GalaxyTL
Silence fell. Epink’s cries, echoing from the shadow bird, were strangely melancholic.
『Listen carefully, Epink. This will eventually heal on its own. I’ve adjusted it. It’s very painful, but if you can’t handle it, go get some painkillers.』
『I know, I know, Epink. So for now, you just have to… uh… do your best to pass those stones naturally.』
『Daaaaah, what kind of attack is this! You halfling! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! You’re so cruel! 』
You really are cruel, Saura-san. What made you think of using this for an attack? And I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry about the Don having kidney stones!
『Don’t forget this pain. I can do this to multiple targets at once. And with my guild members, I can do it from a distance too. 』
『Seriously!?』
Epink, still in pain, complained, “That’s horrible!” and “That’s unfair!” I could understand how he felt.
『…You weren’t acting alone, were you?』
『! …What are you talking about?』
Saura-san’s quiet voice cut through the noise. Eh, I thought it was just him, the troublemaker acting on his own?
“Hmm. Shaking us up, testing us, expecting failure.”
“Hmm, that’s why they chose Epink. Everyone would assume it was just him acting on his own, and that’s what we thought too.”
Eh? Eh? What’s going on? I couldn’t follow… Was my kidnapping… ordered by Nemo?
『I don’t know how you found out, but you were probably trying to confirm if there really was an elf child here, and you were testing how we’d react.』
『Guh… I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!』
Wow, he’s terrible at lying! Maybe it’s just the pain messing with him, but his reaction was a dead giveaway.
『Is that so? Well, whatever. I’ll just give you this message. We won’t hold back if you try anything else. We’re even thinking about getting the Don and the Demon King involved. That’s some valuable intel, right? You should probably relay that to someone.』
『Guh… mind your own business!』
Epink groaned again. He looked like he was in agony. Well, of course he was. Those were forced kidney stones! I didn’t know how painful it was, because I’d never had them…
『Now, go home. This game won’t be any fun for you in that state, will it?』
Epink left without a word, or maybe he couldn’t speak because of the pain. The fight… was it really a fight? Ended with Saura-san’s complete victory. Juma-kun was complaining, “That was boring!” But of course, Saura-san shut him up with a single word.
After Epink left, Juma-kun decided to follow him, just in case.
『Don’t we always end up doing this? I’m terrible at tailing people, they’ll notice me right away! 』
“Hmm, well, it’s good practice, isn’t it? You won’t be able to overcome your weaknesses without opportunities like this.”
『Ugh! I want to go on a rampage! Once we’re done here, I’m going dragon hunting! Don’t try to find me!』
『Yeah, yeah, do whatever you want. Look, he’s gone! 』
『Dammit!!』
Juma-kun, even though he complained, he still carried out his orders. He was capable after all. According to Gil-san, because of his oni instincts, when he was ready for battle, he’d get agitated if it ended prematurely. Saura-san was upset, but to be able to control his emotions and obey orders… was commendable. Juma-kun, unbelievably mellow for an oni. He’d often been given the short end of the stick, but I was rooting for him!
“Juma-nii-cha, you can do it!”
『…Yeah. I’m going!』
See? He’s kind. Just me saying that was enough to cheer him up. He really was like a big brother.
“Nemo isn’t stupid, they must have known we’d see through their act. And they’re aware that Epink’s a terrible liar. But their motives are unclear.”
Juma-kun had gone after Epink, and since it was dangerous for her to be alone, Gil-san had brought Saura-san back to the guild, carried by a shadow bird. So strong, this shadow bird, to be able to carry a person! Was it thanks to magic?
Then, a discussion began in the guest room as we sipped the tea Kei-san had brewed. Was it okay for me to be here, listening to this?
“Hmm, it can’t be just because… elven children are rare, can it?”
“I agree. It would be too risky to make an enemy of us, just for that. It feels like there’s… more to it.”
Saura-san pondered this, her arms crossed. Her large breasts were resting on her arms, very inappropriate. I wish I could… someday!
“Intuition?”
“Intuition.”
“Hmm, Sauradite’s intuitions are rarely wrong.”
I was probably the only one thinking about something as silly as that. No, but this was a serious matter to me! Breast-related issues can even start wars, you know!
“Phew, we’ll table it for now. It depends on their next move. I’m not going to sit back and wait, but Meg-chan’s safety is our top priority.”
“Well, that goes without saying.”
Saura-san patted me on the head. Then, with a smile filled not with her usual cheer, but with affection, she said,
“I’m so glad you’re safe. Don’t worry, we’ll always protect you, Meg-chan.”
I felt my eyes welling up. It was so heartwarming. They were so kind, and that made me all the more frustrated with my powerlessness.
—I want power. Just a little, enough to be of use to everyone, my own special power.
As I wished for this strongly, a pale pink light flitted past my eyes. It was that spirit. The moment I realized this, my body moved before I could even think.
“Meg-chan!?”
“Saura-shan! Open the door! I have to talk to it!”
The spirit had slipped through the door and gone outside. But the door to this room was special, I couldn’t open it!
“What’s wrong, Meg?”
“It’s spiwwit-shan! I… I want to… make a contract with it!”
“Meg-chan, there’s no need to rush after it… Remember what we talked about? We’ll meet it again.”
She was right. I was sure I’d see it again. I’d be able to talk to it. I had no doubt about that. But, but… I felt like I had to do it now!
“My heart is shouting! I have to follow my heart!”
My heart wouldn’t calm down. But it wasn’t anxiety, it was like… the excitement you feel when you’re about to open a treasure chest.
My desperate plea seemed to have gotten through to them. Gil-san opened the door and followed me.
“Gil! Contact Schlie immediately! We can’t do the ritual without Schlie!”
“! Got it!”
Ah, that’s right. I’d promised to contact Schlie-san when it was time for the ritual. But I was overwhelmed right now! I silently thanked Saura-san and Gil-san for being so considerate.
And so, I chased after the pale pink light, the Voice Spirit, that was floating through the guild, beckoning me. W-Wait up! Haa, fuu. I can’t breathe… !