Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Puberty After a Century
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An elf's puberty doesn't hit until after they're over a hundred.
Iron Blood Sword Queen. Blood Avenger. Cynical Sword Ghost.
Even the story about her hurling a teacup at the Estor family head.
Enoch couldn't just let that slide without hearing more. He stopped in his tracks and stared at Yonia.
"How'd that happen?"
"You know Lione's from the Estor family, right? The family head's her father. But they've always had a rocky relationship, or so I've heard... Um, no. Actually, on second thought, telling you more might be disrespectful to Lione."
"No, it's not."
"Huh?"
"It's not disrespectful, so keep going."
Enoch leaned in close to Yonia, who pulled her head back, looking overwhelmed.
"Ah, no! It is disrespectful!"
"I said it's not."
"And what's with you acting all buddy-buddy with Lione this whole time... Huh?"
A chain of deductions suddenly fired off in Yonia's mind.
The name Enoch Estor. The ring from the high elf. Another high elf's blessing. Whoever it was, Enoch clearly had ties to high elves. So, could it be...
"You... Are you Lione's adopted son...?"
"...? Adopted son?"
"You know, adopted son."
"It's not that I don't know what that is."
Enoch scratched his cheek. Come to think of it, Yonia had been captured by humans, so she might not have heard Lione declare to the heavens that her disciple had entered the world.
Well, all the better.
"Hmm. Technically, you could call me her fiancé."
"Wh-what!? Fiancé!? Don't lie!"
"Why would I?"
"You're a human who hasn't even lived a century, and Lione is...!"
"Age difference doesn't matter."
Enoch snorted and eyed Yonia.
"So how old are you?"
"Me? Well... I'm not that old..."
"Right, so how old?"
"J-just a little over thirty..."
She was definitely young. Just past thirty—practically a newborn, Enoch thought at eighteen.
Meanwhile, Yonia seemed to realize something unfair about her answer and burst out.
"But still! It's rude to ask a lady her age like that!"
"You answered, so no problem."
"That's not the point!"
Enoch ignored her stream of complaints, and soon enough, she calmed down with a deep breath. Then she slyly asked,
"So, you're really her fiancé?"
"Yeah."
"...Why tell such an obvious lie that'll get busted right away? That's humans for you... Oh."
Yonia clapped a hand over her mouth, realizing her slip. Enoch stared at her.
"That's speciesist. Humans would get offended hearing that."
"...You're one to talk?"
"I just stated facts. Hmm? Wait, actually, you're right."
Humans were the only ones who lied like that. No wonder they couldn't be trusted. Nodding in agreement—though for different reasons than Yoner—Enoch agreed.
That was when it happened.
"...Enoch?"
A familiar voice called out.
Clear as dew shimmering on grass blades. Enoch whipped his head around on reflex.
"Yeah, Lione."
"E-Enoooh...!"
Realizing it wasn't his imagination, Lione shot toward him like a bullet. Enoch caught her smoothly and pulled her into a tight hug. The familiar scent, the warmth—it was her.
"L-L-L-L-Lione!?"
Yonia's shriek rang out like a scream. Snapping to awareness of the other presence, Lione quickly composed herself.
"Ah! Ahem!"
Her slightly airheaded expression sharpened in an instant, like swapping masks. As Enoch marveled at the change, Undine sidled up and sighed in disbelief.
[No matter how you slice it, I figured it'd be at least a week. One day is way too soon, isn't it?]
"Eh, things just happened."
Enoch gave a vague reply and handed Eri off to Undine. He had a feeling something entertaining was about to unfold, so he had no attention to spare.
"Who are you?"
"Ah, I-I'm Yonia Clempford!"
"Hmm... What's your relationship with Enoch?"
As Lione spoke, she shot Enoch a sideways glance. She'd been a little worried, but to think he'd bring a girl home in less than a day! Enoch was handsome and cute, but she hadn't expected this level.
"It's... n-not really anything special..."
"Nothing special? With Enoch? That can't be..."
"Y-Yes...?"
"No way looking at our Enoch wouldn't stir some feelings... Ow!"
Undine had zipped behind Lione in a flash and pinched her thigh, grinding her teeth.
[Don't embarrass yourself.]
Those words snapped Lione back to her senses. She cleared her throat with a loud "Ahem!"
"Whatever. What brings you here?"
"Ah, well... I didn't come on purpose... I just followed Enoch..."
"Wh-what!?"
He brought her!? Lione was appalled.
