Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Enoch Estor
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Undine simply couldn't comprehend the situation unfolding before her.
Why on earth was Lione crying, and why was Enoch the one comforting her?
“E-Enoch…!”
“It’s okay, Lione.”
“I-I don’t want to let you go, Enoch…!”
What an absurd scene this was.
She couldn’t help blurting it out in sheer disbelief.
[What…? It’s not like you’re sending him off forever. What is this, marrying him off or something?]
And yet she was the one who’d told him to leave, only to start bawling herself.
Why was she acting like this?
For real.
“Hey, m-marriage…? No way! Enoch has to live with me forever!”
“Yeah.”
“No take-backs…?”
“Of course not.”
“You absolutely have to keep that promise? You won’t forget later? For real?”
“You’re the one who can’t forget, Lione.”
“Yeah!”
The spirit clamped a hand over her mouth.
What a pathetic sight.
It was so cringe-worthy she could barely keep her eyes open.
[Haa… Anyway, what Lione means is there’s no more room for you to grow here. So even if it’s a bit earlier than planned, it’s time for you to head out into the world.]
“Uh, y-yeah… That’s right.”
[Argh, you idiot!]
Enoch shoved the irritated Undine aside and asked,
“But I could stick around a little longer, right?”
[That dummy would never let you go if you did!]
“Hmm.”
Enoch nodded.
It was a credible argument.
“So? You’re making me leave today, all of a sudden?”
The response didn’t come from Undine, but from Lione.
“N-No! Not today! Tomorrow!”
“Tomorrow?”
“Y-Yeah… It’s the last day, so we have to have a farewell party too….”
[And then she won’t let you go after all.]
“Sh-Shut up!”
Lione’s lips pursed in a pout as she sniffled in Enoch’s arms.
‘How does she seem to regress mentally the more time passes?’
Undine seriously worried she might start smearing shit on the walls soon.
But that was that, and this was this.
[Anyway, so today’s the party! Does that mean we’re cracking open the rest of that Flowing Dragon’s Breath we didn’t finish last time?]
Lione shot a sharp glare at the delighted Undine.
“…You’re not getting any.”
[Wh-What!?]
The spirit despaired.
*
Enoch’s farewell party wrapped up simply.
It was because Lione got drunk after just one glass of Flowing Dragon’s Breath and started clinging to him.
It was far less than her usual limit, but since it was a day she wanted to get wasted, well, that’s how it went.
It was the opposite of the time they’d drunk together before.
The grown Enoch downed three glasses without a hitch and took skilled care of Lione.
[Ehehe, the rest is all mine!]
Enoch stroked the head of Lione, who had fallen asleep on his lap, while keeping an eye on Undine as she secretly stashed the leftover booze.
‘Tomorrow….’
He’d be leaving this cozy nest.
He’d known this day would come eventually, but now that it was right around the corner, the feeling was strangely bittersweet.
“Haa…”
He looked up to see the fading sunset sky being swallowed by darkness.
From the hazy memory of that first day they drank, their positions had definitely been reversed.
Him, passed out on Lione’s lap.
Lione, passed out on his.
How much time had really passed for things to change like this?
Before meeting Lione, he couldn’t have even imagined moments like these.
[What’s got you so lost in sentiment?]
Undine, having successfully hidden the bottle at last, fluttered over and plopped down on top of Enoch’s head.
It was Eri’s usual spot, but Eri was passed out drunk on the grass, so it didn’t matter.
“Just… It doesn’t feel real.”
[Leaving this place?]
“That too. And Lione.”
Rustle— As Enoch’s fingers brushed her hair, Lione mumbled with her lips.
She even muttered in her sleep—stuff like ‘Enoch… don’t go…’—making him chuckle.
[Th-That…! Sigh… When the hell is she gonna grow up? Wait, no—she threw away the maturity she already had. What a moron.]
“What’s wrong with it? She’s cute.”
[Yeah, cute…. What?]
Undine snapped her head up.
A relaxed, languid smile graced Enoch’s face as he gazed at Lione.
Somehow, he looked far more mature than usual, narrowing Undine’s eyes.
[You… You’re still doing that thing?]
“Doing what?”
Pfft— Enoch chuckled and extended a single finger.
Keeein—! A small halo formed above it, spinning.
“Sort and return to place.”
With that simple incantation, the messy yard from the party cleaned itself up neatly.
Compared to Lione’s magic, it was certainly amateurish, but it far surpassed the level of magic Enoch had shown before.
[What a crazy kid.]
“It was desperate.”
[Desperate my ass.]
Hmph— Ignoring Undine’s snort, Enoch stood up.
As he moved to carry the cradled Lione, she kept squirming and burrowing deeper into his chest.
He liked the wriggling, so Enoch looked down at her.
“Mm…”
“…Can’t just do whatever.”
Smacking his lips, Enoch headed inside.
