Chapter 18

“There's nothing here…”

Once she arrived, she went through some of the abandoned houses, looking for anything that could be used. I felt guilty about ransacking someone's home, even when it's not me doing it, but I didn't voice my thoughts. We do need something that could help us fight.

“Hmm?”

An object that appeared in the camera caught my attention. “What's that?”

Elerina began looking around, the camera following her head's direction. I went in front of her, then pointed toward where the object I'm interested in supposedly sat.

“This?”

A light green book appeared in Elerina's hand. She handed it to me. Inside was many paragraphs full of words I couldn't read. Some of these words had a ‘-’ seperating parts of them.

“Is this a magic book?”

“Most likely, yeah?”

“Could you read it?”

I opened a part for her. She began speaking its spells fluently. I couldn't tell if her pronunciation was right or not, but she spoke it in one smooth flow. She didn't stop, hopping between one spell and the next.

“What spell is all that for?”

“One increases your powers, the other lowers the target's capabilities. They're all nature-based magic.”

A majority of the battlefield used to be the elven kingdom’s territory, so most of the people living in it were elves. Since elves had a natural affinity for nature-based magic, thanks to their accent, nature-based magic is the one most commonly used.

“So a buff and debuff, huh… I wonder if it'll work on the dinosaur?”

“Buff? Debuff?”

“That's what we call strength-boosting and strength-reducing things.”

“Ah…”

“If we apply a debuff magic-”

“Won't work. Physical shields could only be affected by very specific spells.”

“Yeah…”

I guess we would need something akin to ground-based or metal-based magic. Since elves only specialize in nature-based magic, we would need someone else with those abilities. Ever since we left the frontline base, I had yet to see a person. We went pretty deep into enemy territory, so I guess there might be no one around here other than the scouts, and part of their job is not getting spotted.

“Maybe I can use magic?” I jokingly said. I was affected by that magic shrine earlier, so maybe magic power could be transferred between worlds. “Do you know other kinds of magic?”

Based on her reading earlier, nature-based magic had unique pronunciation that I couldn't replicate, but I'm not an elf. Maybe other races’ magic have something I could chant.

“Didn't you try fire-magic before?”

“Yeah…”

I did try a simple form of fire magic. It was one of the first spells Elerina introduced to me. I tried touching her shoulder and chanting, but nothing appeared.

“... Maybe I should head back and request backup.” Elerina put the book back where she found it and headed for the door.

“Wouldn't that take a while?”

“I have no other option.”

I had an inkling about this for a while, but I didn't ask about it. I mean, there's just no way, right?

“...”

“What is it?” Elerina urged me to speak.

“... No, it's nothing.”

She approached me, held my cheeks, and stared into my eyes. Elves really are upfront.

“... You can't use magic, can you?”

At first, I thought it was because she didn't need to. Every mission so far, she completed without breaking a sweat. A single strike of her sword was all she needed.

But she didn't use magic for basic tasks, either. While others use fire to warm their water, she drank cold water in the middle of a storm. While others communicated with magic, one of the guild receptionists complained about not being able to reach her, even thinking she was dead. When others healed their wounds with magic, she needed to go to a doctor.

I had never seen her use magic even once.

Elerina averted her eyes. “Yes.”

“I see… sorry.”

“It's alright… I shouldn't have kept it a secret.” She turned around and sat down, her back facing the now closed door. I sat in front of her. A small smile appeared on her lips.

“There's some rubble sticking out of your stomach.”

I patted my stomach. Since this rubble wasn't attached to Elerina, nothing appeared in my sights. And if she touched it now, it wouldn't be visible, nor would it affect me, as I exist in that space before.

“... Why didn't you tell me?” I asked as softly as I could. I understand such a thing must mean something. It's like not being able to count, or not being able to speak. Things that we consider as a part of our everyday life are things others struggle with, and we could never completely understand their struggles.

“... I… I…” Elerina looked for words, but she ended up silent. I leaned forward and hugged her tightly.

“I'll love you, even without magic.”

I felt her warmth spreading on my backs, followed by the wetness of tears on my shoulders. If someone saw this, they would think I'm crazy. I'm lucky I lived alone.

“I'm sorry…”

“It's alright… it's alright…” I patted the back of her head.

“You must be disappointed, right? You were really looking forward to it.”

Indeed, I did want to see the powerful magic spells of her world, but it didn't mean anything for me. If I could, then great. If I couldn't, then whatever.

“Can I tell you something as well, Elerina?”

She nodded on my shoulders.

“The truth is… I can't use magic.”

“... I already know that?”

“I couldn't use magic, but that didn't make you think less of me, right?”

Elerina gently shook her head.

“There are a lot of things that I don't understand. Before meeting you, I didn't understand love, either.”

My friends would joke about how I don't have a girlfriend. I would often joke back, saying how lonely it is and whatnot.

But all those are lies. I didn't actually feel any feelings like that. Every feeling I knew came from some other source. From anime. From second-hand accounts. From stories. Anything but my own feelings.

And that all changed when I saw Elerina. When I saw her for the first time, my heart thumped. It feels as if it was about to explode. I never experienced romantic love before, but I just know the feelings in my heart was it.

I just know this is someone I wanted to help, someone I wanted to support.

“Back when we first met, I didn't know anything about magic. Now, I may know a bit, but that didn't change anything. Because, first and foremost, I… love you, and you not being able to magic didn't change the fact that I love you.”

I averted my eyes. It was embarrassing to say out loud, but I feel like she needed to hear my feelings. It wasn't just me sweet talking. I know that much.

In the past, I may not understand love, but now, I do. I wouldn't want to be separated from her, for whatever reason.

“There's a saying here in my world. ‘Come hell or high water, I'll always be with you’. You not being able to use magic does not affect my feelings in the slightest. And, if it's any consolation, I can't use them either.”

“If you're from this world, you'll probably be able to.” Elerina let out a chuckle then wiped her tears off. “Thank you.”

She stood up and extended her hand. I took it and pulled myself up, despite not having any plans to move myself.

“I'm going to head back and find a party. Maybe… it's about time I start looking for allies.”

Just then, a loud explosion came from my phone’s speakers. I let out a sigh.

“I guess those monsters don't know when to read the room.”

“... Read the room?”

“It's when you disturb someone's romantic moments.”

Elerina's face reddened. “I… kind of wish you didn't explain that… anyway-”

Before I could say anything else, Elerina leaped out of the window.