The elven ancestors, the six clans.
These six lineages are historically regarded as the ancestors of the elven race.
Ejetia, Athenak, Silkiya, Fatima, Aquano, and Quioy—each family has a lineage that stretches back to recorded history, and their precious bloodlines are valued not only by the elves but also by nations around the world.
I learned about these six families from Karen and mother.
Especially the Quioy family, which is Karen’s heritage, and she is the last surviving member. As someone I decided to live alongside as family, I couldn’t help but be acutely aware of that fact.
However, on the other hand, there were things about the founding six families that only I knew.
These weren’t things I could prove, and discussing them would be pointless, so I hadn’t mentioned them to anyone. But now, with two individuals bearing the Ejetia name standing before me, I was reminded of that knowledge.
—The six Japanese I had once seen in my dream.
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Before all that, though, the significance of meeting elves other than Karen was immense.
「We’ve come for a little test of skill, in this ‘Void Forest’.」
「Yes, one of the proud six founding families of elves, the ‘Witch of Annihilation’ from Ejetia… We siblings have chosen this place as our hunting ground.」
Rick, the male, said this with pride.
Noemi, the female, added with a smirk.
「’Witch’? Which of you two is the witch?」
I couldn’t help but ask, but they didn’t even glance my way.
Did they not hear me?
「Hmm, the two of them. Rick and Noemi are twins, and they share the same magic eye. Their special magic works together. So, they share one title between them.」
Karen provided a brief explanation.
However, it seemed that the elves weren’t pleased with it.
「Oi, Quioy! You’re spilling our secrets—」
「Exactly! That’s quite rude!」
「? When a ‘Witch’ earns that title, their magical color and abilities are officially disclosed. Anyone could find out about your abilities if they looked.」
Karen was completely unfazed by their objections. Rather, she tilted her head, frowning at their assumptions.
「Then, are Karen’s and mother’s powers publicly known too?」
「Hmm. The title of ‘Witch’ is the highest rank among mages. Only those who can keep the true nature of their powers secret are worthy of it.」
「I see.」
Indeed, mother’s and Karen’s magic were not something that could be easily countered, regardless of prior knowledge.
「What we’re trying to say isn’t that! …What are you doing here, anyway?」
「Exactly. Weren’t you working in the royal capital of Sorx? Why are you here in this backwater with a bunch of lowly folk and a dog?」
「Eh, are you calling Chocola and me ‘lowly folk’ and ‘dog’?」
「Bark…」
I was taken aback rather than angry by their words.
Lowly? Well, I was just an ordinary citizen raised in Japan.
But on second thought, mother came from a marquis family, and although we weren’t blood relatives, she had ties to the Sorx royal family. Chocola was a guardian deity of beastkins.
「We’re amazing, right?」
「Bark… kwuun!」
Meanwhile, Karen had a slight magic power flaring up around her. It seemed she was annoyed by us being called lowly folk and dog.
「…hmm, if Sui and Chocola aren’t bothered by it, then it’s fine.」
But since the ones being called out were looking dazed, the tension seemed to dissipate… Sorry about that.
「I’ve said it before, but elves are a reclusive race. They don’t actively seek to know about other races. So, these twins are quite sheltered. Please forgive them.」
Yet, her anger didn’t seem to subside, and instead of magic, they began to prick with words.
「How dare you, when I spoke to you as kin! What rudeness!」
「Isn’t it a bit much for a long-awaited reunion? Are you joking?」
Rick and Noemi’s faces turned bright red.
I didn’t want to pick a fight, so this was a bit much—well, their demeanor was sharp and their words sarcastic, but I just couldn’t bring myself to be angry at them. It was nice that Karen was upset on my behalf, but that was all there was to it…
It felt like I was watching a child act childish, and I thought it would be petty for me to get angry in return.
Even if things escalated with Karen, it would probably end with a swift resolution anyway.
Oh, and Chocola was starting to yawn.
Still, this was troublesome.
I didn’t want to cause a scene in the middle of town, and I wanted to go pick up Mint soon. It wouldn’t be good to keep Ji Liz waiting for too long…
As I pondered this, a familiar, booming voice called from behind us.
「Hey, there you are! Seriously, you vanished while I was showing you around… Witch, can you please stop wandering off on your own?」
「Berde-san, Schnei-san!」
A burly man with a scruffy beard and a lean young man with a skeptical look approached us.
「Oh, Sui. I didn’t know you were here! But…」
They recognized my face and quickly broke into smiles.
However, upon seeing me facing the elven twins, their expressions changed, and they frowned.
「…Did something happen to you?」
「It seems they’re old acquaintances of Karen’s. Are you their guides?」
「Yeah, they said they came to test their skills in Sidera Forest, so we were tasked with showing them around… It had me worried, thinking the two might’ve wandered into the forest on their own.」
Rick, the twin brother, responded curtly.
「That was the plan, but we ran into some old acquaintances along the way. Honestly, there was no need for forced conversation, so it turned out to be a wasted trip.」
「…I knew it. I’ve said it before, but you can’t enter the forest unless you’re with us. That’s the judgment of our guild master, and we expect you to comply.」
Berde-san sighed deeply in response. From the conversation, I began to piece things together.
I see, it seems—
The twins of Ejeitia, known as the ‘Witch of Annihilation’ came to test their skills in the Void Forest. Berde-san and Schnei-san were chosen as their guides.
However, it appeared they were underestimating the forest and ignored Berde-san and Schnei-san’s presence as they attempted to enter. They just happened to run into us along the way.
That was the gist of it.
But then, Noemi’s next words forced me to slightly revise my understanding.
「To begin with, we don’t need a guide. We’ve already informed the guild about the negotiations between the Elf Kingdom of Alfheim and the Sorx Kingdom, and that’s more than enough. As witches, we have nothing to learn from mere adventurers.」
「Exactly. While they may call themselves elite, they’re just ordinary people with little magic to speak of. Why would we need to drag along someone who would only hinder us?」
「…Huh?」
It seemed these people were looking down not only on the forest but also on Berde-san and Schnei-san.
「You just referred to them as mere adventurers, didn’t you? And called them ordinary?」
I asked, unable to let that comment slip by.
「What’s with you, lowly folk? Do you think you can talk back to us, just because you’re Karen’s sidekick?」
「No, I think you’re the ones who are mistaken.」
I could feel my brows furrowing. I understood how Karen felt just a moment ago.
It didn’t bother me much when someone spoke poorly of me, but seeing someone I respected being looked down upon? Ah, that was definitely—kind of infuriating.
「Berde-san and Schnei-san are top-notch when it comes to this forest. You witches shouldn’t underestimate them.」
「Witches, you say? How dare you be so arrogant… Huh? What…?」
「W-Wait, what’s this? This… magic power…」
Noemi suddenly fell silent mid-sentence, and Rick’s lips trembled.
I had no idea what they were surprised about, but first, let’s apologize for their rude remarks.
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「Hey, Sui, calm down! I appreciate you getting angry for us, but that’s a bit much for someone you’ve just met.」
「…Are you amplifying your magic with that pendant?」
「Bark! Bark!」
「Rick, this is scary. What’s with this kid…?」
「Noemi, this is bad! What do we do? What is this kid…?!」
I snapped back to reality when I heard everyone behind me trying to stop me. I hadn’t even realized that my magic had turned prickly.
In just a few seconds, both elves were on the verge of tears, and I found myself hastily apologizing to them.
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