24-024-To help home

"I'm sorry you and I had to apologize and pay for it...

So, we got the old man who owned the store to let the boy go by paying a premium for potatoes for a nuisance fee, and we brought the boy back to the inn safely.

"You're going to tell us honestly if you're stealing something else?

'I just came to town, and I've never stolen anything before in my life!　Ugh, but I know it's bad...

To the boy who said that and bowed his head apologetically, Elena patted his head with a gentle smile so as not to scare him.

''You can't do that anymore, okay?''

Yeah.

"So, how did you, an elf, come to the city of men?

At the sudden question, the boy's eyes went black and white with wonder as he flapped his hands around the ears of his hood with a guffawed face.

Elena chuckled a little as she took off her hood and let her long, light blue hair slide down without a hitch.

When the boy saw that, he began to panic awaiting with an even more astonished expression.

''Wow, nee-nee-nee-chan, could it be that you are a water spirit?　Because, I think it's much rarer for a spirit to be eating in a human city than for an elf to be out in the middle of nowhere!

Really?

Although Satsuki asks Elena with a scowling face, Elena in person just nods her head in distress as well with a woof.

Incidentally, it's not possible in everyday life to bump into a spirit in passing, so it's no wonder the boy is surprised.

Elena, who had lived in the Sacred Spring all her life, had no way of knowing such a thing, though.

It's no use comparing each other's rarity level for now, so let's introduce ourselves for now. I'm Kanata from Sifu, and this stupid-looking one is my sister, Satsuki. And this girl you're surprised to see is the water spirit Elena.

It's stupid...

I waited for the boy's reaction while I waited for him to pass through the foolish sister who was staring at me with resentment, and after a short pause, he took off the rags he wore on his head.

The dark green hair color is also distinctive, but the most distinctive feature is probably the long, pointed ears.

'My name is Jupiter,' I'm an elf who lives in the forest, just like the lady there said.

Yeah. Nice to meet you.

-- but this is the "second time" I've met the elven boy, Jupiter.

Of course, that was when I was adventuring with a brave party, so this is the first time I've met the Jupiter in front of me.

I once met him in the dungeons of the castle, and then witnessed the whole thing from the time I let Efreet's power run amok and was defeated by my own sister, Renette.

But the Jupiter in front of us now is an ordinary, mild-mannered boy who bears no resemblance to the figure in the dungeons who keeps silent and suppresses his emotions in response to Kanemitsu's questions, or who laughs and burns down his hometown in flames.

Why would such a child run away with the treasures of the elven village?

Besides, when I asked him if he had any additional crimes, he said 'I did it for the first time in my life'.

........Could it be that Jupiter was just involved in some kind of conspiracy?

I asked Jupiter again to confirm that.

''Back to Elena's question, why were you staying in the Holy King's Capital when you were in such a state that you had to eat and run away?　In the Elven Forest, you could walk home on a child's feet for a whole day.

In fact, the elves are terribly swift-footed, so they would be able to run in a few hours, let alone a whole day.

That's why there must be a reason for them to stay in this city.

''........''

In response to my question, Jupiter turned over in silence.

But I know what information I need to get rid of this child's distrust.

The thing necessary to get the true feelings out of Jupiter is........

"Efreet's curse, isn't it?

"!!!!!

The boy looked up at me with a shocked expression.

''Against an elf with high magical resistance, I hit a shadow stitch with one shot, you know?

Jupiter was aghast at my words and glanced at Elena and snickered.

The person in question is smiling bitterly when she hears my bluff, but even that must seem like a different meaning to Jupiter.

''.........I see, I thought it was strange that a water spirit was in a place like this, but the reason is that Nee-chan is strong enough to use her as a messenger. I don't know why my stupid-looking sister is with me, though.''

Why does everybody always have to deny my existence?

I don't want you to choke me!

Relieved to see his siblings (me and my siblings) in a state of turmoil, Jupiter finally began to tell the truth.

But the words that came out of his mouth there were unexpected.

It was a week ago, someone broke the seal of the flame spirit Efreet, which was stored in the treasure hall. I was a janitor, but I inadvertently approached them, and this is the result.

Then he showed me the ring he wore on the middle finger of his right hand.

There was a bright red gemstone in the center of the ring, and apparently it wouldn't come off no matter how hard I pulled on it.

''If someone~ means that Jupiter didn't break the seal by himself?

At my words, Jupiter looked flustered and denied it, shaking her head buzzing to the side.

