Inside the carriage on its way to the kingdom of Silvermoon.

　Eliza and I were the only two people in the carriage, which was being piloted by my magic.
　Eliza was dressed as a maid, and our seating order in the carriage was accordingly.

　When there are more than one person in a carriage, the seating arrangement changes depending on our status and relationship.

　Right now, I'm in the top seat and maid Eliza is in the bottom seat.
　When she's a maid, Eliza is very thorough in these areas as well.

"Are you sure about this, master?
"What?
Bring those two with you.

　When Eliza said that, I looked down at my feet.
　The interior of the carriage is a room, and therefore my shadow is only dimly visible.
　Reece and Zella are among them.

I'm a little surprised you pointed that out.

　Frankly I was surprised.
　Whether Emperor Eliza or Maid Eliza

"In times like these, you're safest with me!　I thought that was what you would say.
It is.

　Eliza nodded in no time.
　That's true.

If you bring it that way, it's ......
"Why don't you come?

　I nodded my head, Eliza blushed and replied.

If you bring her into the shadows, she'll stay there, just like everyone else. ......

　Eliza mumbles something inaudible, but I can't hear her.
　I couldn't hear it, but I didn't dare to listen back.

　Not the emperor, not the maid.
　Eliza is a smart girl.

　At least. She's the kind of girl who can say "what's necessary" clearly.
　Since she doesn't say it outright, I suppose it's not necessary.

　It seems I was right, and in mere seconds, Eliza was staring at me with her usual expression, as if nothing had happened.

"So, master, what do you want to do now?
"Yeah, I'll go get the golden apples first.
Take?
You can't fool me if you don't make a good show of it.
That's okay too. What can I do to help?

　　　　　*

　The Kingdom of Silvermoon, the Spiritual Land of Fragile.

　Although it is called the capital of the spiritual land, in reality it is only about the size of a large city in the countryside.
　You will find that you will be able to get a good deal more than you expected, and if you are a member of the empire, it's not surprising that Reece thinks "we will never win against the empire".

　Outside the capital, a well-dressed group came out to greet us.

　About a hundred soldiers in the back, roughly twenty civilian officials in the middle, and a well-dressed but frail-looking middle-aged man in the front.

　I get out of the carriage, with Eliza in tow, and we walk toward them.
　When we are close enough to have a normal conversation, the middle-aged man kneels on the ground, following the imperial etiquette.

"Aurora Silvermoon. I humbly request an audience with Your Imperial Highness.

　Following Aurora, the civilians and soldiers fell to their knees on the ground in a lump.
　The sight of more than a hundred people kneeling on the ground was quite spectacular.

"Aurora, you mean you're the king?
"Yes.
I see. Yeah, all right, just get up. You can't talk to me like this.

　The king is a vassal state, and I am the Father of the Empire, a very high ranking person.
　Aurora took the usual vassal's courtesy.

"Before I came, I found out that you'll be nine hundred years old this year, Aurora.
"At the mercy of the Empire, we continue to live in the spirit land.

　I once again saw Aurora turning 900 years old.
　A middle-aged man who doesn't look much older than 900 years old, just like Reece who is 256 years old and still looks like a girl.

　He's royalty that lives in the spirit land, so he's immortal, so he's 900 years old and still looks middle-aged.

　Although she looks young, she looks weak and unreliable.

"Have you read the letter yet?
"Yes, I will take you to the golden apple tree.
Yes, please.

　I nodded and returned to the carriage with Maid Eliza, who had not spoken a word during the conversation between Father and King.

""Ohhhh!"

　As I moved it around in the carriage, I heard a soldier-like cheer.

What's the matter with him?
"You don't normally see a carriage,

　Eliza explained to me.
　I see, so that's why they were marveling.

　King Aurora and the civilians lead the way, escorted by soldiers.
　With that, they proceeded with the auto-carriage.

　　　　　Stars

　After traveling about 30 minutes or so on human legs, the carriage stopped.

　I opened the top and looked out.

Oh.

　I couldn't help but gasp in amazement.

　It was a fantastic beauty.



　A large tree with golden apples reflects the sun's light and shines.
　No, this isn't just a reflection, it's emitting a radiance of its own.

