Chapter 88
Chapter 88
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Master's Departure for the Witch's Forest
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Master decided to head back to the Witch's Forest to find the Bretilla Flower, a catalyst that could strengthen illusion magic.
"Don't be too sad that your master is gone. I'll be back soon."
Before leaving, Meiko said this while puffing out her chest proudly.
"Just don't spend too much money."
"Do I look like an idiot who'd make the same mistake twice?!"
"I'm not sure about that, but your sense of money seems a bit hazy."
"Urgh, b-but it's because I worked so hard that we got more funding than our headcount deserves, right?"
"That's true."
Perhaps feeling hurt because she'd been scolded for spending too much money before, Meiko kept emphasizing over and over that it was thanks to her.
It wasn't entirely undeserved.
The Illusion School was able to maintain its presence like this entirely because of Meiko.
"Even when Her Majesty the Empress visited so suddenly, it was my superior intellect and outstanding eloquence that persuaded her, allowing us to receive appropriate funding."
"I've heard that more than twenty times already."
"Anyway, while I'm away, make sure you're prepared to respond immediately if Her Majesty visits out of the blue. Got it?"
"Why would she come all the way here?"
"You never know. Her Majesty's eyes are on everyone."
"Got it, so hurry up and go. You'll be late for the teleport to the Witch's Forest operating hours."
The Witch's Forest was in the middle of nowhere, so the teleports there didn't open every time.
They only opened once a week, at specific times, so missing one meant having to go through multiple cities without a direct teleport.
I grabbed her shoulder with my hand and lightly pushed her.
"Ah, I got it, so stop pushing me."
She flailed around, seemingly flustered by the sudden skinship.
"This time, I'll wrap it up as quickly as possible and come back. I've set up a lab now, so it'll go much faster than before."
"Yes, yes, I believe you."
"Are you really saying that because you believe me?"
"Of course. How could a disciple doubt their master, who is like the sky?"
"Eek!"
And with that, she left.
The visit from Master ended with a bang.
After seeing Meiko off, I took a moment to check on the shop.
"It's quiet."
The shop felt so empty that it seemed eerily silent.
"She's someone with such a massive presence."
Her frame was small, but her presence was as solid as a mountain.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that I am who I am today because of Meiko.
In the process of learning illusion magic, I'd received countless pieces of advice from her.
I'd risen to this position through her teachings.
This magic circle would still be unfinished without her help.
It would have been impossible to satisfy so many customers.
'I probably couldn't have even scraped together the 20 gold I gave Master.'
The 20 gold I'd given Meiko was the payment from Reina, Yuris, and Eirin after they experienced illusions during their visit.
It was all the emergency funds I'd set aside for unexpected situations.
"If I just hold out flashily for a few days, it'll be fine."
If it got too tough, I could dip into the remaining funding a bit.
That's what I was vowing to myself, tightening my belt for the days ahead.
"Inferior species, are you there?"
A familiar voice called out.
"Reina?"
"Ah, you are here."
Seeing Reina at the door, I looked around.
Not only was Yuris missing from her side, but so were the imperial knights who should be escorting her.
"If you're looking for Lady Yuris, she didn't come with me."
There was a hint of disappointment in Reina's voice as she spoke.
"Why? Wasn't she the one you liked so much?"
She was someone she'd even called into a separate illusion.
As far as I knew, the reason Reina stayed in the empire was to seduce Yuris.
That's why I'd created Yuris as a catalyst in the illusion to make it easier for Reina to fall into pleasure.
How easily she followed Yuris's lead.
I'd seen her get excited watching Yuris—the noble and beautiful figure in Reina's eyes—crumble.
'Thanks to that, she could face her desires more easily.'
And now she came alone, without Yuris.
"......"
At my words, Reina shut her mouth.
I instinctively realized from the sight of her downcast eyes and glistening pupils.
She got dumped.
Well, Yuris didn't seem like the type who liked women.
No matter how much of an elf the other person was, I couldn't imagine Yuris falling for Reina.
If anything, her type seemed more like those burly bandits.
'She seemed to like that rough, musky smell.'
Can't be helped if it's not her taste.
You can't force compatibility.
"Ahem."
In the gloomy atmosphere, I cleared my throat without thinking.
"Th-that happens. Come on in."
"You look like you're thinking something weird, but it's not like that."
"Didn't Yuris dump you?"
"......It's not like that. She just needs more time. If I approach her a bit more, she'll understand. Lady Yuris and I are on the same wavelength."
I felt a little sorry for Reina, who was desperately denying it.
"Want some tea, then?"
"......Yeah."
As I brought out the tea, I asked.
