Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 124

――Monyu.

I received the impact of that sensation.
What was that?
A certain sense of a warm touch that seemed almost addictive.
A dreamlike softness like if a marshmallow had body heat.
But even so there’s a flexibility that responds excellently when touched.
Thi, this is irresistible……!
Munyu munyu――gotsun!

「――Oww!」

I came to, after taking an impact that made me feel like stars were scattering from my forehead.

「……Huh? Just where is this……? On that note why have you fixedly turned your eyes to me from such a close up distance oneechan? Those eyes are already the most attractive.」
「Carefree arren’t you.」
「Ihyaiihyaii」

For some reason my cheeks are going, guni～～ while being pulled.
Her brown short cut hair that mysteriously calms my heart, s.h.i.+nes in sunlight.
Is it, morning……?

「More importantly, if you’re okay start by giving Eclair a look okay.」

Being urged on I look to the bed beside me and, having layed down the Eclair with a sickly appearance as if this is her dying moment is releasing ragged breaths.
Her two side up hair is scattered on the white sheets as if from exhaustion.
Eclair hid her face with her arm with an appearance that said she found the refres.h.i.+ng morning to be irritating.

「Eclair!」
「……Aah, you’re awake Alice.」

My gaze met with Eclair’s as she tilted her face slightly――

「――Ah!?」

This side also went pale, due to the traces of blood on her cheeks that were visible through the gaps in those arms.
I can feel magic power, from Eclair’s tightly shut right eye!
My conscious awoke in a single burst.

「So, sorr――muguguu.」

Eclair sealed my mouth when I jumped up and came close, like it was bothersome.

「……Since it’s fine. It’s fine if you don’t apologize. More importantly hurry up and reseal this okay……since this side hasn’t slept since yesterday……」

My chest hurt as her words stabbed in.
That the meaning of entrusting the seal on Eclair’s demon eye, is this sort of thing……
Not just releasing the seal but, the matter of properly resealing it in the end is also my responsibility.

「So――muguguguuu!」
「Ahーhai hai, I don’t know what you want to say while making a pure red face but, it’s fine already so hurry up and reseal this. Since with that done Eclair, will sleep a little……」

Troublesome person aren’t youー, Eclair-san complained as such while coughing out her breath.
……I suppose that’s right, I have to hurry now!

「……Understood!」

Pus.h.i.+ng Eclair’s hand out of the way, my face approaches her right eye.
Somehow a vermilion unrelated to her right eye entered Eclair’s face.
Seeing that I ended up in a strange mood over here as well but……

「……I’ll apply a pain pain fly away charm.」
「That……is something done with children right.」
「It’s something done with precious people.」
「……This exchange, haven’t we had it before?」
「Have we?」

We smiled faintly together.
I touched my lips to, the eyelids of the Eclair who closed her sulky seeming eyes as such.
Hot……
Holding the intent to reseal it, and after that while truly praying, pain pain fly away.
My left arm’s Sylv・Faeria s.h.i.+ned and, the crimson magic power from Eclair’s right eye dispersed.
Momentarily, Eclair sunk into her bed as if releasing the power from her shoulders.

「Eclair!?」
「It seems she’s asleep okay. She was at her limit so, let her be at ease okay.」

s.h.i.+on-san put her hand on my shoulder so I nodded reluctantly.
I checked so as to be careful and, her adorable sleeping breath tickled my ear.
Eclair……I’m truly grateful.
I have to give her lots of thanks when she wakes up.
There’s a bucket with water and a towel on the side table so, I wring that and give Eclair’s right cheek a light rubbing.
After that I try putting the towel on her forehead.
It’d be good if she became a little more at ease though.
On that note……her demon eye sealing necklace is set on the base of her neck isn’t it.

「I wonder why, it didn’t reseal with this……?」
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Well, I’m saying something with a phrasing like I’m s.h.i.+fting the blame even though I’m the failure here but that is……since it was an emergency?

「That’s because the demon girl’s demon eye matured and, it became too much for an item of that level to contend with. Kua……」
「Till.」

Canceling her magic of blue ice, Till made a large yawn.
One more magic power that was enveloping Eclair, dispersed.

「Eh, did Till possibly look after Eclair’s demon eye?」

Through the night?

「She wouldn’t have held out for one night had it been neglected, wiping the a.s.s for her idiot disciple is a teacher’s responsibility you know. I suppose that’s still how it is for now.」
「Uu……I owe you one Till.」

In one way or another she takes care of people without regard for loss and gain doesn’t she……while acting like a contrarian.

