Mr. Columntude!　Wh-why are you here?

　Solstice stood up at the appearance of her beloved High Elf-san, and her voice trembled as she asked.

''... a lot of things, you know.''

　She replied and sat down on the couch, saying "Dokorasho" aloud.

　She looks young, but her movements smell old........

　Mr. Kilt, who doesn't have a personality match with her, muttered a bit disgustedly, "You're here, Colon".

　I'm actually a bit confused by the sudden appearance of Colontude-san, too.

(Because........this is the royal capital, right?)

　She was a person who loved to gain new knowledge and was working alone on her research in an unpopular forest, not to be disturbed by anyone.

　I never thought I'd see her in the royal capital where so many people live.

　Illtimina-san also rolled her crimson eyes.

I have a few things to do with you, Colon-chan. So I asked her to come here.

　The one who answered was Mumpa.

　

(........)

　I look at Mumpa with a complicated look in my eyes.

　But she doesn't seem bothered by it.

You know what, Colon?　It's been a while, but would you mind if I asked you to escort this Poe?

　I asked Mr. Colontude for help.

　Mr. High Elf's Grand Wizard stared at Poe.

　Po-chan's light blue eyes also stared back at her.

''.........''
..........

　A moment of silence.

(.........what is it?)

　I feel like there is some kind of sympathy exchanged between those who are less likely to talk.

　Eventually.

Not at all.

　Mr. Columntude gives a thumbs up.

'I'll live with you, my study of The Divine Family will go a long way. I'm not a problem, okay?
Well, that's good.

　Mr. Mumpa smiled reassuringly.

'Poe?'

　I call out to my "Brethren of the God Realm".

"Acknowledged.
..........
'For a man, it confirms a great power. I trust.

　A bland answer.

(Uh, yeah...)

　If it's good for you, Poe, that's fine.

　But it's a bit of a challenge to be with her as a research subject.

Would you like to, Poe?
Yes, sir.

　quickly

　Two loudmouths shaking each other's hands.

(Well, okay.)

　They seem to be surprisingly similar to each other, and we'll just have to trust Mr. Colon-Tude to do the rest.

　Besides, I don't think this High Elf Grand Wizard would be able to fall behind too soon, even if the other party is the 'Son of Darkness'.

　Po-chan can also use part of the power of the Divine Dragon Nagaia, so I think the two of them can handle it.

　Mumpa-san is smiling at the conclusion of the contract safely.

　Kirto was a bit sullen, but he didn't complain.

　Iltimina and I are going to let it happen.

I love it.

　Solstice looked at Poe enviously as she sucked her fingers in her mouth.　


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


So, Colon?　Is the report in question true?

　When the conversation had come to an end, Mumpa-san returned to a serious expression and called out to him.

''Hmm...''

　thump

　Mr. Colonteau nodded.

(Report?)

　Mumpa noticed our stunned faces and told us.

There are two main reasons why you're here this time, Colon. There are two main reasons why you're here this time,
Two reasons?
Yes, firstly, there was a report that they found a magic formula to counteract the Child of Darkness' abilities.

(What?!)

That's, uh...
Yeah. How to deal with the "ability to turn people into demons

　Mumpa had a very happy smile on his face as he said this.

　She must have wanted to surprise us.
　She seemed very happy to see me and my sisters, who had gone along with the plan.

Are you sure, Mumpa?
That's what I called to make sure. ........And?　Isn't it true, Colon?
Mochi, theory.

　Ahem.

　Ms. Colontude says, turning her surprisingly large chest away.

　Then she took out a cylindrical glass container from a large bag she carried on her shoulder.

　It was filled with liquid, and what a human hand was floating in it.

　And on that hand, the same tattoos as those 'Demon Attendants' were carved on it.

''.........''

　The expression on Kilt's face as he watched was a frown.

　....Yeah.

(That's Quilt's hand, isn't it?)

　When I was attacked by the 'Child of Darkness' before, I severed it myself.

　As I recall, it was received from the Guild via the Royal Academy of Magic by its special advisor, Colontude-san, and was used as research material.

''Well we'll see.''

　Mr. Colontude holds a magic wand that looks like a toy, about thirty centimeters long.

　Pic.

　The magic stone at the tip glowed.

　Then the lid of the glass container opened and a wet hand floated in the air.

　Mekhi.

　Perhaps it's because the seal has been broken, but the tattoo shines, and what was Kilt-san's hand is transformed.

　Mekki........mekki.

　They're black, oddly shaped fingers, like the hands of a hard dragon.

　Mr. Colontude spins his magic wand with a twirl.

　Click, click, click.

　The magic stone flashed again.

(....ah...)

　The blue light of the tattoo faded.

　As if it were evaporating, the tattoo disappeared from the skin as black smoke.

　And the area regained human skin.

　What was left was the severed Kirt-san's hand itself, which was severed.

