NOVEL NEXT Chapter 33
Chapter
To put it simply, Rionne wasn’t searching for anything strange.
She just came to a strangely odd conclusion on her own.
“I thought maybe I was being too strict. It could be nice to approach her a bit more warmly.”
[Strict…? You? You don’t even know what being strict means, do you?]
And I had no idea how that related to her being cute in such a ridiculous way.
“What difference does it make?”
[Act your age!]
“Hehe, it’s good to live young!”
[That’s nonsense.]
She really responded like that after my age attack?
How good could she be feeling right now…?
Undine shivered in shock.
Rionne hummed cheerfully as she spread out the outfit in her hands.
Soft, pink pajamas.
A gift from Enok.
What a coincidence! The pajamas were the same, just a different color from Enok’s!
Feeling smug, Rionne changed into her pajamas and struck a pose in front of the mirror.
“How do I look?”
[You look awful, seriously.]
“How did they fit perfectly, huh?”
[Doesn’t he know your size?]
“It seems like they used good materials. The texture feels amazing.”
[You’re not listening to me, are you?!]
Rionne bounced into the living room with an energetic spring in her step.
I wonder what Enok is up to.
He must have changed into pajamas too. I wanted to hug him tight and roll around together.
“Enok~!”
“Yeah?”
His voice came from the kitchen.
The kitchen? There’s no reason for Enok to be in the kitchen.
Before Rionne could ponder, Undine zipped out.
[Hey! Come to think of it, what about my gift? Did you only buy for yourself and Rionne!?]
“Look, this.”
Enok held out a tiny hat, just big enough for a finger.
It was the size you’d put on a doll, but it fit Undine perfectly.
[Why am I getting a hat?!]
“What’s wrong with that?”
[Why is it just me getting the short end of the stick?!]
Enok ignored Undine and started preparing a salad.
Rionne sneaked up and peeked her head around Enok’s back.
“What are you doing? Cooking?”
“Yeah.”
“Suddenly? You can cook?”
“Just… well.”
Can I say I know how to do this?
While contemplating, Enok’s hands moved rapidly.
He may lack cooking talent, but cutting isn’t a separate issue.
Having learned a bit about swordsmanship because Rionne liked it, Enok swiftly worked on the vegetables.
“Wow…! Enok, you’re amazing!”
Compliments from an elf could even make Heavenly Death dance.
Enok’s shoulders lifted, and his confidence soared!
“Hmph.”
This time it felt like it could work.
Heavenly Death’s prowess kicked in, boosting creativity.
Since Rionne likes sweet things, let’s add some sugar… and maybe a bit of chocolate too.
Should I throw in some jam as well?
They said to follow the recipe, so I’ll add this unidentifiable sour sauce…
“……?”
Rionne, watching from behind, sensed something was off, but figured Enok must have a plan and said nothing.
After some time, the special “Capri-style Enok salad” was finished.
Undine covered her mouth in shock at the bizarre appearance.
[Is that really food…?]
Enok’s eyes trembled too.
Distinguishing between what’s inedible and what isn’t is a completely separate skill.
He instinctively realized that this wasn’t food for people.
“I-I’ll redo it.”
“Hmm? No, Enok! It looks delicious!”
“…That doesn’t seem like it.”
Rionne surprisingly took a fork and dug into the salad without any hesitation.
She expertly speared some vegetables and just went, nom.
“Ugh, m-mmm…! It’s delicious! Our Enok can cook too!”
Enok’s eyebrows twitched uncontrollably.
“Sorry…”
“No way! It’s really tasty, I swear!”
[You silly girl….]
In the end, Rionne finished the entire salad.
Thankfully, it didn’t lead to any stomach trouble.
*
“Hehe, our Enok.”
Rionne seemed happy all day long.
When bedtime came, she instantly lay down and hugged Enok tightly, petting his head vigorously.
“So, how about it? Want me to read you a book like old times?”
“Yeah.”
As Enok nodded, Rionne’s face lit up as she sat him on her lap and opened the book.
It was a picture book she often read to him when he was younger.
Though it felt a bit like being treated like a child, seeing how much Rionne enjoyed it, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything.
“Once upon a time, there lived a nasty dwarf. But one day…”
As Rionne read to Enok, she felt an inexplicable warmth spreading through her, causing her pajama front to flutter.
It wasn’t hot outside, so why was this happening?
A little sweat broke out, and her breath began to feel heated.
It wasn’t alarming, but it was just slightly bothersome.
‘Was it the salad…?’
In truth, it wouldn’t be surprising if that salad had some strange effect.
