Right now I'm all alone. A little while ago I brought Asura and her parasite to a city with a rented inn that would last them a month. During that time they should be able to make a living.
'It's pretty cold now isn't it.'
The weather right now is terrible.
Blankets of ice extended from the grass plains onto the outreaches of the forest where I arrived. It looks like winter is here.
I let out a cloudy breath.
Since it was cold, I was wearing a coat, a jacket, a scarf, earmuffs and mittens to nullify it. It may be overkill but I'm just glad that I got to use it. I bought these 3 days after I arrived in this world afterall which is several months ago. That's just how cautious I am, to the point I'm thinking I'm paranoid.
The unpaved road stretched so far that I don't even know if there's anything it leads to anymore. I'm just walking mindlessly, wanting to travel wherever I want.
Should I have just stayed with that Asura girl and helped her with saving her people? No, I shouldn't. That's her own business and that parasite is helping her. I don't want to get in the way of their adventure.
Plus, I have a feeling that those two are strong. I doubt anyone but them defeated those T-Rexes in that large forest.
"Kreeeeee!"
Sheesh, monsters again.
While I was peacefully walking the snowy roads on my own, the peace was disrupted by raptors.
Hm? These aren't velociraptors. They look like them but these things have tons of feathers on themselves and they're red. Slightly bigger too.
I don't know alot about dinosaur stuff so I can't tell what it is.
I want to analyze what these things are, but I'm going to run out of affection points if I don't use it wisely.
There were only five of these raptors and one of them tried to lunge at my back, attacking me at my blindspot.
It's cold so I have to finish this quickly. Quick movements are bound to make me feel colder and that's bad.
"Bane Of True Evil."
I summoned Bane Of True Evil and the moment it appeared in my hands, it was set alight. My body was immediately wrapped in warmth.
Unexpectedly, the raptors flinched upon seeing the fiery sword in my hand and ran away in different directions.
I have a feeling they were afraid of fire even though a blizzard was imminent.
Assuming that the sword became fire attributed because the raptors had the ice attribute, I thought this was good.
The moment they fleed, Bane Of True Evil no longer deemed the raptors as enemies and became attributeless again.
"That should be good..."
I dismissed my weapon.
I should have used this since earlier rather than suffer with the cold, but I was too lazy so I just dealt with it. But because those raptors gave me some motivational change of mood, I casted fire magic on my hand to serve as my portable heater.
While continuing my journey with a bobbing fireball in hand, I traversed the ever so chilly path. It's become really hard to see now that the snow was too much that it obscured my view. I don't think I'd even realize a truck was coming my way in this storm if I don't hear it.
It really is amazing. The grass plains became a snow plains overnight and I continued to walk for hours. The magical fire I held above my hand wasn't consuming much mana, it can't even eat a percentile of my already large mana pool since it's just a novice level spell.
There wasn't anyone on the unpaved road, I'm assuming nobody travels in this kind of weather. Surely anyone would fall sick in these kinds of circumstances unless a sufficiently high level mage accompanied them and used a shielding spell like this one.
Even I had to erect a barrier in order to withstand this blizzard. Again, it wasn't at all taxing. My mana pool grew to an extent that it long surpassed every other mage in all the cities I've stayed in. The only exception being Alric and his dad who had stupidly large mana pools, Alric however was in a totally different league.
I had so many thoughts processing in my mind since I had nothing to do and no problem to solve. Sure my crime is one thing but I don't think I can just barge in the royal chambers of every royal family in the Star Continent and beg for my innocence. I have to deal with being a fugitive for now.
For the time being, I kept my eyes peeled on the blurry road and happened to see a silhouette from a distance. I wasn't sure because of this annoying snow but I still watched just in case.
Fwooosh...
A hooded figure in an aquatic colored cloak came to view in a mysterious sense. This stranger also seemed to have erected a barrier so they must be a mage.
But that barrier doesn't seem like it'll hold out for long though, is this person running out of mana?
With sheer experience, I can feel the amount of mana in her core already reaching the double digits, if this keeps up, that person will end up crippled!
The uncanny figure looked at me, I couldn't see the face from this distance so I couldn't make out if it's a boy or a girl.
The sound of shards breaking reached my ears. That was the sound that a magic barrier makes when it's destroyed or a catalyst is removed.
Simultaneous to the destruction of their barrier, the figure fell on their knees and fell face-flat on the floor.
Seeing such a scene right before my eyes, I sprinted as fast as I can while generating as less snow behind me as much as possible and placed the stranger inside the territory of my barrier.
After getting close enough, I carefully flipped the person over before they suffocate from the snow.
Now that I was close I finally saw what they were.
It was a female elf.
And not just that, probably the prettiest girl I've ever seen in this world. It's like she has a make up with that amazingly fine skin and pink lips.
"W-Water... Please..."
She asked while gasping for breath and I quickly sorted out my storage ring to bring out my waterbag which I handed to her.
