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With Tania’s entrance and the pressure she exuded, or perhaps thanks to my unyielding spirit, the opinions started to flow smoothly.

The crux of the plan was Fletta’s input, while any additional details or amendments were suggested by either Ianette or the Elder. The disagreements or discord that arose were handled by Chelness, Elder Kasia.

As various routes were marked on the map laid out on the round table, and colorful tiny stones were spread across several points, the final shape of our future plans began to emerge.

‘Is it because they’re elves?’

They were wise and rational.

Not the kind of elves tending to flower gardens and shedding tears over violence, but beings who calculatingly weighed gains and losses, unhesitant to take lives if necessary.

They clearly showed the scale tipping between the benefits to be gained from this plan and the weight of the forest guardians’ lives that would be exchanged for it.

‘Thank goodness there are no idealists babbling nonsense in this discussion.’

I felt relieved that there was nothing said that would make me shake my head or raise my blood pressure.

The ones mostly executing the plan weren’t the Elders, but the forest guardians. Among those guardians, both Shione and I were included in those tasked with slaying the demons.

Nothing could be worse than moving on a chaotic plan.

Suppressing the creeping, hellish memories of the past, I glanced at Tania.

‘We were chasing and being chased yesterday, but have we already become friendly?’

Perched on Tania’s neatly clasped tiny hands, the Cotton Puff was blinking its eyes, gauging Tania’s mood.

Observing the Cotton Puff, Tania casually let slip words that I could also hear.

─“By the way, you’re in big trouble now?”

─“Myaang…?”

─“Changsik is definitely set on seeing your face later.”

─“Myeong myeong.”

─“Who’s that? Just a much bigger crybaby spirit than you.”

─“…Heh.”

─“You shouldn’t be laughing. He’s a top-ranked wind spirit just like me, so he’s your rival.”

─“……!”

It seemed like an rivalry had unknowingly formed between Changsik… no, Elvis and the Cotton Puff.

─“Myeong myeong myeong!”

─“What should you do about it? Well… I guess it’s first essential to become a mid-level spirit, right?”

─“Myaang…….”

─“Mid-level is still tough, eh? There’s nothing we can do about that. Well… cheer up, it’s not all your fault that Changsik acts like this.”

…Why are you looking at me like that again?

Your head turned towards the Cotton Puff, but your eyes rolled to glare at me, Tania.

That little spirit let out a small giggle.

─“How unfair it must feel for the contractor to call out to everyone but you~ I guess our big Changsik is even jealous of lesser spirits?”

─“……!”

As if it had gained enlightenment.

With eyes wide open, the Cotton Puff fluffed up its fur to appear bigger.

─“It’s all our Shinwoo… uh, Ray’s fault, isn’t it? Right?”

─“Myeong myeong!”

Agreeing wholeheartedly, the Cotton Puff rolled its short front legs on Tania’s palm.

Tania encouraged the Cotton Puff as if it were the most reasonable reaction, and eventually, the Cotton Puff floated up into the sky.

Flap flap! Whee!

─“Myaang…!”

It orbited around me, protesting.

What in the world are you trying to accomplish by causing a ruckus in this quiet meeting? And what is Tania thinking encouraging this?

In the midst of my sighing situation, luckily…

“Stay still…!”

─……!

Just at that moment, the attention of others was focused on Chelness and Ianette.

Shione, who had been silently by my side, suddenly snatched the Cotton Puff.

Shione, enclosing the Cotton Puff in her hand, swiftly turned toward Lady Diolia.

“Lady Diolia, could you lend me a hand for a moment….”

“Y-Yes? Are you referring to me?”

“It’s just that it’s been wriggling too much in my hands. If you wouldn’t mind, could you hold it securely?”

“…Leave it to me. I will strive to meet your expectations.”

“N-No, you don’t have to feel pressured to meet expectations…”

Diolia’s eyes sparkled as she took the Cotton Puff, smiling a little.

Look at that upward curve on her lips.

Honestly, while she’s an earnest knight, Diolia surprisingly has a fondness for cute things. Although she had shown interest in the Cotton Puff until now, unfortunately, the Cotton Puff hadn’t been very enthusiastic about her.

She’s likely seeing this as a golden opportunity to pet the Cotton Puff as much as she wants.

Having passed the Cotton Puff to Diolia, Shione quietly dusted off her hands and whispered to me.

“Phew… did well, right?”

