“Oh, Lloyd! It is rare for you to come to see me of your own accord. It makes me glad, truly glad.”
I immediately headed to see my father, Charles, to put my plan into action.
As Charles welcomed me with a beaming smile, I broached the subject.
“Father, how were the results of your recent health checkup?”
“Mmm... W-Well, they were fine enough, I suppose...”
Charles answered, looking sheepish.
I had been eavesdropping from a distance earlier, and it seemed Rion had given him quite a scolding. His age likely played a part, but living the life of a king certainly didn’t seem good for one's health.
“Actually, thanks to Rion-niisan, I’ve also had a good opportunity to think about health. Naturally, I want you to live a long life, Father, as well as my brothers and sisters. Therefore, I wondered if I might be able to learn something from the long-lived race that is said to live in the forest to the east of Saloom.”
“Long-lived... You mean the Elf race!”
Elves were a race that lived in the forest, making their living through hunting and gathering wild plants. Because they kept to themselves deep within the woods, they rarely had deep interactions with humans. Their physical characteristics included long, pointed ears and beautiful, long golden hair, and they all possessed similarly well-featured faces. Their most prominent trait, however, was that the species itself was extremely long-lived.
“Yes. They must surely possess some secret to their longevity. I intend to go there and learn that knowledge.”
“Oh...! What a kind child... To think that even though you are still but a boy, you worry for our well-being. I had heard you were growing into a magnificent mage, but it seems your heart has matured as well. A king must master the hearts of the people to lead them, and Lloyd, you have already achieved that. Fufufu, I truly cannot wait to see what the future holds for you.”
Charles muttered to himself as tears streamed down his face. Then, as if suddenly coming back to his senses, he continued.
“But Elves rarely show themselves to humans. Even here in Saloom, there have been almost no sightings of them. Since their settlements are deep within the forest, they are a race shrouded in mystery. You cannot simply meet them just because you wish to, can you? What do you plan to do?”
“Of course, I have made preparations. I have actually found someone to act as a guide. He is right here.”
The moment I snapped my fingers, the large entrance doors swung open.
A youth with long golden hair and eyes as narrow as threads walked in. His ears were stretched long and slender, just like the characteristic trait of an Elf.
“This is Baron of the Elf race. We became acquainted when I went to the city before.”
At my introduction, Baron knelt and bowed his head respectfully.
“It is an honor to meet you, King Charles. My name is Baron. I have been greatly indebted to Master Lloyd in many ways, and I have been tasked with acting as his guide on this occasion. I look forward to our future acquaintance. Kuku...”
“How incredible... To think that Lloyd had an elven acquaintance. I am astonished... Oh, forgive me. It is my first time meeting an Elf. I found myself staring.”
“Please, do not let it concern you. We usually hide our ears with hats and the like, after all. However, King Charles, you say this is your first time, but you may have actually encountered us several times before.”
“What! Is that so?”
“Yes. Saloom is a very fine country. In truth, we Elves have been coming and going for quite a long time. We exchange the bounties of the forest for currency and return home with rare items from the human world.”
“Hmm, I see. So it was only we who were unaware, and diplomatic relations have existed for far longer than I realized. To think that we have already met members of that phantom race... how delightful. Wahahaha!”
“Precisely so. Kukuku...”
The two of them laughed together as if sharing a great joke. After a while, Charles slapped his knee.
“I have heard many interesting things today. Baron, if you say it is fine, then I have no objections. I want you to guide Lloyd to the Land of the Elves.”
“With pleasure.”
“Lloyd, make sure you learn much in the Land of the Elves.”
“Thank you, Father.”
I bowed to Charles and then left the Throne Room.
“Good work.”
“Kuku, I wondered what was happening since I was summoned so suddenly, Master Lloyd.”
Upon returning to my room, I released the spell I had cast on Baron. The person who appeared was a youth with short gray hair—Babylon. Like Ren, he was a former member of the Assassin Guild and a versatile fellow who could handle all sorts of tasks.
