I almost forgot.
A one-of-a-kind companion? The other half of a Bijou?
The Emotion Spirit King will find them for you personally!
Two stamps only to find a Bijou’s match!
[Efficacy]
We will create a situation where you can reach the place where the person you are looking for is located.
[Warning]
You don’t know what might happen. We take no responsibility!
While Micard was busy watching the soap bubbles, I quickly pressed my hand to my lips and blew a kiss. My quiet murmur of “Eden Shop” was buried beneath the roar of the crowd and went unheard.
‘The grape card is already half full!’
Five out of ten slots were stamped. I looked at it with immense pride, wiggling my feet.
‘Just a little more and I can sign a contract with one of the Spirit Kings!’
I could eat sweets, give Ricardo a taste of his own medicine, and even help find Elzen’s companion. Everything was wonderful, so I smiled brightly.
“Look over there, Chubby. It’s a school of soap bubble dolphins!”
People gasped in awe at the dolphins swimming gracefully through the fluffy clouds. Micard was also excited, looking up with a grin.
“Huh?”
But when he turned his gaze back to where Shupetty had been, the spot was empty.
“Chubby…?”
As he stood up in a hurry and scanned his surroundings, the telepathic messages from his startled subordinates flooded his mind.
[She has suddenly disappeared!]
[In the blink of an eye—we were definitely watching her, but she’s gone.]
[The Young Lady didn’t even move; it happened in a split second!]
An attack?
But I didn’t feel a thing…!
“Report this to the Admiral and bring Neiad. The rest of you, search for Chubby.”
The subordinates, realizing the matter had become official because he used the title “Admiral” instead of Dad or Father, quickly scattered. Since he hadn’t brought his coin purse, Micard simply tore off a gold button, tossed it onto the table, and vanished.
He reappeared on the spire of the tallest building in the city.
‘When a young Awakener is kidnapped by unknown means, the golden time is three hours.’
If he couldn’t find her within that window, the probability of Shupetty’s safety…
*Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!!*
Micard forced himself to stop the dark thoughts and spread his arms wide. An immense aura erupted from his body—red lightning that lashed out toward the entirety of Pelun with terrifying speed.
The blood-red energy connected with an ominous hum, and at those contact points, thick, semi-circular stone walls began to erupt from the earth.
“Argh!”
“W-what is this?”
“We can’t get out!”
“Territory War! The Territory War has begun! Everyone, get inside!”
Colosseum.
The ultimate ability that allowed for simultaneous attack and defense.
It had now been unleashed upon the city of Pelun.
The stone walls rose with such solidity, leaving not a single gap, ensuring that whoever had kidnapped Shupetty could never escape. They loomed over the city with an overwhelming, suffocating presence.
At almost the same time.
*Rumble!*
“Is it an earthquake?”
“The ground, it’s shaking!”
“Oh, look there!”
The earth heaved, and vines sprouted rapidly, snaking up the spire. They blossomed into a giant, grotesque flower, and out stepped Neiad.
“I’ve communed with every plant in Pelun. I’ll speak when I find her, so don’t bother me from now on.”
Because the situation was so dire, Neiad offered only what was necessary and immediately closed his eyes, his hand pressed against the petals of the giant flower.
‘It’s a good thing Neiad was out on the streets for the festival.’
Neiad Pashayen. His ability was the most wide-ranging among the plant-types. He could perform “simultaneous communion” with all the greenery in Pelun. He couldn’t hold it for long, but it was an extraordinary skill that allowed him to see and hear everything the plants within his range did.
‘I have to hold on here, too. Until Dad saves the youngest.’
He had never crafted a Colosseum this large before. It was his first time exhausting his entire body’s strength like this. How many minutes could he keep it up? Could he hold on for an hour?
If it were Dad, he would surely rescue Shupetty within an hour. With Neiad’s power, they would be able to find her even faster.
So, he just had to keep the insolent enemy from leaving this place.
“Hmph, who says I’ll lose? Even if I’m like this, I’m the big brother, you know.”
Micard gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing with lethal intent.
* * *
*Ding-a-ling!*
[Wake up! Wake up! ∑( ◦д⊙)‼]
*Ding-a-ling!*
[Open your eyes! Emergency! Emergency!! 〣(ºΔº)〣]
*Ding-a-ling!*
“Ugh.”
Where am I?
Thanks to Eupheros, I managed to shake off the daze and force my wobbly body up. But for some strange reason, I had no strength, so I ended up plopping back down.
‘It’s pitch black.’
It wasn’t that I couldn’t see anything at all. There was one tiny, faint light in this stifling space.
‘I was clearly with Micard older brother just a moment ago.’
I had suddenly come here. In a split second.
[The Fire Spirit King ‘■■■■■■’ advises you to be brave.]
[The Fortune Spirit King ‘■■■■■■■’ comforts you, telling you not to be afraid.]
[All the Spirit Kings who have entered the room are monitoring the situation.]
No, I was a little surprised, but I wasn’t scared. I have the Spirit Kings with me, right?
‘And I’m not alone, either.’
*Rustle, rustle.*
In the silence, I could hear the sound of fabric brushing against fabric. When I squinted and focused, I could see silhouettes. I wasn’t the only one trapped here.
“Is there anyone there?”
I opened my mouth, keeping my voice calm.
“Chuu will protect you. Where are we?”
I have a really amazing punch, after all! And I have cool older brothers, the Admiral, and Grandfather. I wasn’t worried at all.
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ is worried about you.]
[My precious baby, not having fear is a good thing, but… isn’t this a bit too much…]
Ah! Because the sparkling text appeared, I could see the surroundings better. Thanks to the Spirit Kings, I realized there were many children huddled in the corner.
“Huh?”
Their hair was white! They were just kids, so why was their hair white? It didn’t feel like Grandma or Grandfather’s, but it was quite pretty—like fresh snow.
Curious, I moved a little closer, and the children began to tremble and turn away. That was when I noticed the ears of a child—who looked about ten years old—were pointed.
[The Water Spirit King ‘■■■■’ imparts a teaching.]
[They are elves. A race not found in Pashayen… they must have been captured from far away.]
“Elfs?”
When I tilted my head and read the word, the child from before whipped their head around to look at me. They bared their teeth and made a hissing sound! It was just like a cornered cat, so I calmly held out my hand.
“It’s okay. I’ll help you.”
“Human, don’t believe! Human, bad!”
Eupheros didn’t say anything but floated several strange characters. Thanks to that light, I could see the half-elf children’s faces more clearly.
‘So elves have pure white hair and pointed ears. Their pupils are like cats, too! Slitted vertically!’
But they were all dirty, as if they had been kept in this dark place for a very long time. I wanted to take them home, feed them delicious food, and give them a bath in warm water with a rubber duck!
[The Earth Spirit King ‘■’ explains.]
[Those children are half-elves. Having white hair is a characteristic of half-elves.]
“Half-elf…?”
As I muttered that, the children, startled, scurried further into the corner. Then, gritting their teeth, they pulled their hoods down over their faces.
“Don’t look. Go away!”
“Umm. Even if I want to go, there’s nowhere to go. I’m trapped too.”
“Th-that’s…!”
“Where were you guys caught?”
It was then.