We arrived at Zeke's house and had a cup of tea while we waited for Lunamaria.
　Zeke's house is made of wood, and the warmth of the wood inside is quite spacious and soothing.

''I mean, Ray-san. Are you okay?
''Oh dear, my daughter's love is heavy. I'll put a recovery spell on it.

　While drinking tea, I call out to Ms. Ray, whose face has become rough as a result of the explosion.
　Then he smiled and held up his hand to his face, and as the hand emitted a faint light, the wound on his face quickly healed.

''As expected of a 'former court mage,' he is a masterful performer.
''Haha, no, as expected, I've been feeling the decline lately too. Especially if Lilia-chan and Luna-chan are going to participate this time, it's going to be hard to win the hunting competition.
Lilia-san is that strong?

　Apparently, Ray-san used to work as a court mage in the royal palace, and he is a very skilled mage.
　And it seems that Ray-san appreciates Lilia-san's ability, so Kusunoki-san, who was wondering about it, asked her a question.

'Oh, you don't know?　Lilia-chan has almost 'near-strongest power' in the Symphonia Kingdom. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to do that.
Oh, um, Mr. Ray. I don't know...
'I've heard you say Lilia-san is strong before, but is Luna Maria-san great too?'

　As for Lilia-san's ability, it can be seen from the fact that she was already the runner-up in a martial arts tournament when she was a teenager, but I've never heard of Lunamaria-san being strong.
　Ah, but come to think of it.......I can't really imagine it since she's usually a thing, but was Lunamaria-san a former adventurer?

''I think it's safe to say that Luna is one of the favorites to win. His hunting skills, especially in the forest, are far better than mine because of his experience as an adventurer. Of course, Zeke would be a candidate to win, too. Although the elves are inferior to humans in terms of muscle strength, they have superior vision and hearing, and hunting in the forest is truly a monopoly. Especially since Zeke's sword skills are even better than mine.
....
I see.

　As I thought, or rather, Zeke seems to be quite strong as well.
　He is of the elven race with excellent senses, and his sword skills are even better than Lilia's... To be honest, why do I get the impression that Lilia-san is more of a power type than a skillful person?　Is it because he's been knocked unconscious so many times?

"...Mr. Kite. Do you have something to say?
What?
Ha, well, at least they're the best in the Kingdom of Sinfonia.

　Anyway, it seems that Lilia-san and the others are worthy candidates for the championship. But after all, the warriors of Rigforesia, who usually hunt in the forest, are also very well-grained, so it doesn't seem to be so easy to win, but.......

''Hmmm.
''Um, Kite-san.......the comparison is wrong. That's because you're one of the strongest classes in the world, right?

　

''Huh............................''
Luna?
'Oh, miss!　It's hard!
What's going on?

　Lunamaria-san, who came rushing in, must have come in too much of a hurry. Breathing heavily on her shoulder, she speaks to Lilia-san with an impatient look.
　Lilia-san may have sensed the unusual atmosphere and urged her to continue with a serious expression.

''Well, just now, the 'winner's prize' of this hunting competition was announced, but...''
The prize?　Oh, come to think of it, they haven't announced it yet this time.
'Well - last year it was a magic tool, and I was wondering what it would be this year.

　In the hunting competition, a prize will be presented to the winner every year, and I've heard that it changes every year.
　There are a variety of prizes, from money to tools such as magic tools, but it seems that this is what Lunamaria wanted to talk to you about.

But this time, to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of the creation of the Elf Forest the prize was given to the chief of the elves by the king of the world!
'What?　Kaikyo-sama....
'Luna that's... no way...'

　Hearing the words Lunamaria-san told them, Rei-san and Fia-san also made expressions of disbelief.
　

''Yes........it's the Fruit of the World Tree.''
!

　At that moment, my sensory magic sensed a strong emotion.
　Deep regret and ... anger at myself?
　And the one emitting those strong emotions.............................Lilia-san.

''What is the fruit of the World Tree?''
Legend has it that the fruit can heal sickness, wounds and even revive missing limbs. I've never seen one myself, but I've heard that on rare occasions, the Lord of the Realm gives them to his household members as a gift.
''It's not worth a monetary value - I've heard there are a lot of people, even the World King's family, who have never seen the real thing.

　Rei-san and Fia-san responded to the question Yuzuki-san had mentioned, but they also looked like they had something complicated.
　What is it?　This.........the one who feels the strongest emotions is Lilia-san, but both Lunamaria-san and Zeke-san have somewhat complicated expressions on their faces.

　And Lilia-san then told 'I have a few things to do' and left with Lunamaria-san, while Zeke-san looked away with a pained expression after her.

　Dear Mom, Dad--I heard that the prize for this hunting competition was very awesome, but there was something strange about Lilia-san and the others when they heard about it. I just don't know, but Lilia-san and the others - maybe they have some complicated circumstances.
























　The training camp that was released for the participants of the hunting competition. There, Lilia and Lunamaria were training with serious expressions.


Lili.

　Lilia, who has been away from actual combat for a long time, is desperately swinging her sword in order to regain her former senses, and Lunamaria is looking at the situation with a somewhat sad expression on her face.
　Lilia's expression shows a strong sense of impatience, which is unimaginably devilish from her usual appearance.

"Luna, we'll definitely win. At all costs, the fruit of the World Tree........
"Lili, I knew you weren't...
Of course!
Huh?

　Lunamaria also knew that if she told Lilia about the existence of the fruit of the World Tree, this would happen. Still, she couldn't avoid telling her.
　Because the fruit of the World Tree was what Lilia had been searching for all along.......something that might alleviate, even if only a little, the deep regret that continues to bind her now........
　Receiving Lunamaria's words as she muttered sadly, Lilia exclaimed with a sad expression that was unimaginable from her normal look.

''She...Zeke is!　'You lost your voice because of me'!
....
'Zeke's voice that wasn't brought back by the recovery magic... if there's any chance of healing it, I... I... I...'

　Lilia has tears in her eyes and bites her lip hard.
　With that sad and painful figure regretting her past, Lunamaria couldn't find the words to say, so she silently went along with Lilia's training.

　From a distance........Sieglinde was watching the two of them from a far away place......Sieglinde looked at them sadly.