Chapter 206
On the day his magic power returned, Franz decided to take Hera and Yuna home as promised.
The first place they arrived at was the wide front yard of the Es-teo-ban Ducal Residence.
The lawn lying on the ground was neatly trimmed, and fish were swimming in the large pond situated on one side.
It was thanks to Yuna’s family and the servants who had been managing it diligently all this time.
Even though the actual owner of the house had no idea what was going on with it.
“Behemoth-!”
As Yuna called its name, behemoth, who had been sleeping on one side of the yard, suddenly sprang up.
Where had the alias of a calamity born of the Demon God gone? Now, it looked no different from an ordinary pet.
Ppu-!
Spotting Yuna, behemoth let out a cry and ran over vigorously.
They had been apart for over three weeks, so it was understandable that one of them missed her.
It was the moment a touching reunion was about to take place between the two.
“Eit-.”
Yuna lightly kicked behemoth.
Ppuuuuu…!
The struck behemoth floated in the air for a moment, then rolled on the ground several times before coming to a stop.
“What on earth is this situation…”
Franz simply couldn’t believe what had just happened right before his eyes.
He had naturally thought Yuna would hug behemoth in a tearful reunion…
He never expected her to kick it instead of welcoming it.
The emotion that had been about to bloom in his heart seemed to come crashing down, crash-.
Did she notice Franz’s feelings?
“D-don’t misunderstand, okay? This is behemoth’s favorite game.”
Yuna urgently explained the reason for her actions.
“Its favorite game…?”
Getting beaten up…?
The impact wasn’t even weak. It was hit hard enough for its body to launch into the air.
He had definitely heard the explanation, but why did his mind become even more confused?
“Even though behemoth is small in size, it’s incredibly sturdy.”
“I see…”
“Ah, it’s coming again.”
Behemoth, having gotten up at some point, stomped its feet and charged straight at Yuna.
Yuna ran around here and there, dodging behemoth.
A calamity of the Mythical Era and a Hero were together, but was it okay for them to look this peaceful?
As he thought that, a laugh burst out of him, pfft-.
“Franz, it’s heading to you!”
Snapping back to reality at Yuna’s sudden voice, he saw behemoth charging in a straight line.
It seemed to have grown tired of Yuna, who was dodging so well.
‘Well then, let’s see…’
According to Yuna, wasn’t behemoth’s favorite game being kicked far away?
So he figured he might as well do it once.
Franz extended his foot, timing it with behemoth’s charge.
And then he realized. Yuna was the only one who could genuinely play with this guy.
Its body was like a solid rock.
It was at a level where an ordinary human could not kick it and be fine.
A tingling sensation, as if electricity had surged through his entire body, and an immense pain struck his foot.
“F-Franz?!”
Yuna ran over with a start.
Her expression was full of worry.
“…I’m fine.”
Franz reassured Yuna and drew up his divine power.
The pure white energy wavered, and the pounding sensation, as if a heart were attached there, slowly subsided, and the pain faded away.
Soon fully recovered, Franz let out a short sigh, phew-.
“I told you it was quite sturdy…”
Yuna put on a gloomy expression and bit her lower lip with her upper teeth.
It seemed he had caused her to worry.
“I didn’t know it would be this sturdy.”
To be honest, it wasn’t just at the level of being sturdy.
Wouldn’t it be better to say it was a rock with legs attached?
“How is your leg? Are you okay?”
“It’s fine now. It really doesn’t hurt at all.”
“I can’t believe you. Let me see.”
Yuna grabbed Franz’s foot and forcefully took off his shoe.
Half-lying down and leaving his foot to Yuna, Franz found this situation embarrassing.
“Tell me if it hurts.”
Yuna wrapped her two hands around his foot and massaged it here and there.
There was something undeniably strange about calling it a check for a painful spot, but he didn’t want to nitpick someone who was worrying about him.
So what could he do? Even if it was embarrassing and shameful, he just had to endure it a little.
“Does it hurt?”
“It’s fine.”
“What about here?”
“That’s fine too.”
As the questions went back and forth, it felt like Yuna’s hands were sticking more and more to his foot.
In addition, for some reason, it seemed Yuna had gotten a little closer. As if she was gradually approaching this way.
“Franz…”
Yuna muttered in a low voice and took her hands off his foot.
The face of Yuna he faced right after was quite flushed. Her breathing was also quite rough.
Gulp-.
Franz swallowed his saliva at the sight of her.
Wouldn’t animals facing a predator feel like this?
