It was a hundred years ago now.
　In the village of the elves, a baby was born and fell into the hands of a famous family, Agnor, who had been the elders of the elven village for generations.

　He was born to Agnor, a prominent family that had been the elders of the elven village for generations.
　The first to bless the birth was not the birthmother, nor the mother, nor even the father - but a spirit.

　At the moment of the infant's birth - a blue wind blew down from the sky far away and played a small tone above the girl's head.
　The infant was loved by the wind spirit more than anyone else - her mother had named her Sylphy, after the great wind spirit.

　There was no precedent, not even in the village, for someone who had received the blessing of a spirit from the moment of his birth and fall.
　But the much-anticipated girl was, to put it bluntly, defective.

　Agnor had been in a family that had excelled in fire spirit magic for generations. Of course, even though she was good at fire spirit magic, she could communicate with other spirits as an elf, even if she was good at fire spirit magic. It was not supposed to be that excelling in wind spirit magic was not preferred.

　If she was normal, she wouldn't be marginalized, disgraced, or looked down upon.
　However, Sylphy was too well-liked by the wind spirits.
　So, not only was she unable to use spirit magic of other attributes, but the spirits didn't even try to lean close to her. Rumors spread around her that she would not be able to use spirit magic in her presence, and with an inexperienced practitioner, it would even be true.

　The wind always blew beside her, and any other events disappeared as if she was unwilling to do so.
　She was an anomaly among the elves.
　So, Sylphy was isolated.

　There was no place at home, no place around her, and the girl had no place to be anywhere.
　She would wake up before anyone else in the morning and leave the house without seeing anyone, holed up in the forest, listening to the song of the spirits and heading home in the light of the moon.

　All I remember is the warmth of my mother's knee that I once felt and the voice of the spirits singing.
　All the other memories were things I wanted to forget. She shut herself up in the forest to cover her ears and continued to listen to the spirits' voices.

　Silphy grew up in such a life.
　She knew no one's warmth, no one's love, and no one's voice, but a turning point came when she was selected as a candidate for the next guardian.

''Yes, they seem to be moderately good - I'm Floria, who will now educate you three. You can call me big sister.

No matter what I think of it, it's a b*tc*!

　The man had been stuck in a tree and hanging down that day when we met face to face.

'You'll live longer if you watch your mouth, cheeky boy.

"I'm not a little boy I'm Eurythmia and I'm going to be the next guardian of the world... ...

　He was a bad-looking man.
　He wasn't as big of a guy as his mouth with his spirit magic skills, his sword skills, or his bow skills.
　If anything, he was.

"Forgive me, my unworthy brother, but I'm Urs, and I'll do my best to make things right.
　His brother seemed much more talented than he was.

"Sylphy.

　It's been a long time since I've spoken to a stranger. Thinking that, Silphy said just one word.

"What, you're pretty brusque...
　Uris, who was still slumped in the tree, said.

'You've had enough of this, foolish brother...'

Ha-ha, that's a very pleasant group of people to have around - a serious guy, a sassy boy, and a brusque boy, and it's nice to meet you.

　He only found the mysterious kindred who were getting involved in something to be a bother, at least at this time.




◆




Yes, that's it-- Sylvie wins.

　The storm had driven him to the ground, and Uris, who was slumped to the ground, was flapping his feet and making unvoiced noises like uh, woo, etc.

　He's probably saying that I haven't lost anyway, or that it's just one more game, or something like that.
　Naturally, Sylphy didn't take up the fight, and when he was done with his hand-to-hand combat, he disappeared deep into the forest in his own way.

　Sitting on the branches of a tree, I listen to the sound of the wind as I look at the fountains that shine in the sunshine.
　But a rude sound mingles with the sound of the wind, which had been quiet.

'Listen, Sylphy!　I didn't lose!　I'm not going down!　Because I'm the next guardian of the next generation!
　He wanted to say something like that until he bothered to chase after you for your trouble.
　The fierce flame spirit shouted in response to Ulis' emotions.

''So--''

　But it's not something Silphy is interested in in the first place.
　It's the law of the village, so I'm participating in the training, that's all, I'm not even interested in the guardians.

''And why are you looking so boring?

Dull face?

　Silphy tilts his head, saying that he doesn't understand the meaning of it at heart.

"You can use so much amazing spirit magic, and you can beat me in a match... no, I haven't been completely defeated yet, but-- anyway, you can do so many things, and yet you look like you're having no fun at all.

Yeah.

I'm having a lot of fun, especially when a genie uses magic and goes bang!　This guy is having fun too!
　The spirit of the fire laughs.

'--Good for you, but not for me.

'Ha!　Well, it's okay, though, that blank, brusque face!　I'm going to win this game, and I'm going to dye you with astonishment, so get ready for it!

