Chapter 43

We, who were able to arrive at the plaza thanks to Yoru, were assaulted by the countless number of people’s killing intent .

However, perhaps it was because we had a hostage, they did not attack .

When I surveyed our surroundings, there were elves with their bows and arrows notched all around us, surrounding us .

「Amelia will stay on top of Yoru . Yoru, I’m counting on you . 」

『Leave it to me, Master-dono! I won’t let them lay a finger on Miss Amelia . 』

I pulled Liam Gladiolus who had fainted down from Yoru .

Perhaps it was because this guy was an ikemen, his treatment was also rough .

Maa, it couldn’t be helped .

Obviously, it would be best if everyone who are so beautiful that they enjoy everything that life has to offer perished .

「You bastard!! For you to treat Liam-sama like that!!!」

Among the elves who notched their bows and arrows, one hot-blooded elf shouted this .

I see, it seems that this guy was loved in his own way .

The fact that they’re not attacking meant that, his status too was high, in a way .

「If you want this guy to be returned uninjured, let us, let Amelia, pass . 」

When I shouted that and thrusted my hidden weapon at Liam Gladiolus’s throat, the elves noticeably faltered .

Even so, they didn’t make an immediate decision .

Among them, there were also elves who were glancing back repeatedly, seemingly waiting for something .

Come to think of it, it seems like the elf who’s the leader was not here .

They were being lead, but there was no one issuing instructions .

「…sh*t! The likes of you barbaric humans, if Kirika-sama was here, even if Liam-sama was taken hostage, she would kill you in one blow . 」

Flowing in the wind, even those kinds of words could be heard . I see, were these guys waiting for that “Kirika-sama” .

When push comes to shove, let’s chop down the sacred tree with shadow magic .

Un, let’s do that .

「You bastard! What are you smiling for!」

The elf who shouted before shouted again .

So annoying .

Why don’t I give him a taste of what I did to Liam Gladiolus… .

I tried to take out a magic stone .

However, a voice filled with panic could be heard from behind me and I stopped what I was doing .

『…Miss Amelia?』

「No! Akira, Kirika is…!」

When I turned around, Amelia was bent over on top of Yoru .

Her breathing was rough, it was as if she was on the verge of hyperventilation .

「Amelia?」

「Kirika is…! No…!」

When I patted her on the back, her breathing settled down a little .

The elves saw such an Amelia, and were whispering .

「Look, she became like that because she did things like harassing Kirika-sama . 」

「It’s divine punishment from Aitel-sama . 」

「The unwanted child became like that because she wanted something that was beyond her means . 」

I could hear the elves saying those things .

They probably spoke so loudly on purpose so that we would be able to hear them .

Amelia’s body was trembling .

Don’t say whatever you want .

However, I didn’t know anything about Amelia .

What I knew was, Amelia harassing someone and the like, she wasn’t a woman who would do something that had no benefit .

「However, that should be enough . 」

I tapped on Amelia’s head with a ponpon .

Her breathing evening out, Amelia looked over at me although she was exhausted .

「Naa, Amelia, those guys are saying that you harassed that guy named Kirika, but what do you think of it?」

「… . 」

Amelia’s eyes widened, and didn’t say anything .

「If you say that you didn’t do it, I’ll believe you . …besides, they definitely think that it’s harassment though . You wouldn’t do, something so childish, right?」

「…un . I wouldn’t . I, didn’t do anything like harass Kirika . 」

When I asked that in a way that those around us could hear, Amelia, who understood my intention, similarly said that loudly and clearly .

I grinned .

「That’s how it is? You elves . 」

「That’s obviously a lie . Why do you believe the words of that unwanted child?」

A different voice, pierced through the plaza .

It was an unpleasant voice, one that was intrusive and disturbing .

I unconsciously frowned .

「Kirika-sama!」

「Now that Kirika-sama’s come, everything is fine now!」

Relief washed over the elves .

I turned towards the person who spoke .

「…Ame,lia??」

The colors of her hair and eyes were different, but an elf that looked exactly like Amelia came walking out from among the elves .

Also, the size of her chest was different as well .

Her attire as well, the clothes were of a much higher quality than the other elves .

Obviously, she was royalty .

She was the unpleasant sort of royalty .

「That is Kirika . My younger sister . 」

I heard Amelia say that with a trembling voice .

I see, this guy’s Kirika, huh .

They’re similar, but not alike .

A golden dog tag was pretentiously hanging down to her chest, and she very obviously had an arrogant look on her face .

The shape of their faces were similar, but it was a big difference from Amelia’s expressionless face .

「Fuun, you’re not flustered even when you see me . How bold . Maa, I’m grateful that you brought back a criminal that had escaped . 」

Kirika said that, and she brushed back her golden hair that was shining so much more than any other elves here, looking at me with her blue eyes .

After that, she brushed me, who was holding onto Liam, aside, and approached Amelia who was on top of Yoru .

「Aah, aneue . It’s been a long time . I, the injury that I received from aneue still hasn’t healed yet, you know? Here, please take a look . 」

Kirika said that, and rolled up the sleeves on her arm in way that even I was able to see .

The elves around us grimaced .

There were traces of a cruel burn on that jade-like skin .

It had not completely healed, the new skin was not able to be restored to be like what it was before .

The elves around us saw that and they all grieved .

Amelia saw that and hung her head .

Kirika saw her like that and her eyes were glaringly bright .

「Aneue is fine right, since you’re the miko, no matter how injured you are, you won’t die . 」

「…Ki, Kirika, apologize to Akira . 」

「Ha?」

The beautiful face turned extremely unsightly, Amelia lifted her head and said that to Kirika, who declared that .

Kirika was instantly dumbfounded .

I too, looked at Amelia, wondering why she said something in a situation like this .

Amelia stopped making that frightened face that she had up until now and although she was trembling, she was looking directly at Kirika .

「Kirika, apologize to Akira, you tried to cast charm on him, didn’t you . 」

「Even if I cast charm or something, this man is already mine . It has nothing to do with aneue, right?」

This time, Amelia looked at me .

The look in her eyes told me that, she believed in me .

I grinned .

「Just when did I become someone’s thing?」

When I said that, Kirika once again looked at me .

「Why, why are you not enchanted? This kind of man, even if I didn’t use something like magic, my own charm should sweep him off his feet?」

「That’s my line, why should I be enchanted by someone like you who has a terrible personality . Even I have the right to choose . 」

When I met Amelia’s eyes, she was smiling happily .

Looking at this situation, Kirika impatiently shouted at the elves around us .

「Everyone, shoot Amelia and this man with arrows . 」

「B, but, Kirika-sama, they have Liam-sama as a hostage!」

Kirika arched her eyebrows .

「Liam and I, which one of us should not be injured, I think you guys know . 」

「Un, understood . 」

The elves, enveloped their bows and arrows that they had notched until now with killing intent and drew them back .

Kirika, in an instant, separated from us .

Looking at that agility of hers, it seems that she actually had real abilities .

「Amelia, Yoru, come closer to me . 」

『Are you ok? Master-dono . 』

I did not answer them, I just held my hand in front of me .

「Te—!!!」

「Shadow Magic . 」

Shadow magic activated at the same time as when the elves all simultaneously shot their arrows .

Because there wasn’t a lot of shadow, it could only protect us, but that was enough .

Our shadows wiggled, and ate up all of the arrows that came flying .

The plaza, fell into complete silence .