Raising the Elf’s Genius Slayer

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Chapter

The street visible from the window glows a subtle red. Staring blankly at the flickering forge lights through the darkness of the night, Enok slowly lifted his gaze to the sky.

*Creak-!*

There, a fox was darting through the night sky with a sword in its mouth. Residents gasped in amazement at the purple trail it left behind.

“Hm.”

Is this okay?

This isn’t about Eri. Right now, Enok was staying in a room in the Lord’s Castle. Zikfrein had told him to use it, but whether it was truly acceptable without informing the Marquis was up in the air.

There shouldn’t be an issue, but isn’t it basic courtesy? Enok, after all, was a self-proclaimed polite young man.

‘Well… since my son said it’s fine, it should be okay.’

Getting a bit annoyed, Enok vacated his thoughts. Losing track of time while idly staring at the night sky, he noticed the moon leisurely hanging high above in the corner of his view.

The softly glowing street had no lights, and all that could be seen from the window was the vast night sky and the faint silhouettes of the city illuminated within.

Eri, who was joyfully running around with a sword, was now exhausted and resting. Suddenly, a faint sound resonated through the quiet castle.

*Clop- clop-*

The sound of shoes? That wasn’t a sound you’d expect in a castle at such a late hour.

Curiosity piqued, Enok quietly moved his feet.

*Creak-,* he stepped through a smoothly creaking door into the hallway. The dim hallway, devoid of light, had only the faint moonlight seeping through as a source of illumination.

*Thud-!*

“…What the—.”

Was that the sound of a window rattling in the wind? Rubbing his head nervously, Enok shut his eyes and strained his ears.

*Clop-*

That sound again. Now pinpointing its location, Enok quickened his pace.

Ahead lay a corner. Just around that corner, with his thoughts settled, as Enok turned—

“…Where are you going?”

Startled! Without a word, Enok just turned his eyes, furrowing his brows.

“Choco. Make some noise when you walk.”

“Hmm? You usually notice even when I sneak around, so why now?”

“I was distracted by something else.”

Is there something lurking about, ghost or whatever? Hearing the sounds but not feeling anything through his Ki Sense, he focused all his nerves.

“Don’t tell me….”

“I’m off to catch a ghost.”

“Eek…!”

Tsukiyo clung tightly to his leg.

“D-Don’t go! We can’t lose Dad again!”

Again?

It was a worrying statement, but right now, catching a ghost was the priority.

When he only heard about it, it didn’t seem so bad, but now that they were in this situation, it felt quite pressing.

“It’ll be fine. We can win.”

“Even if we can’t!”

“If we can’t win, we can just run away, can’t we?”

“Ugh, um….”

Lifting Tsukiyo by the scruff of her neck, Enok turned the corner right away. And what awaited them there was…

“Nothing.”

Well, isn’t it strange for something to be visible? But Enok had eyes that weren’t ordinary.

*Zzz-!*

His pupils spun and divided the world into lines and shapes.

Still no ghost visible, huh? I guess this won’t cut it. Let’s go a bit deeper.

*Vroom-!*

In Enok’s eyes, a faint purple light revealed an indistinct form in the air.

“…Is there actually something?”

Tilting his head, did the ghost sense his gaze? It tilted its head in return, making eye contact with Enok.

Quickly adapting, the ghost’s form became clearer. It didn’t take long for him to recognize that it took the shape of a woman.

“Oh…. Choco. There’s really something!”

“G-g-g-ghost can talk…?”

“Yep. It’s a woman ghost.”

“Eek…!”

Tsukiyo, caught by the scruff, squirmed. The female ghost, watching the spectacle, slowly approached Enok.

– ……?

What’s she trying to say? But what Enok possessed was the eye of the heart, not the ear of the heart.

“I can’t understand.”

– ……?

“Isn’t it that she can’t understand either? Can ghosts really hear human speech?”

“I-I don’t know! But maybe she can? The reason is that they exist in a higher realm, so they might be able to hear.”

“Oho.”

At that moment, realizing Enok couldn’t understand her, the ghost started to chatter her mouth energetically.

“I. Understand?”

– ……!

“N-no, it’s not ‘understand,’ it’s ‘moon.’”

The word he managed to grasp was “Idalian Le Demisto.”

“Ugh…!”

At that point, a strain hit his eyes, and he could no longer comprehend what followed.

“…This is fascinating.”

So, there really are ghosts?

Without the Ki Eye, even with focus, he couldn’t catch a single sign. Isn’t this like an assassin who has already reached the realm of a demigod?

