Chapter 100: Taking A Breather (3)


    “Would you properly raise a child, even if it’s a half-elf, Yandel?”


    “……”


    At that moment, the part of me inside Elisha slightly wilted.


    Haven’t we always been careful with contraception…?


    Perhaps my momentary hesitation was conveyed to Elisha, who was closely attached to me.


    Elisha drooped her shoulders weakly.


    “That’s… likely. Yes. I made an unnecessary remark.”


    This was not just an increase in her usual nervous habits since bing a ve.


    It sounded like a genuinely sad voice.


    Yet I was the one who was taken aback.


    “No. Wait. Hold on. That’s not it. It’s a misunderstanding!”


    “It’s okay, Yandel. You don’t have to lie. I’ll figure it out on my own. I’ll make sure it doesn’t trouble you.”


    “It really isn’t like that!”


    I silenced Elisha’s nonsensical talk with my mouth.


    “Hmph?!”


    The soft touch of lips meeting lips.


    Carefully, I slipped my tongue between Elisha’s lips, which were trembling as if holding something back.


    “Hmm…”


    I stirred inside Elisha’s mouth with my tongue.


    Gently, tenderly.


    But with a firmness that did not allow resistance.


    Initially rigid, Elisha soon awkwardly responded.


    She didn’t intertwine her tongue first, but she didn’t avoid mine either, epting it.


    After sharing breaths with Elisha for a while, I slowly pulled away.


    “Pah…!”


    A silver thread stretched and then snapped between our lips.


    I cupped one side of Elisha’s slightly dazed face with my hand.


    With my palm, I caressed her soft cheek, and with my fingers, I yed with her elongated ear as I spoke.


    “Of course, I’ll raise them properly. Didn’t I say it at Faye’s workshop? If such a thing happens, I’ll take full responsibility.”


    “But just now, you…”


    “I was startled earlier for another reason.”


    That was the truth.


    It wasn’t the fact that Elisha might be pregnant, but the possibility of it being ‘now’ that worried me.


    If that were the case, wouldn’t I have to fight the resurgent Evil Gods and the Great War while having a child?


    “Chaos will soon fill the world. The chaos prepared by those cultists.”


    “That’s…”


    “I don’t have the confidence to raise a child in that chaos. That’s why I was startled.”


    “But it’s a different story once everything’s over.”


    “Oh… So, Yandel, what you mean is…”


    “Right. I meant the Elf Farm isn’t starting now, but a few yearster.”


    “A farm… I’m not nning to have that many, you know?”


    “That’s for me to decide, not you, Elisha.”


    “Yes, yes. Of course, you’d know best.”


    Elisha chuckled lightly with a yful tone and shrugged her shoulders.


    Seeing her, Ca, who was behind us, seemed a bit jealous and started to snuggle up.


    “Master, Master. What about me? Will I also have your child?”


    “I’ll have enough to revive the Lindelheit family on my own, so be prepared.”


    “Heck… I’m actually happy about that!”


    Ca kissed my nape with a bright smile.


    Enjoying the sensation like that of a small bird pecking, a question suddenly came to mind.


    “But why bring up this topic all of a sudden?”


    “I told you, didn’t I? I’m worried about the child that mighte between you and me…”


    “Even if you’re concerned, you wouldn’t ask so directly. At least not now, when we’re carefully practicing contraception.”


    “……”


    Elisha closed her mouth for a moment, then slowly nodded.


    “You’re right, Yandel. It wasn’t the time to bring it up. But there was a reason.”


    “What reason?”


    “You left my mana core intact. Whether it was to learn something from me or because you needed my abilities, you decided to keep me as a mage.”


    That was true. I couldn’t just annihte a future great mage for a little fun.


    “But if I continue to grow as a mage… There will surelye a day when I can remove this ve mark myself.”


    “Well, if you be a high mage, unless you’re bound by magical restraints, you’ll be able to break free.”


    When that day would arrive, Iris, another person shackled by the mark of very, would also be free.


    “It’s good to be free from the ve mark. But what then?”


    “…What?”


    Elisha continued, perplexed by my puzzled look.


    “If I be a high mage, I’ll be treated well wherever I go. But where should I go? How many ces would ept a mage involved in spirit summoning? Even if the ve mark disappears, isn’t my status still that of a ve? Moreover…”


    Elisha’s confession continued, naked. Our lower parts were still connected.


    “Moreover, what about the chastity I’ve given to you? Does ite back to me? Or would someone else acknowledge it?”


    “Ah.”


    Elves had strong notions of chastity. It was an instinctive pull to prevent them from bing Ero Elves, but they valued purity highly.