''........That's all.''

　cha-pon

　Our hands sank back into the liquid of the glass container and the lid slammed shut.

　We were stunned.

'Great, great, great, great, great, Mr. Colontude!　What on earth is the principle behind this!

　Solstice, a believer, asked with a great swagger.

　I was surprised too.

　Even that Mr. Kilt, as expected of the current phenomenon, groaned in admiration, "Mmmm,　

　Mr. Colontude said.

'The reversal of the demon. The procedure of breaking down, producing, and acting on the magma, with the influx of antibodies from the outside, from the reverse phenomenon of mental action--''

　............

Only Solstice is nodding "hmmm".

　I begged.

''Well I'm sorry. Can you explain it more clearly?
..........

　You look a little lonely, Mr. Colonnade.

(I'm sorry.)

　Solstice stared at me, too.

　However, the high elves, who are only talkative and kind, responded to my request.

''........In short, 'a person becomes a demon' is the same as a disease.
"Sick"?
Yes. The Son of Darkness is a magical curse that's been pouring a pathogen into a person's body. It interacts with the negative emotions in a person's mind. The stronger the negative emotion, the more the pathogen becomes active. And the 'person' becomes a 'demon'.

　Hmmm?

I made the antibodies.
..........
"The connection between the 'germ' and the 'human psyche' is blocked by the antibodies. As a result, the germ is unable to activate, it is debilitated and dies.

　Slender fingers indicate a glass container.

　The hand in there is the hand of a man who has been restored.

"Sick and well.

　Mr. Columbudo concluded.

　The explanation was very clear.

　But.

'Don't get me wrong!　What you're saying sounds easy, but what you're doing is a mess, and a hard one at that!

　Solstice pleads desperately.

　Yeah, I know.

(Maybe it's outrageous, right?)

　Normally, it is impossible to imagine how such an invisible connection between magic and the human psyche can be effected.

　And Mr. Colantude, who is standing right in front of me, has managed to make that unimaginable world phenomenon happen in the real world.

　As expected of a golden-marked magician.
　He is a high elf who is known as a great magician.

　Illtimina looked at the glass container and then at Kirt's face.

　Then she asked Mr. Colontude.

'So you're saying that there's some kind of negative part of the mind of someone who becomes a 'demon'?

　............

　At those words, we all looked at Kilt-san without a second thought.

　Kirt-san was surprised at that, but he quickly turned serious and nodded his head.

'Of course. Even a strawberry has a heart that hates people.'
..........

　As a child, Mr. Kilt went through a very painful experience.

　When I think about it, I know it's inevitable.

(...but it's a little sad.)

　Noticing the expression on his face, Mr. Kilt laughs and pats me on the head.

'Of course, this is not the only thing on my mind, though.
Yes.

　I nodded.

　With a somewhat sleepy look on his face, Mr. Colontude continued to explain.

''........We all have negative emotions. ........Jealousy, envy, craving, lust, big or small, we all have them. ........So it's natural for everyone to 'turn people into demons'.
..........
"....only the more negative emotions, the more active they are. ....you'll transform into a more powerful demon.

　I see.

(...but when you think about it, that's a truly frightening ability in The Dark Child.)

　And Mr. Colontude, who has found a way to prevent that from happening, is an even better person.

　I'm not Soltis, but I have a lot of respect for him, too.

'Ehem.'

　At my gaze, Mr. Colontude turned his large chest away again.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


It turns out that "the ability to turn people into demons" can be prevented.

　However, the Son of Darkness has another ability - the ability to become invisible to human eyes.

　We 'Divine Attendants' can see it.

　However, it is the ability to make the Child of Darkness invisible to human eyes, such as those of Kirt-san.

(We were in danger in the Kerala Desert because of that.)

　It gives me chills to remember those days.

　And Mr. Columcude.

I'll deal with that too.

　He said these amazing words to me.

'Ho, really?'

　I don't know how many times today, Solstice's surprised voice.

　Mr. Colontude nodded and looked at me, "...yes.

'Actually, it was Marle.'

(...what?)

　Did I do it?

　She said to me, confused.

'Ra, Tid, and Mudah, I want you to think of a spell you can use with those three letters... remember what Marle said before?'
Uh-huh.

(...speaking of which...)

　When we said goodbye at Daiki's house before, I asked Mr. Colontude, 'Do you want a souvenir?' I remember being asked, and I remember answering that.

　Ra, Tid, and Muda.

　That was the pronunciation of the three Thanatos magic letters that Illtimina taught me in the Tower of the Great Forest of Aldoria.

　Mr. Colontude nodded and

I stumbled upon it while I was looking for that magic.
What?

　In front of my astonished face, she again lifted the magic wand like a toy in her hand.

"Sanctuary. --Two Ratty d*mned.

　snappingly

　The magic stone glowed.

　Instantly, a hemispherical white light filled the large guild chief's room.

