Elqueeness [EN]: Chapter 51

The 51st Story

『That won’t work.』

“…….”

『Spirits maintain their natural form until they die. Your hair is part of your body, so it can’t be cut, and even if it were, it would quickly return to its original state. Besides, it will recognize it as an injury, so it’s best not to try it. If you get hurt, your contractor gets hurt too.』

“…….”

*What, so I have to live with this long, flowing hair until I die?*

“……El?”

My companions gave me strange looks at my bewildered expression. It was only natural, as they had seen me about to cut my hair off and then suddenly freeze. I sighed and placed the dagger on the table.

“Aren’t you going to cut your hair?”

“……Hoo, I’ll stop.”

“Oh, really? Hoho, good thinking. You thought it was a waste too, didn’t you? Well, no matter how you look at it, it’s such beautiful hair. And the color is so pretty! You have to take care of it and preserve it forever.”

Irill, unaware of my miserable feelings, seemed very happy.

Just then, the bell rang and the inn door opened. I widened my eyes at the sight of the person who entered. It was a beautiful girl, like a fairy.

A small, slender face, a delicate figure, and bright yellow hair like melted butter swayed softly below her waist. Her large, cat-like eyes were a beautiful green, like the first shoots of spring.

Then, my companions jumped up from their seats when they saw her.

“Sheri!”

Huh! That girl is Sheri?

As I froze silently at the unexpected situation, Hussen strode forward and asked with a fierce look.

“Do you know what time it is? Where have you been until now?”

Even though he already had a cold impression, he looked even more stern when he asked seriously. But the girl called Sheri didn’t seem intimidated; instead, she asked indifferently.

“Do I have to report everywhere I go?”

“What?”

“The departure isn’t until the day after tomorrow anyway. Until then, it’s free time, isn’t it? It’s none of your business where I am or what I do.”

“……Still, you’re a mercenary belonging to the Dan [mercenary group]. Isn’t it basic to not worry your companions?”

“Were you worried? I didn’t realize Hussen thought of me that way.”

*Could it be that they don’t have a good relationship?* Every word she said felt like it had thorns. Hussen opened his mouth, trying to hold back his anger.

“You…….”

“I’m sorry I came back late. Kleck wouldn’t let me go easily. He was all worked up because I said we wouldn’t be able to meet for a while. Believe it or not, it was hard to leave him behind.”

Mighty reacted to those words. He jumped out in front of Sheri and grabbed her shoulders.

“K, Kleck? Sheri! Are you saying the guy you’re meeting is Kleck?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Why? Do you know how dirty his reputation is? He’s slept with so many women that he’s even nicknamed ‘Stud’! Why him of all people……!”

“What does it matter?”

“Sheri?”

“Whether he’s a stud or not, it doesn’t matter as long as I enjoy it. It’s much better than someone who clings to me messily.”

Mighty wasn’t the only one surprised by those words. Everyone stared at Sheri with blank expressions (except for Trowel, who remained indifferent), and soon began to mutter incredulously.

“Good heavens. Is that really Sheri saying that? Wasn’t Sheri the epitome of chastity and devotion?”

“Who knows? Some damn human kept looking after her, and now she’s gone crazy. Are you listening, Captain? I don’t know anymore. Just let them do whatever they want.”

“……!”

Only after hearing Irill’s words did I finally grasp the situation. *Could it be that the girl named Sheri likes Hussen……?* As expected, even while spouting blunt words, Sheri’s gaze was fixed on Hussen. She looked displeased, but at the same time, it seemed like she was anticipating his reaction.

But after a heavy silence, the words he uttered were completely different.

“The group going to Clamore has increased. Say hello.”

“…….”

At those words, the companions held their heads and shook them. The girl’s intensely passionate eyes cooled in an instant. The light that rose in her bitterly sunken face was clearly the light of resignation.

Sheri sighed softly and finally looked up at us. But as soon as she found me, her expression changed strangely sharply.

“……Again?”

“Huh?”

“I bet Hussen brought you. You’re still weak to kids. It’s cowardly. You don’t allow that weakness when it really matters.”

“What is?”

I didn’t understand what she meant, or why I had to receive such a contemptuous look from someone I had just met today. Sheri strode up to me and brought her face close.

“I’ll give you some advice. Don’t get the wrong idea about that man’s actions.”

“……What?”

“Hussen isn’t interested in kids, no matter how pretty they are.”

“…….”

A cold wind swept down my back for a moment. I clearly heard it with both ears, but I didn’t quite understand what it meant.

*So wait a minute.* It seems certain that this girl likes Hussen. But out of the blue, she glares at me and tells me not to get the wrong idea, and now she says Hussen doesn’t like kids?

*‘Could it be…….’*

I felt my mind gradually freezing over. It was something I didn’t want to admit or even think about, but the only conclusion that could be drawn from this situation was that this girl had judged me as her rival?

……Is that it?

Sheri watched my frozen reaction with amusement and asked.

“Why don’t you say anything? Does the fact that you’re not answering mean you feel guilty?”

“Puhaha!”

