The door opened cautiously, and the capybara lying on the bed narrowed its eyes.

This animal with unusually long ears and intelligent eyes was Imelen, transformed into a magical beast.

“Big brother…”

“How are you feeling, Imelen?”

“I’m okay…”

Despite her answer, her voice lacked strength.

– T⁔T

The Light Spirit circling around Imelen also seemed gloomy.

The spirit stayed constantly by Imelen’s side, trying to transfer holy power to her. It thought doing so might help somehow.

Thanks to that, her fever had gone down a little, but there was no fundamental cure.

“Just wait a little longer, Imelen… I’ll find a way.”

Imelen breathed raggedly before falling quietly back to sleep.

Allen swallowed a sigh as he stroked his sister’s stiff fur.

‘I’ve searched everywhere for a solution to no avail… Now I have no choice but to borrow the power of other races, not humans.’

Among them, those specialized in healing were none other than elves.

However, they were an extremely closed-off race, making even friendly exchanges difficult. He was trying to curry favor by dispatching special envoys, but…

‘No matter how rare the items we bring, they show no interest in human goods. What on earth should I do?’

If only Imelen could return to being human.

Allen quietly began to pray alone.

* * *

The Marquisate was quiet in the dead of night.

A guard on patrol looked toward the main building. In the mostly darkened building, only one place shone brightly.

It was the study of the new Marchioness Calliphe.

“She really is incredible. That light hasn’t gone out at night once since she inherited the title.”

Yet he couldn’t understand why the former Marquis kept insisting they watch carefully, and his footsteps faded away.

Immediately after.

“…This way.”

With someone’s whisper, two small heads appeared.

Three people with obviously suspicious gaits crept along, avoiding the patrol.

At the meeting place sat a shabby, small carriage.

Only the exterior was disguised as shabby—in truth, it was a Grand Temple carriage that captured both speed and comfort.

Dietrich looked around and sighed dramatically with exasperation.

“When you said work overtime, I wondered what it could be, but I never imagined it would be this kind of overtime. Never make me do this again!”

“Why? You’re actually enjoying it, aren’t you?”

“Crazy, I’m not enjoying it!”

Calliphe, transformed into a child around ten years old, raised an eyebrow. Her cute shoes kicked Dietrich’s shin hard.

“Ow!”

“What kind of way is that to talk to your boss?”

“Ugh, seriously… I can’t even hit someone the size of a sack of sh*t.”

“Yeah, even when I’m on my deathbed, you won’t be able to beat me.”

Calliphe tried to shoo Dietrich away, telling him to get lost.

“What? I’m not coming along? I want to make a wish too.”

“You need to work. If you’re not there, who’ll manage the business? You have to keep checking on my double so it doesn’t look awkward.”

“…Wow…”

“Hurry up and get in, Noah.”

Ignoring Dietrich’s exclamation, Calliphe shut the door as soon as Noah boarded the carriage. The carriage carrying the two children quietly raced through the night.

Dietrich shook his head.

“She’s exactly like her grandfather, exactly! Such a terrible boss!”

Whether someone was cursing or not.

Calliphe and Noah arrived at their destination quickly in just two days.

After leaving the capital and returning to her true form, Calliphe had alternated between teleportation magic and the carriage.

Thanks to that.

“Lynen!”

“Duke!”

“Calliphe? And Noah too.”

Calliphe was able to meet Lynen immediately while he was talking with event organizers.

Lynen patted the delighted Noah and kissed Calliphe deeply on the forehead as she approached with quick steps.

A smile bloomed on his face, which had shown no change throughout his work.

“I didn’t expect you to come here. Did you find some free time?”

“No, I ran away.”

“…What? Wait, don’t tell me Noah too?”

Calliphe and Noah smiled simultaneously. Their mischievous faces looked remarkably similar.

“I’ve been doing my homework diligently, so it’s fine.”

“I worked hard too, so it’s fine. Taking about a week of self-imposed vacation won’t be a problem at all. Right, Noah?”

“Yes, Lady Calliphe.”

Watching the two giggle, Lynen also laughed helplessly.

To persuade them to return quickly considering what lay ahead—he couldn’t do it, as his own suppressed longing was too great.

“Still, I’m worried. Former Marquis Graham and Vice Archmage Marcel won’t be pleased.”

“I just need to get back before they notice. I made a perfect double of myself.”

“Did you transform Miss Lina again?”

“No. I created a perfect semi-automatic doll.”

Though the escape was sudden, Calliphe had been thinking about running away for some time.

So she’d pressured Dovion to prepare a life-sized doll.

“With my magic added to it, it’s even more natural. Unless someone looks very closely, they won’t notice.”

Though she had to replace the mana stone that served as a battery once a day, she’d left that to Dietrich.

