「Fufufufu, where are you―? It’s no use hiding you know―…?」
「Aha, Tiana-sama, you shouldn’t say such scary things, the poor thing~」
「My my, is that so? Now, where are they? Lean-san has gotten better at hiding her presence…but it’s still sweet.《Electroburst》!」
「Hiiii!?」
「Kyaah!?」
「Hey…Lean! Those two are scaring me! I don’t remember Tiana-san being like that!」
「That’s Tiana’s true nature! She doesn’t seem to realize it! …The problem is, I can’t believe Sakura-kun too…!」
「Ufufufu… what’s wrong? Please run away more…」
「We won’t let you get away, you two…?」
「「Hiiii!?」」
This exchange is filled with a sense of déjà vu.
Tiana-san is chasing me with a smile on her face, and I am running away.
The only difference from before is that there is one additional person on the chasing side and one on the escaping side.
Oh, why am I in this situation?
As I recall, we were――
◆◇◆◇◆
Things go back to about two hours ago.
It has been a week since Yomi’s unveiling, the day her existence was recognized and at the same time, the day she was treated to keep her existence unknown from the humans at all costs until the time comes.
…Hmm? Why not let the humans know of Yomi’s existence?
If they knew that the strongest candidate of all time, the hero they thought was dead, had turned to the Demon King Army, they would strengthen their defenses, and more importantly, they would be more desperate if they found out later, right?
Yomi, who was now able to walk out of the city of the demon tribe with a big smile on her face, was taking a walk with me on our way home from training.
「What’s that, Lean?」
「It’s the grocery store of the elves. You can buy more than enough delicious and inexpensive vegetables.」
「What is that?」
「That’s the race track of the Horse Tribe. They spend money to see who can go the fastest.」
「And what’s that?」
「The Dwarves’ toy shop. They’re very good with their hands, so they also make small things like that. But they mainly make weapons.」
Yomi’s eyes are shining and she is scurrying around. So cute.
「That’s great! That’s amazing! So many things I’ve never seen before!」
…Come to think of it, Yomi said she was from a remote village and had been imprisoned in the holy city for a long time.
Is it any wonder she doesn’t know things that are commonplace in the world?
「Oh, is that a bookstore? I’ve always wanted to learn to write and do magic.」
「Good. To read the documents and stuff like that. If Tiana-san or Feria-san teaches you magic, you may be able to read a picture book or something like that.」
「Right? Do you mind if I stop by?」
「I wanted to buy something too. I told the Demon King-sama that I would take Yomi to the city, and he gave me some money.」
And there was more than enough for both of us.
She was like a grandmother who spoils her grandchildren, but decided not to say it.
「Let’s go! Oh, such a small child is reading a very thick and difficult book…Is that normal among the demon tribe?」
I turned my eyes to the bookstore at those words, and sure enough, there was an elf with a very heavy grimoire in her hands.
「No way. It’s a pretty rare category…what that…huh? That girl…」
And that girl, I probably know her.
「…Sakura-kun?」
「Hii…!? ……Ah…Lean, san.」
An odd-looking girl with beautiful short golden hair, a beautiful innocent face, and an appearance of about twelve or three years old…And not, a boy.
At a quick glance and a closer look, he looks like a girl, but he is a boy… This so-called『boy girl』is Sakura Forrester.
He is Tiana-san’s nephew, a senior member of the Demon King’s army, and a candidate for the next king of the Elves.
He is the best magician in the Demon King Army and one of the strongest candidates for the Demon King Army, along with『Brave General』Gray-san and『General of Disaster』Rain-san.
He has mastered more than 90% of the various types of magic that exist in this world.
He is a boy loved by magic.
