When they returned to the elven village, they could hear some kind of argument in their ears.

'So, Meldina has gone out. We don't even know when she'll be back.

'Don't lie to me. I know he's back. When did you people become so high and mighty that you would hide it?

From the tone of her voice, one of them would be Merus, but the other voice didn't sound familiar.

Wary from his tone of searching for Meldina, and catching Vilm in sight as he walked up to shelter her behind him, Merus appealed to him to hide with eye contact, but he was a little too late.

He turned around and his face was as well-groomed as the elves', plus the emerald-like green stone embedded in his forehead, which spoke volumes about his race.

''Humph, you're still there. What the hell do you think you're doing?''

'I just got back from a walk. It's not like Mr. Merus was lying to me.

Vilm interrupted between the High Elf and Merus, who narrowed their eyes, and they stared at each other head on.

After a moment of silence, it was the high elf who opened his mouth first.

''So, you are the man of the human race that you say brought her back, right? Just in time. Our chief summons you. You must come with us.

You don't have to do this. Why don't you come to me, if you want to?

Nuh-uh...

It's probably enough to make the high elf's self-esteem go upside down with Vilm's mannerisms.

It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

''... Anyway, you have to come. We are a body that cannot leave Seiki-sama's side for a long time.

'You'll be able to move around a lot more freely with that necklace, won't you? If the underlings have it, how could their chief not have it?

Here, Wilm drops a bomb to the core of the matter.

If the High Elves had a connection with Larsen and the others, even if they tried to hide it, they should be able to see the breakdown.

However, the reaction shown by the High Elves was hardly what Virum had expected.

I'm talking about that. All I can say is that they got their hands on the necklace (toy) and went wild.

...you're a very easy man to admit.

"Reluctantly, though, you know. We had hoped that we could settle for non-interference, but if our chief insists on apologizing, we have no choice but to comply.

As he said, this high elf probably didn't agree with everything, either.

His bitter, huffy expression told that.

Seeing the situation, Meldina, who had been sheltered from behind Vilm, who was thinking about the next move, softly ears him.

''(Ville, let's just go with the story here)'

"(Are you okay? Is it possible that his words were an act?")

"(But even so, I think it's more efficient to walk around unapologetically, pretending to be invited, rather than sneaking in.)

Although Meldina's proposal certainly had a great deal of merit, the fact that there was also a disadvantage of exposing Meldina herself in the midst of the enemy's camp was slowing down Virum's decision.

''(I'm glad Ville is worried about me. But just because there is some danger or more, are you going to leave an existence that might be harmful to the spirits and others?)

"(It's...)

"(Besides, if anything happens, Ville will protect you, right?)

"...Yeah, I guess so.

Looking at Meldina, who laughed like a mischievous child, Vilm nodded slowly and looked at the High Elf again.

''Alright. I'll accept that invitation. However, I'll take a few others with me and Meldina.

No, you don't need to... No, I get it. I'll be right there, so I want you to get ready to go.

He would not want anyone other than those invited directly by the chief to enter the sanctuary.

The high elf reflexively tried to refuse Wyrm's conditions, but he grudgingly listened to the chief's orders, perhaps thinking that the first thing to do was to carry out his orders.

After that, he called out to Cunaria and the others who were preparing breakfast, and after waking up Miselio, who was still lying down in his bedroom, Virum and the others went to their sanctuary, accompanied by the high elves from earlier.



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



The place is surrounded by large trees that block out the light of the sun.

If you listen to just that, you might get the impression that you are in a forest surrounded by darkness, but the place maintains a certain amount of brightness thanks to a mysterious light.

If you follow the light, you'll find that the tree is more than two sizes larger than the large tree that surrounds it, emitting a faint light blue light.

And a few high elves had gathered at the base of the giant tree.

''Welcome. All of us High Elves welcome you, Spirit Beast-sama and Miserio-sama.

One of the advancing high elf men bows his head with words that include a clear rejection of all but Fumil and Miserio.

The short-tempered Oma's cheeks twitch at this blatant attitude, but thanks to the appeasement of Meldina and Cunaria next to him, he somehow manages not to pounce on them, I guess.

In contrast, Virum was calmly observing the high elves.

The magic power contained within them and their every move when they move, give you an idea of their abilities to a certain extent.

There were those who directed something close to killing intent at me, but I didn't forget to mislead them into misinterpreting our abilities by not daring to show a reaction and simply pass it off as a matter of course.

''What an attitude you have towards my invited guests!

A shout from the man who came out from the back brought all the high elves around him to their knees.

The one who emerged from the darkness was a high elf who looked a bit younger than them.

Although he had a similar face and costume to the surrounding High Elves, the indigo ball-like stone embedded in his forehead indicated that he was different from the other High Elves.

''Long time no see, my fiancé,''

'I thought I refused to take you up on that offer. Lady Harzun.

While the surrounding High Elves were staring at Meldina, the man called Harzang did not break into a joyful smile.

''Kukkukkukkuk. That attitude in front of me, the next chief of the High Elves...you are indeed fit to be my wife.

"Thank you for the compliment. But I have no intention of doing so, so please give it up.

"Your opinion doesn't matter. I asked you to take you as my wife. You will have no other choice but to be my wife.

"To be frank, I have no love for Lady Harzun, who has absolutely no regard for the opinions of any woman I would like to take as my wife, so I will refuse at all costs.

Every time Meldina utters a word of rejection, the anger of the High Elves who are refraining from being around him grows, but they seem unable to move as the party involved and the son of the chieftain, Harzang, does not break into a smile.

Wyrm and the others also didn't try to interfere since Meldina didn't make any pretense of asking for help, and they kept their eyes on Hartshan.

The one who broke first was Hartshan.

''Huh-uh-uh. 'Pfft. Well, good. It's not for nothing that I have called you here. I would like to apologize for the fact that some of our High Elf tribe members went out of control and caused a lot of trouble to the spirit animal.

If that was the case, you didn't have time to worry about me, did you? It's not an honorable act to keep the Spiritual Beast-sama waiting and seduce a woman.

Letting out a sigh when it was finally over, Meldina threw one last sarcastic remark and stepped back to get out of Hartshan's sight.

''Hmm, your future wife is right. All of you, invite your guests to my room. Refrain from behaving rudely. Is that clear?

""Ha!"

After hearing the high elves' reply, Hartshan stepped forward to follow them.