Chapter 5: Watching the Neighbors Crash and Burn

Sign here too, Master...

And here too...

And here as well...

This one too.

What is it?

I did not put that in...

It looks like there was some mistake while organizing the documents.

Now, moving on... let us continue signing...

Oh! My apologies. It seems the trash bin got fickle and spat it back out.

I swear it is true. We sprites enchant objects to perform simple tasks, but sometimes the more willful ones refuse to cooperate.

Her Majesty is always the same. She ignores her studies and goes around begging for baked goods at the bakery.

Last time, I told her, "If you want something, you have to claim it yourself." And then...

Still, there haven't been any major problems with the Kingdom's management. I mean... I have always been cleaning up after her, so this is nothing new.

You mean your underlings?

As always, they are praying in the prayer room.

Napping? No, they are praying! It is a well-documented act of communion with the Yggdrasil!

Master, as I have said before, prayer is the duty of the lesser priestesses.

If the head priestess like me or the Master start praying, we will all end up taking naps all day. There will be no one left to run the Order.

I told you, it is prayer!

You mean, after the Chow Incident?

Which part are you curious about?

The werebeasts... Well, they are causing trouble as always, but it is nothing to worry about.

Every now and then, they sneak into our fields and steal vegetables...

But since those are ingredients that we sprites do not like anyway, we just let it slide.

The magic farming tools take care of the crops on their own, so we just... let them be.

I heard they went into secluded training after getting scolded by Diana the village chief. I do not know the details.

Elena has finally finished her 3,000-page handwritten monthly apology letter...

But I found that her handwriting in some parts is different, so it is clear she got help.

Still, she seems to have written about 100 pages herself, so Her Majesty is willing to let it slide.

Maybe... Her Majesty is showing mercy because she herself has some bad memories about writing such letters.

The apology letter assignment I gave her 23 years ago still is not finished. She has about 25,000 pages left.

An elven embassy was built next to the royal palace, and it seems like they're working on something.

We assigned new guards to keep an eye on them in shifts, but everything's been fine so far.

It also helps us get rid of Bean Logs. Apparently, the elves are fond of "food blocks," so they don't complain when we give them Bean Logs.

Huh? Who could that be?

I told them not to interrupt since the Master is at maximum work efficiency right now...!

Master! Head Priestess! This is bad!

The elves... I think they've done something!

What exactly did they do?

I don't know the details either. Her Majesty told me to bring both of you right away!

Is that so?

Er...

Uuuugh...

Your Majesty, please calm down...

Betrayal! They betrayed us!!!!

What is the matter, Your Majesty?

Just look at this! This is proof that the elves have betrayed us once again!

Here...! Look at this sack of sugar!

The ingredient list on the sack... It says 98% saccharin!

Saccharin is a sweetener that the elves sell to us.

*Sigh* You don't know anything about bread, don't you...? Listen up. You can't bake bread with saccharin.

You add sugar to bread not because it tastes sweet, but because it helps yeast fermentation.

This morning! That's why I called you urgently!

If we run into supply issues with baked goods again, the Kingdom will be in shambles! I can't tolerate this any longer!

That's because they're elves! Elves always betray us!

Umm...

W-Who's there?!

Hello? I-I'm Rohne, dispatched to the embassy! We've met before, right?

O-Of course! I-I'm here for d-diplomacy! N-Nothing suspicious is going on! Not at all!

.........

Suspicious.

Sodium saccharin? It's a chemical I saw back on Earth. It was invented around the 19th century and...

You sent this to deceive us! Don't you dare lie to me!

Ah... So you already received it! I guess I'm late.

B-But... this isn't a mistake or a scam!

You see... there was a problem in the factory district of Monatium... so we sent the closest substitute we could find!

I heard that elementals attacked our factories... the ones that produce goods for Monatium...

It'll be difficult for us to supply sugar until the factories are restored. So I was ordered to explain the situation!

.........

