3. ≪First companion≫

When we came to eat lunch, Fels sat down on the floor.

“I can’t sit at the same table as my master and get food from him.”

“No … I’ll be in trouble if you don’t sit down.”

Or rather, can I let a girl who’s one size smaller than me sit on the floor?

The eyes of the other customers are also scary.

The reason Fels escaped from the slave merchant is that the owner, she was being sold to, seems to have a reputation for killing slaves, she escaped because she didn’t want to die.

She said she knew nothing else except that she was an elf slave.

I felt sorry hearing that.

Fels is imbued with the spirit of slavery.

She’s the same as I was at that party. Once it gets soaked in, it won’t come off even after washing.

“but……”

“For the time being, I’m your current master so listen to me.”

“Yes, I understand …”

I Instruct her a bit forcibly. She sat down uncomfortably, squirming because she wasn’t used to it.

When the item I ordered arrived, she stares at it and asks me.

“What is this? Is it food?”

“It’s a hamburger, you don’t like it?”

“No, no … for me?”

“… Do you not want it?”

“I’ll eat!”

I’ve heard that a slave’s treatment is pretty terrible. Her body, which was full of scars on her thin limbs, speaks for itself. All the wounds were healed.

“Delicious … Gusun” {TN: A crying sound}

From now on, if she gives any opinion, let’s listen without denying it.

Then, her consciousness of being a slave will gradually diminish.

I was thinking of getting a request in the Adventurer’s Guild, but it would be a bit dangerous to take Fels.

Because I left the S rank party, my current rank is D rank. Fels is too young to accompany me on a quest. But it’s not like I won’t do anything.

“Um, what will happen to me …”

“Tell me honestly. Can Fels use swords and magic?”

“I’ve never done either …”

According to the appraisal, her aptitude for swordsmanship is SS. Considering the future, it will be a monster-class strength. It’s a case where there’s possibility of creating a legend that no one has ever heard of in the future.

I should talk to her with the hope of gaining her trust.

“Actually, I have an appraisal skill, so I knew that Fels was cursed, but do you know anything?”

“A curse? I’m sorry … I don’t know much about it, myself.”

She doesn’t even know? I wracked my brain. Why is Fels under a curse?

     The more grievously a person is wounded, the deeper I need to go into the person’s psyche for my healing magic to work, so I sometimes see that person’s memory.

From the person’s point of view, it shouldn’t feel good to have their memories seen without permission. But it’s necessary to cure this.

“Fels, give me your hand.”

“Yes, Master.”

…… Hand.

I wonder, I see a tail.

Is it my imagination?

“It seems that Fels is cursed, and that’s why your magic power is suppressed.”

Let’s remove the curse first.

I use my appraisal skills to find out what the curse is.

You can also use it like that.

“Basically, there are two types of curses, natural and man-made. Dragons and cursed gems are natural, while dark magic is man-made.”

“Am I a natural case?”

“Well, apparently you’re artificial.”

Who, why, and for what. I can’t find the answer when I think about it. How do I know when the person herself doesn’t know?

Appraisal skills don’t tell you that much.

It’s a curse that contains magic power, but there’s no problem.

“Heal” {TN: On second thought, I’ve changed healing heal to just heal since it sounds redundant}

“Um … will the curse disappear?”

“Hmm? Oh, it’s over.”

It was a strong curse, but not strong enough to see her memories.

“Eh … eh?”

“Because a curse is dark magic. It’s countered by healing magic which is of the holy attribute.”

“You’re on a different dimension… just who are you master?”

“Just a solo adventurer who’s good at healing magic”

It wasn’t hard to heal Fels injuries to nothing.

I also healed her scars, but that’s really just a coincidence, so let’s not talk about it.

“It’s not a good place to try using magic.”

I also want to see the SS swordsmanship aptitude, but first I want to check how much A class magic aptitude is.

*

When we came to the forest a little away from the royal capital, I instructed Fels to cast magic on the trees.

“Actually, I’m not very familiar with magic.” (Nigris)

“You’re kidding! You can use that much magic and you’re not familiar with it.”

“It’s not a lie. I’m only good at healing. I only know that magic should be used with feelings. For now, imagine the magic.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Fels sticks out her hands forward and says “Hmm!” And the area lit up.

──── Bagoooon

The storm and the roaring sound deprived me of my five senses, and I should have told her to just hit the tree, but she made a hole like a crater.

“… Wow, I’ve never been able to do this before.”

It’s amazing power. I’m sure it’s because she had an image of magic as something flashy.

Explosion. It felt like a pure release of magic power.

The surprise doesn’t stop there.

“Master! Did you see it! I did it! I knocked down the tree!”

“You erased the entire terrain, not just the trees.”

“Is that bad?”

“It’s…wait, Fels … your body is growing !?”

Instead of being a 12 year old, she had transformed into a body that was almost the same age as mine. Her chest, which had been poor, was now fruitful.

Her blonde hair was growing and had a deeper and more beautiful glow.

“Hey, that’s true!”

Why are you so happy?

Her original clothes were torn from the inside, and Fels, who was almost naked, put on my jacket.

“I’ve heard about this! I’ve heard that elves with high magic power sometimes use their magic power to grow their bodies in order to protect themselves!” (Fels)

“Well, I see.”

Certainly, shooting such magic with a girl’s body would be a considerable burden. Is it a defensive instinct to prevent the body from not catching up and dying from magic overload?

That’s why it didn’t change when the curse was lifted. It was only when magic was activated that the door to her magic power opened. Elves have a convenient body.

I settled down on a nearby rocky area and checked Fels with appraisal.

Appraisal

[Race] Elves

Fels 12 years old ♀ Condition: Relief

Maximum magic power

Swordsmanship D / SS

Magic A / A

Dexterity D / A

Loyalty 40

Her aptitude hasn’t changed much, but there are other points to note.

It had changed from small magic power to maximum magic power. I’m seeing this for the first time … Is an ordinary elf like this?

I’ve heard that elves are good at magic. I’m sure they’ve got a lot of magic from the beginning.

It’s like being told that their magic can’t grow anymore.

I don’t know the standard of loyalty, but it’s rising.

For the time being, the weight has been lifted from my shoulders thanks to the growth of her body

“Fels. You have two options.”

“Options?”

“One, you can become an adventurer with me as it is. Two, you can stop being a slave, leave me, and live on your own.”

We had only met for a few hours, but I could tell that Fels was a pure and innocent girl. I’ll be honest with her.

“I didn’t help you in anticipation of your talent. Anyone would help if there was a dying child there.”

Healers are generally hypocrites.

They think that I want to help you, or I don’t want you to die, so they help you without permission. That complacency is causing my dilemma right now.

I listen to her intentions because I don’t want to be complacent.

Fels said, without showing any hesitation.

“Of course I’m going with you, master!”

“You’re right, feel free to ……huh?

“I’m alive because master saved me. I’ll spend the rest of my life repaying this debt!”

That … eh? It’s different from what I expected.

I didn’t expect it to go this smoothly.

Since Fels decided to follow me, I must take action too.

“Then Fels is no longer a slave. You’re my companion.”

“Huh … master!”

I welcomed a blonde elf as my first companion.

“Master is forbidden. Call me Nigris.”

“Yes! Nigris-sama!”

“… Oh well”

She’ll get used to it eventually

Next, let’s check her talent for the sword, which is the big favorite.

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