Marriage.
If I didn’t mishear, that’s probably about marriage, not blood stains.
“No, I’m not,”
I immediately decline.
“Hah? Are you trying to reject me, huh?”
Slurp, slurp, slurp!
The speed of Urklow ’s tongue licking my cheek increases.
“Across all time and space, there’s no female who can match me! Or are you resistant to mating with a beast-like magical species with more animal traits? Hey, hey, that’s a trivial problem.”
Urklow grins confidently and, with her thumb, slips it between her other fingers and pulls it out.
“In front of my skills, any male will be finished in ten seconds! Come on, try being with me, just once!”
“No, that’s not the issue.”
In the first place, I had no intention of getting married.
More accurately, it would be correct to say I’ve never even thought about it.
As I think this, someone cuts between me and Urklow .
“—Excuse me, Urklow -sama.”
It was Swan, who had stepped into the conversation.
“It seems you’ve taken some wounds, so I suggest receiving treatment first.”
“Eh? Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Swan Veister. I’m a direct subordinate to Dr. Alaya , who is always with him.”
Swan looks up at Urklow with a dignified air that is unusual for her.
Urklow squints her eyes and looks at Swan with interest.
“Hmm, a direct subordinate interrupting a discussion between executives, huh?”
“…Apologies, but this is a dangerous area. I suggest that we first ensure your condition is stable and then quickly begin moving. You can discuss afterward.”
“Well, that’s reasonable. It wouldn’t be surprising if an elven army arrives at any time.”
Urklow grins, then presents her wounded area in front of Swan.
“Still, you’re giving off some good killing intent, huh? You’re wasted as a rear support medic.”
“Please don’t joke.”
For some reason, the atmosphere between Urklow and Swan feels tense.
Is it just my imagination?
In any case, I’m grateful that Swan has stopped Urklow ’s proposal of marriage… or rather, her overly direct sexual advances. As Swan said, we don’t have the luxury to leisurely talk.
“Anemone, is Rose’s injury healed?”
“Yeah, it’s fine. She’s fully healed.”
I turn around, and Rose, who had been lying down with injuries, was already about to stand up.
There’s a hole in her abdominal clothes, but there are no visible wounds anymore.
As expected of elves. Anemone is said to be quite skilled in recovery magic.
Rose looks at me timidly and says,
“Umm… I’m sorry for dragging you into danger because of me.”
What is she even saying?
For me, this experience has been incredibly valuable.
“There’s nothing to worry about. You’re now an important ‘comrade.’”
“Kiwi… thank you.”
“It’s no trouble. I expect great things from you going forward. Now, if you’re healed, we should begin moving.”
For me, the best outcome would be for the three elves to go back to the magic kingdom, focus on their research again, and share the results with me.
After all, meeting Anemone and the others was a fortunate event. Any results regarding elves are bonuses. My original goal was to examine Urklow , a rare magical wolf species.
“Oh right.”
That’s right.
I came to examine Urklow .
To observe its biology in detail.
I hurriedly turned to Urklow , but…
“—Well, well, not bad, girl. I’m healed. I’ve never had Dark Heal work this fast.”
“No, someone like me still has a long way to go… Doctor Alaya could surely heal this in less than ten seconds.”
Urklow ’s injuries were already perfectly healed.
Her growth continues to know no bounds, thanks to Swan Veister.
“Wow, as expected from the Magic Kingdom’s executive, Alaya -sama. Who would’ve thought this operation would end without a single casualty…”
As we were retreating, a soldier from the magic bear species smiled at me.
…Yeah, the rescue operation was successful, wasn’t it?
But, oh no, what a mistake.
With everything that happened, I forgot my primary purpose of “examining Urklow !”
That’s why I came all this way!
“Alright, let’s withdraw. We should go as well, Kiwi-sama… Kiwi-sama?”
“Shes… I shouldn’t have any ill intentions, trying to take everything for myself…”
“…Yes?”
I should be a bit more calm and humble, looking around…
I couldn’t help but think that way just a little today.
~ Side: Elf ~
In the grand hall of the World Tree, in the King’s chamber.
“—Guh!”
With a jolt, Marrow’s body jerks on the throne.
The “Devil’s Thunder” from the magic flowing into the vessel affected Marrow, who was the user of the possession technique.
At the same time…
‘Ah, I’m dead…’
The last words of the elf who had been used as a vessel must have been what reached Marrow’s ears in his dying moments.
“Ah, ah, that… lower life form…!”
Marrow’s face flushes, and his throat tightens.
It’s impossible.
Things that should never have happened are occurring one after another.
…Did I lose? No, I didn’t lose, it was the vessel’s fault, not mine. But my consciousness was certainly inside that vessel, and I collapsed in front of those people, had magic poured into me, and even my true self was affected…
‘Ah, I’m dead…’
‘Ah, I’m dead… (laughs)’
‘Ah, I’m dead wwwwwwwwwww’
After thousands of years, this condescending tone.
The last words left by the man in the white coat echo in Marrow’s eardrums, mocking him.
“Ah, ah, that guyyyyyyy!!”
Marrow swings his hand in frustration, and a massive light beam pierces the World Tree from inside the cave.
Through the enormous hole that appeared, Marrow flies out into the open.
“I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him, I’ll kill him… I’ll kill him now!!!”
With magic honed over a thousand years, Marrow cuts through the dome covered by the World Tree’s branches and flies in one direction without hesitation.
He prepares a divine technique that can pierce all things and sets his sights.
The place where the vessel fell is only a few dozen kilometers away. He’s almost within range…
“…Damn it.”
Suddenly, as if there were a wall, Marrow stops in his tracks.
No, in reality, there was a “line” there.
“Well, you won’t cross it. It seems you haven’t completely forgotten yourself.”
A voice from just beside him makes Marrow’s mood worsen.
It was an elf in the form of a little girl, one of the Three Sages… Melissa.
Like Marrow, she floats in the air, smirking and taunting him.
“If you even cross an inch of this, the Demon King will surely detect it. This is a barrier.”
“Shut up! What are you here for, Melissa! Depending on your answer, I won’t hold back!”
“I came to get your answer from earlier.”
“Answer…?!”
“I want permission to station the Kingdom’s Hero Unit at the Western Elf Nation. Well, the enemy of my enemy is my ally. They should surely be able to help us.”
Melissa says, then adds,
“Human soldiers will be effective against the magical beasts prepared for battle against elves, you know? The day to avenge the humiliation you suffered will come soon.”
“…Do as you please!”
Marrow shakes his shoulders in anger, then turns back to the path he just flew through, heading home.
