Vol 5: Chapter 62

I am sorry about earlier. I was just testing you to see what kind of a person you were.

Matvey-san said while making tea. It was a flower tea, with flower buds in the tea cup.

I was simply blinking my eyes, not sure what to make of the sudden development.

No need to be so alert. If you are worried about poison, you can replace it with my cup.

Ah no, its okay.

Although I was surprised at his sudden change, I decided to sit down and have a cup of tea with him. World Rulerinformed me that this tea was not only harmless, but also has a calming effect and a weak detoxification effect.

A sweet fragrance entered my nostrils. This is good tea (Not that I know the difference between good and bad tea).

This is a good drink. Even as a failure, I am renowned for my tea brewing.

Umm, Matvey, uh,-sama, I

Wait. You can just call me Matvey. Youre already calling Asha by her nickname, right?

Err

I cant call you with such over-familiarity.

Matvey-san

Well, thats fine.

Matvey-san, I came to talk to Asha. If she wants to stay here, I wont stop her.

What if she wants to escape?

Well

Will you help her escape with all your might? Even if it means turning all the elves in the Third Forest into enemies?

Of course I intend to do that, but I still dont know this person well enough to answer yes.

Well, thats fine. But maybe youll change your mind after listening to my story.

Matvey-san prefaced as such and took a sip of his own brewed tea. And while praising his own brewing, he started speaking.

Asha was treated way worse than a failure like me. The trees in the forest hate fire. But Asha was an existence who manifested fire so her voice was sealed off. By none other than our father, the King.

Isnt the public reason a curse by an evil wizard? Are you sure you can you reveal such important secret to me?

Of course. You are the one who restored Ashas throat, right?

Yes, but it was mostly Ashas own effort.

Its still amazing what you did. All the healers in this forest gave up on curing the sickness

Ah, I see. The royal family did not seal off Ashas throat and neglected her. They tried to solve Ashas fire problem. But they were fundamentally wrong.

That is not a sickness. It is Ashas innate constitution.

Innate constitution?

The same way we breathe out air when we speak, Asha had a constitution in whichFire Magicwas invoked with her voice. You can say that she has an extremely high affinity withFire Magic.

No, wait, wait, youre saying that so casually. But its the same as an illness, right?

It is not. For an illness, it ends when you cut off the root of the cause, but for an innate constitution, you have to deal with it for the rest of your life. I had Asha train in controlling her mana. She had talent for it from the start. At first, flames appeared whenever she spoke, but gradually the flames became smaller, and now it only appears when her emotions are running high.

Whats wrong?

Ah, no.

Matvey-san staring at me felt uncomfortable.

It is not good for the body to be stared at by a handsome man.

I thought she didnt like speaking.

Hmm I wonder. I didnt get that feeling from her.I said.

Whenever she spoke, fire manifested and caused panic for the people around her. Because of that reason, her voice was sealed. It would be natural if she disliked speaking after that.

That sounds logical, but as I said to Matvey-san, that was not the feeling I got from her.

To me, I felt as if Asha wanted to speak so badly.I said.

Hmm, I see what it is now.

?

In other words, Asha was dying to talk with you.

Matvey-san said, grinning at me. How unfair. Good-looking guys still look good even with a sly smile.

Hmm, so thats why she has grown skilled in speaking. I see now.

?

But the person in question herself hasnt told you the most important thing. I am shocked by my late bloomer sister.

Uh, Matvey-san?

No, its nothing. I am talking to myself.

Matvey-san seemed as if he had reached some sort of understanding.

By the way, how much do you know about us?I asked.

You were transported away with Asha by transfer magic, right? I havent seen it myself, but it actually exists, huh. I also know that Asha releasedFire Magicbefore that. Then, about a month later, you guys returned.

I see Information regarding the Back World isnt known, huh.

No, I suppose you normally wouldnt think about connecting the Red Gate and the Back World without sufficient knowledge.

Where is Asha now?

She is probably at the Kings place by now. Most likely discussing the future if she would remain here in the forest, or if she will return to the Lev Magic Empire. Oh, just to be clear, I called them lizards earlier, but I have no discriminatory thoughts against them. Levs technology is insane. If Asha says its okay, Id rather go to the Empire instead.

Oh

Isnt this person being a bit too frank? He is closing the distance between us much more pushily than Asha.

But Asha doesnt know that youre coming.

Ah, yes.

Well then, shall we go?

Where?

Haha, where else

Matvey-san stood up while saying so, and activatedFlower Magic.

I felt mana being concentrated, and then this small house started to move.

To the High Elf residence, of course.

EHH!?

It was insane. It was the second time I was surprised by a High Elf after Asha.

To think magic could be used in such a waythe trees themselves started moving together with the house.