The world was stained with pain and despair.
　Pain, pain, pain - pain that never ends.
　There was only that sensation that went on and on, and I could feel my will, my emotions, my memories, that I should have had, disappearing.

''Ufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufufu----''

　A strange laugh is left in my ears.
　It's the voice of someone who did this curse.

... --, --, --, --, --, --.

　I think he said something about it.
　But I don't even remember that.
　All I remember is the sensation of pain.

'It's okay ... you're not alone ... Lulu is. ...I'll be there for you...

　Such a voice was the only thing that saved me.
　With the help of the World Tree's and Lulu's power, I will overcome the curse. Even if I can't defeat it, I will hold on to my life until Floria returns. I didn't even remember anymore that I had made such a choice in order to keep the important promise I made to my compatriots and to the heroes.

　Twenty years was too - too long.

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

　A year has passed - my ears have fallen off. It hurts so much.

..........

　Two years must have passed - what happened to Floria?

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

　Three years must have passed - one arm felt like it was gone. But it doesn't matter, my body just hurts all over.

　Five years, or six years, or something like that, have passed - that's strange. This is about as long as I can take a nap, and I might be at my limit.

　I think ten years have passed - I can't even think about it anymore. It just hurts. A dull ache that feels as if every bone in your body is being snapped over time, and an intense pain that burns through your nerves and pain that seems to melt your body at the same time.
　The physical pain, the pain that is just there - primal, primordial, primordial, and most of all painful.

"Aahhhh, aahhh, aahhhh!
　Oh, I'm screwed.

"Over the top, over the top, over the top, over the top, over the top, over the top.
　The spirit forged by the long years still went mad.

　He cried out like a child.

　I cursed like a child.

　I cursed someone like a child.

　And in the process, someone - broke.

　Surely, that last thought of being someone else--

'I'm sorry I'm sorry I got you into this mess but you left me and ran away. .........or else I'd hate Lulu too.......that's not nice.......

　Somewhere, I heard someone's voice.

'Absolutely not!　You can curse, curse, and resent as much as you want, Lulu, that's fine. I'll be with you from birth to death and that's why Lulu will love you to the end, Olivier.

　I screamed in pain.

　Repeatedly.

　She screamed in pain.

　Repeatedly.

　She screamed that's enough.

　Repeat.

　Repeat.

　Repeat......

　Forever and ever and ever again, in an uninterrupted hell that repeats itself - the light shines on after someone is broken.





◇





　A giant cat's footprints are carved into the green earth.
　The accelerated figure of Tama left the shadow and moved on.

　The skill (skill) -- shadow removal.

　The attack of the fast moving Tama attacks relentlessly strikes at Aisha who is breathing on her shoulder.

''H---!

　Aisha, who threw herself forward in a wide forward motion as if she were throwing herself at Tama's suddenly approaching furious bowl, succeeded in evading it in the nick of time.

''Ha--ha--ha--''

　But Aisha, who has been subjected to Tama's onslaught for well over an hour now, will have some degree of fatigue.
　Aisha was out of position in such a state, or Tama, who had just missed a blow.
　It goes without saying which one is quicker to adjust their stance.

''Nyaan!''
　As the balls squeal, their faces close in on Aisha.
　But his mouth is not open and his fangs remain hidden.
　It's not the fangs that touch Aisha's small body, but Tama's lovely beard.

'Huh--!

　Aisha squealed as if she wanted to tickle him.
　As it is, Tama gently holds Aisha down and pokes her cheek with his paw instead of his claws. It's an unforgivable thing to do, riding Aisha, but since Tama is also a female, I'll let her off the hook.　

''Yes, that's it--''　

Phew, my balls are heavy and ticklish.

Mew mew.
　Nahat quickly moved closer to Aisha and picked her up in a slow, sweaty hug, wiping her with the towel she had prepared.
　Nacht quickly approached Aisha and slowly picked her up, sweating, and wiped her with the towel she had prepared.

It's a very good idea to have a good time. I'm not going to be able to get any more water--
　Saying that, I handed the mixed juice I had prepared without delay to Aisha.

''Ah.........thank you.........''
　As she cleared her throat and drank the juice, Aisha's happy face appeared on her face.

''Hafu, I'm coming back to life!

'Good work, Aisha-- Twenty-three bullets, twenty-two dead in a real fight--'
　We were training Aisha to forbid attacks and to avoid Tama's attacks with only defense and evasion. Well, even though the training was just a bit of fun to get his balls to get some exercise.
　While Aisha was playing with Tama, Nacht was making breakfast.

''Ugh--Tamas are fast and it's hard to keep avoiding them...''

'Take it or avoid it - the problem is that you're too slow to make that decision. Nothing is an option but to imitate me and continue to avoid it. If anything, Aisha might be better off going on the receiving end.

Yes.....

