Me and Illtimina-san and her elf sister went into a nearby coffee shop.

　The weather was nice, so we went to the terrace, which was shaded by trees.

　When we sat down.

Mint, alo, natalia

　She spoke to me in the official language of the dollar continent, which is fluent.

　I couldn't catch everything, so Ms. Illtimina translated for me.

'Her name is Natalia, they say.

(Heh?)

　That's a beautiful name, Elf, indeed.

　I point to my face.

"Merle.

　Then I laughed.

　Natalia scowled for a moment, and then laughed and nodded, as if she immediately understood.

'Mint, alo, ill-timina,'

　I think Illtimina introduced herself as well.

"Merle, Illtimina.

　Natalia recites as she looks at us.

(Yes.)

　I nodded.

　Even though we don't speak the language, we are able to communicate our intentions.

(It's kind of like being in a foreign country!)

　I'm a little nervous, but these things are kind of fun to do.

　The waiter at the coffee shop brought us our drinks, and the three of us drank them first.

　He said it was a Vega tea, and it was a bit bitter.

'Would you like some sugar in it?'
Yes.

　flipping through a book

　I dropped the sugar provided on my seat.

　I looked at Natalia and saw that she was doing the same thing and we just looked at each other and then laughed.

　Then we talked, with Ms. Illtimina translating for us.

　What I found out was that she was not from the Vega Country, but a traveler from the Elven Country.

(Her luggage was big and her cloak was dirty, right?)

　And I don't think she was used to the Vega tea.

　But.

Why are you traveling?　

　I asked.

　I had heard that the elven nation was a long-lived race, or perhaps it was because they were a closed-off people.

　Iltimina translated my question for me.

　Natalia nodded.

"Mint, Rodesh, Lerina Kapalsa.

　I replied.

　Mr. Illtimina nodded and told me.

'It's because boredom kills me,' she says.

　...........

　I couldn't help but stare at Natalia-san's beauty.

　Natalia-san seems to be a young elf who is only 140 years old.

(.........140 years old is so young.

　I thought for a moment, but I'll leave it at that for now.

　She told me that the "Land of Elves" is indeed a closed-off place, but only older elves are willing to accept it.

　Younger elves are more curious and interested in the world.

　That's why there are many young elves who are unexpectedly becoming travelers like myself.

(Heh~?)

　So that's how it works.

　We were surprised and amazed, and Natalia laughed and said.

"Paral, Ednla, colón tude resta. Quaytrakkal, mimint parsa.

　I said.

　Hmm?

(I think I just learned a word or two...?)

　I look at the interpreter sister next to me.

　She had a surprised look on her face, but my gaze brought her back to herself.

''Oh ... uh ... well ...''
Yes.
She told me that many travelers like herself are influenced by one of the three great elders of the 'Elven Nation', Colón Chudo Resta.
..........

　.........oh, this is unexpected.

　According to Natalia's story, one of the three great elders, Colonchuud Resta, is an elf who abandoned his country to become a traveler more than a thousand years ago for curiosity's sake.

(I see...)

　Unexpectedly, I found out some new facts about that High Elf.

　To Natalia, the person called 'Coloncude Resta' is a pioneer of young traveling elves like themselves and a great and courageous predecessor.

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

　Me and Ms. Illtimina are a bit distant from each other.

　We decided not to let Natalia, who speaks with some kind of sparkling eyes, know the truth.

　Yes, there are things in this world that it is better not to know.

　By the way.

''Are you not looking for that Grand Elder in the Land of Elves or something?''

　I asked him.

'Well, in 2,000 to 3,000 years, won't they get tired of traveling and come back?　He thinks that's a good idea.
..........

　It's a long-lived species indeed.

(Great scale of temperament, too...)

　I sipped the Vega tea in my cup.

　I added sugar, but the taste was still a bit bitter for me....


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　And then we'd talk about other things.

'What?　Natalia, you're a painter?

　I came to know that fact as well.

　To my surprise, she smiled and nodded at me, and pulled out a number of pictures from her backpack.

　Wow?

So good!

　The watercolors that were painted there were really good.

　Mostly landscapes.

　Some of them depicted animals and demons, and some of them were portraits of people she had apparently met during her travels.

(Heh~?)

　It's not as good as my amateur paintings.

　Some of the landscape paintings were of other countries.

　There was a picture of a city in the desert with many huge anthill-like towers lined up, and there was also a picture of a floating city with houses built on top of several boats floating on the surface of a river.

(Awesome.)

　It's mesmerizing.