An appalled voice came from behind—Undine’s.
[You can’t pounce on a drunk kid! That’s straight-up a crime!]
“Shut up.”
As if he’d go crazy and do that.
After all the effort he’d put in so far.
He couldn’t ruin his image over one moment of temptation.
“Hehe… Enoch…”
……Or could he?
Maybe.
*
Thankfully, Enoch’s self-control was mighty.
He opened his bleary eyes, a bit worn out, and Lione was nowhere beside him.
Tok-tok— Faint sounds of a kitchen knife.
After a quick wash-up, he sat at the table, and Lione laid out a lavish breakfast.
“Eat lots, Enoch.”
Lione’s eyes were a bit red.
Had she cried again?
It didn’t sit right with him.
They finished their meals across from each other, picking at the food, then he packed lightly.
Clothes, daily essentials, even the white mask he’d bought before.
Since he wasn’t leaving forever, there wasn’t much.
Still, Lione wore a bittersweet expression looking at the now-emptier room.
“…Enoch, wait a sec?”
Lione went somewhere and returned with a single sword in hand.
It wasn’t the one she usually used, but it looked well-worn, like it had belonged to someone.
“It’s a sword I used before.”
Lione personally fastened it to Enoch’s waist.
“It’s an Estor family sword, so if you’re ever in danger, show them this crest. It’ll serve as some insurance.”
“Yeah.”
“And…”
Snip— Lione cut a lock from the end of her hair.
As the surprised Enoch watched, she deftly twisted it into a ring.
It was a beautiful ring, like it was woven from threads of gold.
“Wear this all the time too. If you ever need elven help, it’ll come in handy. …Though being Estor might make it tricky.”
Lione’s slumped expression as she fussed over these things was heartbreaking to witness.
For a non-human spirit, though, it was a different story.
[What a show she’s putting on. Acting like this when he’ll be back in a month.]
Of course, her grumbling didn’t reach the ears of the elf and human lost in their melancholic mood.
Lione patted Enoch’s shoulders, and he slightly bent his knees.
Smack— Lione kissed his forehead as it came to eye level.
It was a refreshing kiss, like a breeze lingering, unlike usual.
“It’s a high elf’s blessing. Not much, but…”
Any elf would recognize it, and it’d help a bit with spirits too.
“And finally…”
Lione’s emerald eyes melted into Enoch’s black ones.
Her trembling lips pressed tight, then parted carefully, as if resolved.
“Enoch.”
“Yeah.”
“Enoch Estor.”
“…Yeah?”
Enoch’s eyes widened round.
Lione held back her shaky breath and smiled gently.
“Never forget that I’ve got your back. That Sword Sovereign Lione Estor has your back. No matter where you are, whenever, big sis is always on your side.”
Her smile—half crying, half laughing—made Enoch’s eyes dart uncertainly.
Seeing that, Lione’s smile deepened.
“Don’t go getting beat up anywhere. If things get tough, call for big sis right away. Got it? Even if you’re fighting the emperor, I’ll rush over in a flash.”
“…Yeah.”
“Then… Snrk!?”
Enoch’s face suddenly closed in.
The startled Lione’s eyes went wide.
Her inhaled breath caught, leaving her short of air.
As she puzzled over it, the unhesitating Enoch slipped into the gap.
Smack—
A soft sensation.
Lione’s eyes bulged as her mouth flapped wordlessly.
“I’ll be back.”
“Y-Yeah…”
It was on her cheek where Enoch’s lips had landed.
Thinking it was her lips for a split second, Lione’s face flushed crimson.
Why didn’t I dodge?
The unresolved question floated aimlessly in the elf’s mind.
*
Enoch bid farewell to the forest’s master and departed.
Lione and Undine sat on the roof, watching him go.
[Lusty little punk.]
“…Wh-What?”
[Whatever. Look, he’s waving. Wave back.]
“Y-Yeah…!”
The spirit snorted as she eyed her airheaded contractor waving blankly.
‘It’ll happen soon enough.’
But more importantly, one thing she wanted to ask.
[By the way, why’d you hide the ring’s effects from him?]
The brink of mortality’s end, just shy of immortality.
A ring made from the body of an elf who’d reached such a lofty realm was no ordinary trinket.
As Undine saw it, the miracles imbued in that ring were protection and summons.
In simple terms, it’d shield Enoch if he was in danger and signal Lione.
“It’s not… I just don’t want him relying on it too much…”
Nor were those the only two.
There were three miracles in total.
The last was territorial marking.
Faint compared to the others, but unmistakably there—her trace.
A clear intent: He’s mine, hands off.
And why put it specifically, insistently, on the left ring finger—the human symbol of ownership?
“That’s… Just in case dangerous people come sniffing around… N-Not for any weird reason…”
The spirit grinned as the elf trailed off with excuses.
[What bullshit.]