「Lean, you know him?」
「Yes, he is Sakura-kun, a semi-executive of the Demon King’s Army…It’s rare to see you in town, being a recluse and all.」
「Ah..umm…that, the book…in tatters…a replacement.」
「Oh, I see. What about Tiana-san? Isn’t she with you?」
「Tiana-sama is, now……buying a magic item.」
「Sorry to keep you waiting, Sakura…Oh, is that Lean-san and Yomi-sama?」
「Ah, Tiana-san.」
「Hello, Tiana-san…Um, please stop using『-sama』.」
「Sorry about that. Then I will call you Yomi-san. Come to think of it, I remember this conversation somewhere…」
「I said the same thing to you before, and you said something similar like『Then I’ll call you Lean-san』.」
「Ah, that’s right… By the way, what are you two doing?」
「Just taking a walk… Ah, good timing. Actually…」
So I tell her about Yomi’s desire to learn magic.
「I see. That’s a big responsibility, isn’t it? After all, teaching magic to Yomi, the former hero.」
「That’s right…I knew it, Yomi is not magic, but a sword「《Teleportation》.」…huh?」
I found myself transferred to the forest by transfer magic.
…No, it’s too fast. I didn’t ask you to do it now.
「Let me check your aptitude.」
「Eh, aptitude? …wai, Tiana-san, what is!?」
Tiana-san said so and brought her face close to Yomi’s.
Ah, what is this feeling of repeated déjà vu?
It reminds me of three years ago.
「Wait…aa…Tiana-san…don’t…」
*Pikon*.
「…huh?」
「…This…It’s pretty special…Now, how should we extend…」
「…Lean, what’s this?」
「It’s a magical aptitude test. Just put your foreheads together. Easy, right?」
Oh, she turned red and looked down. So cute.
◆◇◆◇◆
「In conclusion… There is only one magic for which Yomi was suited.」
With Yomi, who had managed to regain her composure, and Sakura-kun, I was listening to Tiana-san’s explanation.
…Only one aptitude? Yikes. I guess she had too much talent with swords and not enough talent with magic.
「And that is…『Body Enhancement Magic』.」
Body enhancement magic?
It’s orthodox magic in my previous life, but I’ve never heard of it in this world. Yomi doesn’t seem to have a clue either.
Is it different from the blessing magic in the first place?
「Body enhancement magic is, in other words,『magic that can only be used by oneself』. Those with that aptitude are quite rare, and even Sakura doesn’t have this aptitude. The effect is so great that it is a dream come true for those in the Magic Warrior occupation. 」
What’s that, so amazing.
「The only problem is that…there is only one person in the army who can use this magic, except for Yomi.」
「Who is it?」
「Gray-san.」
That guy――He’s on his way to a gutsy war right now.
「So, unfortunately for me, I can teach you how to use magic, but I can’t teach you how to use detailed body enhancement magic.」
I see, can’t do it then…
「But there is a way. According to what I have heard, those who have the aptitude for body enhancement magic will unconsciously strengthen their bodies when they are in danger.」
…Hmm?
「…I see. So we should hunt down Yomi, corner her, and make it happen, right, Tiana-sama?」
「That’s what I mean, Sakura.」
Sakura, why are you suddenly so talkative?
…Eh, what’s this bad development?
「Yomi, run away. From Tiana-san, as soon as possible.」
「…Eh? Why?」
「Just go! If you want to live…」
「《Darkness Cannon》.」
「《Blue Flame》.」
「「Wai!?」」
A thick black ray of light shone and blue flames rained down.
Wow―, no mercy.
「Wait…what is…!?」
「I told you to run away! Tiana-san fire! I mean, Sakura too…Hiiiii!?」
「Fufufu… Now, here we go.」
「Aha, the festivities are about to begin…」
「Seriously, run fast, Yomi! Tiana-san alone, or even Sakura-kun over there, me in the daytime and a weakened Yomi won’t stand a chance!」
「U-Understand…Gyaa!?」
「I won’t let you go you know~…?」
「Let’s play some more~…!」
「Sakura-kun is a natural hidden S tooooooooooooooo!」