The Boy Who Died Protecting the Party Is Resurrected 10 Years Later and Is Doted On – The Companion He Thought Was a Boy Had Become an Overprotective Big Sister - Episode 12: The Useless Shut-In Master and Their Disciple

Episode 12: The Useless Shut-In Master and Their Disciple

To meet his master, Phil left the room of the hungover and naked Beluda. He was then brought to an old door on the second basement level of the party house.

“So there’s a floor below the alchemy lab too…”

“This place is technically a library where we keep magic books and such. …Though, aside from you, the only magician in our party is Master. So it’s pretty much turned into their room.”

“They’ve been living shut-in down here all this time?”

Phil asked, and Menou nodded deeply.

“After you died, Master became depressed… They only come out maybe once a year. —They’re kind of like a rare monster.”

“That’s a terrible way to say it, Menou…”

Menou had always seen the master as “a funny creature” since she was little. And no matter how many times Phil scolded her, she never changed.

In fact, Master—Diana Greylas—was an elf who had come to human society after being banished from her homeland due to certain circumstances. So, yes, she was rare.

“I was so busy with research to bring you back to life that I couldn’t really take care of her…”

By the way, it was Menou who had taken Diana in when she collapsed from exhaustion.

Phil and Menou’s late parents wanted to send her back to the forest. But at Menou’s request, they let her stay at their home.

In other words, Diana used to live with the Marlis family as a freeloader—or rather, as both a magic teacher and bodyguard.

“Menou. Master is completely hopeless outside of magic. She doesn’t fit in with elves or humans, is bad at conversation, acts suspiciously… She’s someone who can’t live on her own. So you need to take responsibility and look after her properly…!”

“You’re pretty harsh on Master yourself, Onii-chan…”

Despite the harsh words, both siblings leaned heavily on their master after losing their parents.

“A-Anyway, I need to say hello to Master quickly.”

As Phil said this, he knocked on the door a few times.

After a while, they heard a clattering noise from inside. And the door slowly began to open.

“W-Who…?”

The one who peeked out was a woman with dark circles under her eyes and messy purple hair.

Her skin was pale. She was thin and tall. And she gave off a strange, unapproachable aura.

“I’m… in the middle of… resurrection magic research…”

She was far from the image of a beautiful, neat blonde elf. But her ears were definitely pointed.

They were the undeniable proof she was an elf—one of the long-eared folk.

“I… I don’t really have the emotional energy…”

“…It’s been a while, Master.”

Diana had been looking down. At that moment, she suddenly locked eyes with Phil.

“Hweh…?”

Unable to grasp the situation right away, Diana froze with a dumb noise.

Elves have a different sense of time and emotion compared to humans. So their reactions are often slow—

…Or so Diana often said. But whether that’s true or not is unclear. She might just be clumsy.

“Master, it’s me.”

“――――Ah!”

Diana finally began to realize who had returned and let out a groaning voice.

“Do you remember who I am?”

“Ah…! Aah! Aaah…!”

She seemed to want to say something but couldn’t form words.

“Time’s up, Master. Beluda and Raika pulled it off.”

“Auu…!”

“Looks like diving into the dungeon was the right call.”

At Menou’s words, tears started spilling from Diana’s eyes.

“T-Thank… goodness…!”

Mumbling incoherently, Diana slowly stepped out of the room and hugged Phil with weak arms.

“Master…”

Diana had a flat and hard chest. It was like a wooden board.

For the first time since coming back to life, Phil felt true peace.

“You… smell a bit moldy. Please take a bath and sleep properly.”

“Fueehhh…!?”

“Also, eat meals and get some exercise. You look a little worn out. You’re like a dried-up tree.”

Phil, in a gentle tone, spoke unusually strict words.

“S-Saying that after such a long-awaited reunion…?!”

“It’s the truth.”

“That nagging, irritating attitude… You really are Phil!”

“It’s because Master is too sloppy that I have to act like this.”

It was his way of showing affection.

“So, like… tsundere?”

“Not at all.”

—*Probably.*

“F-Fine, maybe I’ll bathe… but sleeping and exercising, who cares!? It’s none of your business!”

“It’s very much my business. If you don’t take care of your body, you’ll die young.”

“D-Don’t talk about dying young, you’re human…! You’ll die way before an unhealthy elf like me…!”

Still hugging Phil, Diana kept going.

“Phil… you… after I finally made you my disciple, you died in an instant… you idiot human…!”

“I’m sorry for worrying you… Master.”

“Human lives are already so short… at least live more slowly…!”

“Yes.”

Phil gave a small nod to her words.

“I left Menou alone for ten years… I won’t do anything reckless anymore.”

“Promise… okay…?”

“I promise.”

Phil smiled as he replied to his weeping master.

“…Aww, I wanna be scolded by Onii-chan too… Maybe I’ll do something unhealthy…”

Meanwhile, Menou had been quietly watching. She started burning with jealousy toward Diana.