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WeD - V2C04 - Makia: Certain Unspeakable Things
🕑 Added 2023-01-30 11:15:16 +0000 UTC“... …”
“I did warn you… that taking my clothes off would be terrible…”
Me and Percelis are speechless.
I had not noticed it before because Lepis is always dressed in black clothes or a robe that covered her entire body, but…
“... y-your arm… and leg…”
“Yes, I lost my right arm and my left leg just below the knee. That is why I now have magical prostheses for both. They’re created using Twilight spatial magic. Therefore, I can enter the water with them. They are very high-performance prostheses.”
“... no, I mean, I’m sure it’s pretty high performance… but… sorry, I had no idea at all.”
“Sorry…”
Percelis and I both apologise. We both turn completely pale at the sight of Lepis’ naked body, the thin bathing cloth barely hides anything.
Her body is white and slender, covered with scars everywhere. This alone reveals the circumstances of how she had been living until now.
“It can’t be helped. That is the risk of using Spatial Magic. The body will literally be eaten away.”
“Eaten away… hey, Tooru did tell me that his magic eats him from the inside out, but, I didn’t know it is literal. Doesn’t that make Spatial Magic is kind of dangerous?”
“We have familiars that embody the risks we take. These familiars help us, but as a reward, they get to take a bite out of our bodies. For someone like the Black Demon King, he could afford to expand tremendous MP to heal his body. However, if we try anything like that, our healing could not match what is being eaten and we’d be eventually devoured… My brother lost half of his body that way…”
“... …”
She talks about being eaten alive in a rather matter-of-fact manner, but really, it’s absolutely ridiculous.
Meanwhile, a Holy Nation woman dressed in clean white clothes had arrived to silently helped us with our bath.
We, or rather, I enter the Sacred Bath dedicated to the Shrine Maiden with a sense of ‘I seriously don’t belong here’. Still, the huge sunken tub with green tiles and white flowers floating on the water gave off a very relaxing scent of medicinal herbs.
“... Woah…”
I dip my foot into the warm, green water and slowly walk down the wide steps.
The warmth of the hot water reminds me of the hot springs in Japan.
“Ahh… this is really great…”
“It feels good, right?”
Percelis scoops up a handful of white flowers from the water's surface and throws them at us.
I can imagine her splashing and playing in this huge tub all by herself.
“... …”
[1] Inevitably, I begin to quietly compare my body with Percelis and Lepis. You know, that part below the neck and above the waist.
I won’t say what part though!!
Suddenly, Percelis sank into the water, [1a] only her large green eyes could be seen blinking at me. The green eyes narrowed and she says,
“... Makia, I know what you want to say.”
“Eh?”
“I know it!!”
I- I didn’t say it though…
Lepis looks at Percelis from the side, her expression is… as expressionless as usual.
“Miko [2]-sama, mine will be eaten away one day and be replaced by steel plates.”
“Stop iittt!!! It’s not like I won’t feel envious even if you say that!!”
This is why I still refuse to mention those unspeakable bits!!
“It’s fine, Percelis, these things grow naturally,” I comforted her through a forced smile.
I refuse to say what will grow!!
“But… Makia, aren’t you the same age as me? Why are yours so… so…”
I refuse to say it. I will not.
“Ah, that’s right~~ I remember Yuri complimenting a certain idol back then. The girl he complimented was small-breasted… That’s right, one of her defining characteristics is her small breasts…”
“... …”
“... …”
“... oops.”
I said it!!
I ended up saying it….!!
I definitely said it!!
There are tears in Percelis’ eyes as she glares at me.
“Did you just say…”
“No no no, it’s just…”
I look away quickly, even though it is kind of impossible to ignore the ‘issue’ at hand.
Indeed, Percelis is still kind of flat for her age. Moreover, she seems to care a lot about the… lack of volume.
Ah, but, I did hear that some people say that it’s better to have less volume.
“I-It’s fine, it’s really fine, you know. I know the type Ulysses is into. He likes the cute, baby-faced type with small breasts… I guess he’s kind of a l-lolicon?”
“... …”
Hmm, I think my image of Yuri has been ruined a bit. When I think about Yuri, he’s always that guy with good manners, good looks, a super-talented kind of guy who skillfully achieves anything he sets out to accomplish.
Come to think of it, back on earth, he seems to dote on his little sister a little too much…
Percelis appears to be more and more annoyed.
I might be digging myself deeper into a grave.
“That is not comforting at all…”
“Ahaha…ha… I’m sorry…”
I really am sorry. Also Yuri, I’m sorry. I just ruined your image.
Please read this at kitchennovel dot com ~
It’s completely dark by the time we part ways with Percelis and left the temple for the Royal Palace. We found Tooru leaning against a pillar, waiting for me.
“...”
“... did you just get out of a bath…?”
“Eh, how did you know?”
I was startled to see Tooru.
Somehow, he could still tell that I had been to a bath even though my hair was already dried (okay, so it may still be a little damp) and wearing the same clothes I had gone out in.
“You are warmer than usual and… what else? There’s a nice smell about you, more medicinal than flowers. Anyway, it’s the kind of smell people usually get after coming out of a bath.”
“You’re quite observant, aren’t you?”
Tooru looks to the side where Lepis is just a couple of steps behind me, “You too?”
