Chapter 220

After chasing away Eleanor, I took out my Magic Cottage and entered carrying Io .

Olivia and Tanya followed .

Olivia looked composed and Tanya looked at Io with a worried expression .

「Is your side alright now, Olivia?」

「I am different from Human, I’m fine now」

「Kakeru-san! Is Io-san alright?」

「If it is Human, then she is fine . Although that magic intensely consume her magic powers, that’s all」

「You know it? Olivia」

Olivia slightly nodded .

「She used her massive magic powers as a power that would move her body . For that, even more magic powers are used and her stamina is consumed . It is a technique that consumes magic powers at least three times the amount when the magic is shot normally . That is why, human is currentlyーー」

Olivia raised the corner of her lips interestingly and continued .

「ーーfeeling tired to death」

「That……was the case, thank goodness……」

I entered a room carrying Io and gently put her down to the bed .

「It consumes three times than releasing magic normally, and she did that twice, huh」

I stroked Io’s cheek as her face sweat .

「Really……how reckless」

「Ororo〜…… Human, I want to talk about something with you . Let’s go outside」

「Eh? What are we going to talk about, Olivia-samaーーhyaa!」

「Hikari, come as well」

「O-chan wait for me〜」

Olivia forcefully dragged away Tanya who was confused .

And Hikari who was called turned to her human form and chased after Olivia .

「What’s up with them?」

『Hm? I wonder〜』

I felt that Eleanor was grinning, but her tone quickly turned serious .

『Earlier, you couldn’t cut “me”』

「Yeah, I couldn’t cut “you” using Hikari」

『I do not plan on blaming you, but I do not plan on saying thanks as well』

「I see」

『I only want to say one thing……the next time, use me . There is no problem if its me』

「Are you alright with that?」

『Wielded by you, I shall cut my past self . Is it not interesting?』

「You really sound you’re looking forward to it that it’s a bit scary」

『Kukuku』

I heard Eleanor’s amused laughter inside my head .

This girl, she’s probably, really enjoying it 90% .

「U……n」

Io who I put on the bed groaned in pain .

I sat down beside her and looked at her face .

She seems to be extremely exhausted by the technique she used . She looks so worn out although the fight was very short .

I looked at her for quite a while and she slowly opened her eyes .

「Io」

I called out her name . She did not react .

Her eyes were empty, wandering the void .

「Io」

「……Kakeru-san?」

I called her once again and this time, she replied .

Her eyes regained clarity and caught my appearance .

「Iーー」

「You don’t need to wake up, just lie there」

「Uhm……the enemy?」

「She ran away . It’s all thanks to you」

「Thank goodness……I was of use」

『It’s not at a mere level of being “a use”』

「Eleanor’s unusually praising you」

「Thank you……」

While saying that, Io stared at me .

Her eyes seem to say something, they look like a lonely puppy’s eyes .

I did not say anything and kissed her .

「That attack was impressive . You caught Eleanor by surprise and it was beautiful . Let me see it again after you recover」

「Eh……? I can……use it?」

「Un? According to Olivia, it doesn’t seem to have any after-effects . Isn’t that the case?」

「U〜un, I didn’t mean that! Uhm……can I really?」

「Why?」

「I thought……you’ll tell me to stop」

Io became short on her words and looked away .

She looked like a child whose prank was found out .

「Why?」

「Why you say……?」

「You’ll recover after resting right? Since it uses a lot of stamina and magic powers」

「Un, that is true」

「If so, then what’s the problem? Rather, why do I need to stop you becoming a better woman?」

「Eh? B-Better woman?」

「Yeah . Didn’t I tell you? It was strong and beautiful . A magician, although it’s only for an instant, was able to surpass Eleanor’s physical ability . And to be able to do that, you areーー」

I gave her another kiss and said while staring at her at a distance where our lips almost touched .

「A good woman」

「I……can I fight together with Kakeru-san?」

「We did that up until now right?」

「Can I work harder, and become stronger so I can be of help?」

「You have done that up until now right?」

「I, won’t I be a baggage?」

「I’ve never thought of you like that」

「Although the result is better if Kakeru-san fights by himself?」

「This time, it was better since Io was around right?」

Io was surprised by my reply .

Her eyes widened and opened her mouth but could not utter the words .

After that, Io made many expressions for a while .

Surprise, confusion, teary smile .

Many expressions appeared and disappeared from her face .

I don’t know what she is thinking, I don’t know, but .

「I, I will work more and more harder」

「Alright, do your best」

「Is it okay? I might surpass Kakeru-san someday you know? Just like how I surpassed Eleanor today although it’s just for an instant」

「Yeah, do your best」

Or rather .

「Why do I need to stop you from becoming a better woman?」

I really feel strange why she asks that .

Io seems strange for asking that many many times to be sure .

About doing her best and levelling up, about fighting together with me .

About maybe surpassing me and Eleanor .

What’s the problem in that?

『If it was anything, it would be your denseness that is the problem』

Eleanor said something weird .

It’s true that I can’t understand Io’s point, but that, is that called dense?

It’s not, rightーーbut when I was thinking of that .

「Kakeru-san」

「Un?」

「I, I’ll do my best」

Io declared shortly but clearly .

And Io who stared at me like that with an innocent smile was so lovely, so lovely that all of my questions instantly disappeared .

Once again, I gave her a kiss .