Chapter 49

When I emitted light from the Living Mail, it returned to being just a suit of armor. The red-haired knight called this phenomenon "purification," and Samiue seemed to want to hide the fact that I had done it. Samiue was wary of the baron, Lord Gairal, and the mayor of Leoriga City, Thomas, so it was probably better that they didn't find out. As a result, while the red-haired knight started looking at me more meaningfully, no one else seemed to be paying attention to me. It's probably fine.

Samiue had said that the light I emitted might be magic. Currently, I am sealed, so I can't use magic because the magic power that should flow through me as an elf isn't circulating. However, Samiue said that she felt magic power from me when I defeated the dragon, and this time, she felt it again. I can't reproduce it when there's nothing, but it seems I can use it when there's a trigger.

I'll think more about the conditions for using magic later, but there's one thing that's bothering me. It is—

"Do you know about the prophecy?"

—About the prophecy.

"A person who possesses the treasure of the gods will appear."

A new religious sect that worships the goddess received this revelation. Caries is thought to be the one prophesied, and she seems to be having a lot of trouble. Caries said that the prophecy was made around the time she was born, which is about the same time as me. So, I thought, could the one prophesied be—

—me?

After the tea party, we stayed at the mayor's house. In one of the rooms, Samiue and I were sitting on the sofa. Samiue frowned slightly, as if unsure what to say. After a moment, she slowly spoke.

"…That prophecy is like a trend. The sect spread it before Lady Reni was born. People all hoped that their children might be the one… The children born that year were raised more carefully than before."

Samiue didn't try to hide it. After speaking, she closed her eyes for a moment.

"And now… The number of incidents where children are sold, kidnapped, and go missing has increased in various places. …Like in the city of Slanita."

The mayor of Slanita, Schultem, used his power to gather women. The women were freed, but the children who were gathered with them were already gone from Schultem's house. He said:

- He was commissioned to gather children.

- About my age.

- Those with distinctive appearances or exceptional talents were preferred.

- The client was unknown.

- But it was through an introduction from the mayor of another large city.

- Selling them would bring in money and expand his influence.

Considering this along with the prophecy, the answer becomes clear. The reason for gathering the children was—

—to find the one who possesses the treasure of the gods.

"I think Lady Reni's parents, the queen and a human man, knew about the prophecy and raised her in hiding."

"Uh-huh."

"The queen became human through the power of the treasure. She might have thought…"

"Uh-huh."

My mother must have felt something when she was pregnant with me. My father, despite appearances, has a sharp intuition. They must have discussed it and decided not to register my birth in the village, and to pretend I had died. That's why I don't have a birth certificate. Thanks to that, I've been able to live happily without being sold or kidnapped like other children.

Samiue slowly opened her eyes. Her blue eyes seemed to waver with pain.

"I'm sorry for not telling you until now."

Samiue's apology. She must have known everything… She must have thought I was the one who possesses the treasure of the gods and still decided to travel with me. Samiue, who has taught me so much and never treated me like a child, kept this a secret…

"I understand Samiue's reason."

She must have been conflicted…

"You were thinking about me."

To keep me from worrying. To keep me from blaming myself. So—

"It's okay."

If I am the prophesied child, and if children are going missing because of me—

"I'll take care of it!"

I placed my hand on my chest and puffed out my chest. I'm the strongest four-year-old!

"I'll defeat them all and save everyone."

"Okay!"

Samiue's eyes softened at my words, and she nodded firmly.

"I will continue to strive to be of help to Lady Reni."

"Uh-huh. …But, Samiue, you're always so cool?"

"Ugh… Ugh… It's a great honor to hear that from Lady Reni."

Samiue took a deep breath, calmed down, and looked up at me.

"I will gather information about the missing children. The sect is suspicious. On the surface, they are a charitable organization. And—there might be a connection to the core of this country."

"…Is Caries also a target?"

"There's no concrete evidence yet…"

Samiue got off the sofa and knelt in front of me.

"I will strive to be of help to Lady Reni."

"Uh-huh. …But, Samiue, you're always so cool?"

"Ugh… Ugh… It's a great honor to hear that from Lady Reni."

Samiue took a deep breath, calmed down, and looked up at me.

"I will search the mayor's house for clues."

"Search?"

"Yes. Since this city is so large, there should be a lot of information. It was fortunate that we could enter the house so openly. I will check if any children have gone missing around the city, if there are any unnatural places, and if the mayor is connected to anyone like Schultem."

"Uh-huh. Please do."

Let's investigate the sect to save the children and protect Caries!