Elementals?

Elementals came down from the mountains and attacked the elves' factories...?

That is strange. Elementals rarely leave their area...

If magic exists, it's only natural for elementals to exist as well.

Ahem! You see... the flow of magic is regulated by elementals. That's a fundamental...

Aahhh! Blah blah blah!!! We need to act fast before Ashur starts her magic lecture!

Your Majesty!!!

Without sugar... we can't make baked goods...!

I don't mind, to be honest. This gives me a chance to return to my Magic School duties for a while...

And who's going to pay rent? You think the worthless saccharin is going to cover it?

Urgh...

I've only heard reports that the attack is still ongoing, so I don't know the details.

We gotta help the elves...! That's the only way to get back our soft and fluffy baked goods!

Are you not being too rash, Your Majesty?

R-Really? You're going to help us?

The elves are our main sugar supplier... I mean, our valuable ally. Of course we should protect them!

Well then, have a safe trip.

What?

Huh?

Surely you do not think we are going with you, do you...?

Master... think about it for a moment.

We agreed to help elves only this morning. It is lunchtime now, and you expect us to suddenly drop everything and leave? Does that sound reasonable to you?

We have our schedules, too. Unlike Her Majesty and other sprites who lounge around the palace, we do not just sit around doing nothing...

I-I'm your Queen! Why should I care about your schedules for my trip?!

Your Majesty, our kingdom is no longer in chaos.

Now is a time to properly manage and take care of the kingdom...

Yet you suddenly decided on your own to offer support. That is why only you and the Master will be heading out for now.

You guess it right, sadly.

I-I can handle things well, too!!!!!

Oh, really? Then can you handle all those stacks of paperwork you have hidden behind the bookshelf, Your Majesty?

Eeek! H-How did you...!

But... it's scary to go there alone...!

You... might be smarter than me, but you're terrible at fighting.

Do not underestimate the Master, Your Majesty. Even with a frail and weak appearance, the Master remains one of the two pillars upholding the Sprite Kingdom.

With Your Majesty's strength and the Master's intelligence, there is nothing you cannot overcome. Be confident.

I-I'll be coming along too, so it'll be fine!

I need to meet this month's sales quota to pay my rent.

I already have plans...

Mayo said she needs to restock her collection and went out to buy a limited edition collectible or something.

Well then, Ner... we'll be off.

Do not look so down, Your Majesty.

We will catch up to you as soon as we wrap up our urgent tasks.

"We"? I thought only you were going, Ner?

.........

Ashur...! Read the room.

Eeek!

*Sigh* Just my luck.

When your Queen says she's doing something, shouldn't everyone be like, "Oh! Understood, Your Majesty!" and just follow along without question?!

Don't worry too much. You just lack leadership, that's all.

What did you say?!

O-Oh! J-Just kidding! Hehe!

Haven't I explained before?

I-I never did that!

Hmm! Elementals, huh... well...

They're kind of like the magic we use. You could say they're magic that moves on its own.

They have a form but no physical body... They think for themselves... Hmm, yeah, something like that!

They're like the genie of the lamp.

Yes. Except they don't grant wishes.

I read a children's book about it in the library back at the Earth prison camp.

Oh, right! Just like the genie, if an elemental's roost is in danger, the elemental herself will be in danger too.

You know how the genie can be in trouble if something happens to the lamp, right?

And that's why you can't defeat elementals no matter how many times you hit them. Their energy will just scatter away if you do so!

Huh? O-Oh! T-That's because... I h-heard it from an elemental friend inside a test tube... I-I mean, I read it in the library!

Huh?

Yes!

T-That's ridiculous! We didn't... uhhh... w-we did nothing at all! We were just living peacefully...!

Wait, why are you asking this all of a sudden?!

N-Not at all!

You don't sound very convincing.

Whaaat?! No! If we don't help the elves, the sugar...

Huh? W-What room...?

