Several dark elves rushed into the rented garden.
　However, the dark elf was only as tall as Bune and was clearly still a child.

"Marina unni! I'm in trouble! The Lugudos are not coming back!"
"I stopped saying no!?" But the Lugudos said they would be all right if they were themselves."
"Please, sister Marina," Help the Lugudos!"

　We can't immediately understand what we're talking about because each of us is making a fuss about it.
　But... I still understood that some of the children had gone somewhere and not come back.
　Watching these dark elf children, Ray suddenly wonders.

(Marina must have left this village nearly a hundred years ago.) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

　Given the longevity of the dark elves, it may be possible that they were actually born.
　That's how Ray thought, but it's true that he met Marina while she was studying the world tree in the village today.
　Some of Dark Elf's children are called bad kids or kid generals, and they've made fun of Marina, who's treated as an important figure in the village... of course Marina can't be kept silent, and as a result, the kids generals are forced into it.

"Then the Lugudos showed their strength, and left the village into the woods!"
"Well..."


　The remark twitches Marina's face.
　It's only natural. Normally, there were few monsters between the boundaries of confusion and barriers, so we could get them out of the village to some extent with peace of mind.
　But... now, because of the restoration of the world tree the day before, many monsters are trapped between the boundaries of the labyrinth and the barrier.
　It could also be rich in goblins.
　It's not hard to imagine what would happen if a few dark elf children were to go to such a place with little combat skills...

"d*mn!"

　Marina turns her gaze to the sky.
　The sun is already setting, and night will come before long.
　And at night, monsters become more active, and even dark elves are no longer in a situation where children can manage.
　Marina, lost for a moment, immediately opens her mouth to the Reyes.

"Ray, Elena, Vihela, Arla, Bune, Earth. --will you help me?"

　Originally, the Ray's requests are for the treatment of world trees and the resolution of unusual changes in the forest changes.
　There is no obligation here to save the Dark Elf's children, and you are not to blame for making that choice.
　But... it was still the home of Marina, and it was only natural for them to want to save her if she was in trouble.
　Unlike these laymen, Earth is simpler.
　Because he was aiming to be a hero, he could not act like abandoning a child, and above all, Earth was originally a general in the village where he grew up.
　For that reason, I had no option to abandon General Gaki, who had gone into the forest, and I understand how he felt.
　Ray was the first to speak.

"All right, I don't mind,"

　All the others agree with Ray's words to go to the woods.

"...thank you." Let's go. Hey, you guys. Did you tell the other adults about this?"

　The children all shake their heads at Marina's confirming words.
　Did you think you'd get scolded, or did you have such a strong impression when you met Marina?
　At any rate, Marina tells the children that the matter is still unknown to other adults.

"Now, old man... tell the same story to the elder man. and they will soon mobilize the others."
"But..."

　One of the children opens his mouth nervously.

"If I knew this, I would get in trouble..."
"Now that it has become so important," I can't hide it in any way. Then we should find the Lugudos who won't come back soon, right? It can't be helped to get in trouble because they did something bad. Or do you abandon the missing children because you don't like being scolded?"

　Jokingly... the children shake their heads wide when asked with a smile that never smiled.
　They never wanted to abandon Lugudos, who was also their leader.
　Although he was a general who caused a lot of problems like this time, it is true that he has a caring personality and is liked by his subordinates.
　Seeing these children, Marina opens her mouth with a big smile, not a few seconds ago.

"Well, then go. We'll go into the woods and look for the Lugudos."
"Oh, yes! All right!"

　When they screamed, the children rushed away.
　Seeing it off, Marina opens her mouth.

"Well, I'll ask for your cooperation," I'll be ready soon, so let's meet at the entrance of the village."

　At Marina's words, everyone took action.
　Marina heads to her house and Earth heads with Polo to the house Ray rents.
　In the meantime, Ray alone remained there, doing nothing special.
　This is because preparation is basically unnecessary for Ray, who is using mystery rings.
　Of course it was necessary to buy consumables, but fortunately there is nothing missing now.
　That being the case, Ray heads straight to the entrance to the village entrance.

"Grull".

　Next to Ray, Seto's throat rings.

(No, I think it's right to describe this as full of motivation.

　As was the case with Gilm, Seto is basically sweet for children.
　Of course, it's not unconditionally sweet, but it's easy to get back at someone who plays tricks, but overall, it's true that it's sweet towards children.
　That's why children are not coming back into the forest... or even into the forest where the goblin seems to be rife.
　Along with Seto, Ray turns to the wooden fence covering the village, as he heads to the entrance to the village of Dark Elf.
　This settlement is protected by the barriers of trees around the world, and as a result, there is no wall like the one in Gilm.
　The wooden fence was just a temporary one, and that was probably why the Lugudos were able to get out so easily.

