Lanwalker Mansion

"Lift your head up, Merlin. It's not your fault. I know it's Phelia's fault for hitting you, so I don't blame you for it either. So please don't get down on your knees.

　I bow my head elsewhere to Zeke-sama who is upset. The reason is about hitting Fee-chan and bringing the demon race to the mansion.

　After Fee-chan saved the demon race, I unintentionally slapped Fee-chan. It wasn't that I was angry at her for saving the demon tribe. No, I'm not sure that was a good idea, but I was even more angry because Fee-chan acted so rashly.

　If you wanted to check on the condition of the demon tribe at that time, Fee-chan didn't have to risk it. I could have been the one to administer the treatment.

　That's why Fee-chan didn't mind approaching and treating the unidentified opponent. And then the demon tribe grabbed her by the neck. He passed out right afterwards, so he wasn't injured or anything, but he was so careless that I didn't think....

''Yes, that's right. It's a good thing you did it for Phelia, so don't bow down so low. That's part of your education.

　I raise my head when the two of you say that much. In front of me are Sieg-sama with a relieved face and Ellis-sama with a bitter smile. On the other side of the table are Eileen and Gilbert.

'Anyway, Merlin is not to blame. I know he's always doing this for Phelia and the others. This time, too. So don't let it bother you. So, Gil. What about the demons?

'Yes, I'm unconscious now, so I can't say for sure, but I'm wearing a collar to seal the demon, just in case. And I've got a soldier watching him outside the room.

Okay. Keep it up. How's Filia doing?

You're holed up in your room now.

All right. I'll come to you later. For now, we'll leave the demon tribe in the mansion for now to keep an eye on them. We might be able to get some information from them. I don't care about that, I just need to give that little bastard a hot smack in the face.

　Zeke-sama says that while making a blue streak on her forehead. .........Krona-chan has reported it to you. Dry-kun hasn't lost his sense of humor when he was a commoner yet, so he'll treat Fee-chan the same way he did before.

　In a way it's a good thing, but there's a limit to that as well. It's essentially impossible to feel comfortable touching someone other than a family member or fiancée with a warrior daughter like this one. There's nothing I can do about it. Don't die, Mr. Dry.

''For the time being, I'm going to mock the little bastard now and leave this place tomorrow. The Regalia Empire is building up their forces faster than expected, so we'll have to move up our schedule as well. Eris, I'm sorry, but please take care of the rest.

I know. I'll be there for you if you need anything.

Eileen must be on her way now. Don't give her any trouble. And I've written to His Majesty about that, too, so why don't you tell him about that?

'Don't worry about it. I'm just as happy to see my daughter after so long. You've heard this story before from His Majesty. 'I understand. I'll take care of it.

　The three of them look at each other. It's embarrassing to watch them gaze at each other. But I'm so jealous. I've been with someone else...?　There's no way I'm going to be able to live with her. .........so let's go see Fee-chan for now, shall we?

　◇ ◇ ◇.

Ugh, I'm pissed.

　I dive into my bed in my room. ........I've never seen Dr. Merlin with such an angry expression on his face before. It was also the first time I've been beaten up, of course. At that time, I was so desperate to save her that I didn't think of it, but now that I've calmed down, I can understand.

''It's Phelia-sama's fault this time.

I know what you mean, Mirmi.

　Mirmi has told me that I'm not the only one. The reason I was angry this time was because I acted rashly. I didn't know if it was safe or not, but I went out on my own and caused everyone to be worried. In fact, I was actually strangled.

But I still wanted to help.

　As I bury my face in the pillow and cry, killing my voice, I hear a bobbing sound. And.

'Excuse me for my rudeness!　Filia, I know how you feel. So I won't say any more about it either, but next time you'll be more careful. We can't fix people, but we can be a shield for you.

　Then he pats me on the head. I look up from my pillow and Mirmi smiles at me. And.

"I'm sorry for my rudeness!

　I went back to the original.

''Well that's fine, but I'd prefer to talk to you the way you just did?''

　Then Mirmi and I looked at each other and started laughing either way. I wish we could talk to each other as best friends like we did earlier, even if it's just by accident.

　Then, as I'm talking to Mirmi, there's a knock on the door. And

Fee-chan?

　I hear Dr. Merlin's voice say. I lie down and straighten my wrinkled clothes and ask Mirmi to open the door for me. I make eye contact with Dr. Merlin as he walks in through the open door, and he looks away a little awkwardly.

