Visibility opens up.

　It's dimly lit. It's a shabby room.

　It resembles a prison room like the one I was in when I was held captive by the old Knights of Kuzela Kingdom.

　The air is thin because it's so far from the ground.

　There is a small object slumped over the bed. It's an elf.

　It is about the size of a mid-teens if it were a person.

　There is a chain attached to it from the bed.

'There's no doubt about it, .......'

　I'm sure it's a situation like this, a hostage situation.

　The girl in the bed wakes up with a jerk as if she heard me talking to myself.

　I come into view and she opens her eyes and tries to open her mouth - but I bring my index finger to my mouth and silence her with a "shhh".

　I put my hand on the ground.

　I direct my magic power at the magic circle with built-in eavesdropping magic items and transference-type traps.

　The room is filled with the light of magic items such as crystals and pentagram magicians, and then disappears with a crackling sound.

It's a good thing. Are you the sister of the elven princess Sille?

...... What about you?

　He has the same silver hair and blue eyes as Sille. His entire body is thin and his cheeks are burned out, as if he were wasting away.

　He asked me back with a wariness of wariness.

'I'm Jide,' he said, 'I'm Sille's sister for a reason. I want to help Sille's sister for a reason.

'I'm Lana. Lana Rua: ......

Are you sure it's your sister?

Yes. You know.

　He looked faint and hung his long ears, characteristic of elves, and tilted his head back to ask, "What is it?

'What?'

What kind of relationship do you and your sister have?

What kind of ......?

　The client?　Isn't it? That would be the Wise Council.

　Then what kind of relationship is it?

'You're a stranger.'

...... You're a stranger to me and you're helping me?

　They're being warned without the will to fight.

　Is it unreasonable?

'Yeah, because it would help me too, you know. 'Here.'

　Reaching out a hand.

　Lana gave a small, quiet nod and took his hand.

'Keep your eyes closed for it to lighten up a bit.

Okay, I understand.

Then we'll go to Sille's--transfer.

　Another bright turn.

　I remember Sille's magic.

　I've already figured out its location.





I know where it is.





　The brightening ends.

　I stood in front of the luxurious house.

　I'm sure it would be noisy in various ways if I went inside, so I went through the front door.

　However, we've already bitten off a trespasser when we took back Lana. ......

......--!

　Lana has tears in her eyes.

'What's wrong?'

'...... No, sorry. It's been twenty years since I've seen my home: ......

.................. Oh, okay.

　He looks young, but I wonder how old he is.

　I mean, has he been captured for that many years?

　He seems to have quite a tough mentality.

　Then Lana rings the doorbell of the house. I heard Sille's answer from inside. She will be coming soon.

''Hmm, don't you have any servants or something?

Yes. Why?

It's got the word 'princess' on it.

''Ah, it's different from the human race. The elven princess is chosen by the divine tree. So I'm your sister, but I don't have any noble blood in my veins.

"Heh. ......

　Not enough information, I mean. I guess I didn't look into it enough.

　The door opens and Sille comes out from inside.

　He looks at me with a puff, but takes a glance at Lana as well and gasps.

'......!'

　He put his hand to his mouth, his eyes widened, and dropped to his knees on the ground with a start.

　It was Lana who spun the words first.

'Sille sis ......!

La ...... na?

Sis: ......!

　Sille stepped forward with her knees, and Lana stepped forward to respond as well.

　They hugged each other, tears spilling out of their eyes.





◇





　Then I was sent to Princess Elf's house.

　It was indeed not a royal-looking house, but one that resembled a rental house like the one we party lived in.

　Lana was being cared for by the elves Sille had called.

　I was ushered into a room that looked like a reception room by Sille.

''Once again, thank you for getting Lana back,''

　Sille bows his head deeply.

　That was more proof of gratitude than anything else.

　But what I was concerned about was not so much that part, but the 'getting it back' part.

'You were still aware that the Wise Council had kidnapped Lana?

'Of course. I didn't say that I had kidnapped them outwardly, but with Lana implicitly as a shield, the government was left at their disposal. As a puppet, I also had a word for the elven people, and sometimes ordered them to ...... and the expulsion of the outside world.

　He looks gloomy.

　He's talking about how he's been quiet because Lana is back.

　But we already know those things.

''So now Sille can move freely, right?

Yes. I won't make the same mistake again. That time, I was caught off guard by what happened once I became an Elf Princess.

Good. So what do you think of the guild, then?　No. How do you feel about outside organizations?

I wouldn't go so far as to declare it 'evil' as the Wise Presbyterian Church. Just .......

"Just?

It's true that the 'outside organization' valued profit and almost invaded us economically. Despite our lack of study, the elves would have been preyed upon without the Wise Council.

　It wasn't sarcasm or sarcasm, it was just Sille saying that.

　I have no way of knowing what happened in the past, but it still comes up in the conversation. It's probably true that he was damaged badly.

''Does that mean the guild is unacceptable to you?

Yes, to put it bluntly, I'm not prepared to accept that.

...... Right.

　Well, just because we helped Lana doesn't mean she's going to support us or back us up. I knew that part.

　At least it's better than being the puppet for the Wise Council and being an open enemy.

''I'll just give you some advice,''

　His eyes were serious and single-minded.

　All I knew was that they were not meant to offend.

'--You should leave the elves.

Why is that?

You were asked to do this by the Wise Council, weren't you?

Yeah, that's from a guy named Odd. He's the one assigned to guard the distribution of the sap.

　Sille, with his eyes downcast.

''The organization that once withdrew from the Elves was also heavily tied to the Wise Council. ...... The S-ranked party sent by that guild was similarly set up for a failed request.

　Oh, so that's where this leads.

　You wouldn't believe us either, given the precedent.

How is that a set-up for failure, by the way?

'I'm sorry, but that's as far as it goes. ...... since I was only forced to use speech as a persuasive force against the elven people.

　Sille bites his lip in frustration.

'Well, I don't mind. Just because the guys who came before me failed doesn't mean I'll make it. That's why I accepted the request.

"But the Senate will not fail.　Some of them even lost their lives!

　Sille says, getting her spirits up.

　She has seen it as a wise old man's side, so she understands.

''So you're telling me to give up?''

I wouldn't say that. Give me a moment. I will keep the wise old council in check. Then I will infiltrate all the elves with diplomacy, trade, and other skills and negotiation techniques, and I will welcome you all. So please wait until then!

　Eyes full of determination.

　There is no lie in those words.

　But.

''I'm sorry, but I've accepted the request 'now'. I don't feel sorry for the guildmaster who trusted me and sent us out to run away with a big eye.

...... no way.

And my guy Luc had one for you. Diplomatic tips and stuff. If I'm successful, the guild will give it to you.

"Really?　With that, the elves can resume trade now!

　Sille looks up in surprise.

　Well, it's a resource they'd like to have down their throats.

'Yes. So wait for a while now. We'll never fail.

...... Okay, I get it. I believe you. I'm going to rebel against the wise old man's association anyway, so if we're going to do it, let's do it to the hilt.

　Now the Elf Princess is on our side.