There are times when you drink too much, you start imagining things that aren’t actually there. But if you get too aware of them, you'll think some things are just imagination whilst are there.

***

I stare at the mysterious person in front of me. Though I heard her voice, it didn't sound like it came through my ears. I can't tell if I'm too drunk, or there's really a person in front of me speaking through telepathy.

You need no voice to speak with me as I am an entity made of magic. No one else can see or sense me. Not even your lover who has a gift.

Is she talking about Cherry?

Yes, I am.

So she can read my mind. Might as well communicate with her through it.

You are quick to understand. As expected of an Earthling.

Let's just get to the main topic. Why did you show yourself only to me?

I have my own reason. I have to show myself to you in such form because I have need of your assistance. You have something that can help us.

I know it's about my power. It's quite the cliché setup isn't it? Sorry, but if it's something I'm not interested in, I won't help.

I understand, but I didn’t come here without anything else but information regarding the [Evergreen Bow of the Wind].

Did she just say Bow of the wind?

“What's the problem, Key?”

“Is there something the matter?”

Because I got too surprised, I inadvertently twitched which grabbed the attention of Cherry and Matt. It also almost woke Marie who’s on my lap.

“It's nothing. Can you two please take Marie to our room? I'd like to have her sleep on the bed rather than my lap.”

“Okay?”

Cherry took Marie from my lap and Matt also carefully takes Ellom who somehow fell asleep too. His color is blue so I can tell that he's sleeping.

Now, where did we stop?

Yes, I have information regarding the Sacred Bow. I could even take you there myself.

That sounds pretty shady. What's your objective?

Since I didn't want to look weird looking at the infiltrator, I decided to leave my seat while snatching a bottle of rum. After that, I teleported to a quiet place under a tree which is not too far away from the party, and as I expected, the mysterious person managed to follow me instantly.

At this point, I'm starting to believe she's more of a hallucination rather than an illusion. Well either way, I don't really care. I'm too drunk to give a fuck.

“What’s your objective? We've been conversing for a while now, but you’re not showing any signs of Real interest in my power.”

You're very sharp, I commend you for that. And you are right, you're power is not our aim. It is you.

“Now you're just making me more confused. The only thing that's good about me is my [Infinite] power. Other than that, I'm just a regular guy.”

I apologize for being too vague. As shameless as it sounds, our real aim is your wealth and power. We need it because we want to rescue our brethren.

Well, that’s a first. I didn’t expect for her to speak of my money. Aren't fantasy beings like her supposed to ask for something fantasy-like things too? This is like loaning online!

“Well, if you went through all this trouble, this just means that you are in need of a large amount of sum of money. But can’t we do this formally? Talking with an illusion that only I can see makes me look like I'm going mad.”

My deepest apologies, I only did this as a precaution since we were told not to show our faces by our law.

“Well if you’re not going to show your face, I'm not going to make a deal with you. How can I entrust my money to someone whose face I haven’t seen yet?”

B-but…

After her long motionless talking with me, she finally shows a reaction to my words. It seems she really is in need of money, she looks conflicted.

But during this whole time we’re conversing, I'm also trying to figure out the magic she's using for her illusion. Even with my new magic > which I based off from Cherry's ability, I still can't read a single line of the magic. It's like the magic itself is invisible.

“Well? I don't have all night. Visit my mansion if you are done talking with your superiors. You said ‘we' right?”

I didn't wait for her reply. After I chugged down the last of the rum, I started making a magic circle to warp me back to the party. But it seems she still hasn’t decided yet during my stall so I warped away.

When I got back to the party, Roldenrauf is the first one to come to me. It seems I worried everyone for disappearing without saying a word.

“Where were you? Everyone was looking for you.”

“Restroom.”

I only answered with one word. It's not because I don't want to let them know where I went, but because I feel like I'm going to throw up at any moment. It seems stalling teleportation magic has some bad effects to the body. Or maybe it's just the amount of liquor I've drank.

“You don't look so well, I think you should take a rest now.”

“Yeah, I guess I'll do that.”

I took Roldenrauf's advice and got myself guided by Jane to my room.

***

So I wake up with Marie sleeping on my chest while Cherry and Matt beside me. I don't know when they managed to snuck into my bed but thankfully, my bed is large enough for five people.

I have a lot of things to do today, but it can wait. Another 10 minutes is fine.

Just when I was to shut my eyes again, I notice someone is standing beside my bed. I managed to contain my surprise to prevent everyone from waking up.

It's the same person from last night. Because she easily infiltrated my barrier, I can't help but get too defensive which explains in why I have a floating blade above me.

We have come to a conclusion. We will show our identity to you.

“Well, that's good and all, but can't you at least use the front door?!”

“Who are you talking, Key?”

I accidentally yelled too loud. Cherry and Matt woke up while rubbing their eyes. Thankfully, Marie is a heavy sleeper.

Even though I looked away for a bit, the person standing in my room suddenly disappeared. What the hell?!

“Is there a problem?”

“N-no… There's no problem. My head just hurts from my hangover.”

Both looked at me with worried expressions. So I smiled at them to ease them up.

