Raising the Elf’s Genius Slayer

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Chapter

Enok looked around at the gentle scenery of the forest.

The place he wandered before meeting Rionne was also a forest, but somehow this one felt different.

“I’ll tell you about the forest today.”

Rionne seemed particularly cheerful today.

Maybe it was her love for the forest, as her long ears perked up in excitement.

[Is it really necessary to explain all this? I mean, I won’t have much reason to come back after returning to the humans anyway.]

“You can’t know that, Undine. You should always be prepared for any situation.”

In truth, Rionne was just teaching Enok like a little elven child, but she made that excuse.

Thinking about it, it didn’t seem entirely wrong.

“I like the forest too.”

[Wow, is this the first full sentence you’ve spoken? I thought I was going to die from frustration, but you’re getting better, huh?]

Crack-!

[Ahhh…!? What is that little brat doing!?]

With a pouty expression, Enok launched a thin bolt of lightning and hid behind Rionne.

“Undine, I told you to speak nicely.”

[Whoa, whoa…! Seriously! I’m going to lose it!]

Undine collapsed, grabbing her nape at the sight of her ungrateful friend.

Even though the fallen spirit was summoned back, Rionne didn’t care.

In about five minutes, she’d be summoned back on her own, buzzing around again.

Rionne glanced disdainfully at where her childish friend had been, straightened her posture, and looked at Enok.

“The forest is a kind friend that gives us many things. By the way, Enok, do you remember how to write the word ‘forest’?”

Nodding, Enok traced his finger in the dirt.

Satisfied with his correct answer, Rionne nodded approvingly.

“Our Enok is so smart. Good job!”

Rionne ruffled Enok’s hair, who smiled broadly.

“Anyway, just because the forest is our kind friend doesn’t mean we can treat it carelessly, right?”

“Right.”

“We should only take what we need and be ready to protect the forest if someone tries to harm it. It would be bad if the forest got upset, right?”

Enok nodded with a blank expression.

Knowing he was always attentive, Rionne led the child through the forest.

“This is the Deer Mushroom. It’s delicious when grilled. Should I take some? Let’s have it for lunch today.”

A round, black mushroom resembling a deer’s nose was placed in the basket.

“This is Rough Hedge. When you have digestion issues, wash it well in water and boil it, and you’ll feel better quickly.”

Enok observed the Rough Hedge closely.

The rough, hairy stuff looked pretty awful to eat raw.

“Ah, there’s a rabbit over there. This forest has many animals. There are deer, wolves, wild boars, and bears.”

The forest, lovingly tended by Rionne, was rich.

It might be one of the best forests to live in on the continent!

Just then…

– Whoosh!

Enok’s ears perked up at the faint sound.

Rionne smiled lightly and explained.

“What luck! It’s a wild boar. Want to quietly follow?”

“Okay!”

Rionne moved forward nimbly.

Even though she seemed to walk carelessly, there was no sound or sign of her presence.

Enok watched her in amazement and tried to follow her as carefully as possible.

“Hehe.”

Seeing Enok so quickly reduce his presence, Rionne smiled contentedly.

And soon,

“Shh.”

The two hidden among the bushes peeked out.

They saw a single wild boar munching on some fruits.

“Isn’t it huge?”

Nod nod.

“If we catch it, we could eat well for a month… um…. wait a minute?”

Thinking it over, Enok’s appetite was enormous.

If it were back when Rionne lived alone, they probably wouldn’t have bothered catching it, but now it seemed they could handle it without trouble.

“So, Enok, do you want to try catching it?”

Rionne asked, and Enok nodded.

And right away,

Crack-!

He leaped up into a tree, scattering electricity.

The oblivious wild boar continued munching away.

Seeing the unconcerned wild boar, Enok’s eyes narrowed.

Since Rionne was expecting results, he couldn’t fail.

As quick and stealthy as possible.

He’d strike before it could react!

“Breathe….”

Enok held his breath and waited for his chance.

Then,

Whoosh—

The wind blew.

A leaf brushed against the wild boar’s side, and its attention shifted.

An opening!

Crack-!

With a burst of electricity, Enok shot forward rapidly.

“Eh…!?”

The wild boar opened its eyes wide in alarm, but it was too late.

As Enok reached its side, he bent down and clenched his fist.

Boom—!

With a thunderous punch, he slammed it into the wild boar.

“Grrr!”

But the wild boar was no pushover either.

Living in a bountiful forest, it was infused with a slight amount of mana, making it far from a regular beast.

The wild boar staggered and glared fiercely.

A rude human.

How dare it bow down!

Yet there was no sight of the human.

While the wild boar looked around confusedly, it suddenly felt a heavy weight on its back.

“Eh!?”

