Chapter 93

"Is this Elsie? It's a nice country, isn't it?"

"It's not really a country. It's just a small village with a population of less than a thousand."

Kuna, my sister, a golden fire fox, led us into Elsie. It's a small but lively and pleasant village. Laughter can be heard everywhere.

Kuna has been trembling behind me for a while now. This is probably because Sora said, "You can't show anything indecent in front of people. But I will give you a thorough punishment after I show Soji around, so be prepared."

"What's that?"

I pointed to a large iron mass running through the village, about the size of a horse. I had a word in mind, but since it shouldn't exist in this era, I asked just to be sure.

"That's a car. My father made it as a hobby, and his blacksmith apprentices disassembled it to create blueprints. Recently, they've started mass production."

So, there were cars running. The strange thing was that there was no engine sound, and no exhaust pipe.

"What's the power source?"

"Wind. The wind mana powers the pistons in the cylinders, which are then converted into rotational force by gears. An elf can reach about 80 kilometers per hour."

"That's impressive."

A horse-drawn carriage is surprisingly slow, barely reaching 20 kilometers per hour. If such a convenient thing exists, I'd want one.

"Soji, but only elves can use it. Without an elf's affinity for wind, it can barely move. Ugh, I know how it feels to ride with Father and enjoy the comfort, but I can't move it myself."

Kuna looked enviously at the elves driving the cars. Well, as a fire fox, Kuna can't handle wind magic, so she can't drive it.

"But, Kuna, look over there. A male fire fox is driving one."

Anne pointed to a car being driven by a male fire fox, who looked very happy.

"Sora, what! What! What is that!? How can a fire fox drive a car!?"

Kuna asked excitedly, her eyes shining with the desire to drive.

"Recently completed fire fox model. My father designed it at the request of the fire foxes. There are only a few prototypes. This one uses steam as the power source. Water is heated by the fire fox's flames to produce steam, which turns the turbine. However, to circulate the water, the steam must be cooled back into water, which requires magic. Without the ability to heat and cool simultaneously, it's impossible. But because it has mass, its output surpasses the elf model."

Structurally, it's closer to modern cars. If the heating and cooling can be miniaturized with magic, it might even outperform Japanese cars. It's also environmentally friendly since it doesn't emit exhaust gases.

"Sora, I want that! I want to drive it too!"

Kuna pleaded with sparkling eyes, and Sora chuckled.

"Sora, you're so stingy. Fine, I'll ask Lucie."

"…Really, stop it. If she asks, she'll really buy it. She's always been overly indulgent with Kuna."

Sora sighed deeply. Kuna apparently acts recklessly in Elsie.

◇

After looking around Elsie, we finally reached our destination. Sora led us to a particularly large mansion in Elsie. It was a grand brick house.

"Is this it?"

"It's a guest house. We entertain guests here."

"It's not Kuna's house?"

When I asked, Kuna puffed out her chest proudly.

"My house is bigger than this. Two families live there, so it needs to be large."

"Three, right?"

"Well, there are some circumstances."

Kuna tried to dodge the question, suggesting there were some reasons she didn't want to talk about. We were led into a room that resembled a Japanese tatami room, with a hearth and tatami mats. I had never seen such a room before. Sora skillfully made tea and offered it to us.

"Rough tea, but please."

"Thank you."

I'm not familiar with such etiquette, so I took a sip. It had a nice aroma, a green Japanese tea. I savored it slowly, enjoying the strong bitterness and the subtle sweetness hidden within. I didn't dislike it.

"Phew!"

Looking to the side, I saw Anne making a face at the unexpected bitterness. She probably hadn't anticipated it. Anne, with a pale face, struggled to swallow the tea.

Then, she took a small sip. Her eyes widened. The first sip, without any guard against the bitterness, made her choke, but knowing it was bitter and taking a small sip allowed her to enjoy the definite sweetness behind the bitterness.

"Sora, do you have that?"

Kuna, who hadn't touched the tea, asked Sora.

"…Do you intend to drink it that way? Don't you think it's rude to the one who made the tea?"

"But it tastes better that way."

Kuna urged Sora, who then chuckled, stood up, and took a teapot from a shelf. Kuna's face lit up as she poured the contents of the teapot into her tea.

"Kuna, what is that?"

"Maple syrup! Adding this makes it taste better!"

Kuna, wagging her tail, took a sip of the tea with maple syrup.

"Mm, it's sweet and bitter, and it tastes good. Sora, I want more!"

"Truly, this child… Do as you please."

Sora chuckled and handed the tea to Kuna, who drank it with a satisfied look.

"Can I try it too?"

Seeing Kuna enjoy it so much, I couldn't help but be curious.

"Yes, please."

With Sora's permission, I added maple syrup to my tea. It tasted great. The gentle sweetness of the maple syrup enveloped the bitterness of the tea, making it soft on the palate. Yet, the tea's unique bitterness and astringency were still prominent, blending with the sweetness to create a mysterious charm.

In terms of flavor, it was similar to sweet matcha but fresher and more aromatic. Anne looked at Kuna and me enviously and hesitantly raised her hand.

"Sorry, I want to try it too. Is it okay?"

