We spent the night at Mr. Colentude's house.

　The morning sun was shining through the window of our room.

(Hmm...)

In "The Land of Elves" as well, I, who had been Illtimina-san's pillow, awoke with the dawn.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with this one.

Hmm........good morning, Marle.

　A soft, sweet smile.

　Despite waking up in her sleep, Illtimina-san is very beautiful.

　Her long, lustrous hair and her slight sleeping habits also have an unusual vulnerability to them, which is kind of cute.

　I laugh too.

'Yes, good morning, Illtimina-san.
..........

　She looked at me.

　swoosh

(What?)

　He hugs me as if he can no longer stand something.

　Swoon.

　After she pressed her nose into my hair, rubbed her cheek and kissed my hair, she finally let me go with a satisfied look.

　........yeah.

(Well, it's just like any other morning.)

　We accepted the affection with fervor.

　And so the two of us finally get out of bed.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


Morning. Did you sleep well?

　When I left the guest room with Mr. Kilt and Solstice, Mr. Colontude was already awake.

　Poe is also by my side.

　When I looked, I saw that breakfast was on the living room table.

(!)

　I was thrilled, but it was a normal meal of bread, a small bottle of honey, bacon and eggs, a salad of raw vegetables, and milk.

　Thank goodness.

　Relieved, I noticed the expression on Poe's face.

　She's still expressionless, but there's a sense of accomplishment on her face.

(Thanks, Po-chan!)

　The four of us were profoundly grateful to the little girl for keeping a normal breakfast to death.

　............................

　Then we enjoyed our delicious meal.

　I waited until we had finished eating.

''I'll be heading to the Shrine of the Spirit King afterwards.

　Mr. Columcude said.

The 'Spirit King's Shrine' is a place where the 'Spirit Stone' of the 'Spirit King' who is sleeping is enshrined.

　In other words, it's a place where the Evil Spirit also appears.

　I thought we were going to defeat them right away, but I heard that the Evil Spirit appears periodically.

I'm casing the place.

　And so on.

　According to my calculations, the next one to appear is in three days.

(...the decisive battle is in three days?)

　Let's get ourselves in shape and feeling ready by then, yes.

　So after we finished our breakfast, we all left Mr. Colentude's house.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　We walk through the streets of the elves in the early morning.

　There aren't many elves walking at this time of day, but they all give us a look.

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

　There was a look of hatred, but I could also sense a look of interest.

(Interest, I suppose, in the neutrals?)

　Every once in a while there would be an innovative elf who would say hello to Mr. Colontude.

　As we walked along like that, the people around us gradually became less and less.

　It's not a popular place.

　At that time, Mr. Colontude said unexpectedly.

"...I'm just going to stop off.
What?

　The abruptness of her words surprises her.

　But she just walks away.

　We looked at each other and quickly chased after Ms. Colontude.

　............

　Eventually, we arrived at a place that was still unpopular.

　It was a space surrounded by many large trees, and there were flowers blooming on the dirt ground, and a large stone pillar about three meds long was built in the center.

(What is this place?)

　The air is so clear.

　It's a strange, peaceful place, and it makes me feel kind of calm.

　Mr. Colontude's back stops in front of a stone pillar.

　And then.

''This is a memorial tower for the slain 'Demon Blood Babies'.

　He told me.

(!)

　We stiffen.

　Then, once again, I look up at the white stone pillar in front of me.

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

　Illtimina, whose body was incapable of giving birth to a child, had a particularly painful contorted expression on her face.

　Cukh.

　I take his hand in mine.

　Illtimina's fingers squeezed back tightly.

　Then we followed Colintudo's example and knelt in front of the stone pillar and offered a moment of silence.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　After a quiet time and a new resolve, we stood up.

　And I was about to leave this peaceful place - that's when I was ready to leave.

"What are you doing here?

　A voice, blurred with malice, struck our earlobes.

(!)

　The person who was ahead of me when I turned around was Arbitania Fabrogas, a representative of the conservative elves.

　He was accompanied by about twenty elves who seemed to be conservatives.

　Mr. Columbudo frowned.

　The other side had the same look on their faces.

"Hmm, it's still the 'devil's blood'. Shall we visit the same 'devil's child' burial site?

　He hits me with disdain.

　You can sense his malice in the fact that he goes out of his way to speak in the common language of Albac, which we all understand,

　Mr. Colontude said.

'It is only the prayers of innocent human children that the children of the innocent elves may rest in peace,'
Ha!

　He snickered at the words.

'Innocent?　Guilty as sin.　Who brought about the destruction of the world 400 years ago?　The humans and demons of Thanatos!　And buried here are the children of the devil, and you are the descendants of Thanatos!
..........
"Leave this Elvish land now!　This is not a good place for you to visit!

　A strong voice of hatred.

　In agreement, the other conservative elves say, "Yes! "Go away, you spawn of the devil! He shouted.

　Mr. Kilt, Illtimina says nothing.

