** Dark Elf Village Vicinity **

「Hurry up! There is something unusual about the early summer bird flock!」Knock urged a unit of 10 dark elves loudly.

However, the members had been running from early morning to nightfall, and had been on high alert to avoid fighting ferocious monsters as much as possible, so they were naturally fatigued. As they were now being pushed to sprint, they felt a burning sensation in their strained heart and lungs.

「K-Knock, we can’t run anymore..」

「Suck it up and run! The flock is headed for the village!」

Knock alone had extraordinary strength and stamina, so he was running at the front of the unit.

About 30 minutes ago, Knock found a flock of early summer birds flying over in the sky. As soon as he realized that it was heading in the direction of the village, an unpleasant premonition crawled up his spine.

「W-We know.. But we are too exhausted. Even if we get there, we can’t fight!」

「Kuh!」

The weak-minded spirit of the dark elves pissed off Knock, but he recognised there was truth in it.

「Y-You go first, Knock..」

「All right!」

Immediately following, Knock started running as fast as the wind, as if he was only jogging up until now.

The dark elf unit could only watch in mute amazement.

(What in the world happened! Did some idiot mess with the early summer birds?!)

After sprinting for 15 minutes, Knock saw light ahead.

A flock of early summer birds was swirling above the village. He felt his stomach drop. Not only his friends, even the High Elf-sama was in the village.

He rushed towards the village, but a short while later, something unthinkable occurred. A tremendous pillar of flames rose from the earth to the skies, scattering the early summer bird flock.

Knock ran and ran with all his might and finally reached the village.

「Wha.. what is this?」

The sky was still somewhat bright due to the afterglow, but the forest was dark.

However, the ravages of flames still remained, illuminating the land where the tree top huts were.

The dark elves were prostrating in a circle. And the High Elf-sama was standing in the middle.

Knock was completely clueless.

**

I.. I did it. No, I might have overdone it.

Still having mana left in her body, Anastasia looked up at the now peaceful sky clear of the early summer birds.

She had exposed her worst part. The “flame” that all forest-dwellers despise.

She was prepared for scorned looks and jeering. Though prepared, she knew it would still hurt. Just as Anastasia wore layers of clothing in the middle of winter, she slowly layered her heart with shields. However–

「Hah!」

The chieftain knelt first, throwing his hands forward, and bowing his forehead on the ground.

Seeing him, the other dark elves moved in the same way.

The dark elves prostrated around Anastasia in a circle.

「..Eh?」

「Great High Elf-sama! I didn’t know that you were from the royal family. I deeply apologize!」

「Huh?」

「We failed to protect you, and even troubled a royal to solve our problem. Nevertheless, being able to witness the mana of the royal family is an undeserving honour for us!」

Anastasia was dumbfounded.

The reaction was different from what she expected.

「U-Umm.. I defeated it with【Fire Magic】, though.」

「Yes, I burned the sight into my eyes!」

「Um, it’s hard to talk like this, so can you raise your heads?」

「It is too gracious for us.」

「Ah, don’t worry about that. So please raise your head.」

Everyone raised their heads all at once. Firefly-like flames floated in the surroundings.

Everyone was looking at Anastasia. With soil stuck to their forehead.

「Ah, umm..」

Anastasia was hesitating to say it.

「I-I am not using a skill, but a natural【Fire Magic】user, so..」

The dark elves were dead silent.

「W-Well.. I was wondering if you don’t like it..」

「Don’t like it? Graciously royal-sama, I am unable to understand the meaning of your question, and deeply lament my low understanding.」

(Please stop speaking like that!)

「Fire.. will burn the forest.」Anastasia said.

「Yes, of course. But we can’t live without fire.」

Those simple words struck hard at Anastasia’s chest.

You can’t live without fire. That’s right.

It is used for cooking, sterilization, and to warm yourself up.

She didn’t expect to be accepted so easily—warm emotions began to swell within, and tears formed at the corners of her eyes.

(These people are different from the residents of the “Elven Forest”. Reiji-san.. I am finally accepted.)

Anastasia wanted to tell Reiji about it as soon as she could.

How happy she felt. How relieved.

「Royal-sama! Please guide us!」

The dark elves prostrated again all at once.

Although she said it herself, “the leader of all elves” was a great task.

(What should I do?)

「Wha.. what is this?」

She heard a voice. Knock had returned.

Just as Anastasia was feeling relieved, she remembered Nicky.

「Ah! Nicky-san!」

Anastasia ran to the tree where Nicky had fallen. She found an unconscious Punta at the root of the tree. Next to him was a bandaged Nicky and an underground man laying sprawled.

「This guy!」

「Stop.」

The chieftain stopped one of the dark elves from pulling out his dagger.

「..The hero is seriously injured but her friends are late. If I hadn’t applied first-aid in time, it could have been dangerous.」the underground man said, breathing heavily.

From Anastasia’s perspective, the word hero was perfect for Nicky.

The underground man’s hands were blood stained, and a medicine bottle-like thing was lying beside him.

There was no doubt that he treated Nicky.

「Why did you..? Before that, why are you here with Punta-san?」Anastasia asked. At that moment, she glimpsed fear in the eyes of the underground man.

The dark elves submitted to Anastasia without any questions asked. But to the underground man, she was a terrifying existence.

Anastasia’s heart, which was relieved and moved, tightened a bit.

She will have to question him after this.