　It's my bad, I have to apologize first here. I wilfully go to Dr. Merlin's bottom, and

''I'm sorry (sir)!　What?

　I apologized to both of them at the same time. Why would Dr. Merlin, who has done nothing wrong, apologize? I nod my head as I look at Dr. Merlin. Then Dr. Merlin gently strokes my left cheek. My slippery hand feels good.

'I'm sorry I slapped you. It must have hurt, Fee-chan, didn't it?

　Dr. Merlin looks sad as he says this.

'Oh, no!　Dr. Merlin isn't bad!　It's my fault, because it's my fault for acting on my own!

But....

'The doctor was only angry for me!　What did your parents say to you, by any chance?　Then I'll tell you....

Ah!　No, no, no!　Zeke-sama and Ellis-sama told me it wasn't my fault. But it's true that I hit Fee-chan and caused her pain.

'This is what the doctor did for me. I don't mind it at all!

　I turn to smile at Dr. Merlin and he gives me a hug.

'Thanks, Fee-chan,'

　He says that and strokes your head, too. It's a different kind of softness than your mother's.

'Thank you too!

　He's a waste of a teacher for me!

　◇ ◇ ◇.
　inside the mansion at night

"I wish I'd lived in a world without war with you.

Milly!

　I reached out my right hand towards Millie as she disappeared into the darkness. But in front of me was an unfamiliar ceiling. A space I had never seen before. And the one I was looking at earlier.

Huh, huh, huh...

　I place my outstretched right hand on my forehead. Come to think of it, I think I fainted after using spatial magic when escaping from Gladiel.

　........I haven't had a dream in a long time. When I was sealed, I didn't dream, I just felt like I was standing in the dark, so it's kind of new.

　I put my left hand on my body to get up, and when I tried to get up...

Ouch!

　I fell to my left side as it was. I did give Gladiel my left arm, as I recall. I didn't notice it because it didn't hurt too much. Huh?　Speaking of which, the wound on my left arm is closed up. My side and other wounds are healing as well.

　I get up this time and look around. I knew I hadn't seen this room before. Did someone help me?　From the outside, "Geez, shhhh, I'm dying! And, "It's got that spear blade on it! Or so it sounds, but where is it really?

　As I tilted my head in wonder, I heard a jarring sound coming from my neck. I touched it with my right hand and immediately recognized it.

''Well, of course. You wouldn't leave a demon race intact, would you?

　I chuckle as I touch the solitary, magic-sealing collar around my neck with my right hand. Even we would kill a dangerous prisoner of war, or seal the magic with the magic sealing collar. It's just that we were lucky to be kept alive. Regardless of the reason, if we'd been killed, it wouldn't have been worth it to escape.

　As I was thinking about that, the door opens. I'm alert and get ready to move quickly from the bed. Then I wait for a few dozen seconds. Nuttily, a head sprouts out of the door. She has blonde curls and jade-colored eyes; a human girl of about ten years old.

　And when she looks at me, she gives me a smile that seems to shine. ...This smile reminds me of Millie.

　And then she walks into the room.

'It's good to see you feeling better!　Is there anything wrong with you?

No, no, I don't.

　The girl smiles again when I say that. ........that's a little hard to do. When you think like that.

Come on, Fee-chan. Come on, Fee-chan, at least wait while I bring you your food.

　And a woman walks in. Behind her is a brown-haired, pigtailed girl with a sword in her waistband. The woman has blonde hair in a ponytail and long ears. Is it an elf? 　The left and right eyes are different colors. It's cursed. The girls don't seem too concerned about it. How could it be?　When you think about it like that.

'We have put a collar on you to keep you from getting out of control. If you try to force yourself to use your magic, that collar will be tightened, so be careful.

　The elf who speaks to me. You're a so-so competitor. Well, I'm more afraid of the blonde girl.

"I won't do anything. "I don't want to fight with humans.

　The elves nod their heads when I say that. If a demon tribe says this, they will wonder. But that's not the point, the blonde girl takes a tray from the brown-haired girl and places it on the desk. There is a warm dish on top.

　Then, without hesitation, the girl comes over to the bed and tugs on my right arm. Aren't you afraid of this girl?

Come on, eat it while it's hot!　It's delicious!　....oh!　Then we won't harm you either, so let's get along!

　A girl who says such things as if it were an afterthought. This was my first encounter with Phelia and I.