Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: Elfin's Inner Circumstances
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After fleeing into the empire's interior and finally catching a breather, I had a chance to check on the changes that had come over Ravi and Lenis.
"Alvis, look at this! It's seriously amazing!"
Ravi bounced over to me like a rabbit, eager to show off the new skill she'd picked up after taking down that Ebony Shadow Mercenaries executive.
"You gather the power like this... and attack!"
A surge of intense energy began to build in Ravi's leg.
She thrust out her sleek leg in a powerful spinning kick through the air, and the force concentrated there exploded outward all at once, forming a shockwave that was nearly as sharp as a sword aura and hurtling forward.
The shockwave shooting from her leg cleaved a massive tree far in the distance clean in half with a single strike.
Having gained the ability to unleash something like the lariat kicks from those comics I'd seen somewhere, Ravi was thrilled with her leg strength that had split the tree in two. She grabbed my hand and hopped around joyfully.
"Did you see that? Now I have a way to fight from long range! Looks like that battle was treated like some kind of dungeon event. It's not just my legs—my fists work too. Like this... Hya!"
She threw a punch into the empty air, and with a popping sound as the atmosphere tore, the dirt far away caved in with a thud.
Ravi, who had transcended mere unarmed fighter to become something like a ki-wielding martial artist, plopped down beside me with a goofy grin, her bunny ears perked up as she hooked her arm through mine.
"Alvis. At that final moment of the attack back there, I felt a power similar to what you use. You helped us out, didn't you?"
"What help? I was busy puking blood and crawling on the ground. I just added a tiny spoon to the pot at the end."
"Even so, if you hadn't helped, we would've been done for earlier. I know it. No, before that, our country would've been completely swallowed by the flames of war. It's all thanks to you."
Ravi climbed onto my lap and hugged me tight, whispering in my ear.
"Thank you, Alvis. I love you♡"
"I love you too, Ravi. But climbing on top like this in broad daylight outdoors and wiggling your hips makes it hard for me to move, you know? We're not exactly in a spot to go anywhere right now."
"Then..."
Ravi flashed a mischievous smile, opening her mouth and sticking out her tongue.
"With your mouth...♡"
"......"
We headed back about ten minutes later.
Meanwhile, Lenis was busy testing out her new magic in her own way.
"Alvis! Check this out! Finally, I, Lenis Valentin, get to show off my elite side with this spell! I prepare the mana arrow like this..."
A simple magic circle unfolded over Lenis's winged staff, but her spell didn't end there.
Atop the mana arrow magic circle floating above the staff, another red one appeared. It was a fireball circle.
As the flickering, blazing magic circle completed, the mana arrow Lenis had loaded condensed with fiery mana, igniting into flames. She fired it at a large boulder.
The fusion magic, combining the mana arrow's casting speed with the fireball's power, shattered the boulder in one hit.
That level of power was something any mage could achieve with a decent spell, but Lenis's fusion magic mixed two basic spells to amplify each other's firepower dramatically. The mana cost-to-power ratio was incredibly efficient, and the prep time was only a tad longer than a standard mana arrow.
Having pulverized the boulder in an instant, Lenis lifted her chin proudly, hands on her hips, as if demanding praise.
"Hmph, what do you think? Pretty impressive, right? I, of all people, can now use fusion magic! Fusion magic is an advanced technique that only a rare few talented mages can wield without side effects. Ever since that battle at the border, my insight into magic has deepened, leading me to a great realization—"
"Yeah, I may not use magic, but I know fusion magic is tough. You got so caught up chasing flashy spells that you neglected the basics, yet you mastered fusion magic in this short time? Your talent is seriously something else. Looks like entrusting my back to you was the right call."
"...!"
My praise, laced with sincerity and a touch of flattery, hit the mark. Lenis, who had been puffing out her chest and holding her head high, suddenly turned into a mumbling mess, her face flushing as she forced a casual smile.
"H-hum! Alvis, you're sneakily good at flattery, huh? Not that it'll get you anything! And I certainly won't swoon over it!"
She pointed at me dramatically to act tough, but then averted her gaze and slowly lowered her hand.
"St-still... uh... that praise wasn't bad."
"What, you get shy when you actually get complimented? I can give you more anytime. Want some?"
"N-no! I don't need any!?"
Lenis's attitude toward me had definitely softened a lot.
She was even wearing the 'Crossing Moons Ring' I'd given her on her left ring finger without realizing it.
