We adjourned for the day.
The matters of the rare existence and Watanuki-san, to be dealt with from the Zero District of the castle, would require meticulous planning from here on out. There was nothing left to discuss in that meeting, and certainly no inclination to enjoy tea and build rapport with the bloodline supremacists.
Instead, Mother went out into the city with Emishi-san and Yuzuriha-san. Old friends, it seemed, with plenty to catch up on. Just… don’t overdo it on the drinking, okay?
Thus, Karen, Chocola, and I returned to the inn. Though it was still early afternoon, we were completely drained. Taking it easy in the room felt like the right choice. Tomorrow promised to be hectic, and we needed to collect ourselves.
「Chocola, how’s the Alfheim milk?」
「Gafu, gafu.」
「Pretty good, huh? But I bet it doesn’t beat the stuff from Skylark Pavilion.」
「Bark, fusu…」
Chocola seemed quite pleased with the room service milk. After putting up with all that tension, he deserved at least this.
「Here, Sui. For us too.」
「Thanks.」
Karen handed me a cup of herbal tea, and I took a deep sip, letting out a long breath.
「Karen’s situation got left pretty vague, didn’t it?」
「Hmm… but at least we made our position clear. Besides, there are bigger issues.」
「Thinking back, bringing up marriage and all that first was probably the only chance they had at the time.」
If they’d done it the other way around—
“This is Alfheim’s secret. If left alone, it could lead to the end of the world. Oh, and by the way, we’ve arranged a fiancé for Karen.” …Yeah, that would’ve been ridiculous.
Well, for now, I’ll set it aside. Kunizae Onagia, who had used Lila-san as a threat, was taken out of the equation by my *Shinko Teitai* spell. Miyako-san and Moata-san likely wouldn’t push the issue at this stage either.
What stuck with me more was Meishal Fazuajik, the one elder who hadn’t spoken a word to us during the meeting. Until the very end, I couldn’t read what they were thinking. At least, they didn’t seem to align with the bloodline supremacists. But it didn’t feel like they were simply quiet by nature either. I’d have to ask Emishi-san or Yuzuriha-san about it sometime soon.
Lost in thought, I reclined on the sofa.
And then, before our eyes, like mist taking form—
Two figures materialized in front of us.
「Hello.」
「Four Seasons-san… and Color-san too!」
Not just the Fairy King, but the Fairy Queen as well.
Karen and I reflexively stood—though for Karen, that wasn’t enough.
「Color-san. Are you okay?」
「Yes… thank you… thank you so much.」
Karen rushed forward and embraced her tightly.
The Color-san closed her eyes, resting her face against Karen’s chest, letting herself be held.
「I’m fine now. I’ve calmed down… I can’t let myself lose composure. 」
「I’m sorry. If remembering caused you pain, it’s my fault.」
When I apologized, Four Seasons-san responded immediately—gently but firmly.
「What are you saying? We’re grateful. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have known about Alfheim or Watanuki. We’d have remained in ignorance, simply watching as the world met its end. …Thank you. And if it’s all right with you, we’d like to help, even if it’s only in a small way.」
At Four Seasons-san’s words, I felt some relief.
I invited them to sit on the sofa. Karen brought over two fresh cups of herbal tea. Once they had a sip and caught their breath, Color-san began to speak softly.
「Alice was my best friend.」
She was talking about Alice Watanuki, the Progenitor Elf, eternally frozen in time at the heart of the castle.
「We met and became close in middle school, I think. But I don’t have many memories of our school days. Not because my memory is missing—it’s because we were transported here almost immediately after starting middle school.」
I was eighteen when I came here. I’d already graduated high school and was on the cusp of turning nineteen. Practically an adult. But to be thrown into this world—back when it was even more undeveloped than now—as a mere middle schooler? That’s brutal in every sense of the word.
「That was two thousand years ago now. On top of that, we left everything behind when we crossed into another realm. The adventures we had in this world, the battle against the Demon King… they’re all lost in the fog of distant memories. …But I wonder how it was for her.」
Her voice was tinged with unease and fear.
「When I learned that they kept fighting after we disappeared from this realm, I lost control. Why weren’t we there with them? If we’d stayed and fought together, maybe Alice wouldn’t have ended up like that. Maybe the others wouldn’t have had to die. Maybe the elves wouldn’t have had to bear such a terrible burden.」
Four Seasons-san, her husband, placed a reassuring arm around her shoulders.
「Color, we’ve talked about this, haven’t we? It’s in the past—it couldn’t have been helped. We chose to save the children’s lives. We can’t regret that choice.」
「Kwuuun…」
Chocola let out a small whine, nudging closer. Color-san’s expression softened, stroking his head gently.
「Are you worried about me, Chocola-chan? Thank you… I’m sorry.」
As she petted him, her gaze shifted—from regret to the present. To us.
「For so long… her very existence had slipped from my memory. Even after I remembered thanks to you, Sui-san, I resigned myself to never seeing her again. I was nostalgic, but I thought it was impossible. My oniichan, and the others… it’s heartbreaking. But I was able to see Alice’s face again. And she’s still alive. We might meet again.」
With that, she straightened, squaring her shoulders.
Her hands clenched into fists on her lap, and Color-san—the girl who once saved this world—spoke with resolve.
「So please, help. The Demon King is terrifying—unimaginably strong. Helping might put your lives in danger. But even so… I can’t give up on Alice. We’ll do whatever it takes, so please…」
「Of course. You don’t even need to ask.」
I nodded, meeting Color-san and Four Seasons-san’s gaze, with Karen sitting beside me.
「I can’t think of you as strangers. We’re all from Japan, all brought to this other world. And on top of that, Color-san… you’re Karen’s distant ancestor.」
「Hmm. I carry the blood of Color-san’s oniisan. Knowing that makes me feel warm inside. I hate Alfheim’s obsession with bloodlines, but… I understand how it feels to be happy about sharing a connection with someone you care about.」
「It’s not just about blood. We met because of fate. Everything is connected, and that’s why we want to protect it.」
This world thrives because Four Seasons-san and Color-san saved it.
If not for Kinoue-san, Karen wouldn’t be here.
If Mint hadn’t been born, the fairies would’ve never been captured in photographs.
There was an ancestor of Chocola’s. The Alraune species was created by Four Seasons-san and Color-san. The descendants of Japanese people lived in the skies, isolating the world’s threats for 1,800 years.
And most importantly…
My father came to this world, met my mother, and I was born. My already remarkable magical power became absurdly extraordinary when I traveled to Japan and returned to this world.
If my strength—my “cheat”—has any meaning, any purpose, then it must be for this moment.
With determination, I squeezed Karen’s hand.
She is my beloved, the one I always want by my side. I’ll never let us be separated again. There’s no way I’ll let some Demon King from 2,000 years ago destroy the happiness we’ve built.
Not just Karen. Mother, Chocola, Mint, Pochi, grandma, everyone in Sidera—everything I’ve encountered and built in this world—will not be destroyed.
And so, we’ll save this world.
——————————————————
And that was Volume 9 – Castle in the Sky, Elf Child.
This chapter revealed the secrets hidden by Alfheim.
Next up is Volume 10 – Child’s Cry, the World’s Tears
To save Watanuki-san and seize the future, Sui and the others will give it their all.
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