An Overwhelming Age Difference

“Isn’t it about time you stopped moping…?”

“…………………………”

Zeria sat beside Titancia, who was hugging her knees and looking down, trying to comfort her.

A week had passed since Jonah was teleported somewhere by the Fairy King Oberon’s ancient magic, but Titancia was deeply depressed, overwhelmed by guilt for failing to stop the teleportation and the sense of loss from losing him.

This was comparable to that time when she had to part ways with Zeria.

That is precisely why Zeria wanted to cheer up her precious childhood friend.

She had always… even when they were enemies, watched over her from afar.

Even disguising herself as the proprietress of the Sunbeam Pavilion using dark magic.

“Knowing the Fairy King Lord, he surely wouldn’t teleport Jonah to some strange place. Besides, he’s a user of ancient magic himself. If he wanted, he could teleport back here anytime.”

“…………………………”

Over this week, Zeria had offered words of comfort many times, but Titancia’s heart remained clouded, thinking only of Jonah.

Zeria did not want to see her best friend like this, but as she slumped her shoulders, unable to do anything…

“Haa… Cia, you’re still sniveling like that?”

“Now, now. We need you to return to work soon, or it’ll be troublesome as the chairwoman of the Central Mutual Aid Association.”

The ones who appeared were Quylindra, chief of the Elf and her mother, and her older sister Colette.

They too had been saved by Jonah, yet why were they acting so lightly?

Both Titancia and Zeria beside her were displeased with their demeanor.

“Listen? No matter how much the Fairy King Lord loves pranks, he wouldn’t do anything cruel to little Jonah after granting him such blessings. He’s surely having fun in his next location by now.”

“That’s right. If you’re too clingy, Jonah might end up disliking you~”

“…!”

Their irresponsible words… no, their behavior as if the time Jonah spent with them in the Duchy of Aubern never happened was unforgivable, and Titancia stood up with a stern expression.

It was truly rare for her to show her emotions so openly, and Zeria involuntarily held her breath.

Meanwhile, Quylindra and Colette raised the corners of their mouths as if to say “gotcha.”

“Isn’t that right? Little Jonah’s goal was solely to go to the Fairy Forest and meet the fairies, and the week with Cia was just incidental.”

“Now, now. Could it be that Cia is mistakenly thinking she was special to Jonah~?”

“…! Mother! Sister!”

Unable to bear it, Titancia raised her voice.

On the other hand, it was true that deep down, she had been thinking that since Jonah, who could teleport with ancient magic, hadn’t returned after a week, her existence must be insignificant to him.

Such thoughts of Titancia were mere baseless fears, and she was undoubtedly one of irreplaceable precious people to Jonah, but there was no way for her to know that.

“Oh, you have the energy to get angry. Then worrying is just a waste.”

“Yes, yes. And we want you to return to work soon~”

Seeing the two suddenly smile with some relief, Titancia realized they had deliberately said harsh things to motivate her.

That said, since she arbitrarily believed herself insignificant to Jonah, who had saved the Swart Elf and her precious childhood friend, she could not straightforwardly accept their kindness.

In the end, Titancia looked down again, her face on the verge of tears.

“Haa… This is serious.”

“Yes, yes… I didn’t think it was this bad…”

The two sighed and furrowed their brows, wondering what to do.

At that moment.

“Um… In the first place, how does Cia feel about Sir Jonah…?”

Zeria suddenly asked Cia.

Quylindra and Colette had somewhat anticipated it, but Zeria, who had lived bound by the demonic contract with Zarichu until now, was unfamiliar with such subtleties of the heart and poor at reading the atmosphere.

But seeing this as fortunate, the two jumped on Zeria’s question.

“That’s right. Why are you so sad about Jonah being gone, Cia?”

“Tell us, tell us~”

“That’s, well…”

Pointed out by the three, Titancia pondered.

Why she was so sad about Jonah departing.

It started when she witnessed Jonah’s ancient magic, which he insisted was suppressed to the maximum.

He could use amazing magic, but his true face was honest and endearing, so as an older woman, Titancia thought to be kind to him.

Learning his goal was to visit the Fairy Forest, she helped him reach it and took care of him in various ways.

But… before she realized it, having Jonah by her side had become natural, and she had mistakenly assumed they would be together from then on.

Him saving her childhood friend Zeria also became a trigger for Jonah to grow even larger in her heart, and now Titancia could not imagine life without Jonah.

For her as an Elf, the week with Jonah was but a fleeting moment, yet Jonah undeniably lived within Titancia.

“…Jonah is my precious boy. I want to be by his side until he meets his end… no, even after he meets his end.”

“Hmm, not bad.”

“My, my.”

“…?”

Setting aside Zeria, who still didn’t understand, the two softened their cheeks at the growth of their daughter and sister.

At this point, as family, they had no choice but to support her.

“Then why not find the Fairy King Lord at all costs and demand to know where he teleported Jonah?”

“Now, now, that’s not enough~. You already lack sex appeal, so you need to polish your femininity more~”

“That’s true. Otherwise, when you reunite with little Jonah, he might run away again.”

“…!?”

In contrast to Quylindra and Colette freely talking as if leaving her behind, Titancia, realizing her own feelings, turned bright red.

“S-so, that means Cia has fallen in love with Sir Jonah…?”

Finally understanding the situation, Zeria timidly asked.

With it put into words like this, Titancia had no escape and writhed, covering her face with both hands.

“Exactly. So as a mother and as Chief of the Elf village, I think leaving behind the seed of an excellent boy is important.”

“Yes, yes.”

“I see…”

Zeria covered her mouth, nodding with a convinced expression.

As the daughter of the chief of the Swart Elf, leaving excellent next generations was also a supreme priority for Zeria. In that sense, welcoming Jonah as a partner was not bad… no, a wonderful option, she thought.

However.

“…The insurmountable age difference—whether Sir Jonah would accept it, that’s the issue.”

“…!?”
“…!?”
“…!?”

Indeed… The Elf and Swart Elf are long-lived races, befitting fairies.

Titancia, who appeared as a girl of fifteen or sixteen, was already over two hundred years old.

“I-it’s okay, Cia! Little Jonah wouldn’t mind such minor details!”

“Y-yes, yes! Jonah is so attached to Cia, and unlike humans, your appearance remains beautiful no matter how old you get~! Surely Jonah would prefer that!!”

The two desperately tried to convince Cia.

It was obvious they didn’t want age mentioned either.

“…Mm, I’ll do my best.”

With the three supporting her this much, she couldn’t stay depressed forever.

Besides, she had to find the Fairy King Oberon, ask where Jonah was teleported to, and chase after him right away.

To be with the one she loves forever.

“Jonah, I will definitely find you and be with you forever. So… wait for me until then.”

Titancia clenched her fist and let out a determined “Hmph.”