Kairisis, located north of Kairis, had short summers and long winters. Therefore, as soon as September began, a cool morning breeze blew.
However, it was not already cold enough to keep the windows closed, so the windows were still open where the two princes of Chermil Palace were eating.
A cool breeze blew through the open window and shook the flower petals in the vase that decorated the table. Then the eyes of the two silent princes fell on the flower.
In the end, the eyes of the two people who had not seen each other for several days finally turned towards each other.
Randel said as he looked at his second child, who was sitting in place of his youngest, who he spoke to every morning.
âI heard that Kalyan hasnât had a drink since he left.â
At first glance, it was a compliment. It could have been a good thing.
Since he had been drinking so much at such a young age, it could be said that he was glad that he had finally gotten rid of that bad habit.
If it were a normal brother, it would definitely have made sense.
âAre you sorry?â
But Plantz, who knew that wasnât what he meant, responded like this.
Randel looked into Plantzâs eyes for a moment without answering. It was the kind of gaze that Calian once felt, penetrating into a personâs true feelings to the end.
Itâs unclear what he found inside, but Randel turned his eyes back to the plate in front of him. And he spoke in a tone as if he was conveying passing news.
âRenicita leaves were spread in the square today.â
Renicita leaves look similar to leaves, so everyone calls them leaves, but they are actually broad thorns of a cactus named Renicita. It had a strong property of absorbing moisture from the surrounding area.
Occasionally, the Kairis royal family would peel these Lenicita leaves on the floor of Hatsuara Square. The purpose was to install a guillotine on top of the Renicita leaves to prevent blood from staining the white floor of the square.
Therefore, Randel was now talking about the progress of the beheading of the criminal who had been arrested during the attack on Calian. It wasnât a good topic to bring up at breakfast.
The corner of Plantzâs mouth twitched after hearing Randelâs words. It was because I realized why Randel, who was usually quiet, had to open his mouth first.
âI think you have a deep misunderstanding.â
So Plantz responded as follows to Randel, who was asking whether Silike had touched Calian again.
In fact, Randel also expected to some extent that this incident had nothing to do with Silike. Itâs not like I didnât know what situation Silike was in right now. Therefore, Randel did not doubt Planzâs words, but nodded and said:
âLetâs stay quiet a little longer.â
It was said with the end of the relationship in mind.
They said that one day, they would become each otherâs enemies, but that was not the time yet.
After saying that, Randel got up and went outside, and Plantz sat down for a while.
Will it be Randel or Calian who will stand until the end? Planz tried to gauge it, but soon stopped. Instead, I remembered Calian, whom I had last seen in the banquet hall, and exactly what Calian had hidden. Plantz muttered as he looked at Randelâs empty chair.
âHow can you tell me to be quieter than this?â
* * *
Calian said, frowning.
âItâs all because of the rain.â
The reason this situation has arisen is purely because of the rain.
When departing from Latran, Calian had clearly decided to take Sia only to the vicinity of Hyriska Forest.
However, due to the unusual rain that had fallen not long ago, a lot of silt flowed from the mountain, blocking the royal road, which was the only way through the mountain.
Since the situation was not something that could be resolved with Arsene and Calianâs magic, the party had no choice but to go back the way they came. Then we went back to Viscount Hamptishâs mansion, where we had said goodbye in the morning, and stayed another day.
The rain, which had caused Calianâs emotions to suffer greatly, eventually caused his body to suffer as well.
âWhen I return to Kyrisis, I need to build a space transport device.â
Jan was very happy with Calianâs words, and Arsene pretended not to hear.
Calian would definitely have found the right person and assigned him to supervise, and among the connections Calian had right now, the only wizard who was free and capable was Arsene.
In any case, since they couldnât even dream of space movement right now, Calian and the others took a slightly different route. And as I continued down the new path, I arrived right in front of Hiriska Forest.
I was trying to drop Sia in front of the forest and say goodbye, but I didnât have a good place to spend the night. This was because we were traveling on a route that was not planned.
âLetâs go to the village together. Luca is there. Thereâs an elder too. The captain sleeps and goes tomorrow.â
But Sia happened to invite the group like this.
That was the wisest thing Sia had ever said, so Calian answered that he would do it. I didnât want to sleep homeless, but my curiosity to see the elf village was greater. Of course, it seems that Calian wasnât the only one who felt that way, as the companions looked very happy after hearing Calianâs answer.
The elf village went unnoticed by humans.
I donât know what they did, but in order to enter the village, you had to follow a path that only elves could find.
As I followed Sia through the winding path into the forest, to my surprise, at one point, I could clearly see the village. If you take a step back, a dense forest spreads out, but if you take another step forward, a large valley and a normal village with several stone houses appear.
