Chapter 78

Early in the morning, we boarded the carriage and set off for Erin.

Finally, our long stay in the capital was coming to an end.

Thanks to the fine carriage arranged for us, the ride was smooth and comfortable.

I was in the center, with Anne on my right and Kuna on my left.

This carriage was private, so there was no one else besides the driver. ... This was probably due to the king's consideration.

"Souji, Kuna, thank you for the beautiful song. It made me feel as if I was fighting alongside you, and it was both encouraging and heartwarming. Thanks to you, I was able to do my best. I'm so happy to have such good friends."

Anne expressed her gratitude with a serious face.

I felt a bit embarrassed.

"It was for no one else but Anne. I sang with all my heart. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Kuna said it casually, but her face was red, and her tail was wagging, so it was clear she was just as embarrassed as I was.

"I'm glad I could play for Anne too."

I wanted to thank Kuna for giving me that opportunity.

I had been thinking about doing something for Anne.

"Sorry to be persistent, but really, thank you. Ahem, ... by the way, Souji, Kuna, what does 'engagement' mean?"

Her words froze the air.

Anne looked at me while asking.

She was smiling, but her eyes weren't.

"Ah, that, it's nothing! Really, it's nothing at all!!"

Kuna's face turned bright red, and she waved her hands frantically to deny it.

Anne's smile became even more rigid. Kuna's flustered state made her look even more suspicious.

"That attitude is suspicious. What do you mean by that, Kuna? How did things progress so far with Souji?"

"It's really nothing, I swear!"

"... It seems something did happen."

Kuna kept making mistakes.

I couldn't stand it and decided to help her out.

"Anne, it's really nothing. That song was a gift from Elsie, and I needed a reason to accompany it. It would be strange for an unrelated man to accompany it, but if it's a fiancé, they would be treated as family."

"I see. It's a reasonable explanation. Did Souji know about it beforehand?"

Anne asked with a suspicious look.

"No, not at all. It was a surprise. Kuna, right?"

"Ah!? Ah, yes, that's right. Geez, Yuki-sama, it was such a surprise! I was really shocked. Ah, ahahaha."

Ah, Kuna knew about it beforehand.

She denied it with words, but her behavior gave her away.

I was happy that Kuna, even if it was a lie, had acknowledged me as her fiancé.

At this rate, I want to get married soon.

"So, Souji didn't know about it, and Kuna knew beforehand."

"Wh-Why does it turn out like that!"

"To think you could hide it with that attitude is surprising. ... Besides, if Kuna had just heard about it, there's no way she wouldn't have been flustered at the venue. If she had heard it for the first time there, she would have at least interrupted the song and shouted."

"N-N-N-What?"

Kuna let out a voiceless sound.

Yeah, that's exactly what Anne said.

"So, do you really intend to get married? The engagement announcement at that venue. It's not something trivial, especially since Kuna is a princess of Elsie."

Anne asked.

"If Kuna allows it, I would marry her right away."

I answered without hesitation.

Of course, it wasn't a joke. I was serious.

"Souji-kun!?"

"I thought Souji would say that. So, what about Kuna?"

Anne's eyes fixed on Kuna.

"W-Well, I think it's too early for that. It was just a convenience at the venue. I didn't have any serious intention of getting married."

"I see, I'm relieved. ... Kuna."

"W-What, Anne? You're scary."

Kuna said it teasingly, but Anne was dead serious.

Kuna's expression stiffened. However...

"It's nothing. Girls should be more honest. If you think Souji's feelings will never change, that's just being naive. That's the end of my advice. ... I won't send any more salt to the enemy."

Anne's tone softened, and Kuna seemed to relax.

"Enemy? What enemy!?"

Kuna puffed her cheeks and protested.

"Of course, it's obvious. Kuna and Anne are competing to see who will end up with me, so you two are enemies."

"Are you stupid, Souji!? Why do I have to compete for someone like you!"

"It's true, isn't it? If Kuna doesn't want me, I'll be happy to have her. I like Souji."

Anne said and hugged me.

"Anne, it's inappropriate for a man and a woman to get so close. Please let go!"

"To deny your feelings while being jealous of me, that's just stubborn. Kuna."

"That's not true. It's not like that."

"Besides, I don't mind if Souji gets involved with Kuna, but because Kuna dislikes it, it becomes a competition. How about both of you becoming Souji's wives?"

"Anne, get a grip!"

Kuna's tail bristled in anger.

A familiar scene.

However...

"Kuna, are you okay!?"

Suddenly, Kuna stumbled.

I quickly caught her, but her body was hot.

"It's nothing. I'm just a bit feverish. Don't worry. This has been happening occasionally lately."

I knew what Kuna meant. She sometimes had feverish episodes.

But this time, it seemed more serious.

"Kuna, let me examine you."

I used my magic to inspect Kuna's body.

Her body was filled with excessive magic power, which was affecting her. I pressed my palm against Kuna's forehead and tried to force the excess magic power out.

The sensation of the magic power was strange. It was abnormally dense and sticky.

If normal magic power was water, this was thick oil.

Usually, magic power could be easily guided out, but even with my full effort, it barely moved. It was heavy.

I used almost all my magic power to release a small amount of the excess magic power in Kuna's body.

Kuna's expression softened slightly.

"Thank you, Souji-kun. I feel a bit better."

I thought about the cause.

"Probably, it's my fault. In the past, Kuna's magic circuit was broken, and magic power leaked naturally, causing a significant loss. ... But now, Kuna's magic power is circulating completely. Kuna isn't used to the amount of magic power she produces... Also, at this stage, I'm not sure, but the excess magic power is deteriorating and worsening the situation."

Kuna's magic power production is several times that of a normal person.

This excess magic power is exhausting her. That's undeniable.

"But it's not just that."

I didn't want to worry Kuna, but the amount of magic power was inexplicable, and the deterioration of the magic power was also a mystery.

... What's happening to Kuna?

At that moment, a hypothesis formed in my mind.

Could it be that Cyril, who broke Kuna's magic circuit, intentionally wasted magic power to prevent this from happening?

"Don't apologize, Souji-kun. If that's the case, it's my problem. I need to learn to control my own magic power."

Kuna said apologetically, and it pained me.

I wanted to do everything I could to heal Kuna. I needed to check the state of her magic circuit and optimize it, as well as teach her better magic control.

"How long has this been going on?"

"... Actually, it started a week ago. But this is the first time it's gotten this bad."

"I'm sorry I didn't notice. When we get back, I'll perform acupuncture. It should help. I'll do my best to heal Kuna."

"I'm sorry. I'm causing you trouble again, Souji-kun."

I hugged Kuna tightly, hoping to ease her anxiety.

I didn't expect that not examining Kuna's body after her magic circuit was healed would come back to haunt us.

As soon as we get back, I'll perform acupuncture. It should improve the situation.