Chapter 183 (2/2)

After seeing off Fainell as she carried Ykslaas away, Ichika breathed a small sigh.

It was there that she noticed that Nino and Sancreed were looking at her.

「What is it?」

「I was just thinking that even you have times where you lose your calm.」

「……Even I have times like that.」

When Ichika answered like that while clicking her tongue, Sancreed made a wry smile.

「Well, that’s true.」

「That sort of thing, doesn’t matter.」

Nino forcibly pushed Sancreed aside, and stood in front of Ichika. And then, grabbing the hem of Vermudol’s clothes as he was held in Ichika’s arms, she glared at Ichika.

「How long are you going to be like that? Nino will carry him, so hand him over.」

「No.」

「Hand him over.」

「No.」

After they glared at each other for a while, Nino grabbed Vermudol’s arm and forcefully pulled him.

Ichika strengthened the power she used to carry Vermudol, and pulled him closer to herself.

The two of them silently glared at each other as they continued their pulling match……And during that time, a dumbfounded Rokuna appeared.

「What the heck are you guys doing……Are you kids?」

After Rokuna made an easy to understand sigh, Ichika and Nino went *pui* and averted their eyes.

Rokuna shrugged her shoulders at the two of them, and then looked into Vermudol’s face.

「His magical power is close to running dry……but you can see that much. But, was it an opponent that could cause Ver-cchi to exhaust this much?」

「Ahh, now that you mention it, you were in the underground, weren’t you.」

「That’s right. I needed to protect the grand magic formation no matter what happened after all. I thought that you all would have protected Ver-cchi, see?」

While poking Vermudol’s cheek, Rokuna checked for a response.

Since his breathing was normal, it was sudden fatigue due to using too much magical power……that is what it looked like.

However, looking at Ichika’s state, Rokuna guessed that that wasn’t the case.

As for what had actually happened, Ichika was probably the only one that knew. Finding that to be somewhat vexing, although the secretive Ichika wouldn’t answer, Rokuna asked about it.

「So, what happened?」

「……Vermudol-sama connected with the enemy leader, Ykslaas’s Life Seed. This is just a guess, but I believe that something had happened there.」

「Heh?」

Rokuna’s eyes went round at how Ichika answered so easily, hurriedly shook her head, and checked her own sanity.

「To think Ichika would answer my question……Ahh, no no. Erm, as for what happened……Well, there’s only one thing it could be. I wonder if it has finally started.」

「That is unknown. In any case, Vermudol looked up and said he would be back right away.」

「I see……If Ver-cchi said that, then he’s probably fine. So, where is that Ykslaas?」

「I had her carried off by Fainell.」

Rokuna nodded, then went into thought.

If Vermudol said that he would be back, he would definitely be back. There was no mistaking that.

He wouldn’t say words that were based on wishful thinking. Rather, it was to the point that he had a tendency to see everything pessimistically.

In that case, they should deal with as many things as possible until he returns.

「……Ugh……」

Suddenly, a voice could be heard.

Ichika and Nino quickly responded to that, and even Rokuna returned from her sea of thoughts.

Vermudol, who was in Ichika’s arms, groaned.

「……Vemudol-sama.」

「Demon King-sama.」

「Ver-cchi.」

Ichika, Nino, and then Rokuna looked at Vermudol’s face.

After Vermudol made another small groan, he slowly opened his eyes……then made a startled-looking face.

His gaze went from Ichika to Nino, then to Rokuna, and then back to Ichika, and after noticing that he was being held in her arms, he flusteredly raised his body up.

「E, erm……I, I’m sorry!?」

The three were startled by those words uncharacteristic of Vermudol.

Even Sancreed, who seemed to have heard those words, had his eyes go round in a place away from them.

「Ah, no, um……erm. Huh? Where is this place, maid-san? Eh? Um, ahー……?」

「Wait, what’re you saying, Ver-cchi. Ah, could it be that your memories are in disorder……?」

「That would seem to be the case. Excuse me for a bit.」

At the same time she said that, Ichika once again held Vermudol in her arms and ran.

「Ah, again!」

「Wait, Ichika!?」

「Please take care of Gordy’s treatment.」

Ignoring Nino and Rokuna’s protests, Ichika immediately invoked Transfer Magic to a place she thought of.