Well, let's get going.

　A sleepy-looking Mr. Columtude led us out of the "Castle of the King's Tree" and we walked down the white cobblestone path.

　We walked for a while, and eventually we arrived at a large tree.

(Is this the home of Mr. Colontude?)

　I thought.

It's a shortcut.

　And Mr. Colonchude.

　Shortcut?

　As we all craned our necks, her gentle hand touched the trunk of a large tree.

'Shapla,'

　He mutters a short sentence.

　Then.

　Guh, guh, guh, guh.

　The surface of the trunk of the tree moved, and a spiral staircase appeared on it.　

　We were stunned.

Come on, let's go.

　Mr. Columbudo said in a sleepy voice and began to climb that spiral staircase.

　We hurriedly followed Mr. High Elf, who was hunched over, too.

　Eventually, we climbed up to a height of about 70 meters.　

(Ugh....)

　In front of us was a long branch that grew from a large tree.

　It was about 10 meters wide, with a flat upper surface, and, lo and behold, it was a pathway.

　The pathway also had lily of the valley lights.

　And its long branches were connected to branches from other large trees, creating an aerial traffic network that stretched out into the forest.

(This is awesome.)

　Mr. Kilt, Illtimina is also surprised.

　Soltis, for example.

This is the culture of the elves, isn't it?

　He had a twinkle in his eye.

　Poe was the only one who didn't respond........



　With a sleepy voice of caution, Mr. Columcude began to walk over the branches.

　We followed his back, fearfully.

　.................

　The path of the branches is more stable than I expected.

　I was nervous at first, but slowly I'm getting used to the high altitude of the walk.

　That's when I suddenly looked up and

(Wow, nice view!)

　I was amazed at the view from there.

　It was the view from 70 meters above the ground.

　All around us, we could see the mystical sight of great trees that lived for thousands or tens of thousands of years, spreading out to the edge of the horizon.

　On the ground, the white paved ground and blue water channels.

　On the white stone pavement, many elves are walking around, looking like little dolls.

　Looking up again, I saw the branches and leaves of a large, overgrown tree above me.

　From there, the red light of the setting sun shone through in many streaks, softly illuminating us.

''It's ... beautiful.''

　I had to stop in my tracks.

　I've visited many countries in the past, but the scenery was different from all of them.

(.........So this is the country where the elves live?)

　I narrow my blue eyes at the beauty of it.

　Mr. Colontude laughs at me.

''...Do you like it?''
Yes.

　I nodded widely.

　She seemed happy with that answer.

　Everyone else joined in, and for a while we looked at the view from that branch of the path.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Eventually, we walked down the branch road again to Mr. Colontude's house.

　There were other elves walking along the road besides us, and we passed each other several times.

　Peck.

　There is an elf who still passes us and bids us farewell.

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

　No, precisely, for Mr. Columcude?

　She is one of the three great elders.

　She's second only to the Queen.

　So it seems that the other elves are respectful of her.

　But.

(Mr. Columntude, I'm sure you've been out of the country for over a thousand years and people don't care, do they?)

　I was a bit doubtful.

　Normally, it wouldn't seem strange if there was a deprivation of position or something........

''.........hmm?　...What's wrong, Marmal?

　Mr. Columcude noticed the situation and looked back at me.

　I asked him honestly.

"Well, Mr. Colentude, you've been out of the country for so long, I was wondering if it was okay for you to come back?
Oh...

　She nodded approvingly.

...for human sensibilities, I suppose. But we're elves we're elves and that's not going to matter for a thousand years.

　And that's the answer.

(Is that how it works?)

　I can't help but look at everyone else.

　Ms. Illtimina, thinking.

'Elves are long-lived, you see. Perhaps their awareness of time is different from ours.

　I say.

　Mr. Kilts.

This is a world in which only elves live. This is a world where only elves live. Well, the elves who live with humans have a different perspective on time.

　He cowered his shoulders.

　Solstice nodded, "If it's the culture of the elves, that's how it should be.

　Poe remained silent, as if he didn't care to begin with.

　And Mr. Colontude looked up into the hollow in a daze.

Now all we need to know is my personality because we all know it.

　I added.

(Ah, I see.)

　So, I mean, everyone has given up on the idea that Mr. Colontude would have no choice but to...no, no, no, you understand.

　In that case, I'll agree with you.

"..........

　But Mr. Colontude's profile looked a little sad.

(????)

　She said.

''Well there's one more reason....''
..........
I'm back from the outside, and they're expecting me to make a difference... ....to make a difference in the situation we're in...

　Huh?

(What do you mean?)

　We were all puzzled.

　Poe stared at his mother-in-law's face with some concern, as if he sensed something in her expression.

　I noticed that.

　Poof! Poof!

　Mr. Colonnade laughed gently and patted his daughter-in-law's head.

　Then she looked at us.

　Ms. High Elf's beautiful face, lit red by the sunset, smiled a little sadly.

　Then she says.

........a race that is slowly dying, you know.