Chapter 73

Hasano-chan was in the first floor of the palace, in a room with high ceilings and light pouring in from the windows, preparing for something.

The atmosphere here was similar to the church in Niguru Village where the children were captured, but it felt warmer.

In the center was a magic circle, intricately composed of many crests. Standing in the center of this, would the spell be activated?

"Then, Reni-chan, I'll tell you about your current state. Your [Magic Circuits] are swollen to the point of bursting."

"Uh-huh."

"If this continues, your [Magic Circuits] will break, and you might lose your life."

I nodded in agreement with Hasano-chan's words.

It was almost the same as what Samyuu-chan had told me. The new information was that death from [Magic Overload] was due to the damage to the [Magic Circuits].

To imagine it, it would be like a faucet and a plastic hose.

A faucet with high water pressure, and a plastic hose connected to it. I was fine before because the faucet was closed. But now, it's open all the time.

The elf had said that magic circulates inside the body, so the end of the hose would return to the faucet. It would maintain balance while circulating in a loop inside the body. And when needed, you would use magic or [Magic Control] to release magic from a specific location.

But the water pressure is too high for the hose to handle. The hose is getting thicker, and the outer layer is getting thinner.

The symptoms of fever, fatigue, and drowsiness are probably due to the strain on the hose. And if the hose were to tear someday, you would die.

"This magic circle will make the swollen [Magic Circuits] thinner and strengthen them to withstand the strain of the magic circulation."

"Wow..."

It's not to stop the circulation of magic like my mother, or to prevent [Magic Overload]. And it's not to close the main valve like I did before.

The spell will keep the faucet open, not change the amount of magic circulating, but strengthen the hose.

It will make the strained hose thinner to fit the body size and reinforce it.

To prevent another elf like my mother and to save my fellow elves, Hasano-chan must have done a lot of research.

"But, Reni-chan, this is not a perfect spell..."

Hasano-chan frowned in pain.

"Reni-chan's magic is too powerful. Even if we use this spell to strengthen the [Magic Circuits], they will swell again, and the strain on Reni-chan's body will return."

"Recurrence?"

"Recurrence... Yes, I think so. So, until Reni-chan's body grows to match the magic... No, it might be for life."

I could see Samyuu-chan's body next to me twitch.

Maybe this was the first time she heard it.

"As Reni-chan grows, the [Magic Circuits] will also strengthen. There might come a day when the balance between the magic you have and the circulating magic, and the [Magic Circuits], is achieved. But if the magic also grows with you..."

"Always, painful."

"Such..."

Thinking about a future where the [Magic Circuits] would never stabilize, I reacted to Hasano-chan's words.

Samyuu-chan, who was next to me, responded calmly.

"Will the [Magic Overload] settle down as Reni-sama grows?"

"Of course, I hope so. ...But no one knows how she will grow."

"That's... But, that's too much for Reni-sama..."

Samyuu-chan's anguished voice.

She must have thought about the future where fever, fatigue, and drowsiness would always accompany her, and the danger of death.

Hasano-chan just looked at her with calm eyes.

In a way, Hasano-chan has a doctor-like aura. She examines my body and talks calmly. She tells me both the good and the bad. That's very trustworthy.

So,

"Samyuu-chan, it's okay."

I gripped Samyuu-chan's hand tightly.

"Reni is strong."

—Because I'm the strongest four-year-old.

"It's okay."

My body felt a bit heavier again, but I puffed out my chest.

Samyuu-chan's eyes started to water—

"Yes... Yes... I'm sorry, I didn't doubt Reni-sama's future..."

"Uh-huh. I understand."

You were worried about me.

"Samyuu-chan's feelings are appreciated."

It's a very happy thing to have someone worry about you.

Even though Samyuu-chan looked pained, my chest felt warm...

I giggled and leaned a little closer to Samyuu-chan. Then—

"Ah..."

—Samyuu-chan gasped.

And then, she went white... Oh, this is... Bad...

"Ah, impossible, noble, impossible, ultimate move."

Samyuu-chan collapsed. I couldn't do anything. Hasano-chan just watched...

Why did this happen in a room with light shining in...

Then, Hasano-chan said calmly,

"Samyuu has inherited the elf's nature strongly. She gets a bit too excited."

"A bit..."

Is it just a bit...

"Will she be okay?"

Hasano-chan is like a doctor. So, maybe Samyuu-chan's breathing difficulty will be cured?

I asked hesitantly, and Hasano-chan smiled kindly.

"Reni-chan, this is not something like that. Just as I want to scream because Reni-chan is cute, Samyuu can't breathe. It's the way of nature."

"Nature..."

The way of nature...

"I'm sorry!"

Shaken by Hasano-chan's kind smile, Samyuu-chan revived as if nothing had happened.

And she nodded with determination.

"If Reni-sama's symptoms continue, I will offer all the remaining gems to Reni-sama! Even at the cost of my life!"

"Yes. And I'll be here too. When Reni-chan's body feels unwell, come here. I'll cast the spell again. And I'll continue my research."

Samyuu-chan and Hasano-chan are here for me.

So, it will be okay.

I nodded too.

"Then, let's start."

"Please."

I let go of Samyuu-chan's hand and ran to the center of the magic circle.

Hasano-chan moved to various places and touched the ground.

The complex patterns began to glow. The light increased—

"Alright, this is the last part!"

With those words, the room was filled with light.

My body sparkled. And—

"Ah, my body, it's light."

My body feels so light!

"Thank you, Hasano-chan."

"That's good... It seems to have worked. Come here, let me do a [Magic Appraisal] for a bit."

I moved away from the magic circle and went to Hasano-chan.

The fatigue and drowsiness I had felt since the seal was broken were gone.

Hasano-chan examined my body with a ring of light. When she finished, she sighed in relief.

"It worked. How do you feel?"

"Not sleepy, not tired."

"If you feel anything strange in the future, I'll cast this spell again."

"Okay."

Hasano-chan is my doctor. If the strain on my [Magic Circuits] becomes too great, I'll have to come back to the elf forest.

"That's good... Reni-sama..."

"Uh-huh. Thanks to Samyuu-chan, thank you."

"Such... It's too kind of you. If Reni-sama's condition has improved, I'm really glad."

She noticed my condition and immediately identified it as [Magic Overload].

She talked to my mother and brought me to the elf forest. I really owe a lot to Samyuu-chan.

As I talked to Samyuu-chan, Hasano-chan knelt in front of me.

"Also, Reni-chan, there's one promise I want you to make."

"Promise?"

"Yes, it's important to protect Reni-chan's body."

Hasano-chan, who met my eyes, looked at me seriously.

For my body... I don't understand, but from her expression, I knew it was very important.

"That is—"

Pressed by Hasano-chan's aura, I swallowed.

But the words didn't come out—

"Hey!! Elves!! I will never forgive you for mocking me!"

—What I heard was.

"Dragon person?"

The voice echoed throughout the elf forest as if using a megaphone.

This voice belonged to the dragon girl who had been knocked out many times by Samyuu-chan's charges.

"If you don't show yourselves, you will burn to ashes! Even ancient magic will be destroyed by my flames!"

She laughed maniacally.

At the same time, the door to the room burst open.

"Your Majesty! It's terrible! The elf forest is on fire!"