Between the lands of Greynifra and the Lizardmen. In a makeshift negotiation site.

“…No escort is necessary?”

“Yes, that’s what he said.”

Magrina received this report from Rim.

“Is it true?”

“Yes, O Great One.”

Sitting in front of Magrina was Hazad.

When he asked, Zukurak also nodded deeply in agreement.

Seeing this, Hazad rubbed his chin thoughtfully a few times.

“Well, I suppose there’s no choice. If my friend thinks so, I’ll have to step back.”

Contrary to expectations, he backed off surprisingly neatly.

“Huh, you’re taking this rather well.”

“I’m not like those sneaky elves who pretend to act with honor while scheming in the background.”

“You used to be even sneakier than us—”

“Ahem.”

As soon as the past was mentioned, Hazad cleared his throat and looked away.

To those of lower standing, it might have just looked like a swirl of black smoke, but to anyone watching closely, it was clear that Hazad was flustered.

After a brief pause.

“Anyway, if my friend insists, there’s no need for us to linger here.”

Hazad got up, as if there was nothing more to discuss.

“Let’s be on our way, then.”

With that, he coolly turned and left the negotiation site.

As Magrina stood watching where he had left,

“Your Majesty.”

“Go ahead, Rim.”

Rim called out to the queen with a slightly regretful expression.

If the elves had been entrusted with the escort, she would have had the opportunity to guard the Primordial Elf himself.

For Rim, and in fact for all elves, protecting the Primordial Elf—whom they essentially regarded as a god—was a great honor and privilege.

Normally, Paggade had to protect the World Tree from those that emerged from the roots, leaving no room to guard anyone else.

But ever since the Primordial Elf’s visit to the roots, those threats had disappeared.

Now that Rim had the capacity for other duties, she felt the loss even more.

“Then, as you ordered, I will recall the Shadow Leaves.”

As if understanding her feelings, Magrina smiled softly and shook her head.

“No.”

“…Pardon?”

“There’s no need to recall the Shadow Leaves.”

“But didn’t we just decide—”

“Rim, even if he refuses an escort, the Primordial Elf is someone we must protect. You understand that, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course.”

“That is your answer. He may have refused, but surely, it was out of consideration for us.”

In truth, it was Alon’s desperate effort to avoid exposing his secret.

But unaware of this, Magrina’s smile deepened.

“That’s why we must still escort him. We can’t entrust his safety to those lizards, can we?”

It was a valid point.

Rim nodded but couldn’t help wondering.

…What exactly is the relationship between Her Majesty and that so-called Sage just now?

The queen, Magrina, and the Lizardmen’s Sage, who had casually conversed with her—

Rim was sure they hadn’t met frequently before.

And yet, they seemed strangely close.

…Even though they were hurling insults at each other the whole time.

Despite their barbs, their exchange had felt more like that of old rivals than true enemies.

However, Rim soon dismissed her curiosity.

That wasn’t the important matter at hand.

“Then, we’ll maintain the Shadow Leaves as they are.”

“Do so.”

“And, Your Majesty.”

“Yes?”

“Would it be possible—”

Just as Rim was about to cautiously make her request,

Inside the massive palanquin carried by the Lizardmen, Zukurak tilted his head in confusion.

“…You want to dispatch escort troops?”

“Yes.”

In a lavishly decorated space, large enough to be considered a room, Zukurak was baffled by Hazad’s order.

It was completely different from what he had said earlier with Magrina.

“…But didn’t you just say you wouldn’t send any?”

Hazad chuckled.

“Of course, that was a lie.”

“But doesn’t your friend not want it?”

“Well, to be honest, he probably doesn’t, but that’s a separate issue.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I’m sending them because I’m worried about him.”

That’s all there is to it, Hazad murmured in a low voice, before continuing.

“Anyway, just do it. But make sure they aren’t noticed—send the most discreet ones.”

“…Shall I send the Shadow Veil clan?”

“Hm, not a bad choice.”

Hazad leaned back into his seat, satisfied.

Watching him, Zukurak suddenly voiced a question.

“May I ask something?”

“What is it?”

“…If you were going to send an escort anyway, why bother hiding it from the elves?”

“Obviously, because it’s necessary.”

“?”

“The elves act like they care about honor, but they’re sly. If they tell my friend, it’ll just be a headache.”

Hazad nodded to himself, as if he knew the elves all too well.

In other words, he was worried they might snitch to Marquis Palatio.

Seeing his god being wary of another’s interference, Zukurak found it strange.

Never before had he seen the god who granted him power care about anyone else’s opinion.

