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“…And then I won the award.”
“Hummm…”

Crim finished telling her story, and Rouge gave a disinterested response. The constant pouting was making Crim unsure of how to react, but she felt Rouge leaning closer, so she hugged the young girl more tightly.

Crim was currently in the garden of Castle Seyfert, as usual.

When she got back home from the school festival, she found it odd that Rouge had not come out to greet her, so she logged into Destiny Unchain Online to check up on her…and found her in a rather sulky mood, so Crim had to do her best to appease those emotions, telling Rouge everything that happened despite her conflicting reactions.

After sitting on Crim’s lap for a while, she had calmed down quite a bit compared to the start, but not fully, as she continued to lean against Crim.

“Hmm…I wanted to go too…”
“I’m sorry. It was a school event, so they wouldn’t have let me.”
“I know…but still…”

The program that allowed Rouge to move and see in the real world was constantly recording all sorts of information from the surroundings, which would be frowned upon within a school. Especially in one like Morinomiya High that had prepared exclusive shows.

Recording was heavily monitored in school grounds, and only granted in certain spots to those who requested press permissions. So all in all, there was no way for Rouge to be allowed there.

Rouge still seemed resentful because of that, and continued clinging onto Crim, almost as if demanding Crim to make it up to her in some way.

All of that was a bit tricky for Crim to handle…but a part of her was also happy to see that.

Before, Rouge would have always forced herself to behave to not trouble Crim in any way, as she was afraid of making Crim dislike her and cast her away. But now she was acting selfishly, even potentially bothering Crim… Which meant that Rouge had trusted Crim enough to know that she would not be cast away so easily.

Understanding all of that, Crim decided to be a good older sister and allow that moment of selfishness and gave in to Rouge, gently patting her head.

“I’m really sorry… I’ll take you somewhere else next time, okay?”
“Hmm…promise?”

Hearing that, Rouge’s stiffness went away as she turned to look up at Crim, who finally breathed easy. Rouge’s mood had finally improved.

“Did anything happen here while I was gone?”
“Ah, I almost forgot. Elmir came to say that the bridge leading to the continent’s southwestern area is fully rebuilt now.”
“Really?!”

After their previous outing, Crim had left Elmir in charge of the Garland Citadel and the old bridge connecting the areas around it. The NPC Alberich had also agreed to assist him with his knowledge.

Elmir had been really proactive about rebuilding the whole area, and things were looking promising, as he expected many people would start to move in and live there soon.

And…he had also rebuilt the other half of the bridge, allowing players to cross the lake and reach the southwestern side of the continent, finally making it explorable.

“And then…Jade also left a message. Apparently trouble is brewing around Wyndham, so she went there to check things out, and sadly won’t be able to explore the southwestern area with us.”
“Jade said that?”
“Yes, something about how the most influential guild there was acting suspiciously.”

Crim fell silent for a bit hearing that, processing everything Rouge said.

Suzaku had mentioned something similar in their club room at school. He also did not like the direction of things around the Starting City Wyndham, and was planning on relocating together with Sakura.

“She also said that you should just focus on what you want to do first, and that she’ll let you know if anything serious happens.”
“I see… Thank you for telling me. You’re getting really good at being my secretary.”
“Eheheh…I’m glad I could helppp!”

Rouge smiled brightly when Crim praised her, her previous pouting completely gone as she leaned in on Crim’s hand, wanting to be pat more, and Crim had no choice but to comply.

Rouge seemed to melt at Crim’s touch, and while that happened…Crim began to ponder on where to take her guild, Lua Cheia, next.

What she was mostly interested in was…a matter that had gotten postponed over and over again, the request she received from the Red Lion Emperor Eurelia.

She had mentioned an area enshrined by the mountain range to the south of the Foggy Lakeside Town of Nebel, where the World Tree Seyfert was growing amidst a Fairy Village.

Crim had wanted to explore that area since then, but after exploring the areas around Nebel, she had failed to find a way through the mountains.

There had been a shrine at the foot of a mountain, with a mysterious magic circle carved in it, but it did not seem to react to anything and remained inactive.

The only logical conclusion was that the entrance was somewhere else, and the prime candidate was the southwestern area of the continent, as one could cross Lake Galardia and then circle around to reach a vast forest, right across the mountain range to the south of the Foggy Lakeside Town of Nebel.

Da’at also knew of that forest, which she called…

“The white forest, Weisswald. And the kingdom of elves, the forest dwellers…”

Elves…obviously enough, those were another staple of fantasy worlds. They had beautiful appearances, loved nature, and led abstinent lives in the forest… But were also stubborn and prideful people, often looking down on others.

Crim had a distant look as she thought of that… Reaching and moving through a kingdom of elves sounded like a lot of effort…