CH 54

“I’m sorry Ririi, but you can’t see your father anymore.”

“…Eh…?”

The girl doesn’t understand what’s being said to her.

…Of course she doesn’t. From her point of view, the only thing separating her from her father is a door. She has no idea the room she is in was separated with an extremely powerful spell.

“And… You know, your real parents might be here in Anheim?”

Something bitter spreads around my head as I say this.

That was… Pretty awful.

According to her, the only person she calls family is that human. She’s not thinking about her real parents at this point, and talking about it is just making her experience unnecessary sadness. I know that.

But… I am Miss Ladimerie’s attendant.

If she were to throw herself to the depths of hell, I would accompany her. I knew the gentle Miss Ladimerie from when we were in the elven country, so I cannot waver at this point.

“Real… Parents…?”

“Yes. You’re a high elf. There are a few high elves living in Anheim, so your mother and father might be among them.”

Part of me feels like there is only a slim chance that’s true, but I don’t stop talking. We have come so far, that we are not stopping unless we crash.

“I have no doubt that living in Anheim would be good for you too. After all… Humans and elves are different races.”

“Ririh doesn’t understand. Daddy… Where’s daddy…?”

Ririi is slowly beginning to understand her situation, and tears are starting to well up in her beautiful eyes. She runs to the door, calling for her father, but that door doesn’t work anymore. She reaches out and turns the knob as hard as she can, but she can’t reach her father.

“No! Open open! Daddy help!!”

Ririi desperately hits the door.

But her father can’t hear her, and I look on without stopping her. It’s not as though my heart doesn’t hurt, but I decided to follow this all the way to hell.

“Please stop, Ririi. That door can’t be broken by me, or maybe not even by Miss Ladimerie.”

That strong barrier was made by a member of royalty layering her magic energy many times. I doubt there are many sorcerers in this world that can break it.

And…

“Your father isn’t in this world anymore.”

“…Eh…?”

Almost no humans live in Anheim. In fact, Miss Ladimerie has never encountered one before today.

How far will she go now that she has come face to face with one… I don’t know.

If I could ask for something… I would want her to at least spare his life.

◆

The first sign that something is off appears in the atmosphere.

“W-what is this…?”

The magic energy in the atmosphere gathers inside Ririi like it’s being pulled into her.

“Daddy… No…”

Magic energy in the atmosphere isn’t visible. It can be seen in very rare circumstances, but typically not.

But… What is swirling around Ririi as she desperately hits the door is unquestionably magic energy. Not only that… But very densely concentrated. It wraps around her like it has a mind of its own.

“…”

I catch a glimpse of my skin through my sleeve, and raise my voice.

I have goosebumps and chills.

The magic energy around her is already beyond something that a living being should be able to handle. It’s overwhelming and making me fearful on an unconscious level.

I have a feeling something is going to happen.

“Uu… Sniff… Daddy…!”

Ririi lets go of the door knob… And a magic circle appears.

I don’t know if she created it, but seeing her wipe her eyes, it’s hard to believe she did. She is just a child.

And I’m taking her parent away from her.

“Ririh… Will be a good girl.. And won’t ask for candy…”

Magic energy is sucked into the magic circle, and its shine intensifies.

I can’t look at it directly anymore.

I put my hand up and try to see inside the light, but can’t. In fact, I have to crouch and try my hardest not to be blown back by the flow of the magic energy leaking out.

Only her voice still reaches me from inside the light.

“Don’t… Leave Ririh behind!!!”

In the space of a second, that lump of magic energy expands and disappears, and I think I understand what happened.

The sound that comes afterwards confirms it. Once my eyes readjust, I see what was this room, and now looks completely different.

Through the wall that was completely blown away, I see the room next door, and what happened there.

“…Thank goodness.”

I whisper for some reason.