With bright-eyed sparkles in her blue eyes, reminiscent of someone asking for praise.

I nodded in response to Shione’s question.

“Yes, thanks to you, Shione—”

But in that moment, I caught sight of Friel Arielte, who had been staring blankly at the Elders across the round table, suddenly meeting my gaze and breaking into a small smile.

“…I’m alive.”

The fuss was all Cotton Puff and Tania’s doing.

Shione was the one who snatched the Cotton Puff and handed it to Diolia.

The one pretending to be nonchalant while glancing over the table wasn’t me but Diolia.

Everyone was talking about different things.

“Normally, spirits tend to be like that. It seems our knight’s spirit friends might enjoy mischief more than expected.”

“…Indeed.”

…Why is the embarrassment all mine?

*

The discussion ended.

Here’s a rough summary of the opinions gathered.

The forces used to hunt the Half-Demon will mainly consist of Arielte’s elite forest guardians and Ianette’s guardians.

Compared to Arielte and Ianette, the number and proficiency of Chelness’s guardians are somewhat lacking, so the remaining forces would work on the final eradication and stabilization in the south and north.

Some would reportedly be used to support us as we delve deep into the eastern forest.

‘Well, I guess this much is enough to know.’

If I dug in more deeply, it seemed like there had been more discussions to follow.

Ultimately, concentrating on just swinging swords and shooting arrows in the forest should suffice.

However, there’s something I should probably pay attention to among all this.

‘I heard Ianette’s eldest daughter would join our hunting party.’

It was pointed out that Ianette’s head, Aina, had requested to bring her daughter into our hunting group first.

While saying that, I caught the flicker of her subtle interest directed towards me and Shione.

I began to suspect that they might have some ulterior motives…

But only the parties involved would truly know their intentions.

‘For now, there’s no harm in keeping that in mind.’

Because the families that Friel and Eunice Kalia warned me about are precisely those people.

Having finished my simple thoughts, I redirected my focus back to the two Elders.

“Now then… I would like to discuss the heroes mentioned in the oracle that has come to us in the Great Forest.”

“The Young Lady is said to inherit the powers of demon slaying. Can you tell us a bit more about those powers?”

“Within our Great Forest, the Shianella Count’s house is known for its proficiency with the sword. However, it’s apparent that a member of such a lineage as the Young Lady chose a bow instead, which surely means she possesses considerable talent. If given the chance, I would like to see her archery skills.”

“Young Lady….”

“So—”

While I would love to answer their follow-up questions gently, we eventually reached a point where Shione was completely worn out by the endless words.

“Well then, moving on… Spirit Magician Ray.”

Finally, it was my turn to speak.

The red-haired elf.

That Aina fixated on me with a slight furrow in her brow.

Her stiff facial muscles oddly sparked a sense of disdain towards me.

“I heard just now that a single arrow you shot resulted in the immediate demise of a low-level demon. Can you tell us how you utilized spirit magic then?”

If I caught it, I caught it. Why be curious about how I caught it as well?

It seemed this conversation would stretch a bit longer given the circumstances.

*

Starting with Chelness, the next to leave was Ianette.

The Arielte family arrived at the tent the latest among them, and so they ended up leaving the tent the last as well.

Finally escaping the stifling tent and filling my lungs with fresh air, I felt my weary body and mind somewhat rejuvenate.

At that moment.

─“Myaaaang!!”

The Cotton Puff’s loud cry burst forth.

“Hey, that fool is still caught!”

Drawn by Tania’s little laugh drifting through the air, I turned around to see.

Diolia still holding the Cotton Puff tightly in her hands.

And the Cotton Puff was thrashing, clearly wanting to escape from her.

“…I think it’s alright to let go now.”

“Oh… Is that so? Then I have no choice.”

Reluctantly, Diolia finally released the Cotton Puff, who had been set free and began flitting around in the wind.

Shione looked quietly at the flying Cotton Puff, then spoke up.

“By the way, Ray. When are you going to name the moth?”

“Hmm… I guess it’s about time I should name it. But good names aren’t coming to mind easily.”

“Can I think of a name for it too?”

“Of course.”

Two heads are better than one when brainstorming names.

Maybe Shione could come up with a surprisingly nice name.

At that moment, Tania suddenly chimed in carelessly.

“How about something that hits you like our Changsik? Hmm… Park Tae-sik?”

“…….”

Tania, you should stay quiet.

 

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