“I didn’t realize you’d prepared that thoroughly…”

“I don’t want to die just working. And…”

Calliphe stopped mid-sentence. As she hesitated, Noah tilted his head.

“You missed the Duke too, right?”

“…! W-well, among other things.”

Calliphe’s cheeks reddened as she muttered while looking away. Noah and the people from the ducal castle nearby smiled warmly.

“…”

However, Lynen’s smile actually faded slightly, though no one noticed his Adam’s apple bob significantly.

‘Calm down. It’s daytime.’

“Ahem.”

Lynen clenched his fist once and regained his composure.

“Let’s go inside for now. Even though it’s spring in the north, it’s still cold.”

“Good. Oh, I heard everyone makes their own lanterns for the Wish Festival. Noah, should we make some too?”

“Yeah…!”

The three of them had no particular hobby for making things, but not right now.

Since they’d finally gathered together, anything they did would be enjoyable.

“I’m looking forward to the Wish Festival!”

The two agreed with smiles at Noah’s beaming words.

Outside, carriages from other places could be seen frequently.

There were quite a few tourists who’d come from far away to attend the Wish Festival.

And among them, an unexpected guest that Calliphe hadn’t anticipated would also appear.

* * *

Inquisitor Yulid. He was someone who’d recently achieved the best results and was rapidly gaining the Pope’s trust.

At the same time, he was also notorious as the most delinquent inquisitor who went AWOL frequently.

“Father-in-law. This time it’s interesting information.”

It was all because of a vague wish to have a good relationship with his beloved’s father.

“What now? I told you not to bother bringing me things you think I’d like every time. It’s not like Porsche will come back anyway.”

“Right, since she’s already dead.”

“…How dare you speak of her so casually. Let me tell you, I don’t approve of you!”

“I feel the same way.”

Yulid grinned.

“The person I loved was Porsche, not you, former Marquis. Besides, I still resent Porsche too.”

Yulid’s hand caressed the handle of the dagger at his waist.

“Honestly, I have a strong desire to take out my anger on you, former Marquis.”

“Ha, interesting. Go ahead and try!”

“I can’t do that, if only for my daughter’s sake.”

His tone suggested he would have done so long ago if not for Calliphe.

“Anyway, I’d actually like to try getting along. This is my goodwill gesture.”

He slid a note forward with his index finger.

Graham snorted and tried to burn it, but Marcel, who was nearby, stopped him and unfolded the note.

But its contents were disturbing.

“This is…! Mr. Yulid. Is this true?”

“The Papal Office receives all sorts of miscellaneous information brought by numerous informants.”

Yulid smiled mysteriously and raised his eyebrows.

“This is just one of them.”

He boldly admitted to stealing it.

However, in any case, the information’s content surprised even the disgruntled Graham.

“At the shrine to the magical spirit used in the northern Wish Festival… there might be an ancestral relic of our Offensa family?”

“Weren’t you curious? At that event, people actually have their wishes granted… What power makes that possible?”

“Isn’t it a coincidence? It’s not like there are only one or two people making wishes.”

Graham answered dismissively. However, the following question left him speechless.

“Then, the Ortega ancestor’s spirit is in the north… but aren’t you curious where the Offensa spirit who fought alongside her is?”

“…!”

Finding the great mage’s relic that made the current Offensa family possible.

That was a family aspiration Graham had wanted to fulfill.

“Are you saying the object at the Wish Festival shrine is our ancestor’s possession?”

“The shrine’s name is even ‘Magical Spirit,’ isn’t it?”

Yulid said lightly. The choice was theirs.

“It wouldn’t hurt to check.”

“…”

Graham glared at Yulid, who smirked and turned away.

“Wait. What do you want?”

“…”

“You must want something since you leaked Papal Office information. No matter how small the information, that’s a serious crime.”

Yulid turned around leisurely.

“I’ll tell you if you want to know.”

The man approached step by step. Marcel unconsciously tensed and prepared offensive magic.

Yulid leaned close to Graham.

“If my information proves accurate.”

“…If it proves accurate?”

“Hand her over for a week.”

“Hand over what?”

“My daughter.”

Silver eyes blazing with intense longing.

“I need to spend time with my daughter.”

“Are you planning to date Calliphe or something?”

“Of course. We’ll draw pictures and go to an amusement park. You’ll be jealous.”

“How dare a bastard like you!”

Marcel, who’d been tense, looked at the two of them with exasperation.

“Excuse me, that’s enough. Mr. Yulid, please head back safely. We’ll contact you soon about the information.”

“Yes. Well then. I’m counting on you.”

Yulid bowed his head like a parent, showing no trace of the dangerous atmosphere from before, and left.

“Graham. What will you do? This information…”

“Prepare immediately, Marcel!”

Graham shot to his feet.

“If there’s an ancestral relic powerful enough to grant wishes, we obviously need to retrieve it!”