Ugh... I'm just a mere spy. I-I can't just spill Monatium's secrets...

Huh? W-Wait, are you serious?!

Eeek...! H-Hold on! Y-You see...

The truth is...

Monatium... is a city powered by elemental labor.

No matter how advanced our technology is, we have never found a way to generate power on our own.

Since we couldn't develop a perpetual motion machine... we turned to elementals as an alternative source of energy.

Water elementals are used as cooling systems for generators and to spin turbines...

Fire elementals are fed wood or trash to produce heat...

Wind elementals turn windmills... and earth elementals filter minerals...

J-Just what the heck have you guys been up to?!

S-Solar power alone wasn't enough to sustain our entire city!

B-But... we did... sign proper labor contracts and provide good benefits...!

Benefits? For elementals? What benefits?!

That's not true!

.........

I-I don't know the details either...! I'm just a spy, you know?! Maybe the power plant staff or Miss Elena could explain better, but...

You're still hiding something, aren't you? Spit it out!

Huh?

*Sigh* Looks like words alone won't cut it.

Wake the heck up, Master. We have a city to burn.

Your Majesty! Without us, the sugar...!

Well, you can make dalgona candy with heated sugar, so it's not a big loss, really. We could just make baked goods with dalgona instead...

Eeek!

Okay, I'll talk! I know Miss Elena and Miss Amelia's secrets!

Miss Elena doesn't actually spend work hours on research and development; she just plays retro games all day!

She recently finished her 6,014th playthrough of The Elven Scrolls VI and watched the bad ending!

But I hacked into Miss Elena's research computer to find out! That makes it classified!

I saw Miss Amelia buying a life-size cut-out poster of Miss Elena!

Miss Amelia said she'd throw me into an incinerator if I ever told anyone, so this is definitely important information!

Please, please, don't tell this to anyone!

I don't know what all that was, but I feel like we just learned some very important secrets.

What are you talking about? I meant the part about elementals! That was important!

This way!

What do you mean, "this way"? This isn't the path to Monatium.

We have to go to the factory district, not the city.

Oh, I see.

Why?

It's definitely something to think about.

I think... it's time for Elena's Public Apology: Part 2.

Maybe we should drag her to the top of Elemental Mountain, tie her up, and make her apologize to the elementals?

I know you're hesitant, but we don't have much choice. The truth is, we do need the elves' help right now...

We'll just have to talk our way through this somehow...

The elementals attacking the factory are fire elementals. You need to be careful!

Well...

Maybe... we just keep cool?

Ahem, ahem! I'll give you orders right now!

The Suppression Unit will divide into two groups as planned and surround the factory entrances!

Hold the line until we receive orders from the mayor! Don't let the elementals escape!

That's the Suppression Unit Chief Canna! Hey, Chief Canna!

H-Huh? What the... why are you here?

The Sprite Kingdom sent reinforcements, so I was guiding them!

Reinforcements...?

Just... two?

We're not just any two! You're looking at Queen Erpin, the mightiest in the Sprite Kingdom, and the Master, the new leader of the Yggdrasil Order!

Hmm...

Just sit here and enjoy your coffee.

"Hey"? Who do you think you are, talking to me like that? We're not close enough for that kind of casual speech.

Hah! It's the human Master who suddenly appeared and the pet Queen!

Hey! Shouldn't it be "the Queen and her pet human" instead?!

So, has our Queen of Incompetence come to see how the Mayor of Monatium actually gets things done?

This is a rare, educational opportunity. Watch and learn!

What on earth would I learn from you?! You're the one enslaving elementals in the factory!

What?

Mayor! As per your orders, we've surrounded the factory and are keeping the elementals contained!

Good work, Suppression Unit Chief.

Ugh, these elementals and their anger issues... Whenever they throw a fit, it's such a headache.

Ugh, what?!

My... fault?

What are you talking about? What exactly did the mayor do wrong?

Slaves?

.........

What are they even talking about?

