Chapter 220
After chasing away Eleanor, I took out my Magic Cottage and entered carrying Io .
Olivia and Tanya followed .
Olivia looked composed and Tanya looked at Io with a worried expression .
「Is your side alright now, Olivia?」
「I am different from Human, I’m fine now」
「Kakeru-san! Is Io-san alright?」
「If it is Human, then she is fine . Although that magic intensely consume her magic powers, that’s all」
「You know it? Olivia」
Olivia slightly nodded .
「She used her massive magic powers as a power that would move her body . For that, even more magic powers are used and her stamina is consumed . It is a technique that consumes magic powers at least three times the amount when the magic is shot normally . That is why, human is currentlyーー」
Olivia raised the corner of her lips interestingly and continued .
「ーーfeeling tired to death」
「That……was the case, thank goodness……」
I entered a room carrying Io and gently put her down to the bed .
「It consumes three times than releasing magic normally, and she did that twice, huh」
I stroked Io’s cheek as her face sweat .
「Really……how reckless」
「Ororo〜…… Human, I want to talk about something with you . Let’s go outside」
「Eh? What are we going to talk about, Olivia-samaーーhyaa!」
「Hikari, come as well」
「O-chan wait for me〜」
Olivia forcefully dragged away Tanya who was confused .
And Hikari who was called turned to her human form and chased after Olivia .
「What’s up with them?」
『Hm? I wonder〜』
I felt that Eleanor was grinning, but her tone quickly turned serious .
『Earlier, you couldn’t cut “me”』
「Yeah, I couldn’t cut “you” using Hikari」
『I do not plan on blaming you, but I do not plan on saying thanks as well』
「I see」
『I only want to say one thing……the next time, use me . There is no problem if its me』
「Are you alright with that?」
『Wielded by you, I shall cut my past self . Is it not interesting?』
「You really sound you’re looking forward to it that it’s a bit scary」
『Kukuku』
I heard Eleanor’s amused laughter inside my head .
This girl, she’s probably, really enjoying it 90% .
「U……n」
Io who I put on the bed groaned in pain .
I sat down beside her and looked at her face .
She seems to be extremely exhausted by the technique she used . She looks so worn out although the fight was very short .
I looked at her for quite a while and she slowly opened her eyes .
「Io」
I called out her name . She did not react .
Her eyes were empty, wandering the void .
「Io」
「……Kakeru-san?」
I called her once again and this time, she replied .
Her eyes regained clarity and caught my appearance .
「Iーー」
「You don’t need to wake up, just lie there」
「Uhm……the enemy?」
「She ran away . It’s all thanks to you」
「Thank goodness……I was of use」
『It’s not at a mere level of being “a use”』
「Eleanor’s unusually praising you」
「Thank you……」
While saying that, Io stared at me .
Her eyes seem to say something, they look like a lonely puppy’s eyes .
I did not say anything and kissed her .
「That attack was impressive . You caught Eleanor by surprise and it was beautiful . Let me see it again after you recover」
「Eh……? I can……use it?」
「Un? According to Olivia, it doesn’t seem to have any after-effects . Isn’t that the case?」
「U〜un, I didn’t mean that! Uhm……can I really?」
「Why?」
「I thought……you’ll tell me to stop」
Io became short on her words and looked away .
She looked like a child whose prank was found out .
「Why?」
「Why you say……?」
「You’ll recover after resting right? Since it uses a lot of stamina and magic powers」
「Un, that is true」
「If so, then what’s the problem? Rather, why do I need to stop you becoming a better woman?」
「Eh? B-Better woman?」
「Yeah . Didn’t I tell you? It was strong and beautiful . A magician, although it’s only for an instant, was able to surpass Eleanor’s physical ability . And to be able to do that, you areーー」
I gave her another kiss and said while staring at her at a distance where our lips almost touched .
「A good woman」
「I……can I fight together with Kakeru-san?」
「We did that up until now right?」
「Can I work harder, and become stronger so I can be of help?」
「You have done that up until now right?」
「I, won’t I be a baggage?」
「I’ve never thought of you like that」
「Although the result is better if Kakeru-san fights by himself?」
「This time, it was better since Io was around right?」
Io was surprised by my reply .
Her eyes widened and opened her mouth but could not utter the words .
After that, Io made many expressions for a while .
Surprise, confusion, teary smile .
Many expressions appeared and disappeared from her face .
I don’t know what she is thinking, I don’t know, but .
「I, I will work more and more harder」
「Alright, do your best」
「Is it okay? I might surpass Kakeru-san someday you know? Just like how I surpassed Eleanor today although it’s just for an instant」
「Yeah, do your best」
Or rather .
「Why do I need to stop you from becoming a better woman?」
I really feel strange why she asks that .
Io seems strange for asking that many many times to be sure .
About doing her best and levelling up, about fighting together with me .
About maybe surpassing me and Eleanor .
What’s the problem in that?
『If it was anything, it would be your denseness that is the problem』
Eleanor said something weird .
It’s true that I can’t understand Io’s point, but that, is that called dense?
It’s not, rightーーbut when I was thinking of that .
「Kakeru-san」
「Un?」
「I, I’ll do my best」
Io declared shortly but clearly .
And Io who stared at me like that with an innocent smile was so lovely, so lovely that all of my questions instantly disappeared .
Once again, I gave her a kiss .