After chasing away Eleanor, I took out my Magic Cottage and entered carrying Io .

    Olivia and Tanya followed .

    Olivia looked composed and Tanya looked at Io with a worried expression .

    「Is your side alright now, Olivia?」

    「I am different from Human, I’m fine now」

    「Kakeru-san! Is Io-san alright?」

    「If it is Human, then she is fine . Although that magic intensely consume her magic powers, that’s all」

    「You know it? Olivia」

    Olivia slightly nodded .

    「She used her massive magic powers as a power that would move her body . For that, even more magic powers are used and her stamina is consumed . It is a technique that consumes magic powers at least three times the amount when the magic is shot normally . That is why, human is currentlyーー」

    Olivia raised the corner of her lips interestingly and continued .

    「ーーfeeling tired to death」

    「That……was the case, thank goodness……」

    I entered a room carrying Io and gently put her down to the bed .

    「It consumes three times than releasing magic normally, and she did that twice, huh」

    I stroked Io’s cheek as her face sweat .

    「Really……how reckless」

    「Ororo?…… Human, I want to talk about something with you . Let’s go outside」

    「Eh? What are we going to talk about, Olivia-samaーーhyaa!」

    「Hikari, come as well」

    「O-chan wait for me?」

    Olivia forcefully dragged away Tanya who was confused .

    And Hikari who was called turned to her human form and chased after Olivia .

    「What’s up with them?」

    『Hm? I wonder?』

    I felt that Eleanor was grinning, but her tone quickly turned serious .

    『Earlier, you couldn’t cut “me”』

    「Yeah, I couldn’t cut “you” using Hikari」

    『I do not plan on blaming you, but I do not plan on saying thanks as well』

    「I see」

    『I only want to say one thing……the next time, use me . There is no problem if its me』

    「Are you alright with that?」

    『Wielded by you, I shall cut my past self . Is it not interesting?』

    「You really sound you’re looking forward to it that it’s a bit scary」

    『Kukuku』

    I heard Eleanor’s amused laughter inside my head .

    This girl, she’s probably, really enjoying it 90% .

    「U……n」

    Io who I put on the bed groaned in pain .

    I sat down beside her and looked at her face .

    She seems to be extremely exhausted by the technique she used . She looks so worn out although the fight was very short .

    I looked at her for quite a while and she slowly opened her eyes .

    「Io」

    I called out her name . She did not react .

    Her eyes were empty, wandering the void .

    「Io」

    「……Kakeru-san?」

    I called her once again and this time, she replied .

    Her eyes regained clarity and caught my appearance .

    「Iーー」

    「You don’t need to wake up, just lie there」

    「Uhm……the enemy?」

    「She ran away . It’s all thanks to you」

    「Thank goodness……I was of use」

    『It’s not at a mere level of being “a use”』

    「Eleanor’s unusually praising you」

    「Thank you……」

    While saying that, Io stared at me .

    Her eyes seem to say something, they look like a lonely puppy’s eyes .

    I did not say anything and kissed her .

    「That attack was impressive . You caught Eleanor by surprise and it was beautiful . Let me see it again after you recover」

    「Eh……? I can……use it?」

    「Un? According to Olivia, it doesn’t seem to have any after-effects . Isn’t that the case?」

    「U?un, I didn’t mean that! Uhm……can I really?」

    「Why?」

    「I thought……you’ll tell me to stop」

    Io became short on her words and looked away .

    She looked like a child whose prank was found out .

    「Why?」

    「Why you say……?」

    「You’ll recover after resting right? Since it uses a lot of stamina and magic powers」

    「Un, that is true」

    「If so, then what’s the problem? Rather, why do I need to stop you becoming a better woman?」

    「Eh? B-Better woman?」

    「Yeah . Didn’t I tell you? It was strong and beautiful . A magician, although it’s only for an instant, was able to surpass Eleanor’s physical ability . And to be able to do that, you areーー」

    I gave her another kiss and said while staring at her at a distance where our lips almost touched .

    「A good woman」

    「I……can I fight together with Kakeru-san?」

    「We did that up until now right?」

    「Can I work harder, and become stronger so I can be of help?」

    「You have done that up until now right?」

    「I, won’t I be a baggage?」

    「I’ve never thought of you like that」

    「Although the result is better if Kakeru-san fights by himself?」

    「This time, it was better since Io was around right?」

    Io was surprised by my reply .

    Her eyes widened and opened her mouth but could not utter the words .

    After that, Io made many expressions for a while .

    Surprise, confusion, teary smile .

    Many expressions appeared and disappeared from her face .

    I don’t know what she is thinking, I don’t know, but .

    「I, I will work more and more harder」

    「Alright, do your best」

    「Is it okay? I might surpass Kakeru-san someday you know? Just like how I surpassed Eleanor today although it’s just for an instant」

    「Yeah, do your best」

    Or rather .

    「Why do I need to stop you from becoming a better woman?」

    I really feel strange why she asks that .

    Io seems strange for asking that many many times to be sure .

    About doing her best and levelling up, about fighting together with me .

    About maybe surpassing me and Eleanor .

    What’s the problem in that?

    『If it was anything, it would be your denseness that is the problem』

    Eleanor said something weird .

    It’s true that I can’t understand Io’s point, but that, is that called dense?

    It’s not, rightーーbut when I was thinking of that .

    「Kakeru-san」

    「Un?」

    「I, I’ll do my best」

    Io declared shortly but clearly .

    And Io who stared at me like that with an innocent smile was so lovely, so lovely that all of my questions instantly disappeared .

    Once again, I gave her a kiss .