest one of them?

I heard a voice briefly during the Inario Dungeon too.

Hmm... Probably not the one I destroyed.

Evening came, but Agnes didn't arrive. If the sun's down, she won't come today. That's just how she is. So I stayed at the mansion.

Ashu and I took separate rooms. Need to be discreet in someone else's home.

And the next morning.

Suddenly, a black sphere like a black hole sucking in surrounding air appeared at the transfer circle.

Parania and I there instinctively knew.

"Agnes…"

The sphere stopped absorbing air and stabilized into a perfect circle. A brief silence fell. Then, with a whoosh, the membrane vanished like uncorking a bottle, sending a wave of air outward.

I closed my eyes against the swirling dust and opened them.

"Agnes. You've arrived."

Agnes stood there in her neatly dressed uniform, just like when I left.

But she had a huge bag on her back and a basket in her hand.

Knew it.

"A-a-a-ah…."

Parania beside me trembled in shock and fear. Now that they'd met, she didn't know what to do.

Agnes finished concentrating on the transfer spell and opened her eyes.

And the moment she saw me.

"…Kirgil!!"

She dropped the bag and basket like discarding them and ran to me.

Hugging straight into my chest.

Just a few months, but it felt like years of reunion joy.

The familiar build, scent, voice made tears well up.

Agnes was outright crying in my arms.

So much to say, but now that we're together, emotions and words surged, leaving only tears.

For both of us.

We needed time to calm down.

Needed a handkerchief for tears and snot too.

Parania beside us lent one.

Agnes kept her face buried in my chest, refusing to lift her head.

"…I'm ashamed to show you this face."

She whispered from my chest, so I soothed her, pulled her face away gently, and wiped her tears and snot.

Gave her a light forehead kiss to say it's okay.

Agnes looked up and straight at Parania.

"Well then. Can't call you 'lop-eared' anymore."

"Eh!? Ah! R-right... yes!!"

Parania's face panicked, but she tried to regain dignity, lifting her head and hand to her waist.

Her ears flapped proudly even then.

Agnes stood straight and looked Parania in the eye.

"You, not just ears grown, but finally some maturity too."

Agnes said with a smile.

"…Parania."

She was signaling she wouldn't use nicknames like lop-ear or one-eared anymore.

Seems Agnes was finally ready to forgive Parania.

"Uuuu… Sister!"

Parania cried and hugged Agnes.

Today felt like a family reunion. Hugging and crying. Still, touching.

Sister. Fits their relationship perfectly.

Agnes going to save Parania herself, and handling the hostage-takers so brutally—it stemmed from deep emotions.

If the academy's a school, theirs is like girls going to the bathroom together.

Once emotions opened, just seeing the sisters reunite brought tears.

Wiping tears with my hand.

"Hm? Kirgil, what's that on your hand?"

I'd shown the ring on my left hand absentmindedly while wiping tears. Not hiding it, but mithril's comfort makes me forget it's there sometimes.

"Ashu put it on me. She insisted I not take it off, so I keep it."

Agnes eyed the ring on my ring finger intently.

In this world too, rings between man and woman draw attention.

"I see. Ashushikara put a ring on you. Come to think of it, I should meet that child too after so long."

One more touching reunion left.

Parania hurried off to prepare something for her long-lost sister,

and I took Agnes's hand, leading her to Ashu still in the mansion room.

Ashu was dressing up to go out.

I knocked.

"Ashu, Agnes is here! Come out quick!"

"Y-yes!? Really!!"

A joyful voice from inside, footsteps rushing, and the door opened.

Then Agnes pulled her hand from mine, hooked my leg with her staff-holding hand, and said…

"Guh, wha…!?"

A sudden twist and press sent me sprawling face-down on the floor.

Agnes's spell. Too fast, like a weapon activation chant—I couldn't react.

Looking up to ask why, she gazed down with a pained expression.

"Sorry, Kirgil. This Agnes does not wish to harm you, so I gently press your limbs to immobilize them. I promise this is all for your sake."

Agnes chanted ancient language so fluidly it was like conversation. The effect was a spell. Unlike before, an invisible shell coated me, blocking movement.

A highly precise capture spell.

So this is high-level mage combat.

Fast, simple magic to disrupt, then chain powerful, precise spells for attack—I had no counter.

But why is Agnes doing this?

I tried to look up and ask, but my head was sealed too.

"Agnes, why are you doing this?"

"Sorry. Truly sorry, but it's for you, Kirgil. Bear with it just a moment."

Some unspeakable circumstance? Agnes stared away with strong resolve, teeth gritted toward the door.

Then the door opened.

"What's going on? Such a commotion…"

Agnes pressed her staff to Ashu's leg as she appeared.

With the chant, Ashu's leg floated as if local gravity inverted, hanging her upside down in midair.

"Kyaaah!! Lady Agnes! S-suddenly… why… why?!"

"Uwaaaah… Aaaah!! L-Lady… Agnes…."

Ashu writhed in midair like her throat was throttled. It's the magic to pull a meteor from the sky. She could rip her out if she wanted.

I instinctively checked the Status Window.

Why didn't I notice? Why didn't I care? Should've asked sooner…

Agnes's Status Window isn't appearing now.

I thrashed to stop her, but couldn't move.

Tried stealing the magic, but it was already active.

"Stop it, Agnes!! Why are you doing this?!"

"Why? I didn't expect you in this situation either, Kirgil.

Ashushikara, did you think this Agnes wouldn't know your scheming!!"