After giving an overly formal bow, Yuzuriha Silkiya-san straightened up and flashed a broad grin.
「Well, that’s how it is. Sorry for causing you so much trouble.」
Her once detached and unreadable expression transformed into an oddly familiar, warm smile, like that of a neighborhood oneesan—or maybe, an obaasan.
「…Hmm? Did you just think something suspicious about me?」
「Not at all.」
She raised an eyebrow at me. I deflected by reaching down to pet Chocola.
「Bark…？」
「Thanks for keeping mother company, buddy.」
「Bark!」
Yuzuriha gave us a quick glance before turning to Karen and mother.
「…It’s been a while, Karen. Have you been well?」
「I should ask you the same, Yuzuriha-san. I was surprised to see you on the Elder Council.」
「And Viole, long time no see. Apologies for keeping you in the dark.」
「It doesn’t matter. Emishi didn’t say anything either. Honestly, seeing you here without any prior notice or acknowledgment, I just assumed you were an enemy. That’s all.」
「Ouch, that’s harsh. But honestly, could you blame me for not greeting you with a smile in *that* atmosphere?」
The three began chatting casually.
Wait a second. That tone…
「Don’t tell me… you all know each other?」
「Oh, we do.」
Yuzuriha nodded.
「Karen is from the same founding six clans as me. Viole and I go way back to the Great Outbreak.」
「…Yuzuriha, like Luis and Exea, is one of my childhood friends.」
Emishi-san chimed in, his expression sour.
Judging by his irritation, it seemed he disapproved of Yuzuriha’s free-spirited behavior despite being part of the same Elder Council.
「So Karen and mother both just pretended not to know her.」
—Or rather, seeing her seated here without any prior explanation, they must have judged her as an uncertain ally or foe.
Yuzuriha turned to Miyako Veda.
「Anyway, Grandma Miyako, we’re leaving Kunizae as he is, right? To be blunt, his threats didn’t sit well with me either. That was beyond unacceptable—it was downright despicable. As one of the Elders, as the head of Silkiya among the founding six clans, I can’t let it slide.」
Yuzuriha’s sharp, almost predatory gaze bore into Miyako. After a moment, the elderly woman shook her head slowly.
「It cannot be helped. That man has always been this way. He believes any vile tactic is justifiable if it serves his purpose. …Well, I suppose this works out for the better. We have no need for allies who drag us down.」
Her tone was exasperated, but honestly, I was the one who wanted to complain.
I wanted to call her out. Really badly.
What about what *you* just said to me earlier?
The *‘You can leave, but this country will fall apart. You’re too much of a nice guy to let that happen, aren’t you?’ (rephrased)*—how is that *not* a vile tactic?
「Kwunn…」
「You know what, Chocola? I’m going to pet you and calm my mind too.」
I held back my urge to sigh and focused on ruffling Chocola’s fur. It really was a blessing to have him with me. Once we get back, I’ll let you drink milk until your belly is ready to burst.
「Izuk, step back. Wait in the west chamber.」
「Understood.」
At Miyako Veda’s command, the young man standing by turned on his heel and left. He walked past not only us but even Karen, as if he had no will of his own. It was unsettling.
「Now that I think about it, he greeted us politely, but he didn’t seem infatuated with Karen or anything.」
「Hmm, I thought the same. His gaze was empty. I don’t think he feels anything toward me at all.」
「Honestly. What was supposed to be a light jab ended up striking deeper than I anticipated. …Well then, shall we? Sui Hatano.」
Rising from her seat, Miyako announced this to everyone before she began walking in small, deliberate steps, her pace that of a young girl’s.
But then—
「…Wait.」
A low voice cut through the air, halting her.
It came from Moata Purei, seated nearby. He had been silent since his failed attempt to intimidate me, but now he raised his voice.
「What is it? If you have business with me, it can wait until—」
「No, it cannot. It must be now. …Sui Hatano.」
He addressed me by name, despite interrupting a superior like Miyako, and his voice carried on:
「I acknowledge the immense power of your magic. I admit I am no match for you. But you said something, didn’t you? About how there are lines one must never cross.」
His eyes burned with anger, swirling with frustration and humiliation.
「I did. Yes, I said that.」
「Then take it back.」
His clenched fists were white, almost as if blood might drip from the tension, while his face was flushed red as though he was biting down on his own teeth hard enough to shatter them. And the words he spat out:
「‘There’s no value in preserving a bloodline that’s only lasted two thousand years’—those were your words. Retract them. If you don’t, I cannot back down. Even if I am reviled by other nations or stripped of my Elder Council status, I cannot let such an insult stand.」
It wasn’t as if he was truly asking for an apology from me. It felt like his anger wasn’t directed at me but at himself—or perhaps something far greater.
「I have devoted my entire life to this country, to the two-thousand-year-old bloodline. To protect the lineage of the Founders is the very reason for my existence. If you claim there is no value in that, I cannot go on living while accepting those words.」
「…I see.」
I could have retorted. It wasn’t my true opinion—it had been a spur-of-the-moment comeback. I could have pointed out that he had been the one to say plenty of offensive things to me first.
But I swallowed all of that down.
For some reason, I felt like outright rejecting this man wasn’t the right thing to do.
Just as I had acted toward Kunizae earlier, I realized that if I denied everything here, it would lead to conflict—perhaps even war. A fight to the death. He was likely prepared to go that far.
So, I bowed my head.
「Understood. I will retract my statement. The bloodline of the Founding Six Clans is not something to be taken lightly. I apologize for crossing a line that is sacred to you. However, as for the latter part—where I said that Karen’s happiness is more important than preserving the bloodline of the Founding Six Clans—this remains my honest belief, and it is something I cannot yield on, even now.」
Moata listened, lowering his head slightly.
He stared at his clenched fists, then slowly opened and closed them before lifting his face to meet mine.
「…I accept your words. My gratitude. Miyako-dono, I apologize for the delay.」
「Is that so? Then let us proceed.」
Miyako’s tone revealed no hint of emotion.
She turned on her heel, showing us her back, and began walking again toward the great door ahead.
※※※
As I walked alongside the others, following her lead, I reflected.
The bloodline supremacists—those who place utmost value on the blood of the Founding Six Clans and, by extension, elven history.
They’re an insufferable bunch.
It angers me, and I can’t forgive how they see Karen and Dolce-san as nothing more than tools for passing on bloodlines.
I understand that the weight of history and the inheritance of blood are important. But prioritizing them above all else? I just can’t bring myself to agree.
Even so—
I made Moata-san angry.
I unknowingly crossed a line—a boundary I should never have tread upon.
What may seem trivial to me could be an irreplaceable treasure to someone else.
Even if it’s something I can’t begin to understand, it might still be the most precious thing in the world to another person.
That, at least, I need to engrave into my heart.
Even if I can’t see eye to eye with someone, I never want to thoughtlessly trample on what they hold dear.
——————————————————
AN: For the sake of the story’s development, a character meant to play the role of an antagonist has appeared.
The principles and ideologies of the bloodline supremacists will be explored in more depth as the story progresses. Even among antagonistic characters, their motivations differ.
Whether you end up empathizing with them or not—or whether it’s even possible—is a separate matter.
Some of you might come to like them, while others may find them infuriating to the very end.
As I’ve written before in afterwords, this story isn’t about 『bad people showing up, getting defeated, and everyone living happily ever after』. It’s about depicting the paths each character—good or bad—chooses as they think, live, and decide.
And ultimately, those choices will lead to a future where Sui-kun and the others can smile without reservation.
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