Chapter 22 (1/2)
From the next day, our lives with the addition Ellie began.
Ellie tentatively lived as Arisa's a.s.sistant, but recently she hasn't been researching (or rather, she stopped caring ever since I came. Is that okay, sorcerer-sama……?), so Ellie's mainly been helping around with ch.o.r.es.
Since she was often made to do ch.o.r.es underneath her previous master, Ellie's cleaning and laundry was pretty careful and efficient, so Arisa praised her as if she were her own child.
Ellie too was enthusiastic about her work.
It may be because when she focuses on her ch.o.r.es, she could forget the bad things.
”I'm free……”
I was watching over Arisa and Ellie working diligently while lying horizontally on the couch.
Yes, since I started living with Ellie, I got closer and closer to becoming hopeless……!
More like, there's just nothing for me to do.
Rather, since Ellie came it's been decreasing by more and more.
While looking at such a me, Ellie muttered.
”So this is the so-called deadbeat……”
Ellie's eyes were cold as if she were looking at garbage.
(Even if I've gotten used to this lifestyle, isn't that a little too much⸺?)
My back froze from the blaming glance that Ellie's releasing, but I somehow endure it.
”I,it's because this is my lifestyle……!” (TLN: Lifestyle was in English.)
I somehow managed to distort the tips of my mouth, and show a smile.
(Or rather, Arisa sealed off ch.o.r.es in general before, saying 'Taking care of Ed is my job!'. It seemed like I'd be confined if I turned her down, so I nodded.)
For a while, we glared at each other.
This is a fight where neither of us make a move.
The one who averts their gaze first loses.
Nothing has been decided.
But, for some reason I feel……!
(……Ah, c.r.a.p. My hands are trembling. Rather, Ellie, what's with those eyes of scorn that seem like their looking down on trash⸺!?)
Like that we're quarreling, and right in front of us⸺.
”What are you doing, the two of you……?”
My savior, Arisa appeared.
Arisa put her hands on her waist, amazed.
”You don't have to do something like this, both of you come with me for a bit.”
Then, Arisa disappeared into the back.
”Yes!”
Moreover, Ellie *totetetete* followed after to Arisa.
Her wonderful black furry animal ears were *pikupiku* trembling, and unconsciously, my gaze went over to them.
”……Na!”
I, who had his consciousness taken animal ears.
This was a human's saga.
(⸺I wonder if they're sensitive after all?)
I imagine it.
The moment I touch her ears, Ellie's eyes filled with disgust and her att.i.tude will completely change.
Then, her cheeks will shyly blush red, and she'll bite her lips desperately trying to endure that stimulation⸺!!!
”Ed, hurry up!”
”……Yeah.”
*Pyonpyon* While giving a half-hearted reply to a jumping Arisa, 'What'll happen if I touched Ellie's ears'……I simulated that.
Unfortunately, this time it never occurred to me that Ellie's att.i.tude was so cold because I thought about things like this.
”⸺That's why, I'll have you two have a practice battle.”
When I reached the training ground, Arisa said that.
”Haa?”
”I understand, Arisa-sama.”
Saying that, Ellie readied her knife, slowly shook her body, and got ready for the battle.
Her black hair and ears shook left and right.
(……Her preparation was fast, too fast.)
As to not be heard by Ellie, I spoke to Arisa.
”Wait a bit Arisa. I know I'm speaking for myself, but I think I'm pretty strong.
Ellie was a slave until just recently, can she fight?”
”……Ellie asked me for this. She said she wanted to be even just a little bit stronger,
and that since I'm a sorcerer, I should be able to.”
*Chirari* Shaking her knife in the sky, Ellie looked at Arisa.
”I see, so Ellie did……”
I don't know why this girl wants to get stronger.
……But, if it's necessary for Ellie, then I'll accompany her as much as she wants.
I prepared my resolve, faced Ellie, and said this:
”Come, Ellie. I'll beat you easily.”
To I, who *niya* smiled, Ellie was obviously irritated, and glared at me,
Did a switch flip in Ellie with those words⸺?
”Spirits of wind that reside in my body, annihilate my enemies. Give me the power of a thousand flowers⸺'Elegance'.” (TLN: This killed me to translate. My inner chuuni came out.)
When Ellie said that, the wind around her started swirl around her.
⸺This isn't just magic.
This is aria magic.
A form of magic that manifests a stronger image.
”……I'm coming.”
Then, the moment Ellie looked at me⸺I felt the wind.
(In an airtight bas.e.m.e.nt, wind⸺!)
By the time I had noticed, the battle had already begun.
⸺Zas.h.i.+!
Shortening the distance with me in a moment, Ellie appeared in front of me.
*Girari* The dull s.h.i.+ning knife approached me.
(⸺She's fast!)
On top of that her aim was accurate.
A high speed p.r.i.c.k aimed at my throat.
(⸺Earth magic!)
Surprised by her attack, I reflexively transformed the ground and made it protrude.
Ellie's surprised expression.
Unable to avoid the attack that appeared by her feet, Ellie was directly hit along with a dull sound.
”⸺! Sorry, Ellie! I went too far!”
(Even though I still haven't seen Ellie's real ability⸺)
However.
I didn't need to say those words.
”⸺ii!”
Ellie hardened the air and made it a foothold, and succeeded in killing her momentum.
”⸺Raa!”
This time, she kicked, and leapt at me again.
(⸺Wind attribute, huh!)
The wind attribute. It's property is control of the air.
It's a magic attribute that I've never seen up until now.
(⸺So what? It doesn't matter, I control this s.p.a.ce.)
*Pachiri* I completely change my thinking.
The only thing on my mind is to control the enemy in front of me.
Ellie jumped in.
Although this is a practice battle, her eyes are overflowing with intent to kill.
As if she were replacing me with somebody else.
”⸺Killkillkillkill!”
(⸺Who's going to be killed?)
The distance between Ellie and I is about ten meters.
I divided up the lump of earth that I raised just earlier, and released it at Ellie with s.p.a.ce magic.