Sharing The Secret

“Haa… haa… I-I knew it…”

“Ah…”

Seeing Jonah holding his head in frustration, still unable to suppress his magic power, Titancia collapsed to her knees in relief.

“T-Titancia, why are you here!?”

Jonah hurriedly ran toward her, but—

“…!?”

“…Then why, Jonah, are you in a place like this?”

Titancia grabbed his shoulders and glared straight into him.

In her fresh-green eyes, fear, relief, and a hint of anger mingled together.

“W-well… while the stagecoach was resting, I thought I’d practice magic a little…”

“This place is far from the road. Unless you’re an Elf, it takes half a day to reach here from the highway.”

“Ugh…”

As expected, his flimsy excuse was instantly dismantled.

While Jonah panicked for another excuse—

“Waah!?”

“I’m just… so glad you’re safe…”

Titancia suddenly embraced him tightly. Jonah yelped in surprise—

“Um… I’m sorry…”

“Mm…”

Jonah returned the hug and apologized sincerely.

But knowing she cared for him this much warmed his chest.

So much so… that he considered revealing his secret—

“Now explain properly why you’re here.”

“Okay…”

Jonah told her everything without hiding anything.

That he was the sole wielder of ancient magic in the world.

“…I’m shocked. Those spells were ancient magic…?”

“Yes. The power is too strong and hard to use, so I’ve been practicing to make them more… normal.”

“Jonah, there is nothing normal about that.”

“Yeahhh, I thought so…”

At her matter-of-fact remark, Jonah nodded weakly.

More than anything, Titancia herself was deeply shaken.

Even Elves had never heard of anyone wielding lost Ancient Magic.

Yet this eleven-year-old not only used it with ease, but was modifying spells and crafting new ones.

How much wisdom could possibly be hidden inside such a small body?

Jonah’s worth far exceeded the value of any package the Swart Elf were after.

To harm or abduct such a treasure over a mere delivery item—no matter the circumstances, Titancia could never forgive the Swart Elf.

“I’m sorry I kept it secret…”

“No need to apologize. In fact, the ability to use ancient magic MUST remain hidden.”

Titancia hurriedly stopped him from bowing too deeply.

If the world knew Jonah was an ancient magic user, countless parties would hunt him. Hiding it was absolutely correct.

“More importantly, Jonah… was it really okay to tell me?”

Even though she pressed him, she couldn’t help asking—

They had known each other only three days.

Then—

“W-well… part of it was that the situation kind of forced me to explain… but also… you were so worried about me, Titancia…”

Jonah looked down, cheeks softening with shy embarrassment.

At that moment—

“Jonah is a good boy. A very good boy.”

“Wh-wh-wh—!?”

Titancia hugged him so fiercely he went limp in her arms before she finally released him.

“Honestly… that was too much…”

“Sorry.”

Jonah pouted, and Titancia apologized immediately—

—though judging by how she kept trying to hug him again, she wasn’t very repentant.

“But according to your story, ancient magic lets you reach the capital instantly.”

“Yes. I actually rented a room in the capital first and teleported here from there.”

“Mmm… if you already went to the capital, then I can’t show you around…”

She pouted in dissatisfaction.

Jonah hadn’t expected her to think about something like that—

“I-it’s okay! I came here right after arriving in the capital!”

“Really? You’re not just saying that for my sake?”

“Not at all! A-and… I want you to show me around the capital.”

“Jonah is unfair, underhanded, a lady-killer.”

“What does that even mean…?”

Jonah shot Titancia a flat stare as she inexplicably insulted him.

But the last one—lady-killer—he tilted his head, puzzled.

“W-well then, shall we go to the capital?”

Jonah pointed at the ground and drew a magic circle at high speed.

“Wha—!? So this is your teleportation magic…”

“Titancia, please step onto the circle.”

“Okay…”

Guided by Jonah, Titancia nervously stepped onto the glowing circle.

“Huh? Where…?”

“This is the room I rented in the capital.”

“No way…”

Having instantly teleported from the thick forest to an inn room, Titancia’s eyes went wide in disbelief.

Jonah gave a mischievous grin, looking a little smug.

“…Okay. I understand now—you’re amazing. I’ll try not to be surprised anymore.
—or I would say that, but let me finish my job first.”

“Of course.”

The two left the inn and walked down the main street.

Along the way, Titancia pointed out buildings and explained the fountain Jonah had sat at. Jonah enjoyed it immensely.

“That is the Central Mutual Aid Association.”

“Wow…”

Titancia pointed to the largest building on the boulevard.

It was a five-story brick building—more splendid than most noble estates.

“I’ve brought the delivery item. Please take me to the Chairwoman.”

“P-please wait a moment!”

As soon as Titancia spoke inside the building, the receptionist panicked and rushed into the back room.

It seemed that room was the Chairwoman’s office.

After a short while, the staff member returned.

“Please, this way to the Chairwoman’s office.”

“Okay.”

Guided by the staff, the two stepped through the door.

“My, my… that was fast.”

Inside was an exceptionally beautiful long-eared woman wrapped in an aura of mature allure.