Don't pretend you don't know! We already...

The factory is on fire...!

Gosh! We don't have time to argue over nonsense! Amelia, come with me!

Yes, Mayor!

Mayor's orders.

And I told you to stop speaking so casually with me!

Right!

I'm coming too...!

Where do you think you're going?!

Woah! I-I'll hold Canna off! Go on ahead!

What? Hey! Where do you think you're going?! The mayor said no one is allowed to follow!

Just... please... just one more chance...

We won't disobey orders ever again...

What exactly have you done to deserve forgiveness?

Abandoning your duty and leaving your post... I'll eradicate you as punishment!

Stop!!!

What?

W-Who... who are you...?

What is this...? A sprite?

Hey, who is she? She was throwing out some villainous lines, so I totally thought it was Elena...

I am Ifrit, the Noble Fire Elemental.

A sprite showing up in the elves' prison... So it was just as I feared.

The wind told me. The sprites have allied with deceitful elves...

You allowed them near Yggdrasil and let them pollute it.

Polluting Yggdrasil?! They said it was just for research...!

Of course, that's what they'd say. That's how elves operate.

They deceived you! Just like how they tricked my kin!

Look at my kin! They fell for the elves' sweet words and became their slaves!

I-I don't think we fell for anything...

Silence! You don't even realize the situation you're in!

B-But...!

Ifrit, that's enough!

Ugh?! When did you...?!

I can no longer stand by and watch you oppress your own race!

Leave the territory of Monatium immediately and return to your home!

You tricked my kin, yet you dare to act high and mighty?!

The only one acting high and mighty here is you!

The elemental insurance...! Overtime pay...! Guaranteed paid and home-return leave! Full room and board provided, and retirement benefits paid out in full on the day of departure!

A state-of-the-art playroom and break lounge are also available all day! Monatium's labor benefits are unmatched!

The elementals in this factory aren't slaves, they're workers who fled the inefficient and oppressive labor of their hometown to find a better future!

Are they... serious right now?

It is an elemental's duty to serve their birthplace! We are the ones who keep Elias's elemental order...

A great responsibility... that kind of thing?

T-That's right!

So you're fine with trampling those beneath you... for the sake of that so-called responsibility...?

Grr...!

Hah! That sounds exactly like the rhetoric you'd hear from a dictator!

She's breaking character!

No, she's not breaking character!

The elementals in the factory district are invaluable workers that Monatium cannot function without!

We are willing to provide anything necessary to secure our profits!

Elementals are the closest thing to a perpetual energy source...!

A living, breathing proof of pseudoscience made real. There's no way we'd risk losing them to some scam contract!

This is no rescue! Traitorous elementals who abandon their birthplace must be eradicated; that is our law!

P-Please... save me, Mayor!

So... Elena is on the good side here?

No way! This has to be a scam too!

Just what do you think of our mayor? Why are you so unwilling to trust her?

Yeah! She even got help writing her letter of apology...!

Help?! Miss Elena personally wrote all 3,000 pages of that letter!

That was due to a font-setting mistake in the "Automated Letter of Apology Writer Robot Arm" that Miss Elena developed!

But it was written by a robot personally built by Miss Elena. There's no difference.

That robot was purely designed for writing a letter of apology. It has no other function!

Uh... so, what do we do now? Who are we supposed to help?

Yeah, that's why we came here anyway...

And it's a relief that this has nothing to do with slavery...

Hah! Just as I thought. You sprites are working with the elves to throw Elias's elemental balance into chaos, aren't you?!

Y-You're mistaken!

No. Ifrit the Noble Fire Elemental is the worst kind of old-fashioned boomer. There's no reasoning with her...!

Can't you just believe me?! Do you really have to nitpick right now?

Humans always get suspicious of others.

It was that very nature that allowed them to see through all of our schemes during the invasion of Earth.

Human.

If you won't even give us a chance to prove ourselves, what exactly do you expect?