"So, what brings you here? Are you here to return to the elf forest?"
"I told you last time. I'd come again later."
She had said that two weeks ago.
I'd thought it was just polite chit-chat.
Like Koreans saying "let's grab a meal sometime."
"You're serious?"
"Yeah."
"I thought elves weren't ruled by carnal desires."
"......"
She didn't affirm it.
"Isn't it fine as long as we don't act like inferior species, beasts in heat every day?"
"You're not denying it."
"The feeling was good, though. I kind of get why inferior species are obsessed with sex and such. Why Lady Yuris fell into it like she was enchanted."
Reina was speaking quite frankly.
For Reina, the stubborn pure-blood high elf supremacist, to acknowledge human techniques.
"That's unexpected."
"Hmph! I acknowledge what deserves acknowledgment. Even if the other side is an inferior species, if there's something to learn, I learn it—that's my philosophy!"
Reina snorted and forced a brighter tone, raising her voice.
"Then what do you want to see this time? The same one from last time?"
"No."
She seemed to have had her fill of masochist slave and master play.
"Then?"
Reina hesitated for a moment.
"...I want to be with Lady Yuris in the illusion."
"So you did get dumped after all."
"No! I! Absolutely! Did not! Get dumped!"
Strong denial is admission, they say.
I barely swallowed those words.
If I'd said that much, she might have stormed out in anger.
"Got it. Here, then."
I pulled out the survey form.
"Write your preferences for today here and hand it over. I'll prepare while you fill it out."
"...Okay."
As Reina filled out the survey, she opened her mouth.
"Max."
"Yeah?"
"...I used to think all humans were inferior. With lifespans barely reaching a hundred years, most humans are weaker than a newly adult elf, swept up in emotions and messing up their work daily. Plenty of wicked ones too—a chaotic race with no self-control. They dominated the continent with intellect barely superior to orcs."
She spoke with a serious face.
"I think it's thanks to those rare, exceptionally outstanding humans that pop up occasionally."
"......"
"I even think they deserve the respect they get."
"Is that Yuris?"
"Yeah. The hero, Yuris, and the saintess of the era... All outstanding humans leading this age."
Reina stopped filling out the survey and looked straight at me.
"I think you could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them too."
I didn't respond to that.
I just looked at her for a moment.
There wasn't even a hint of jest in Reina's eyes as she spoke seriously.
"Don't say things like that in front of others."
"Why not?"
"They'll laugh."
"So, why?"
"Who's going to believe a mere illusion mage can compare to a hero and the Goddess of Victory? People will curse you out if they hear."
"But isn't it true?"
"Didn't you look down on me at first too?"
"That's because you were human before being an illusion mage. Elves have used illusion magic appropriately for forest guardianship since ancient times."
"I see."
"A-anyway! What I'm saying is you can take pride in your skills. Don't mind what others think."
Reina cleared her throat, her face flushing bright red.
Then she handed me the survey form.
"All filled out."
One phrase stood out prominently on the paper.
-Being with a gentle Yuris.
It seemed the memories from that first day were still fresh.
"I'll set it up right away. Go wash up and sit on the chair or bed in the center of the magic circle."
"Got it."
She went to wash without a word.
"......"
Reina looked around.
A landscape completely different from Max's shop.
The unfamiliar scenery filled her with excitement.
"I'm finally here......"
Where she stood was the elf forest.
And beside her.
"Is this Reina's hometown?"
Yuris stood there, smiling kindly.
"L-Lady Yuris."
"What's wrong? You're suddenly tearing up...... And why the formal speech? It feels distant all of a sudden."
Yuris laughed and hooked her arm through Reina's.
The soft sensation of her breasts pressing against Reina's arm.
Reina swallowed hard and lowered her head.
"N-no, it's just... I'm so moved."
"Moved that you're back home with me?"
"...Yeah."
"There's a wedding ceremony today, right? We hurried so we wouldn't be late."
"I-is that so."
Here, she and Yuris were joined.
After repeated rejections, Reina's worn heart felt a bit healed.
The bleak loneliness she'd felt wandering alone in the human world eased a little.
"Come on, let's go. I'll introduce you around inside."
Reina stuck close to such a Yuris and walked forward.
"You're extra affectionate today. That happy about it?"
Her body melted at the sweet tone of Yuris's voice.
It felt so good.
Reina wished this feeling could last every day.
Confirming that Reina had fully entered the illusion, I raised my hand to fine-tune it.
That's when it happened.
Knock knock knock.
A knock came from the door.
Who could it be at this hour?
"Sir Max, are you inside?"
Yuris's voice came from outside the door.