Yet now, Hazad was mindful of the elves, afraid his friend might find out.

After a brief silence,

“…Understood. I’ll make the arrangements immediately.”

Zukurak bowed and left to carry out Hazad’s command.

***

About a week later.

“Marquis, I’ve investigated the matter you asked about.”

“You mean about Sili?”

“Yes.”

“So, what did you find?”

“It seems that’s what they’re actually calling her.”

Hearing Evan’s report, Alon gave him a puzzled look.

“…Why on earth?”

“Well—apparently, after you left, she continued various relief efforts in the villages near Caliban.”

“…Relief efforts?”

“Yes, you know, things like that.”

Taking care of monsters, distributing supplies—

After listing a few things, Evan added,

“Anyway, because of that, the villages near Caliban have started calling her ‘The Saint of Kalannon, the lightning receiver.’”

Alon scratched his head involuntarily.

This situation wasn’t particularly problematic for him.

In fact, it was beneficial.

After all, Sili’s actions were gathering faith in Alon.

Not that he had given her power expecting this to happen.

But the reason for his slightly bewildered expression was—

This wasn’t what he had intended.

He had only given Sili power so she could protect herself.

Now, finding himself at the top of an unexpected pyramid scheme, Alon thought to himself.

‘Well, it’s not a bad thing, so it doesn’t really matter… But maybe I should tell her not to overdo it?’

He didn’t want to make Deus’s sister work too hard.

After organizing his thoughts, Alon decided he would bring it up the next time he visited Caliban.

Just then—

“Marquis.”

“What is it?”

Evan spoke up.

“That reminds me… Didn’t you say we needed to visit somewhere else besides the jungle last time?”

“During the last trip?”

“Yes. Thinking about it now, I don’t think we actually went there.”

A place to visit—

Alon pondered for a moment before letting out an ‘Ah.’

“There was a place we needed to go because of the limited usage of ‘Footsteps of the Past.’”

“Right? That’s why I asked. I realized we never stopped by. Why didn’t we go?”

“It wasn’t that I didn’t want to—I couldn’t. That place is only accessible when we have business up north.”

“I see.”

Evan nodded in understanding.

Watching him, Alon suddenly let out another exclamation and pulled out an item.

It was a gemstone, identical to the red ruby he had obtained in the colony.

‘They said it would speak to me on its own when the time came.’

Alon gazed at the red gemstone.

Yet, just like when he first received it from the dragonkin in the colony, it remained utterly unresponsive.

‘I figured if I just waited, it would eventually speak up… But at this point, is something wrong?’

Unlike what he had been told—that it would communicate within a month or two—

It had already been nearly six months, and there was still nothing.

‘Looks like I’ll need to visit the colony after my trip north.’

Adding another destination to his itinerary, Alon put the ruby away.

***

About two weeks later—

“Let’s set out.”

Alon departed for Asteria to meet Siyan.

***

While Alon was heading to Asteria, Hidan was at the Palatio Marquisate.

He had received orders from Yutia.

Originally, he had only planned to stop by briefly on his way to Caliban, just to pick up something from a hidden stash and then leave immediately.

…If he hadn’t witnessed something strange.

Hidan looked forward.

What entered his field of vision—

A group exuding an unusual presence.

Lizardmen.

And not just them.

On the opposite side—

A group of elves, all of them tense and glaring at the Lizardmen.

Hidan had never seen non-beastkin demi-humans before.

Even beastkin were mostly concentrated in the Eastern Kingdom, though they were active in the Allied Kingdom.

But elves and Lizardmen?

They were so rare in the Allied Kingdom that they were practically nonexistent.

In that sense, seeing over ten Lizardmen—

And an equally large group of elves—

All glaring at each other with hostility,

Was an incredibly peculiar sight.

Especially when each one of them was radiating an imposing aura.

But Hidan prepared to leave.

No matter how strange the scene was, it wasn’t worth delaying his mission.

However—

“Get lost, lizards! The marquis is under our protection.”

“Hah! Don’t talk nonsense, pointy-ears. By his decree, we are to guard Marquis Palatio, so you lot should back off!”

“?”

“..?”

Hearing those words—

Hidan stopped in his tracks, a look of confusion crossing his face.

“What nonsense are you spouting, stupid lizards? Where do you get off saying you’ll protect the marquis?”

“We’re stronger than you honor-obsessed elves, so of course we should be the ones to protect him!”

“No, the elves will guard the marquis!”

“No! The Lizardmen will guard him!!”

As the argument escalated—

“…???”

Countless question marks filled Hidan’s mind.