After seeing my waterbag, she had enough energy to use her hands and take it to drink from it directly.
I observed. Is she an elf or a fake? Leyla-san first used an elven guise the first time I've met her but this can't possibly be the same. The elves back in the libra guild were nice too but something about this elf just rings a different bell.
Her hair is surprisingly the same as Nina Bluewater's hair color which is a light-brown one. Her eyes however... Really was strange.
It was black. In this world, it was a very rare color for anyone to have. Those who had it were all descendants of past heroes.
As I stared fascinated by her eyes, I noticed she stared back and got flustered after realizing what I was doing. She swiftly looked away.
I bit my lips in excitement and my heart started to race.
Hold on, why am I getting turned on!?
"Fuah..."
The female elf finished drinking and gave me back the waterbag that she actually emptied out. I stored it in my storage ring as she rubbed her lips clean with her cloth.
"Sorry... I was thirsty..."
She apologized while trying to avoid eye contact with me. I felt like it was rude to stare at her face for too long so I looked away as well.
"Y-Yeah, it's okay. What happened to you earlier?"
"It's a long story. I came here to ask the nearby human city for reinforcements, but I was met with this wretched storm and my travel became tough, there were even occasions I got lost before I finally found the road that you humans use."
By how she used the words "humans" I can tell this girl is an actual elf. Her appearance perfectly described something I should worship since she's the prettiest elf I've seen.
Her eyes fixed on me.
"Are you... A sorcerer?"
"Um..."
I was speechless and didn't know what to reply. There was a magic circle projecting on her left eye meaning she was looking at the amount of mana I had.
Although I had alot of mana, they were all for the sake of maintaining the numerous magic swords I have in a battle of attrition. Other than that, I only know of low grade magic spells for novice mages.
But then, the elf went down on her knees and did a kowtow which took me by surprise.
"My village is being attacked by hordes of monsters, I don't know why they're attacking but from the intel we've gained, there's a figure behind it. The monsters are endless so we've come to request aid from the nearby human city. I know this may be presumptuous of us since we don't have much to offer for you humans but please, even if I have to sell myself as a slave. Even a sorceress such as you is enough, we need all the assistance we can get."
There was no need for me to make a decision. Since now I have a goal and the reward I want is simple.
"Alright. I'll help you. I might be more than enough to handle it."
The elf gulped, anticipating any word I had to say next.
"In one condition."
She looked curious and timorous as she asked the content. Her lips quivered in both the cold and nervousness.
"What is it?"
"If I succeed, you'll marry me."
"..."
The blizzard outside hit my unmovable barrier and a certain breeze came over us. As the conversation went quiet, the elf broke the silence like it was just a fragile thing to her.
"I'll marry you."
She answered with motivation as if she was just given a mission she could easily accept.
Although I only meant that as a joke, she just accepted it. It made me want to laugh.
But then again.
Affection Points!
I still don't get why we don't even know each other's names yet and she's already holding my hands though.
Using a mana thread she tied to her home, this elf led me to her home.
But still, something is missing here.
I don't even know her name!
"Hey, what's your name?"
I asked the elf who was seemingly dragging me around. She didn't bother looking back when she answered me.
"Estel Warden."
"Did you have Hero ancestors?"
She took some time to decide if she should tell me or not. It was clear as day with how she went quiet for a while.
"Mhm, I have. Although that ancestor is several generations ago. My dad told me our ancestor was from a place called Thailand."
"Wow, so you guys even know about the countries back on Earth."
"What?"
"Uh, I'm sorry I think my tongue slipped just now."
Crap, that was close. I almost spilled out that I'm from Earth. If someone found out that I was, I'd definitely be treated differently from now on.
A minute went by and none of the two of us spoke. I almost gave myself out earlier so I was feeling anxious.
"Hey. What do you mean about marriage?"
Estel asked and I happily thought about clearing our little misunderstanding.
"Y—"
"I understand. I'm ready to offer my body to you as long as you promise me a child."
I haven't even spoken yet though?!
"And also, would you want us to live in a forest?"
"I—"
"How many babies would you like?"
"..."
"When will we get married?"
"..."
"I understand. I'll inform my parents about this when you're done."
Tell them what? I haven't even spoken a word!
As I was busy trying my best to retort, I noticed that her face was in deep red. Fumes of smoke was rising from her face and making the temperature inside the barrier raise a little.
It's as if she's a maiden in love telling stories about her first crush to her best friend.
"So then, our children will most likely inherit your talent which is a good thing and they'll definitely be known in the wizarding world."
I heard from Rista-san that elves are attracted to individuals with large mana capacities rather than looks. So despite being so beautiful, some elves go for even some ugly bastards as long as they had enough mana to back it up.
So that means, in Estel's perspective, it's like she was lucky enough to be chosen by me who instantly became her crush the moment she saw my mana pool.
"By the way, what is your name?"
"...It's Seven Clavery."
Mom and Dad, please pray for me wherever you are.
Really... When can I find genuine love?