My Parasite Skill System - Chapter 143
I and Old.
“Sure, I’ll help.”
“You will?”
“Yeah, I will. But what, you don’t want me to help?”
“No, young lad, I only mean what I told you, this old flesh of mine can handle this task just finely. You would not happen to think I am not strong enough, would you now?”
“Nah, nah, it’s nothing like this. I do believe you’re strong enough. I just wanna handle it by myself.”
“Oh, hm.”
“And the elven princess is my home, after all, not yours, Old Sipping. So let me carry her. Hand her over to me.”
“If you insist, sure thing, young man.”
“Here. Give me, give me.”
Arching and stretching down my arms, I gestured with my hands so that he gives her to me, already. I secured you a place here, elven princess.
Plus, I mean, yeah, why wouldn’t he simply hand her over to me already. I want to carry her, too. That old man’s been carrying her ever since we left the woods, already.
“Here, then … be careful with her head.”
“Oh-tto. Got her.”
He slid her into my embrace and did take his arms away, already.
“Woah!… and she really is so burning, man…” and placing my forehead against hers, I measured her temperature up, “And so she got the same illness of that elf Calming, right? That must be it; he was boiling the same way he was back there … or he wasn’t maybe that burning; I don’t know anymore.”
“Most likely … but I don’t think that’s that–here, be careful with her head!… I may have come up with my own theory regarding the young lady’s illness, young man.”
“Mm-hm, okay?”
“How many times do I have to tell you!… careful with the lady’s head. You aren’t responsible enough, or are you?”
“Hold on a sec– I’m just arranging her hair … it’s all wet and sweaty … don’t wanna get her disturbed because of that.”
“–But, young man!… her head … right, position her like this and … with your shoulder, very well.”
“… and I’ll have you know I’m doing my best, you know.”
“I know, I know. I may be harsh, but it is for your own sake … although, enough of my lessons; we do not want to wake the girl up.”
“Exactly!–that’s what I keep telling you ever since we set off.”
“–Not so loud, then, young man.”
“Oh … right. See, your habit’s rubbed off on me.”
“Hm.”
“And about your theory or whatever explanation you got for this, thank you. I know you try your best, too.”
“Oh?”
“But don’t wanna hear it right now. Better get going already.”
“Very well said, my dear boy.”
I didn’t want to hear about that for now. But I understood the old man. I mean, squeezing her against me like this, she really is just as if boiling.
Will she be okay…?
Elven princess, you better not die, you hear me?
In a very low voice, Old continued:
“Do not overthink it, young man. That complexion on your face, ho, you are too tense. She will be okay.”
The voice I used then was very low, too:
“But … how do you know that? She’s my home. The monster’s home. She cannot be gone.”
“How does this old man know that, ho? Well, I have taken care of things, already, you silly little man; have some faith!”
“Oh?–’taken care of things?’–yes, okay, Old … I can trust you’re the expert … with all your stuff and runes and magic … well.”
“Very good. Trust this old man.”
And when receiving an old wrinkled smile I gave my youthful and bright smile as fair trade, showing off some of my teeth–I shouldn’t be worried about that, he’s right.
“Okay–let’s go!”
With the princess in my embrace, I was the one carrying her now. I nodded to Old Sipping, he nodded back to me, and I turned backward at once.
Her head, her head, it’s really boiling; Old told me to be careful with her head. It must be going ‘bom, bom, bom, bom!’ in the inside of it. That’s why I should be careful.
So, there, let’s see, I adjust her like this, and place my hand right here … this wasn’t an evident thing to do with my tiny body. Holding her carefully wasn’t an easy task, but I wouldn’t lose easily.
I wouldn’t lose at all, actually. Have some faith!
And come to think of it, my strength really is high, right? I mean, we talked about this with Old when walking our way up to here, but yeah, I’m strong physically too.
Is it because of my overflowing quantity of mana, hm?
Because I haven’t got any muscles or big meat at all, do I?
My body’s just very meager and little.
Kind of just like hers, actually.
Yes, we must weigh the same. And I’m as tall as her when she’s as tall as me … that is to say short, though.
But anyhow, that’s one more piece of info about me. Wait till I have you all figured out, my funny parasite self, heh, heh.
But, okay, let’s proceed onward now.
I adjusted the princess’ body one last time, and I was good–”What is it, now, boy? Don’t tell me you can’t handle the task, after all?”
“–I’m just fine! Was just lost in my thoughts, shush.”
“Ho, get moving, then … your guest is awaiting us inside of that oh-so-shiny carriage … do not let her wait.”
“Yes, Old.”
And I started up the stairs of this carriage. This very, very, very expensive-looking carriage. Old said ‘shiny’ but it was more than that. Guess that one princess, Elina De Rinceville, has it all good.
And that’s one real princess, right? I mean, she has money. A princess has to be rich. Otherwise, it kind of feels wrong, correct?
Sorry, elven princess, but that’s just how it is.
This apparent luxury isn’t something you had. Well, what do I know about you, though?
Let’s just climb these up. Resting one above the other, going up like this my feet handle that just finely. I could see I’d grown very skillful with stairs, now.
And it kind of took me back, thinking of the first steps I’d painfully tried to climb down after my little escape.
My steps upon these stairs aren’t even any creaking sounds. I like that.
Five steps in total. That carriage sure is standing higher than our poor creaking one back in the forest, huh.
And I arrived at the last step, Old Sipping had yet to follow me, and before diving in, I glanced around one last time.
I’ll miss you, playground.