Chapter 210
For a moment, I almost couldn’t help but laugh. I’d been thinking something similar myself.
But since this wasn’t a situation for laughter, I was busy holding it in.
“Your sister’s Medi—, no, can he understand them?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know either.”
“Useless…… um, hmm.”
Meliana started to chide Reno but caught herself. She must have remembered the promise she’d just made. Breaking the habit of speaking carelessly wouldn’t happen overnight.
“Why can’t you understand? You’re half-elf, aren’t you?”
“Well, I was raised in human society.”
“……Come to think of it, that’s true.”
Meliana’s momentum faltered. To be honest, I’d been harboring similar expectations. Unlike Meliana, it wasn’t because Reno was half-elf, but because of the spirit power he possessed.
“Is communication between spirits not possible either?”
“That’s…… they’re refusing.”
This wasn’t surprising. Judging from the elves’ attitude, they were far from friendly—rather, they were showing nothing but hostility.
“I’ll step forward.”
“Killis, can you understand the elves’ language?”
“A little…… really just a rudimentary level, but I can.”
“Wait. Then does the Duke know what those elves were saying? What did they say earlier?”
“They told us to go back.”
“They said to go back?”
“Yes. So I’m going to try convincing them. We can’t just turn back now.”
No one could stop him when he was like this.
Killis stepped forward. One of the elves aiming at us released their bowstring.
Shwack, an arrow flew rapidly.
“Killis!”
I called out in alarm, but he didn’t even blink. Before the arrow could hit his head, a defensive barrier deflected it. The arrow fell limply to the ground, causing the elves to hesitate.
—A mage?
—And quite skilled at that. To block our arrows.
—Please calm down. We mean no harm.
—Impossible! You can speak our language?
When Killis spoke in an accent similar to the elves’, their commotion grew louder. Their voices sounded like birds chirping.
—We’ve come for the trial of Lublin!
—Lublin?
—These are the princesses of Lublin. We’ve received a task from Evgenia and have come to find you.
—Princesses, you say? Can you prove it?
—That’s…….
Killis, who had been communicating with them, hesitated.
“What’s wrong?”
“They’re asking the princesses to provide proof that you’re royalty.”
“Proof that we’re princesses? There’s no need for such a thing.”
Meliana spoke confidently as she listened in.
‘Does she have something that can prove it?’
I expected Meliana to show some form of proof.
“This eye color itself is proof, isn’t it? Especially my sister—it goes without saying.”
“Me……?”
“Silver hair and blue-green eyes. It’s the hallmark of pure-blooded royalty, like it was painted on.”
Meliana’s point made sense. However, I had a feeling this wouldn’t be enough to convince the elves.
“What are you waiting for, Duke? Hurry and relay my words. They’ll understand.”
“Understood.”
Killis conveyed Meliana’s words to the elves. But the elves shook their heads and replied again.
“……They say that’s not enough to believe us. If it were the Guardian High Elves, perhaps, but they don’t know much about humans.”
“Then why not ask or bring the High Elf here?”
“I already asked, but they say the High Elf cannot come outside. Also, they don’t want to be bothered with uncertainties.”
“They’re keeping us standing here just for that reason?”
Meliana voiced her displeasure. As I listened to their conversation, I kept thinking.
‘Proof of identity…….’
Does it have to specifically prove we’re princesses? Couldn’t we just prove we’re here for the trial of Lublin, seeking the elves? If it’s the latter, we might have something that could serve as evidence.
After deliberating, I spoke up.
“What about showing them that?”
“By ‘that,’ do you mean……?”
“The map. Reno, could you give me the map?”
“Here it is.”
Reno quickly handed me the map—the elven map that was difficult for us to interpret but that spirits could understand.
Seeing the map, Killis exclaimed, “Ah!”
“Since it was given to the royal family by the elves for harmony, it can prove it came from the royal palace!”
“That’s what I was thinking.”
“This might work. Let me try speaking to them.”
I handed the map to Killis. Soon, Killis held up the map and attempted to converse with the elves again.
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