For some reason, he couldn’t move an inch.
It was then.
“Sister…?”
“Heugyak?!”
Startled by the sudden voice from behind, Yuna jumped away from Franz.
As Yuna, who had been blocking his view, disappeared, Franz naturally could see someone standing behind her.
That someone was, of course, Yuna’s younger sister, Yuri-ah.
She widened her eyes upon discovering Franz.
“M-Magic Tower master…?!”
“Ah, yes. It’s been a while.”
Franz greeted her calmly, but his mind was not calm.
It was because he was in a truly embarrassing state to face anyone.
Not only was one of his shoes off, but it was a situation where Yuna had almost climbed on top of him. It was so embarrassing that he couldn’t even bring himself to meet Yuri-ah’s eyes.
“W-would you like a cup of tea…?”
“Y-Yuri-ah, it’s fine. Franz is going to head back now. Right?”
Franz was the one offered tea, but the one who answered was none other than Yuna.
With her face burning red, Yuna spoke urgently and shifted her gaze to Franz.
Given the situation, Yuna must have been embarrassed too.
“Yeah, I should head back now.”
“T-then see you tomorrow…!”
Yuna smiled awkwardly and waved her hand.
“Then the tea will be for next time you visit… U-uh, Sister?”
“G-greetings are fine, so let’s go inside quickly…!”
Just as Yuri-ah was about to offer her greetings, Yuna forcefully pushed her back.
Thanks to that, Franz couldn’t exchange greetings with Yuri-ah, but…
‘It’s rather for the best…’
Franz, too, was hoping for the situation to be sorted out quickly.
It was hard for him to even lift his face.
* * *
Having safely…
Anyway, having dropped Yuna off, Franz returned to the Magic Tower Lord’s Office.
“Franz, your face is a bit red. Did something happen by any chance?”
Hera, who had been waiting her turn in the Magic Tower Lord’s Office, tilted her head upon seeing Franz’s appearance.
“…Nothing happened.”
Franz couldn’t bring himself to say what had happened with Yuna.
His face still felt like it was burning when he thought about that moment.
“If so, that’s a relief. Anyway, let’s head back slowly now.”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
Hera, who had been sitting on the sofa, stood up and stood next to Franz.
There was a small bag at her waist, containing gifts to give to the Elves and her personal belongings.
Snap-.
Franz immediately snapped his fingers.
The destination was, of course, deep inside the Great Forest, the elf settlement.
As the light flashed, he felt the air entering his lungs become fresh.
“It’s the grand chieftain and the chieftain!”
“You’ve returned!”
The Elves who spotted Franz and Hera welcomed them with loud voices.
He was incredibly grateful for their sentiments, but on the other hand, it was also troubling.
Because the Elves with good hearing must have definitely heard this sound just now.
Being surrounded by a crowd would probably happen in an instant.
“Franz, are you planning to go to Yusti-ah?”
“Well, for now.”
“Is that so…”
Hera trailed off and suddenly grabbed Franz’s hand. Then she slowly lifted it and brought it to her cheek.
“It wasn’t a long time, but it was truly enjoyable, so enjoyable I wished such times would continue every day.”
“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
“It’s a shame to part like this, but holding onto the Master wouldn’t be the duty of a slave, would it?”
Hera slowly moved her head and rubbed her cheek against his hand, as if puppies were acting cute, asking to be petted.
What should he say about Hera’s cheek? It was so soft that he wondered if she was really a fellow human.
“Then you should get going.”
“Yeah, I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning.”
“Alright, I’ll be waiting.”
Franz waved his hand at Hera and used Spatial Movement Magic.
His mind wasn’t entirely at ease with the fact that he was leaving while ignoring those who were welcoming him, but…
He could just come visit and talk with them soon.
They would definitely understand.
Afterward, Franz, who returned to the Magic Tower Lord’s Office, tried to go straight to Yusti-ah, but he was delayed because a problem arose that needed to be handled.
As time flowed on, it was already night with the sun completely set.
“Of all things, for a problem to occur in magic tool development…”
Because various equipment caused problems at the same time, it ended up taking quite a while.
Because of that, he worked while skipping dinner, bringing back fresh memories of the old days when working overtime was a daily routine.
“Anyway, I need to go see Yusti-ah…”
Wasn’t the night already deep? He couldn’t help but hesitate.
But he couldn’t just not tell her, since their departure is right tomorrow.
Well, in the end, there was only one option.
Snap-.
Franz snapped his fingers.
I was hoping that Yusti-ah would generously understand.