Well, those are things that can be managed through experience. Aisha is growing up every day--now go wash your hands, come on, let's wake up Stell and get you up for dinner.
　Nacht returns to the mansion with Aisha and Tama in tow.
　It seems that Aisha's mother, Floria, originally lived in this house. It's in a vacant state right now because the person in question isn't there. The maids and butlers were also sent out of their spare time because the master was gone, but Aisha would have no problem using it. Of course, she also got permission through Urs.
　Even if it's only temporary, it's a provision of a place for the former chief to live. The village's higher-ups have also given me permission.
　There is a large courtyard, which was perfect for training Aisha. Nacht had spent the night maintaining it when everyone had gone to bed, so it was thoroughly cleaned from the roof to the bottom of the toilet and not a single piece of dust was left behind.

　Aisha went to the bathroom to wash her hands and Nacht went to the bedroom to wake up Shtel.
　At the end of the bedroom, with the door open, was a king-sized bed, a princess' bed that she had personally prepared for them.
　It was prepared for the three of us to sleep together, but I couldn't sleep with Aisha and the others last night due to cleaning the mansion.
　When I looked at such a bed, I saw Shtel making a small sleepy sound.

You see, Shtel, it's morning. It's morning, here's rice, it's delicious!

...hmmm...mama...?
　I take Shtel's hand as she opens her eyes with sleepy eyes.

'Oh, good morning Shtel, did you sleep well?'

I....
　Still in a daze, Shtel is a dreamer as he sits down on the bed for a bit.

'Well, then let's wipe your face - and while we're at it, let's get your hair done too...'
　I'm going to dress her up quickly and put her in a pure white dress.

It's a good thing that you're able to do this. I'm sure Aisha is going to get tired of waiting.

Aye!
　I took Shtel's hand and walked slowly to the dining room, where Aisha was fidgeting and waiting for me.

'Papa!　Good morning.

'Yes, good morning. And I'm Aisha, not Dad. Or you can be Aisha Mom.
　Aisha still can't give up and asks Shtel to correct her.

'Buuuuut, daddy, it's all over the place.
　But it has never been accepted.

'Here, let's eat our food before it gets cold!
　Nacht urged him to do so.

Yes, sir.
　They responded back with a breathy response.
　Nacht smiled happily at the harmonious family reunion.

'Daddy, aren't you going to eat your meat?　Yummy?　　
　As usual, Aisha's menu excluded animal foods, but Shtel would basically eat anything. Whether it was because she was a higher species of elf, or because she had gained some of the spirit in her body, I don't know, but it was good to see that she didn't have any likes and dislikes.
　Nacht also has the opportunity to use meat-based food items that had been in her dead reserve, which expands the scope of her cooking. However, the smell of it was harsh on Aisha, or maybe it was too harsh for her, and she replied with a slight drawl.

''Ah, thanks. But it's fine Aisha, so Stel should eat a lot of it.''

It's a waste of time. It's delicious.
　What a slightly dissatisfied Shteru munches on his meatballs.

''Don't just eat meat, you have to eat carrots too, right?

Carrot gleam.

We can't grow up hating each other, can we?

Like my dad?

'Ugh!　Shut up!　Aisha's is my constitution, I don't like it, so I can grow up.

So Stern is a question mark.

Come on, come on, eat what you're offered, both of you. Shtel will eat a slice of the carrot as well. Then I'll eat the rest for you.
　 Somewhat later, having made up his mind, he popped it into his mouth with gusto.

''Mmmm, weird taste...''

Hmm. I think I sweetened it up for you, but that's weird.
　I flatten out the rest of Shtel's carrots as I promised, thinking that they might need improvement.

'Thank you for the treat,'

It was.

Yes, thank you very much. Now, I'm going to meet with the elders now, what about Aisha and Shtel?
　Urs had told her to bring Shtel with her, but she didn't want to force her to go with the still mentally unstable Shtel.
　It would be Nahat's - or rather, Nahat and Aisha's - role to ensure her safety and to raise her in good health.
　Any obstacles to that would be turned to dust without any hesitation. Nacht has a new determination in his eyes.

''Aisha doesn't know any manners or anything like that, and she seems to be nervous when she meets a great person!
　It was predictable from Aisha's personality that she would say that.
　Quickly, Nacht continued with his words.

You should go out with Shtel. We'll have time for a while, anyway.

Out with Dad?

'Yes. Now that you're here, can you show me around, Shtel?

Ai!　I'll show you around.

All right, then, you two, let's get dressed up in your little Nachtas. I hope you have a lot of fun.
　Now, how do I tweak their hair?
　Nacht's footsteps were lighter than ever as he thought about such things.




◇





　The place called the Elven Village, was built on a flat area some distance from the foot of the World Tree. In this small village, there were few statuses, and everyone was like a neighbor.
　The guardians who could be entrusted with the protection of the World Tree and the five elders who determined the policies of the village were considered partly superior. And then there's the Ender Elves, the upper-ranking species of elves - the head of the village, Shtel, and that's about it.

　In the center of such a village, there was a large wooden structure that stands out. It was the place where Nacht's purpose was to be.
　The hall on the first floor gives the impression of a library.
　Various books are stored on bookshelves so high that you have to look up to see them. Such old-fashioned books brought with them a unique fragrance.

