Avangarde Royal Capital, Hotel Maison Room
“This ribbon…”
The Master Appraiser, called by that old man Hast, was frozen in place, holding my sister’s ribbon in his palm. With his hair split down the middle and an air of suspicion about him, he looked far too serious. He was someone of great importance, not someone an individual could easily summon, but old man Hast had activated his sage privileges. Lured by the honor of being summoned by a sage and the item in question, he had come, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was untrustworthy.
“I can see a woman.”
“Huh?! What do you mean, a woman?!”
“Calm down, Elmera.”
That brat named Rash had decent magical power and was apparently favored by the sage, so I thought I might as well take care of him since he was a promising talent. But he was too cheeky, and I quickly gave him a smack. Plus, he was with a girl—so mature for his age. I wasn’t the type to get jealous of couples, but it still irritated me.
“Elmera, it’s a woman with ears like yours. Can we define her as being sealed…? In any case, this ribbon serves that purpose. The fabric’s material is also quite interesting, especially this part.”
“Enough with the trivia! What kind of woman is she?! Is she super cute?! Cuter than Elmera?!”
“N-no, Elmera is—”
“If it’s my sister, of course, she’s more beautiful than me!”
“This girl is such a handful…”
I had gotten so excited that I snatched the ribbon from the appraiser. I was certain he wasn’t lying. If my sister was sealed within this ribbon, then why? No, more than that, my eyes were welling up, and the excitement was driving me nearly mad. Because my sister…
“My sister is alive, alive… she’s alive!”
“Elmera… your sister is…”
“Faaaan! She’s alive! She’s alive! My sister!”
Tears streamed down my face, a mix of joy and heart-wrenching sadness. Because I had no way to break this ribbon’s seal. From the moment I held it, I had tried every conceivable method to release it. Imagination Magic knows no bounds, yet this seal shattered my confidence. Only one person, now and in the past, could accomplish such a feat.
“This seal… my sister must have done it herself… Who in this world could place a seal that I can’t break…?”
“I don’t quite understand what’s going on. Could you explain it from the beginning?”
I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to calm my excitement, and began explaining to the old men. Thankfully, they were quick to grasp the situation; if it had been that foolish girl, I would have had to repeat myself countless times. I was tempted to smack her out of frustration, but I refrained, fearing the consequences.
“I see… then there is only one reason. Your sister must have sealed herself to escape Vandalsia.”
“Why? Wouldn’t that make things worse?”
“Vandalsia had a reason not to kill your sister, Rash.”
“Indeed, Vandalsia saw great value in your sister. And she, too, anticipated that.”
“A seal that even Vandalsia’s ‘Vanishing’ can’t erase… I can’t even imagine it.”
“Indeed…”
They hadn’t even realized there was a seal, not even the sage or I. I felt no trace of magical power, and I couldn’t fathom how it was done. No race is more beloved by magic than elves; we are centuries ahead of human magical norms. If I, an elf, couldn’t understand it, then no matter how much the sages examined this ribbon, it would be futile. Even if they devoted their lives to it, they would never reach the conclusion that there was a seal.
“My, what a remarkable item… It’s the first time I’ve encountered something I couldn’t fully comprehend, even as an appraiser.”
The one who saw through the ribbon’s seal was named Sadameru. I didn’t know what he thought of it, but he had easily stepped into the realm of the magical prodigy that every elf praised as a genius—my sister’s seal.
Oh no, I might get jealous. Seriously, what is up with him? He’s an elf, after all. If a human mage’s magical power is rated at 1, even an average elf exceeds 100. That’s why our ancestors, realizing that prosperity leads to ruin, quickly rejected it. They minimized their desire to leave descendants. I didn’t know how they did it, but they passed that trait onto us, allowing us to survive, albeit in small numbers.
As numbers increase, so do conflicts and strife. Our ancestors feared that, but ironically, it was their failure to recognize this that led to our decline. Fewer numbers mean fewer means to resist. No matter how superior our magical power, we would eventually be destroyed by a race that boasted overwhelming prosperity. Our ancestors were undoubtedly remarkable, but I often sighed inwardly at their inability to see this.
“Thank you for your hard work, Sadameru. Here is your promised reward.”
“Yes… but half is enough. I couldn’t reveal the full picture, meaning I didn’t fulfill my part of the bargain.”
“There’s no need to be so rigid…”
“No, I believe one should be honest in their work. I’ll take this half. Well then, everyone, take care.”
As he shook hands with each of us, Sadameru hurriedly left the room. Hah, that guy.
“Sage, that guy now has our information.”
“What do you mean?”
“His skill probably allows him to appraise whatever he touches. That handshake was exactly that. Well, I protected myself, of course. I don’t want him knowing the color of my underwear.”