「There’s also a reason, in that Est entrusted the seal to you.」

That’s so isn’t it.
I didn’t think deeply on why she went out of her way to entrust the seal to me but, it was this sort of thing.
That it became unable to keep up with a simple item, the demon eye really is frightening.
I trusted what came after to Eclair while betting on a sudden reversal but, I caused trouble for her didn’t I……

「Kufu, you’ve reached a certain level of actual ability but, the aspect where your guard is soft still isn’t there yet. If you’re aiming to be my successor, don’t let your feet be swept out from under you. Whoever it may be.」
「I’ll engrave that in my gut……」
「However――」

And so her disinterested seeming contrarian eyes turned to Eclair and, Till smiled a little.

「That there are people you can unconditionally rely on before thinking about it in your head, that sort of thing is pleasant.」

And, sleep.
Having said what she had to say, Till withdrew into the inner room.
……s.h.i.+t.
She’s too large for how small she is.

「Till, I’ll do my best! Thank you very much!」

I saw just her hand waving loosely, from the other side of the door.

◇■◇■◇

I’m going on a walk together in the forest.
This is of course, the elf village in the Forest of Ash.
One night ended and, the sun’s rays leaked through the leaves into the village surrounded by ma.s.sive trees.
That warmth was sufficient to wipe away last night’s disquiet.
In the magic sealing forest to the east, I was always nervous due to thinking that wild animals or monsters could come out at any time but, as it could be said that this is within the village it’s protected by a special barrier.
The scenery also changes when the sense of security is different.
The sparkling glow of the sun’s rays became a kaleidescope and gives entertainment to the eye so, hou, it’s enough to leak a sigh in admiration.

「……If the black person next to me with a stern face weren’t here.」

My sigh of admiration, turned into a sigh of lament.
I acted poorly so a guard was attached when I went out on a walk you see……
I can’t take a walk on my own.
Well there’s no way I can leave this guy as Eclair’s bodyguard so, that means s.h.i.+on-san and kurozuk.u.me have their roles alloted though.
Eclair is cute so it makes you want to do a prank on her when she sleeps so, it can’t be helped can it.
Since I become like that.

「If you become as strong as your s.h.i.+shou and have no gaps, I won’t go out of my way to follow you around.」
「U……since that’s the difference in our years.」

I sharpen my lips and resist.

「I think it’s a difference in personality though?」
「……」

Attentiveness has, aspects displayed more by personality than age doesn’t it, now that it’s been pointed out.
I’ll stop thinking since it would reach a conclusion of the sort that I won’t become the strongest if I accept that.
Positive thinking is itself the nourishment

nourishment of growth.

「Oi.」
「Hai?」

He was giving me a glare like he was about to kill me so, I try tilting my head a little and look up at him.
My long hair flowed tickling my neck so I went「Fuwaaa!?」a little.
……Did it show on my face?
Looking at me as such, he made a face 3 times sterner than usual and his eyes wander without settling down.
However I’ve had all this time with this guy’s fearsome aspects so, it’s not scary iss it.

「……Aah, no. I’m sure you’ve heard this a lot but, is your body alright?」
「Mo～～! Haven’t I already thoroughly explained this with oneechan! There’s nothing wrong! Besides which it seems that I also had Till look at me so, it’s alright.」

Persistent aren’t they～～, and this guy with them!

「I see……well, in that case it’s fine.」
「……Maa, I do have a place I’m concerned with though.」

Such that it wouldn’t reach the ears, I tried murmuring so as to recall my memories.
To make a secret confession, yesterday night was incredible……
No no, it’s not the case that Carmel did something to me okay?
It was the drug okay?
But though my memory is vague how should I say this, that is……the sensation from tasting a girl’s divine mystery?
It was already that you know, you could call it the satisfaction that becomes possible when the man returns?
Girls are, incredible……

「I think you wouldn’t understand but.」
「……What are you nodding about with enlightened eyes, it weirdly gets on my nerves.」

Kurozuk.u.me drew his eyelids together.
Being angry uses energy so, this guy’s also incredible with how he’s always angry isn’t he.

「By the way, even though we’re going to greet the village head, why is it necessary to go to the ruins?」
「Apparently this elf village head uses the ruin’s deepest area as his residence and has settled there. Because of that.」

Right, we’re presently heading toward the ruins that seem to conceal something.
It seems that various conversations advanced while I was pa.s.sed out yesterday but, I still haven’t heard the detailed parts.
In any case it seems Carmel has been confined in the village’s prison and, she’s lost real power.
It seems that Eclair dealt with her so, the thing s.h.i.+on-san talked about while smiling regarding the results was『It’s pitiable to leave the traces of burns on a girl’s bare skin.』and, she gave a heal after Carmel pa.s.sed out.
Using her willpower as blood dripped from her demon eye.
But it seems that she said something like, I don’t have a hobby of bullying the weak to hide my embarra.s.sment.
I guess she’s a stable tsundere-san.
Be that as it may what should I say about making a residence in the depths of a ruins.

