Raising the Elf’s Genius Slayer

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Chapter

Undine could not comprehend the situation at all.

Why was Rionne crying, and why was Enok comforting her?

“E-Enok…!”

“It’s okay, Rionne.”

“I can’t let Enok go…!”

What on earth was this scene?

I was so baffled that I uttered my thoughts out loud.

[Why… it’s not like I’m sending him away forever. Am I marrying him off?]

Even though she said to go, she was the one crying.

What on earth was going on?

Really.

“Wait, marry…? No! Enok will live with his sister forever!”

“Yeah.”

“You’re not lying, right…?”

“Of course not.”

“Is it really necessary? Can’t you just forget later? Seriously?”

“You must not forget, Rionne.”

“Okay!”

The spirit covered its mouth.

What kind of ridiculous situation is this?

It was so ugly I couldn’t bear to look.

[Ha… Anyway, what Rionne means is that if you stay here any longer, you won’t grow. So, even though it’s a bit early, it’s time for you to step into the world.]

“U-uh… You’re right.”

[Ugh, this idiot!]

Enok shoved the annoyed Undine aside and asked.

“Can’t I stay a little longer?”

[If that idiot stays, I really won’t be able to send him off!]

“Hmm.”

Enok nodded.

That was a credible statement.

“So? You want me to leave suddenly today?”

The answer came not from Undine but from Rionne.

“A, no! Not today! Tomorrow!”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah… Since it’s the last time, we should have a farewell party…”

[Then, you might end up not letting him go after all.]

“Sh, shut up!”

Rionne, with her lips pouting, sniffled in Enok’s embrace.

‘Why does it seem like her mental age is regressing over time?’

I wondered if she would soon start scribbling on the walls.

Undine seriously worried about that.

But that’s that, and this is this.

[Anyway, so today is a party! So we’ll pour the flowing breath of the dragon that we didn’t drink last time, right?]

Seeing Undine excited, Rionne glared at her.

“…I’m not giving it to you.”

[W-what…!?]

The spirit despaired.

*

The farewell party for Enok ended simply.

Rionne, drunk after just one glass of the flowing dragon’s breath, clung to Enok.

It was much less than her usual drinking capacity, but perhaps because she wanted to get drunk, that was how it went.

The situation was a stark contrast to the last time they drank together.

The matured Enok had emptied three glasses and was still fine, skillfully looking after Rionne.

[Hehehe, the rest is all mine!]

While watching Undine hide the remaining alcohol secretly, Enok stroked Rionne’s head as she slept curled up on his lap.

‘Tomorrow…’

He would leave this beloved nest.

He knew there would come a day like this, but now that it was right around the corner, the feeling was strange.

“Ha…”

As he looked up, he saw the sunset fading into the dark sky.

On the day he first drank, he vaguely remembered that he and Rionne’s positions were the opposite.

He had slept on Rionne’s lap.

Now, Rionne was sleeping on his lap.

How much time had passed for things to change so dramatically?

Before meeting Rionne, he had never imagined such moments.

[Why are you getting so sentimental?]

Undine flew in after successfully hiding the bottle and landed on Enok’s head.

It was Eri’s designated seat, but Eri didn’t matter since she was passed out on the grass from drinking.

“Just… can’t believe it.”

[Leaving here?]

“That, and Rionne too.”

As Enok’s fingers brushed through her hair, Rionne mumbled something.

She was mumbling in her sleep, something about ‘Enok… don’t go…’ which made him chuckle.

[What the…! Ugh… when will you grow up? No, rather, she has thrown away the maturity she once had. Such an idiot.]

“What’s wrong with that? It’s cute.”

[Yeah, cute… what?]

Undine suddenly perked up.

On Enok’s face was a relaxed and languid smile as he gazed at Rionne.

Somehow, that expression seemed much more mature than usual, making Undine squint her eyes.

[You… have you been doing that all this time?]

“What?”

With a grin, Enok spread one of his fingers.

Kiing—! A small halo spun above it.

“Sorting it out, back to its place.”

With a simple incantation, the messy yard left over from the party became clean.

Although it was certainly less skilled than Rionne’s magic, it definitely exceeded the level of magic Enok usually displayed.

[That kid is such a scatterbrain.]

“I was desperate.”

[Desperate, huh.]

Pfft— Undine snorted as Enok rose to his feet.

As he tried to move Rionne, who he was holding, she kept burrowing deeper into his embrace.

He liked her restless movements, so Enok looked down at Rionne.

“Mm….”

“…I can’t just do whatever I want.”

He licked his lips as Enok entered the house.

From behind, Undine’s shocked voice echoed.

[You can’t take advantage of a drunken girl!? That’s really a crime!]

“Shut up.”

Why would he do such a thing?