“Ahhhhh! No way, no way, no way!”
“Someone like Rutna, a child, wouldn’t interest him. But you know, it’s often the serious-looking types who turn out to be perverts.”
“Noooooo!”
“Don’t tease me too much, Elmera…”
The sage must have realized it too. After all, what kind of situation allows former enemies to stroll freely through the royal capital? Even if they desperately need manpower for reconstruction, their crisis management seems lacking.
“What should we do, what should we do…”
“Don’t worry. No one is interested in your underwear!”
Now wasn’t the time to tease the kids. The sound of Rutna’s slap, fueled by Rash’s thoughtless comment, was oddly satisfying. Lost in that strange afterglow, I pondered how to break this ribbon’s seal. I thought it would take a long time to figure out.
“Oh, there’s that guy.”
I wasn’t sure if he could help, but there was someone with potential. He was probably holed up in the countryside, living happily with another woman. Maybe I should pay him a visit just for fun.
Ikana Village, Kurinka’s House
“…Hmm?”
“Kurinka…?”
I could tell that the medicine we received from the Kingdom of Metallica had significantly eased the symptoms. Everyone, who had been feverish, now breathed quietly thanks to the medicine. They said the fever had subsided, and the pain and cough were nearly gone.
Of course, I had split up with Genia to deliver the medicine to everyone’s homes, and now Kurinka was waking up like this. She was drenched in sweat, her underwear sticking to her skin.
“At one point, your fever exceeded 40°C. While it wasn’t life-threatening, it was still a dangerous situation.”
She explained that the average human body temperature is around 35°C to 36°C, and 40°C is quite high. I had been taught about the unit “°C,” but I didn’t quite understand it.
“Lua-chan, and from the Kingdom of Metallica…”
“It’s Genia. It’s been a while. You seem to be doing well… though I can’t say that as a greeting.”
“I’m sorry for making you go through all this…”
“Kurinka, you still need to rest.”
“Yeah… wow, I’m so sweaty.”
“Yes, I’m turning around now. Please wipe yourself quickly.”
After confirming that Genia had turned around, I began to undress Kurinka. Even though I was just wiping her down with a towel, it felt oddly embarrassing. Kurinka, who seemed to be squirming, probably felt the same way.
“Ah, heh…”
“Oh, sorry.”
“I’ll do the rest myself…”
“Was I bad at it?”
“That’s not it, it’s just… I can manage this much…”
“That’s fine. You’re still not feeling well.”
I insistently wiped Kurinka’s back and arms. Her face was slightly flushed, which might mean she still had a fever. When I wiped her chest, she let out another strange sound, confirming that she was indeed ticklish.
“Now, it’s time to wipe lower…”
“Come on, come on! Besides, Genia is here, you know…?”
“Don’t mind me.”
“I do mind! It’s fine now that it’s dried!”
Even though I was facing away, it was still embarrassing in front of Genia. I realized how insensitive I had been. I felt embarrassed when everyone saw me in my underwear on the ship heading to the Wizard Kingdom. Back when I was in the Abyss Cave, surrounded by monsters, I had no concept of humans seeing me naked.
While helping Kurinka change, I stole glances at Genia. I couldn’t help but imagine strange things.
“Rest assured, I’m not looking. Besides, I prefer women who are a bit older.”
“Like Harp?”
“Well, age-wise, yes. But…”
What was with that sudden fluster? I could tell even from behind that she adjusted her glasses.
“More importantly, that medicine is not a cure. It’s merely to alleviate the symptoms, so once it wears off, the symptoms will return.”
“W-What?!”
“That said, I have enough medicine for four or five days, so you should be fine for now. In the meantime, let’s go get a cure from that Madam Natchu.”
“…That person? But she deceived us!”
“If their (Noibranz) intentions are as we suspect, they should willingly provide us with the genuine cure for now.”
Intentions. That landlady was definitely up to something. She casually spoke about helping each other as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“What do you mean by intentions…?”
“Calm down. I understand how you feel, but making a scene would put us at a disadvantage.”
I suppressed the urge to slam my fist down somewhere. Genia noticed and tried to soothe me, but my anger wouldn’t subside. What scheme did she have in deceiving us? How could she act so nonchalantly? Just like with the Comet Wolf Brigade, the differences between humans can be so stark. That country, Noibranz, the Ten Destroyers—they might as well be thieves.
“So, what should we do?”
“Leave it to us. Rua, you continue caring for the villagers.”
“Y-Yeah, you’re right. I’m not fully healed yet…”
“Kurrrrrin-chin!”
