“Ellie, please help me… Not again. I don’t want to be kidnapped again.” Erina muttered softly while holding the bracelet artifact that Elysia had given her. It had become gold because of her ability, but its function had not changed.
Elysia heaved a subtle sigh and crouched in front of the terrified Erina. She felt relieved that her artifact was working correctly to protect Erina in her time of need.
*Knock* *Knock*
Elysia tapped the barrier and spoke tenderly to get Erina’s attention. “Erina, I’ve come. You don’t have to be afraid. Everything will be fine now.”
Erina flinched slightly as that pleasant yet familiar voice came into her ears. She could sense Elysia’s presence so close somehow. So, it was probably true that Elysia had come to help her, not an illusion or trick from the scary demon earlier.
She then raised her head a little to peek. A masked person in a black robe was in front of her, but that person looked like an assassin. “E-Ellie, is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me? Eh-” Elysia almost forgot that she was currently wearing her shadow mask. She immediately let go of that and smiled at Erina. Afterward, she entered the barrier without a hitch since it was her stored magic.
“It’s fine now. You’re safe with us.” Elysia hugged Erina and stroked the frightened girl’s head.
“Ellie… Sob, sob…” Erina sobbed and hugged Elysia tightly. The fragrance, the warmth, and the feeling of security made her release her emotions with a sense of relief.
Elysia ran her hand through Erina’s hair while whispering some words to calm the frightened girl. After a few minutes passed, Erina gradually calmed down. Since Elysia had arrived, everything would be fine, and she believed that.
“The person who kidnapped you was probably a member of the organization that targeted me. Do you hate me for this, Erina?” Elysia spoke in a whisper-like voice.
“The evil one is the organization. They are the one who is entirely responsible and must be destroyed. You are innocent, Ellie.” Erina raised her head to stare at Elysia once more. “Ellie, your dress… are you an assassin?”
“Ah, this… We were on a mission to hunt down all the top brass of that evil organization a while ago. However, I feel you are in danger and will come to your side soon. Please keep this dress code a secret, okay? We give the bad guys the impression that their enemy is a super powerful third-party organization.” Elysia put her hand to Erina’s cheek and then gave a wink.
“En.” Erina could only nod with a slight blush on her face.
“Yosh, yosh, good girl. Are you able to move your body freely now? How about stand up?” Elysia put her hand on Erina’s wrist and deactivated the barrier.
“En, I can walk and move my body easily, but my balance hasn’t fully recovered. Maybe everything will be fine after getting used to it after recovering, and I can carry on as usual.” Erina tried to stand up with Elysia’s help.
“I see this afternoon your body will only fully recover. How about your father? Is he okay?” Elysia led Erina to take Erina to a nearby sofa, but the place was so messy and smelled terrible. She then created an invisible air sofa in a somewhat decent spot and sat there with Erina.
“Eh?” Erin was amazed. She was sitting on a sofa that could be touched but could not be visible to the naked eye. It was just like a magic trick.
“Your kidnappers are currently being interrogated. However, may I know how you got kidnapped, Erina? You’re still in your mansion, right?” Elysia felt it was time to bring the main topic into the conversation.
Erina looked right and left once more. She heaved a sigh of relief as that blue demon was nowhere to be seen. She then clasped her hands and lowered her head. “You know, Ellie. I was just finishing my personal business in the toilet a while ago. Just as I was about to leave, a huge, hideous blue demon suddenly appeared from the mirror and kidnapped me. He said he would make me someone’s wife and manipulated my memories into loving that person. That’s really scary, Ellie. How could they do such a cruel thing for purely personal gain?”
“I see… His trickery and witchcraft won’t be able to touch you because you are under my protection. If you are in danger and feel scared, please call my name while holding this bracelet or focus on my marker in your spirit. I will definitely come to your aid soon, Erina.” Elysia rubbed Erina’s back and smiled confidently.
“Can I do that?” Erina raised her head with sparkling eyes. Her fear instantly faded because of Elysia’s statement just now.
“Yes, that is my promise to you. However, please don’t abuse your privilege. There are times when I have to settle some business.” Elysia pinched Erina’s cheek.
“Mm, I see! Thank you, Ellie.” Erina giggled and held Elysia’s hand.
“Regardless, I seem to have to provide additional protection for you and your family, Erina. Has your grandfather contacted that famous exorcist clan?” Elysia tilted her head slightly.
“My grandfather contacted them yesterday. Perhaps, now they have arrived at our mansion at our request.” Erin nodded.
“Hum, all right. So, maybe no one is aware of your absence yet? Mio might still be waiting for you outside the toilet, wondering if you suffer from severe constipation.” Elysia replied with a teasing smile.
“Mou, Ellie, you’re bad.” Erina blushed and gently hit Elysia’s arm.
