The Dark Elf and the Swordsman (4)
Being a disciple of a mage was closer to being a successor. That was why mages only took on disciples late in life. With the Empire now openly teaching magic to commoners, the word “disciple” had become something heavy, spoken only by the oldest of humans. Of course, it was still a familiar concept among elves…
“You said you were Professor Ilien’s disciple, right? What have you been learning lately?”
It had been quite some time since Icher last spoke with Ilien. She had been avoiding the outside world, so that was only natural. Even when they met in Elvenheim three months ago, Ilien had never once mentioned having a disciple. Still, as a professor who taught students in person, her understanding of the word might differ from Icher’s own. Icher wanted to confirm that.
“Elemental magic… and stories about Professor Ilien’s masters? There’s magic passed down through their lineage… Ah, but that’s supposed to be a secret…”
Marei looked up at Icher in surprise, his face filled with fear. Seeing that expression, Icher became certain that her guess about the meaning of “disciple” was correct. Of course, she had no idea what kind of magic that eccentric master could use, but Ilien had never once shown Marei the so-called “lineage magic.” From the way he spoke, it seemed she hadn’t taught it to Idrien either.
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. I’m not curious anyway. It would be rude. Well, every proper mage’s disciple has their own secret techniques. You didn’t make a big mistake. Just don’t talk about the contents.”
“Yes…!”
Marei let out a sigh of relief. Watching him, Icher let out a small laugh. He was so innocent. That was why she found him strangely likable. There was a curiously pleasant scent coming from the boy. Since he was a child Ilien trusted, she felt a sudden urge to show him a surprised expression. She envied how Ilien had found such a good disciple. While some were still in the middle of training, this one already acted as if he were complete. Of course, it made sense—he was someone who produced results worthy of that pride.
“By the way… Professor Icher, aren’t your gloves uncomfortable?”
“They are.”
Following Marei’s gaze, Icher looked down at her own hands. She confirmed once more the sight of her body wrapped tightly in white gloves and robes. She had grown so used to it that she no longer paid it much mind. This curious little boy seemed to want to know her true identity. He might have already guessed.
“It’s because of my race.”
“I see….”
The boy’s black eyes, drawn out in a long reply, were still filled with curiosity. The way he lowered his head as if disappointed somehow made her feel like she had done something wrong. A strange boy. She supposed it wouldn’t hurt to be deceived once.
“Watch carefully.”
Icher rolled up her robe. The gloves she had thought only covered her wrists actually extended all the way up her arms—long white gloves. Slowly, she pulled at the middle of one glove.
“Whoa….”
As the white glove slid away, brown skin came into view. No, it couldn’t even be called brown. It was the sweet-looking color of milk chocolate poured with plenty of white milk. Her smooth forearm was quite slender, yet it gave the impression of health rather than frailty or thinness.
“You don’t look very surprised. Did you already guess?”
“No, it’s just… You said ‘dark elf,’ so I thought you’d be a little darker… I thought you’d be black. I thought you were a different race….”
At Marei’s words, Icher burst into loud laughter. She laughed so hard she had to lower her head, making choking sounds. Then she pulled back the robe that had been covering her face. A head of rich black hair flowed out from beneath it.
“You really don’t know anything about dark elves.”
Her topaz-colored eyes looked strangely amused. Marei stared blankly at her face. Her long bangs had been swept behind her ears, but they were so long that one eye remained hidden.
“Were you surprised?”
“Ah, yes. Well….”
Marei nodded quickly. Icher was beautiful enough to meet the standards of a boy whose aesthetic sense had already been raised by the various beauties around him, including Erden. In particular, he couldn’t take his eyes off her skin, which looked as soft and sweet as milk chocolate mixed with plenty of milk. Icher seemed to be waiting for something. With her arms crossed and her back against the chair, she looked at Marei with a peculiar smile. Marei tried to think of what to say, but he couldn’t come up with anything.
“Um, well… You’re beautiful.”
“....Huh?”
