Editing Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance:Volume13 Chapter6 (section)

===Part 3===

After enjoying the hot dinner prepared by the maids of the Laurenfrost household...

"&mdash;Natalia, report the situation."

While sipping black tea after the meal, Rinslet inquired of the head maid.

The head maid was an older girl with shoulder-length hair. She was also apparently responsible for the cooking earlier.

"Have you gathered the reason for the blizzard at the Kyria Mountain Range?"

"&mdash;Yes, the persistent snowfall over the past few days was undoubtedly the work of ice dragons roaming the mountain range."

The head maid answered calmly.

"Just as expected, I see..."

"The problem is why would the extinct ice dragons appear."

The head maid nodded slightly at what Rinslet pointed out.

"This is merely my personal speculation but&mdash;"

"Not a problem. Please speak your mind."

"Perhaps it has something to do with the Forest Dwellers inhabiting the Forest of Ice Blossoms."

"...What is that about?"

Rinslet frowned.

"Ice dragons are the minions of the spirit Zirnitra. And the Forest Dwellers revere Zirnitra as the guardian of the Forest of Ice Blossoms, worshiping since olden times&mdash;"

"In other words, the Forest Dwellers are summoning ice dragons in some manner and controlling them?"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out."

Hearing Rinslet's suggestion, the head maid nodded in agreement.

"&mdash;Excuse me, what are Forest Dwellers?"

Kamito interrupted at this point.

"It's a name for the Elfim race who lives in the deepest part of the Forest of Ice Blossoms."

"...The Elfim huh."

A highly mysterious race who had come from Astral Zero in antiquity.

Excellent ability to commune with spirits, preferring to spend their days quietly in the forest, but on the flip side, they extremely rejected and resented contact with humans.

&mdash;This was what Kamito had heard from Lily Flame back during his Instructional School days.

"Supposing that's the case, why can't you ask them directly?"

"Yes. We have sent messengers many times to attempt contact, but a powerful barrier of fog was deployed in the depths of the forest, even making it impossible to reach their settlement."

"...An Elfim barrier huh. Now that's tricky stuff."

"Yes, and we can't recklessly destroy the Barrier&mdash;"

Not confined to Ordesia territory, the Elfim race had also settled and established secure communities in various nations on the continent. Suppose the Laurenfrost ruler invaded the Elfim settlement here, it would probably make the entire Elfim race enemies of the Empire given their strong sense of racial solidarity&mdash;

Suddenly, a thought came to Kamito.

"...Those Forest Dwellers, what are the chances that Restia's come into contact with them?"

"...I remember that the Elfim basically revere spirits. We can't rule out the possibility that Miss Darkness Spirit accidentally entered the barrier..."

Rinslet nodded, resting her chin on her hand.

Kamito turned to the head maid.

"...Do you have any reports about a girl in a black one-piece dress seen in the forest?"

Natalia made an expression of disbelief in response to Kamito's question.

"No, the branches in the Forest of Ice Blossoms are as sharp as knives. Consequently, well, I believe that it is quite difficult to make one's way through the forest in attire like a dress&mdash;"

"...I see."

...In the end, this Winter Gulf Castle had not obtained any information on her.

Not to mean he doubted Iseria Seaward's information, but Kamito still had trouble hiding his disappointment.

"But speaking of which&mdash;"

"...You have some kind of lead?"

Kamito leaned forward.

"Not exactly, but a messenger sent to the forest returned with concerning news&mdash;"

"...What?"

"Reportedly, a human princess maiden has appeared in the Forest Dwellers settlement."

"...A human princess maiden?"

Kamito repeated.

"Indeed. The Forest Dwellers apparently call the girl 'Queen of Ice Blossoms'."