Pawahara Seijo no Osananajimi to Zetsuen Shitara, Nanimokamo ga Umaku Iku Yō ni Natte Saikyō no Bōken-sha ni Natta ~ Tsuideni Yasashikute Kawaii Yome mo Takusan Dekita ~ (WN) - Chapter 118

[Mr. Pig’s Hug]

“…I see. So Phinis-sama was after the ‘Shield’ Saint…”

What had welcomed us the moment we’d returned to Estona was the astonishing fact that Phinis-sama, whose whereabouts were completely unknown, had suddenly made her appearance before the girls.

It seemed that she was looking for the ‘Shield’ Saint and had suspected that Elma might be connected to him in some ways, hence she’d interrogated her.

And looking at the state of things, it appeared that she’d given Elma quite a scare,

“I-I’ll be staying here from now on… I-I’m not going out…”

“Mm. Don’t worry, I’ll be here with you.”

She was curling like a shrimp on the ground with Tirna patting her head.

“Still, I’m really glad you’re all safe. Who would’ve thought Phinis-sama would appear here…”

“Ou, she gave us one hell of a shock. Her head that was cut off by the old man had totally reconnected, too. Is it even possible to kill her?” Ophir asked.

“That’s exactly the reason why we’re collecting the Sacred Treasures and activating《Superior Arms》, remember? Though in my case, I’d already acquired Hallowed Sacred Treasure before activating《Superior Arms》, so…” Magmell’s voice—who had purified the Sacred Treasure of the ‘Staff’ Saint Hesperios a while back at the dwarven village—trailed off as soulless look surfaced on her face.

I was sure I’d be able to activate《Superior Arms》with her, but we currently didn’t have the opportunity to, and that seemed be why she was so dispirited.

“Well, let’s get back to the topic.”

“No, are you just going to brush me aside!? I really want to activate《Superior Arms》with Exa-sama too, you know!?”

Magmell firmly protested to Arca’s words, but Arca patted her on the shoulder, nodded, “Fumu, then let me return your words to you,” and said, “just give up.”

“……” Magmell slumped her shoulders with a gloomy aura surrounding her.

As I was inwardly giving her words of consolation, I got the conversation back on track, “So, according to Phinis-sama, Elma was protected by the ‘Shield’ Saint?”

Tirna nodded, “Mm. She suspected that was why Elma could travel without being found by the saints.”

“Well, I couldn’t see her with my ‘Clairvoyance’, either. No, to be exact, I became unable to see her after a certain turning point,” said Shiva-san.

“Turning point?”

As I tilted my head, Shiva-san nodded to me, “Yes,” and said, “it was after you guys parted ways.”

“After we parted ways… so you’re saying it’s highly likely that she met the ‘Shield’ Saint after that?”

“That may be the case if you think about it normally. But she didn’t seem to have a clue when Phinis-sama asked her about it,” said Arca.

When I took a glance at Elma, I saw her still curled up while having Tirna spoiling her.

Though I must say, it must’ve given her the shock of her life.

This was the first time I saw her so shaken.

“By the way, the saints are all demi-human, right? Demi-humans very rarely show up in public. If one was following her, how could they avoid her notice?” Zana asked.

“That’s the question. Phinis-sama seemed to be so sure when she was asking Elma-san, but the only one who had been accompanying her was Porco-san.”

Following Magmell’s line of sight, everyone looked at Porco-san at the same time.

He was still lying on the ground with his eyes rolled back, but wasn’t it about time someone wake him up?

“I know this may sound unbelievable, but could he be the ‘Shield’ Saint?” Arca said with uncertain look on her face.

“But the saints all supposed to be a demi-human, ain’t it? I mean, the pig’s a pig, but he’s still human, y’know?” said Ophir.

Hey, that was so cruel.

But it was true that he was only who had been traveling with Elma.

As Ophir said, no matter how I looked at him, he looked like a pig… I mean human to me, but I guessed we had no choice other than to ask him directly to make sure.

“For now, let’s just try asking him. Everything would be clear, then. So, Magmell. Can I ask you to cast healing magic on him?” I asked.

“Eh!?” Magmell’s body jolted in surprise and she made a strange expression, “U-uhh.”

She’d usually heal people voluntarily, was she feeling under the weather or something?

As I was tilting my head, Magmell said in an awkward manner, “Um, can you please heal him instead, Exa-sama…?”

“…? Well, no problem with me…”

Could it be that she’s really feeling unwell?

With that thought in mind, I casted a healing magic on Porco-san.

Then.

“…Mm, ngh~…. gasp!? M-my goddeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssss!?”

――Hug.

“……”

Suddenly receiving a passionate hug, I now understood why Magmell was acting strange.