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“I’m, I’m crazy—”

Friel’s lips began to tremble uncontrollably.

The corners of her mouth kept rising, and she was desperately trying to suppress it.

However, she couldn’t hide the gleaming joy in her turquoise eyes.

‘It must feel like a blockage has been utterly cleared.’

She had finally gotten a chance to strike back at Ianette, who didn’t seem to be on good terms. Plus, she had an opportunity to unmask the rotten cultists linked to Allen Kalia, the brat who had been pestering her.

Even if one were an elf living for hundreds or even thousands of years, there’s likely no other time quite as refreshing as this moment.

Friel could no longer hide her rising lips and spoke with a beaming smile.

“This information… can I trust it?”

“Of course. These are crucial hints collected diligently by my spirit of wind. Not a single lie is mixed in.”

As I scratched Elvis’s head and answered nonchalantly, Friel’s gaze naturally turned to him.

“That spirit… it’s not one that I conjured. And the fire spirit as well—when did you summon such spirits?”

She shook her head slightly and let out a deep sigh.

However, it was not a sigh of lament.

“…It’s truly wonderful.”

It was nothing more than a hymn of joy, painting a bright future.

The pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place, and our conversation progressed rapidly.

“Ray, you’re right. There’s still a bit more validation needed, but… with such solid evidence, it’s definitely better to prepare for the trial flamboyantly instead of just gathering inconsequential hunches.”

“Great! I found the Kalia Marquis’ situation a bit unsettling as well. This is a perfect opportunity to get it sorted. Killing two birds with one stone.”

“However, to do that, above all—”

Once again, Friel crossed her legs casually and looked from Shione to me.

“A key actor is essential to enrich the play.”

With a voice filled with excitement over her devised strategy, she said:

“The Grand Elder being there as a mediator makes this major trial different from a typical dull court session. It’s completely distinct from mere tabletop discussions with just the elders and involved parties.”

An elven trial, indeed.

Since I didn’t know much about their trial processes, I focused intently on her words, filled with curiosity about the Grand Elder’s method.

Shione was also quite absorbed in the flow of Friel’s narration. She was captivated, matching gazes with her, totally engrossed in the moment.

“There’s a rare opportunity where the Grand Elder appears not next to the World Tree, but before the crowd. The trial is conducted in front of all of Great Forest, without a shred of falsehood, overseen by the wisest High Elf.”

“After the trial, rewards and punishments are declared on the spot, and penalties are carried out immediately. The victorious elf can surely reap significant benefits, as everyone witnesses the rise and fall of that duel and serves as a public notary.”

Friel waved her hand down from her chin and struck the little table.

Thud! Clatter…

As the table shook from the impact, the sound of clear, crystalline glass rang out.

Friel Arielte leaned closer to me, her face bright with a smile as she sweetly continued speaking.

“Isn’t the actor’s performance what matters most?”

“That… performance? What do you mean by that?”

“Good question, Young Lady Shione.”

Friel began to circle the table, creating distance.

“You are a hero, and Ianette is the villain. You felt the magic. From whom? Exactly—”

The corners of her mouth deepened as her plan became clearer.

“From Ianette’s elf, Cenya!”

“If you say Cenya… then Ianette is…”

“Ianette might just become our other trump card. We should test it out first… If we can use her, we should make the most of it.”

“Well…”

The atmosphere around Shione suddenly became heavy.

Friel’s smile faltered for a moment, making the tension palpable.

“…I felt like Airine was subtly restricting Cenya’s actions.”

The mood shifted drastically.

It seems the memories from that time still left a sour taste.

The innocent master, who might have flailed her nonexistent tail if she had been scratched, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Shione, observing from the center of a cold snowstorm, remained.

I was taken aback for a moment, and it was inevitable that Friel would momentarily close her mouth.

But soon, the sly elf brought back the lighthearted atmosphere.

“Anyway… as such! Young Lady will raise questions toward Ianette, and amidst that tense confrontation, Ray will unveil the decisive evidence.”

“Me?”

“Yes, Ray.”

“Uh-huh.”

“To be precise, with the usual bored look, you’ll scan the crowd with sharp eyes… and borrow your spirit’s power.”

“Ah.”

So that’s what she meant.

“The truth dramatically revealed in front of everyone in Great Forest. Countless mouths and ears will wrap the tale, amplifying it.”

“All eyes of the Great Forest will recall Ianette’s decaying expression during that trial every time they hear the story.”

“And because of this, Ianette’s influence will wane significantly… Under the Grand Elder’s certain punishment, she’ll surely sacrifice herself in this war to atone for her misdeeds.”

The suggestion was to openly bury Ianette.

It was undeniably daring to boldly humiliate a family rivaling the Arielte, but considering the High Elf’s words held absolute authority among them, if everything were adequately coordinated by Edelin’s compulsive command…

There could be merit in it.

‘First thing first.’

The primary role of the trial belongs to Shione and me.

