Come on, Dad, come on, come on, come on!
　Running briskly, Shtel grabbed Aisha's arm and tried to run away.
　Her white dress fluttered in the breeze, and her straight, carefully combed blonde hair was shining golden in the sunshine. With a little blue flower ornament on such hair, Shtel smiled happily.

''It's dangerous to run--''

　He swallowed hard at the words, mainly Aisha.
　Shtel was much more athletic than Aisha. There was such a difference in their athleticism that if they went out to play tag, they would never be able to catch him once. If Shtel ran out with all his might, it was definitely Aisha who would be injured.
　It was only Aisha's secret that her pride as a parent was hurt.

''Look, I'll hold your hand for you, let's go slow.
　The fidgeting Shtel's hand was grabbed from Aisha this time.
　Aisha was a little dressed up, and so was she. She had her hair braided and trimmed, then had her hair perfumed with rose-scented perfume and even had her nails done. Aisha is a girl, but she's not very good at that sort of thing, and she felt somewhat uncomfortable being trimmed like this.

　The place where Shtel took me by the hand was a place that left a strong impression on Aisha as well.
　At the foot of the World Tree.
　It's the place where, until just yesterday, the ground had been a dead ground with the ground melted into scraps.

This is the place where Stel's memories come from, and, you see, this is his home!

　There was one small, rundown shack at the end of which Shtel ran in. It was just a wooden hut with no features.
　Such a house, covered in dust, seemed badly damaged.
　It was understandable.
　It was a place that no one could come near for twenty years - since Shtel had been trapped under the curse.
　A strange sense of desolation tickled his heart a little.

''Selee-san!''

　As Shtel called out to him, the spirits in the area released their colors.
　Pots of water appeared, and eventually it turned into a whirlpool, engulfing the dirt and disappearing. A gentle breeze blew through and erased the dust, and laughter was left behind. The fire dispels the moisture and burns away the evil spirits. The ground, which had been choppy, was naturally straightened out and returned to level ground.

'Come on, papa, come in.

　Shtel said, looking up at Aisha and smiling.

'Shtel is amazing--'
　That was Aisha's heartfelt and genuine feeling.
　At the age of 0, when I look at Shtel, whose skill as a spirit user as well as athleticism is far superior to Aisha's, I feel like I'm going to lose my dignity as a parent.
　But Shtel doesn't seem to care about Aisha and says with a straightforward face

''Ehehe--but my dad's is even more amazing!

　Unabashedly. Shtel says, just as if he were telling the truth in a matter-of-fact way.

'Really?'
　Shtel continues to Aisha, who questions him.

'Ai!　Daddy's balls are so beautiful.
　Aisha was more embarrassed by the straight young girl's eyes and turned her face away.
　Shtel pulled Aisha's hand again.

''Over here!
　Saying that, Aisha looked up at the World Tree from the small terrace she was led to.

'Fuaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa----'

　I couldn't help but marvel at it.
　In just one night, things would not be back to the way they were before, but there was certainly a magnificent nature there.
　Tiny buds peeked out from the stumps of fallen trees in the powerful earth that supported the long roots of the World Tree. The various plants and trees, which spread not only green but also strange colored leaves, were still tiny seedlings. Nevertheless, the panoramic view of the forest and sky from this terrace was indescribably moving.
　The fresh breeze that blew through the air made a small voice sound. It was proof that the place where everything should have been dead had been reborn to the point of being inhabited by spirits.

''Nacht-sama is amazing--''

　Praise for the Lord unconsciously spilled out of her mouth.
　It was too great, really too great already - it only strengthened my awe for the Lord, whose full extent could not be deduced by Aisha's small measure.
　But as she did so, there was an anxiety that came to her even as she did so.

　Why did Lord Nacht - why did he choose me like this?

　Aisha shifted her gaze to the landscape to hide those doubts that she almost thought of from time to time.

'My mom, you know, she saved them all!

Well...........

　Yes.
　In the end, Aisha, again, could do nothing. She only put her trust in the Lord's mercy and did nothing on her own.
　In this, nothing has changed since before she met Nacht. When I thought of that, I felt miserable and my words just felt weak.　
　Aisha replied toothlessly, to which Shtel gave a big smile.

''But Dad also properly saved Shtel, right?
　It would not have been possible to see through Aisha's mind by any means.
　Stel just spun the words with a smile.

''--What?''

I could feel my mum's warmth from her and she was so, so warm, and then... I felt like I should have a little fun, you know?
　He puts his little hand on his chest and looks at Aisha with his crimson and green eyes and says so.
　And Aisha is saved.
　A slight warmth in her chest.
　The haze in the back of her mind still hadn't cleared, but it was as if the weight that had been pressing down on her felt lighter.

'Aisha is so pathetic, to have Stel comfort her--'

Hmm?
　Although the person in question doesn't seem to be aware of such a thing.
　Even so, Aisha still speaks out.
　It's easy for Aisha to say the words that would be difficult to say, even for her own child.

Thank you, Shter.
　Aisha said and patted little Shtel on the head.

'Heh heh - there's no such thing as daddy.

'No, it's not, Aisha, I'm really glad that Shtel is our boy.