Do what you want.

　I thought the man was a big-mouthed sycophant.
　Now he's a rival or a big mouth, but eventually he'll understand the difference in talent, and he'll become jealous and frustrated.
　That's what happens to everyone who gets involved with Sylphy.
　So it's best not to get involved with anyone.
　I should remain alone, Silphy thought.





◆







　That man has been challenging the game day in and day out without a lump.

''Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

　Even if we are forced to lie down and crawl in the dirt.

'UGHHHHHH!'

　Even if you get blown into the muddy water.



　Not a single word of resentment.

　Not a whimper.

Just remember, we'll win this time!

　He threw out that and left.

"I'm sorry, my brother at home is making a mess of things--

　My brother was hard at work.
　Once he understood the difference in strength and knew he couldn't reach it, he would focus on his own training and not challenge me to fight recklessly.

'Why would he challenge me?'

　I wondered at heart.
　It's a battle I know I'm going to lose. So I don't see the point of taking on the challenge.

He's an idiot.

　Urs replied.

'You're an idiot, so you keep challenging me - you don't even think about whether or not you can win - you just want to win, you just want to be strong, and that's why I'm sure I'll challenge you, too, son of the wind. --More or less........nothing....
　Urs swallowed the words he was about to say.

'I don't understand, I can't.'

Don't worry. I'm with you.

　The next day.

　And the day after that.

　Even though the year is about to change.

　The man kept challenging him.

"You can't defeat me with your skills--

　Sylvie couldn't resist and said so.
　She said this in a fit of pique to a man who had no interest or concern for her.

'You'll never know unless you try!

You tried it and you lost. You know what I mean?

But you never know tomorrow. Maybe we'll win the next one. And I'm getting stronger. You don't know that. But we're going to lose if we don't. There's no way you can win if you give up, and that's it. That's why I'm not done with you.

I can't...

"--　I'm not going to lose to you, who's given up on everything and won't do anything!

What--!

　I felt like those words left a terrible impression on my heart.




◆




　The forest where the elves live is not a safe place.
　However, the elves are all warriors who share their hearts with the spirits. Even though the vegetation is harsh, the forest is nothing more than a boon that shares its power with them.
　That's why it's rare for an elf to be trapped in a forest.
　It doesn't happen, it should have.

''Huh--!　d*mn..........!

　By human standards, it's an over-A rank.
　A bear with rose-colored fur - just like the white tiger that ran through the forest, it was a demon that handled magic called a phantom beast.

　Sylphy, who was out on patrol, encountered such a thing.

''Why is it in such a shallow place--''

　The bear was probably a cub.
　It was practicing hunting or something, and had come this close to the village.

　Normally, forest patrols are conducted in platoon units.
　However, Sylphy is not good at acting in groups, and since she is a candidate for the next guardian, no one would complain if she did her rounds alone.
　No, Floria warned me a few times, but I think I told her back that you were one of them.
　I said that if you're the next guardian, it doesn't matter if you're alone.

　And this was the result.
　I've wounded her.
　It wasn't a completely untouchable opponent.
　But even so, the toughness was too different between a human and a demon.

　Because of too much blood, his consciousness was hazy.
　His eyes were hazy, and he could no longer see even the fangs looming in front of him.
　Then Sylphy closed his eyes.

　There weren't many things that came to mind.
　Her mother's knee, the spirit's voice, her depressed guardian, her taciturn brother, and her depressed brother.
　That's about it.
　That's all there is to life.
　So, Sylphy tried to meditate on it as it was - and

"...you idiot!　Don't give up, neeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

　A raging fire lifted the hazy consciousness.
　That guy was in front of him, manifesting the most powerful fierce fire that Sylphy had ever seen, and he was in front of him, sheltering Sylphy.

''--Why did you help me?''

What's the point of dying alone, you big idiot?　I haven't even beaten you yet, whoa, whoa, whoa!

　That's how Sylphy got nine deaths.
　It wasn't until he was saved that I understood.

　Oh, I had looked down on this guy, I thought.

　It was hilarious.
　A boy challenging Sylphy over and over again. The man who wasn't good enough, and yet still challenged him, was not really looked down upon by Sylphy.
　A fool who lacks talent, and a big fool who lacks brains. She had never once faced him, identifying him with the jealous maniacs of all the mere mortals out there.

　The guys in the village who made fun of Sylphy and Sylphy was the same.
　I identified with and looked down on the label I had set up inside my heart.
　That this guy was lower than me.
　That's what I thought.

''Hey--''

　Sylphy opened his mouth, desperately trying to hide the shame that was filling his mind.

'--Name, tell me your name?'

'Huh!　We've known each other for over seventy years now, right!

Just tell me what to do.

Huh ... it's Ulysse, don't forget it!