Are you going to stay locked in your own prejudices until the last day of your life?

Don't tell me you've forgotten that we elves have one ultimate goal—to return home.

Now that the sprites have allowed us to research Yggdrasil, we have no reason to betray them!

We won't do anything to harm the sprites anymore, do you understand?!

Sitting around, having these ridiculous chitchats...

I'm done listening!

I'll burn you all to ashes right here and now and restore order to Elias!

Are you serious? She literally just said she's going to eradicate the other elementals...

.........

Alright. I'll trust you. After all, you're the Master from the prophecy!

Ifrit! Follow my order as a servant of Elias! I shall fight by your side!

.........?

Are you ordering me? A mere sprite?!

Huh? No, I mean, I'm a wizard, and elementals are supposed to obey wizards, so...

You seek to control elementals? Of course. Sprites are no different from elves!

What right does a sprite have to command me?

Uh... was that not it? Ugh... I don't know...!

Oooooh...

A betrayal within a betrayal... You've outdone yourself, Sprite Queen!

N-No... I didn't mean to...!

I never expected you to plot such a cunning scheme. I'll give you credit where it's due.

A true ruler must know how to betray someone.

Our mayor is a master of betrayal, so keep her words in mind!

Huh? Does that mean... we're still on the same side?

Let's deal with the urgent matter first. Once this is over, I'm sure we'll have a very interesting negotiation ahead. Hehe...

Heh... Don't worry. This was all part of the plan.

The factories of Monatium are always hot... since the fire elementals are stationed here...

But still, we couldn't just ignore Monatium's safety regulations and not install a fire suppression system!

And thus, my brilliant mind reached a conclusion... I simply had to raise the activation temperature of the sprinklers to an extreme level!

What are you trying to say?!

At this level of heat... the sprinklers should activate!

W-Wha?! Aaaargh! What is this?! It's cold! Stop it!!

Hahaha! How's that? It's the state-of-the-art fire suppression!

Argh!!! This is infuriating! To think I'd lose to those small fries!

Small fries?! We are the Sprite Queen and the Master of the Yggdrasil Order!

Don't forget the mayor of Monatium and her loyal secretary!

You haven't seen the last of me! Don't think this is over!

Phew, at least that puts out the biggest fire for now.

What an astonishing play on words, Mayor!

Thank you! I was spared from being eradicated, thanks to you!

Oh, it was nothing, you know...

Now... get back to work immediately! Time is money! Why are you all just standing around catching your breath?!

Y-Yes!

Of course I'm exploiting them! Do you have any idea how much I provide for them?

Like I said before, these elementals were already being exploited in their hometown.

I simply provided them with better working conditions and lured them over!

That's right. The elementals chose to come work here. The only ones forced to work in the factory is the elf supervisors.

Not to mention that these elementals are just playing around in the factory.

They're elementals, y'know.

They just lounge inside the machines, relax, and provide energy while the automated systems do the rest.

The power plants are even better. For elementals, it's basically an amusement park.

Even at the hydropower plant, water elementals ride waterslides and roller coasters to generate energy for the grid.

They're the pinnacle of pseudo-science brought to life. Trying to understand them is a lost cause.

That's just how magic works.

The elementals ride amusement park rides all day... and the elves use the energy generated to power the city!

That is the brilliant industrial revolution led by me, Mayor Elena of Monatium!

I... think she's telling the truth. Look at the elementals' faces... they all seem bright.

.........

Human humor is kind of chilling.

The quality of humor is determined by who's telling the joke.

Will you send us proper sugar again?

...What's the difference between sugar and saccharin?

You can't make baked goods with saccharin!!

Alright, alright, I get it. Why are you yelling?

Mayor!

Suppression Unit Chief? What is it?

Ifrit... she fled to the steam power plant!

What?!

What are you doing?! I told you to drive her toward Elemental Mountain once I finish securing the inside!

M-My apologies!

