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The early morning light streaming into the Count’s residence might appear eerily calm as if it were still midnight, but in reality, it was a time bustling with activity, comparable to daylight hours.

Diligent servants each began their duties from early morning, each with different roles and positions. On this day alone, those without sleep were scurrying around.

And among the sleepless, there was one who, early in the morning, gathered her companions together.

“Everyone, how is your bond with the spirits?”

Friel Arielte, in her relatively light and thin nightclothes, with a coat thrown over, asked while brushing her golden hair.

Her gaze remained fixated solely on her beautiful golden locks.

It did not shift towards her companions at all.

However, whether it was familiarity or simply acceptance, five elves gathered around Friel seemed accustomed to her demeanor.

One of them naturally responded to her question.

“I grew weak for a time last night, but I’ve just stabilized now. The rest of us are likely in similar situations.”

The elves present nodded gently in agreement with her words.

“…The situation is gradually worsening. Once we finish our tasks here, we should return to the Great Forest as quickly as possible.”

“Oh, dear….”

Friel Arielte halted her combing at those words and gave a smile.

“Haha….”

Her overly artificial laughter echoed softly.

In Friel’s laughter, there was not a trace of the kindness commonly associated with elves.

Coldly simmering anger mixed with pent-up irritation.

This forced smile was an expression refined from that chilled wrath.

Tap.

Friel set down her comb and whispered.

“Where on earth are those damn monsters crawling out from? It’s infuriating to see them gnawing at the roots of the World Tree even after being killed again and again.”

Her bright eyes sparkled with a sharp glimmer in the morning light streaming into the room.

“I really don’t like this.”

The years Friel had spent began to overwhelm those around her, accumulating into a palpable presence.

Elves are born with innate talents that set them apart from other races.

However, among those elves, Friel, raised as the daughter of the Arielte family—one of the three great families—was different from ordinary elves.

The energy of the spirit dwelling within her began to stir quietly but distinctly, and the elves—more sensitive to spirits than anyone—began to gulp nervously.

Under the High Elves, three families existed, and beneath them, elves supported their greatness.

“Friel, please calm down.”

The four elves, aside from the one who usually assisted Friel at the Arielte residence, struggled to withstand her imposing aura.

“…Oh dear, I seem to have made a small mistake. My apologies.”

Friel briefly bowed her head in apology, then let out a sigh.

As she reined in her momentum, Friel gazed out the window.

The dawn was rising, and the red sun was peeking over the horizon.

Surely, her home, the Great Forest, was also seeing the sun rise, dispelling the madness sprinkled down by the moon.

“Once we finish our tasks, it will be wise to return quickly. Yes, then… we should talk to the Grand Elder as quickly as he mentioned, and consult with the head of the family.”

She momentarily smoothed her neck.

Her emotionless, bright turquoise eyes dulled as they stared ahead.

They captured the figure of an elf in front of her, but what Friel was thinking and feeling was not of her kind.

Her eyes were reflecting a recent past, reminding her of a certain event.

“I—”

Friel’s voice sank low and deep.

“I’m not bowing down to an insignificant short-lived species for no reason.”

The human with moonlit hair, Shione.

The first time it caught her eye was during Princess Adelhaite’s coming-of-age ceremony.

The courage she displayed in protecting the princess against a sudden enemy attack was praiseworthy, yet she never once witnessed the beauty of her sword gliding through the air.

The stiffness in her posture and movements was clear to see—

Though she had recently broken through the barrier of an expert using a bow… that seemed to be about it for the woman.

Though she was nothing more than a short-lived species with many shortcomings compared to herself, there was a reason Friel had bowed her head.

“I couldn’t afford to be at odds with a young lady. Nothing would be as foolish as that in this situation.”

Friel’s gaze shifted downward.

The comb she had set aside.

She started to brush her hair again with that very comb.

“For the preservation of our existence and the spirits, we must, just as the Grand Elder says, bring the young lady and her knight to the Great Forest no matter what.”

