The gondola was surprisingly stable. I gazed out at the scenery while the baby dragon, now completely attached to me, remained perched comfortably on my shoulder.
"Looking at it like this, the Kingdom of Sinfonia is incredibly lush, isn't it?"
While the Royal Capital was quite developed, the view from above revealed a land overflowing with vibrant greenery. It didn't look like a wasteland of uncultivated wilds; instead, it felt like a landscape where nature was deeply cherished.
"Yes, Sinfonia is home to the largest elf forest in the Human Realm. It is a nation with a vast amount of nature," Lilia-san explained.
"One of the primary reasons for that is the kingdom’s deep connection with the World King," Lunamaria-san added.
They both spoke up to elaborate on my observation.
"The elves, in particular, hold a very strong faith in the World King. The Treasure Tree Festival itself is meant to express their gratitude to her for the bounty of the land."
"……"
Sieg-san nodded emphatically, as if to confirm Lunamaria-san's words. It seemed the World King truly was a god-like figure to the elf race.
"I think I heard from Chronoa-san that the World King is the spirit of the World Tree. Is that how she's connected to them?"
"Indeed. Long ago, the elf race lost their ancestral forest during the invasion of the former Demon King’s army. Upon learning of their plight, the World King used her power to create a vast new forest for them after the Friendship Treaty was signed. Ever since, the elves have viewed her as their savior—a true god—and they worship her fervently."
"The elf race is quite large, yet their leaders have never once claimed the title of 'King' since the signing of that treaty. It is their way of showing that, for the elves, the World King is their only true sovereign."
So, for the elves, she was the ultimate benefactor of their entire race. No wonder they were so devoted to her. Still, creating the world's largest forest from scratch... the Six Kings really did possess power on a terrifying scale.
"By the way, the Kingdom of Sinfonia was the one that provided the land for that forest. In exchange, the World King has sent spirits and fairies—her kin—to the kingdom ever since. Thanks to them, Sinfonia is blessed with incredibly fertile crops and a flourishing food culture."
That made sense. Now I understood why Lilia-san had said the kingdom was so close to the World King. I recalled hearing that Sinfonia didn't have a God of Fertility; in this country, the World King filled that role.
As we continued toward the Elf Forest, I listened to Lilia-san’s stories about the World King and the history of the region. After a little over three hours on the Wyvern Service, a massive forest appeared below us, with a town built of wood nestled at its center.
There were log-cabin-style buildings and even towers constructed from timber. In the very heart of the city sat an enormous tree—a behemoth that had to be several hundred meters tall.
That was likely the "Treasure Tree" the festival was named after. I had heard they were a race that lived in harmony with nature, so I’d expected something like a large village at best, but this was a magnificent metropolis. It just had an entirely different aesthetic from human cities.
"It’s… incredible. Is it really all made of wood?"
"Not strictly everything, but they try to stay as close to nature as possible," Lilia-san replied.
the White Dragon touched down at what looked like the city entrance. It had looked impressive from the air, but standing before it now, the sight was overwhelming. Kusunoki-san seemed to feel the same way, murmuring in awe.
I was just starting to soak in the "otherworld" atmosphere when a problem arose.
"Kyuuu!"
"Uh, hey now…"
The baby dragon that had grown so fond of me refused to let go. Thanks to my Sympathy Magic, its feelings were transmitted directly to me, and it seemed to understand my emotions in return. It had stayed on my shoulder the entire flight, and now it was clinging to my clothes, refusing to budge.
"Miyama-senpai, she really is attached to you," Yuzuki-san remarked.
The female driver was trying her best to pull the dragon away, but the little creature wasn't listening to a word she said. I was happy to be liked, but also a little troubled. If I didn't find a way to persuade her, we wouldn't be able to enter the city. She wasn't my pet; she belonged to the Wyvern Service, after all.
"It’s okay. We’ll see each other again when I head back. And I’ll come visit you even after I return to the capital."
"Kyuuu…"
"Yeah. So, be a good girl and listen to the driver, okay?"
"……Kyui."
The baby dragon looked heartbreakingly sad, but she eventually gave a small, reluctant nod. She loosened her grip on my shirt and then…
"Kyu!"
"Wait—!?"
She suddenly nipped at my neck. I jumped, startled, but she didn't actually bite down. She gave me two gentle love-bites and then pulled away.
What was that about? I wasn't sure, but the driver looked shocked, so it was probably some kind of sign of affection. Regardless, the baby dragon finally let go. As we walked away, she let out a mournful cry while watching me go. I waved back. She really was a cute little thing. Since the Wyvern Service had an office in the capital, I made a mental note to visit her often.
We finally set foot inside the city. Magic existed in this world, and large cities were usually protected by barrier magic, so there were no imposing stone walls—we just walked right in.
"Everyone, we are scheduled to meet our guides here," Lunamaria-san announced.
"Guides?" I asked.
Lunamaria-san had mentioned that even though her father was a half-elf, she had never been here. I wondered if she had elven acquaintances, or if she’d hired a professional service. Just as I was about to ask, a booming, resonant voice echoed from seemingly nowhere.
"Kingdom of Sinfonia!"
"The Albert Ducal party!"
"Wait, what!?"
"……!?!?"
Kusunoki-san, Yuzuki-san, and I all jumped in surprise, but Sieg-san’s face had suddenly turned into a mask of pure horror.
We looked toward the source of the voices and saw two figures sprinting toward us from a distance. A blonde male elf with short hair and a red-haired female elf with long hair were charging straight at us from opposite diagonals. They crossed paths right in front of our group.
"Hup!"
"Yah!"
They leapt into the air, spun once as they crossed, and landed in perfect synchronization. Standing back-to-back, the two elves struck a dramatic pose.
""Welcome to the elven city of Rigforresia!""
"""……"""
I had absolutely no idea how to react. This was wrong. Their energy was on an entirely different level from ours.
Sieg-san was currently clutching her head in her hands. Could it be that these two were…?
"…O-Oh? Dear, I feel like they’re a bit put off."
"Hmm, perhaps this pose was a bit too high-concept?"
"""……"""
True to their race, both the blonde man and the red-haired woman were stunningly beautiful, but their behavior was painfully out of place.
As we stood there dazed, Sieg-san slowly straightened up. She looked like a ghost rising from the grave as she drew her two slender swords.
"……"
"H-Huh? Sieg-chan? What’s wrong? Why the scary face?"
"Hahaha! She must be overwhelmed with joy!"
"But, dear… it looks like she’s actually going to kill us…"
"H-Hahaha… W-Wait, Sieg! Let’s stay calm and—"
"……!!"
""Gyaaaaaahhh!?""
A transformed Sieg-san lunged at the two elves, and their pathetic screams echoed through the forest.
"…Um, Lilia-san. Those two are, by any chance…"
"Yes… those are Sieg’s parents."
"""……"""
I was… speechless.
If you were trying to visit your hometown for a festival with your friends and your parents made an entrance that flamboyant, it would be nothing short of a public execution for the daughter.
I didn't even need Sympathy Magic to understand Sieg-san’s tragic state of mind; her bright red face and absolute fury told the whole story.
Dear Mother, Dear Father—I’ve arrived at the elven city, Rigforresia. And… I met Sieg-san’s parents.