　It's about 20 meters in diameter.

(What, what's this?)

　It's like a space illuminated by white lights, but other than that, I don't feel anything in particular.

''........Is this, only in this light, the flow of magic element is constant?''

　Solstice muttered.

(Huh?)

　Mr. Columbudo smiled and nodded with a satisfied smile.

'Correct.'
..........
Guessing, the Son of Darkness is nowhere to be seen. It's hidden behind a veil of elemental magic. ... the Divine Family, whose divine energy prevents the effects of elemental magic. That's why I can see it. ........This space, this pseudo 'divine world', the veil of magic element, cannot be created.

　Oh, yeah?



　You need to check me out.

Yeah.

　Mr. Colontude nodded his head repeatedly.

　Both Ms. Illtimina and Mr. Kilt stared at the hemispherical light, as if they were dumbfounded.

　Mr. Mumpa clasped his hands together in front of his chest.

Oh, great, Colon!
Ahem.

　Mr. Columbudo turned his large breasts away again.

　Poe, who had been silent for a long time, muttered nostalgically.

'This light, it looks like the God Realm.

.................

　Really?

　So this was the kind of world that the Divine Dog Ark Inn, the Divine Dragon Nagaia, the Divine Fangra Rapt and Recto Alice lived in.

　Thinking about that, this light felt strange, like it was somehow warm and nostalgic.

　Pic.

　When Mr. Colontude's wand still shines, the hemispherical light also disappears.

(Ah.....)

　It's a bit lonely.

'Merle?　Is this the promise ... fulfilled?

　Mr. Colontude asks, shaking his long blonde hair and craning his neck.

　Oh, I see.

(First of all, Mr. Colontude, you said, 'I'm here to fulfill my promise.'

　I realize that now.

Yeah.

　I nodded widely.

　I smiled and replied with sincere respect and gratitude.

'Thank you, Mr. Collontude!　It was a better souvenir than I expected.
Yeah.

　She, too, was beaming with joy.

　She was a disappointing beauty, Ms. Colontude, but the only thing she had going for her was her smile, which was really beautiful and pretty.

　It was a sight to behold, and I couldn't help but admire it.

.......... Kohon, Marl?

　Mr. Illtimina notices, and for some reason, she clears her throat and calls me over.

(Hmm?)

　When I looked back at her, she was looking at me somewhat resentfully.

　What is it?

　Puzzled by the lack of meaning, she eventually let out a breath of resignation.

　Mr. Kilt and Mumpa chuckled.

　Solstice cowered her tiny shoulders.

　Only Mr. Colontude and Poe were expressionless.

(????)

　I nodded my head, but Illtimina-san looked up as if she had regained her composure and opened her mouth.

''With this, I understand the first reason why the Golden Mark magician, Colontude Resta, came to the royal capital. Then what is the second?

　A change of subject.

　We, too, are changing our minds.

　Yes, if Mr. Colontude came to King's Landing for this report, then the first reason makes sense.

(But what other reason could it be?)

　I can't think of anything at all.

　And then it wasn't Mr. Mumpa or Mr. Colomtude himself who answered it.

It was the straw that summoned me.

　What a surprise, it was the Golden Mark Demon Hunter sitting on the sofa with us.

(Huh?)

　Quilts?

　This surprised me and my sisters.

　Mr. Mumpa laughed and wondered if he knew why.

　'It's customary,' said Kilto.

''In a manner of speaking, it's customary. It is customary that when a new Gold Marked Adventurer is selected, the approval of the Gold Marked Adventurer in the Kingdom of Shumuria is required.

　.............

(Eh...................the new Golden Mark adventurer?

　We are surprised by the suddenness of the story.

'Oh?'　I didn't know there was such a thing.

　Ms. Illtimina also muttered in surprise.

　Mumpa-san nodded.

''Yes. Although it's not strictly set in stone, the 'Golden Mark Adventurers' of the Shumuria Kingdom have been three for generations. It's been half a year since Elle's death, and we've been talking about choosing a new 'Golden Mark Adventurer'.

　Oh, really?

　I was a little surprised, but what kind of person would that be?　I was curious.

(I'd love to meet him, if I could.)

　Honestly, I think so.

　Iltimina nodded.

'I see. So what kind of person is the new 'golden seal'?

　He asked casually.

'You are,'

　Kilt-san also replied, as if it was obvious.

　...........

''.........Yes?''

　The sister next to her who asked back.

　Mr. Kilt looked straight at her beauty with his golden eyes.

'Didn't you hear me?　I said you were the one chosen to be the new 'Golden Mark Adventurer'.
..........
..........
..........

　Me and Solstice looked back at her, aghast.

　The person blinked at us.

　Mr. Mumpa and Mr. Colontude were both staring at her.

　Then Mr. Kilt tells her again.

'The new 'golden seal' is Iltimina Wong--you are the one.