　Yes, it was so beautiful and magical.

　You jump down from your carriage and speak to Aurora.

"These are the golden apples.
"Good-bye.
It's so beautiful, I almost feel guilty about taking it off. Are you sure about this?
Of course, sir. I'd rather not have to ask Father of the Nation to carry it, just say the word.
It is a gift for your Majesty, and I'm afraid I'll have to do it myself. ...... Yes, may I sample one?　It's a bit scary to offer them without knowing the taste.
"Of course.

　As soon as Aurora commanded, one of the officials went to the big tree to fetch some well-ripened golden apples.

"You are more and more brilliant as you take them.
"It is growing by the power of the spiritual ground, if it is a divine tree, so to speak.
"I see.

　After Aurora answered, she turned to the civilian.
　With a practiced hand, the officer peeled an apple and placed it on a pre-prepared plate.

　Aurora took it and held it out to me with both hands.

"Here you are, enjoy your meal.
"Yeah, hey you.

　I turned and called Eliza, who followed me.
　I didn't call her by name in front of Aurora and the others.

"Try it.
"I do, sir?

　Surprised Eliza.

Yes.
"Excuse me, Your Highness, why do you want to be a maid ......?
"She is the closest person to His Majesty among my maids, and I think it's no exaggeration to say that she knows His Majesty's taste preferences better than anyone else in the world.
"Was that so?
So, yes, please.

　At my urging, Elisa put the apple in her mouth, making a face that I don't understand her true intentions at the moment.

"--!

　Instantly, his eyes widened in surprise.

"Holy shit.
"I don't know, Your Majesty, do you like this apple?
"Yeah!　I'm sure you'll love it.
I see. That's good to know.

　Eliza was seriously surprised.
　I was expecting these golden apples to be extremely delicious, but they far exceeded my expectations.

　For a moment, my emotions leaked out honestly, and I'm sure I didn't lie or make it up.

　I saw those golden apples, saw the big tree, and saw the aurora borealis.

What's wrong with you?
Can I have another one?
"Okay, hey--
"No, I'll do it myself.

　Stopped the civilian who was about to move at the command of Aurora and approached the big tree by himself.

　Then he placed the bag he had prepared beforehand over an affordable apple.
　The golden glow is wrapped in the bag and disappears.

"Father, you don't need to do that to keep the golden apples free of worms.

　A slightly condescending tone of voice came from one of the officials.

　I could vaguely sense that he was going to demonstrate some farming techniques the kid learned on the job.

　I didn't answer and waited a bit.

　I waited for about three minutes, then I took the bag and scooped an apple.
　Then I peeled it with my hands and put it on a plate.

Here you go.

　She offered it to Elisa again, and she slapped her cheek with a slap.
　I know how good it tastes, and this time I won't show you my unpleasantness," she said with enthusiasm.

　But.

Ohhhh. ......

　The moment she ate the apple, Eliza's eyes went slack-jawed.
　She slumped down with an ecstatic expression on her face.

What is this?
"The king should try it too.

　With that, he offers Aurora an apple as well.
　As she sips the dreaded apple, Aurora is equally ecstatic and elated.

　An even more limited application of the storage bag, the fertilizer bag.

　If you set a person without magic power as the owner, time will flow faster inside the bag than outside, and things will decay at super speed.
　But the golden apple that takes root in the spiritual land will not decay.
　The faster it accelerates, the more it ripens.

That's why the king sent me here.

　I said that to Aurora and the others.

　　　　　.

　Spiritual land of Fragile, a certain place.

　The two men who were face to face with each other had a look of relief on their faces.

"I wasn't sure what to expect at first.
"Hmm, I didn't know that Alexander Carlyle was coming. I thought he'd find out about our plans.


But those apples were so delicious. That preparation, I really think they just came to get apples for the emperor.
"You can have all the apples you want, and we'll let you go home in a good mood.
Oh, in the meantime, let's get ready for the enactment.

　The two men nodded at each other.

　They let their guard down as Alec showed off his super-speed ripening of the golden apples.

　That's exactly what Alec wanted, and they're just lying completely in the palm of their hands.
　They were completely unaware of it.