Hmph, you're quick to catch on.

Ifrit must have gone there to recover her strength.

And she'll undoubtedly wreck the place afterward.

If the power facility takes damage, the entire factory district will stop functioning, and sugar supplies won't resume either.

That's nothing to worry about. Those kinds of doubts can be useful for gaining political leverage in future negotiations.

That might be true for humans! But sprites aren't that shameless. Hehe...

Ugh... You put me off.

Hey! This just means we're coolheaded! You should be glad we're letting this slide!

No, it just means you've betrayed so many times that you've stopped caring when it happens to you!

Watch your mouth! Deep inside Mayor Elena's heart sleeps the heart of a fragile young girl! Take that back right now!

M-Mayor! Isn't this urgent? We need to issue a defense order for the power plant...!

Argh!! Amelia! Stop saying embarrassing things over the comms!

Report the situation!

We set up an emergency defense line, but Ifrit broke through about 30 minutes ago!

You couldn't hold her off?!

Drones and robots broke down due to overheating...

Common units couldn't get close due to the lack of fireproof armor...

What do you mean? The fireproof gear was already distributed six months ago!

It turned out that only the helmet lining was fireproof... so it didn't really help much.

Darn it... We shouldn't have outsourced them...

No one can stop me now! I'll burn down all your precious little factories, too!

Ugh... it's too hot!

Pull back the units! I'll handle this!

Mayor, you can't! This was the Suppression unit's mistake. I'll take responsibility!

As expected, your sense of responsibility is unmatched, Chief Canna.

I'm just a spy, so I'll step away!

N-No, just kidding! Hehe... I'll fight too! Heh...

Hahaha! Power! The power of fire!!!

Ifrit, you little... How much fire has she absorbed from the power plant? Looks like even she can't control it anymore... She's completely lost it.

At this rate, getting close to her will be impossible.

W-Well... since she's a fire elemental, maybe something like water could stop her?

Ugh... I should've paid more attention when Ashur and Ner taught magic...

Don't look at me like that! Sprites use magic instinctively. I never thought studying theories would come in handy!

If it's water, I have an idea!

When Ifrit first appeared, a fire broke out in the factory district.

The firefighting unit left behind their equipment when they retreated. We can use that!

Canna! Go get the firefighting equipment immediately!

Yes, Mayor!

It's ready! Operate the fire hose and fire away!

Aquaaa... Cannoooon!!!!!!

I told you, deep inside the mayor's heart sleeps the soul of a fragile young girl.

Oh, who cares. It looks cool. That's all that matters!

Argh! What are you doing?! That was cold!

You think you can stop me with a mere water stream?!

Aaargh! Run! We only made her angrier!

Using groundwater, huh? Hmph...!

W-What are you doing?!

There's more than just groundwater beneath us. Ever thought about what lies even deeper? Hahaha!

No way... is she trying to draw up magma?!

If she does that, this entire area will explode!

We have to stop her no matter what! Otherwise, the power source of Monatium and...

All the sugar in the Sprite Kingdom will be gone! It'll bring the end times where the strongest rules all!

Don't talk to me! I'm busy running!

Y-Yeah, but why?!

Well, duh. Hydroelectric power works by using differences in water levels to generate...

Ah...! That might work, actually... Let's use the fire hose to lure her!

Aquaaa... Cannoooon!!!!!!

Ugh, so annoying!!!

You worthless little mayor! I'll turn you to ashes first!!!

Now! Run this way! Hurry, follow me!!

Why are you so surprised?

It's the Great Waterfall of Elemental Mountain. Although the power plant makes it look unsettling...

Unsettling?! That hydropower plant is a genius design, created by yours truly!

It's ingenious and efficient! She simply didn't have enough time to consider the aesthetics!

Stop right there!

Aargh! There's no time for banter!

Huh?! These little pests...! Did they lure me near the water...? This is bad...

