Black haired wise man Chiyuki

　The Great Sea of Trees of Elyos is located at the foot of Mount Elyos, the highest mountain in the world.
　The Sea of Trees is vast, nearly a third of the vast Bandor Plain where we live.
　We must find the land of the elves in this vast forest.
　The four of us are on the outskirts of that treeline.
　It has only been a day since the elves took Kouki away from us.
　The reason we were able to come to the treeline so quickly was because we had set up a transition to a nearby country in case we ever went to Erios.
　Due to the transference magic, we would reach the Tree Sea in less than an hour.
　However, it seems that the same is true for the elves.

'Hey Chiyuki?　Did you see that?

　Shirone, beside me, asks me.

'Yes, I saw them. It looks like the elves came through here.

　I use past-vision magic to confirm that the elves have passed through this place.
　It looks like they left the Elders soon after.
　I didn't use any magic to block past vision or detection.
　I don't know if they're licking their chops, or not that preoccupied, or if they can't use it.
　But this would allow us to track it.

''Well, let's go after him. 'Nao-san?　Can we follow the path Kelluneier took?

　I ask Nao in front of me.

It's okay. The scent of the deer seems to have not disappeared. We can catch up with them.

　Nao laughs as he smiles.
　Nao now has animal ears from her head and a tail from her ass.
　Nao's sense of smell is keen. He remembered the scent of Kelluneier once he smelled it. I think we can track it now.

'But where in the forest is the land of the elves?　I'd hate to be too far away.

　Reno looks at the forest and frowns.
　Reno is certainly right. The forest is huge. It's not always possible to get there in a day.
　If you're not good at it, you'll have to camp out in the field.
　I thought about flying in the sky, but it seems that the sky is warded with some kind of wards, so it seems that the magic of flying cannot be used.
　So, we have no choice but to go through the forest.
　Let's make up our minds and proceed.

But we have no choice but to go. We can't turn back after we've come this far.

　The trees are high as we enter the forest. Sunlight shines through the trees from the green ceiling.
　With Nao in the lead, we proceed quickly.
　We don't want to spend as much time in the field as possible.
　The road ahead is slightly open for Kelluneier's deer carriage to get through.
　This way we won't have to worry about getting lost.

''Great. I feel the power of the wind and earth spirits very strongly.''

　Reno, who is looking around, makes a startled sound.
　There are spirits everywhere in this world.
　Those with a certain talent can feel their presence.
　Reno's ability as a spirit user is high. The fact that Reno is so surprised must be quite amazing.
　By the way, he was surprised to see that there are many dark spirits in Nargol.
　There are different types of spirits depending on the region.
　And I've heard that the creatures that live in each type of spirit are also different.
　I heard that there are many elves living in this forest, but what other things are living?
　As I think about this, Nao stops.
　Her face is grim. It looks like something unusual has happened.

'What's wrong?　Nao-san?
I can feel his eyes on me. Mr. Chiyuki.
Eyes?　Is someone watching us?
'Maybe so ....... But I don't know where I'm looking at it from.
'So ....... Someone must be watching from afar.

　Nao's sensing range is wide.
　They must be watching us from outside of that sensing range.
　Is he seeing it by some magical means?
　If that's the case, maybe I can use my magic to trace it.

No, this is different: ....... I can feel your gaze from close up. It's like you're looking at it from right up close .......
'What?　Really!　Do you have any idea where you are, Nao-san?
That's what I don't understand: ......
""What?"

　Me, Shilone, and Reno are exclaiming at Nao's words.
　Nao's detection ability is high. If she's nearby, it's hard for anyone with any covert abilities to hide.
　I don't understand that Nao. That means we're in a very dangerous situation.
　If they want to, they can take us by surprise at any time.

What about you, Sirone? What about you?　Do you feel anything?

　Shirone has the second highest sensing ability in this group, after Nao.
　Especially in its ability to sense opponents with hostile intent, it rivals Nao.

''Umm, I don't feel anything but ....... But it's an opponent that Nao can't find. Maybe they're hiding their hostility.''

　Cyrone looks around anxiously.
　At that moment, the forest seems to have rustled.
　I look and see that the branches of the trees are moving and the leaves are scattered. It seems that there really is someone out there.

'It's no good. ...... I can't find the guy hiding in there.''

　Nao's claws extend from her fingertips.
　It was a special ability, due to Nao's animalization.
　In close combat, it's easier to fight with claws than with boomerangs.
　The claws, which are as long as a stiletto, are sharp and can easily cut through opponents.
　Syrone also places his hand on the hilt of his sword so that he can pull out at any time.

''Wait!　Guys!　Calm down!　Don't get into a fighting stance!

　Reno speaks up.
　Me, Shirone and Nao look at Reno.
　Reno is meditating, holding his hand and listening closely.

'I just noticed, it's the trees in the forest that we're looking at. I think the trees were alarmed by our temper tantrums.

　I nod my head at Reno's words.
　What does it mean that the trees are watching?
　But it seems that Reno has figured out who is watching us.
　She has a narrower range of perception than Nao, but when it comes to sensing things like spirit and emotion, she's more capable than Nao.
　With this ability, I seem to have figured out what they are.

'Hey, why were you watching Reno and the others?　Why do you look so anxious?　Reno and his friends would never hurt you. Come and tell me what you want.

