Chapter 7: First Friend
……It’s heavy.
The headache was horrible, I felt nauseated enough to want to vomit.
But, I completely mastered the pose and image.
Therefore, this level of pain wouldn’t affect my control.
Now I just have to set the target,
It could be considered the very essence of scorching hell fire.
「The target is those guy’s 『hair』and『clothes』. Go――」
That moment, the fireball exploded.
Those guys that were being bombarded, let out screams.
「Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Hooooooooooooooooooot!」
「Da, damnit! It ain’t dissapearin’! What is this fire!!」
The fireball hit one bandit directly, then reflexively attacked a different bandit.
They tried to put it out by rolling around on the ground.
There was a reason it wasn’t specifically set to target bandits.
I didn’t want to go that far.
If their bodies caught fire then they would run around town causing a different problem.
If they just stopped their foolish behavior then that would be fine too.
「……Bastart, I’ll never forgive you. I’ll surely kill your entire family.」
From the over whelming stench that shrouded the place, the chief said and glared at me.
I would rather just stamp out the root of evil right here.
It’s iffy as to whether it will go well or not, let’s try and shake him up.
「Is that so? I don’t want to be killed, Well then, shall I just kill you here now?」
「Well, you’re going to kill me and my family aren’t you? In that case might as well deliver the finishing blow」
If you were to harm me or any of the others, then there would be no mercy.
Having experienced the pain of not being able to protect anything, I’ve had more than enough.
At my words, the chief turned pale.
Using a justified tone of voice.
「No, that was just a joke! Hey, we’ll never do this ever again, please forgive us.」
「The first is for the uncle of the inn.
The third is for attempting to kidnap Isabelle.
――resign yourself」
With a dosu the first finger was raised.
Then, the chief raised a loud voice with his hopeless face.
「I’ll die with that!」
「Then, then let’s do this!
Elves are nice, they fetch a high price on the market!」
「First is the first portion. This is for the ossan」
I raised a finger and put magic into the finger tip.
Then above that, I chanted fire magic at the chief.
「Light balls clad in demonic flames, bore through the enemy ――『Gun Fire』」
The fireball hit the chief directly in the forehead.
He couldn’t hold it in and screamed.
「Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!」
「I don’t see any signs of reflection. And this is the portion for obstructing my escort――」
I began the chant a second time.
The chief’s eyes were wide with fear.
「Light balls clad in demonic flames, bore through the enemy ――『Gun Fire』」
A second time the fireball appeared.
A dull sound retorts, it causes explosive damage to the body.
Making an ugly face, he let out a soundless scream.
I adjusted the magic output just a little and looked down at the chief.
「This is the end. This is the thing that makes the most angry. It’ll be really intense. This is for Isabelle’s `――」
I raised my finger.
Looking behind, Isabelle, who had recovered, was standing dizzily.
She silently shook her head.
「For only this, they are not worthy of punishment. If you are going to use my name then don’t do that.」
「……I see. Ok」
The last one was supposed to be just a threat.
I removed my gaze from the chief and looked around the area.
All the other bandits had been downed by the Astral fire.
Apart from that――there was still a little anxiety left.
It’ll be bad if I don’t extinguish it right?
「While the fire doesn’t spread out, need to put it out」
Was there a bucket around anywhere?
While looking around―― I felt a strong sense of vertigo.
「H, huh?」
It was a terrible sense of fatigue.
Like the time when I was made to run 400 meters at full speed.
Unable to remain standing, I fell to the ground.
「Dam- n it. Not enough guts……」
I heard the voice of the private soldier squad in the distance.
But I was too sleepy to move.
My eyes closed and I fell into blissful unconsciousness.
A small bird’s voice.
I opened my eyes, this is the inside the mountains.
I had probably fainted from using too much magic.
My small body just couldn’t handle the load.
「Aa, you woke up? Regus-kun, was it?」
「I abducted you and ran here」
「…………」
How strange, I must have misheard that.
Elves, who hate kidnapping more than anyone else, wouldn’t say something like that.
「Sorry, what did you say?」
「You were nice enough to fall unconscious, so I kidnapped you.」
She gave a concrete explination.
To experience being kidnapped.
