Seeing Aifa lying on her back on the ground, Violette lets out a dry laugh.

''........How could that Aifa lose to a golem......''

　Ditsen responds to that muttering with a curious look.

''Why did you think you could beat a golem created by a sorcerer who would float an island above this sky?''

　Ditsen's questioning voice was never loud, but Violette firmly turned her killing eyes to Ditsen.

　In the meantime, Eira and Yuri were checking on Aifa's condition to see if she was injured.

　I don't know if A1 was aiming for it, but Aifa doesn't seem to have any major injuries because she fell into the pool. The story goes that Aifa was activating her defensive magic when A1's arm hit her, and she probably fainted from the impact of being dropped.

　And perhaps thanks to resting for a while, Aifa naturally woke up.

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

　Eira and Yuri assisted Aifa as she raised her upper body with a small moan, and Eira and Yuri put their hands on her.

　After raising her body, Aifa looked up at the robot standing nearby and then shifted her gaze to A1, which was standing next to me.

　Aifa, who looked at A1 for a while as she stared at it, pulled her chin back as if she was satisfied with something.

''So........it was that golem that fought me?

'What? Oh, yes. You're very clear.

　Aifa smiles softly as she affirms with surprise.

'Strangely enough, only that golem felt different from the others.

　I tell him and get up. It seems that there is no damage as I thought.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you are a great mage, Taiki-dono's power, I got to see it. No, in the end I wasn't good enough to see my true power, but...

　When Aifa smiles with a clear face, Violette wrinkles her brow and opens her mouth.

''I've never seen Aifa smile before.......it's a little too uncomfortable and weird.

　Apart from her poisonous thoughts, Aifa's expression hardened and she looked straight at me.

''In anticipation of Lord Taiki's power, I have a favor to ask.

Do you mind?

　When he asked back, Aifa nodded deeply with a stern expression.

''.......help my family.''

　Violette is the first to react to those words that are said to be squeezed out.

''Wait a minute! Aifa, you...?

　Violette, who sounded accusing, clicked her tongue at Aifa, who didn't even respond to her voice, and took a step forward.

''Are you trying to point your sword at the Empire! How ungrateful...!

　Aifa refutes Violette's accusations without even turning her gaze.

'I have never felt indebted to the Empire.

Wha...?

　With Violette beside me, who was exclaiming at Aifa's mannerisms, I opened my mouth.

'Help, you say?'

　When I asked that, Aifa started to remove the clothes she was wearing.

　After removing even the top half of his body, he turned around and turned his back to me.

　The sight of this made Eira, who was next to me, gasp.

　This was because there was a certain figure engraved on Aifa's back.

''That's the slave's...!

　Aifa looks down at the words that Eira has uttered.

'I am a slave to the Emperor.'

　At those words, Eira stopped moving as if frozen.

''The emperor raided our village, which lived deep in the forest for one purpose, and made us slaves. Normally, the people outside would have been blocked by the powerful demonic beasts and would not have been able to reach us, but the emperor raised an astonishingly large army to search the forest. We were completely helpless in the face of that large army.

　I pull my chin shallowly at Aifa, who talks about the past in a powerless voice.



　When I confirmed it, Aifa agreed as she put her clothes back on.

I have served the Emperor for the sake of my family, who have been taken hostage. But the days of throwing away my original role, and enduring the loss of my own life, with no self-respect, have resulted in the death of our spirit. I suppose we are now like cattle that just spend their years in vain.

　As he uttered that, Aifa looked at me again.

''My family and I will risk our lives on Lord Taiki. Please. We need you to free us from the Empire.''

　I laughed at his words, pointing to the ground.

'Do you all live on this island? Then it will definitely end up costing no one.

　After saying it, I look back at Aifa's face, which doesn't answer anything, and let out a sigh.

''I suppose it can't be that way.......if you have a role to play.

　The word "original role" that Aifa uttered. When she said it, Aifa certainly looked pained.

　I don't know what it is, but that role is the pride of Aifa and her friends, and it is also the meaning of life.

　If that's the case, Aifa has only one wish.

　When I chuckled at the thought, Aifa nodded quietly.

"...we elves are also known as the forest people. We live in dozens to hundreds of settlements and live in various forests, protecting and growing certain special trees.

