Chapter 36

"Leni-sama!!?"

As I was grinning at the dragon that had turned into a constellation, I heard Samyu's anxious voice.

Oh, right. I’m looking up at the sky without lifting my head. Yeah, I’m falling on my back again.

"Samyu-chan, catch me."

"Yes, gladly!!"

When I made the request through [Telepathy], Samyu-chan responded with her usual energetic voice. The volume and the slightly eager tone made it sound like a greeting at an izakaya.

It seemed she was already in position at the landing point, and Samyu-chan caught me as I fell, holding me firmly.

"Thank you."

I looked up at Samyu-chan and thanked her.

Then, Samyu-chan started to tremble—

"A, a, a... No, the love is in my hands. A."

This is bad.

"I’m getting down."

I tried to get up from Samyu-chan’s arms and showed that I was going to go down. Samyu-chan gently placed me on the ground.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I’m sorry... It seems that carrying me while I’m visible is still too powerful for me... My love resistance is not enough yet."

"…Yeah."

Samyu-chan had a very serious expression.

Since my hood had come off during the battle with the dragon, it must have been difficult for Samyu-chan to carry me while I was visible. ...I don’t really understand what she means by "powerful" and "love resistance."

"By the way, Leni-sama, is there any change in your body?"

"Change?"

"Yes. I felt Leni-sama’s magic power when you attacked the dragon."

"Leni can’t use magic?"

"Leni-sama was born from a queen elf who had lost her magic power. Whether you could use magic in the future was unknown, but you were able to make a Guardian Contract. I definitely felt magic power just now, so perhaps something triggered it."

"Hmm... Oh, my chest felt warm."

"Your chest?"

"Yes. When I thought I could do it, it overflowed from my chest."

"That might be Leni-sama’s [Magic Manipulation]."

"Magic Manipulation!"

That’s what I wanted to do! Samyu-chan uses it, and it’s super strong!

If I can do it, I’m happy.

"I’ll try again."

"Okay, don’t overdo it."

"I can do it. I can do it. Leni can do it."

I concentrated on my chest—

"I can do it."

Come on, heat!

"..."

Hmm.

"I can’t do it."

I don’t feel any heat at all.

"The heat isn’t coming."

"Yes, I don’t feel any magic power from Leni-sama now either..."

"I see..."

Of course, I can’t do it right away... I don’t even know why I could do it before.

"I’m sorry. If I could explain it better, but [Magic Manipulation] is something that elves can do naturally, and I don’t know how to explain it..."

"No, it’s okay. I’ll try again."

My status shows [Sealed], so I think that’s affecting it. I’m an elf, but I’m sealed, and my ears are round. It’s natural that I can’t do what a normal elf can do.

"I won’t give up."

That’s right! Because I did it once!

In games, you try many times, and each time you get better and can do more. So, I just need to practice and train steadily.

"Leni-sama..."

When I nodded to show that I would try, Samyu-chan’s eyes welled up with tears.

"Sublime... Sublime... I’m basking in Leni-sama’s presence..."

Samyu-chan said, trembling.

...Yeah. I don’t really understand.

Confused, I looked up at the trembling Samyu-chan.

Then, a voice called out—

"Hey, you!!"

A young voice. It was the girl who was called "Your Highness" and was in the carriage.

The distance from the carriage to us was about 10 meters. The girl must have shouted quite loudly.

"What?"

I tilted my head and gestured to respond. My voice probably wouldn’t reach her from this distance.

The girl in the beautiful dress waved her hand.

"It’s too far! Come over here!"

"Okay."

I nodded and approached the carriage.

The [Bell of Perception] wasn’t ringing, and Samyu-chan didn’t stop me, so it should be fine to get closer.

"What’s wrong?"

I called out as I approached.

The girl looked at me, opened her eyes, and was speechless.

"You’re so beautiful..."

She murmured, dazed.

She had called me over but seemed to have forgotten why.

There were three women around her, all wearing similar black dresses with white aprons. Uniforms, maybe?

They all looked at me with wide eyes, clearly surprised.

"Are you okay?"

"Y-Yes, I’m fine...!!"

The girl seemed to snap back to reality and spoke hurriedly.

Her voice was still young but very composed.

"I saw you defeat the dragon earlier. You did a great job."

"Thanks."

"It’s unfortunate that the soldiers fell, but I plan to instruct the mayor of Leoriga to take care of the aftermath."

"Okay."

The broken carriage and the fallen soldiers. Since the girl was no longer being protected, it made sense to rely on the nearest city, Leoriga.

The fact that she said she would "instruct" suggests that she has a high status and can make such requests.

"..., w-well... that..."

The composed girl suddenly started to mumble.

"What’s wrong?"

"N-Nothing!"

I found it strange and called out, but the girl’s eyes widened and she responded reflexively.

She didn’t seem angry, but maybe she was scared because she saw me punch the dragon. If that’s the case, it might be better for me to leave.

"I’m going now, Leni."

"Eh, no, that’s not it!"

"Hmm?"

"Um... please wait."

"Wait?"

"Just a little! Just a little!"

"Okay."

I don’t really understand, but she seems to want me to wait, so I nodded.

The girl spun around and ran to the three women.

"What should I do!? I can’t find the words!"

"It’s okay, Your Highness! You can do it!"

"You were doing well up to a point!"

"Just keep inviting her as we practiced!"

"But... I’m suddenly scared of being turned down."

"Your Highness..."

"Because... such a beautiful girl like her... with someone like me..."

The girl’s back slumped visibly.

It seems she wanted to say something to me but was afraid of being rejected.

Understanding the situation, I called out to her back.

"It’s okay."

"Eh...?"

"Leni will listen to you."

I can wait like a good 4-year-old.

"If you tell me, I’ll think about it and answer."

"…I see."

The girl turned around and stood in front of me, looking tense.

"Um... um..."

The girl’s cheeks turned red.

She was really putting her heart into telling me something.

"Tea party...?"

"Tea party?"

"I want you to come to a tea party!"

The girl said it almost like a shout and quickly continued.

"You protected me, right? I want to thank you. I’ll be talking with the mayor of Leoriga, so it might take a while, but I want to have a tea party somewhere in Leoriga today..."

She said all that in one breath and then suddenly looked startled.

Her cheeks quickly lost their redness.

"But... having a tea party with me... might not be fun."

Her eyes looked sad as she lowered them.

What a mysterious girl.

She seems much more mature and composed than someone her age, but she suddenly loses confidence.

"Don’t worry."

Because—

"Whether it’s fun or not, Leni will decide for herself."

I decide my own feelings.

Right now, my feeling is—

"The tea party sounds really fun."

—If we spend time together, it will definitely be fun!

"Thank you for inviting me."

I smiled at the girl’s brown eyes, and her cheeks turned bright red.