No wonder she'd felt uneasy ever since he brought that elf! She knew Enoch liked elves, so this girl must've bewitched him completely!
"You impudent wench!"
"Eeeek!? I-I didn't do anything!"
"Shut it!"
Undine sighed at the sight.
[What a fool.]
Today, Lione's true colors had been exposed to yet another elf.
*
After a conversation that was anything but short, the misunderstanding cleared up. Lione gave an awkward smile as she started walking home. Undine grumbled beside Enoch.
[No, she suddenly sensed your presence. Every ten minutes after you left, she'd go on like that, so I thought it was another tantrum this time—but it was real?]
"Yeah, whatever. Do you know what the Iron Blood Sword Queen is?"
[...Huh?]
"Or Blood Avenger, Cynical Sword Ghost. The teacup-throwing incident with the Estor family head works too."
[How do you—! No, wait.]
Undine panicked at first but quickly reconsidered. On reflection, it was about time Enoch shed his starry-eyed view of Lione. If not, his condition would only worsen by the day. That would be a disaster.
[Secret from Lione?]
"Yeah."
Undine's tale began.
*
Long ago, back when Lione was young.
She was still in the three digits age-wise, but younger than now, anyway. At odds with her family, Lione started going off the rails.
"Dad, this isn't right."
"Daughter, sometimes you have to do what's not right."
"Dad!"
Lione slammed the table and stood up. Her mother sighed deeply.
"Lione, sit down."
"But even so, this is wrong, Mom!"
"What exactly is so dissatisfying?"
Unable to hold back at her mother's words, Lione exploded. How could justifying such inhumane behavior be right? She couldn't accept it.
"Wrong is wrong, Mom."
"Daughter."
The head of the Estor family. Lione's father. Known to the world as the Fairy Sword God.
Kyle Estor said gravely,
"Eating only meat isn't healthy. Even if you hate it, you need to eat some veggies or..."
"Shut up!"
Crash! A teacup flew straight at Kyle Estor's face. He brushed off the glass shards from his sullen expression.
"...You didn't have to throw the teacup."
"I can't live in this house anymore!"
"D-Daughter...!?"
And so Lione went independent.
*
[...]
Eri's eyes spun after hearing the story. Should she say it? But she couldn't hold it in.
[...Isn't she just a filthy rebel?]
Undine nodded vigorously.
[And that's not all—she looted the entire family vault on her way out! Selling just the adamantium from there could buy a kingdom!]
"Eek...!"
Eri gasped in shock.
Enoch pondered briefly before speaking.
"I'm fine with it. I get it."
[What do you get!?]
"It happens."
People get picky with side dishes sometimes, and next thing you know, they're chucking teacups at their dad's face. No need to be stingy about it.
[...You lunatic. Hope your kid does the same to you someday.]
Undine grumbled. Oblivious that her past had been spilled, Lione beamed.
"We're here, Enoch! You're staying the night, right?"
"Yeah. It's almost dawn, so I figured I'd rest a full day."
"Really? Then I'll make something delicious! I had a feeling you'd come, so I stocked up on meat too!"
Wasn't it just 'cause she wanted some herself? Eri muttered, but Enoch didn't care.
"Yeah."
It looked like he and Undine had plenty to talk about today.
*
As dawn approached, after a late meal, Yonia nodded off at the table before crawling to the guest room and passing out cold.
Having endured slavery under humans, she'd been through hell. Lione, who'd heard her story over dinner, quietly closed the door to let her rest and bustled about brewing tea.
"Here, Enoch. Got some for Eri too."
"Yeah, thanks."
Enoch smiled as he took the cup, then glanced at Undine. Lione, who'd been wondering what they were chattering excitedly about, leaned against him.
"What were you talking about?"
"Hm? Nothing."
[Nothing at all!]
Undine played innocent, but it only made her look more suspicious. Lione narrowed her eyes.
"What? Undine, you said something weird, didn't you?"
[N-No!]
Hmph. Lione snorted. What're you gonna do if I don't answer? She'd just ask her sweet Enoch, and he'd tell her everything nicely.
"Enoch? What were you talking about?"
"Uhmm..."
Enoch rolled his eyes, doing some quick math.
This should be fine to spill. Even if Lione tried hiding it, he was determined to hear it all now.
"Old stories about Lione."
"......?"
Lione froze. Her brain, which had refused to process the words, finally forced them through.
"Old... stories about me...?"
What had she done back then...? Just thinking brought a flood of memories.
Her face drained white as she screamed.
"UUU-UNDIIIIIINE...!!!!"