「I’m joking. Don’t look at me like that」
「We were almost found by the private soldiers. Even still I wondered if it would be alright to just bring you here」
「So that’s why you brought me this far into the mountains?」
Isabelle nods strongly.
Although I understand not wanting to be caught by the minions of a noble.
「Which reminds me, Regis-kun. Why did you want to see me off?」
「Well, I basically know why.
You were looking to increase your chances by even a little.」
「……Nn, what do you mean?」
She sent me a suspicious glance.
What a helpless girl.
I restrain my embarrassment as much as possible and say seriously.
「Well because I wanted to talk with Isabelle more.」
「Well until now, I’ve never been able to make a friend.
To find someone that is able to stand equal with me. It makes me happy.」
Of course, at first I only thought that it would be ok to guide her.
At the first meeting, she had her caution at max levels.
But I didn’t hate that behavior and was able to have a friendly chat afterwards.
I mean, a sense of intimacy sprang up.
What is it, don’t those feelings reach the elf’s ears?
「Is- isn’t that just because I’m an elf?」
I think it’s simply because, I think I can get along with this guy, kind of feeling」
That’s right.
Loneliness inside of solitude. (Tln: lit. lonely inside of lonely)
The best skill was probably 『Sore loser』
But, when I’m with this guy, it’s something fun.
It was the same when I rushed out of the house this morning,
I wanted to meet this guy, was the motive I had.
Aa, now I understand.
I had never had this experience before, so I didn’t recognize it immediately.
I surely, wanted to become friends with this guy is what I thought.
Probably from the very first meeting.
When I answered honestly, Isebelle’s cheeks blushed suddenly.
It’s probably hot.
You should take care not to get heatstroke.
「Yo- you wanted to know about Elf’s Canyon?」
「Of course it’s forbidden to tell about it.
「There was that option……」
I see, I could have asked directly about the medication,
If Isabelle guides me, then I can go to the canyon too?
「However, right now I still have some important work left.
When that is over, you can come with me.」
「Of, of course. What would be the point of taking advantage of a child and lie to them?」
What reassuring words.
With Sefina’s illness would take 10 or 20 years to die.
If it was that many years then it would still be ok.
Even still, this guy suddenly became all nice.
Although there was no intention of patronizing one bit.
「After I finish my work, I’m going to the Academy in the royal capital to learn magic.」
「Un. After graduating from there, it’s easy to move into a guaranteed position.」
「……Ohhhh」
If done well, you could obtain a dragon king’s silver spoon.
Given that schedule, it was possible to obtain both things in the same time frame.
「Actually, I’m planning on going to there as well」
――Well then, I’m leaving now.」
「Thank you for saving me as well.
I don’t really like humans, but I don’t dislike Regis-kun」
Saying that makes me happy.
She starts to walk slowly, then glances in my direction.
「……Well, it’s ok right?」
「Don’t move. It’ll be over quickly」
What could it be? I requested an explanation with a glance.
She abruptly approaches me.
And then――
「……Hamu」
She sweetly bit my ear.
It made my heart jump.
It was ticklish in a good way.
At the same time I felt a little pain.
Isabelle’s canine tooth had bit the soft part of my ear.
「……Isabelle?」
This is a smell that elves know, I’ve injected it into your body.」
「Un. Most elves are cautious of humans at their first meeting.
So it’s not easy to become friendly. So this is necessary right?」
Isabelle doesn’t see humans as allies after all.
While she patted my ear softly, she explains with a smile.
「But the smell just now, is sign that tells people of the same family 『This person is safe』
「Hoo, that’s convenient」
Ah, so there wasn’t an ulterior motive?
Was it a lump of evil?
There’s no mistaking it.
「Well, this marking has another meaning but――
I don’t need to explain it right?]
With a giggle Isabelle turned around.
What could it be, that other meaning?
「Well then, I’ll be going ahead」
「Aa, take care along the way」
With a hand flutter, Isabelle leaves like a gale.
She would knock out any one that tried to bully her without a doubt.
I’m glad I became her friend.
「……Now then」
I had no idea that meeting with Isabelle would have her agree with my objective.
I was thankful to the mountain for allowing this meeting.
That’s right, this strange uncivilized mountain.
After coming here, I finally realized something important.
「How do I get home?」