CH 40

The fairy country of Anheim. A small country leading a quiet existence on the fringe of the empire’s domain.

What stands out the most about this country, that has been ruled by a fairy king for generations, is definitely the races of its people. After all, Anheim’s population is over ninety percent fairies and elves.

Being a country mostly composed of two races that are especially proficient with magic means it’s the leading country in the empire when it comes to magic.

Anheim is a very mysterious country that belongs to the empire, and there’s a lot we don’t know about what goes on in there. If a magic war were to break out, it’s estimated that the empire would suffer major losses and damage too, so the empire can’t force them to expand diplomatic relations.

…If they managed to establish commercial deals with Anheim, they’d be able to easily get their hands on good quality magic materials.

“The country of fairies… But I’m pretty sure they limit entry of people that aren’t fairies or elves. Can I just go in if I go there?”

A country being composed of few races tends to also mean limiting the entrance of people of other races.

Anheim is a good example of this. Elves and fairies can get in no problem, but everyone else has to pass a strict border check. It’s much stricter than the capital’s too.

The capital’s screening is strict, but it doesn’t restrict based on race.

And so, suffice to say, I’ve never been there. But I actually did go to the elven country, which has the same structure.

“You’re right. The general rules of the border check of Anheim are written here. ‘Entry is restricted to everyone but fairies, elves, and their family members’.”

A glint appears in Sieglinde’s sharp eyes.

“Riri’s your family, so you’ve already cleared their conditions. You should be able to go in no problem. But you are going to have to take her along with you.”

I wasn’t expecting that, and I freeze.

It’s not like I never read those general rules, but I completely forgot about them because none of it applied to me. Back then I wasn’t expecting an elf to become my family.

I take a sip of my now cold coffee to calm down.

It doesn’t taste like anything.

◆

We deliver the angel bear materials, ask the worker a ‘little favor’, and Sieglinde and I part ways.

“…What now…”

I mumble to the setting sun.

Obviously, I’m talking about Anheim.

…Ririi starts school in more or less two weeks.

If we go to Anheim, it should take us two days to get there on a two-wheeled magic vehicle. Assuming we’ll stay there three days, that means the whole trip will take a week.

I need to make a decision tomorrow at the latest. There’s still a lot I want to teach Ririi before she starts school. And I still don’t have everything she needs.

“…A dragon or centaur hat wouldn’t be bad at all.”

If I get a hat made of dark flame dragon or centaur, that would put it among the best in terms of things I can get in the capital. It shouldn’t even be inferior to something I’d get in Anheim.

But it probably wouldn’t be as good as something made by that hat maker that is one of the best even in Anheim. That’s the part that bothers me.

I want Ririi to have the best.

That thought keeps rolling around in my mind, and I get home before I can reach an answer. The home where a person and a pet are waiting.

“I’m back.”

I say quietly, and I can hear footsteps with different rhythms coming from the living room.

“Welcome daddy!”

“Kyu.”

The angel bear and Ririi jump out of the living room and come running. But of course, the angel bear is just following Ririi, so when she hugs me, it just lies down on the floor.

I hold her and walk to the living room with the angel bear behind us. Now that I think about it, we haven’t given it a name yet.

“Ririi, do you have a name for the angel bear?”

“Name? Beary!”

“Beary, that’s nice. I’m sure it’ll like it too.”

That’s like calling Ririi ‘elf’ or Sieglinde ‘human’, but if that’s the name she wants, that’s fine.

I try saying it silently a few times, and I feel like that name works. From now on, this guy’s called Beary.

“Ririi, I want to ask you something…”

I say while putting her down on the couch.

“…? What?”

She tilts her head. Beary is struggling to get on the sofa, so I grab it by the back and put it on the sofa. It takes a few steps, and curls up next to Ririi. It’s become completely attached to her.

“If I told you we could go out for a week… Would you want to go?”

“Go out!? Yes!”

Ririi doesn’t waste time answering.

That settles it. We’re going to Anheim.

As for who’s going to take care of Beary while we’re away… There’s actually someone in the capital who I think is right for the job.

I’ll ask Sieglinde where she lives tomorrow.