The next afternoon, Mr. Kilt came to Iltimina's house for my training.

　Kung gosh.

　In the garden under the blue sky, we beat our wooden swords.

'Good to strike. Keep it up and be aware of the second and third moves!
Yes!

　Me responding to Kirt's instruction with a loud voice.

　In his recent instruction, he taught me a sword with an eye on what's ahead.

　For example, I throw a sword into the air.

　Mr. Kirt avoids it.

　I have to swing my sword to guide him in which direction he will avoid it.

　And what kind of sword would be released at the end of the avoidance?

(I have to think that far ahead.)

　It's amazing to hear that when you're as good as Kirto, you can even think ten or more moves ahead while fighting.

　The world of swords is truly a profound place.

　While I was sweating like this, Solstice and Poe-chan, who came with Kirto-san, were sitting on chairs on the terrace in the garden.

'Hmm?　I see.

　Pella. Pella.

　The hands of the bespectacled girl were turning the pages of a thick book.

　On the spine of the book were the words 'Theory of Magic, Part 5' - it was the book I presented to her yesterday.

　........I'm a little glad that you read it immediately.

　The 'pressed flower bookmark' is also in the girl's ear.

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

　Poe, who presented it to her, was sitting next to Solstice.

　The young girl's young hands were holding a feather fan.

　

　............

(Umm, hmm?)

　Maybe it's my stepmother's influence, or maybe it's her natural disposition, but apparently this little girl likes to bake Solstice's care.

(...but isn't that a bit much?)

　I'm the one who thinks about that in between sword fights.

''There's a lot of distractions!''

　klunk

(Gulp!)

　I found myself getting hit by one of Kilt-san's blows........

　And when I was exposed to such a shameful appearance.

Hmmm........you're both very diligent. But isn't it time for a break?

　From inside the house, a smiling Iltimina appeared, smiling so.

　In her hand, there is a tray with five glasses of fruit water, lined up in a row.

''Wow... Thanks, Iltimina sister.

　Solstice was delighted and tucked the 'pressed flower bookmark' from her ear into the book and closed it with a slam.

　Peck.

　Poe bowed lightly and accepted two glasses.

　He handed one of them to the bespectacled girl.

　Kirt-san also brought down the wooden sword he was holding at the ready.

''Hm, shall we?''
Yes.

　I nodded, holding my aching brain.

　Then we decided to interrupt our training and take a break.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


Hmm?　The Elven Blacksmith.

　During the break, I told Mr. Kilt what I'd heard at the Benas Armor Store.

　Goggle.

　Mr. Quilt takes a sip from his glass of fruit water.

　With a little thought.

'No, no, I don't know a straw man. I've never heard of such a person.

　I replied.

(I see.)

　Me, I'm kind of discouraged.

　If Mr. Quilt doesn't know, he must be really rare.

I'm sorry I can't help you, kid.
Nope.

　I laughed and shook my head at Kilt-san, who apologized.

　It's not that it's Mr. Quilt's fault, and I don't want him to apologize or care that much.

(But what do I do?)

　I'm having trouble finding the elven blacksmith.

　Gok Gok.

　Troubled, I tilt my glass and drink the fruit water.

　And then Kirt.

When it comes to elves, you might be better off listening to 'The Adventurer's Guild of the Prairie Singing Ears' than the straw.

　He told me.

(What...?)

　He looked back at me with a scowl.

Between 70 and 80 percent of the adventurers in that place are elves.

　And Mr. Kilt.

　What, what!

(I didn't expect the Elf Guild to exist in such a place...)

　An adventurer's guild full of elves I want to belong to.........

　Mr. Kilt laughed and

If you're going, I'll go with you and ask you to speak.

　He promised.

'Yes, by all means!'

　doing nothing

　I nodded widely several times.

　Illtimina-san chuckled at my reaction.

'Good for you, Marle.'
Yeah!

　I nod and I'm all smiles.

　Solstice has a dumbfounded look on her face.

　Po-chan was tipping her glass next to her without a care in the world.

　By the way, the 'Ears of the Meadow' is also the adventurer's guild that Po-chan and Mr. Colon-Tude belong to.

(I'm looking forward to going there.)

　Excitedly, I decided to ask Mr. Kilt when I could go with him.

　Then

　clank-clank

　A bell rang from the front door of the house, announcing a visitor.

(Oh?)

　We all look at each other for a moment.

