Mom didn’t say anything on the way to the spring .  I speculated Mom was worried . We guaranteed that we wouldn’t give the spring water to humans, and it was impossible for somebody to sneak into the underground level . For some reason, Mom was still nervous .

The soldiers underground weren’t alive . If they were living soldiers, you might get away with saying they were bribed, but bribing mana soldiers? It was an impossible theory . They weren’t afraid of even me . In fact, they took the initiative to attack me, let alone a human being . If a human came by, they’d most likely be a corpse .

We went to the underground level of the imperial palace, which was where the lifeline of elves, the spring for all elves and the nearby magical creatures, was . The place was akin to the mother of the forest . The gurgling sound coming from the spring was as clear as usual . The soldiers approached us upon hearing our footsteps . They were expressionless as they were in the past . They respectfully saluted Mom but ignored me . I didn’t find that to be an issue as I wasn’t their creator . Mom ignored them, we continued to the centre . The elven spring soon came into sight .

I doubted Mom would be able to find out if somebody did steal from the spring, since it was impossible to tell if somebody took a bottle or two . If humans really did get their hands on elven spring water, we wouldn’t have any idea if they were organised crime .

Mom gently dipped her hand into the water and shut her eyes . I had no clue what she was sensing . I couldn’t sense any magic when I was next to the magical spring because I was surrounded by powerful mana . The inspection didn’t take long .

“There’s nothing wrong with the spring . The mana is normal, and n.o.body stole from it . There will be traces left behind if mana was active somewhere . The humans claim to have mana, yet it wasn’t from here . ”

That a.s.sertion relieved me . I was nervous something happened to Troy City, as it was the elven land’s neighbour .

Human crops couldn’t be planted at Troy City due to elven mana, which was why we relied on the elven dye for income . If they wanted to obtain magic-infused water, they could get their hands on it from Troy City . That said, it was unlikely . While the water at Troy City did contain mana, the water there had mixed with humanity’s waters for a long time . That, in turn, diluted and thereby reduced the potency of the mana . In essence, it was only enough for plants to grow; however, it wouldn’t have any effects on humans . I, therefore, reasoned that they couldn’t obtain what they wanted .

“Where did they get their hands on water rich in mana, then?” I wondered . I asked, “So, the water…”

Mommy Vyvyan looked outside, gaze fiery: “It’s obvious there’s an issue with their water . Whatever reason they’re packaging counterfeit elven water for is none of my business . Having said that, they insulted our spring and the source of our mana . They’re insulting our entire elven race . Falsely claiming their stuff to be elven water to swindle and commit fraud is a very serious insult . Once Elizabeth’s envoy arrives, I’ll let her have it!”

Mommy Vyvyan held my hand and led me back up . Suddenly, we heard stabbing sounds and someone screaming . Mommy Vyvyan and I froze . I suddenly had a bad feeling .

I thought to myself, “Don’t tell me that human went r.e.t.a.r.ded and is charging over . Not even Elizabeth is allowed to come near here . Don’t tell me he actually went r.e.t.a.r.ded and came here . That’s just marching to your own death! Did he follow us here?!”

The two of us quickly ran over . There were several soldiers standing there with their spears stabbed into one spot . Mom and I squeezed through . The person, let me correct myself there, the corpse that had a bunch of holes in him – a result of numerous spears puncturing him – resembled a corpse that had nails rain down on him as he bled out on the ground . Even his mouth was pierced with a spear . Had it not been for his clothes, there’d be no way of identifying him as the human envoy from before .

The soldiers were still in their stabbing pose . They never pulled their spears out . Mommy Vyvyan sighed: “Sometimes, curiosity and responsibility will get people killed, won’t it? A human lacking the self-awareness of a human is a death that can’t be blamed . Whatever . He’s not Elizabeth’s envoy, so there won’t be any diplomatic issues . If the church comes knocking, perfect . I’m keen to see them . I’ve never had a single an ounce of interest in your church . By the way, take the corpse away . Don’t blaspheme our elven spring . ”

“Yes, Your Highness . ” The soldiers responded with a simple nod and then carried the corpse out .

I looked at the blood stains and holes the spears left in the ground: “I don’t have a good impression of the church, either . However, it seems humanity has another incoming crisis, and one that’s between religions . In saying that, it’s nothing I need to be concerned about . It seems Mommy Elizabeth doesn’t want to get involved, either . Her envoy would’ve come to me first, otherwise . ”

“Speaking of which, it’s time for you to head back, isn’t it?”

“To the North?”

“No, Mommy is talking about Hilles City . Since Daisy needs to go through a baptism, you have to go there to attend, don’t you?”

Mom and I returned to the imperial palace . The envoy’s death didn’t bother Mommy Vyvyan . It was fair, though . She couldn’t have stopped it, either . It was perfectly normal for a human to be killed for trespa.s.sing into forbidden elven territory . What bothered me was what exactly happened with the religions over in humanity’s lands . I wasn’t looking to manage their religious issues, as I wasn’t interested in religion, but my daughter was there . Since she had to go through a baptism, I had to concern myself with it .

I nodded: “Mom, I’ll head there in a few days… Nevertheless, I want to get to the bottom of this case . I want to find out what exactly happened there and how somebody managed to get the water . I’ll start my investigations here in the elven lands . ”

Mommy Vyvyan rubbed my head . With a smile, she warned, “Sure . But, you’re not allowed to leave the imperial palace . If you go out again, Mommy really will make it impossible to ever leave Mommy, got it?”