Atelier Tanaka

Book 6: Chapter 4 (10)

Academic City (2nd)

I couldnt quite make out what was happening until I closed the distance between us. Just beneath the partially destroyed building, I could see Ester-chan lying prone on the ground. Her entire lower body had been crushed beneath rubble. There were pools of crimson liquid seeping out from beneath the stone.

FitzClarence-sama! FitzClarence-sama!?

The megane bully was kneeling beside her and screaming her name.

The tentacles were still wildly slamming into buildings and the ground all around them. It was only a matter of time until they got hit. Screams filled the air all around me from the countless victims of the rampaging slug. I couldnt help but get anxious watching them. All the while the pool of blood forming around Ester-chan grew larger.

H-Hurry up! You need to get out of here!

Im not going to leave you alone, FitzClarence-sama.

I told you to go!

But it was my fault you got hurt. You were protecting me!

Dont get carried away! Why would the proud daughter of a duke risk her life to save the son of an unknown nobleman!? Youre just imagining things! I got hurt on my own, so hurry up and go! Get out of here!

I..

Ill get out of this and find you after! Ill be right behind you!

Ester-chan commanded the megane bully to go without her.

The megane hesitated for a moment and, in that time, one of the tentacles swept overhead and crashed into the building next to them. It took a chunk out of the wall and sent countless small stones flying through the sky. One of these stones caught the megane on the cheek and knocked him to the ground.

I could see blood streaming down his cheek from where the stone struck him.

.

The megane touched his cheek and looked down at his own blood that covered his hand. His body shuddered as he forced himself up from the ground.

Go find the other two! You still have time to get out of here!

I-Im sorry! Im so sorry!

Ester-chan shouted at the megane to leave once more which was enough to finally convince him to abandon her.

He bowed several times to Ester-chan as he left her beneath the rubble before sprinting off away from the slug. I guess Ester-chan was with the three bullies when this creature attacked.

The love he holds for her must be real if he was willing to stay with her for this long.

Good job, megane. You managed to look cool in front of your love.

Now, its my time to pick up where he failed.

Damnit. It hurts so much. Im in so much pain..at least now nobody is here to see me cry.

The moment the megane bully was out of sight, tears slowly started to fall from Ester-chans eyes.

The pain was evident on her face.

It hurts so muchaaaahhhhhhh. Im in so much pain.

Shes in enough pain that shes crying. That much is obvious considering shes been crushed from the waist down. Ive experienced that exact pain myself during my fight with the loligon. It was a pain so unimaginable words fail to describe it.

S-Seriously, h-how did I let this happenaauuhh.

Now that she believed she was alone, the real Ester-chan came out.

Tears streamed down her face.

It wasnt supposed to end like this. How could this happen?

When faced with life-threatening danger, the lolibitch remained stubborn so the skinny megane would retreat to safety. Ester-chan has more courage than she gives herself credit for. I could picture her being a great mother someday. A slightly taller lolibitch cradling her baby in her arms.

Aaah, damn itaauuhI dont want to die. It hurts so much.

This isnt good. This is the rare side of Ester-chan that could make me fall for her.

Ever since she lost her memory, Ive only seen the rude bitchy side of her and before that, when she was obsessed with me, it was the overly dere side that was constantly pestering me to marry her. This is the dignified Ester-chan that lives up to her rank as earl. I have to heal her quickly.

Dont worry. I wont let you die.

Eh!?

I floated down from the sky and activated my recovery magic.

I used my flight magic to lift the heavy rubble that was crushing the slutty part of the lolibitchs body. Beneath the debris, her body from the waist down was unrecognizable. It hurt just to look at.

However, my recovery magic was quickly mending her body back to its original condition.

Bones snapped back into place, veins and tendons reformed, and then muscle and fat encased the bone before the skin finally stitched itself back together. Her lower body had returned to normal. The best part was that my recovery magic didnt repair clothing which left her thick thighs and butt exposed for me to ogle.

Fortunately, she was lying face down which gave me a perfect view of her naked butt. Its surprisingly plump for a girl of her size. I should have thought about this beforehand and positioned myself down by her feet so Id have a great view of her exposed lower half. Sadly, Im standing by her head.

Whwhat? Tanaka?

Im glad I managed to get here in time.

I muttered something cool and removed my cloak before handing it to her.

Farewell, plump butt, I wish we had more time together.

Eh!?

The lolibitch leapt to her feet as soon as she realized her body had been healed. She quickly wrapped my cloak around her waist and removed her butt from sight. She reminded me of a girl that just caught a creepy man checking her out on the streets at night.

W-What are you hoping to accomplish!? Why would you help me.?

Why wouldnt I?

because Im the daughter of house FitzClarence. Im sure you hate me.

Not really.

Then, w-why are you!?

I made a promise. I promised to never abandon you no matter who your enemies may be or even if you hate me. I thought it sounded cool at the time but thinking back on it, its rather embarrassing.

What are you talking about? Did Papa ask you to do that?

You can think of it like that.

.

Are you still hurt?

I dont need anything from you.

I know all of this is happening quite suddenly, but we need to get moving. This area is still dangerous. Academy City has a plan in action to counter the monster, so its best if we keep our distance. We should also find you some real clothes.

Th-Theres actually something else.

What is it?

I ran into someone you know just beforethat thing appeared.

Eh? Who? Are they still nearby?

Y-Yeah, it was that elf and the Aufschnaiter child.

No way.

I never even considered that Edita Sensei might be out in this.

If Goggoru-chan is with her, they should be able to get to safety without my help. I know that Goggoru-chan preferred to keep her distance from most people, but those two seem to be getting along recently. My black and white lolis.

Was the Goggoru with them?

She mightve been. I didnt think to check.

Right.

This would be the one time I have no clue where Goggru-chan is. I need to hurry and start looking for them. I cant leave Edita Sensei alone. She described a Red Dragon as a powerful enemy so an attack from the slugs tentacles would be her end.

Im sorry, but follow me, please.

Ah, waiwait! What do you think youre doing!?

I didnt have time to wait for an answer. I lifted my own body into the air while also lifting Ester-chan up using my flight magic. I needed a way to protect myself from Ester-chans constant handjob attacks which led to me learning how to make other objects fly. Ive practiced a lot and now can make objects float without even touching them.

Its also the same magic that I used to lift the rubble off of her body.

Ill keep you safe,  but I need you to come with me.

I-I dont need you to keep me safe! I can manage on my own!

So you think you can fly out of here while avoiding the creatures attacks?

.

Countless tentacles were slashing through the sky. Rubble was sent flying into the air whenever they came crashing down to earth and buildings were collapsing all around us. The dust clouds created from the destroyed buildings reduced visibility severely as well. I didnt expect Ester-chan to have the ability to make it out of here safely on her own and she seemed to realize that as well. I guess when she lost her memory, she also lost her ability to use flight magic.

All of that time and effort, lost. It was kind of sad.

Maybe it wont be as difficult for her to relearn the ability. However, now is not the time to test that theory.

Were leaving.

I already sai w-wait! What are you doing!?

The lolibitchs body floated beside me as I flew into the sky.

Her constant flailing might have offered me a decent view, but my focus was on finding Edita and the JC before its too late.

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