Then, a loud burst of laughter erupted from behind, as if someone had been holding their breath. At the same time, my companions began to laugh like crazy.

“Puhahahaha! Oh, my stomach! Someone save me!”

“Keuheup! Good heavens, Sheri. You could just join a theater troupe. Hussen is interested in someone? Puhheuheup!”

“Kehahahaha! No, it’s not that I don’t understand…… Keukkkeukkkeuk! H, how could you connect that to Hussen…… Keuhahak…… Ugh, I’m going to die laughing. Hekhek!”

“W, what? What’s wrong with you all?”

“…….”

The only people who weren’t laughing in this situation were Sheri and me. Even Hussen, the cause of all this, was turned around and trembling. It seemed that Sheri had realized that the situation was turning strange. I sighed, then grabbed her hand and pulled it to my chest.

“W, what are you doing? Kya, kyaak!”

Sheri, who had been making a bewildered expression at my sudden action, screamed as soon as her hand touched my chest and took a step back. Her incredulous gaze shifted back and forth between me and her hand.

“M, male?”

“Do you understand what you misunderstood now?”

Seeing her pale face made me feel a little better. In contrast, the other companions (especially Mighty and Herol) seemed disappointed for some reason. I knew what they were thinking, so I gritted my teeth inwardly. Then Trowel swallowed a light laugh and opened his mouth.

“Moreover, El is my friend from my hometown, Sheri. Please don’t make things difficult for him anymore.”

“M, Matthew’s?”

“Hussen brought him, but I was the one who suggested he come along. El is kind, but if it were someone else, they would have been angry.”

“I, I’m sorry. I didn’t know…….”

Contrary to expectations, Sheri apologized readily. I thought she had a rather haughty personality since she started off with a quarrel, but seeing her immediately admit her mistake, it seems she’s not a bad person at heart.

“You make such mistakes because your head is full of useless thoughts.”

Hussen rebuked her with a cold tone as she fidgeted.

Sheri bit her lip for a moment, then smiled nonchalantly and raised her head.

“Anyway, I’m really sorry. You’re joining us on this journey? What’s your name? How old are you?”

“Ah, I’m seventeen. My name is El.”

“Really? We’re the same age. I’m Sheri. Let’s get along. Forget about what happened earlier.”

“No, it’s okay. I’ve already forgotten, so you don’t have to worry about it.”

“Thank you.”

She was smiling, but her expression wasn’t very bright. After a brief handshake with me, she swept back her disheveled hair and turned around.

“Then I’ll go up to my room now. I’m tired and need to rest.”

“Huh? Sheri, what about dinner?”

“I’m not hungry.”

With a simple reply, Sheri quickly climbed the stairs to the second floor. Soon, her figure disappeared from view, and the companions all glared at Hussen with reproachful eyes.

“Captain, did you have to say it like that? She’s already having a hard time.”

“I didn’t say anything wrong.”

“It’s not wrong, but it wasn’t something the Captain had to say. The Captain knows best why Sheri is like that.”

“So I have to unconditionally indulge her?”

“It’s not that…….”

“Her way of expressing herself is wrong from the start. Leaving without permission and frequent outings are one thing, but she’s even neglecting the most basic physical conditioning as a mercenary. I told her not to skip meals no matter what.”

“…….”

The companions exchanged glances with frustrated expressions.

Then Irill put some food on a plate and handed it to Hussen. As if sensing the meaning of her actions, Hussen frowned, but she stubbornly pushed it at him, forcing him to accept it.

“Take it and follow her.”

“Irill…….”

“You say that, but you’re worried about Sheri starving in the end. Besides, who else will take care of this if the Captain doesn’t? Stop talking and go up quickly.”

Hussen sighed and eventually picked up the plate as if he couldn’t help it and climbed the stairs. His listless back looked like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse. The companions who watched him clicked their tongues.

“Those two are the same. They can’t be honest.”

“More than that, Sheri. Isn’t her condition a bit serious? Look at how she warns people not to covet Hussen as if it’s only natural. It’s not like he’s the only male companion here. Does she think every woman in the world likes Hussen?”

At Herol’s words, Irill immediately gave him a look of disdain. Herol made an embarrassed expression, even though he was displeased by her actions of scanning him up and down.

“What, why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, it seems like having too much confidence is also a disease. It’s not that every woman in the world likes Hussen, but at least one thing is certain. Any woman with decent eyesight wouldn’t like you or Mighty.”

“W, what?”

“Hey, Irill! Why are you dragging me into this too?”

The surroundings started to become noisy again because of the two men who were furious. Irill made a mocking expression at Mighty, who was huffing and puffing.

“So, are you saying you’re handsome?”

“N, no one said that! But I’ve never been told I’m ugly anywhere I’ve gone. And what’s the point of a man having an outstanding face? Don’t you know that tough guys are charming these days? I’d rather be me than be mistaken for a woman because I’m too pretty……! Heumheum, El, I didn’t mean that to you. Really.”

“…….”

Instead of answering, I silently pulled up my hood.

*I am the most unhappy Spirit King in the world right now.*