My scheming was exposed.

The surrounding spirits sensed the king’s curse and radiated hostility.

The guards behind us reacted instantly to that aura. In the tense air, Sauvel and the king stepped forward, calming the guards.

Mother, watching it all, let out a single sigh, then spoke to the great spirits gathered around.

“You all, take Ark back home.”

“But Your Majesty…!!”

“It’s fine. I just wanted to speak with a human king, once.”

She chuckled softly, drifting down beside Father, her arm looping around his as she looked at the king.

The great spirits glared at the king, but prioritized Ark.

The situation no longer left room for assumptions. With Ark recovered this far, they could take him back to the Spirit World and resume treatment.

I left Ark’s side and rushed to my father’s. He stood across from the King, facing him directly.

When the presence of the spirits who’d vanished through the transfer faded away, the King murmured.

“Never thought I’d see so many spirit forms in human shape….”

“Is it rare for you? Since you’ve no connection with spirits?”

My father shot back with a sneer, and the King let out a dry chuckle.

“Saw a student from the academy bound to a spirit, out in the open… I can’t help but wonder, if we weren’t cursed, maybe we could’ve made a pact too. Feels a little lonely, thinking about it.”

“Is that so.”

My father’s curt reply made the guards bristle. Sauvel sighed, already tired of this routine.

In the midst of it, a voice shouted from behind us, startled by the scene.

“Gone!? My family’s spirit is gone!?”

The hall, now hollow, empty as a shell—Ark, once tied up here, was nowhere to be seen.

The headmaster stared at my father and me, trembling violently. “Why… why are you two even here right now?”

He’d figured it out—our freeing Ark. My father shot back, sharp as a knife. “We returned the spirit your family was holding hostage.”

“What?!” The headmaster shrieked. “Do you even know what that spirit brought to this academy?!”

“I’m the one who doesn’t understand,” my father snapped. “You’re the ones who captured that spirit—so you’re the ones who caused the Monster Tempest.”

The king and queen flinched at his words. “What?!” the king demanded. My mother stepped in.

“That child… is a spirit who keeps the world’s power flowing. When power gets stuck, it builds up in one place—distorts creatures, warps them. You didn’t know that. You stole the power, broke the flow.”

“Distortions…?”

“The Monster Tempest.”

“N… no…”

Never seen the king look so stunned—first time ever. And in an instant, his face went blank. He stared down at the headmaster. The headmaster’s face turned ashen the second he saw it. He shrieked, then scrambled backward on his knees, trying to crawl away.

Sauvel drew his sword in a flash and jammed it straight into the floor right in front of the headmaster.

Trapped, the headmaster screamed—no escape now.

With nowhere to run, he turned pale and yelled, “I don’t know anything!”

“You don’t know?!! This spirit was found by our ancestors!! I know nothing!!”

“What are you babbling about? You just screamed it yourself a moment ago. The spirit that was imprisoned here—what it brought to this academy. That our family’s spirit is missing.”

“……!!”

The headmaster’s face drained of color at his father’s words. Guess he hit the mark.

“Goodness, how you’ve played with my child for nearly three hundred years. Now, what should I do with you…?”

Mother rests a hand on her chin, tilting her head. Her expression isn’t exactly angry. Not quite a smile, either.

It’s the look of someone who’s finally decided to toss aside a toy they’ve grown utterly tired of.

Like she’s already thinking, *How should I get rid of this one?*

She hovers beside Father, so it’s obvious she’s a spirit—no surprise there.

And the headmaster, hearing her words, looks utterly stunned.

Yes—she said *my child.*

“My child…!? No way…! Impossible…!!”

He’d already felt the staggering power Ark had brought, the kind that defies measurement. So seeing *her*—the mother of that spirit—tilting her head at him like she was deciding how to dispose of him… well. That was too much.

“Wait, please… Your Majesty.”

The Queen spoke as if cutting through the situation. Mother smiled, as if to say, “Well, well.” But the Queen’s face, tense somehow, seemed just a little pulled taut.

“That man can’t be handed over. He’s important to my country.”

“…Oh?”

The headmaster’s face twisted into shock and delight. He looked like he’d been saved—crawling at the Queen’s feet, begging for mercy.

The Queen ignored him, eyes locked on Mother. And then she dropped words heavier than a death sentence.

“This man’s been in contact with the enemy. He must be made to confess everything. Your daughter’s the target.”

Mother blinked rapidly at the Queen’s words.

She tilted her head, murmuring, “Oh my,” and stared at the Queen with sudden, sharp focus.

“Think you can just take my daughter and expect me to be satisfied? You humans are nothing but ants to me.”

I was, admittedly, a little shaken by my mother’s taunt aimed at the king.

Sure, to a spirit being, humans are nothing but ants. But I was born of that very blood. I carried memories of living as a human once.

To a spirit who rules over all, humans are undoubtedly insignificant.

Glancing at my father, I saw he remained utterly calm in response to my mother’s words. He knew it was just provocation.

I couldn’t hide my reaction—my feelings showed too clearly—so I instinctively ducked behind my father.

Pressing my forehead into his waist, he noticed and quietly ran a hand over my head, whispering, *It’s okay*.

My mother chuckled, her taunt stoking the tension around us.

She raised a hand to calm the crowd, then continued, as if nothing had happened.

"Indeed, to you, we’re just insignificant little things—hardly worth your notice. But isn’t it strange, how that man’s ancestors brought you something… astonishing? …Like the time of that terrible disaster, perhaps?"

Mother flinched at the king’s words and fell silent.

Father and I reacted too. Ah, of course. The king’s got that underhanded streak after all.