「Strange elf isn’t she.」
「…………I suppose so.」

For some reason kurozuk.u.me looked down with eyes that looked at a strange lifeform.
Ruins iss it.
Well the device covering the village with a magic seal seems to have been removed.
I clad my hand with Thunder as a test and, more excess silver sparks scattered than normal.
Magic power is overflowing.
Un. It’s become such that magic can be used, there’s no problem.
I’ve equipped the retrieved Regenerate Robe and Caster Glove and, it’s not that I went to go out on a walk for no reason, from the start my objective was consistent with my purpose of my 3rd job change.
And I’m also worried about Ilya.

「I have to hurry and return to her, after all.」

I check my status, just in case.

◇◇◇
Wizard　LV15(Age Upper Limit)
Skill
・Chant Shortening (Special)
・Double Cast
Attack Magic
・Thunder (Master)
・Lightning (Master)
・Ishtar・Edge (Skill Count 67)
Support Magic
・Heal
・Light・Enchant
・Lightning・Field
Phantasmal Magic
・Lightning G.o.d Barrier
・Resonance・World
Attribute
Power 0　Endurance 1　Defense 0　Agility 4　Wisdom 5 (Attribute Correction +2)
◇◇◇

The current me is like that.
Since Till’s 3rd job change was Sage to be sure, should it also be that for me?
No but I feel like I read in a book that the 3rd job change is always something like an inherent job.
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inherent job.
Given that, it’s finally my specialized job is it……
My expectations are dancing in my chest～.

「It’s here.」

We’d already received guidance from the elves being disciplined due to the village chief’s orders during the last night so, kurozuk.u.me grasped the location of the ruins.

「Is it here? ……at least there is a teleportation system though.」

Looking over the surroundings, there’s just what could be called a small clearing surrounded by the forest and there’s nothing at all besides that.

「Aah, it seems the ruins are buried underground.」
「I wonder how that was built?」

Underground ruin?
Other worlds are incredible aren’t they, I wonder just how long it took to build that.

「Ah, but is the ruin okay with just 2 people though?」

Don’t think that I have the leeway for me to protect you, it was like that.
I’ll protect girls but don’t think that I’ll look after men as well okay?

「No problem, the ruin’s boss still hasn’t come back.」

Eclair defeated it so it’s still in its interval is it.

「Furthermore there’s no problem in actual ability this time, or so it seems. Apparently the teleportation system here will connect directly in.」
「Hei? By actual ability, there hasn’t been a time where I’ve met that village chief yet has there?」

She not Stacisan is she?
Carmel’s mother.

「Yesterday, it seems your s.h.i.+sou’s detour was to there.」
「Aah, Till gave an endors.e.m.e.nt or such for us didn’t she, for once……」

She’s normally spartan so there’s a sense of unease though.
Well it’s fine, it doesn’t help even if we sit around chatting so let’s try entering the magic system.
Kurozuk.u.me also came following into it.
Cramped!
Wait, let’s enter in sequenceー.
The scenery changed while we pushed and shoved in wordless protest.

「Ah, it’s a room.」

Certainly I can’t object to this being called a residence, it was a home within the ruins.
Numerous furnis.h.i.+ngs emerge, from the illumination of the magic crystal’s light.
It uses distinct items of household goods with a retro sense so it seems expensive.
It seems that there’s another room connected deeper in with a door part.i.tioning it off so, it seems rather s.p.a.cious.
Perhaps this room is for receptions, as expected it has a retro leather sofa and a table using aged expensive seeming wood prepared here.

「You’ve come then.」

A rear silhouette with short cut blond hair.
Putting her tea away and turning around, the girl’s eyes are shut.
……Is it that, she can’t see?

「I am this village’s chief, I am called Elise.」

She silently stood up.
A faint sense of presence.
However I feel an intimidating sense that seems to contradict that.

「I will start with an apology, my daughter Carmel acted discourteously.」
「……Hei? Eeeeh!?」

Carmel is Stacisan’s daughter and, she’s this female’s daughter as well.
Saying that is basically to say that so……

「Ah, no……well, since it seems to have ended without anything at all.」
「That you can say as such is……well please have a seat.」

Recommending the sofa across from her, I obediently did as directed.
Kurozuk.u.me is standing straight behind my sofa as if he’s a bodyguard.
……No it’s fine though, don’t give the village chief a strange pressure okay?

