With your back to the checkpoint, you go back the way you came.

　We will be reunited with the two guys from earlier.

　They are clearly wary, but when I tell them that we are not enemies and that there is a checkpoint ahead, they stop and listen to me.

　They both take their hoods off at the same time. There was a handsome elf with a face so handsome it could have been mistaken for a woman, and a dwarf woman with a slight beard.

　They were both extremely rich in the blood of their own kind. Children of the chief, indeed!

　They looked at each other and said.

"You know that we are the children of the chief, did you hear from each of us?

Roughly. . they're eloping, aren't they?

"Yes, it is. You saw it at the checkpoint or something. Neither elves nor dwarves will listen to each other. All they care about is to separate us.

It seemed so. I didn't know they even built a checkpoint.

"We are genuinely in love with each other.

　The lamenting dwarf princess, the elven prince to support her. No matter how many times I see it, it's a curious pairing. --But their love for each other is palpable. I am no longer willing to turn them in because their races do not get along with each other and it would lead to war.

　Of course, I'm not ready to just sit back and watch them fight.

　I ask them, "Are they in love?

They are in love, aren't they?　We want to be together, don't we?

"Yes. I want to be in the same grave.

"So you are headed to the Temple of the Mother Goddess?

　Runamaria asks .

"Yes,

　The doctrine of the Mother of Earth was "fertility". The god of marriage, whose doctrine is "Be fruitful and multiply. She also promotes inter-marriage between many races.

　Some say that if you join the Mother of Earth and receive her blessings, it will be easier to have children among different races. They are betting on it.

　And perhaps the elves and dwarves know this too, so they set up a checkpoint and wait.

Sorry. Sorry for the inconvenience to my people.

　As much as I would like to say don't worry about it, the atmosphere of the elves and dwarves was unmoved by leverage until this case was resolved. It also gave the impression of a strong determination not to let anything pass. As long as they walk on two legs, no one will be let through.

　That meant that not only they, but also we couldn't go near the Temple of the Mother Goddess.

　It also meant that we wouldn't be able to see High Priestess Flora.

　To remove the checkpoint, we have to let them achieve their goal or lose their goal. As I said before, I'm not going to sell these two. So I was going to work to eliminate the purpose.

　They are happy when I tell them that.

Really?　Are you going to be on our side?

"Master Will is on the side of the damsel in distress.

　Lunamaria answers for me and, on the whole, she is right.

But elves and dwarves are a stubborn people. They will not readily admit to us.

The best thing would be to get the Elven Chief and the Dwarven Chief to recognize their marriage, is that possible?


"Absolutely not.


　Two people who are huddled together.

　The head of the elven chief is as hard as a layer of granite while the head of the dwarf chief is as hard as a layer of oak.

　He would not under any circumstances change his mind, he said.

　This elopement was carried out after three years of opposition.

Even if he were dead, he would not admit to their relationship.

　Lunamaria says ruefully.

No, maybe she'll appreciate it a little more if you die. Maybe they'll say that I should have put some rape flowers in front of the grave and listened to you a little more.

　The elven prince says in a self-mocking tone.

Maybe your place will give up drinking for three days if I die.

　And sarcastically agree, but that was a hint.

...... not that inflexible. Then we've got a plan.

　The words startled Lunamaría.

"You've already found a brilliant idea!

Sort of.

Like an ancient warlord.

That's an exaggeration. And you guys gave me a clue as to how to do it. And the otherworldly stories I found in my father's study.

"We?　And an otherworldly story!

Heartfelt was the key word, and the title of a book I used to read came to mind.

What is the title of the book?

"Romeo and Juliet



　I don't want to be presumptuous, but it didn't sit well with Lunamaria, who is not familiar with otherworldly books.

"I'll tell you about it later, but the book will be very helpful in solving this case. But I need a certain herb to carry out the plan in the book.

Some medicinal herbs

　As expected of an elf prince, there were several herbs in the luggage. But conveniently there was no herb that I wanted.

What I want is mandogora root.

"Is Mandogora. The drug.

"I wonder if they sell it back to Arkham.

　The elven prince claps his hand as I say this.

I saw a Mandogora in the woods we passed the other day. I was in a hurry and didn't pick it.

It's a lucky break. Let's go to the place now.

　We immediately agree to Lunamaría's proposal.

　We can certainly get it back to Arkham, but our funds are not plentiful.

　And if we waste time here, the other travelers will suffer as well. The elves and dwarves were running the checkpoint at a brisk pace, never letting anyone through.

　If the travelers were left stranded, the cult of the Mother Goddess would hear about it. Although the Mother Goddess is a peaceful group, she would not be pleased. Instead of a war between elves and dwarves, the cult of the Mother Goddess might intervene. That was not a nice future.

　So we chose the method of procuring Mandogora locally.