　Solstice is biting her lip.　

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

　I stared at Mr. Arbitania.

　He noticed it.

'What, a human child?'

　He looks at me like I'm an idiot.

　I said.

'I love the elves. But I hate you guys.

　They scowled, as if they hadn't expected it.

　I continue.

This world is on the brink of ruin. So why are we bickering with each other?　Isn't now the time for us all to work together?

　He laughed.

'You guys call it a global crisis. Where's the guarantee that's not a lie?'
Then you should check.

　I stared at him.

'You need to verify the truth of what we said,' he said. Don't just doubt it, act to make sure it's true. You can complain all you want. You can complain about it, but just look at us.

　Mr. Arbitania and the others have stopped sneering.

　His gaze looks at me.

'Don't mock me, human.'

　It was an icy voice.

'I don't care about the truth of your words. Just because you are 'human', your words are not worth listening to. They're not even worth looking at.
..........
"The world is going to end?　No thanks.

　....What?

"Rather than cooperate with you 'humans' and the 'descendants of the devil', we elves will choose the path of the world's destruction!
!

　I was shocked by Mr. Arbitania's dare.

(...that much.)

　Is that all it takes to make you hate us?

　Just because he was born human and had demon blood in him, he would receive so much hatred?

　This is........discrimination.

　This is the heart of a person steeped in hate.

　As if to protect me, who had hardened, Kirt-san stepped forward.

'I'm sorry, but I will not allow this Kirt Amandes to accompany you in your selfishness and bring ruin to this world.
What?

　Mr. Arbitania and the others were freaked out.

　But Kilt-san doesn't step back.

　His golden eyes, which have overcome many hardships in the past, gaze at the elves gathered in front of him without fear.

(.........Kirt-san)

　The dependability of his back made my heart tremble.

　Grrrr.

　Mr. Illtimina holds my hand.

　It's a hot hand.

　And Solstice and Poe stand side by side with me.

(.........everyone.)

　Finally, Colonchudo-san opened her mouth again.

''.........Either way.......we will defeat the 'evil spirits' to protect the 'Spirit Stone', yo. ........Don't just get in the way of that.
Don't be so selfish!

　Arbitania retorted.

''The 'Spirit Stone' is enough to protect even our elven 'spirit users'!　The giant Evil Spirit you were worried about has already disappeared!　It's no longer your thing!

　Even the conservative elves said, "Yes! I shout.

　I stare at those people.

...this is the queen's decision.

　Mr. Colontude said back calmly.　

　Instantly, Arbitania-san and the others fell silent.

　They are very harsh people, but the authority of the Elf Queen seems to have penetrated their minds.

　And Mr. Colon-Tudo-san continued.

''........and that giant 'evil spirit' is just temporarily hiding itself to accumulate power. The next time it shows itself, you will die....?

　A quiet voice.

　It echoed low in this consolation space as a cold wind.

　Arbitania-san asked with a distorted expression.

''That such a powerful 'evil spirit' can be defeated by you guys?''
Yes.

　Mr. Colonteau nodded.

　Then he looked around, slowly, at our faces together.

They're all strong.

　He said so with a trusting smile.



　I was glad for that trust.

　With that alone, even if it's a dangerous quest, I'd desperately want to fulfill it.

　But.

'Ha, ha, ha!　Strong?　A group of women and children like that?

　Mr. Arbitania laughed, as if he was so ridiculous.

　The twenty or so other conservative elves chuckled as they followed him.

　A smile of complete disdain.

　But the High Elf sister, one of the three great elders, had a spare face.

...do you want to try it?
...Huh?
"...even one little Marumaru there is much stronger than Arvita's subordinate 'spirit user', you know?

　Eh....me?

　Suddenly, I was surprised to hear his name.

　Mr. Arbitania was taken aback.

What the hell kind of...
"...scared?　I'm losing to Marmaru... but...
..........
Proud Elf you are going to run away, aren't you?

　Mr. Colontude smiled provocatively.

　She's a sorry beauty, but her face is very neat. The derisive smile it brings up pierces one's heart badly.

　Then Miss Arbitania's expression disappeared.

'Very well.

　A quiet voice.

'If you go so far as to say that, you will repent for your outburst with the death of that human child.

　He stared at me with eyes that were glazed with murderous intent.

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

　I was puzzled by the unexpected turn of events.

　But.

I can't lose.　

　Not wanting to escape Mr. Arbitania's gaze, he stared straight back at her and replied.

　Mr. Colontude nodded widely.

　Mr. Kilt gave her a look of trust, and Solstice said, 'Do it! He stared at me with a look of "I don't know what to do".

　Poe patted me on the back.

　Ms. Illtimina seemed to respect my intentions, though she seemed a little worried.

　And Arbitania.

..........

　He looked at us like he was a little surprised.

　-- and so it was hastily decided that I would fight the elven 'spirit user' of Arbitania-san's choice.