Vol 5: Chapter 74
Matvey-san said that he will send us to the Saint Knight Kingdom as is.
He had a dark expression on his face, however. Matvey-san must also be fighting his own battles.
「I probably shouldn’t say this, but…」
I told Matvey-san about what Yuri-san said, that she told me to take care of him.
「Take care of me? What does that mean?」
「This is just my guess, but after Yuri-san becomes the next queen, perhaps she is intending to increase interaction with the outside world?」I said.
「With the outside world?」
「The elves have always lived a closed off life in the “Third Forest”, but she is thinking about changing it. To start a new era for the elves. Perhaps she wishes for Matvey-san to negotiate and communicate with the outside world.」
「Huh? W-Why me?」
「You were the only royalty who was kind to me without being bound by stereotypes. I think Yuri-san is counting on that kind of personality.」
「Yuri…」
Matvey-san whispered, unable to believe it.
「Yuri onee-sama always looks at Matvey onii-sama with a stern look, but those eyes always carry kindness too. I was able to notice it because… Reiji-san said she was kind.」Asha said.
「Hmm, is that so?」I asked.
「I am sure it is. It is the same as how Matvey onii-sama respects Yuri onee-sama even if they bicker all the time.」
「!」
As if Asha’s words had hit the nail on the head, Matvey-san became flustered.
「I-It’s not like I respect her or anything… Well, I do acknowledge that her mana is amazing… Hey, I-I’ll go check the flight status for a moment!」
Matvey-san left us, as if escaping to hide his embarrassment.
「Is what you said really true, Reiji-san? About what will happen after Yuri onee-sama is crowned Queen…」
「It’s just a guess for now. But it feels more like Yuri-san’s, no, rather the current King Sylvis’ intention.」
「His Majesty’s?」
「Look at this “Owl Wings”. It uses plenty of wood, but all the engine parts are made of steel. And naturally, sorcery of the kind of【Fire Magic】is also used. It will contribute to the national interest. But from the perspective of the elves, this magic airship is unacceptable, isn’t it?」
「It was in exchange for me, who uses【Fire Magic】, after all.」
I shook my head as Asha dejectedly cast her eyes down.
「No, Asha. His Majesty cares for this country, the elves, more than himself. I am sure it must have been a painful choice for him to let go of you. If that is the case, why would he accept something that doesn’t benefit the country, a magic airship that the elves would not accept? There must be a meaning to it.」
「…To usher in the new era of the Sylvis Kingdom.」
I nodded.
「…I want to think a little.」Asha said.
「I think you should. And what I said is only a guess so far.」
I left Asha sitting on the sofa in the lounge and headed to the top of the airship.
Owl Wings flew over the Keith Gran Federation. We had already passed through the large forest and were flying over the grasslands. The wind was so strong that I could not go out to the deck, but I could still see the large forest behind from the observation room.
A vast forest illuminated by the morning sun—the World Tree was faintly visible far away, covered by haze.
(The elves claim themselves to be the “Sylvis Kingdom”, but on the other hand they accept that they are part of the Keith Grand Federation and are treated as a territory under the direct control of King Geffert… Airships are probably the reason why they had no choice but to accept these conditions.)
Even if the elves are accustomed to fighting in the forest, it is impossible to protect the High Elves if enemies come from the sky with a magic airship. The same goes for the World Tree.
Magic airships have the power to change the face of war, so every country tried to get their hands on it. Although the Lev Magic Empire was a small country, it had a strong presence because it was the technological leader.
Apparently there are anti-airship weapons installed in places like the capital of the country, though I am not too familiar with it.
In any case, His Majesty Sylvis, who knew that the number of magic airships had increased, would have realized that he could not continue the closed off life of the elves as it is. He obtained a magic airship before the Keith Gran Federation demanded the opening up of the Third Forest.
(Perhaps… His Majesty already knows about this.)
I did not tell His Majesty about the truth of the World Tree.
(That heart-like substance… the modified skill orb was not connected to the Life Dragon Kurtus Vita.)
It was simply absorbing mana and used it to grow the World Tree.
It was even more clear when I saw the flow of mana.
In short–
(The High Elf “duty” has no meaning.)
If the Life Dragon Kurtus Vita is buried in the ground, it will have already died and returned to the earth.
The High Elf’s “duty” that has been continued generation after generation was just an act which served to enlarge the World Tree.
I couldn’t say that to His Majesty.
I couldn’t say that — Your life, and the actions of all the past kings who remodeled the skill orb, were useless.
However, seeing that His Majesty is trying to lead the elves to a new era… perhaps he already knows that it was useless.
(I don’t know for sure.)
I understand that it would be meaningless to say anything about it now.
So I will talk about it to Yuri-san instead. When she becomes the Queen.
