Chapter 72 - Something Complicated May Have Happened

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.