Magic Gems Gourmet

Chapter 308

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ED: LonelyMatter

Chapter 308 – Former Elf’s Battle

Was that something he could ask?

Several questions like that surfaced in Ain’s mind.

He had just finished drinking tea, yet his throat was already parched. He tried to regain his composure while thinking it through. There was no way Chris was a dryad. There was also no information suggesting that she was a dryad half-breed.

Aside from elves, the only other nonhuman blood she could carry was that of a pixie.

Meanwhile, vines lovingly wrapped around Ain’s feet. He noticed several more had appeared unnoticed, drawing a wry smile.

“――Fufu.”

The woman remained basking in the praise.

Cold sweat trickled down Ain’s neck once more. Steeling himself, he spoke.

“Um, Chris?”

“Ah, yes? What is it?”

“…Could you explain what’s coming from your hands in a way I can understand? Would that help? How about it?”

“My hands…? Huh—!”

She noticed the vine slipping out of her sleeve when he pointed it out.

Her cheeks flushed as she snapped to attention.

“Th-this… this is, um…”

Her flustered state made it clear that she understood the situation.

Yet tears welled in her eyes, conveying her difficulty answering Ain.

Ain stood up smoothly.

“I’m sitting next to you.”

He was certain he was involved in this, too.

Without waiting for her reply, he sat down and forcefully placed a cup of water in her hands.

Then, with a gentle look, he urged, “Drink.”

“…I’m sorry. I suddenly panicked.”

“It’s fine. Or rather, what is it? It seems like I’m involved too.”

But he had no memory of it whatsoever.

If Chris had switched races like Krone, memories of their union should have remained.

He blinked repeatedly and silently chewed it over, but still found no answer.

“It seems like you’re having trouble answering. Should I ask? Is Chris’s race… not an elf anymore?”

“…”

“I see. I noticed you nodded, even if it was slightly.”

“…It wasn’t… on purpose.”

“Um…”

Chris spoke softly, her head bowed.

She clenched her fists tightly in her lap and her pale skin flushed faintly. Her toes must have been tense, too—the tips of her leather boots bulged and trembled slightly.

“It was when we went to Ist last time. Do you remember, Ain-sama? When I almost fell, and you caught me and protected me?”

“Ah… yeah, I remember.”

“Then, when our lips touched—you surely didn’t notice, did you?”

“Huh…?”

“I think it was just a moment. I think I exchanged a kiss with you, Ain-sama—just a little one. I think that’s why I became bound to you.”

She remained bowed down as before.

Yet, Ain felt intense self-reproach at her words.

“I’m sorry.”

He turned his head and bowed toward her.

“A-Ain-sama…?”

Had she been rejected? Just as Chris felt a flicker of anxiety, Ain apologized again.

“I think it’s about Chris’ life. Because of my nature, I did something like that without thinking. I’m truly sorry. I can’t just say I’ll make amends; it’s not that simple. But if there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do it. I’ll bow my head and consult with Katima-san, too, so—”

She looked puzzled.

Then, she immediately lifted the corners of her mouth, softened her cheeks, and grasped the hand of the beloved bowing beside her.

“Really, Ain-sama, you’ve never changed since the beginning.”

Warmed by Ain’s kindness, her chest fluttered happily.

She hadn’t been rejected. Knowing that alone made her feel as if she could ascend to heaven itself.

Usually, Chris would still apologize and put herself down.

But today, perhaps because of her recent resolve, she boldly voiced a single thought:

“Ain-sama. May I receive the reward I won from that bet today?”

“The previous… Could you mean when we went to the Elf Village?”

“Yes! That’s the reward for winning my bet against you, Ain-sama!”

Chris took Ain’s hand and drew her face close.

“Please duel me with swords. You must fight without holding back. If I land even one strike, please grant me one wish.”

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The training ground was cleared of people.

Chris and Ain practiced here countless times when Ain was young.

Standing on this stone pavement, facing each other, memories of those childhood days flooded back.

But—

“You’re not the adorable young Ain-sama I used to teach anymore, are you?”

“Hey, that phrasing is kind of embarrassing, you know?”

Not only had the power gap reversed, but finding someone who could defeat Ain was practically impossible. Whether such a person even exists was questionable. Just looking at his sword skills, he was formidable. And that was without considering his growth from the demon king transformation.

“Don’t you need to tie your hair back?”

“It’s fine. I can’t stay the same as I was before.”

“…Then could you tell me what this ‘favor’ is about?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Sigh.