‘Ely, we’ve already interrogated these two kidnappers. Their motives were absurd. They are not involved in the God Game. Erina being targeted by this blue djinn is pure coincidence. Can you come here with Erina?’ Elena spoke via telepathy.
‘Okay, we’ll be there.’ Elysia then took Erina to the next room. The soundproofing feature had been lifted, and someone’s pleading voice could be clearly heard.
“I’ll apologize, but please let this old djinn live! I’m just an innocent wandering ghost who only has to make three wishes to whoever frees me from that damned artifact! If there’s anyone to blame, only that man and his greedy wishes!” The fat blue djinn prostrated before the terrifying executioners with snot and tears.
“I’m innocent! Please forgive me. I’m only asking for what a man wants in the prime of life! What’s wrong with wishing for a good and prosperous life!?” The middle-aged man also prostrated himself to apologize while hissing in pain. His body ached from the interrogation just now, and only his face survived the bruises.
“You should apologize to the girl you kidnapped. She is the victim here.” Rhea stepped back to take some distance from the puddle of snot and tears.
“This thing? This lucky man found this thing by chance. It fell on his head last night, didn’t it? It may have belonged to someone and happened to fall there. What would you do if we freed you from this thing forever?” Elena picked up an old artifact from a wooden crate.
“I will worship you like a God!” The fat blue djinn replied instantly.
“Oh, is that so? Then, oops.” Elena crushed that old artifact into pieces as if it was accidental.
“Gyaaah! Why did you destroy that old artifact, milady!? I’m going to die. I’m going to disappear! Arrgh! Goodbye, world.” The fat blue djinn dramatized the situation. He threw himself on the floor as if waiting for his death, but nothing happened afterward.
“E-eh?” The fat blue djinn looked at his hands. The chain on his wrists had disappeared.
Therefore, he immediately went to prostrate to worship his savior. “I am free. I am truly free from that damned place! You are an almighty one. Words alone are not enough to express my gratitude, but please accept my bow of gratitude!”
“Did you forget who you should apologize to before anything? You too.” Elena pointed her finger at Erina.
“All right!” The fat blue djinn immediately stood up straight and gave a salute. He then knelt before Erina to apologize. However, he glanced at the black assassin, who was not wearing a mask for a moment. “Ahem! Oh, my fair lady, and Miss Erina. Miss Minamoto Erina! Please forgive my impudence for kidnapping you and intending to brainwash you. My humble self really feels wrong and wants to repent. Please tell me your three wishes to make amends for my mistakes, and I will endeavor to fulfill them for you!”
“No, I won’t ask anything from a demon. You just need to be a good demon. Don’t ever do anything bad again.” Erina hid behind Elysia for protection.
“That’s what she said.” Elysia shrugged her shoulders.
“If that’s what you want, then fine. I’m a good djinn full of benevolence!” The fat blue djinn stood up and immediately put on a true gentleman’s attire with a poof.
“O, Erina-sama, Minamoto Erina-sama! I am truly innocent. I didn’t ask this demon to kidnap you at all. All I ask is wealth, power, and women. That’s all, nothing more!” The middle-aged man wriggled toward Erina like a caterpillar as he was still tied up.
“You ask a demon for help to fulfill your wishes. That alone is a sin and a mistake to be held accountable for, sir.” Erina pursed her lips. She couldn’t judge the weird blue djinn, but she would punish this man.
The middle-aged man then uttered a series of sentences to defend himself, but everything was simply ignored by Erina.
Seeing that, Elysia gagged the man’s mouth with a lump of cloth because it was already starting to get annoying.
“Do you know him? He has the Minamoto Group logo on his business card.” Elysia opened the middle-aged man’s wallet and took out some ID cards. She then gave one to Erina.
“You’re right, Ellie. Hm, Uyehara Takanori? My apologies. I can’t remember everyone who works for the Minamoto Group. Let’s ask Mio about this.” Erina used her smartphone to take a photo of the card. She then sent it as a message.
“Then, we’ll go to take care of other things. We need to get the association to start working too. See ya~” Elena gave Rhea, Vanessa, and Evelyn an eye signal.
She also conveyed some things via telepathy to Elysia. She wanted Elysia to spend time with Erina while they took care of other things.
“En, all right. Please be extra careful.” Elysia waved her hand.
‘Sure. We’ll be postponing our deity hunt until you get back. Please see us again in an hour, Ely.’ Elena nodded slightly.
“You will come with us.” Elena picked up the blue djinn like a cat, then brought everyone away by short-range teleportation.
*Poof*
A moment of silence suddenly enveloped the room. Right now, it was just Elysia, Erina, and the middle-aged man.
Elysia glanced at Erina and vice versa. They smiled at each other with different meanings.