Sia, who guided the group to the village, explained the situation to the elder and disappeared somewhere. Not long after, an elf came up to the group and said.
âWho is the king of men?â
At those words, Calian looked at Yan. I was confused for a moment because I didnât know what he was saying. But Jan was looking at Kalian.
When Calian looked around, all the eyes of the group were focused on Calian. When the elf who saw this approached Calian, Calian quickly explained.
âThere is no such great person as the king of humans here.â
âIs that so? The elder wants to meet the king of humans.â
âIâll never see you again in my life.â
Apparently, the elves also sent congratulatory envoys during the celebration of Lemaineâs birthday, but unlike them, the elves here did not seem to know much about the human system. Anyway, Calian said, thinking there was no need to explain such things in detail here.
âAlthough I am not the king of humans, it is true that I am the representative of this group.â
Then the elf nodded and spoke to Calian.
âOkay. Follow me.â
Calian followed the elf and came face to face with the elder in the largest house in the village. The elder, a handsome man with silver hair like Hinaâs, said this as soon as he met Kalian.
âMy name is Zer, the elder of Hiriska Village. Sia is my son.â
Calian was quite surprised at those words. Rather than being surprised because Sia was the son of an elder, it was because the elderâs son used to go around selling sculptures. If youâre an elder in a village, isnât that equivalent to a lord in human terms?
Anyway, he was greeted and the other person wasnât even human, so Calian nodded briefly and made a clear statement.
âCalian. Calian Lane Kairis.â
At those words, Jerâs pointed ears moved once. Zer said while looking at Calian.
âNice to meet you.â
âI heard you said you wanted to see me.â
I asked him if he would accept a modest thank you for taking Sia with him. However, Zerâs words were very different from what Calian thought.
âThatâs right. I wanted to ask you a favor, so I asked to see you.â
Calianâs eyes widened. I couldnât say thank you to the benefactor who saved my son when I saw him for the first time today, so I couldnât ask him anything.
âI donât know whatâs going on, but itâs hard to understand why I, who just arrived here, have to accept the elvesâ request.â
Elf elder Zer responded to Calianâs words, which were half tired and half annoyed.
âBecause you are the king of the human clan.â
âNot a clan, but Kairis. Not a king, but a prince.â
âEither that or that.â
Calian said, smiling fiercely at Zer, who said that if anyone heard it wrong, Calianâs head would be blown off.
âBecause it has a slightly different meaning.â
As these stories continued, Yan, who was watching this scene without saying a word, felt like tearing out his own hair.
âAnyway, Iâd like you to help us with our work.â
Ger, who said something that made more sense than anyone could imagine, continued talking without asking Calianâs opinion.
âLuca returned a while ago and this time he went out of the village with two other elves.â
âNo, wait a minute.â
âThey havenât come back for over ten days since then. Two more people went out to find them three days ago, but they havenât come back.â
I was about to ask what that had to do with me now, but Ger couldnât stop talking. There is absolutely no gap in the middle.
âEven though I said that the human world is not so easy, they crawled out and disappeared. So I would like you to help me find them. The elves here donât know much about the human world. I canât just send the elves away anymore. â
âAre you asking me to find the five missing elves here? Why me?â
âBecause you are the king of the human clan.â
There is no separate return ticket.
It seemed like they were saying that the elves had disappeared from the human village and that they didnât know enough about the outside world to find the missing people, so they needed the help of Calian, who came at the right time.
However, no matter how bad it was, Calianâs reason for needing to solve the problem was somewhat flimsy, and his attitude toward asking for help was not very good.
âWhat kind of nonsense are you talking about?â
Eventually, Kalian stood up.
It was already dark outside, but Calian tried to get out of the elf village that way. I was determined to just sleep on the street rather than spend an uncomfortable night in a place like this.
Then Zer opened his mouth again and grabbed Calian.
âIâm not just asking you to help me. I will pay you for it. Of course, I will also pay you for saving Sia.â
Calian had heard the story from Yan at first glance. Elves are the type of people who canât live without debt, so if they receive help in anything, they make sure to pay it back by paying a price that meets their standards.
Calianâs eyes turned to Kyrie for a moment. That was the case with Kirie, who was only half elf-blooded.
The elder said while looking at Kalian who was standing up.
âI heard itâs the road to Siegfriedâs land. Is that right?â
âthatâs right.â
Then the elder nodded and answered.
âThe human path is too slow, but if you use the forest path, you will be able to reduce the number of days from four to one.â
A road that takes more than two months. The idea was to reduce the distance by one fourth.
âYou can cover a two month distance in 15 days?â
Calianâs shoulders flinched.
Calian quickly turned around and sat back down in his seat.
Five elves have disappeared!
Of course I have to help.