(Usually... it wouldn't have been a problem if the world trees were healthy.)

　The forest is now in danger because of the world tree problem.
　Adults would of course have been very careful with their children, but children would be happy to break what they were told.
　The tendency is likely to be stronger, especially if you are a kid.k.a. general.

"That doesn't mean that you can leave the child alone."
"Gruly!"

　In the muttering Ray, the dark elf...that is, the possibility that he is actually older than Ray is completely gone.
　Regardless of their actual age, they seem to be children, so it's only natural to treat them as children.
　It may have been something close to Marina's defensive instinct not to think about her real age.
　Anyway, Ray and Sett arrive at the meeting place.
　And he looked surprised to see some dark elves already gathered.
　No, it wouldn't have been particularly surprising if it were just a gathering. Are we gathering here for some reason? I might have been somewhat convinced if I had been told that it would be held at a party.But... most of the dark elves here have bows in their hands, and it seems unlikely that they will have a party in the future.

(In the first place, the world tree hasn't completely recovered, so there's no way we'll have a party.) There were so many people who were shocked.

　So why are there so many dark elves here? Ray's question was immediately understood when he heard what the dark elves were talking about.

"Well, when you find the goblins, you'll be the first to see if the Lugudos are near you."
"But if you're a woman, you're a man, and you're a child." Do you think the Goblin will find such a dark elf and leave it alone?"
"Still. There's not a single possibility, is there?"
"...I hope he is alive..."

　Talking anxiously about Lugudos and other children.
　That is to say, they, like Ray, gather to look for the Lugudos.

(Very early)

　Soon after Marina left the house, Ray should have left the house.
　But the Dark Elves are already gathering in front of Ray.

"...what? Do you happen to cooperate?"

　One of the Dark Elves saw Ray and said so.
　Ray, who has no intention of hiding, nods to the question.

"Oh, Marina asked me to do it. --but it was only a short time before I heard the story, and it was a long time before we got together."
"The children of the village are missing. It's only natural that they'll come together, isn't it?

　Talking to Ray is the Dark Elf, who is about twenty years old.
　Wearing an arrow barrel and a bow in his hand, the image of Ray's dark elf itself is very much like the image of Ray's dark elf.

"Is it fair to say that I am very much in company?"
"Is that so? I think it's normal. -- well, I'm glad that someone like you will help me."

　Hearing from an acquaintance who can feel Ray's magical powers, the Dark Elf man smiles happily when he hears Ray's cooperation.
　There is no fear or fear of Ray already there.
　Going to the woods to help Dark Elf's children is, of course, related.
　It is also important that this man himself has no ability to feel magic.
　In fact, some of the people who sensed Ray's magical powers in the training ground looked away from him.
　However, what is there is not fear, but awe...it's the same in the sense that both are feared, but it's probably because of the experience of treating trees around the world that they don't have any malicious intentions.

"Grull".
"Oops,"

　Perhaps he's lonely because Ray's only talking to a dark elf guy, Seto shows up, his throat bleating.
　The dark elf man looked surprised at Set, which he could say was rather less surprising for someone unfamiliar with Set.

"...not much of a surprise,"
"That's true, isn't it? You're with me for treating the world tree. It's easy to imagine that there's no such thing as pointless violence."

　The Dark Elf guy talking to Ray says so, but many of the other Dark Elves are trying to distance themselves by looking at Seto.
　It was clear from the look that not all of the Dark Elves accepted Seto like a man.

"Let go! Let go!"
"So you're telling me to wait! It's already night and you're going to go into the forest alone! It's better for everyone to work together than for everyone to move separately!"

　Ray suddenly hears such a voice and turns his eyes to it.
　There was a scene where a dark elf was trying to head for the forest, but a few people were stopping.
　No, many others have been stopped trying to head into the woods.

"What about that?"
"... oh, it's Lugudos' brother." The other is his brother and sister who went with Lugudos into the woods."

　Indeed, Ray nods.
　If my relatives were told that they were going to the forest between the boundaries of confusion and the boundaries of barriers, it would be natural for them to be so impatient.

"But even if each of us had his own way, it would only take a waste of time to find the Lugdos. Even if you know that... you must be in such a hurry."

　When Ray tried to nod to the muttering man's words.

"Look here, boys. I'll tell you the extent of what each of us is going to explore. Search accordingly. As you know, there are many monsters in the forest right now, so don't act alone."

　Marina's voice echoed around her.