''In the first place, the seal of a spirit is not something that a child like Euler can break!　Someone with some serious power must have done it.'

Looking at the expression on Jupiter's face, it doesn't seem like she's telling a lie very much, and although her sister, Renette, said, 'My brother isn't the kind of boy who would do something like this,' it seems safe to assume that her words have been corroborated to be true.

'Then what about the one who ran away from the elven village?

It's a medium for the host, and it will eventually come to the surface. The elves in my village aren't used to fighting, so if the seal is completely lifted and they go on a rampage, no one will be able to stop them. But I heard that the Holy Royal Capital is full of skilled people, so I thought that someone would be able to stop it here...''

It is true that the magic division is in turmoil due to the kidnapping of Princess Priscia the other day, but if you challenge them with an entire army, stopping Efreet would be quite possible.

''But wouldn't that mean that Efreet's seal has been broken after all, and Jupiter-kun will be killed by the humans?

For a moment, Satsuki's question freaked him out, but Jupiter closed his eyes and shook his head.

It's not a big deal if I'm alone compared to the many dead villagers.

Ehhhh..... Hmmm, I don't know how to say this, but I can't understand it. I don't like this.

"Yeah, I can't believe you're saying that...

I'm sure you're confused, but for me personally, I understand what Satsuki is trying to say.

I'm sure that even Jupiter himself is not convinced inside.

I'm sure the reason why he came to the Holy Royal Capital on his own is because of his belief and desire not to hurt the villagers.

But in the world I once saw, that strategy ended up failing in the end, and the Elf village ended up in a sea of fire, it was truly a helpless story.

''But wouldn't it have been better to consult with the people in the village before that?　And I'm sure everyone would be worried if Mr. Hupiter suddenly disappeared.''

In response to Elena's question, Jupiter shook her head very sadly.

''If you suggest to everyone in the village that we can't win by ourselves, so let's get a human to help us, no one will listen to you...''

Indeed, Jupiter might be right.

The residents of the Elf Village were so deeply rooted in their feud with humans that they would throw the entire party of heroes into jail just because Sharon burned a few trees in the forest, and even the Holy City of Platena, the capital of the King, is a human-centered society where coexistence with the dragons of the forest had just begun the other day.

As an elf, Jupiter's position, even in an emergency situation, it is not desirable for him to willingly get involved with humans.

"Elves are such a pain in the ass, aren't they?

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most of it.

''I agree with you about that. I'm sure you'll be able to talk to me about it if Renette-neechanechan was here.

We looked at each other at the name that came out of Jupiter's mouth.

Renette is Jupiter's own sister and the fourth member of the heroic party to join us.

She is also the one who stopped Jupiter from running out of control with Efreet's power by shooting him in the heart.

''Renette is not in the Elf Village?''

'Yeah. I've been away for about half a month now, running errands in another elven village to the southwest. Maybe I'll be back soon...

Something is strangely caught in Jupiter's words.

Someone has broken Efreet's seal...................and it was timed to coincide with Renette's absence.

Is this really a coincidence?

Was it the Demon Lord's doing in the first place?

When I had my doubts about what had happened in the elven village...

Huh!

The passive skill "Crisis Sensing" caught the killing spirit that suddenly swelled in the vicinity of the inn.

As soon as I could, I kicked the floor hard and pushed Elena down.

''Kihyaun!

Elena, who let out a strange scream and collapsed on the bed, looked up at me with tears in her eyes, blushing.

I'm not going to be able to do this when the children are watching,''

No, that's not what I'm talking about!

The two children who witnessed the situation where I pushed Elena down are also red-faced and awed.

''Ko, you're not allowed to see this kind of thing!

"Whoa, don't push me.

Boom!

Satsuki, on the contrary, was dressed to push down Jupiter, and Jupiter fell on his ass.

-- and right after that, the glass in the room broke with a loud bang and something hard stuck directly into the door of the room!

'!

'Wow!　What's the matter with you, dude?

"Wah-wah-wah, don't freak out!

Fortunately, Satsuki and Yupiter seem to be unharmed as well, although Satsuki is jittering on top of Yupiter in a semi-crazed state and making a lot of noise.

After confirming that the two little ones are safe, I gestured out the window to hold a throwing sword, and the killing spirit suddenly stopped.

''This is pretty bad........''

I muttered anxiously as I looked at the sledgehammer stuck in the door of my room.

[Appraisal results]

Name: Poisonous Arrow

Description: A consumable item for shortbows, mainly used by assassins.

Effect: Instant death (high probability)