I decided to put Marie on my side and leave bed. Probably because of the drinking fest last night, Cherry and Matt decided to go back to sleep from tiredness.

When I finished changing into my casual clothes, I went out of my room and headed to the kitchen.

“Oh, good morning, Key.”

“Morning, Ghena. What's for breakfast?”

It's been a while since Ghena and I had some friendly atmosphere going on. These past few days, she and I couldn’t talk normally because of the amount of things going on. And for the first time in a long time, she finally called me by my name again.

“Just the usual Bacon and Egg, do you want something else?”

“That'll do. By the way, where are Jane and Lapis?”

“Outside, hanging the laundry. We have good weather today so we decided to do the laundry.”

“I see, that's good.”

Ah! How I missed these normal conversations. No more projects, charts, and boardroom meetings! I feel like I'm out of prison!

While I'm eating my breakfast, I noticed that Ghena looks like she has something to say. She's been playing with her dress for a while now.

“Ghena, do you miss Sora?”

“WHAT?!”

It seems that my suspicion is on the mark. She inadvertently screamed. Her cheeks are turning pink while realizing her blunder.

“What makes you say that?!”

“Well, it's been two months since he left. I usually see you two talking in private sometimes so I thought that you missed those times. It makes me think that you two are already—”

“No! We are not lovers!”

“I didn’t say that(yet).”

Although I know the status of their relationship, I'm just playing with her since she looked down after he left. I'm a supportive friend after all.

“Say, what do you think of Sora?”

“Wah!”

I guess that too her by surprise. She almost tossed away the plate she took from my table by accident. I can't help but giggle.

“What do I think of him? What does that question even mean?”

“Come on, it's pretty obvious that Sora likes you. He even said it himself, remember?”

Ghena's face turned red when I reminded her of when Sora yelled out he likes her. It's really adorable.

“Key is such a bully!”

“Ok, ok. I'll stop teasing you. Just answer my question, what do you think of him? Don't worry, he's not here.”

Though she's facing my way, she's not looking at me. She's probably thinking about it too much.

“W-well, to be honest, I don't think he's a bad guy.”

“Is there anything else you'd like to say? It's the same thing I've heard from last time.”

“Geez! Ok! I don't hate him at all. Is that what you want to hear?”

“It's the same thing with different words. Idiot, I'm asking if you're interested in him. I'm not being a pushy here, but ever since he left, you've been in a daze sometimes.”

“Well, it can't be helped. We talk quite a lot in my free time. His sudden disappearance created some gaps in my routine and I'm still in the middle of adjusting.”

“It's already two months and you're still adjusting? Just admit that you miss him.”

“No! If I say that I miss him, it's the same as admitting I like him!”

“What?”

“What?”

…

…

…

That caught me off guard. I made her said something really embarrassing and now I feel embarrassed too. I think she realized what she just said just now and her face is getting redder and redder. I can also feel my face getting warmer too.

“So you actually like him?”

Ghena immediately covered her face when she noticed that her face is red, but since I've already seen it, it's pretty much useless.

“I don't know! I know that he's a nice person, but I don't know if I actually like him because of that. I didn't even know if what I feel now is something I honestly feel. It might because I know what he feels towards me and I might be taking advantage of him because of it. I don't want to like him just because he likes me. I want to like him because I like him.”

Ah…. A woman's heart is really complicated. But it's not like I don't understand. I might be being too meddlesome. Let's just stop teasing her.

“Well, it's not like I'm forcing you or anything. I'm just trying to be a good friend.”

Since Ghena looks like she's about to burst in tears, I pat her head and apologize.

But for some reason, I'm getting some weird sensation from my back. When I turn my head towards the window, it was only Lapis looking at me without making any expression. What was that?

“Well, I'm not some god or anything. I just want you to be happy you know.”

While we were talking with each other, I suddenly heard some heavy footsteps coming from the hall. When it arrived in the kitchen, it was actually Sanjeet in full armor. It seems to be an emergency.

“There's someone who wants to see you.”

***

It turns out that the ones who want to meet me are the ones who used the illusion magic last night and today. They're still wearing the hooded coat to hide their face and figure.

Since I’m the one who wanted it to be formal, I invited them to my office (I had it installed 2 months ago) to get us some privacy. I also told Sanjeet and the group to be lookouts outside my barrier's range.

Currently, only I and 5 representatives of the other party are staying inside my office. I'm writing our contract at the moment so they're waiting in silence.

When I finished it, I put my quill pen on the inking bottle.

“So you came here for to sell me information about the [Evergreen Bow of the Wind]. They say that the bow is in the hands of the Elves who are not interested in showing themselves. Give me a reason in why I should believe in the words you are going to say.”

The five of them looked like they're nervous. Are they thinking twice, or are they thinking of other things?

Then for some reason, they look at each other and nodded. It seems that they're agreeing over something.

“Before we take off our hood, will you promise that you're not going to expose us?”

“That is, if it's worth keeping a secret.”

Slowly, they grabbed their hoods and raise it up for me to see. And when they put their robes on their backs, what I saw is something really unexpected.