「First I give grat.i.tude for the matter of meeting my old friend’s daughter. You, somehow have Estoria’s appearance.」
「Is, is that so?」

Is it……?

「It’s Tillbell’s matter after all, she cannot be something like an obsessive parent. Regarding the diamond for use in changing jobs I will be providing it.」

The village chief carefully held a stone s.h.i.+ning with rainbow colored light and placed it on the table.
An incredibly beautiful stone……
Diamond……kongouseki?
No the name isn’t in the information I know so it could be a subst.i.tute.
It seems magic item like after all.

「Tha, thank you very much. I, am called Alice. Pleased to meet you.」
「Fu, I suppose that is so. Since I was engaged in conversation with Tillbell yesterday, I didn’t feel like this was our first meeting. Pleased to meet you, Alice.」
center style="margin-top:25px"> meet you, Alice.」

Till had a long conversation……?
I can’t imagine it though.
But since Till stayed and talked with her, surely the village will keep quiet for now won’t it.
Unlike how they suddenly became hostile yesterday.

「Regarding the stone’s method of use, please ask Till or the like when you return. You must return soon to at least that degree.」
「Nn? Why is that?」

Elise answered, after a brief pause.

「――Because a war is occurring. We have deployed a barrier and thus will see through obtaining a neutral position.」

Don’t think poorly of us, she said something like that but I know elves have a dislike of that sort of thing.
More importantly――

「War……it can’t be.」
「From what I’ve heard said by the humans, it seems the commonwealth made a declaration of war.」
「Against the kingdom!?」
「No.」

Elise-san gave a correction while shaking her head.

「Wilmington princ.i.p.ality, or so it was said. Their aim is there.」

There!?
No……it’s repulsive but think.
If the kingdom is aimed for, the princ.i.p.ality will naturally come to their aid.
However if a princ.i.p.ality is aimed for, considering the current questionable relations.h.i.+p between the 3 princ.i.p.alities there’s a high probability that, without the kingdom coming readily to their aid the remaining 2 princ.i.p.alities will also bide their time.
Of course, they still have their foreign relations in the end so I suppose aid will come but, there should be political strategizing there.

「Kran……Marisan.」

Has Kran really not returned then?
Given that, it would mean Marisan would meet the enemy as the general.
Ilya is also resting in that country so, I really do have to return soon……!
Once Eclair’s group wakes, we should immediately make preparations to head out.

「Naa Alice? Do you know why the commonwealth is moving? Of course it is that they’ve finished their preparations. Then, what do you think those preparations are?」
「……If I think simply then, it’s because they’ve prepared their military power?」
「Right, then what was the last piece when arranging their military power.」

Elise made a melancholy face.

「It was indeed the act of my foolish daughter. Alice, they were sent your environmental information as a high elf.」
「Eh……?」

At this point saying high elf, is fine either way but……

「Perhaps she excels at reading ahead……no, perhaps it’s her evil wisdom. That dark elf, is truly proficient at inciting learned people.」
「Do you mean Libra!?」

The gloomy Elise nodded.
I see, if she knows about Till’s matters then Libra’s matters are also……

「We’ve caused you trouble due to my foolish daughter but, at the least this diamond is offered as reparation. And so it would be good to return. To say it again we will not involve ourselves.」

Exclusive elves, is it.
Well since the diamond we inadvertently obtained, seems like it has incredible value……
Since it’s the case that we’ve completed our objective, I won’t speak of a complaint.
I’m grateful if Ilya will be saved with this.
Be that as it may, Libra acted in the background again?
Though it’s the difference between early and late, my lack of attentiveness may have been the trigger for a war to occur.
I can’t ignore this……I think back to the town of Rinal.

「……This time I’ll do better, I’ll show a more overwhelming battle.」

Thinking back to the battleground’s smell of soil, iron and blood, I knew my face had gone stiff.
I s.n.a.t.c.h the diamond, while showing my courtesy to Elise-san.
Standing with good vigor, I gave a hurried goodbye and left the ruin――

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Alice Tale Trivia

・Alseid Kingdom……A large country where Kran is acting as prime minister in the place of its young prince and ill grandfather.
・Wilmington Princ.i.p.ality……Kran’s native country. At present her cousin Maria is running the country. The kingdom’s sworn ally.
・Austia Princ.i.p.ality……The country that plotted the internal discord from before (the terrorism according to Kran). Rumored to have backing from the commonwealth. Officially, the kingdom’s sworn ally.
・Sacrament Princ.i.p.ality……Eclair’s native country that tried meddling in Wilmington. It’s unclear what they were thinking. Officially, the kingdom’s sworn ally.