    In that sense, Elisha, as she is now, will not easily be epted by herself or her kin.


    “Even if I break free from the ve mark, even if I be a high mage and am looked down on by most of the world…”


    <em>Thump.</em>


    Elisha buried her head on the opposite side of my nape from where Ca was.


    “I can’t go back to the past.”


    “That’s…”


    “But that doesn’t mean I have nowhere to go.”


    Elisha suddenly raised her head, smiling softly at a very close distance.


    “Yandel. You are here.”


    “Huh?”


    “The one who took my first time, who needs me as a mage, who cherishes me as a woman. And the one who knows my worth better than anyone else.”


    “……”


    “You are here.”


    I felt as if I had been struck in the back of my head.


    That was right.


    Was this why Elisha suddenly became friendly at some point?


    Not just doing what she was told, but actively trying to do something for me.


    And not justplying with her status as a ve, but thinking about whates next.


    “Wait. That sounds like…”


    “Yes. I consider you, Yandel, a future partner. It’s only within me, but… anyway, that’s why I was in a hurry.”


    Elisha, hurrying me, caught me off guard with a story I never expected.


    “What about you? If you ept me, I will strive to love you and to be loved by you.”


    “It sounds like a political marriage when you put it like that.”


    “Oh? It’s somewhat simr. I offer you everything I have, and you give me a happy life. An easy and straightforward deal, right?”


    I pulled Elisha’s giggling head towards me.


    Then, I lightly kissed her elongated ear.


    “Not bad.”


    <em>“Eep!”</em>


    Elisha twitched at the sudden touch of her lips and whispered in her ear.


    I held onto her tightly so she couldn’t escape.


    “Elisha, your body has been mine since you were sold as a ve… but now, everything else is mine too. You offered it with your own hands.”


    “Oh, th-that… yes.”


    Continuing to speak without releasing her ear, she stammered…


    “In return, I’ll do my best to take responsibility for your life.”


    “That’s exactly it…”


    Elisha nodded shyly.


    Biting her ear lightly and sweeping my hand down the hollow of her back…


    <em>“Hyak!”</em>


    Elisha let out a unique sound as I dered briefly.


    “Starting tonight, I’ll make you happy.”


    “Huh? What do you mean… Huh?!”


    <em>Squeeze.</em>


    I grabbed Elisha’s hips and lifted her waist.


    Even just being inside her was pleasant, but Elisha’s inside suddenly squeezed tighter.


    Trying not to copse under the sudden stimtion, Elisha clung to me as I nibbled on her ear.


    “Huh?! Why keep… Ah…”


    Elisha’s voice was quickly turning sweet.


    She wasn’t as sensitive in her ears as Iris, but already excited by Ca and impaled on me, she was responding well.


    I continued to rock Elisha’s hips up and down.


    <em>Squeeze. Squeeze.</em>


    “What is this, Yandel? Suddenly… Haah!”


    “What do you mean? I’m using what’s mine.”


    <em>Squeeze. Squeeze. Squeeze.</em>


    “Still… Hic! A bit more mood or… Uh… You know… Aah!”


    “The mood was ruined when you brought up the child talk earlier.”


    Whether I was actually going to take responsibility or not, bringing up such a topic suddenly destroyed the mood.


    “But wasn’t it a topic worth discussing at least once?”


    “Was it necessary right now?”


    <em>Squeeze.</em>


    As I vigorously kneaded her hips, Elisha trembled in response.


    It seemed like she was scared, recalling thest experience…


    But it would be a little different this time.


    I won’t poke her writhing legs this time, nor would I immobilize her and go on a wild mating press.


    I slightly lifted Elisha’s head to create some distance.


    My face, of course. And to the side, with her head buried in one shoulder, Ca was nibbling and licking my nape.


    I shrugged towards Elisha, who was making a puzzled face.


    “Know this?”


    “What?”


    “The words you said earlier, Elisha. They were simr to what Ca first said.”


    “Umm… huh?”


    Ca, who was gleefully nibbling my nape as if she were a vampire, tilted her head in confusion.


    “Yeah, remember? From the first day. Saying you’d do anything, just don’t throw me away and cherish me.”


    “Oh! Right! Now that I think about it, Elisha’s words were simr.”


    “……”


    Elisha, listening to our conversation, dered while trembling.


    “I can… do better.”


    Was it because she waspared to Ca? A determined light was burning in Elisha’s eyes.


    Elisha, who had not refused until now but moved ording to my lead, showed her first sign of initiative.


    I couldn’t help but smirk at her appearance.


    ‘As nned.’


    ‘???’


    Why are you smiling so meaningfully, Ca…?