Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Mattress Mayhem
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"A real man knows how to keep his wife in check since time immemorial."
I teased her just for fun.
"Go ahead and do that. But what about my feet? Weren't you going to support me, Elma?"
[Ah....]
Oops.
Even without seeing her, I could picture her biting her lip tight.
[Y-Yeah. I should support you.... I'm your sturdy wife, after all....]
A forced, strained voice.
At this rate, she'd dispel the invisibility and insist on helping me no matter what.
A dwarf's pride pierces the heavens, after all.
But as her 'husband,' I couldn't just stand by and watch.
I chuckled and unwound the bandage from my foot.
Ssshh.
"Huh?"
"It's all good now. Guess expensive meds really do work wonders."
I flung the bandage away.
[R-Really? Doesn't hurt?]
"Yeah. I could run a marathon like this."
I bounced on my toes in place.
[Phew...]
A sigh brimming with relief.
She must really love being carried like this.
"Oh, right—what about shoes?"
[Hold on.]
Whirr-.
The propeller hum came from somewhere.
A drone swooped down from the sky.
A single box dangling below.
Thud.
It dropped right in front of me.
A pair of sneakers inside.
"You're always so prepared."
[I can't bear to see my husband barefoot.]
I slipped on the shoes.
Perfect fit.
Expensive, no doubt.
"Alright, let's head out."
I spread my arms into empty air.
"Come here."
Poof.
Squish.
Chewy.
Something heavy and warm snuggled into my arms.
Softness pressed against my chest.
Tiny arms wrapped around my neck.
[Hehe....]
Ticklish breath grazed my ear.
A nutty fragrance filled my nostrils.
I scooped her up and headed for the entrance.
Arms awkwardly embracing thin air.
Anyone watching would think it looked odd.
Being able to carry such an adorable professor like this.
Eh, whatever.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"We've arrived, Your Majesty."
"D-Don't call me Your Majesty!"
Something small thrashed in my arms.
Tiny fists pelted the top of my head.
Twintails tickled my chest.
Must be some serious black history.
"Pfft...! Got it! I won't! Khuh...!"
But her reaction was too cute.
I just couldn't help myself.
...Just every now and then.
The elevator doors slid open.
A vast showroom.
Surprisingly empty.
[Wow....]
A voice full of wonder.
I could feel Elma looking around.
From the strands of hair brushing my chin.
"Not many people here."
[Yeah. Lucky.]
Elma let out a sigh of relief.
[I can't stand crowds.]
A mumbly voice.
Her hands gripped me tighter.
[Everyone stares at me so weirdly. Feels awful.]
Her voice carried a thick weariness.
[Like gawking at a zoo monkey.]
Elma was a genius.
Youngest professor. Top authority in magic engineering.
But even those lofty titles meant nothing against the limits of her body.
Before she invented height-increasing magic.
All those gazes she had to endure.
A dwarf with especially severe dwarfism.
'Oh, look at that one.'
'Why's a kid here?'
'Looks like an adult, though?'
'Disabled?'
'Dwarfism or something?'
Pity. Sneers. Or outright curiosity.
That must've been worse than death for her.
So she desperately honed her skills,
Armored herself in dresses,
And built walls with her prickly demeanor.