Eurythmia yes, I remember... I'll never forget.

Yeah, that's okay, you're a f*cking jerk.

　The man was the first boy in Sylphy's life that she had ever been interested in.



◆



　After that day, the battle between Ulis and Silphy became more and more intense.
　Sylphy also began to seriously clash with Ulis, who was seriously challenging her.

　She beat him again and again.

　Every day that came and went, Sylvie won.

　I didn't count the number of victories.

　To my dismay, Sylphy won.

　But--.


...!

Hey ... why would you go to such lengths to win me?

　A large, sprawling Sylphy says.

'Hahaha I wanted to look back at you at first - because you've been looking at me like you're mastering that something, all of it, from above, and I lost. Hey, I was thinking like a little boy that I was going to get a big surprise.
　Next to Sylphy, Ulis said.

'--Yes, so what now?'

I just wanted to show you that I'm strong. I'm strong enough to protect you!　I wanted to prove that if I became stronger than anyone else in my village, and if I became a guardian, even if everything in my village was against me, I could still protect you.

What--!

I knew. I knew from the beginning how you were treated by everyone in your village, what they said about you and how awful you were. But, you see, I was too weak to deny what they said. Even the elders said so, so I couldn't deny it, because I knew it was wrong, but when I saw the pained look on your face, I knew it was wrong...!　I didn't change anything........

　Eurythmia bit her lip and spilled this out with a drawling face.

'So I wanted to at least get you to admit that I'm stronger than you and that I can protect you. I was just trying to get you to admit that I'm going to protect you, and I was being silly and stubborn, because I'm a man too.
　Silphy found her cheeks rising unconsciously.
　On the contrary, her mouth relaxed and even tears almost spilled out of her eyes, it was the first time in her life that her emotions were shaken up like this.

''Wow, I........do you think I'm being confessed to now.......?

'I'm confessing to you even if I don't!　Split up!

"Because... it's the first time I've ever had a confession... and the first time I've ever been liked... ...

You're just too stupid to know it.

Mmm, I haven't been very nice to him, so...

　Sylvie said in an embarrassed, embarrassed, indulgent, yet anxious, trembling voice.

'--I don't know unless you say it clearly!

"I love you, Sylphy.

　Clearly, I heard a voice.

'I've loved you from the moment we met, all this time.

I'm so... happy... so happy...




◇




　--The dragon of lightning that fell from the heavens, with a roar that paralyzed the eardrums, burned the body of the great demon with this or that.

　It's a good thing that you have a good idea of what you're looking for.

'There you are--'

　Gailzak's eyes did not turn to Sylphy.
　Instead, he pointed it in Aisha's direction and swung his axe wide.

　The place where Aisha was located, which was slightly away from the main camp, exploded as if an explosion had occurred.
　The devastation is better described as smashed rather than cut by the axe.

　The damage had been done.
　In fact, he should have been wounded.

　But even so, the demon was smiling.
　"Come on," he laughed.

''Excellent!

　Sylphy runs.
　The night-colored robe has already disappeared.
　The benefit of Aisha's skill (skill) - it was not possible to defeat Gailsaak within the time limit of five minutes.
　I've been told that if that happened, it would be difficult to defeat Gail Zark.
　No matter how he scrambled on his own, his opponent would be on top of him, and the demons who saw the abnormality in the main camp would soon come rushing to reinforce him.

　But even so, Sylphy still wields his sword.
　I don't know if we can win. But if you don't try, you won't win forever.
　If you don't give up, it's not the end.
　Yes, because I was taught that.

''Sehhhhhhhhhh!

　That sword strike easily struck Gailzak's axe and tore through his flesh.
　Yes, it is acting stoutly and fighting, but its entire body is convulsing as if it were trembling.
　No wonder.
　There is no way anyone can be safe from the lightning that falls from the sky.

　But even so, the blade approaches.
　Whether it is to reap the life, cut out the throat, or crush the marrow of the brain, a fatal blow is coming.

　Sylphy scrapes through the blade. He sinks into his bosom and aims at the fingers gripping the axe - and slashes.

''Gu--Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!

　A severed finger flew through the air.
　His hair was stained red by the returning blood.
　But even so, Gailzak hadn't lost his intent to attack.
　He regrasped his prey with one hand, and the axe he swung with his entire body dug deep into Sylphy's right arm, reaching half of the bone - cut, not just his arm, but his entire body - and then he was sliced.


　-- A moment later, he took a step, instinctively stepping inside the blade's reach.
　The sword clutched with his safe left arm was clutched in front of him with all his might -- at the same time as one of his own arms flew towards the sky, the sword that Sylphy had thrust out of the ground was plunged deep into the heart of the demon.



　The blade that had pierced the flesh, gutted the guts, and pierced through his body had done its job and fell to the ground silently.