NOVEL NEXT Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: The Way Home
Chapter 117: The Way Home
“Ah, eek, aaahhhh… n-no…!”
“Wowwww… it’s… it’s huge!!”
“Meeeh…”
“Nnnngh!”
Oh no, I forgot to explain… Halfway back from Vaintz Village to the hideout, Elizabeth came to meet us. She must have sprinted all the way. By the time I spotted the white blob in the distance, it was too late. I was unable to explain anything amidst the chaos and barely managed to call out to Laura.
Laura collapsed on the spot, struggling to move backward somehow. Her glasses askew, face pale, struggling for breath. Even Oscar was stunned, thrown off by Elizabeth’s appearance. Elizabeth herself looked perplexed, alternating gazes between Laura, Oscar, and me.
Only Kohaku was genuinely excited, despite its clumsy steps, bounding towards Elizabeth. Elizabeth leaned down gently towards Kohaku.
“Laura, Oscar, sorry for not explaining earlier. This is Elizabeth… um, well, she’s a comrade we live with at the hideout. Sorry for surprising you, Elizabeth.”
“B-Bonus-sama!? A… comrade!? In… Kidanakemo!?”
“Oh! So that’s it! What magnificent horns… Ahh! The handkerchief from yesterday, was it from her?”
“That’s right, you got it. She’s definitely one of the Kidanakemo.”
“Gyaaaah!”
“Welcome back, Elizabeth.”
“Meeeh!”
Kuro and Shiro comforted the bewildered Elizabeth with their voices. They gently stroked her, and Elizabeth nuzzled against them affectionately. Gisella, Zamza, and Mil seemed to have somewhat anticipated this situation. They calmly transferred their belongings onto Elizabeth.
“Can Laura stand? Sorry for the delayed explanation. I didn’t expect her to come out so soon… Oh, did you call her?”
“Gyauu!”
“Could it be… Kuro’s little bird brought her…? You guys are really something! It’s worth having you around just for this!”
“Ah, wait, my… my legs are giving out… Ah, I-I-I’m fine! Bonus-sama! Please don’t come any closer!!”
Laura struggled to get up, still flustered from falling. When I tried to help, she resisted… I guess it’s understandable when facing a Kidanakemo for the first time.
“Your change of clothes is in the luggage…”
“I’m fine, Bonus-san! Kuro-saaan, help me!”
“Gyauu?”
“Bonus, you need to be more considerate towards women.”
“Ugh… it hits harder when Oscar says it…”
Seems like there’s nothing more I can do. I decided to introduce Oscar to Elizabeth first.
“Elizabeth, this is Oscar. He’s a carpenter and skilled at making various things from wood. Also, he’s really loud. He’s a new recruit at Bonus Company. Please take care of him as your senior.”
“Meeeh…”
“Oh… nice to meet you? Um, can I touch?”
“Meeeh…”
“Ohhh…”
“Oh, Laura… are you okay now?”
“I-I’m terribly sorry for showing such an embarrassing sight…”
“No, I’m the one who should apologize.”
“Well, that was an unfortunate accident! Anyway, Bonus-sama! Could you introduce me too!?”
“Ah, yes…”
As I watched Oscar being enveloped by Elizabeth’s fur, Laura seemed to have recovered unexpectedly.
Despite being so frightened earlier, does Laura want to become friends with Elizabeth? By the way, she seemed to have changed into proper clothes without anyone noticing.
“Um, Elizabeth. This woman’s name is Laura, and she seems to be a mage. Since she’s our guest, please get along with her.”
“Meeeh~”
“What a beautiful magic… Surrounded by such delicate and beautiful magical power, I feel like even if I had hundreds, no, thousands of people, I wouldn’t be able to handle it… Bonus-sama, perhaps the knowledge I mentioned yesterday was just a small, limited aspect of magic… Watching Elizabeth… my own perception of magic seems to be completely rewritten. Ah… but she is so incredibly beautiful.”
“M-Meeeh?”
Though it’s hard to understand, Laura seems incredibly moved by Elizabeth. She spreads her arms wide and clings to Elizabeth as if drawn in. She even sheds tears, feeling as though she’s witnessing the reunion of long-lost family members. Naturally, this is their first meeting, and Elizabeth looks completely perplexed…
“Wow, Bonus! Elizabeth is just amazing!”
“Meeeh…”
Since earlier, Oscar has been circling around Elizabeth, continuously admiring her imposing presence. Elizabeth as a comrade is irresistibly adorable. However, if you were to see her as just a Kidanakemo, her figure filled with power and dynamism is undeniably impressive. Despite her massive stature, her powerful and agile ascent up the steep cliffs of the hideout exudes a divine aura, as if she’s emerged from a mythological world.
Elizabeth herself gives me a somewhat exasperated look.
“La-Laura, shall we get going?”
“No! I don’t want to be separated from Elizabeth ever again!”
“But you just met earlier… and you even wet yourself. What kind of relationship is this… Besides, Elizabeth will be giving us a ride from now on, so we won’t be separated, okay?”
“Ah, um… sorry. But Bonus-sama! It can’t be helped! Anyone who can sense magic would react like this! Elizabeth and her magic… they appear incredibly beautiful and captivating. Ah, so… could we please ride with you?”
“Meeeh~ Meeeh~ Meeeh~”
“Yeah, that’s right. Let’s head back to the hideout soon.”
It seems Elizabeth also wants to return promptly. Certainly, there’s no telling when another powerful Kidanakemo might attack. Kuro and Shiro are already on Elizabeth’s back, and Gisella and the others have finished transferring everyone’s belongings to her.
“Alright, let’s go!”
“Wow! Can we really ride her!? Can we!?”
“Heave-ho! Heave-ho… Ahhh… thank you!”
Oscar and I scramble up Elizabeth, clinging onto her. Finally managing to get on, Shiro gently pulls up Laura, who couldn’t get on properly until the end.
Elizabeth briefly looks back to confirm everyone’s on board before slowly standing up to ensure stability.
“Woooahhh!! So cool!!”
“Wow~! Amazing! Amazing!”
Child-like cheers erupt from Laura and Oscar. Even though eye level on Elizabeth exceeds three meters, her steady run makes it feel completely safe, almost without fear. Rather, her back exudes such strength, stability, and comfort that it feels like enjoying a fantastic view from the best seat.
Excited in this situation, Oscar keeps shouting something. Laura presses her face into Elizabeth’s back, looking blissful. Somehow, Laura’s appearance reminds me of Marie.
Come to think of it, Marie also had an unusual fondness for Elizabeth. She was originally a noblewoman. Maybe she could sense the magical charm around Elizabeth to some extent. What does it even mean for magical power to be attractive?
“What a sinful woman you are, Elizabeth…”