The Elven Nation of Alfheim is a city constructed upon a floating island, yet it adheres to the concepts of cardinal directions—north, south, east, and west—as absolute constants, much like the surface world.
In other words, no matter where the island drifts or what path it follows through the skies, its orientation remains fixed relative to the planet’s axis.
Thus, the northern landing port where we entered is perpetually facing north, the southern town is always to the south, and the sun unfailingly rises in the east and sets in the west.
It’s been about an hour since we returned to the inn after exploring various parts of the country.
From the west-facing balcony, I could clearly see the setting sun and the sky painted in faint, pale hues. As I gazed at it, I couldn’t help but reflect on the importance of direction.
「If this island were to drift around willy-nilly, ignoring the planet’s axis, the sun’s rising and setting points would change every day.」
「Bark?」
I muttered, stroking Chocola’s head as he tilted it and looked up at me curiously.
「That would affect the crops, of course, but more than that… I don’t think I’d be able to stand it. It’d feel like I wasn’t grounded, like I had no footing at all.」
「Bar…kwuunnn」
「Which means… living with your feet firmly on this island must carry a different kind of significance.」
It’s about living in reliance on the sun, rising in the east and setting in the west.
It’s about finding reassurance in knowing that this floating land is still connected to the stars.
「…Eighteen hundred years, huh.」
Today, during our journey around the country, Karen and Mother told me about this nation’s history.
The Elven Nation of Alfheim was founded roughly 1,800 years ago—200 years after Four Seasons-san and the others reshaped the world, at which point it ascended into the sky.
In this world, where one’s lifespan extends with their magic power capacity, I can’t quite grasp how long 200 years feels as a measurement of time.
By the time of Alfheim’s founding, the six Japanese who became the first elves were surely already gone. But was it their children’s generation? Their grandchildren’s? Or perhaps their great-grandchildren’s?
「The elves today don’t seem to know they’re descended from Japanese people. I wonder when that history was lost. Or… maybe it wasn’t lost at all, and it’s still quietly passed down among a select few?」
「…Or perhaps, it was forgotten from the very beginning.」
「Four Seasons-san.」
The voice, coming suddenly from behind, made me turn around.
Standing there was the Fairy King, wearing a serene smile as he gazed at me.
「How long have you been listening to my musings?」
「Oh? Weren’t you talking to Chocola?」
「Bark!」
Chocola, who had completely taken a liking to Four Seasons-san, wagged his tail happily. Even so, he didn’t leap up or playfully pounce like he did with family, so it seemed he placed Four Seasons-san in a different category altogether.
「Well, you could say that. Ever since I was little, I’ve always found it easier to sort out my thoughts by talking them out with him. …So, what did you mean by ‘from the beginning’?」
「Exactly what it sounds like.」
Four Seasons-san floated lightly into the air and perched himself on the balcony railing.
「The first elves might not have passed down their origins—or maybe they couldn’t. It’s entirely possible. If the aftereffects of the Grand Magic caused them to lose their memories, it wouldn’t have been just us who were affected.」
「That… does seem plausible.」
「Well, take it with a grain of salt. To be honest, even we aren’t entirely sure which parts of our missing memories were lost because of the world’s transformation and which were eroded by the passage of two thousand years. But back then, we must have remembered far more than we do now.」
Four Seasons-san’s expression grew a touch melancholic, but only briefly.
In the next moment, his face brightened with a joyful smile.
「No, saying ‘more than now’ is unfair. Thanks to you, we’ve recalled so much more than we ever thought possible. In fact, I’d say we’re no less informed now than we were two thousand years ago.」
「I was surprised, too. I never imagined that magical resonance would have such a profound impact… But sometimes, I worry if it was really the right thing to do.」
「Of course it was.」
His smile was unwavering.
It didn’t seem like he was merely trying to reassure me—it felt genuine, straight from his heart.
「It’s true that forgetting can bury the pain of the past. But some memories shine all the brighter precisely because they carry the weight of that pain. We’d forgotten even that simple truth. …I’m grateful. Meeting you—meeting all of you—has been a true blessing.」
His sincerity left me feeling bashful, but his next words made me sober quickly, my lightened expression stiffening in response.
「About this country—actually, I did a little investigating today.」
「Wait, you mean…」
「That’s right. Fairies are invisible to humans. That means I can go wherever I please without anyone noticing. So, I ventured into the castle.」
「What!? Was that safe!?」
I couldn’t help but step closer, alarmed.
「Please don’t take such risks. Sure, having advance information is helpful for us, but it’s not worth putting our friends in danger to obtain it.」
I meant it. The fairies’ unique abilities were remarkable, but they weren’t foolproof. There was no guarantee that this nation didn’t possess some as-yet-unknown means of observation—like cameras, tools unaffected by human perception.
「I appreciate your concern. But it’s not solely for your sake—I wanted to know what the elves are hiding for myself. …That said, I’m sorry for acting on my own like that.」
「No, I overreacted too. …You’re right, Four Seasons-san, this isn’t just someone else’s problem for you either.」
Four Seasons-san gave a sheepish shrug, his apology accompanied by an unexpected admission.
「Well, since I’m confessing anyway, I’ll be honest—it was all for nothing. I didn’t find a single thing.」
「Huh…?」
His words left me wide-eyed. Four Seasons-san, however, merely shrugged again with a wry smile.
「I made it into the castle. Getting over the walls was nothing—just a light hop and I was inside. But from there, it was a dead end. The core area of the castle, what the elves seem to call the Zero District, was sealed off. No gaps, no way in. It was completely encased in a thick partition.」
「Completely sealed off…?」
To keep someone from accidentally wandering in? Or perhaps to prevent prying eyes from catching a glimpse?
Or, on the contrary—
「To keep something inside from getting out…?」
「That thought crossed my mind too. But something about it feels strange.」
Four Seasons-san’s following words took an even more unsettling turn, leaving me chilled.
「Even if it’s beyond a wall, even if it’s sealed away—if there were something malicious there, I’d sense it. But there was nothing.」
「Nothing? What do you mean?」
「Presence, pressure, malice, hostility—things like that. Even dense, coagulated magic power like that of a Teikou wouldn’t escape notice. But from beyond that wall? Not a single thing. No sign of life, no sense of magic, no hint of anything at all.」
Four Seasons-san furrowed his brows deeply, his unease evident. My expression likely mirrored his.
「It felt like staring at an empty, sealed-off box. I even considered whether the wall itself might be enchanted to block magic perception, but it wasn’t. It was just an incredibly thick metal barrier.」
「What… could it mean?」
「I don’t know. What’s beyond that wall, whether it’s something—or nothing. Why the elves want you involved, what’s causing the Outbreaks. I’m sorry… but it seems we’ll have to go into this without any prior knowledge.」
「We’ll just have to see it with our own eyes…」
「Kyuu…?」
Chocola, sensing the tension in our expressions, whimpered uneasily. I reached out to soothe him with a pat, but even as I reassured him, my doubts only grew stronger.
※※※
The Zero District, beyond the wall.
According to Four Seasons-san, nothing’s there.
But the opportunity came sooner than expected.
『Permission has been granted. Tomorrow, you will be escorted to the castle.』
Emishi-san delivered the news that very evening.
Leave a Reply