“Nice acting, Babylon. Is everyone else doing well?”
“Yeah, they’re doing so well it’s almost a problem. They said they wanted to see Ren, too.”
Babylon exchanged some light conversation with Ren. I had used Mimicry on him to change his appearance into that of an Elf, then introduced him to Charles as Baron, an Elf I had met some time ago. If I had said I was going to the Land of the Elves without a guide, I would have likely been told no. I’m glad it went well.
“Even so, Master Lloyd, you were quite knowledgeable about the Elf race. Have you perhaps met them before?”
“I suppose you could say that.”
In truth, I had been to the Land of the Elves once before. The Baron from earlier was a form I had created by mixing Babylon’s features with a youth I had seen back then.
“I believe it was about three or four years ago. I saw in a book that there was an elven country in a forest near Saloom, so I went to check it out.”
“The reason you went to the Land of the Elves... Since it’s you, Master Lloyd, it was undoubtedly related to magic.”
“I’m already getting a bad feeling about this...”
For some reason, Babylon and Ren were already backing away, but I continued my story regardless.
“The forest was like a maze. If you proceed normally, you can never reach the inner parts. It seemed like the entire forest was a massive accumulation of mana, and it appeared to be bewildering intruders.”
Strong terrestrial mana causes great distortions across the land. The phenomenon of the Cursed One that tormented Ren and the others, or hosting the Demon King like Connie—this forest was likely something of that nature.
“The Forest of Bewilderment. Even during the former Demon Army Advance, the Majin got lost and couldn't enter. Well, it didn't seem to have much value, so we just ignored it. By the way, how did you get through, Master Lloyd?”
“I had no choice, so I just flew straight through.”
“...I thought it might be something like that.”
“In the end, you can get through any deception if you just push straight through. Well, it’s impossible for an ordinary practitioner, though.”
Grimo and Jiriel looked exasperated. I had intended to investigate and clear it via the proper route, but at the time, I wasn't that skilled at controlling my mana, and I was worried that staying away from the castle for too long would arouse suspicion. Brute force was simply the fastest way.
“Anyway, I managed to reach the Land of the Elves, but the guards were waiting at the entrance. It was quite an ordeal because they attacked me all of a sudden. It’s terrible to be treated like an enemy when I hadn't done anything.”
“No, wasn't it because you trespassed without permission...?”
“And if you're a member of another race, wouldn't it be natural for them to attack without question...?”
I continued explaining to the completely stunned Ren and Babylon.
“I still tried my best to settle things peacefully, but they started using fire. When I dodged, the fire caught the trees and began to spread. I didn't want the elven village I had finally visited to burn down, so I worked hard to extinguish it with water magic, but the fire spread faster than I expected. I was worried that if I went all out, I might kill someone. Man, I was really inexperienced back then.”
“Wait! That great forest fire... that was your doing, Master Lloyd?”
“I know about that! The mysterious great fire that occurred in the Forest of Bewilderment! it caused a huge uproar!”
Come to think of it, I believe it was featured prominently in the newspapers. It’s a bit embarrassing. Don't make me blush.
“I don’t think they’re praising you at all, sir.”
“If anything, they’re completely appalled.”
“...At any rate, eventually, I couldn't stick around anymore. I thought enough time had passed for things to cool down, so I decided to go back for a visit. I hardly got a chance to look around the Land of the Elves back then.”
“I’m absolutely certain the same kind of thing is going to happen again...”
“I’ll do better next time.”
Since then, I have conducted a significant amount of magic research, and my ability to restrain myself is several levels better than before. With my current power, I could instantly erase thousands of fire arrows if they were shot at me, and since I have the Holy Magic Purification, I can wipe away all their hostility. Even if the forest were to catch fire, I would only need to wash it all away with the Large-scale Magic Water Piercing Dragon while protecting the Elves with a barrier.
Everyone was looking at me dubiously, but I was certain I could get along with the Elves this time. ...I was certain. Come on, believe in me a little.