Lepis nods, “By order of the Shrine Maiden.”
“... that’s, um, quite a cute order… so, three girls together, huh?”
Tooru is now looking at something above us.
My eyebrows twitch and I walk over to stomp on this dazed Tooru’s foot.
“Ouch! Ouch!!”
While Tooru is hopping on one leg, I say, “What were you thinking about?!”
“Eh? What? Ahhh, it really hurts… good grief…”
This guy is really good at playing dumb.
When I tried to press the truth out of him, he said, “The moon is really pretty, isn’t it?”
“Tooru-sama really is the Black Demon King after all.”
“... Huh? What do you mean by that, Lepis?”
“I meant exactly what I said… what about it?”
“... pfftt–”
Laughter escaped me at Lepis’ calm and serious tsukkomi reaction.
Looks like she doesn’t hold back even when it comes to Tooru.
She doesn’t even care that he is her ancestor.
Wait, is she being casual because they are related?
“Even so, Tooru. You still come and welcome me, no matter how busy you are.”
“Ah… I happened to be doing something around this area.”
“With the Magic Knights?”
“That’s right. The Royal Capital is really boiling up now… Makia, do try not to go outside by yourself, alright?”
“Even if something were to happen, I think I can handle it on my own.”
“It is best for Makia-sama not to do that.”
“...?”
Lepis said so in such a grim tone that I tilt my head questioningly at her.
“What I meant to say is ‘Do not use your power’.”
“... and why is that, Lepis?”
“The Federation of Hermedes should have sent spies and assassins into this country by now. It would be difficult for Ruskia to deny them entry now that the country has to open its gates.”
“... …”
“Ulysses-sama’s Spirit Magic and Tooru-sama’s Spatial Magic are already well-known branches of magics, though they might not know the extent of their powers, these are still known magics. However, Makia-sama’s Command Magic is virtually unknown. Moreover, it is also something only you can use… therefore, your power is Ruskia’s ultimate trump card. Therefore, if possible, it’s best to play the role of a girl with lots of power but no direction.”
“... That’s…”
What are you trying to say?
I look at Tooru [1] for further explanation.
“Lepis is right. It is also in line with Sir Raymond’s wishes… you should avoid being seen using magic for as long as possible.
“Instead, Tooru-sama and I will protect Makia-sama. Well, Tooru-same will be busy with other ‘things’, so I shall be the one to protect you.”
“... hm? Aren’t you being a little aggressive? What are these ‘other things’ [1] I am supposed to be busy with?”
“... ...”
Somehow the atmosphere between Lepis and Tooru is rather tense.
It’s like the two of them knew something I don’t, but are unwilling to share the knowledge with me. [1b] Fine, whatever, as a witch, I have plenty of secrets myself. There’s no need to be nosy about this.
“I’m fine with whatever. So, you two will be protecting me, yes? However, I reserve the right to use my magic in case of emergency.”
“Indeed, well, rather, when push comes to shove, that’s our contingency plan.”
“... …”
The noise of the crowd eventually decreases as pedestrian traffic grows lesser.
As we walk along the tree-lined avenue, the sharp chill of killing intent pierces my senses the moment we step out of the gates.
“!!!?”
Tooru immediately pulls his sword out and swings it in front of us. A violet roar and I see magic circles colliding, crashing and exploding.
“... Magic artillery…”
Lepis mutters as she steps in front of me.
Tooru had repelled the attack with his sword.
“Tch… you decided to show up, damn “Esca”!!”
Smoke surrounded our immediate area. In front of us, [1] the nicely tiled and bricked road had been scooped out, leaving a smoking hole.
I look in the direction of where the fire came from, there is someone on top of the tall clock tower. My heart thumped loudly at the silhouette of someone I should not know.
“Tooru-sama, the Magic Knights are chasing him down. We should return to the Royal Palace now.”
“... let’s go…”
They appear to know who that person is.
“Just what was that all about?”
“It’s Esca.”
“... Esca?”
Tooru inspects the gouged out area of the path.
Inside the hole is a card with a drawing of a cute turtle on it.
Tooru squinted his eyes to read the words in the poor lighting. After a while, he clicks his tongue and holds the card out to me.
“...?”
[Tis I!
Great me has come to judge all sins and forgive all sins!
Good luck in your next life!
PS: My poor little toe struck the corner of my desk… *sob*
by Esca]
“Uwaahh…”
What the heck? Somehow I felt itchy.
Very itchy.
“It’s that troublemaker the Magic Knights have been chasing these past few days.”
“Even you haven’t managed to catch him?”
“... yeah…”
As Tooru let out a long sigh, I suddenly realised something.
Even annoying bastards who write chuuni diseased [3] calling cards are formidable in their own way.
At that time, I was still ignorant.
A threat had already come to the Royal Capital.
Calamity has crept in.
[Gumihou: All sorts of drama are about to happen soon]
[1] Add Details
[1a] Adjust details so that it is hinted rather than obvious
[1b] Add detail about why Makia did not care about the secret keeping, because it’s kind of a non-sequitur
[2] Miko - is Japanese for ‘Shrine Maiden’
Let’s pretend it’s a title
[3] Chuuni diseased - chuunibyou - middle schooler disease - people who are so full of himself and out of touch with reality