We knew. We were found out.

"…………"

I stared at Mother, trembling violently. Then she suddenly lunged at me, arms flailing. "Elen-chaaan!!"

"I tried my best, but I just can’t handle someone so devious! Ugh!"

I froze at her shout. Sure enough, the king blinked, then repeated, "Devious…?"

"Kaa-sama! Shhh!!"

"I tried imitating you, but I just can’t get it right! What do I do…? What do I do…?!"

I sighed, watching Mother slump down with a defeated little whimper.

I can’t help but get a headache thinking this is the queen who rules the world.

Oh right—suddenly I remember saying I wanted to throw a ball of fire at Agiel. Maybe Mother’s not exactly the calm type, after all.

Peeking out from behind Father’s back, Her Majesty smiled warmly.

“Long time no see, Elen. Oh, by the way, Lovell mentioned a request. Sorry I couldn’t come up with anything better.”

“Good to see you again, Your Majesty. I already knew you’d settle for compromise, so it’s no trouble at all. Thank you for listening.”

I gave a graceful curtsy, smiling sweetly—and Her Majesty chuckled back, saying, “So that’s how it is?”

The air shifted instantly, softening in a heartbeat. But the guards nearby looked slightly flustered, noticing Father and Sauvel turn a bit green.

As for Mother? She was cheering me on like, “Go, Elen-chan! You’ve got this!”

The headmaster was blinking rapidly, utterly bewildered.

I squared my shoulders and threw my words at the headmaster.

"Headmaster. Shall we check our answers? Why exactly we're in this mess?"

The headmaster blinked again.

"You tried forcing me into the academy just to learn my medicine's formula."

"Wha—?"

"You didn't know, did you? That even the king himself doesn't know my formula."

"What—?!"

"You tried to get it from me through Hume-kun, bypassing the king entirely. Now do you understand why the king showed up?"

"No way! That guy…!!"

"I'm sorry for the misunderstanding, but Hume-kun didn’t say a thing. I just figured it out myself—your behavior was too suspicious."

"Figured it out?!?"

"Yes. Everything about you screamed ‘something’s off.’"

The headmaster just stood there, mouth flapping open, utterly lost for words. The king watched him, smiling.

"Thanks to Elen, I’ve uncovered your scheme. Elen, I’m grateful."

"No, Your Majesty. I had my own request, so I’ll report that afterward. Please don’t trouble yourself."

"Ah."

The king chuckled, low and dark. The headmaster’s face crumpled—finally grasping he’d been caught red-handed, trying to monopolize the medicine’s formula.

"Furthermore, your entire family used spirits to commit crimes. The price of that sin? Unmeasurable."

"So the Monster Tempest was caused by *this* family’s doing…?"

"You’re not even a noble of your own country, are you?"

"Ah… yes. I suppose I am."

I said it, and the king didn’t even bother to argue. Just nodded. That quiet compliance—something was off. I couldn’t help but wonder: why so docile? Why so easy to break?

“…So, about this man’s custody…”

“That’s a line I can’t cross. You understand, don’t you, Elen? His actions allowed foreign invasion and endangered the entire nation.”

“Indeed. The King has already shown me the cards. There’s no other choice.”

“Ah, good thing we showed them first.”

“Then, all records and magical artifacts tied to this man’s family lineage—hand them over here.”

“Fine. Do as you wish.”

“W-What are you saying, Your Majesty?!?”

“What? I’m just saying you should hand over all your family’s research records to Elen.”

“And I’ve already entrusted your custody and your family’s judgment to Your Majesty.”

The headmaster stood frozen, stunned by how perfectly our words matched.

I turned back to the King. Mustn’t forget.

“Then, Your Majesty…”

“Hm? Still something else?”

“I’d like to request the memories concerning this man’s family spirit.”

The king’s eyes flew open at my words. She stood there, dumbfounded, muttering, “You can really do something like that?”

"Give me everything."

Good, then.

I was surprised, but I couldn’t hold back anymore at the king’s immediate reply. I took a step back, eyes widening in disbelief, and the king—seeing my reaction—flinched slightly, as if hurt.

"...What's wrong, Elen?"

"Ah... no... well..."

My father noticed I was stalling and spoke up clearly.

"You should just tell the king straight out that he's too honest—it's creepy, Elen."

"...Papa, you're just too honest."

I let out a dry laugh, wondering if His Majesty even realized how our father-daughter dynamic played out.

Because I’m not in a position to make requests, the king answered honestly.

And I think I shouldn’t repeat something like that again.

It was words spoken only because she knew the cursed origin.

I muttered under my breath, wondering if they’d have pushed forward by force if I hadn’t known.

I was a little surprised to learn the smooth progress of the negotiation had come down to the king’s sudden change of heart.

But this negotiation? It’s backed by nothing but empty words.

I was stewing over how to fix that when the king seemed to already know.

He placed a hand over his chest and bowed his head.

The guards gasped, “Your Majesty!?”

Bowing like that—kneeling, really—was the same as admitting defeat.

“I swear it. To the Queen, and to her treasure, Elen. I will uphold the spirit’s promise. And I will protect Elen, Lovell, and the whole kingdom.”

Eyes around me snapped wide open in shock.

Mother let out a soft, pleased “Ah, ah,” like she’d finally accepted it.

“…She seems to have agreed.”

“Is that so? I’m grateful.”

"But the matter of the curse is separate, right?"

"Ah, Elen really is strict, isn’t she?"

The king said, as our exchange flowed along smoothly.

"Anyway, what does 'sly' even mean?"

That sly one, with a dark smile, hadn’t forgotten after all.