　Immediately, the landlord, Illtimina, said, "Yes. I'm coming," as she stood up, shouting, "I'm coming.

　As it is, she disappears into the house.

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

　Somehow no one spoke, and I drank the fruit water and waited for her to return.

　A minute or so later, she came back.

As I'm about to say, "Welcome back," I notice the look on Illtimina's face.

　There is a faint tension there.

'Kilt,'

　The beauty opened her mouth.

''Mm?''
The guild has sent for you. Master Mumpa is summoning us as soon as possible.
What the hell?

　Mr. Kilt looks surprised.

　Then the five of us quickly got ready to go out.

　There was a carriage parked in front of the house.

　We got into it and sat down in the seat, and the carriage soon departed.

(What on earth was going on?)

　The inside of the car was shaking.

　While looking out the window at the royal capital, Mulia, I was feeling a little uneasy.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　When we arrived at the guild, we were immediately ushered into the guild leader's office.

''You guys are very welcome to come.''

　Mumpa Vina, the pure white beast - she welcomes us with open arms.

(Hmm?)

　Next to the head of our guild, there was a strange man next to our guild leader.

　An elf!

　An elf with blonde hair and blue eyes.

　His age is around his late 20s to early 30s.　But I don't know his true age because he was an elf.

　He was a man, but he was a very neat and beautiful elf.

　I'm excited.

(But ... who could it be?)

　The calm part of my head asks that question.

　'Ho,' muttered Mr. Kilt.

'This is an unusual guest, isn't it?'
Yes. It's been a long time, Kirt Amandes.

　Elf-san responds in a calm voice.

(I know you and Mr. Kilt...?)

　Just as I was thinking that, the elf looked at the blonde little girl over here.

You look well, Poe.
.......................

　Poe nodded.

(What...?)

　Apparently, he and Poe seem to know each other as well.

　Iltimina-san and Solstice also have a surprising look on their faces at that fact. Apparently, the two of them don't know this elf.

　Noticing the three of us, Mumpa-san smiled.

　Her white hand shows us the elf, and

This is Mr. Fors Pete, the head of the Guild of Adventurers Guild of the Singing Ears of the Meadow.

　He introduced me to them.



　I was even more surprised because we had just talked earlier.

　We've been talking to him.

Nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you all from Colon. It's nice to meet you.

　Mr. False smiles serenely.

　A very beautiful smile.

　Even though he's a guy, I'm a little nervous.

　The three of us also introduce ourselves to each of them.

　Then, once again, we sit down on the reception sofa in the guild chief's room.

　The secretary puts our drinks on the table and leaves.

　................

　After looking away from her, Mr. Kirt opened his mouth.

'So, mumpa?　What's the business of summoning the stragglers?

　Mr. Mumpa did not answer, but looked at Mr. Fors.

　Mr. Fors nodded.

Let me tell you about it.

　He said to us.

　Everyone's eyes fell on the beautiful elf.

　He exhaled quietly.

As a matter of fact, I received a call today from Colon, who is currently on his way to 'Elfland'.

　I told him.

(From Mr. Colontude!)

　We were all surprised.

　"What kind of communication?" asks Mr. Kilt.

"What kind of communication?
..........

　Mr. Fors did not answer.

　Instead.

Before I answer that question, would you please look at this first?

　That's what he said.

　Then he placed the strange object on the table.

　Goton.

　It looked like a round flask, about thirty centimeters long.

　The mouth of the flask was connected to what looked like a metal machine, and the bottom of the flask had a magic circle painted on it.

　Inside the flask, there is a small, pure white bird.

　It's about five inches long.

　But it was a very beautiful little bird with a long tail feather.

(............)

　The little bird gave me a strange feeling.

'What's wrong with this bird?'

　Mr. Kilt asked.

　The four of us, except for me, didn't seem to notice, they just looked suspicious.

　So I say, "Is this little bird a genie?

"Is this little bird a genie?

　I said.

　Mr. Fors gives me a surprised look.

　Everyone else is like, "What? You look like that.

"Merle, are you sure you're ready for this?

　Mumpa-san looked like a teacher praising a student who did well.

(I knew it...)

　Somehow, I felt a similar vibe to 'Spirit-san' in 'Silvery Hand Armor'.

　Mr. Fors stares at my face.

　And.

So this is the holy child of which Colon spoke. Surely you have a good mind's eye.

　He muttered, impressed.

　Then he nodded.

''That's right, it's a type of 'wind spirit.'

