Arriving at Sieg-san's home, we were currently having a cup of tea while
we waited for Lunamaria-san.
Sieg-san's home is made of calming wood, and the interior is quite
spacious and soothing.
[By the way, Rei-san. Are you alright?]
[…Good gracious, my daughter's love really is quite heavy. I think I
would need to use Recovery Magic on it.]
As we drank our tea, I called out to Rei-san, who looks like a firework
just exploded right on his face.
In response, he smiled and held up his hand to his face, and as his hand
emitted a faint light, the wounds on his face quickly healed.
[As expected of the "Former Court Mage", what splendid skills you
have.]
[Hahaha, well, as expected, I've been feeling that my skills have been on
the decline lately. Especially if Lilia-chan and Luna-chan are going to
participate this time, it's going to be hard for me to win the hunting
tournament.]
[Is Lilia-san really that strong?]
Apparently, Rei-san used to work as a court mage in the royal palace,
and he is a very skilled mage.
And that Rei-san highly evaluates Lilia-san's ability, so Kusunoki-san,
who was wondering about it, asked so.
[Oya, you don't know? Within the Symphonia Kingdom, Lilia-chan is
said to be the one who holds "ability closest to the strongest". Just her
battle capabilities make her worthy of being the Knight Order's leader.]
[U- Ummm, Rei-san. Please stop…]
[I've also heard others say Lilia-san is strong before, but was
Lunamaria-san also that amazing?]
Regarding Lilia-san's ability, I could definitely see it from the fact that
she was already the runner-up in a martial arts tournament even just
when she was a teenager, but I've never heard of Lunamaria-san being
strong before.
Ah, but come to think of it… I can't really imagine it because of how she
usually acts, but didn't Lunamaria-san mention that she was a former
adventurer?
[I think it's safe to say that Luna is one of the favorites in winning the
tournament. Her hunting skills, especially in the forests, are far better
than mine because of her experience as an adventurer. Of course, Sieg is
also one of the candidates to win, too. Although us elves are inferior to
humans in terms of muscle strength, we have superior vision and
hearing, and we're also unrivaled in hunting in the forests. Especially
since Sieg's sword skills are even better than mine.]
[...…]
[I see.]
I guess that it's already something I expected, Sieg-san is also quite
strong as well.
She's one of the elven race with excellent senses, and her sword skills
are even better than Lilia-san's… To be honest, I wonder why do I get
the impression that Lilia-san is more of a power type rather than a
technique-type? Is it because she knocked me out cold many times?
[…Kaito-san. Do you have something you want to say?]
[I- I'm not saying anything though!?]
[Hahaha, well, generally speaking, they're the best within the
Symphonia Kingdom.]
Anyway, it seems that Lilia-san and the others are worthy candidates
for overall victory. But as expected, the warriors of Rigforeshia, who
usually hunt in the forest, are also excellent, so it doesn't seem to be so
easy to win…
[Hmmm. The only one I've seen battling in this world is Kuro so… but I
don't think the fight would be that exciting if someone uses magic.]
[Ummm, Kaito-san… Comparing us with someone like her is strange.
You're comparing us to one of the strongest beings in the world, you
know?]
And well, that's how our enjoyable conversation went but… A few
moments later, the door flew open and Lunamaria-san rushed into the
building.
[…Haaahh… Haaahhh…]
[Luna?]
[M- My Lady!? There's an emergency!!!]
[What's the matter?]
Lunamaria-san, who came rushing in, must have come in too much of a
hurry. Heavily breathing, she spoke to Lilia-san with an impatient look
on her face.
Lilia-san must have sensed the unusual atmosphere she had, and thus,
she also turned serious as she began urging her to continue.
[J- Just a moment ago, the "prize" for this year's hunting tournament
was announced, and that is…]
[The prize? Ah, come to think of it, they still haven't announced it huh.]
[That's right~~ The prize last year was a magic tool, so I was also
wondering what the prize was this year~~.]
In the hunting tournament, a prize will be presented to the winner
every year, and I've heard that it changes every year.
There are a variety of prizes, from money to items like magic tools, but
it seems that this is what Lunamaria-san wanted to talk about.
[But this time, as it's the 1000th anniversary of the creation of the Elven
Forest… Instead of the Elven Chief, World King-sama herself would be
the one bestowing the prize!!!]
[What!? W- World King-sama would…]
[Luna… That is… Don't tell me…]
Hearing the words that Lunamaria said, Rei-san and Fia-san also looked
at her like they couldn't believe it.
However, Lilia-san's expression looked even more impressive… Rather
than shock, what's that called again… It's somehow close to looking
aghast, but anyway, Lilia-san looks different from how she usually acts.
[It's as you're thinking… The prize would be the "Fruit of the World
Tree".]
[ ! ? ! ? ]
At that moment, my Sympathy Magic sensed strong emotions.
Deep regret and… rage directed to me?
And the person emitting those strong emotions was… Lilia-san.
[What is this fruit of the World Tree?]
[Legend has it that this fruit can heal sickness, wounds, and even
restore missing limbs. I've never seen one of it myself, but I've heard
that on rare occasions, World King-sama would give to her followers as
a gift.]
[It's doesn't just worth a lot of money, it's already priceless~~ Even
some of World King-sama's followers may have never seen the real
thing.]
Rei-san and Fia-san responded to the question Yuzuki-san had asked,
but they also looked like there are some complicated circumstances.
I wonder what that is? This is… The one who I can feel the strongest
emotions is Lilia-san, but both Lunamaria-san and Sieg-san somehow
have a pained look on their faces.
Thereupon, after saying "I have a few things to do", Lilia-san left with
Lunamaria-san, while Sieg-san had a pained expression on her face,
looking at their departing figures.
Dear Mom, Dad—– I heard that the prizes for this hunting tournament
were very awesome, but Lilia-san and the others somehow looked
strange when they heard what this year's prize is. It's something I don't
know, but for Lilia-san and the others—– something complicated may
have happened.