I Finished Saving the World, But Then I Picked Up a Girl With Amnesia - Chapter 5

“So, what happened to the guy you were stepping on? Is he okay? Still alive?”

“…For the first thing you say to a long-lost companion to be that, what exactly do you think of me, Hero-san?”

“A scary kid.”

“Looks like you lost your vocabulary along with your ability to hear names. How unfortunate.”

The Sage-chan I hadn’t seen in a while sat sprawled on the sofa in the reception room we were shown to, her slender legs crossed high, looking at me as if she were observing some pitiful creature. She sure acts high and mighty, as always.

It seemed like she was in the middle of some business, so I’d considered coming back another day. But surprisingly, Sage-chan quickly wrapped up her matters and made time to see us. Considering how busy she must be, I was grateful.

“Haa… I didn’t kill him. If anything, he was just someone conveniently used by others. He still seems useful to me, so I let him go.”

“That’s a relief.”

“He’ll make a fine pig.”

“That guy is one of the five Knight Commanders in the kingdom, isn’t he?”

Just how scary is this girl? I’d really appreciate it if she didn’t casually turn one of the top people responsible for national defense into a pig.

“So, is this Hero-san’s new girlfriend?”

“N-No! I’m not his girlfriend or anything like that! Hero-san just saved me…”

“Tch…”

A loud click of her tongue echoed.

Red Hair-chan stiffened, and tension crackled between her and Sage-chan. I quickly stepped between them.

“Hey, that’s rude, Sage-chan. Also, I just helped her out, that’s all. It’s not like that.”

Under the weight of Sage-chan’s pressure, Red Hair-chan visibly shrank, looking quite uncomfortable.

“N-Nice to meet you. I’m—”

“No need to introduce yourself. Hero-san already explained the gist of the situation to me. Besides, this guy can’t hear your name or mine anyway.”

I feel like she’s being considerate of my situation. Kind of makes me feel bad.

“Just don’t bother with names and call me something generic like ‘Sage-san.’”

“Y-Yes. Um, Sage-san, you used to travel with Hero-san, right? So, does that mean you’re a mage?”

At Red Hair-chan’s question, Sage-chan’s expression turned sour.

“A ‘Sage’ isn’t just a mage. It’s a higher-ranking position called a ‘magus.’”

“So, it’s like a job title?”

“Well… Do you at least know there are different types of magic users?”

“Not at all.”

Well, she doesn’t have her memories, after all.

“Anyone who can use magic is called a magic user, regardless of skill. But those who formally study magic as an academic discipline are called mages.”

“I see.”

“Those who can teach magic to others are distinguished as magi. It means ‘masters who guide magic.’”

Sage-chan is a top-tier magus.

A “Sage” refers to an even higher-ranking magus—someone who not only masters magic but has the ability to teach it at an advanced level. While many rely on innate talent and instincts to use magic, Sages are those who thoroughly understand and unravel its mechanisms. In the truest sense, they are wise ones. That is what a Sage is.

On a side note, Sage-chan is also a “sorcerer,” but since a magus and a sorcerer basically do the same things, there’s no need to dwell on that.

“Um, may I ask something?”

“Why should I bother answering your questions?”

“Sage-chan.”

“…Haa. Fine, go ahead.”

“Why are you wearing a hood even inside the room, Sage-san?”

“Oh, that’s all?”

With a dramatic flourish, she flipped back her black hood without hesitation. For the first time, her beautiful face was fully revealed to the light of day.

I mean, it’s only been a year, but she’s become even prettier…

“As you can see, to be precise, I’m not exactly human.”

Many people might focus on Sage-chan’s stunningly beautiful face when they first see her. But more than that, they’re bound to notice her ears.

Clearly different from those of ordinary humans, her pointed ears caught Red Hair-chan’s attention, making her gasp.

“Um… Your ears are a bit unusual?”

Hey, hey. Red Hair-chan might have a natural talent for saying weird things.

“I’ll smack you.”

“Eek!”

“Whoa, whoa, calm down.”

Before Sage-chan could unleash something from her staff, I held her back.

Well, Red Hair-chan likely doesn’t know—or rather, doesn’t remember—so I should probably explain.

“Sage-chan is a ‘Half-Elf.’”

“Half-Elf?”

“It means she’s of mixed blood—half human, half Elf.”

“You don’t even know that? How ignorant.”

“She has amnesia, you know. Stop flaunting your knowledge.”

Before her sharp tongue could escalate further, I reached out and ruffled her silky silver hair.

“…Mmm.”

Her soft, fluffy silver hair felt like the finest silk. I do understand that hair is a woman’s pride, and I shouldn’t be too rough with it. But since we’ve been traveling together since she was little, it’s become a habit of mine.

“…………”

Her lips tightened into a straight line, and her emerald eyes narrowed at me. Though she usually spews venomous words, at this moment, she looked like a pouty puppy. Her childlike mannerisms, despite her stunning beauty, caught Red Hair-chan by surprise.

Anyway, back to the explanation.

“Elves are a long-lived race skilled in magic. Since Sage-chan has half-Elf blood, she was born with a natural talent for magic.”

“I’m so brilliant, it’s scary.”

“Humility is a virtue, you know.”

She’s always been the type to thrive on praise, but maybe I overdid it a bit while raising her. I might’ve made a small mistake in her upbringing.

“If Elves are long-lived, does that mean Sage-san is much older than she looks…?”

“No, Sage-chan is 16 years old.”

“That young!?”

Red Hair-chan glanced at Sage-chan’s slender figure hidden under her robe, then looked down at her own body. Specifically, she glanced at her chest, nodded slightly, and said:

“I see. So your age matches your appearance.”

“…!?”

“Sage-chan, Sage-chan. I’m sure she meant that literally. Don’t overthink it.”

I held down Sage-chan’s staff to stop whatever spell she was about to cast.

It seems Red Hair-chan is the type to speak her thoughts exactly as they are. Pure and straightforward, you know? It can’t be helped.