"Sigh..." I let out a weak breath.
We've left the Elf village and are now heading to the nearest town. But, during the trip, I had absolutely no motivation inside of me.
Probably realizing that, Alicia snorted in annoyance every time she saw me sighing with a gloomy expression.
"You really suck, how long are you going to continue like that. How many times do you think I have counted you sighing all the time. Can you still not get your mind off Elvy?" asked Alicia from behind me, who had correctly guessed my problem.
Why is she only sensitive at odd times?
"It's none of your business, right?" I replied indifferent.
"Geez, you're a troublesome child," she said with a short sigh.
My eyebrows twitched. "I don't want to hear that from you!" I said.
We had walked quite a distance and she had used [Buff Potion] along with her support magic, but why didn't this one goddess want to get off my back?
Can't she walk on his own feet?
"Sigh…" I sighed again.
"See, you did it again. Can you stop being like that?"
"This time I did it because of your fault!"
As I responded to Alicia's protests in annoyance, I thought back to how I felt. Ever since I left the village, it feels like something is wrong inside of me, it's like you want to play a game but you forget where you put the game console, while the game is ready to be played.
Ugh, this really sucks.
What's wrong with me lately, why am I so restless?
Am I that sad just because Elvy left me?
Since when did I have these feelings for her?
Damn, I can't continue like this, as soon as possible I have to fix myself and forget about it.
But, I can't do that— Not after I recalled the incident when Elvy confessed her feelings to me. Every time I try to forget, the scene where Elvy confessed her love before she was killed by Rodan replays in my mind.
That really troubled me.
"My my, is it possible that you think of Elvy like your own little sister, you siscon."
"…."
While I was tormented by my own thoughts, the goddess suddenly said something unnecessary, so I dropped her.
*************
Then, the journey continued, finally we were able to get out of the scorched forest and now we are in a forest area whose nature is still preserved.
"Okay, I guess it's fine here. Now you can come out, Estella," I called, glancing at my own shadow.
At that instant, my body's shadow suddenly wriggled in a horrible manner and formed the black silhouette of a little girl. As soon as the black color from the shadows melted, a little red-haired girl in a black lace dress stood before me, she was none other than the Demon King's Army Leader, Estella the Crimson Vampire.
"Fuaah~ this is much better. I really don't like being in your shadow, the outside world feels much better and refreshing," said the girl while spreading her hands in satisfaction.
"Don't tell me as if my shadow isn't fresh. Aren't you a Vampire, are you fine being exposed to the sun like that?"
"You idiot, don't confuse me with a low class Vampire like them. I am the Queen of Vampires, I no longer have the curse of the sun," said Estella with a proud face.
"Oh my, Riku, I really can't believe you would bring this walking corpse with you too. Can't you just kill her," said Alicia, who walked from behind Estella, while glaring at the girl.
Estella flinched, she winced. "Geh! Weren't you a crazy woman back then?!"
"Hey, Riku, is it okay for me to kill this undead? It seems she really wants to be purified," said Alicia who was ready with her holy fist.
Feeling the overwhelming holy aura, Estella shivered and she immediately hid behind me while trembling.
I can't believe that this girl used to be the Leader of the Demon King's army.
"W-Well, calm down, Alicia. She's a valuable source of information, so if I could I wouldn't want to kill her. After all, didn't you seal hers power? Even I have done a master and servant contract with her, so in case she tries to betray, we can deal with it immediately," I said while trying to calm down Alicia who kept staring at Estella with tremendous killing intent.
Hearing that, Alicia crossed her arms and snorted. "Well, fine, if that's what you want." She looks very dissatisfied, but I'm grateful that she's willing to accept it. "You owe me your life, undead girl," continued Alicia.
Estella stuck out her tongue mockingly, causing them to fight again.
Geez, they are really troublesome.
"Sigh…" I let out a tired sigh.
Anyway, like I said, I did a master and servant contract with Estella. Of course, I'm the master.
The reason why I'm doing this is just to be on guard and restrain Estella's movements. Since even though her powers have been sealed, she's still the former Demon King Army Leader, I can't let her guard down.
That's what this contract was made for, so she can't betray us. If she tried to commit treason, this contract would activate and break hers heart instantly.
"I was really surprised when you first made this suggestion. I thought back then you had been brainwashed by this undead, so I cast the [Break Spell] many times," said Alicia as she sat on Estella's body and locked her movements, which was the result of their bickering.
"Didn't I tell you, it's just in case."
"But you are too much, damn brat! I really got goosebumps when you suddenly made this suggestion, I had doubts about your essence as a human," said a grumpy Estella. There she was still desperately trying to escape Alicia's submission.
I crouched down in front of her and stared at her. Seeing that, feeling a bad feeling, Estella's shoulders trembled. "Oh my, didn't I tell you to call me 'Master', do you want to be punished again?" I said with a gentle smile.
At that moment, Estella started to hurt.
"Khh! Damn, my chest hurts so much! What a shitty contract!" she groaned.
As a result of disobeying her master's orders, Estella would feel an unbearable feeling of pain where her heart was being squeezed, if she continued to resist, then the pain would only get stronger. This is what a master and servant contract means.
"If you don't want to be punished beyond this, you should apologize and properly address me as 'Master'," I begged.
Estella looked very reluctant, she frowned, but she did it anyway, because if she continued to resist, it would only torment her more, her face red. "P-Please, f-forgive me, Ma… Master," she said, looking disgusted while looking at me with a terrible killing intent.
My my, she really can't be expected, can't she apologize properly? But, well, I guess I'll just forgive her this time.
I hope she can do even better in the future.
"Hey, Riku, you didnt enter into this contract just to be called 'Master', right?"
"O-Of course not, wh-what are you saying all of a sudden?!"
Hearing Alicia's words, I flinched, as a result my voice became squeaky.
"Hmm…" She started looking at me suspiciously.
At that moment, cold sweat started dripping from my face and I immediately turned away to avoid hers gaze.
Damn, did she regain hers mind reading abilities?!
I guess I'd better be more careful in making use of this contract.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your chat, but may I borrow your time for a moment?" Someone is calling.
"—?!" At that moment, my eyes widened in surprise and I quickly turned my gaze towards the unfamiliar voice that suddenly approached us.
I narrowed my eyes sharply. A gripping feeling of tension immediately pumped my instincts to be wary of that person.
"Who are you?" I asked, dumbfounded when I saw who had come.