Enok clung tightly to its fur.

The wild boar began to thrash about.

If it lasted too long, Enok would tire out.

In a flash, Enok calculated his actions.

Coiling lightning around himself, he went for the wild boar’s throat.

Crash───!!

“Grrr!”

The wild boar bellowed until its voice broke.

“Don’t, don’t bite it, Enok…!!”

Rionne shouted in shock.

Why was he trying to bite it with perfectly good limbs!?

Typically, battles should be fierce, but that behavior was not exactly educational.

“Huh?”

Seeing Rionne’s stunned expression, Enok looked up.

He spat out the flesh, blood dripping from his mouth.

Somewhere along the line, the wild boar was weakening and stumbling.

Well… he wasn’t supposed to bite, so that was something.

Obeying, Enok wrapped his hand with electricity.

Then, with a powerful swing…

He struck down at the spot where the flesh was torn away, and the wild boar shivered, collapsing.

Enok hopped down from the fallen wild boar and stared blankly at Rionne.

[…That crazy little brat. Savage. Heavenly Death.]

Undine, who had returned at some point, didn’t bother to comment.

“Enok, you shouldn’t do that.”

In truly unavoidable situations, there wasn’t much that could be done.

Survival came first.

But if he made a habit of such actions in everyday life, it might lead to trouble once Enok went outside.

Even if Rionne didn’t know much about humans, there probably wasn’t a culture where one would suddenly bite someone’s throat.

“…Okay.”

Under Rionne’s scolding, Enok sulked and lowered his head.

“I’m not scolding you, Enok! Just don’t be too hard on yourself!”

“Okay….”

“But you did well! There aren’t many humans who can catch a wild boar at Enok’s age!”

[There are probably quite a few.]

“Undine!”

[Whoa!?]

Rionne stuffed her meddlesome friend into her pocket and smiled kindly.

“Is there any injury?”

“Okay.”

“Then should we explore the forest a bit more? Or do you want to go home and rest?”

“I want to keep exploring.”

“Alright then.”

Rionne poked Enok’s cheek with her finger.

A water droplet appeared from thin air and neatly wiped away the bloodstains on him.

“Okay, let’s go!”

*

The troupe, having come back from exploring the forest, washed up, and with Enok dozing off drowsily, Rionne stretched out.

“Ugh…!”

Her fair skin glowed beautifully in the sunlight as it deepened.

She gathered her hair, shining like golden threads, and brought it over her shoulder, then asked the pouting Enok.

“It’s a little too soon for a nap, but should I teach you some martial arts instead?”

Studying was boring, but practicing martial arts was exciting.

Enok nodded eagerly.

“Then, let’s see.”

Rionne headed toward the yard, rummaging through her mental library.

With the knowledge gathered from her long life, she could easily fill a library, and she recalled a suitable martial art.

“Hmm, this should be alright.”

Anger Hawk Claw Technique.

A technique resembling the movements of an angry hawk.

The technique is a method of striking the enemy using fingers curled like a beast’s claws.

Enok instinctively showed similar movements when fighting, so it seemed to suit him quite well.

“Since you learned the basics of Fist Technique last time, this shouldn’t be too difficult for you.”

Though Fist Technique and Claw Technique are different, they do have many similarities.

Moreover, considering that the Anger Hawk Claw Technique was technically a foundational technique, it shouldn’t be too taxing for Enok to learn.

“Here.”

As Rionne flicked her fingers, a plant stem burst from the ground, forming a scarecrow.

“Try to… huh?”

Rionne watched Enok wildly waving his hands in the air.

What was he doing? Upon closer inspection, she saw Enok was extracting mana and drawing something.

“Eh…!?”

Moreover, the drawing closely resembled the magic Rionne had used.

Enok was recalling and mimicking the form of the mana that had moved in an instant.

– Crackle──!

Eventually, the poorly completed magic circle activated.

Electricity shot up from the ground, briefly sketching the shape of the scarecrow before dispersing.

Upon closer inspection, there were small, burnt sprouts in the ground.

“Oh my goodness…!”

Is my child a genius…!?

While Rionne was in an uproar, Undine grumbled away.

[Is it that shocking to have talent in magic?]

Looking at him, one wouldn’t think he was capable of magic; he seemed like a child who would just gnaw on everything.

Could it be that he’s actually smart and just pretends to be dumb?

“Grrr…”

Rionne hugged Enok, baring her teeth at Undine to pacify him.

“Enok! Do you want me to teach you magic!?”

At Rionne’s cheerful question, Enok rolled his eyes.

Learning more things isn’t really something he wants…

“Should I teach you!?”

He couldn’t possibly refuse.

In the end, Enok smiled brightly and nodded.

“Yay!”

Rionne cheered.