*

Though elves had begun to temporarily reside in the Count’s estate, it did not mean that troublesome affairs were immediately arising.

Well, as much as possible, I had hidden the energy of the spirits to avoid making contact with the elves.

Besides, the distance between their assigned accommodations and Shione’s room was quite far, so it was also unlikely I would see their pointy ears.

Thanks to that, I was able to spend my days as usual.

I started my day with a plea to avoid weird temptations like yesterday and then by collecting the strange knowledge-filled novels I had given Shione.

As I did so, I was also brainstorming about what might happen in the future.

“Adelhaite said she would soon be swept into the torrent of destiny.”

It wasn’t an everyday occurrence for elves to come all the way to the westernmost part of the kingdom.

It strongly felt like the elves’ visit to the Count’s estate was a signal to announce that the torrent of fate was beginning.

No matter how destiny flows, Adelhaite had gone so far as to describe it as a torrent.

Thus, it was clear that the fate of this world was not bright at all.

The once mighty empire and the kingdom, now holding deep potential for the future, would collapse.

Keeping in mind that I might be at risk of death in an upcoming battle was not a bad reminder.

“Should I ask Siabel to raise the training intensity a bit?”

With no particular quests at hand.

The only thing I could do was hone the skills I carried within myself a bit more.

It might be good to spend a bit more time clashing swords with Siabel to strengthen my martial prowess, or to teach Shione some tips on archery and various tricks of my own.

As I organized my thoughts and spent some casual time with Shione, she suddenly stared at me intently.

“Ray, was what you said yesterday true?”

“If it’s about what I said yesterday.”

When I responded with a question, Shione looked up at me, hesitating for a moment.

“Uh… you said you like me much more than the elf…”

“Oh, if that’s what you’re referring to.”

I was speaking sincerely.

Compared to that smug elf, Shione was just so much kinder and gentler.

“I truly mean it. Shione is definitely better than the elf.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

At that, Shione smiled brightly before suddenly widening her eyes, staring at me.

She was gazing deep into my eyes without blinking while tilting her head.

“Why?”

“……?”

“Where exactly am I better than the elf?”

…I wondered what question she would ask, but something like this would be easy to answer.

“The bond of trust we’ve built so far, your heart, almost across the board, Shione is much better.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

“Then what about my face?”

I looked at her face.

While Shione could indeed be called a cute beauty with a puppy-like charm.

No matter how you looked at it, I thought elves did possess something that transcended species when it came to looks and appearance.

“About the face….”

However, the face I liked better was undeniably Shione’s rather than Friel’s.

“Yes, your face is cuter than the elf’s.”

I raised Shione’s hand in agreement, but…

“Your reply is slow…”

Shione squinted her eyes, crossing her arms.

“…Do you really think so?”

“Have you ever seen me lie?”

“Hmmm… ugh.”

Shione poked me in the side.

“Next time, answer quickly.”

After saying that, Shione hugged me tightly before darting off to the bookshelf.

Pulling out a book, she grabbed three cookies from the table without hesitation and flew toward the bed.

Such a squirrel-like movement.

She opened the book and, nestled in the covers, began to eat the cookies one by one.

‘…How many times have I told her not to eat cookies on the bed?’

She really seemed to filter my words out.

Well, it was about time to change the bed sheets, so I could let it slide just this once.

As I turned to leave her room, I stated, “I’ll be heading to the training grounds.”

“The training ground? Isn’t that a bit early? I don’t think your sister has even arrived yet.”

“Siabel said she wanted to meet a little early today to discuss the sword techniques I’m going to learn.”

“Oh, really? Then… have a good time, Ray. You know to come to the shooting range afterward, right?”

“Yes.”

With that said, I recalled the words Siabel had left me before she departed yesterday.

—Could you tell me a bit about Shione and that elf next time?

Today, beyond Ainel and Shione, Siabel would finally come to understand the essence of elves.

 

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