Although she cleaned the plate without changing her expression, it was something mystical that even Rionne found challenging at times.
“Rionne?”
“Uh, yeah? What’s up?”
When Enok tilted his head slightly, his dark eyes filled her vision.
With snow-white skin like a snowflake, and a delicately sculpted nose beneath.
Her lips looked ripe and soft, as if biting into them would squeeze the juice out.
‘…Our Enok really is handsome. I wonder who he takes after.’
Rionne couldn’t tear her gaze away, even as something strange glinted in Enok’s eyes, and their faces drew closer.
Rionne merely stared blankly into Enok’s eyes.
“…Rionne.”
Breath brushed against her lips.
Could my breath be mingling with Enok’s lips too?
Rionne, lost in thought, jumped back in surprise, her head tilting back.
“Uh, huh!? W-what’s going on…!?”
“…That’s what I wanted to ask.”
Undine grinned mischievously as she sensed Rionne’s emotions trembling.
[Should I clear the way? Is the Swordmaster II finally about to be born?]
“D-don’t say crazy things!”
[Though it would be a crime. Don’t you think the age difference is a lot? He’s just a kid who hasn’t even gone through his coming-of-age ritual yet. Oh, dear.]
“That age difference isn’t that…! It’s not that… much!”
[You don’t think so?]
“Shut up!”
Rionne downed a glass of cold water in one go and let out a deep sigh.
“Get yourself together. Focus, Rionne.”
After she slapped her own cheeks, Rionne returned to her bedroom with resolute steps.
Enok, with wide eyes, was staring at her.
‘Act like it’s nothing. Act like it’s nothing.’
That was her resolve.
And she executed it.
“Enok~, I’m sleepy. Should we go to bed soon?”
Undine, watching the elf from behind, clicked her tongue.
[That girl is going to hit a home run soon.]
The spirit could see it.
In the eyes of the cunning little one lurked a chance waiting to pounce.
How long would it take before the elf, who didn’t even know a thing about romance, got devoured by that little rascal?
Especially since that little one was wagging her tail in such a manner, begging for it!
[Hmph.]
It didn’t seem that long at all.
*
The next morning.
For some reason, Enok bothered Rionne a little more than usual and patted his chest in the yard.
“Eri.”
[……. ]
“Eri?”
[……. ]
No matter how much he called, there was no response.
Was something really wrong?
Having grown quite attached to the little fox, Enok paced nervously in the yard.
[What are you doing?]
Approaching him was Undine.
She had come to tease Rionne about when she would pounce, but seeing Enok’s anxious expression made it hard to go through with it.
“Eri isn’t responding.”
[Huh? Still?]
Undine fluttered over and stood right in front of Enok’s chest.
She tapped his chest, then listened closely, only to suddenly light up with an idea.
[Oh?]
Could it be?
[That was faster than I thought?]
“What do you mean?”
[Didn’t Rionne teach you about evolution?]
“Oh?”
Enok envisioned Eri’s grown-up form.
Her tiny body would get bigger, her fur fluffier, and her tail count would increase.
“Hmph.”
He felt a bit off since it looked similar to the Master of the Forest.
“I don’t like it…”
[What? You’re full already?]
Just then, out popped a little black nose from the middle of his chest.
Eri soon revealed herself completely.
Enok tilted his head.
“She didn’t get bigger?”
[Yes!]
A clear, ringing voice.
When Enok opened his eyes wide, Eri proudly waved her three tails.
[Look, my tail has grown, Daddy!]
Ecstatic, Eri bounced around before gently landing on top of Enok’s head.
Seeing Eri like that, Undine remarked.
[It seems like she didn’t grow because you didn’t want her to.]
“Is that even possible?”
[To some extent? If the spirit is really close, there are times that can happen.]
Though Undine maintained the appearance of a small fairy, that wasn’t her true form.
Her true self was a giant water woman.
When she revealed her true form, she could block the sky with her size.
But looking at it, it seemed Eri would likely keep that size even if she grew as much as Undine.
That was a very rare case.
Curiosity piqued, Undine poked and prodded at Eri, when from afar, Rionne peeked her head out.
As if hesitating, her eyes darted around until she resolutely approached.
“E-Enok, lunch is ready, so let’s eat.”
“Yeah.”
“Huh? Eri, your tail’s grown!”
Rionne stepped a little closer.
For some reason, her scent felt more intense, as if she had sweated a bit, hitting Enok’s nose hard.
Somehow, it had a very strange fragrance.
Just when Enok felt slightly stiffened,
[Daddy! I think that elf wants to mate with you!]
Eri declared with a cheerful face, blowing up the bombshell.