Icher’s eyes widened. Then, as if something were terribly funny, she pressed her lips together and let out a laugh. Short breaths escaped from the tip of her straight nose in quick succession.
“Ah, thank you. Thank you.”
Icher closed one eye and waved her hand roughly in Marei’s direction. For some reason, she looked pleased. It seemed saying that had been the right choice. Marei let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
“You’re a good kid. Yes, a kind child. Now I understand. Why Professor Ilien took you as her disciple.”
Icher suddenly began praising Marei. Her words were so complimentary that his face flushed on its own, and he scratched his cheek while avoiding her gaze.
“Yes? Ah, thank you.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“Ah… Well, I mean….”
What did Icher want? He could see her feet fidgeting. Did she want more praise? Marei found Icher strangely difficult to read. He felt like he could understand Idrien and his own women now, but when it came to others, he still only caught vague impressions.
So, he decided to be honest.
“You’re… incredibly pretty. So pretty it’s shocking!!”
He had spoken louder than intended, and Marei’s face turned red with embarrassment. Not knowing what expression Icher was making, he lowered his head deeply.
“Does it not look ugly? This brown skin. Even though it resembles an elf’s, it’s still dark, isn’t it?”
“Rather than looking dark, it looks healthy….”
Icher seemed to have many complaints about herself. No, she seemed dissatisfied with her own race. It was as if she wanted to shed her brown shell and have white skin like Ilien’s. But to Marei, Icher Valentine was simply a wonderful woman with a healthy, sweet-looking body. He knew very well that the heavy weight resting on her crossed arms was her chest. One bite would probably taste sweet. What would it feel like inside? Would the flesh be the same color? At such vulgar thoughts, Marei forced himself to look away from Icher.
As if she knew what he was thinking—or perhaps not—Icher chuckled. Just then, the bell rang to signal the end of morning classes.
“Well, class is over. You can go.”
Marei bowed and gathered his things. Feeling as though Icher had seen through his inner thoughts, he hurried and dropped a book. Icher picked it up and even placed the thick book inside his bag for him.
“Thank you. I’ll be going now…”
“Marei de Pawen.”
As he was about to leave, Marei turned back at the sound of Icher calling him from behind the door.
“Yes?”
“Will you come again next week?”
Surprised by the sudden question, Marei stepped back into the room.
“Yes? Don’t you have class next week…?”
“No, no. Next week I’ll take it a little slower. Make sure to review properly.”
Icher covered her mouth with her fingers and laughed softly, as if something were very pleasing. Then she shook her head left and right before leaning back against the chair and stretching comfortably. Marei bowed to her once more and quickly made his way to the meeting place with Philia.
“Everyone… I wish they were as indifferent as you….”
Icher’s murmur faded away inside the empty classroom. Even after class had ended, Icher stared blankly beyond the door for a while.
“Icher’s class…? Was it okay?”
Philia looked Marei over with a doubtful gaze. For someone who had taken Icher Valentine’s class, his complexion looked normal. His eyes weren’t glazed over either.
“Yes? Ah, yes. It was fine.”
At the sight of Marei nodding, Philia stroked her chin and let out a small groan. If he had looked like his soul had left his body, she would have understood, but seeing him walk along so leisurely as if nothing had happened only made her worry more.
“How many fingers am I holding up…?”
Philia made a V-sign with her hand and waved it in front of Marei.
“T-two?”
“Then this?”
“One.”
At Marei’s answer, Philia looked down at him with an unreadable expression. No, now she was looking straight at him. He had been a little shorter than her, but now their heights were almost the same—it felt a little unfair. No, that wasn’t the point.
“Are you really okay? Did you fall asleep or get distracted during class?”
“No, I listened well. Really.”
Philia narrowed her eyes and stared at Marei’s face. She didn’t seem entirely convinced by his words.
“Hmm… I believe you.”
“Yes?”
At the vampire princess’s sudden declaration of belief, Marei could only ask again.
“I believe you when you say you listened well in class. Because it’s you. No. Because it’s you, I believe it. Yes, that sounds more accurate.”