　On the second floor, beyond a door decorated with elaborate plants and trees, there was a conference room with five seats. Further up in the upper part of the room, there was one seat that no one ever sat in. It was a blank seat that would have been occupied by Shtel.

'You are very welcome, my guest. Did you sleep well last night?

　A stern voice could be heard.
　There were armed elven soldiers towering around the area, including Urus.
　Nacht sees a white-haired elf sitting in the middle of the five seats. The middle-aged man with a white beard and a refined look in his eyes is probably but around nine hundred years old.

It's a very comfortable place to live. I'm sure you'll find that this is indeed the home of Aisha's mother.

Oh, no, then - after all, she's a girl who feels the old magic of Floria in the streets.

'More than that!　What happened to the Chieftain?　I hope he's okay!　Where are you now?　Don't answer me!
　The conversation between Nacht and the old elf was interrupted by a young man, the youngest of the elders, who stood out from the crowd.
　You can find a number of different types of shoes in the marketplace.

'Well, calm down. My name is Nacht. I'm Nacht, you can call me Nacht with respect - Shtel is doing fine, no worries.

"I can't leave a chief in the hands of a stranger like you!　What's Shtel, that's ridiculous!　Bring Lady Olivier to us now, or else--
　Nacht's irritation at the sound of the man's voice, when a quiet voice pierced the place.

'Well, calm down, Lord Loren. You were the one who saved the Chieftain and saved the World Tree, Nacht-chan," he said.
　It's a quiet voice.
　But even more than that, the voice is filled with power without saying a word.

'.........haha........

　The young man pulled back, honestly.
　Nacht didn't expect to be called by his own name, and he was frankly surprised that he was called by his chan. Nacht's interest in the moderately amused old elf shifted slightly.

I'm the elder of this village, Grace. Urs told me about last night's incident. Although there are some things I do not understand, I would like to thank you for saving my village from a difficult situation.
　Then Grace lowered her head.

''Hm, don't worry about it. This is Aisha's mother's hometown. You don't need any other reason for me to help you with your problem.
　Yes, there was no need to thank Nacht for his actions, and Nacht didn't want that either. All he wanted was the thanks of Aisha and Shtel.
　But, well, that didn't mean Nacht would be so tactless as not to accept the old man's thanks, though.

"Ho-ho-ho, but I doubt the integrity of the elves if we don't give a single reward to a man who has accomplished what no one else can.
　That being said, there is no doubt that no great nation can provide what Nachtas wants. Besides, it's enough to satisfy him now.
　Nacht ponders for a while, and then speaks up with something that has occurred to him somewhat.

'The reward, well, this is a matter of decision, so it will be an after-the-fact report - I'll take care of Stel's body, I don't object to it.

""Wha--"
　The elves were stunned.
　Some of them even put their hands on their swords.
　But the well-trained elites were not threatened, let alone checked, as they tried to make a will with the spirits or pick up their weapons. Nahat received the hostility directed at him by the elves like a gentle breeze.

'What are you--!　Lady Olivier is my--

'There is no one called Olivier anymore. She's Stell, my daughter!　It would be a mother's duty to raise her daughter.

I don't know what the hell you're talking about.

I saved her. The responsibility for that is mine and Aisha's. Besides, being tormented by the death curse has made me more sensitive to the past. Try to leave her alone for a while now, it's good for Shtel. If I may say so, that's the reward I'm looking for.

　Grace was silent for a moment at Nacht's words.

"Hmm, what do you guys think?

　I continued.

'There's no way they'd approve of that!　Lady Olivier is our chief, remember?
　It was Loren who said that first.

'But it was Lord Nacht who saved it. Isn't she the one who understands the Chieftain-sama's condition the best?

What do strangers know of elves? Perhaps the woman is trying to take advantage of a feeble chieftain.

Use?　I'm not going to be able to do anything about it. What does Lord Nacht, who has the secret art of unlocking so much magic, have to do with us now? At the very least, she invited the son of Floria here to fight off the anomaly and save the forest. This shall be an unmovable fact!
　The conversation between the elders became even more intense.
　It was the sound of clapping hands that remonstrated a good fight.

Good, good. Everyone's opinions are generally understood - at least we should put our faith in Nacht. I'd like to ask you one thing: Is it possible for us to go and see Olivier-sama - or rather, Shtel-sama?
　Grace will ask Nacht on behalf of him.

The first thing that comes to mind is that you should come to see me whenever you can, if you can swear not to touch the past of Shtel unnecessarily. We have not yet resolved all the anomalies in this village. I'll be in my mother's house in Ashisha for a while.

Ho-ho-ho, that's a relief to hear. For the time being, Master Stell will be recuperating at Floria's home. Everyone else has no objection?
　There was no rebuttal in Grace's voice.
　Nacht had been listening to the trivial discourse with his ears, so he looked around at the elves with a sharp gaze as if to switch his dazed consciousness.
　And - finally, he told them the business he had come to this place for.

It's time to get to the point. I'm going to tell you what happened in this village 20 years ago.