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Chapter 41 Part 1

Emmy And Sybilla’s First Meeting And The Destination Of Our Future

 

Even though I wasn’t as expressive as I used to be, my cheeks couldn’t help but relax a little when I saw Emmy squirming in her sleep like a child.

 

As I let out a wry smile, I tried to pull my hand from her to pat her head, but… I can’t seem to pull it away at all…?

Ah, right, she’s a 【Holy Knight】 now that I think about it. So this is what it’s like when they say a mage can’t out-strength a knight no matter how much they tried.

 

I take back my previous statement.

I still hate the Sun Goddess after all.

Who would want a Job that won’t let you carry a girl this cute who looks like a princess!?

……No no, just what am I thinking…? It looks like some of Sybilla’s thoughts are starting to rub off on me……

 

「Ugh… Uu… *snore…」

 

「Hey, isn’t it about time you let me go?」

 

「Nwoo… don’t gwoo…」

 

「That’s not what I meant though…」

 

I’m in a bind…… at this rate, I don’t think she’ll ever let me go. I can wait until she stops crying but…….

Then, when I scratched my head as I averted my gaze——.

 

——there stood a beautiful, silver-haired onlooker who looked at me with a very nasty grin on her face, making me want to turn away from the fact that she was a 『Goddess』.

 

「Oi, you there, what are you looking at, huh!」

 

「Nothing~~~? It’s just… I never thought that you could make such, such, such, a sofftttt~ expression while holding your childhood friend~」

 

「What do you mean by nothing? You just spat it out loud! Come here and let me hit you once!」

 

Damn it! She just said whatever she wanted now that she knew I couldn’t move! Argh, it pisses me more that I can’t fight back!

Just you wait… once Emmy wakes up, I’ll——whoa! I almost tripped because my body was freed so suddenly.

 

When I looked at Emmy, she had stopped crying completely and was staring at Sybilla.

Ah, right, Sybilla said she has been observing our party, including Emmy, but Emmy obviously didn’t know about her at all, huh?

 

「Emmy, let me introduce her. This girl is Sybilla, we’ve been working together as a party for a short while now.」

 

「……E-Eh?」

 

「By the way, she came all the way from Hammond to our village and protected the orphanage before I did when there was a monster from the dungeon that appeared near the village.」

 

「Eh!? Ah, umm, thank you very much」

 

Emmy was puzzled at first, but she quickly straightened her posture and bowed repeatedly to thank her.

Sybilla on the other hand, is folding her arms as she silently evaluates Emmy from head to toe… what’s this girl up to now?

 

「So you’re Emmy-chan huh.」

 

「Y-Yes!」

 

「Now, Russell has accepted you both as his partner and a member of his party. And you even got to redo your relationship as a childhood friend. You understand this far, right?」

 

「Yes… for someone lowly like me…」

 

「Stop right there!」

 

「Hiiih!?」

 

Sybilla suddenly cut off Emmy’s monologue.

 

「Russell is not the type of guy who would easily accept you as his partner just because you have known him since little, you know? He’s the type that will stand in the frontline even though he’s a magician if you’re someone weak. At least the Russell I know will definitely do that. But, you see…」

 

After a pause, she uncrossed her arms and pointed her finger at Emmy.

 

「The reason he asked Emmy-chan, a girl, to become his shield, is because he recognizes the fact that 『Emmy-chan is much stronger than he himself』. And it must have taken a lot of courage for him, a guy, to admit.」

 

She then used that hand to pat Emmy’s head.

 

「In other words, Russell recognized Emmy-chan as someone special. That’s why, don’t ever say, 『someone lowly like me』 again. You should have more confidence in yourself, Emmy-chan. At least, you’ll need it to keep up with this changed brusque Black Kite Saint who’s getting more rud——Ouch!」

 

「Oi, just what do you mean by that?」

 

「See! This is what I’m talking about! Don’t use violence against a girl out of nowhere!」

 

「Oh, you don’t have to worry about that because you’re the only woman that I felt it was okay to hit, Sybilla.」

 

「Why!? This Sybilla-chan is the cutest girl in the world, you know! How could you!?」

 

As I was having the usual bickering with Sybilla, I felt a tug on my sleeve.

My eyes met with Emmy, who was looking up at me with a face as if she wanted to say something.

 

「U-Um, Russell, you see…」

 

「Hm? What is it?」

 

「That chop… I’d like you to give me one too.」

 

……But why?

 

「Because just like I told you, it looks like a sign of affection.」

 

「Seriously…?」

 

「Now now, hurry up and do it. If you don’t, she might start crying again you know?」

 

I was still somewhat unconvinced, but if Emmy said she was okay with it, then I guess I have no choice.

I nervously delivered the first chop into Emmy’s head.

At times like this, let’s not hold back and use just as much force as I give Sybilla.

 

「……Ehehe, I got chopped by Russell. With this, I’m now the same with Sybilla-san……」

 

Despite taking what was supposed to be a pretty painful chop, Emmy was smiling happily.

……Well, it’s not surprising since the blessing she received from the Goddess was one with the best defense abilities…….

 

「Good grief… that reaction after taking that chop… you really have become more dependable, huh.」

 

「Of course! I’d never let Russell get hurt ever again, so leave the defense to me!」

 

Hearing those words, it wasn’t me, but instead, Sybilla, who began stroking Emmy’s head and almost messing up her hair.

Of course, Emmy was surprised at Sybilla’s sudden action.

 

「Hyaaii!?」

 

「Good good~ Emmy-chan’s expression has gotten much better now. I’m the type who roots for a girl who’s devoted, not just obedient or submissive. Well, unfortunately——」

 

Sybilla took a few steps back as she looked at Emmy, and pointed her thumb at her own face with a smug expression as she put her other hand on her hip.

 

「Your rival is this me! the most beautiful woman in the world, the Goddess Sybilla-chan, whom Russell had head over heels for!」

 

「I don’t even want to retort anymore since I can’t tell who is falling for whom at this point.」

 

「……The reason your mean level is getting higher is because your affection for me is getting stronger as well, right? ……Right?」

 

As expected after having had this kind of exchange too many times, I’m getting tired of looking for variations to retort.

 

Emmy, seeing our all-too-familiar exchange, stepped forward while clasping her hands together.

….I wonder what’s on her mind.