　I can feel a wave of magic from Reno's body.
　It's the magic of peacefullness. This magic is able to make the opponent's mind calm and bring them to the conversation table.
　However, it won't work on people who are hostile to you from the start. In that case, you'll have to use Charms.
　The fact that he used a peaceful (Peaceful) magic means that he must have decided that he is not an enemy.
　When Reno uses his magic, the tree in front of him suddenly moves.
　It's as if it has a will.
　I shake my head thinking that far.
　No, it must really have it.
　If you look closely at the tree, you'll see that it has a human shape. It stands on two legs and has two hands.
　However, unlike an ordinary person, it has leaves sprouting from its entire body.
　I'm not just talking about a single leafy humanoid; I'm talking about two, three, and quite a few.
　Not hairy, leafy faces have eyes, just like humans, and they stare at us.
　The gaze Nao was feeling was like this one.

''It's not supposed to be able to find ....... It was right in front of you from the beginning .......'

　Nao scratches her head.
　I'm sure you've been able to find it. However, he didn't expect to see it because he thought it was just like normal trees.

'Hey Chiyuki-san. These people are .......
Yes, that's right, Sirone. A green man for sure.

　Green Man is a tree that has a human-like face and can talk.
　I've heard that some are humanoid, while others have a humanoid face and do not differ from the tree.
　The reason I say "apparently" is that this is the first time I've met a green man (green man).
　Maybe you've met them a few times in the past, but they don't usually move like a normal tree.
　Therefore, you won't notice them when you meet them. The fact that they all have beard-like leaves makes them appear to be a race of only males. However, they don't seem to have a specific gender.
　This is all the information I got about Green Men from books.
　But from what I've read, they are supposed to be a gentle race.
　As long as they do not harm the forest, they should not be hostile.
　They surround us with them, watching us like they're watching us. What does that mean?
　Even though they didn't burn the forest.
　A green man steps forward.
　It's big, like a giant.
　But he has both hands and feet, but branches are growing out of places. If I had stood still, I would have mistaken it for a large tree.
　A green man, or green man, has the same lifespan as a tree, and when he grows, he becomes as big as a big tree.
　I've heard that an old Green Man (Elder Green Man) who has lived a long time can become a leader for other Green Men (Green Men).
　Perhaps he is the leader of the Green Men (Green Men) that surround us.

'O dweller of the plains! What are you like in these woods?　You don't seem to be one of those people who wither the forest.

　The old green man (Elder Green Man) bends down to speak to us.

'We have come to retrieve a child who was abducted by the elves. An elf must have passed through here, could you please tell us?

　When I say this, the old green man (Elder Green Man) thinks about it.

'I've certainly passed it. 'Yes, I did pass it, in the car of the golden-horned keluneire. Was your son among them?　Then you must be worried.

　The Old Green Man (Elder Green Man) seems to have mistaken Kouki for one of our children.
　But I don't bother to correct him.

'Well, thank you for telling me. So I guess we'll be off then.'

　With that, I try to proceed.

'Wait, Chiyuki-san,'

　Reno stops me.

'What's up, Reno?'
I'm just curious about something.

　Saying that, Reno looks at the old green man (Elder Green Man).

What is that thing you were talking about, the one who withers the forest?　Is that why the forest spirits are making so much noise?

　Reno says and the Green Man (Green Man) starts to fuss.
　He seems somewhat surprised.

"Oh, so you who live on the plains can hear it too? The screams of the forest. That's a surprise. Well, I'll tell you. Something is happening in the forest right now!

　The Old Green Man (Elder Green Man) explains.
　Recently, there have been people dying on the west side of this sea of trees.
　The damage has been done to their compatriots in the west.
　Green men who live in the same forest share the same spirit, and their pain can be felt.
　This is why these tree-dwelling green men are on the lookout for visitors from the outside.
　We looked at each other.

'Looks like you've come into the forest at a difficult time.
'Yes, ....... That's why they were keeping an eye on us from the outside. If it wasn't for you, Reno, we would have been in a lot of trouble.

　Sirone was right. If we weren't good, we could have been in a fight with the Green Men (Green Man) and others.
　We're stronger than them, but I wouldn't want to fight them if I could.

''Hey, who are these people who wither the forest?

　When Reno asks, the old green man (Elder Green Man) shakes his head.

'I do not understand. But they are strong and fearsome. So strong and fearsome that they can only be rivaled by those in the heavens.

　The ones in the heavens would be the gods and angels of Elyos.
　If they're not their opponents, then they must be a pretty strong opponent.
　I'm curious. But since the Green Men (Green Man) and the others don't know either. I can't ask them any more.

Thank you for telling me. If you meet someone like that, Reno and the others will get rid of them.

　Reno says, and the green men (green men) look happy.

'Well, thank you for that. Then I'll tell you the secret wind path. If we can pass through the gaps in the trees, the path of the wind spirits, we should be able to reach the Carthaghov fort where the elves live by nightfall.'

　The old green man (Elder Green Man) points in a certain direction and feels the wind from there.
　It's like the wind's path has opened up.

'Thank you.'

　I bow to the Green Men (Green Men).
　This will help us move faster.
　Nao and Lino thank me and we leave.

Farewell, dwellers of the plains, may the spirits of the forest bless you.

　The old Green Man (Elder Green Man) waves his hand and the Green Men (Green Men) start singing.
　It was truly a poem of wind and trees.

"Whisper, Whisper, Whisper and the wind blows
　Blows on our voice, blows on our voice.
　The green wind danced happily and
　Even the spirits of the forest begin to laugh.
　We, and we, dance with joy.
　Leaves bobbing in and out of each other's hands
　The green wind is our rolling
　Let the spirit of the trees echo through the forest♪

　Listening to such a song, we entered the path of the wind.