I didn't point it out, figuring she'd freak out, but that alone told me her affection had risen quite a bit.
Ravi was already my woman, and to make the other two—Elfin and Lenis—mine as well, it felt like it was time for some real progress...
As I pondered how to trigger some dramatic event with them while preparing dinner at the campsite, I noticed one person missing.
"Haven't seen Elfin?"
At my words, Ravi and Lenis looked around. Elfin had vanished without a word at some point.
"That's weird. She'd say something if she was going somewhere..."
"Should I go look for her?"
As Ravi started to stand, I gently grabbed her shoulder and sat her back down.
"No, you two eat first. I can find out where she is with my ability, so I'll bring her back."
Activating Eye that Pierces Truth, I saw Elfin's illusion moving deeper into the forest.
Following the path she'd taken, I spotted her sweating profusely, intensely training inside the woods.
The problem was, this wasn't normal training—it was brutally harsh, to the point of grinding her own body down.
Her mana had long since run dry, leaving her exhausted, yet Elfin was forcibly drawing out more power to keep moving. She no longer had the strength to lift a single plant stem, but she pushed on, overextending her abilities repeatedly.
The dagger she drew from her waist and threw flew precisely toward the tree trunk target, but her arm lacked strength, so it didn't even embed—it just clattered to the ground.
"Elfin, what are you doing out here alone?"
"Huff... huff... Training. Don't worry about it."
"It's dinnertime. Eat first, then train."
"I'm good. You guys eat without me. I'm training more."
"You won't be efficient if you're hungry. Come eat first."
"I said I'm good! I'll eat later on my own, so don't bother me and just go!"
Elfin stubbornly refused dinner and insisted on continuing her training.
At this rate, drenched in cold sweat with her mana completely depleted, it wasn't training anymore—it was risking her health right then and there...
Unable to break Elfin's stubbornness, I headed back to the campsite first.
"What'd she say?"
"She said to eat without her; she's training. Let's eat first. I'll pack some food for Elfin after."
Ravi, Lenis, and I ate together, but the two, unaware why Elfin was skipping meals, occasionally glanced worriedly toward the forest path I'd come from.
After the meal, Lenis grilled some extra meat and handed it to me.
"Alvis, I set aside the best cuts and cooked these for Elfin. Don't eat them yourself."
"Hey, I just ate. You think I'm a pig who'll scarf these down too?"
"Anyway, give them to Elfin and nothing else."
Taking the meat Lenis had prepared, Ravi looked anxiously at the forest and asked,
"Alvis, want me to come with?"
I hesitated for a moment. Bringing Ravi or Lenis along to fetch Elfin right now?
I had a rough idea why Elfin was training like a woman possessed, so I shook my head, figuring it might backfire.
"No, better if I go alone. And for the time being, when talking to Elfin... avoid topics like combat or training. Stick to everyday chit-chat."
"Huh? What do you mean..."
"Hard to explain. Just remember what I said and steer clear of those subjects with her. I'll take this to Elfin."
I left the two at the campsite and headed back to Elfin.
Since we'd eaten leisurely, quite some time had passed, but Elfin was still at it without a break—even more sweat-soaked than before.
Prolonged mana exhaustion had left her eyes unfocused, barely able to control her own body.
I set the meat-wrapped leaves on a nearby rock and rushed to support her.
"That's enough. Don't push yourself."
"Huff... huff... cough...! No..."
"Elfin, how long are you gonna keep this up? Come eat."
"No! I... need to get stronger! This isn't the time to leisurely eat! Just leave me alone!"
Elfin threw a tantrum, stubbornly digging in her heels.
Seeing her so unlike her usual self, I sighed and hoisted her onto my back.
"Up you go."
"Wh-what?! What are you doing? Put me down! I need to train more! More... more...!"
"Cut the nonsense before I get mad for real."
I lowered my voice a notch, and Elfin flinched, clamping her mouth shut.
I carried her to the rock where I'd set the meat, sat her down, and offered her the freshly grilled piece from Lenis. She took it quietly and stared at it.
I placed my hand on Elfin's head.
"No one's calling you weak or useless, even if you push yourself like this. And it's not true anyway."
Normally, she'd have recoiled from my touch, cursing and slapping my hand away in disgust, but not now.
Something welled up inside Elfin; she choked back sobs, sniffling as tears threatened to spill.
Finally, she couldn't hold it in and burst into tears.
"Hic... waaaah...! Uwaaaaaah!"