Chris placed a hand over her right chest, where the magic stone lay, and regulated her breathing.

Her sapphire eyes pierced Ain with fierce intensity.

“I’m strong today. I’m certain I can defeat Lloyd-sama, too. I’ll use everything within my power and land that one decisive blow.”

Chris declared.

She smiled. It was a beautiful smile, reminiscent of the night before Ain went to the Demon Lord’s Castle when she said she would offer up the magic stone dwelling within her chest.

“I…I’ve stopped holding back. I talked with Krone-san about it the other day.”

She teased him, not stating her request directly.

Ain was startled by the air Chris carried today. It was a special kind of tension, similar to when he and Marco crossed swords.

Meanwhile, Chris drew her rapier.

She vanished from Ain’s field of vision in the blink of an eye. The next time he heard her voice, it was right by his ear—so close that he could almost feel her breath.

(Wh—what…!?)

Swift. In a contest of speed alone, she could beat even Marco.

But Ain was also approaching the level of the strongest swordsman. The moment he heard her voice, he unconsciously drew his sword.

—But…

“Ain-sama. I—Christina—have long held deep feelings for you.”

A sudden confession.

Naturally, Ain’s hand faltered for a moment at her abrupt words. With the last shred of his composure, he drew his sword, but hers was faster.

Giving up on drawing his sword, he arched his body and dodged forward.

“You…you dodged that…!”

“No, no, no!? Dodging? What are you… Wait, why… I have so many questions, but is now really the time to ask them?”

“Even with this, my heart is pounding so hard it’s killing me, you know? I figured I might as well fight with all this tension and everything!”

Now that she mentioned it, her cheeks were flushed. Her moist eyes were bright red and truly resembled jewels.

Ain drew his sword, too, and the two finally faced each other head-on.

“I love you! I’ve loved you for so long! I love you enough to give my life for you!”

Her follow-up attack came without pause.

“Maybe I was just being stubborn about it all. But ever since you saved me from the Sea Dragon, I thought you were wonderful. Then, during the investigation in Balt, I got left behind and felt so sad. When you returned, you spent all your rewards to keep me by your side. How could I resist?”

“…”

“That’s why I said I’d offer you the magic stone that night!”

“That was a sign of trust, Chris!”

“Th-that can’t be all it was! You wouldn’t let someone touch your chest like that unless you liked them!”

She claimed it was akin to a courtship ritual.

A torrent of confessions and attacks—she assaulted Ain on both fronts.

“If you’re going to take my feelings seriously, then fight me properly!”

Doing so would leave her no chance of winning.

Even though it was obvious, the expression on her face as she deliberately used such a choking phrase was filled with resolve and radiated a certain kind of beauty.

“I get it. I’ll respond to Chris’ serious words with a proper attitude, too.”

He understood why he’d felt closer to her lately.

But until now, although he’d always considered Chris beautiful and charming, he’d never felt romantic desire for her. Ain had always been by Krone’s side since childhood, and he’d always assumed they would grow close.

King Sylvird had only taken one wife, and given what happened at Roundheart, he’d never considered having more than one wife.

He’d thought about it only in terms of royal responsibility.

(It affected her body, too. So, I should take responsibility. No, even thinking that on my own is disrespectful.)

Marrying a woman just because you impregnated her? In other words, it felt like marrying trash. Ain swung his sword while wrestling with these thoughts.

(Then…)

She said she liked him.

Responsibility as a man? Deep-rooted responsibility? Countless details flitted through his mind.

Suddenly, however, he felt ashamed for dwelling on such trivialities.

“Chris!”

“Y-yes!”

“Enough. I won’t listen to your pleas. So…”

Don’t dwell on trivial things.

Accept everything, including your own heart.

“I’ll accept any wish. I’ll grant it. Even if I win this fight—”

Ain showed his true caliber. Joy surged through Chris’s entire body. Yet, this still wasn’t the optimal solution for the situation.

Because…

“Fufu… But that’s not it. In this situation, having Ain-sama accept and act like that isn’t the right answer.”

Yet, she couldn’t hide her happiness; her voice and face radiated good fortune.

“I was acknowledged by Krone-san, too. But it’s not enough for Ain-sama to just accept me.”

“Not enough?”

“Yes! Otherwise, I’d be wasting Krone-san’s words. I’ll use my own power to make Ain-sama see me as a woman!”

She was determined, but Ain couldn’t grasp what Krone and Chris had discussed behind the scenes.

“That’s why I will absolutely win. Besides, today I have a reason to win!”

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