Chapter 5: Pulmy En Dynast ⑤
The strong-willed crimson almond eyes of Angelica had grown increasingly clouded by the time she graduated from the academy.
With a troubled expression, she continued to push herself to the limits with training and studying, neglecting her own well-being. Unable to watch any longer, Pulmy gently admonished her, “Don’t overdo it.” To which Angelica replied, “I’m fine…” With a sigh, Pulmy insisted, “You’re not fine. Come on, get some sleep,” dragging her to bed. This exchange had become a familiar routine.
Pulmy felt a sense of urgency about Angelica, as if the tightly wound thread of her heart might snap at any moment.
Thinking back, Pulmy too had spent each day in anguish, feeling as if her very soul was being torn apart by her concern for Angelica.
This was no exaggeration. It was difficult to perceive the cool exterior she presented, but Pulmy had poured unconditional love into Angelica, as if she were her own daughter, and at the same time, like a sister sharing the same blood.
Thus, Pulmy’s reliance on Yamada, the otherworlder, was akin to a prayer to the gods—a desperate measure to save Angelica.
The Elder Elves, whose existence was often recounted in fairy tales, were said to be one of the divine beings descended from the heavens, and this was indeed a truth.
It was believed that the Elder Elves, the progenitors of all elves, accessed the Akashic Records and succeeded in acquiring nearly all the magical formulas used in this world, spreading them far and wide.
Consequently, the notion of how accurately one could comprehend and wield the wisdom bestowed by the gods was a given among the people of this world, leaving no room for doubt.
Thus, the idea of creating entirely new magical formulas that did not exist by manipulating activation procedures, combinations of spells, activation speed, and the control of mana during casting was something that could never arise from the minds of the people in this world.
At the root of this concept was the rudimentary scientific knowledge brought forth by Yamada, along with his cherished knowledge of Earth’s fantasy, which acted as two wheels driving this innovation.
When his knowledge and ideas met Angelica’s mana manipulation skills, a kind of chemical reaction occurred, elevating the very concept of magic that existed in this world.
In any case, Pulmy’s intuition proved correct, and her efforts were met with tremendous success.
“I’m back!”
“Welcome home!”
“What, you were waiting for me again? I told you to eat without worrying about me.”
Pulmy was often described as having a sharp expression. Indeed, many regarded her as one of the most beautiful elves, to the point where merely touching her—or even just seeing her—felt like an audacious act to many. The image of Pulmy as ‘untouchable’ was a notion conjured by such people.
But what about the real her?
Her housemate chided her affectionately, “You keep saying that! If I don’t cook, you’ll just munch on some strange grass and call it a meal!”
Pulmy was quite down-to-earth, blushing as she scratched her cheek shyly. To be fair, she had never actually finished a meal by munching on mysterious grass.
As Pulmy sat at the dining table, she listened to Angelica talk about the new endeavors she had undertaken with Yamada. This had become their daily routine since Angelica and Yamada had been brought together.
“And then! And then!” Angelica exclaimed, her cheeks flushed and her voice lively, a stark contrast to her previously gloomy demeanor.
“Hey! Pulmy! Why are you laughing?!”
Me? Laughing?
“Why are you touching your face like that?”
At last, Angelica had been freed. Freed from the arduous path of suffering that seemed never-ending. Angelica—no, my daughter—was liberated from her bound fate and could finally walk her own path. The moment that thought crossed Pulmy’s mind, tears began to stream down her cheeks.
“Pulmy?! What?! Are you laughing while crying?!”
Of course, I can cry and laugh. Both emotions can coexist without contradiction. Now, seeing her daughter flustered with worry was amusing, and Pulmy buried her face in the cloth, shaking her shoulders to hide her smile.
A week had passed since Yamada and Angelica began to spend time together at Green Eyes.
During that time, Pulmy often found herself fretting, thinking, “Aren’t they getting a bit too close?” or “Is he really suitable for my daughter?” However, according to a certain source, Yamada was a genuine good young man, a prime catch with no complaints. The only drawback was the high possibility that he might return to his original world, which was a significant demerit for her daughter’s boyfriend.
Moreover, from Angelica’s daily accounts, it became clear that he had a solid academic background in his original world and was quite an exceptional individual—until Pulmy suddenly realized what she was thinking.
What is this? Am I becoming an overprotective mother?
Well, I suppose it’s not so bad.
With that thought, she chuckled softly to herself in the guild’s office.
Looking back, perhaps this was a time of happiness.
That day, it was decided that Angelica would head to the town where the Light Labyrinth was located, accompanied by the Hero Party.