Chapter 91

Matvey is going to take us all the way to the Kingdom of Light Knights, so they say.

But his expression is dark—I think Matvey is also struggling in his own way.

"Though it may be presumptuous of me to say this..."

I told Matvey about Yuri's words. She had asked me to "look after" him.

"Look after? What do you mean?"

"…This is just my imagination, but after Yuri becomes the next queen, isn't she planning to increase exchanges with the outside world?"

"Exchanges with the outside...?"

"The elves have held the 'Three Heavens Forest' and lived a secluded life, but this is a change. It's the beginning of a new era for the elves. I think she wants Matvey to stay in the Kingdom of Sylvis and handle negotiations with the outside world."

"Why me?"

"Among the royal family, only Matvey can interact with outsiders—like me—without being bound by preconceived notions. I think Yuri values Matvey's personality."

"…Yuri..."

Matvey murmured, "Unbelievable," softly. Asha also said,

"Even though Yuri-nee-sama's gaze on Matvey-nii-sama is strict, I also think there is kindness in it. I only noticed this because Reiji-san said Yuri-nee-sama is 'kind.'"

"…Is that so?"

"Surely it is. Just as Matvey-nii-sama respects Yuri-nee-sama despite often speaking harshly to her."

"!"

As if hit by a bullseye, Matvey hurriedly said,

"N-no, not respect… Well, his magic is impressive… I-I'll go check the operation status!"

He left, blushing.

"…Is it true, Reiji-san? What you said about after Yuri-nee-sama becomes queen…"

"It's just a guess. But it feels more like the current king, King Sylvis's, intention."

"King's?"

"Look at this 'Owl's Wing Flap.' It uses a lot of wood, but all the mechanical parts are made of steel. Of course, it also uses fire magic. While it may benefit the country, from the elves' perspective, this magic-powered airship is unacceptable, right?"

"…Because it was exchanged for me, who uses fire magic…"

Asha lowered her eyes sadly, but I shook my head.

"No, Asha. King Sylvis is thinking more about the country and the elves than himself. Letting go of Asha, who uses fire magic unconsciously, must have been a difficult decision. If he received this magic-powered airship, which the elves cannot accept and is not beneficial to the country, as a trade-off, there must be an important meaning behind it."

"…That meaning is the new era of the Kingdom of Sylvis…"

I nodded.

"…I need to think about it."

"I think that's a good idea. What I said is just a guess."

Leaving Asha, who was sitting on the lounge sofa, I headed to the upper deck of the airship. The 'Owl's Wing Flap,' flying over the Federation of Keithgran, had already passed through the great forest and was now over the grasslands. Although the wind is strong and I can't go out on the deck, I can see the great forest behind from the observation room. The morning sun illuminates the great forest, and in the distance, the World Tree is faintly visible, shrouded in mist.

(The elves call it the 'Kingdom of Sylvis.' But they also accept being part of the Federation of Keithgran and are treated as a direct territory of King Gepfert… The reason they have to accept it is probably this.)

Even the elves, who are accustomed to fighting in the forest, cannot protect the High Elves if they are attacked from the sky by a magic-powered airship. The same goes for the World Tree.

The magic-powered airship has the power to change the course of war, which is why all countries tried to obtain it. The Lev Magic Empire, despite being a small country, had a presence because it led in technology.

I don't know much, but it seems that anti-aircraft weapons for magic-powered airships are equipped in the central areas of the country.

In any case, King Sylvis must have realized that continuing a secluded life was no longer possible when he learned that magic-powered airships were becoming more common. He obtained the magic-powered airship before the Federation of Keithgran demanded the opening of the 'Three Heavens Forest.'

(And… perhaps the king also knew.)

I didn't tell the king about the World Tree.

(That heart-like substance… something altered from the天赋珠玉 is not connected to the Life Dragon Kurtusvita.)

It just absorbs magic and makes the World Tree grow.

This was clear from observing the flow of magic.

In other words—

(The 'duty' of the High Elves is meaningless.)

If the Life Dragon Kurtusvita is buried underground, it must have long since died and returned to the earth.

The 'duty' of the High Elves, which has been carried on for generations, was just an act to make the World Tree grow.

I couldn't tell the king this.

I couldn't say that his life—his ancestors' actions of modifying the天赋珠玉 and receiving the consequences—were all in vain.

But perhaps the current king, who is leading the new era, already knows… that this act is not in vain.

(…I don't know.)

I understand the futility of interfering.

So I'll talk to Yuri. When she becomes queen and finds time to meet with me, I'll tell her then.

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