This trial will start from our discovery and indictment of their misdeeds. It’s us who will attack Ianette—the notorious traitor in collusion with the demons.

Once the trial concludes successfully, other elves would undoubtedly laud us as heroes, and we’d undoubtedly build a solid relationship with Edelin, who had pruned the roots of evil before a disaster could sprout up.

‘And secondly.’

Our relationship with the Arielte would be significantly improved.

They would stand with us, putting up a courageous front to thwart their misdeeds and confirm their role as a genuine force for good. After a long battle against Ianette, they would be well remembered for defeating a formidable foe.

In the hierarchy within Great Forest, Cenya was the third-ranking member, with Ianette and Airine fiercely competing for the first and second places.

In this opportunity, they might revel in their newfound status as one of the top families in Great Forest.

We would be the ones to lead them to that position.

‘Even if those pointy-eared bastards are cunning, Arielte is quite approachable.’

At the very least, they would be keen on honoring their minimal obligations.

Certainly, my first impression of the Arielte was quite dreadful, their eyes blinded by greed belonging to a cursed family… but now, having received quite a lot from them, it would be fair to slightly adjust my evaluation.

While I pondered this, Friel Arielte spoke up again.

“Now that we’ve mentioned the Kalia Marquis, we can’t just ignore it.”

“The Kalia Marquis. I felt something off when I first met Allen. I never imagined he was colluding with demons.”

“Hm, did you not sense the magic, Young Lady?”

“It’s embarrassing, but yes. It wasn’t a strong aversion, but a primal discomfort… I don’t remember feeling an extreme rejection.”

“That makes sense—he must have been deceiving to the degree that even our informants, who’ve followed him for a long time, were fooled.”

“Did you assign an informant to Young Master Allen?”

“Of course. In collaboration with Lady Eunice and Young Master Abel, gradually?”

Having said that, Friel Arielte tilted her head slightly, pondering as she touched her chin with her thumb and index finger.

“By the way… my mother mentioned something yesterday.”

Friel Arielte’s mother.

The head of the Arielte family, Fletta Arielte.

“Lady Eunice feels the need for a solid countermeasure against Young Master Allen… and according to our agreement, she should offer support. I also have prior arrangements with my mother regarding the Marquis. Coincidentally, you had plans with my mother, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I had indeed right after my conversation with Friel.”

“Great! We can go together. Let’s take care of this quickly.”

“…Is that really okay?”

“Hmm?”

“Even so, meeting the head of your family…”

“Aha?”

Friel cheerfully brought out a pleasant smile.

Shione could only awkwardly mimic her smile in response.

“Well, it’s fine. If I say I’m going to meet my mother with Young Lady, no parent could go against their child, right?”

Friel Arielte.

She turned out to be more reckless than I had expected.

*

Explaining the same to Fletta Arielte consumed quite a bit of time as well.

However, unlike Friel, she was quick to understand and had a knack for smoothly progressing the conversation.

Before long, she lifted her glasses and let out a big sigh, resembling an exhausted office worker.

“Hah…”

It’s no wonder considering the sheer amount and quality of information coming in all at once. There must be too much to ponder over, causing her a headache.

“It seems the approach to take regarding Ianette is roughly the same as what Friel suggested. Now we also have to deal with the Kalia Marquis.”

The atmosphere began to tingle with tension.

Her emotional shifts had a presence more powerful than anyone else in the office.

Even if it was just a moment that her rising anger was contained, we couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.

“That orange-haired girl has been going wild since becoming the head of the family. This time it wouldn’t be bad to take her down completely. After all, she’s a collaborator with demons.”

Shione quietly closed her eyes, listening to her words.

“Our Arielte family rose from the war with them thousands of years ago. There’s no way we can forget about that foundational war.”

“Our ancestors fought against humans, the lineage of Young Lady’s family, Shianella, so they know very well the wickedness of demons.”

“That’s why I can’t stand Ianette as she is now. Don’t you agree, Young Lady?”

Finally opening her eyes, she nodded slightly.

“Colluding with demons is a crime that cannot be absolved. Thus, I too… think similarly.”

“Hmm.”

As if echoing, Fletta nodded her head slowly.

She began to speak in a gentle voice.

“Then let me give you a gift.”

“A gift?”

“As a legitimate elder, a certification of trust and a seal indicating that the family’s intention is with you—”

It was a powerful artifact.

An artifact of considerable value.

“Surely, with this, the Grand Elder will be compelled to listen more closely to Young Lady’s story.”

Shione stood up and carefully accepted the two seals she had taken from the drawer.

“Is it really okay for you to entrust something like this to me?”

“Why not? At this point, we’re on the same boat, aren’t we?”

“……”

“And besides, there’s something else I have to give you.”

Fletta returned to her seat and lifted a teacup that had been in front of her.

“Let’s wait a little longer. Now that the serious discussion is somewhat over, how about we have some tea while we chat?”

With a confident expression as if to say you’re expecting a real gift.

 

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