Get Out of the House, Enoch
The silence was absolute.
A profound, crushing stillness unlike anything else settled heavily over the room.
[I'm sure of it! When someone goes into heat, they usually... mmpf!]
Undine quickly clamped a hand over the clueless Eri's mouth, her eyes spinning in panic. Teasing was one thing, but this was a bomb. A massive bomb that could blow them all straight to hell if it went off.
Meanwhile, Rionne's mind had gone completely blank. Her mouth opened and closed without making a sound.
Mating… heat…
The words from that pure, innocent little spirit had driven a dagger straight into the deepest part of the elf's heart. No—saying it tore her heart to shreds would be more accurate.
“Uh… well…”
Rionne stammered, unable to form a proper sentence in her flustered state. Enoch tugged insistently at her sleeve.
“I'm fine with it, Rionne.”
“H-huh?”
“I'm ready.”
As he clasped his hands neatly in front of his chest, Rionne flinched violently. It seemed the one who wasn't ready was the elf after all.
Her face flushed bright red as she fled the scene like she was running for her life.
Whoosh—!
It wasn't a joke—she moved so fast there wasn't even an afterimage left behind.
[Oh!]
Eri clapped her hands in delight, only for Undine's fist to come crashing down on the top of her head.
[You little idiot!]
[Aaaack…!]
Eri clutched her head and rolled across the floor. Undine let out a long, exhausted sigh she could no longer hold back.
[Ugh… another walking disaster. Haa…]
Well, none of that really mattered to Enoch.
*
A few days later, Rionne—who had been acting somewhat awkwardly—seemed to have grown more accustomed to the situation. The stiffness in her movements had eased considerably.
“Eri, it's not 'that elf.' It's Rionne. Okay? We've seen each other so many times before.”
[Mommy?]
“M-mommy isn't quite…”
When Rionne hesitated, Enoch stepped in.
“I like it. Me as Dad, Rionne as Mom.”
[I like it too, Appa!]
Enoch patted Eri's head approvingly. Her three fluffy tails swayed gently back and forth.
[In that case, Mommy! I want a little sibling!]
The spirit emergency response team—also known as Undine—immediately sprang into action.
[Mouth! Shut that mouth of yours!]
[Aaaah! Why are you hitting me?!]
[Because you can't just blurt out whatever comes to mind!]
[I didn't blurt it, I said it on purpose…]
[Muzzle!]
Eri was thoroughly subdued. Rionne let out a deep, weary sigh as she watched with a complicated expression.
“Enoch, you really mustn't misunderstand.”
She pulled him into a tight embrace and spoke as if venting her frustrations.
“Noona doesn't look at you with any impure intentions. It's purely innocent, I swear.”
“…It's fine though.”
“Huh? What is?”
“Nothing, just…”
Rionne found his fidgeting adorable and gently patted his back before pulling away slightly. She cupped his cheeks with both hands and squished them.
“Who did you take after to turn out this pretty?”
“…I'm not pretty.”
“Right. Not pretty—handsome. Who in this world could possibly be as cool as our Enoch?”
Squish. Squish. With every press of her fingers, Enoch's cheeks deformed comically. When he stayed obediently still, Rionne grew even more playful and began toying with his face in earnest.
“You can't just ignore it if another girl shows interest, okay?”
“I won't.”
“Really? You'll remember everything Noona told you?”
“Yeah.”
She stretched his cheeks out, and in response, his lips poked out in a pout. How adorable.
The feverish heat that had burned through her body just days ago had completely vanished. Yes, that salad from that day must have been strange. Rionne was certain of it.
She didn't realize that the way she looked at Enoch had changed, ever so slightly, from before.
“I wonder who will end up taking our Enoch away? Whoever she is, she'll have to know just how blessed she is.”
“Um… Rionne?”
“Noona? Hehe, should I just take you for myself?”
Chomp—! She playfully nibbled near his forehead with her lips, making Enoch's body tremble. Satisfied, Rionne planted a soft kiss on his forehead.
His cheeks flushed with a faint blush. Even his embarrassed expression was cute.
“Alright, shall we head out for training?”
Enoch nodded and trotted after Rionne toward the training yard.
[Whoa, shit…]
The spirit who witnessed Enoch's eyes gradually darkening could only cover her mouth in shock.
[Is Rionne actually doing that on purpose…?]
What if that pure, innocent act was actually a highly sophisticated fox-like scheme?
Undine was starting to feel a little afraid of Rionne.
She had been laying the groundwork little by little ever since Enoch was young, and once he was fully grown—gulp! It was the perfect ten-year plan.
[Well, it's probably not like that, though.]
Who was swallowing whom? If anything, Rionne would be the one getting devoured.
The spirit grinned slyly, sensing that in the not-too-distant future, she would have endless material to tease Rionne with for the rest of her life.
[Wow, you really look mentally unstable!]
Eri got hit again.
*
Time flows steadily onward whether anyone wishes it or not.
Within that flow, Enoch continued his training without missing a single day, while subtly fawning over Rionne whenever he could.
In truth, there was no better place for training than Rionne's Forest. He had exclusive access to personal instruction from the Sword Queen and the Tyrant, could vent his frustrations on the Forest's Owner whenever he felt bored, and the surrounding mana was both pure and abundant—perfect for accumulation.