　There was also a picture of a large forest city with large trees that were more than a hundred meadows in size, with their branches and leaves directly turned into roads and stairs, and the trunks of the trees were houses.

　In the center of the forest city was a tree many times larger than the rest, and its trunk was a castle.

　--a terrific, fantastic city.

'Mimint, Faban.'

　Natalia laughed softly.

　Ms. Illtimina nodded.

Apparently, this is the Land of the Elves.
This is....

　This is the land of the elves heaven and the land of the elves?

　I knew it was off limits to other races, and I knew it was closed off to other races, but I didn't expect to find out this way.

(I'd love to go there someday.)

　I honestly thought so.

'You've been to so many countries, Natalia.

　I look at her respectfully.　

　She smiled, a bit embarrassed.

　She told me that she draws pictures of her travels and sells them, and continues to travel, just like this.

　To Natalia, such as she is.

Actually, I like to draw too!

　With that said, I borrowed a brush and sketchbook and drew a picture of a red fang dragon with a salaamus.　

''Warna!''

　Natalia was surprised, then laughed happily.

'Good,'

　Mr. Illtimina is happy to translate for me. Yes!

(Heh.....

　With a high nose, I told her of my problems, "But I still can't get the texture and stuff out of it.

　Then Natalia said.

'It's important to be careful how you put the shadows on. You'll do better if you do.

　He told me that.

　Then he actually added his brushes to my painting.

(Oh, it's true!)

　The hard skin feel of the red tusked dragon is better, and I can now feel the zesty weight of the whole thing.

　It's truly a professional's work.

　Natalia laughed gently back at me as I stared in admiration.

　Then we talked a lot about painting.

　She also asked me if she could draw me and Illtimina, and I was happy to oblige.

　By the way, Illtimina seemed a bit embarrassed to be a model.

　The painting was completed in about 30 minutes.

(Ugh....)

　Illtimina's soft and straight hair and her beautiful crimson eyes are so detailed and well drawn.

　That Ms. Illtimina herself is also

You've captured the coolness and cuteness of Merle's look so well.

　He nodded repeatedly, looking at my painting and saying, 'Yeah, yeah,' with satisfaction.

　While I was enjoying myself like that, the time flew by.

　Before I knew it, the sun had tilted to the west.

Oh, no.

　I remembered that I hadn't bought a birthday present for Solstice yet.

　Iltimina-san has a 'I was careless' look on her face too.

'Merle, Iltimina?'

　When Natalia asked us, we explained the situation.

　She nodded, 'I see,'

You've all been adventurers, haven't you?

　I said, and pulled a map out of my backpack.

(Hmm?)

　Me and Ms. Illtimina, who becomes very excited.

　Natalia points to a point on the map and then runs her brush through her sketchbook.

　Sarah.

　The finished picture was of a small cliff in the forest.

　The cliff was slightly collapsed, with the remnants of a broken pillar growing out of it, and a pitch-black crack could be seen nearby.

''Is this...?''

　I look back at Natalia.

'Ware, Ratzkandi Vanes.

　The silver-haired elf replied with a serious face.

　Illtimina-san looked a little surprised.

''She said it's an undiscovered ruin she found on her journey.
What?

　Unexcavated ruins!

　According to him, he was taking shelter from the rain in the forest when a landslide happened right in front of him.

　The entrance to the site was found in the collapsed sand.

　Natalia told me that she hasn't let anyone know about these ruins.

So there might be some kind of treasure inside.

　He told me.

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

　Me and Ms. Illtimina look at each other.

　Natalia told me that even though it was a dangerous place for her, we were adventurers.

　Ms. Illtimina said.

'Information on unexcavated ruins is quite valuable to adventurers.

　I say.

(Really?)

　I felt kind of bad about it, but...

I wanted to thank you for picking up my wallet.

　Natalia laughed and said that if she had been penniless, she wouldn't have been able to continue her journey.

　Natalia.....

'--Claro.

　I said with all my heart.

　Natalia's smile deepens.

　Then we had a good time and said goodbye to the gentle traveler-elf in front of the coffee shop.

　Iltimina and I walk down the road, which was stained red by the sunset, towards the royal palace.

Hey, Illtimina-san?

　I approached the sister next to me.

　The awesome 'Golden Seal Demon Hunter' smiled gently, nodded, and said

Yes, I know.
..........
We'll go together in the morning.
Yeah!

　I nodded widely, happy.

　We held hands as it was.

'Aha.'
"Hmmm.

　We looked at each other and then laughed at each other.

　-- and so it was decided that tomorrow, in the midst of those unearthed ruins, I would have a date with Illtimina.