Through the grassy field.
Through the forest.
Through the valley.
Through the long, long wasteland.
“…We’re here.”
In front of us is Anheim, the country of fairies.
Actually, it’s a very tall wall, and Anheim is behind it… But anyway, we’re here.
“Toh!”
Ririi hops down from the two-wheeled magic vehicle. It took us two days to get here, and even though we took breaks, she was still a really good girl who didn’t even complain.
I pat her head, and she squints and says it tickles. She puts her hands on her head, and I hold her hand.
“Is that the country of fairies?”
“Yes. You might be able to make lots of elf friends here.”
“Yay! Let’s go!”
Ririi says as she pulls me towards the wall, and I push the magic vehicle with the other hand.
“…Hn?”
Something feels off about Anheim’s outer wall, and I just figured out what it is.
“There’s no… Gate…?”
There is nothing on this pure white wall.
No scratches, dirt… Not even a gate that supposedly connects to Anheim.
“What…?”
“Oh my, it looks like we have quite an adorable guest.”
“!?”
I suddenly hear a voice above my head.
I instantly get ready to fight, but then I see a fairy that’s almost small enough to fit in my hand, just floating.
“That was fast. You don’t have wings, but are you actually a fairy too?”
The fairy that’s suddenly in front of me cackles.
He’s wearing something strange, that looks both like a dress and pajamas, and those half-transparent wings don’t even look like they’re flapping. Do fairies use magic energy to float like that?
They talk like this, and have the same level of civilization as humans and other races, but there are still some things that are very different.
They use magic energy as nourishment, for example.
Strictly speaking, they’d be classified as monsters, but… They’d get angry like a raging fire if you told them that. Those kinds of jokes aren’t allowed in Anheim.
“He’s flying! Is that a fairy!?”
“Indeed. Welcome to Anheim, adorable high elf.”
Says the fairy while flying around above Ririi’s head. Her eyes start spinning as she tries to follow him.
“Are you all right, Ririi?”
“Round and round…”
I hold Ririi’s hand, as her footing is looking shaky, and ask the fairy a question.
“You can tell Ririi’s a high elf?”
The fairy does a somersault and glides in front of me.
“Of course. Her magic energy is completely different. What a funny thing to ask.”
I guess the fairy is in a good mood, going around shaking left and right and laughing. I don’t see any surprise about being face to face with a high elf that was supposedly extinct. Wait, could it be…
“Is it normal to see high elves in Anheim?”
“Hn… Not really normal, but there are some.”
The fairy says like it’s no big deal.
“…Seriously…”
What’s considered common knowledge changes from country to country.
This should be obvious to me, because I’ve traveled to multiple countries, but I still can’t hide how surprised I am.
“Hm…”
I look over at Ririi, and see her eyes are still spinning.
She stumbles, and I hold her hand tighter.
…If we find her parents…
What should I do?
◆
“Do you know the rules to enter Anheim?”
Apparently this fairy that appeared out of nowhere is in charge of border checks.
It sure is different from the burly soldiers standing in front of the gate to the capital, but I guess this jokester fairy also works for a national organization. There’s another thing I don’t understand about Anheim.
“I heard elves and their families can go in. Does this count?”
“Exactly! Are you two family? You seem to not be the same race.”
“We aren’t related by blood.”
“He’s daddy!”
Says Ririi, and that creates a smile on the fairy’s face.
“That’s nice. Families aren’t about blood relations.”
That might be unique to fairies, who have magic energy instead of blood, but that still makes me feel a little relieved.
“Ah, we haven’t introduced ourselves. My name is Zinnia, and I manage the border of Anheim. Can you tell me your names?”
“Weiss.”
“Ririh!”
“So Weiss and Ririi.”
Zinnia raises his hands, and a book pops out of nowhere. He opens the book and starts writing with the pen that’s suddenly in his hand.
“What brings you to Anheim? If you’re looking for permanent residence, you need to talk to someone else.”
“We’re here to find a hat for Ririi. I heard there’s a really good hat maker here.”
“Really!?”
“Yes, we’re going to look for a cute hat.”
Ririi didn’t know we came here for her, so she’s surprised. She just thought this was an adventure. I had a hard time convincing her to leave the bug catching net.
“A short-term stay then… All right, that takes care of it.”
Zinnia closes the book, which has a binding like a magic book. I’m sure it’s a ledger documenting who comes into the country, or something like that.
“Well then, have a pleasant stay in Anheim. Let me take you there!”
“!?”
“Wawa!?”
A magic circle suddenly appears on the ground.
I don’t even have time to react, as my vision is blocked by a white light.
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