The lively dinner eventually came to an end.
Mint and the fairies, likely tired from all the excitement, soon grew drowsy. Mint retired to her bed in the garden, while the fairies returned to their realm, the Tir na Nog. With the children gone, the living room grew noticeably quieter, allowing us to breathe out a contented sigh.
Mother and Karen brought tea. It was our household’s original herbal blend, made from fragrant herbs gathered in the forest. The flavor was slightly unique, but Four Seasons-san and the others had grown accustomed to it. Even Alice-san, after inhaling its aroma, took a sip and looked visibly relaxed.
「This is delicious. Did you make it, Sui-kun?」
「No, Karen did. She experimented a lot to perfect it.」
「I see. Drinking tea made by my descendant… what a luxurious way to spend my twilight years.」
「Hmm…Hearing that from you, Progenitor-sama, makes me happy too.」
Despite Alice-san’s youthful appearance—seemingly in her early twenties—she had lived for over two centuries. She had borne many children, seen her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and had even outlived many of them. It was no wonder her mindset felt more akin to someone enjoying their old age.
「By the way… how was traveling through the Tir na Nog? Did it go smoothly?」
「Yes, no issues. It seems my body is closer to that of a fairy than an elf.」
This time, Alice-san had entered the Tir na Nog through the portal Four Seasons-san had opened in the Elven Nation of Alfheim, exiting through the gateway anchored in our garden.
Technically, this method of travel isn’t meant for humans.
The Tir na Nog is a kind of otherworldly realm. Crossing between it and this world involves a process akin to boundary fusion phenomenon. While traveling back and forth using the same coordinates poses no problem, exiting from a different location than where one entered carries risks.
Specifically—one’s existence edges closer to that of a fairy.
If someone were to repeatedly use the Tir na Nog as a shortcut to various locations in the mortal world, their existential foundation—their “footing,” so to speak—might shift to the otherworld. Eventually, the world would recognize them as a being belonging to that realm.
That’s why we had avoided using Four Seasons-san’s portals to travel back to Sidera from Alfheim, and why we’ve decided not to rely on this method unless someone’s life is at stake. It’s a rule we’ll uphold moving forward.
On the other hand, Alice-san’s existence was already closely aligned with the otherworldly realm, and she seemed unbothered by the notion of fully transitioning into a fairy. For her, becoming completely fairy-like would be no big deal.
「I think my place from now on will be the same as Kaoruko…I mean, Color, in Tir na Nog. That said, I can’t completely retreat there just yet. There are still matters to handle in my homeland.」
Her expression was bright and free of hesitation.
「What’s Alfheim like these days?」
「Judging by the atmosphere, I don’t think things will take a turn for the worse. …What I need to focus on more is maintaining the right distance with them. I want to help where I can, but if I get too involved, it might disrupt the power balance between nations. If they start using ‘Progenitors’ for political leverage, that could become a problem. I need to tread carefully.」
At this, Mother seemed to recall something and spoke up.
「Oh, by the way, I got a message from Fauntia, Queen of Sorx.」
「The Queen? What did she say? Is it something you can share with us?」
「Yes. She said, ‘I had a stroke.’」
「Oh…」
Though I’ve never met her, I could easily imagine the scene when the news reached her.
—Then again, when it comes to the Demon King issue, I was the one who meddled, so the responsibility lies with me, not Mother. …I could feel a cold sweat breaking out.
「Bark?」
「It’s nothing. Come here.」
「Bark!」
Sensing my unease, Chocola gazed at me with concern. I spread my arms and scooped him up to hide my nervousness. Sorry, Chocola… I didn’t mean to worry you.
「Is that all the Queen said?」
「Yes, that was the entire message. I’m sure she has plenty of questions she wants to ask, but it seems the royal family is also trying to avoid politicizing me. They’re holding back.」
「Still, I guess they couldn’t resist sneaking in a little complaint…」
「It’s fine, Sui-kun. Don’t worry about it. It’s the job of important people to have a stroke under pressure.」
「That’s definitely not in their job description!」
Technically, I’m a citizen of the Kingdom of Sorx, too. Reflecting on this with that in mind, I couldn’t help but think I may have overstepped—especially when I magically restrained a foreign politician. That one might have been too much. I just hope it doesn’t escalate into an international incident.
「Kwuunnn…」
My hand, stroking Chocola, faltered awkwardly.
Alice-san, watching this exchange, burst into laughter.
「Don’t worry. I doubt any trouble will come your way. For Alfheim, securing their territory is their top priority, so stirring up unnecessary complications wouldn’t be in their best interest. Especially considering they tried to threaten you—it’s a blunder on their part. To the outside world, it’ll remain a simple story: Alfheim issued a quest to adventurers, and those adventurers completed it. It just so happened that one of those adventurers was the ‘Heavenly Bell Witch,’ who provided key testimony about the Demon King. That’s all there is to it.」
As I listened, I reflected on her words.
Alice-san, as the progenitor elf who lived two millennia ago, was likely a figure so influential that even national leaders couldn’t ignore her. Her importance surpassed that of any royal lineage, making her an unparalleled symbol of authority. Beyond that, her firsthand accounts could revolutionize historical studies.
Alfheim would need to play this negotiation card with care, prioritizing peaceful resolutions. They had to ensure that no one felt shortchanged and that all players in the game gained maximum benefit.
Alice-san herself understood her value deeply. She cooperated where needed but ensured her influence wasn’t exploited. At critical junctures, she would gracefully step back, leaving no lingering discord, aiming for a peaceful fade from the stage.
That was likely a skill honed over 200 years—a political technique she developed while navigating survival, having once been a middle schooler from another world, deceived and manipulated by nations.
「That said, Progenitor-dono, it would be unfair to place the entire burden on you. I’ll put in a good word with the Sorx royal family, though I’ll keep it within reason so it doesn’t trouble our family.」
Mother gave Alice-san a playful wink. Mother, too—having endured political battles as the “Heavenly Bell Witch”—had her own way of handling things. I trusted she would navigate it skillfully.
「That’s a relief. Personally, I’d like to finish all this and start exploring the world. Hopefully, I can wrap things up in the next twenty years or so.」
「When that time comes, you can use the doors Four Seasons has set up. Over the past two millennia, they’ve been established all over the place. You can travel anywhere instantly.」
「Ahaha, it’s really like an anywhere door! Amazing!」
「Sui-kun used that exact phrase too. I don’t remember much about that anywhere door, though.」
「Even if you don’t consciously remember, you recreated it unconsciously. It’s ingrained in every Japanese’s heart.」
「By the way, the voice actor probably changed since the time Alice-san watched. I’ve only seen reruns with the earlier one.」
「No way, seriously!?」
Even amidst serious topics, the conversation occasionally drifted into lighter territory, keeping the mood relaxed.
The night passed in this gentle manner, as everyone quietly envisioned what lay ahead.
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