Alright! We're almost there! Fully opening the floodgates of the hydropower plant...!

Huh? Mayor! If you do that...!

It'll cause a massive flood!

It's fine! I have a plan, just do as I say!

She's a fire elemental, meaning she'll try to avoid water by instinct.

The only way to take her down is to fully open the floodgates and let the water swallow her!

I should be able to activate the remote controls at this distance...

Done! Everyone, grab onto anything nearby and hold on tight!

Aquaaa... Fire!!!!

Gaargh... Aaaaaargh!!!!

Ghhh...! Don't you dare underestimate...

...the Noble Fire Elemental!!!

I was always together with Elias... ever since it first awakened...!

You really think this little flood can stop me?!

Ugh...

Ugh... it's so hot... is this what a natural sauna feels like?

I can't see anything, how would I know?

Heh... hehehe...

You actually managed to drench me... Not bad for a last-ditch effort.

It wasn't useless! She's back to her original form!

Oh, no you don't!!

Ugh! There's no way out of this...!

Amelia! Canna! Where are you?! Protect me now!

It's in the underground maintenance facility at City Hall. It's gonna take time to get here!

Human...! Your species survives by looking out for each other, right? Then hurry up and sacrifice yourself for me!

I'm begging you! It's a great honor to have an elf begging for help, y'know?!

You little pests! You've been chatting away right in front of me this whole time!!

Prepare to face the fury of my flaming sword!!!

Eeeekkk!!!!

Stop!

That's enough!

And who are you?!

I'm an elemental, not a werebeast!

What? You're an elemental?

What are you, a frog elemental? First, there was this elemental born from a melon...

And the other day, I woke up to honey bees claiming they were elementals...

Get out of my way! How dare a lesser elemental like you stand before the Noble Fire Elemental?!

Stop bullying your friends! And stop being so angry!

Friends?! I was never friends with these pests!

Exactly! If you're some lesser elemental working in my factory, don't call me your friend. Call me Mayor!

In Elias, everyone is a friend!

We should help each other and live peacefully!

And if you don't... I'm going to step in.

So what? Are you going to croak and summon a frog army or something?

How dare you talk back to a Noble Elemental?!

I'm... not a frog elemental.

I'm a drizzle elemental!

Once you stand in the gentle rain... you'll feel much more relaxed!

I will... make you happy☆!

Ugh, it's cold! You think this is enough to put me out?!

I don't want to extinguish you! I just want to make you happy.

Hey, rain elemental! Don't you have anything stronger?!

Dump a heavy downpour on her and put her out all at once!

I just want everyone to calm down... and be friends.

That's my only wish...!

Ugh... Urgh...

Heh... f-friends... heh... I see now...

I... I didn't know... hehehe...

She got sent back to her roost just from a little drizzle?

Maybe she was already that weakened?

S-S-Spies... should always remain h-hidden while gathering intel!

Noble Elf!

Huh? Noble Elf? Are you talking about me?

You shouldn't fight either from now on! We're all friends!

She's the one who started it! I just fought back!

Both sides are responsible in a fight!

There must have been a reason you didn't realize!

Ugh, fine, fine!

I'll be more careful next time, okay?

It's okay! I'm just happy the fighting stopped!

Elementals can be pretty stubborn, so... if you ever need my help again, come find me by my pond!

Canna and Amelia are missing too.

Looks like they got swept away by the water...

Oh, come on. Why are you so worried? This land is their turf. No way they'd get lost, especially not the Queen.

Although a stranger like you would probably get lost if you were swept away.

Master!!!!

Of course I did. I appointed a successor as quickly as I could and came after you.

Sending both Her Majesty and Master on a dangerous mission did not sit well with me.

We couldn't find Marie or Mayo, so we're the only ones.

What was that flood just now, by the way? I asked some elves for directions while they were retreating and almost got swept away...

You defeated a fire elemental with water? Talk about a brute-force method.