Her silver-purple hair swayed in the wind, but her red eyes were fixed entirely on Marei. Her long, elf-like ears were flushed red.
“Ah, thank you. Thank you, Philia… Eut… No, I mean Lia. Thank you!”
“Hehe, you say such things, Young Master Pawen.”
Philia lightly lifted the hem of her skirt and greeted him with noble etiquette. When a flustered Marei returned the gesture, Philia laughed out loud.
“It’s a joke, just a joke. Seeing you react like that makes me want to tease you more.”
“Ugh… Please go easy on me, Lia.”
Marei scratched his cheek and avoided Philia’s gaze. He could see her hands gripping the hem of her skirt tightly. At the sight of Philia speaking such embarrassing words without pause, Marei lowered his head deeply.
“If you praise me like that… doesn’t Philia get embarrassed…?”
“Hmm… I wonder…”
Philia strode ahead. Then she turned back to look at Marei and smiled brightly enough to dazzle him.
“I’m incredibly, incredibly embarrassed. I’m surprised I can even say these words, and it’s so embarrassing. But I want to.”
At Philia’s direct admission of embarrassment, Marei was finally able to take in her appearance completely. Her hands gripping the skirt were trembling slightly with tension, and her face was flushed red all the way to her ears. It must have been hard for her. That thought occurred to him. Marei quickly approached Philia and took her hand tightly. The lukewarm warmth, the realization that even the always-impressive Philia was just a girl who was trying her best right now—it was so lovely he couldn’t stand it.
“Thank you. I’m embarrassed too, but I’ll praise you a lot, a whole lot…”
“Ahahaha. What’s that? A praise exchange?”
Instead of shaking off his hand, Philia turned her gaze away and laughed. The small voice that came out as if muttering trembled heavily. With her other hand, she twirled the silver-purple hair that reached her shoulders.
He kissed her lightly.
“Well… It doesn’t feel bad.”
Seeing her elf-like pointed ears twitch slightly, it didn’t seem like she disliked it at all. Rather, if he said she seemed to like it, Philia might get angry. A sweet, pleasant scent came from her. Her red eyes glancing at him, her pure white cheeks, her pink lips that seemed to want to say something, her slender neck, the pink dress that faintly revealed her collarbones, the white stockings visible beneath the dress, the black shoes. All of it. No, more than that—the sweet fragrance, and the sweet body scent that seemed to flow from her entire body. A dense, familiar, and never-tiring female scent. The moment he caught that scent, he could no longer hold back. Fortunately, there was no sign of anyone nearby.
“What are you looking around for so much.. Kyaa?!”
Marei pulled Philia’s arm. Philia let out a small surprised cry, but her tightly gripped arm offered no resistance. He could feel the pounding of her heart through her wrist. He forced her into the bushes. Her cheeks were flushed, and tears welled at the corners of her eyes. He climbed on top of her as she fell. Her body curled up as if nervous. Unlike the mature and voluptuous charm of Labella and the others, the fresh feeling and the excitement he could feel from someone his own age was pleasant.
“M-Marei… This is…”
The vampire princess, stammering in confusion, seemed to understand exactly what was about to happen. What would Idrien say if she saw this?
“You’re a lewd child, Philia.”
Philia’s eyes widened. Then she blushed even more and turned her head away to avoid Marei’s gaze. Idrien—that meat toilet bitch who didn’t know her place—her training was proving useful. Marei casually recalled the evaluation of Idrien that Labella had unconsciously brainwashed into him. No, he thought it unconsciously, without even realizing what he was thinking, and licked his lips at the sight of the attractive girl pinned beneath him.
“I don’t know… Don’t look at me like that….”
Under his sticky, licking gaze, her body—thoroughly marked by pleasure between her trembling thighs—was preparing itself. Philia understood that perfectly, so she couldn’t look the boy on top of her in the eyes. Instead, she covered her face with both hands and wished for him to take the lead unilaterally. She was a very bad child.