A Fragment Of A Bond With The Girl Of The Elf

“Sir Jonah… We Swart Elf will never forget this debt of gratitude. Please give us any command you desire.”

“Eh, eeeh…”

Starting with the chief and Zeria, all the Swart Elf knelt before Jonah.

Not knowing what to do, Jonah let out a strange sound and looked at Titancia.

Yet she merely gave a silent thumbs-up and nodded, which was of no help at all.

“Haa… Everyone of the Swart Elf, if you are truly grateful, you must not trouble our benefactor Jonah.”

“Ah… Y-yes, that is right.”

Admonished by Quylindra, who could no longer watch, the chief of the Swart Elf smiled bitterly.

“By the way, little Jonah… what exactly is that magic of yours…?”

“Ah… W-well… actually, this is ancient magic…”

“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?”
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?”
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeh!?”

Jonah hesitated whether it was okay to reveal ancient magic, but since it was too late, he timidly confessed, and everyone except Titancia cried out in surprise.

“A-ancient magic… The one that was buried away by the gods long ago…?”

“That Sir Jonah possesses such a thing…”

As expected, the Swart Elf addressed him with “sir,” making Jonah feel quite uncomfortable.

Moreover, their gazes toward him grew even more reverent upon learning he was a user of ancient magic…

“More importantly, Jonah—the Swart Elf are also part of the fairy race, just like us. They might know the location of the Fairy Forest.”

“Ah! Y-yes, that’s right!”

Jonah’s original goal was to reach one of the legends, the Fairy Forest.

Having half-given up since even Quylindra, chief of the Elf, did not know, Jonah brightened with a broad smile at Titancia’s words.

However.

“Sir Jonah, I am truly sorry… We also do not know the location of the Fairy Forest…”

Saying this, the chief of the Swart Elf shook his head.

For him, this had been a precious opportunity to repay Jonah, and he bit his lip in frustration at being unable to do so.

“I-I see…”

Having gotten his hopes up so much, Jonah’s shoulders slumped greatly.

He thought all paths to the Fairy Forest were now closed… but.

“Ho ho ho. By chance, does the young lad wish to go to the Fairy Forest?”

“Yes………………………. eh!?”

At the man’s voice whispering in his ear, Jonah whipped around.

“Ho ho ho.”

Flapping transparent wings and floating in the air, a gentlemanly little person with an egg-shaped body, wearing a silk hat, tuxedo, and carrying a cane, was right in front of Jonah’s eyes.

“「L… Lord Fairy King…!」」”

“Eh…?”

“Everyone! The Fairy King Lord Oberon has arrived!”

“Welcome, great Fairy King Lord Oberon!”
“Welcome, great Fairy King Lord Oberon!”
“Welcome, great Fairy King Lord Oberon!”

Starting with Quylindra and the chief of the Swart Elf, everyone—Elf and Swart Elf alike—knelt all at once.

Yet both chiefs had said they did not know the location of the Fairy Forest.

Then how did they know this little person was the Fairy King Oberon?

“Ho ho ho. Then let me answer the young lad’s question. You have already arrived at the Fairy Forest.”

“Huh?”

Not understanding Oberon’s words, Jonah involuntarily asked back.

“All the forests of the paradise Aubern are the Fairy Forest.”

“Eh…?”

“Ho ho ho, you seem surprised. Humans think the place where they happened to spot a fairy is the Fairy Forest, but in truth, fairies are everywhere in the forest. We are just shy, so we don’t show ourselves much.”

Saying this, Oberon winked with a smile.

Then.

“…! Waaaaaaaaah…!”

From all over the Stygian Forest, fairies emitting vibrant lights of blue, red, yellow, and more appeared, dancing in the air and frolicking.

At the utterly fantastical sight, Jonah let out a voice of awe.

“Ho ho ho… Now, young lad, thank you truly for helping our family this time. This Oberon offers his utmost gratitude.”

Oberon placed a hand on his chest and bowed respectfully.

“As a token of that gratitude… Hey everyone, come over here.”

“Me?”
“Me?”
“Me?”

The frolicking fairies, called by Oberon, tilted their heads and gathered around Jonah all at once.

“Bestow some ‘Fairy Dust’ upon this young lad.”

“Fairy Dust? Sure!”
“Sure!”
“Sure!”

The fairies circled around above Jonah’s head, and golden dust rained down.

And wonder of wonders—the constant pain and suffering he always felt began to ease.

“L-Lord Oberon, this…”

“Ho ho ho. Fairy Dust is a panacea. It heals all pain and suffering…. However, I’m sorry, but it cannot repair what is broken.”

“Ah…”

It seemed Oberon had noticed Jonah’s condition.

His smiling face turned sad as he shook his head.

“Nsho, nsho.”

“Here, this is for you!”

Two fairies handed Jonah a small cloth pouch.

Opening it, he found it contained the Fairy Dust that was still falling.

“If you use this as medicine, it will ease your pain just the same. This amount should last you a full year.”

“Th-thank you very much…!”

Clutching the pouch preciously, Jonah bowed deeply.

Though it could neither cure his Mana Overabundance nor extend his lifespan, it would still free him from the pain and suffering that had tormented him for eleven years. A single tear fell from Jonah’s onyx eyes, wetting the ground.

“Ho ho ho. Then, wishing the young lad well on his fateful journey…”

Oberon pointed his index finger at the ground and swiftly traced something.

It was.

“Eh!? Eh!? This is 【Tedit】…!”

“…!? Jonah!”

“Ho ho ho, safe travels.”

Titancia ran toward Jonah, enveloped in the light of the magic circle, reaching out her hand.

But without her hand touching him, Jonah was teleported somewhere by the light magic circle.

“Ah… Aaaaaah…!”

Titancia collapsed to her knees.

Beside her.

“…Is this alright? My meddlesome old friend…”

The Fairy King Oberon muttered softly.

—Gazing at the small, small fragment of a bond left by the little boy with the clumsy woman of the Elf who was poor at expressing emotions yet more caring than anyone.