Elementals can be subdued with binding spells. It's actually quite simple...

Anyway, where is Her Majesty? Why do I not see her?

What... did you just say?

I entrusted you with babysitting Her Majesty, and you just... let her go missing?

I trusted her because you were with her!

We would not, no! But Her Majesty might!!!!

Typical human behavior. Always trying to avoid responsibility.

Huh?

Mayor! Thank goodness! I thought the radio broke when we got swept away!

Amelia! You're safe! That's my secretary!

The Suppression Unit Chief is here, but... Oh! The Sprite Queen is running toward us, crying.

I am so glad Her Majesty ended up stranded with someone else.

It is not that I do not trust her; I am just worried about her.

She is the Queen of the Sprite Kingdom, after all.

Now that the fire is out, it's time to head home and play some games... I mean, start repairing the damage.

I'll send the sugar as soon as we restock, so don't worry. Let's stay in touch.

Well, I'll have to send it after repairs. Just get by with saccharin for a month. No other choice.

Surviving a month without sugar? Pfft, what's the big deal? Tch.

I mean... we didn't make any promises back then! I'm telling you, be patient and you'll get your sugar!

Is the reign of saccharin upon the Sprite Kingdom...?

We will have to declare a state of emergency starting tomorrow...

No... Nooooooo!!!!!!!

Enough!! I said nooooo!!!! Aaaaaarggghhh!!!!!!!!

I don't want this block! I want real baked goods!!!!!!

What's the point of being sweet if it tastes awful!!!

It's dry, it's tough... My teeth won't survive this!!!

Just think of it as a cookie and eat it, Your Majesty.

We won't even have enough time for class at this rate! You promised you'd study magic theories!

It's not a cookie!!! The texture is completely different!!! It's like chewing on a cardboard box!!!

Sigh... This is exhausting...

Nope.

Those upper-class brats that live in luxury... they must be stuffing their mouths with soft, fluffy bread...!!!

But... I don't think I've ever actually benefited from being part of the upper class...

I have to beg just to eat a piece of bread... I go into battle without a single unit...

See? See? You think so too, right? What kind of Kingdom treats its Queen like this?!

Even if the subjects have to eat rock-hard blocks, shouldn't their Queen at least be able to eat some proper cake?!

What?! What did I do?!! I work as Queen! Shouldn't I at least be treated with more respect?!!

What... history?

Are you not going to eat then, Your Majesty? Are you just going to starve?!

T-That's not what I meant... ugh...

Just eat. I'll make sure you get plenty of extra baked goods once the sugar shipment arrives.

R-Really?

Alright... I just need to hold out for a few more days, right?

How much longer do I have to wait?

It's only been two days since the sugar supply stopped. The elves said it'll take at least a month, so... you'll have to hold out for over 20 more days.

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!!!!

Try using that voice when you give speeches! You always mumble like an ant with no confidence!

The Kingdom seems a little chaotic. Something going on?

There is... something, yes. Do not mind it.

From what I've heard... it's about sugar, isn't it?

How do you know that...?

Typical sprites. Hehe...

Last time, I made a fortune by releasing sugar on the black market when things got messy.

Well... I am not going to condemn folks for seizing opportunities where they can. Everyone has their own reasons.

Anyway, what is this useful information you mentioned?

Why, it's about the witches you asked me to look into.

A witch named Fricle seems to be plotting something.

Haven't the elementals been acting up lately?

How do you... yes! That is right.

Elementals usually don't leave their areas. Didn't that seem strange to you?

The Thorn Witch... I mean, Fricle, seems to be behind that incident.

You'd better be careful. I wouldn't want one of my important business partners disappearing.

Fricle is... manipulating the elementals? Alright, Sist. Keep me updated whenever you find more.

Here is the payment as promised.

Good, good. Hehe... Seems like there is more than usual, hmm?

I added a... little extra on top of the usual fee.

Oh? You want something else?

Do you... have any sugar to spare?