And Shtel, you're lucky to have a dad, right?

　Aisha holds her little child's hand with a huff.

　Did Aisha help Shtel properly?

　Swallowing such a wild question in my mind.





◇





　I tilt my teacup while looking at the World Tree.
　Those tools that Shtel prepared for me are said to be an ageless tea set that uses elven technology. It is said that many artisans in the elven homeland, where peace prevailed, prefer to use their magical skills on these gadgets rather than weapons.

　The tea leaves were taken out of a bag of tools that Nacht entrusted to him. The tea leaves were taken out of a bag of tea utensils that Nahat entrusted to him, and the cookies were also taken out of the bag. The colorful cookies, carefully packaged in a bag carefully labeled "no egg", fill your mouth with a soft, sweet taste once you put them in.

"Oh...

　I couldn't help but let my voice escape.
　Truly, he is a master of fine and supreme art.

''Speaking of which, Stel, I'd like to see the World Tree safe somehow--well, is the spirit safe?''
　Shtel huffed and chewed his cookies and tilted his head slightly.

'Shtel is a buji?　--Oh, I see.

　Shtel, who had a question mark on his face, nodded as if something made sense to him.
　Then--he snapped his crimson ball eyes shut.

''It's just like this--I'm safe, Dad.

　The tone of his voice has changed. Or, more precisely, it is the way he speaks.
　His intonation became fainter, and his manner of speaking was clearer for that reason.

'Stel--is it?'

Yes. Shtel is Shtel, papa--just a little different from the original me, but he's a proper daddy's boy.
　Shtel speaks with a lively manner and tells the truth in a matter-of-fact manner.
　It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you'll be able to get your hands on it.



　Aisha felt the realization of being called that, and she couldn't help but want to cry.

'If you don't call me that, the other me won't be convinced - and besides, he's a daddy to me, too.

Huh.... okay, it's just daddy...
　Aisha spilled that with a sigh and smiled slightly.
　Seeing Aisha like that, Shtel opened her closed eyes again.

''Ai!''

　I was enjoying the afternoon with a satisfied Shtel, who was smiling. A voice fell from the sky.

"Looks like you two are having fun--

　There was a beautiful tone that couldn't help but soothe Aisha's ears and her heart.

'Lord Nacht!' Mom!

　Almost at the same time, he raised his voice.
　A beautiful girl in a jet black dress stood softly in the sky. Nacht, who spread her shadowy wings and landed gently without a breeze, looked at Aisha and Shtel with a smile on her face.

''Is the story over?''

Yeah, I've heard my fair share of questions. Besides, I've put together a plan of action for the future and there's nothing wrong with that.
　Aisha did not accept Nacht's confident Nacht's arguments with open arms.
　After all, Nacht is substandard. Even Aisha initially mistook him for a god.
　I predicted that the rebellion would have been strong, just as a great light creates a shadow.

'Mum's going to Kangae too!　We'll have a cup of tea together.

Oh, Stell's going to put it in...

Aye!

　With a dangerous motion, Shtel poured the tea into the cup. Nacht slowly swallowed the tea that she made for him.
　Shtel looks up at Nahat with eyes that seem to be expecting something.

''Mmm, it's delicious.''　

Heh.

　Nacht stroked Shtel as he offered his head for praise.
　While such a scene made him smile, he was a little bit jealous of Shtel. A little bit, just a little bit of envy for Shtel to be able to spoil him honestly.
　I wanted that hand, that chest, I wanted Aisha to jump in and stroke her head, too.

'What, Aisha, you're a spoiled brat - come on, come on.

　Such is the inner workings of Aisha that Nacht easily sees through her.
　He always does.
　He was the master who saw everything and gave Aisha what she wanted most.

"Aisha, well, you know, she's not a...
　Aisha was desperate to hide what she was doing.

I'm with you!

　Stell's words, "I can't get away from it.

'Oh, uh-uh,'
　Shtel and Nacht pulled Aisha, who was dismayed, to her feet.
　As it was, Nacht's hand slowly stroked Aisha's head.

'Everyone is together - warm -'

You know, it's nice, isn't it?

　I couldn't be happier with my carefree life. I wish this kind of time could go on forever, I can't help but think so.
　But such a peaceful time for Aisha was until this time.

Hmmm, these days are good, too - but Aisha, we have to do what we have to do now. We have one thing left to do now!

You're going to save our village!　But--hasn't that already been accomplished by Nacht-sama?
　In fact, the fact that we are able to live in peace like this is proof of that.
　Nacht said that this forest could be managed, too.

''That's only half of it--there's still a threat in this village.

Demons, huh?
　Aisha says gravely.

'Well, you're right--'
　In contrast, Nacht's voice was easygoing.

'So, what exactly do you want me to do?'

　When he asked that, Nacht laughed with the utmost pleasure.
　At the same time, a bad feeling came over Aisha. Thus, Nacht, who laughs like a child, is usually planning something unpleasant. It's not a good thing, because he only thinks it's fun, no matter how reckless it is.
　At the end of the day, a smile appeared on his face as he grinned even more, and Nacht opened his mouth leisurely.

''--I'm declaring war on you, Aisha.

　And so, Aisha's premonition was once again true.