Chapter 82

Perhaps, I might not be wanted here. This thought lingered somewhere in my mind—so when Aisha hugged me, I honestly felt relieved.

However... yeah, it's like this. The way Polina and everyone from the Secret Service look at me as if they want to kill me with their eyes, and the maids and butlers staring in shock, makes me quite uncomfortable.

After a while, I moved to the room with Aisha, who seemed to have calmed down. We strictly cleared the room, and of course, Polina and the others tried to insist that it was "absolutely not allowed," but Matvey firmly said, "It's with the permission of His Majesty," and pushed through.

The spacious room had a simple and warm interior, typical of Aisha's room.

"This is... the room where I've spent my time since I was young. It's been left as it is, so I'm using it again this time..."

Aisha paused and looked at me.

"...Raiji. Why are you here? Did Matvey help you?"

"No, I didn't do anything. Raiji came here almost entirely on his own."

"Because I wanted to talk to Aisha."

"To me... talk?"

I nodded and began to speak.

I wanted to know why Aisha had returned to the Kingdom of Sylvis. If the Emperor of the Lev Magic Empire accepted the conditions, Aisha would be free to live as she pleased. If she returned because of Lark, I wanted her to stop.

I don't know what to do about Lark's condition.

【All Things】has information about Lark's declining vitality, but it doesn't tell me what to do.

This is the first time I've encountered something like this.

For example, I could think of a treatment for Dantes' petrification poison, and the same goes for Aisha's unique constitution.

But with Lark's condition—like a mirror reflecting the natural state, 【All Things】only says, "The vitality is declining."

Perhaps, because it's not a clear foreign substance like a disease or poison, 【All Things】is not giving me the answer I want.

"I don't know what the elf's secret medicine is. But there's no guarantee it will cure Lark, and I want you to prioritize your feelings."

"..."

Aisha, who had been listening to me with her head down, smiled—a gentle, reassuring smile.

"Raiji, you have a misunderstanding."

"Huh...?"

"I am very proud to be able to sing the magic song. I can do something for this forest, just like Matvey and the others, and I am grateful to Raiji for giving me that opportunity. If I can do something to thank you, the secret medicine is one of them. Of course, it would be meaningless if Lark doesn't get better."

"It would be meaningless... but, that's how it is."

Just knowing that Aisha didn't return here reluctantly was enough.

She is of the High Elf royal family—she can't easily say, "I will live freely." But Aisha is facing her duties head-on.

If so, I should support her.

"I understand—"

"Wait a moment, Aisha."

Then, Matvey, who had been silent, spoke.

"Sure, you have much more magic power than a failure like me, and if you sing the magic song, His Majesty and Yuri and the others will be happy. But, the magic song isn't sung every day, and the forest managed fine even when you were gone."

"Is that... so?"

Matvey crossed his arms and nodded.

"There are important times in each season when the magic song is needed. But that's all. It's not bad for you to leave when the magic song isn't needed."

"Brother Matvey, that's..."

"Yeah, that's right. You should negotiate with His Majesty to get permission to go outside. This forest needs change."

"..."

This time, Aisha fell silent with a troubled look.

"What's wrong, Aisha? You must want to go outside, right? I can see it in your eyes. Why can't you be honest? Raiji came here just for you."

"...But, that... such a selfish request..."

"What's selfish about it!"

Matvey slammed his fist on the table.

"Selling you to another country as payment for a magic flying ship—this country is the one being selfish...! You are just asserting your rightful rights."

"...Only High Elves can sing the magic song."

"So what?"

"I understand His Majesty's intention to preserve even a little High Elf blood and protect this forest."

"Let the forest die if it must."

"Brother! That's too much!"

"Not too much! I have much less magic power than you, but thanks to that, I can see things clearly. The life of the elves and the life outside the forest. Look outside the 'Three Heavens Forest.' The Keithsgran Federation has lost the 'Six Heavens Mines' and desperately wants the天赋珠玉. But His Majesty restricts their removal from here, right? If the mines stop, the Federation will eventually put pressure on this forest. If that happens, the magic song won't matter."

"But, Brother—"

"Wait a moment."

I intervened.

"Isn't this conversation deviating from the purpose of listening to Aisha's wishes?"

"Ugh..."

"Y-Yes, you're right. I'm sorry."

"I think it's important to maintain the balance of this world by keeping the covenant."

"Do you think the same as His Majesty?"

Matvey's eyes filled with hostility as he looked at me.

"Calm down—maintaining the High Elf covenant and being reluctant to release the天赋珠玉are different issues."

"..."

"Where are the天赋珠玉that have been produced? You're not destroying all of them, right? If external pressure is applied, just let them circulate. The forest will remain as it is."

"That... no, that's not possible."

"Why not?"

"Actually..."

"Brother."

Aisha stopped Matvey, who was about to speak.

What? Is there some secret?

"...Raiji. I can't say more. This is a High Elf issue—"

"The magic song is not necessary to maintain the covenant."

There, I asked the question I had felt when I heard the king's words.

"Don't take too many天赋珠玉. The天赋珠玉form the world... that's all. What exactly is the magic song? You can't control the production of天赋珠玉, can you? Is it like a barrier to protect the forest? No, if it were, poachers wouldn't be wandering around."

"..."

"..."

Then Aisha and Matvey fell silent.

It seems there is a High Elf secret related to the magic song.

—You will return here again... or if you don't, that's fine too.

The king said that just now.

In other words, he is giving me the choice to either "dig deeper into the secret" or "turn around and pretend I didn't hear anything and leave."

"...The High Elves are a race bound by the magic song."

If Aisha's fate is also bound by the "duty" of the magic song.

"I will speak to His Majesty again."

To reveal what this "duty" is and break the chains that bind their fate—Aisha cannot be truly honest with her feelings.

【All Things】should be able to unravel the secret of the magic song.

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