Chapter 11
"......Elisha?" a rather familiar voice filtered into Elisha's ears. Elisha's
eyes widened as she stared blankly at the man in front of her. Light blonde
hair, purple eyes reminiscent of violets, and that characteristic dazed
expression. It was undoubtedly Dante Renard.
But why is he here? The moment she recognized him, her mind started racing. If
Dante had come here looking for her, he wouldn't be staring at her with such a
shocked expression. No, if that were the case, he wouldn't have approached her
so nonchalantly in the first place.
Even so, that reaction...... He must know she intentionally left Eric's side. If
he didn't know, he would have offered a normal greeting first. Elisha let out a
small sigh. Whatever the case, there was only one thing she had to do now. Leave
this place immediately. Especially since the one who found her was Dante Renard.
In the next moment, just as she conjured a magic circle under her feet. Crack!
Suddenly, a fierce thunderbolt rained down on Elisha's head. Elisha immediately
dissipated the magic she cast at her feet and deflected the thunderbolt. At the
same time, with a crack sound, a large crack was carved into one of the inn's
walls.
"Where do you think you’re going?" Dante then conjured another magic circle and
spoke with a soft, gentle tone. He even wore a bright smile.
"You should already know why I left." She then cast a physical defense barrier
and a sound-muffling spell, and tilted her head. "This should be enough so
Jonathan doesn't hear." The moment she finished her thought, immense heat from a
fire-attribute spell touched Elisha's cheek. Elisha frowned slightly and
deflected another spell that flew toward her.
And Jonathan, who was watching the whole scene with trembling eyes, "They’ll
restore it later, right......" decided to give up on thinking. Regardless, the
two continued their battle, paying no mind to their surroundings. To be precise,
it was a one-sided attack from Dante.
"Elisha, I missed you very much, you know," he spoke gently, the smile never
leaving his lips. In one hand, he summoned another fire-attribute spell. Dante
knew well he couldn't defeat Elisha with such trivial tricks. The number of
spells she could use and her casting speed far exceeded Dante Renard's.
But just keeping her here isn't impossible. He unleashed another spell around
Elisha and quickly scanned the area. The surrounding walls were all made of
wood. Since he was constantly unleashing focused flame magic, the temperature
around Elisha must have been scorching by now. Although she looks comfortable.
That was natural, as wizards developed attribute resistance. However, that was
just a matter of her internal body.
A blue light bloomed around Dante Renard. Then, before Elisha could even grasp
the situation, he launched dozens of small water arrows in every direction. At
the same time, behind her blurred vision, "There’s another person who wants to
see you, you know." Dante, who instantly teleported right in front of Elisha,
grabbed her arm and pulled an artifact from his coat.
It was the communication stone Eric gave him. He didn't know why Elisha was
here, but now that he found her, his duty was clear. Prevent Elisha from
escaping and contact Eric. If I can just do that, then a hard-earned paid leave
will be in my hand...... But just as he was about to flood the communication
stone with mana.
"Dante Renard." "......?" "You aren't the only one who can use magic."
Suddenly, Elisha unleashed a localized flame spell on the communication stone
Dante was holding. Dante immediately dropped the stone on the ground and looked
back and forth between it and Elisha. This was an artifact said to be impervious
to most types of magic, and she shattered it in a single strike? "What w-wait,
do you know how much this costs!" besides, they were supposed to showcase this
at the upcoming Allied Nations Conference. He was even warned against losing it!
"Don't disturb Eric," unaware of Dante's internal turmoil, Elisha spoke calmly.
For a moment, Dante couldn't comprehend what he’d just heard and his mouth hung
open. Don't disturb Eric? After leaving him like that, you’re telling me not to
disturb Eric?
"You should stop disturbing me......" Dante finally muttered in a voice that
sounded as if it were about to burst into tears. This situation was truly
chaotic. One orders me to search the entire continent alone to find his fiancée.
And the other, the very person who caused all this mess, has the audacity to say
things like, "Don't disturb Eric." No, this is Eric's fault more for his
blabbering since they were children.
Besides, just a moment ago, she was clearly trying to escape. And now she is the
one holding my arm. "What about we let go of each other and talk?" Dante somehow
twisted the arm Elisha grabbed and offered an awkward smile. Elisha tilted her
head slightly.
"If I let go, you’ll head straight for the Imperial Palace." "And you’ll bolt in
the meantime." "Yes." "I think it’s best if we don't let go of each other." I
can't go through that madness again. With his mind racing, Dante twisted his
wrist and grabbed Elisha's arm in return. It was an insanely frustrating
situation, to the point that he wondered how things could get this complicated.
The communication stone was broken, and since this was a mission given only to
him, there was no one he could call for help. Even if he tried to use
teleportation magic, he couldn't, as his magical skills were inferior to
Elisha's.
In the end, is persuasion the only answer? Just as Dante let out a small sigh
and was about to speak. "As you already know, Eric always wanted me to leave,"
Elisha preceded him, grabbing Dante's collar. "I was only fulfilling that
promise."
"Wait, Elisha. That......" "Don't stir things up with Eric for no reason." "I
have something to say about that......" "I was only staying here for a bit
because I hadn't decided on a destination yet. Now that things have come to
this, I will leave for a place where there are no people, even if I haven't
decided where. So there is no reason for Eric to worry." "Hey, Elisha. Just
listen to me for a second." "It’s not as if he’s looking for me anyway......"
"Elisha!"
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Dante's eyes flew wide as he shouted.
Only then did Elisha stop talking and stare blankly at Dante. "I swear, I’m
going to kill a young man because of these impossible bosses!" both Eric and
Elisha always say what they want and then vanish. And here I am, stuck in the
middle, unable to do a thing, and getting the shouting in the end. His Majesty
Bernard was the only communication channel in this uncommunicative world......
But that wasn't what was important now. First, I need to persuade her—no,
correct this misunderstanding. Dante, who was for a moment lost in nostalgia,
soon shook his head and spoke with grim determination. "Elisha, there’s
something you’ve misunderstood badly." "......" "Eric has been searching for you
all this time. Of course, I was the one who worked to exhaustion." After
speaking, Dante stared at Elisha with a sorrowful look. Elisha then muttered in
disbelief.
"He made you... search for me." "That’s right." "Then why are you here......"
"Ah, there’s a long story behind that. It’s related to the communication stone
you just blew up." Dante glanced at the miserably charred communication stone
and smiled. Elisha's brow knit slightly, but then her expression cleared with
understanding as she spoke.
"The Allied Nations Conference is near." "Yeah, that’s it." "And that’s why you
were searching for me." "Not necessarily......" I don't think that’s the only
reason. Dante tilted his head with an uncertain expression. Come to think of it,
Eric's reason for searching for Elisha wasn't entirely clear. He had vaguely
assumed that since she was the Archmage, her disappearance would lead to a
national loss, and that was why they were searching for her.
"If that is why you were searching for me, then I cannot return," while he was
lost in thought for a moment, Elisha spoke with a quite firm voice. Dante
finally regained his senses and raised his other arm to grab Elisha's shoulder.
She can't return? She can't return!
"Now that I think about it, I don't think that’s the only reason, Eli. You know
how he truly cherishes his people." "Dante Renard." "Of course, he treats me
like scum, but that’s because I’m a competent subordinate, so it can't be
helped. Anyway, as for you......" he had been singing the "I hate you" song
since they were children, that damned rascal who is in his teens three hundred
and sixty-five days a year. "I’m not doing this for just a childish promise."
As Dante trailed off, suddenly remembering the contents of a letter, Elisha
continued with a calm voice. "Eric was delaying the state marriage all this
time."
0 Comments