A special tree.

　Ruminating aloud, Aifa nodded her head.

'Lord Taiki would know about it. It's about the spirit tree.''

　No, I don't know.

　I was about to answer honestly, but before I could, Dichen spoke up.

''Spirit Tree! It's a phantom tree that I've heard rumors about, but it's invisible to all but the elves! Wow, I would love to see that so much!

　While laughing at Ditsen's out-of-place high tension, Yuri now opens his mouth.

''It's a famous story. It's also a fairy tale in my country.

　I nodded my head in understanding to the explanation that was uttered with a colossal smile.

　Then Aifa shook her head from side to side and turned her head to Ditsen and Yuri.

'No, it's not a fairy tale. It's real life, it's history.

　Aifa announced nonchalantly, and Dichen and Yuri blinked their eyes.

''........So, if you touch the spirit tree, you really have great power?''

　When Eira asked that with a surprised look on her face, Aifa shook her head from side to side again.

'No, the stories in the countries are probably passed down in an exaggerated manner. The power of the spirit tree is not such a simple thing. I'm sure you've spent a lot of years with the spirit tree, and you think you have a little bit of the magic of the spirit tree to share, but it's not something that will change dramatically.

'What? Is that what it is?

　Ditsen gave an overly honest reaction, and Aifa's eyebrows knit together.

''A spirit tree is a special tree to us, in fact, only elves can communicate with the spirit tree. The fact is that only elves can communicate with the spirit tree, and the spirit tree will always respond to our voice and receive our blessings when a new elf is born. Most of the elders in my family believe that the elves will have children because of the spirit tree.

I'm sorry!

　Contrary to Ditsen, who apologizes at the speed of light, Violette opens her mouth with a twinkle in her eye at Aifa's explanation.

'It's too ridiculous. To have an elf who was shut up in the forest living in the rich imperial capital and even given a dwelling place, and then turn against us for such an old-fashioned lore.......''

　Aifa let out a small sigh and shook her head from side to side at the sound of Violette's voice, which was filled with anger.

''Well those born and raised in the Empire will never understand. To an elf, being with the spirit tree is a matter of pride.''

　I nodded at his words and I chuckled.

'So, you want me to release my friends who are being held hostage and put them back in the forest, right?

　Aifa nodded silently as she confirmed it.

　After looking at it, he crossed his arms and snorted.

''Hmm... but in that case, I'll probably end up being scared of the Empire's shadow until later.

We are living in pieces inside the imperial city to prevent rebellion. There are soldiers watching us, and most importantly, even the children are being isolated one by one. But it would be a different story if we could all go back into the forest together.

When the Empire invades, you're going to push them back?

Of course.

　I was able to clearly reply to Aifa, but I could only nod my head with a wry smile.

　The current empire's national strength should be greater than when we attacked the Elven Forest in the past. There are probably more soldiers, sorcerers and golems that can be mobilized.

　For the sake of the elves' pride, Aifa and the rest of the team might fight off the imperial army at any cost, but the sacrifices they would have to make would be too great to ignore.

　However, it's strange to say that I'll help them then. It might hurt the self-esteem of the elves, and it would be greatly resented by the Imperial soldiers who were fighting for their lives under the Emperor's command.

　Probably most of the people of the empire care about their own lives and don't give a d*mn about invading other countries or capturing elves.

　Thinking that far, I only had one question on my mind.

''Well if the emperor believed in the legend of the spirit tree and invaded the land where Aifa-san and the others live, what happened to the spirit tree?

　If he was seeking the power of the spirit tree, maybe the emperor got angry and cut down the spirit tree.......

　That's what I heard, but Aifa's words opened her mouth somewhat proudly.

''No, I didn't tell the emperor the location of the spirit tree. We will protect the spirit tree even if we are all killed.

　Hearing Aifa's declaration, he understood why the elves had been captured alive.

　The emperor had not given up on the spirit tree.

　The fact that the elves are being forced to live in pieces means that they may be being horribly tortured without Aifa's knowledge.

　At worst, we don't know what has happened to even the spirit tree. In that case, they might not have the luxury of taking into consideration the sentiments of the people and soldiers of the Empire.

''........For now, it looks like we'd better gather some information.

　I muttered a little in my mouth and looked at Aifa.