“Idalian Le Demisto…. Dad, this is somehow….”

Tsukiyo was saying something, but Enok didn’t pay attention as he got lost in his thoughts.

“But… if that’s the case, then who is making the clop sound?”

“Hmm?”

“If speaking is that exhausting, wouldn’t they struggle to make the clop sounds too?”

“…….”

“Isn’t there another ghost?”

“Yikes…!”

Tsukiyo fainted.

Enok carefully wrapped the unconscious Tsukiyo in a blanket and placed her gently on the bed.

*

As the morning dawned, Enok sought out Zikfrein.

What the ghost likely wanted to say was ‘Idalian Le Demisto.’ With a brain, one could assume that it was someone related to the Demisto family.

“What’s up so early in the morning?”

Zikfrein, yawning widely, asked straightforwardly.

“Do you know who Idalian Le Demisto is?”

“…How do you know that name?”

“The ghost said so. It could have meant it was Idalian Le Demisto, or it could’ve just been a name.”

“…A ghost? The ghost said that? Wait, you mean you talked with a ghost?”

Zikfrein was bewildered. Jatum calmed him down.

“Yeah, just calm down. So then, the ghost Tsukiyo saw before was that ghost?”

“Maybe not? If I didn’t have the Ki Eye, I wouldn’t have been able to see it. It must have been a misunderstanding or another ghost.”

Well, that’s that.

“So who is Idalian? Is it someone you know?”

“I do. Very well.”

“Who is it?”

“Our mom.”

“……?”

Tilting his head in confusion, Enok saw Zikfrein smile bitterly.

“She’s also my dad’s wife. The Lady of the Demisto Marquis.”

“Aha.”

After pondering for a moment, Enok asked.

“Did Mom die?”

[…Dad!?]

Eri gasped. Tsukiyo, who had been anxious since last night, slowly opened her mouth.

“What.”

[That’s rude!]

“I’m okay since Dad passed away in a bundle too.”

[Are you really insane?]

Ignoring the astonished Eri, Zikfrein chuckled softly.

“She passed away some time ago. I was just a child back then.”

“Hmmm….”

“Follow me.”

Zikfrein led the way, and Enok followed behind him. Eri and Tsukiyo whispered behind him.

“He might be planning to challenge a duel or something.”

[I think it’d be legal too.]

“But Dad wouldn’t win. Honestly, even if the Marquis charged in, he would probably get beaten up.”

[How lamentable… it really is.]

Whether Eri lamented or not, Zikfrein entered the building and walked into a spacious hall through a corridor.

On one wall of that corridor hung portraits in a line, and at the end hung Zikfrein’s portrait as well.

“19th head, Zikfrein Le Demisto. But you’re not yet the head, right?”

“It’s just been put up early. Anyway, more important, look at this.”

Zikfrein pointed to the portrait of a woman. The beautiful woman with flowing blue hair like calm waves was Idalian Le Demisto.

“Ah….”

That face was definitely similar to the ghost Enok had seen last night.

“So that ghost from yesterday….”

“By the sound of your reaction, I guess it is. That’s our mom.”

“Wh-what does that mean?”

At that moment, a voice from behind made Zikfrein turn suddenly.

“…Dad.”

“You said not to call you Dad when guests are around. So, what were you just talking about?”

Feeling the presence even before, Enok slowly turned around to find a middle-aged man standing there, quite similar to Zikfrein.

He was the same face he had seen in the portrait hanging in the back. The 18th head, Nibeiron Le Demisto. So, the Marquis of Demisto.

“Hmmm….”

While Zikfrein explained the situation, Enok descended into contemplation.

This was a first in situations like this, so it was a bit daunting. What should one do in this case?

“Eri.”

[Yes?]

“Hm….”

Zikfrein could be considered a friend at this point. So should I show courtesy to a friend’s parents?

“But isn’t it a bit strange to be respectful to a toddler who hasn’t even lived for a millennium yet?”

[The most bizarre thing seems to be Dad’s sense of logic, to be honest.]

While Enok pondered, Zikfrein finalized the introductions.

“This is Enok Estor…. He’s the disciple of the Swordmaster.”

The Marquis extended a hand toward Enok.

“Nice to meet you. I am Nibeiron Le Demisto.”

Being the Swordmaster’s disciple, Enok’s status held firm against that of the Marquis. No, in truth, it was the Marquis who was at a disadvantage.

But then again, he’s still a child, and given that he’s a friend of my son, the Marquis settled on using polite language.

“Uh, nice to meet you?”

And Enok still hadn’t reached a conclusion.