Elmera was outside the window. She should have been in the Royal Capital with Lord Hast, so I was surprised she came all the way here. But then again, for Elmera, it might just be a moment.
“What’s up?”
“I don’t need anything from Rua-chan. You have Kurinka, right?”
“No way! Kurinka is still infected with Divils Bacteria!”
“Huh? It’s already spread this far?”
“Yeah. So if you need something, wait until later.”
“That can be erased with your destruction, right? You did it when the boss of the sewer entered Kurinka-chan.”
That’s right; I had planned to do that. I had been so flustered and panicked that I completely forgot. I quickly lifted Kurinka, staring into her eyes. It seemed to signal her, and at the same moment, Kurinka leaned into me.
“If even Alcist’s gas could be destroyed, then surely…”
“Yeah, okay. Be gentle with me…”
“Hyahhhhhh!”
What’s with the hyahhh? Elmera was being a nuisance; I wanted her to go away.
“Um, is something moving in your tool bag?”
Just when we were about to proceed, Genia pointed at my tool bag. It was indeed moving—could it be?
“Uhi… hii… medicine…”
Rolling out of the tool bag was Shin, his face flushed and breathing heavily. It seemed Shin was also…
“Shin?! So you were infected too… I’m sorry I didn’t notice.”
“Perfect timing! You can drag that little one into this too.”
“Eh, that’s a bit…”
“Can you really say you can control the Power of Destruction? You might manage alone, but what about with two? What if you can’t do it when it counts?”
“Yeah, I guess…”
“Come on, do it already.”
He was saying something reasonable, but he was definitely enjoying this. He was grinning and sticking to the window, and I wanted to push him out. Still, I squeezed Shin between me and Kurinka. It looked cramped between our chests, and I might accidentally crush him. Kurinka’s chest seemed soft enough to act as a cushion, so it should be fine.
“Ha… okay, okay.”
“Does it feel good?”
“Yeah…”
I was probably succeeding in destroying the Divils Bacteria. When it came to controlling the Power of Destruction, I hadn’t really thought about the details. Even with Alcist’s gas, I only considered destroying things that could harm me. It was the same now; I didn’t really understand what bacteria were, but the principle was the same. I could see Kurinka’s complexion improving slightly.
“Mm…”
“Kurinka, how do you feel?”
“Still a bit…”
“Still in pain?”
“No…”
I didn’t quite understand. Was she still feverish? Her face was red. I was also feeling my heart race. It was the same feeling I had when we kissed. My heart was pounding, and I felt strange.
“…Gyum.”
“Ah, Shin. Are you okay now?”
“I don’t have a fever. No fever.”
“Then you’re fine.”
Finally, when we were all better, we pulled away. Kurinka looked dazed, and Shin was slumped against the bed. I felt a strange gaze upon us.
“Heh, just like newlyweds.”
“Um, just to be sure, I’d like to check if the bacteria have disappeared from your bodies.”
Right, these two were here again. I had forgotten once more. Especially Elmera, I couldn’t tell if she was looking down on us or just finding it amusing. I wished she’d stop that smirk.
“A check?”
“Yes, if there are no issues, it means you’ve fully recovered. But the other villagers are still…”
“I healed them, you know.”
“Oh, thank you… huh?”
“Eh?”
Genia didn’t know about Elmera’s powers, so it was understandable that she was confused. But we were the ones who should be concerned—Elmera.
“Wait, could you have healed them from the start?”
“Of course! What kind of civilization allows the spread of something like Divils Bacteria?”
“…Then you could have healed Kurinka and Shin too, right?”
“Yep!”
What should I do? I seriously felt like punching her. She wore a beaming smile, looking utterly delighted. What was this about controlling the Power of Destruction? She had known from the beginning and had let us go through this. I felt so sorry for Kurinka, who was blushing and tightly gripping the sheets in embarrassment. No, I was embarrassed too. More than that, I was angry.
“If you hit me, I’ll tell your mom and dad!”
“Kurinka! Oh, Rua, you’re here too?”
“Sorry for intruding. I’m Genia. This time, I…”
I called out loudly for Kurinka’s parents to stop my revenge. Elmera stuck her tongue out in a victory declaration. I realized then that I couldn’t win against her in anything other than a fight. Elmera knew that too and was teasing me. Losing to Platiu in cards was nothing compared to this. The level of frustration was on a whole different scale.
“Hehehe, Hyahya, Ahaha!”
“Anyway, this has been a great help. Can we start the check now?”
Ignoring Elmera, who couldn’t contain her laughter, Genia asked. I could only respond with a small, “Sure.”
◆ Shin Report ◆
Puhihihihikukuku Hyahhyahhyahhyah
Hihihihihi Ahii— Hii— Hii—