She said hesitantly. Seeing this, we laughed. With permission, Anne added maple syrup to her tea and drank it, looking thoroughly satisfied.

◇

"Alright, we've had a break. Let's get to the main topic."

Sora tightened the relaxed atmosphere with those words.

"I read Soji's letter. Kuna was targeted by someone, and although you repelled them, Soji is in critical condition. You came to Elsie to protect Kuna and treat Soji, and to become stronger. Is that correct?"

We three nodded. Yes, in my current state, I can't protect Kuna. Not to mention, I can't even fight properly until my body heals. …Furthermore, I want to become stronger, strong enough to protect Kuna myself.

"First, regarding the current situation, my father is in the secret underground labyrinth of Elsie to secure the materials needed to heal Soji. Burns are one thing, but miasma burns can't be cured by magic alone. Therefore, a special medicine and magic must be used together."

"To go to such lengths for us…"

Once miasma has invaded, it can't be healed with half-measures. I hadn't even heard of a medicine effective against miasma burns.

"Kuna was injured while protecting you. I heard that Soji brought Kuna back to her senses in that state. Even my father couldn't do that. To be honest, we were prepared to help Kuna if she ever fell into that state again, but we knew we couldn't save her. Soji is Kuna's savior. It's only right to do this much for him. If Soji wishes, Elsie will assist him in any way possible."

Sora said this as if it were nothing. Then she continued.

"Let me reiterate, thank you for saving Kuna, my dear sister."

She bowed, a very beautiful gesture that left me momentarily dazed.

"My father will treat you as soon as he returns. However, both my father and I are busy and can't always protect Kuna. Therefore, while you're in Elsie, I will assign another man to guard you. Please rest assured. He is undoubtedly the strongest man in Elsie, aside from my father. No one in this world can defeat him except my father."

"Sora, could it be…"

"Yes, Kuna. You're sharp. The one to protect you is Rina, your reliable big brother."

Rina? A name similar to Ryle. I need to be careful not to mix them up.

"Please, no. Rina, not him."

"Safety first. Kuna, you know Rina's strength. Besides, Rina can be your mentor. He can teach you Elsie's secret techniques, which are beyond common knowledge. He's also the leader of the elite unit, Iraxa, and is experienced in training. I've already called him."

The door opened, and a large man entered. A handsome young man, even among the beautiful fire foxes, but his presence was overwhelmingly intimidating. He was about 190 cm tall, with a muscular build. His physical abilities were not the only impressive thing; the magic power radiating from his entire body made him even more formidable.

He had golden fox ears and a magnificent fox tail, but they seemed strangely out of place.

"Kuna, I've missed you."

He smiled and lunged at Kuna, like a charging bull.

"Ah, ah!"

Kuna screamed and jumped back. The man's arms, which had tried to embrace her, swung through the air.

"That's harsh, Kuna. To reject your brother's embrace."

"No, I avoid it, of course. If I got hit by that, my spine would break!"

The scary part is that this isn't a metaphor. If Kuna were hit by that, her frail body would be shattered in one blow.

"Hmm, Kuna is still so thin. Eat more meat, put on more weight. Otherwise, you won't get stronger."

Kuna puffed out her cheeks at Rina's words.

"Mm, no. I prioritize speed. This is just right."

Kuna, hiding behind me, poked her head out to complain.

"Kuna, you'd be stronger if you put on about 10 more kilograms."

I'd rather not. Kuna's current, perfectly proportioned, and extremely sexy body would be ruined. I love Kuna's current body, which is soft on the surface and has flexible muscles beneath a thin layer of skin.

While I was thinking this, a girl appeared from behind Rina.

"Father, that's rude to girls. Besides, the guests are taken aback. You should be more restrained."

It was Yuki, the silver fire fox we met in the capital, a cool beauty of our age.

"Oh, right, sorry. Sorry. You're Soji, Kuna's friend, and that's Anne, right?"

The man laughed.

"Yes, I'm Soji. I'm Kuna's friend."

"Right, right, you're the one."

Rina sized me up.

"I see, I can understand why Father likes you…"

Rina nodded as if he had come to a realization.

"I'm Anne Loreta Oakley."

Anne hesitantly introduced herself.

"Very polite. Anne, you have good sword aura. I see, Kuna has good friends. I'm Rina. Rina Elsie. I lead the elite unit, Iraxa, in Elsie. While you're here, I'll protect you and train you thoroughly, so be prepared."

Rina extended his hand to me and Anne. Kuna had once called him a brainless musclehead, but his eyes shone with intelligence.

A soldier might be one thing, but a leader needs a quick mind. Probably, he only seems stupid when it comes to Kuna.

"You must be tired from the long journey. Father won't be back until tomorrow. Relax at my house. Yuki, prepare some drinks and food."

"Got it. I'll bring out the best stuff. Father's secret stash of alcohol and the special bacon he's been saving."

"Can't be helped. Fine, it's for a new brother. That's acceptable."

And so, we were to stay at Rina's house.

The second volume of Cheat Magic will be released on 4/28! I've posted the cover below! If you buy it, Tsukiyoshi will be very happy!