　He tells me.

　I look at Mr. Fors.

'Could it be that this wind genie is 'Mr. Colontude's contact'?
Yes, sir.

　He nodded.

''This is the spirit that Colon released from the Land of the Elves. The spirits appear to this world through the Spirit World. And because that spirit world has a different speed of time flowing than this world, it is possible to make instantaneous contact even from a faraway land.

　Oh.....

(That's handy.)

　Originally, the Land of Elves was far away, across the ocean, and even if you used the pterodactyl flight, it would take more than a month to contact them. But when it's through a genie, it's an instant.

　We were impressed.

''Although, in order to do that, we need a 'Spiritual Magical Tool' to superimpose the coordinates of the 'Spiritual Realm' and 'Human Realm' created by this colon, though.

　Mr. Fors added.

(Hmmm?)

　In other words, it's a method of communication that only Mr. Colonteude can use.

　Solstice, for example, said, "You're a real Mr. Colonteude! His eyes watered as if impressed, and he stared at this round, flask-like magic tool as he clasped his hands together.

　Eventually, Mr. Kilt took his gaze off the magic tool and

"Do?　What was the nature of Colon's communication?

　He asked Mr. Fors.

　Mr. Fors lowered his blue eyes.

'It would be better for you all to hear that directly.
What?

　In front of our astonished faces, Mr. Fors operated the machine that covered the flask and removed it.

　Click, click, click.

　The metal lid comes off.

　Then the little bird in the flask opened its beak and its throat trembled.

''Kilkill........Marl.......''

　Ah.

(That's Mr. Columcude's voice!)

　It was as if the audio that was being recorded was being played back, and it was as if 'Spirit of the Wind' was conveying her voice as she remembered it.

　But the sound quality was kind of bad.

　Inside the flask, the little bird opens and closes its beak.

''Please........help me.''

　..............

　Eh..........?

　I stiffened as the meaning of those short words penetrated and I stiffened.

　Help me - she said.

　The little bird didn't say anything more.

　She didn't tell me anything.

　The air in the place was frozen.

　Everyone was staring at the 'Wind Spirit' in the flask, as if they had seen something horrible.

　Eventually, Kilt-san opened his mouth.

''Is that all you've got?''

　His voice is like iron.

'Is this all you've gotten from Colon?
Yes, sir.

　Ms. Fors looked straight back at her and nodded.

　............



　That's it.

　Calling Mr. Kilt's and my name, and then begging for help - that's what Mr. Collontude's contact was about.

　Solstice looked at everyone's faces, as if puzzled.

　Then, as if in a huff, he looked back at the young blonde girl next to him.

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

　Poe's face was unchanged and expressionless.

　But the little hand on the sofa was squeezed tightly.

'........Poe.

　Solstice looked like she was about to cry and I shook her hand.

　Mumpa-san also looks like he is in pain.

　Mr. Fors says to us in a calm voice.

'You'll hear about it. Colonteur Lesta has asked for your help. As the head of her adventurer's guild and as a friend, I have come to ask you all to 'rescue the colon'.

　Strong emotions are seeping in behind the calm voice.

　I can feel it.

　Reflexively, I replied.

''Of course I accept!''

　There wasn't a single reason to refuse.

　I answered before Kirt-san, the leader of the group, but I knew he would give me the same answer.

　I look at Kirto-san.

　Iltimina-san, Soltis, Poe, Mumpa-san, and Fors also looked at her.

　Ms. Kilt nodded.

'I'll take care of it.'

　I speak clearly.

(That's Mr. Kilt!)　

　There was a glimmer of hope on our faces.

　But she was calm.

"But I don't know if we'll be able to help you in time.

　Huh...?

'The Land of the Elves is a long way away. It will be at least three months before the straws reach it. Until then, I cannot guarantee that Colon will live.

　Oh.....

(Oh, I see. I was....)

　Spirits can come in an instant, but we can't.

'Oh no...'

　Solstice looked desperate and held her mouth.

　Iltimina's lips were also drawn together.

　Distance and time.

　Those two difficult enemies stood before us.

　And.

It's fine.

　Mr. False said, suddenly.

(Huh?)

The head of the Guild of Adventurers Guild of the Prairie Singing Ears looked around at us and said

Before leaving the Kingdom of Shumuria, Colon made two preparations. This 'Spirit Magic Tool' was one of them. And the other, she had prepared for a situation like this.

　I interjected.