Long hair, small nose, small mouth, long ears, but is an out of this world beauty—no. It is the kind of beauty a fantasy world has to offer, Elves.

But in contrast to their beauty, I got taken aback by their gem-like green eyes. For some reason, they look somewhat, familiar.

“Our race is known as Elves, but our kind is [Nature Elves]. We are representatives of the five clans of the Endless Forest. We came here to ask for your assistance.”

For some reason, the one that's talking to me has her voice changed. Just a while ago, her voice is slightly deeper like a teenager. Now, it's much more feminine and higher. Was it because of the hood?

“To think I'll meet your kind in such a short amount of time. I guess I had it coming.”

I put aside my things and cleared my table. After that, I grabbed the [Immortal Sword of Giants (Cane Form)] using >. I then put the cane on the table for everyone to see.

“So, why are the Elves interested in Gold? You mentioned about ‘saving' your brethren. Why is that?”

The five of them looked at each other before talking. They're talking in some kind of elvish language so I can't understand what they're talking about. Heh, elvish. Reminds me of Lord of the Rings.

After a few minutes the one that's closest to me starts talking. By the way, she has a very cool air around her, like Matt when we first met.

“My name is Phellilia of Fumelia clan. I will be the representative of our group. Also, I was the one you were conversing with last night.”

“Alright, my name is Key Godfre Chardelier, the master of Chardelier household.”

Gah! I hate formalities.

“As you have heard last night, we are asking for financial assistance for our kidnapped brethren. You might find it odd, but it's the only thing left we have to do peacefully.”

“Peacefully? Does this mean that if I reject you, there's trouble waiting for me ahead?”

“I do not know. But our elders might be inclined to wage war against the humans and wipe them out. Even with your [Infinite], it is impossible to stop them.”

Is she serious? Is she bluffing? She doesn’t look like she's lying either. But for her to claim that stopping me who has the power of infinite, it takes more than courage to say that to my face.

“What makes you so sure of it? I am growing stronger day by day with my power, wiping an entire country alone is not impossible for me.”

“Yes, you are right. But did you not just experience it yourself? The limitations of using your power. Yes, you might have an endless pool of mana, but your body itself can’t take the burden of such power. You might not realize it yourself yet, but your body and soul is deteriorating slowly as it is getting consumed by your own power. You’re just like a water dam, you may think you're controlling the water, but it’s just building up and will destroy you when a storm comes.”

What? Does this mean I'm actually dying because of my power? I didn't think that using my power could actually kill me. No, I almost died because of it once. If it weren’t for Cherry and Matt's help, I could have died. However, I can't rely on them. They entrusted me their lives, it's my duty to cherish it, not put a burden on it.

I look at my ring and thought about the matter deeply. Then all of a sudden, I could hear the door banging lightly. When I listened to it closely, I could hear “Papa!” from the other side.

“Marie?”

I used my magic to unlock the door. When I opened it, I saw Marie in a one piece white dress shirt running towards me. Behind her is Jane with a very pale expression who is apologizing at the same time.

I signaled Jane to close the door immediately. After that, I took Marie and put her on my lap. Everyone of the elves are looking at Marie with curious eyes and so did Marie.

“Hello!”

Since Marie suddenly greeted them, they got surprised. Since Marie was waving at them, they replied with an awkward wave.

“I-is she your daughter?”

“Yes, why?”

For some reason, they're looking at Marie while vibrating like phones. What's their problem?

“C-c-can I-we touch her for a s—no!”

Next, their breathing suddenly went abnormal. The others were covering their eyes but with ears turning red, biting their lips while gripping their cloak, and Phillilia, she's looking away, then suddenly takes a peek at Marie then looks away again.

What the hell's happening to them?

“Is there a problem?”

“There is.”

They're acting really strange. I'm slightly taken aback by their actions. Where was that cool elf a while ago?!

When one of them couldn’t take it, he fell unconscious. Because of that, Marie bursts into laughter since it looked comical.

However…

“Yaaaaa! That laughter was so cute!”

“I want to bring her with us!”

And the sort.

They're squealing while looking at Marie. Do they perhaps, like kids?

I tried to test it out. I lifted Marie while standing and wave her around for a bit. And as expected, their eyes are chasing Marie. What the hell!?

“C-can I touch her?”

It looks like Miss Phillilia can't take it anymore. She stood up and asked me.

Well I could let Marie go to her, but her abnormal breathing and ecstasy expression is making me think twice.

“Please?!”

Woaw, she really wants to touch Marie that much huh. I guess I can let her. There's no harm anyway, why not?

“Go and greet our visitors.”

After I put Marie down, I told her to go to them. Surprisingly, she's obedient today and went to them.

But when she got to them, she immediately gets snatched and gets a very tight hug from the elves. She doesn’t like the treatment at all, but since she doesn't look like she’s in pain, I didn't bother. It somehow reminds me of myself when I met my aunts.

“SHE'S SO CUTE AND SOFT!”

Well, that's something you don't see everyday. Quite a huge discovery on my side too.

“So elves has a soft spot for kids huh…”