Setting aside the lack of life-threatening real combat, it was hard to imagine a more efficient training ground anywhere on the continent. Compared to this place, academies and other educational institutions were nothing more than children's playgrounds.
[…Just why do you keep doing this to me?]
Today, after working up a refreshing sweat, Enoch glared sharply at the Forest's Owner. The surrounding forest had been reduced to a literal wasteland as the price of his power.
Restoring it would take…
[Hey! Fighting with that elf girl wasn't my fault! You were the one rampaging around on your own!]
“I just don't like you.”
[You—! Do you even know who I am?!]
“A fox?”
The casual reply made the Forest's Owner press a tail to her forehead in exasperation. She couldn't bear the pitiful state she had fallen into over the past few years—reduced to nothing more than a sandbag.
It felt like only yesterday that all living things would bow their heads the moment she revealed herself. Now she was being treated with such disrespect by this cheeky brat. She was beginning to question whether this was truly the right way to live.
“Here. A gift.”
[Huh…?]
The Forest's Owner cautiously lifted her head. Eri came floating over with a bouncy gait and set down a bundle she had been carrying in her mouth.
[Appa picked out these tea leaves himself with great care!]
[Ooh…?]
[So hurry up and brew it!]
[…This little—]
Thwack!Eri was sent tumbling across the ground after getting smacked on the forehead by a tail. Ignoring the spirit's cries of impending death, the Forest's Owner sighed and created a small table.
[This really shouldn't be happening…]
She wasn't supposed to be the kind of simple fox whose mood improved just because she received a single gift. How had it come to this?
Glug glug— The tea was poured with practiced skill, filling the cups. The Forest's Owner served it to both Enoch and Eri.
[The aroma is excellent. These are quite high-quality leaves.]
“Yeah. I asked Capri for them.”
[Ah, that cook you mentioned? The food she brought last time was impressive as well. She has considerable skill.]
Capri had started a side business. She hadn't completely quit her mercenary work, but she had opened a restaurant under her own name. The place had become so popular that her income from the restaurant now far exceeded what she earned from mercenary jobs. It was wonderful that she had found work that suited her.
[What will you do now? It will probably be soon.]
She hadn't specified anything, but Enoch understood immediately and pressed his lips together tightly.
[You're eighteen now, aren't you? That means you have about two years left.]
“……”
[When the time comes, you'll have to leave this place and walk your own path… To be honest, I'm more worried about Rionne than I am about you.]
“…Rionne?”
The Forest's Owner gave a small sigh and nodded.
[That child depends on you even more than you depend on her. She used to be so strong, but now she looks like a tree that could snap at any moment.]
“It can't be that bad, right?”
[I hope you're right.]
With a bitter smile, the Forest's Owner drained her cup and rose from her seat.
[Make the most of these remaining two years. And even after you leave, come visit from time to time.]
“Okay.”
That was something that didn't need to be said. As Enoch stood up, Eri fluttered over and settled onto his shoulder.
“We're going.”
[Yes. See you again.]
*
The moment Enoch returned home, he sensed that something was wrong.
The air felt oppressively heavy, as if it had sunk to the floor.
Rionne, who had come out to greet him, kept her head bowed low and said nothing.
“Rionne?”
Enoch stepped in front of her. He was now a full head taller than her. He pulled the elf into his arms.
Rionne let herself be embraced without resistance. She hugged him back tightly, then pulled away. Her sunken eyes met his.
“…Enoch.”
“Yeah.”
“It's time for you to leave.”
“…What?”
Enoch's eyes trembled. But Rionne didn't move an inch.
“Today is the last day, Enoch.”
The elf delivered the final verdict with cold eyes.
“Get out of the house.”
That day, Enoch's world collapsed.
*
Enoch, who had briefly lost his grip on reality, grabbed Rionne's arm. His large hand wrapped around her slender wrist, but the elf easily shook it off.
“That's enough, Enoch.”
“N-no… Why all of a sudden…?”
“There's no point in you staying here any longer.”
It was cold. That icy voice made Enoch's mind feel like it was about to shatter.
Crackle—!
His uncontrolled power radiated outward, flickering wildly. His head spun. His powerful physique lost all meaning as his breathing grew ragged.
Why? So suddenly?
His vision blurred. Sadness, despair, and the rage that covered them both. The anger that surged up was pushed back down, only for sadness to rise again. Enoch looked at Rionne with trembling eyes.
“Rionne… Did I… do something wrong…”
He trailed off and clamped his mouth shut.
His vision had cleared. It showed him Rionne.
Her lips were pressed into a thin line. Her chin was wrinkled from tension. Tears welled in her eyes, and her fists were clenched so tightly they had turned white.
“…Get out.”
The voice he had thought was cold was actually choked with the effort of holding back tears. The bowed head was an attempt to hide her horribly contorted expression.
“…If I drag this out any longer… I… I might…”
Hic—
The sob she could no longer suppress finally broke free. When she lifted her head and their eyes met, the elf's face crumpled completely.
“E-Enoooch…”
Waaaaah. The elf burst into tears.
“I can't let Enoch go…! Enoch should live with Noona forever…!”