After all the effort he put in, there was no way he’d ruin his image over a moment of temptation.

“Hehe… Enok…”

…Isn’t it?

Maybe.

*

Fortunately, Enok’s restraint was commendable.

With a slightly tired expression, he opened his eyes to find Rionne missing, who had been lying next to him.

Thump— faint sounds of a knife could be heard.

After quickly washing up and sitting at the table, Rionne laid out a lavish breakfast.

“Eat a lot, Enok.”

Rionne’s eyes were slightly red.

Did she cry again?

He felt uneasy.

After finishing a light breakfast together, they quickly packed their things.

Clothes, daily necessities, and even the white mask he had bought before.

Since he wasn’t leaving forever, he didn’t have that much to pack.

Still, Rionne looked at the somewhat empty room with a bitter expression.

“Enok, wait a moment.”

Rionne returned holding a sword she had not used before.

It didn’t appear to be her usual sword, showing signs of being used, as if it was someone else’s.

“This is the sword I used before.”

Rionne personally attached the sword to Enok’s waist.

“Since it’s the sword of the Estor House, be sure to show this symbol when in danger. It’ll serve as some insurance.”

“Okay.”

“And…”

With a swift motion, Rionne cut a bit of her hair.

As Enok looked on in surprise, she skillfully braided it into a ring.

It was a beautiful ring, seemingly spun from golden thread.

“Make sure to wear this too. If you ever need the elves’ help, this will come in handy. …Though Estor House might make it a bit ambiguous.”

Rionne’s sorrowful expression while she packed things up tugged painfully at his heart.

However, that didn’t quite apply to the spirit, who saw things differently.

[Seriously, what a load of nonsense. What’s she going to do when she comes back in a month?]

Of course, the elf and human immersed in their own gloomy atmosphere couldn’t hear that.

As Rionne gave Enok a light pat on the shoulder, he slightly bent his knees.

Peck—

Rionne kissed Enok’s forehead.

Unlike usual, the kiss felt refreshingly lingering, as if the wind had paused.

“It’s a blessing from the High Elf. It’s doesn’t mean anything special, but…”

The elves would recognize it, and it would also help in her relationship with the spirit.

“And lastly…”

Rionne’s verdant eyes locked onto Enok’s black eyes as if melting into them.

With her trembling lips tightly pinched, she cautiously opened her mouth as if making a vow.

“Enok.”

“Yeah.”

“Enok Estor.”

“…Huh?”

Enok’s eyes widened.

Rionne bit her lips, suppressing her anxious breath, and smiled gently.

“Remember that I’ll always be behind you. Swordmaster, Rionne Estor is always on your side, no matter where you are.”

With a smile that was both tearful and joyful, Enok’s eyes flickered, lost in confusion at her strange expression.

Seeing him, Rionne smiled even wider.

“Never go around getting hurt. If it gets tough, make sure to call for me. I’ll fly to you in an instant, even if you’re fighting the Emperor.”

“…Okay.”

“Then… huh!?”

Suddenly, Enok’s face was close.

Startled, Rionne’s eyes widened.

As her breath caught in her throat, she felt it hard to breathe.

Before she could evaluate the situation, Enok swiftly took his chance and leaned in.

Peck—

A soft sensation.

Rionne’s eyes widened, her mouth agape in surprise.

“I’ll be back.”

“U-uh….”

Enok’s lips brushed her cheek.

In that instant, Rionne’s face flushed red, thinking she was about to be kissed.

Why didn’t I pull away?

Only unresolved questions swirled around in the elf’s mind.

*

After saying goodbye to Master of the Forest, Enok was leaving.

Rionne and Undine sat atop a roof, watching him go.

[A sly little kid.]

“U-uh?”

[Whatever, he’s waving. Just wave back or something.]

“U-uh…!”

As Rionne waved her hand, the spirit snorted.

‘It will really be soon.’

Setting that aside, there was something she wanted to ask.

[By the way, why did you hide the effect of that ring?]

At the end of mortality, just shy of immortality.

The ring created by a great elf through her own body was no ordinary object.

Undine understood that the miracle contained within that ring was undoubtedly protection and summoning.

In simple terms, if Enok was in danger, it would protect him and signal Rionne.

“Ah, I just…. I shouldn’t rely on it too much…”

They were not the only two.

The miracles in the ring totaled three.

The last one indicated territory.

Fainter than the other two miracles, but nonetheless, her essence resided there.

A clear intent that said, ‘Don’t touch what’s mine’ seeped through.

Moreover, why did she insist on placing the ring on the left ring finger, which represented possession among humans?

“That’s… just in case a dangerous person gets close… so, it’s not, like, a strange meaning or anything…”

Seeing the flustered elf babble, the spirit responded with a smile.

[You’re out of your mind.]