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"Ah, Luu-nee, welcome back～. How'd it go?"
When I entered the room I rent in "Twilight Moonbow", Carol—who had arrived earlier—called out to me.
At my question, I lowered my eyes and shook my head. Seeing that, Log—who was also in the room—darkened his expression.
From their reactions, it seems they came up empty too.
"Moo, where did Sophia go..."
Carol let out a sad voice.
We had planned to explore the Great Labyrinth today and were supposed to meet here at the usual time.
But even after the appointed time, Sophia didn't appear. Thinking it unusual, we waited a while, but even after an hour she never showed up.
Sophia is a serious girl who has never been late before, so worried that something had happened, we split up to check places she might go—but we couldn't find her, and that's how things stand now.
"...We should probably consider this some kind of trouble...?"
Log muttered while resting his hand on his chin.
I agree with Log.
Sophia isn't the type to make enemies, but that doesn't mean the trouble has to originate from her.
It's entirely possible she got caught up in something by chance.
If Sophia is scared right now, we have to go help her immediately...!
When I lost my place in "Golden Dawn" and the Flockheart Trading Company, it was Orun-san who created a new place for me.
But the fact that Sophia, Carol, and Log warmly welcomed me was undoubtedly a big part of what saved my heart.
When Carol was suffering after reuniting with her siblings, I couldn't do anything for her.
That's why I decided: next time, for these children who call me their comrade, I would do anything I could.
That time is now.
"You two, I'm going to concentrate now. For a little while, I might not be able to respond to your voices, so please don't worry about it."
After steeling my resolve, I spoke to the two of them.
"Hm～? What are you gonna do, Luu-nee?"
"I'm going to find Sophia."
"Eh!? You can do that!?"
"No, I can't say for certain that I'll succeed. In fact, the chances of failing even with this method are higher. But I want to try everything I possibly can."
When I said that, the two nodded with serious expressions.
"I don't know what Luu-nee is planning, but if it's Luu-nee, you can do it! Do your best!"
"Luu-nee, is there anything we can do?"
"Thank you, both of you. Just stay as you are. Knowing you're cheering me on gives me strength."
"If it's cheering, leave it to me～! I'm super good at that kind of thing!"
"I'm praying for your success!"
Receiving encouragement from the two, I closed my eyes and took deep breaths to heighten my concentration.
The mana and spirits drifting around me became clearer, and I directed my consciousness toward one particularly strong presence within them before calling out in my mind.
『Pixie, can you hear my voice?』
Pixie is one of the fairies. Unlike most free-spirited fairies, for some reason she always stays by my side.
『Eh...? Wh-what's wrong...? You sound so formal...』
『I have one request for you. Will you hear me out?』
『A request...? If it's for Luna's sake, I'll help, but...』
『Yes. What I'm about to ask is extremely important to me.』
『I-I see... Got it. So, what is it...?』
『The request is for you to find Sophia.』
『...? Sophia... is that a human's name...? Who...?』
As expected, Pixie doesn't know Sophia.
No—that's not quite accurate.
She probably recognizes Sophia's existence but hasn't connected it to the name.
Pixie protects me from humans who direct malice toward me by returning equivalent malice.
Since I'm the one being protected, I have no right to complain, but this 'returning equivalent malice' part can be quite troublesome.
For example, last year after "Golden Dawn" was defeated by the black dragon and forcibly repatriated to the explorer guild, Derrick tried to kill me—though whether he truly intended to is unclear—because I provoked him into a fight.
At that time, I asked Pixie not to kill Derrick.
If I hadn't, Pixie would have killed him.
I thought Derrick's actions back then were utterly foolish, but thinking about it now, perhaps Philly-san's unique skill was involved there too.
It seems Pixie was protecting me from Philly-san's ability, and since she couldn't rewrite my perception, she tried to eliminate me physically.
——Oops, I got sidetracked.
Anyway, Pixie is highly sensitive to humans who direct malice at me but completely indifferent to everyone else.
『Sophia is the girl with scarlet hair tied in twin tails who's been diving into the Great Labyrinth with me recently.』
『Scarlet hair... Twin tails... Hmm... Th-that human is a unique skill holder...?』
Even after describing Sophia's features, Pixie still doesn't quite get it and asks a question.
『Yes, she has the unique skill [Psychokinesis].』
『[Psychokinesis]...? Ah, the human with primordial magic... Since she was near Luna, she left an impression... Yeah, if it's that human, I can find where she is right away...』
『Really!? Then——』
『B-but...』
『Is there a problem?』
『It's not really a problem, but... to go search, I'd have to leave Luna's side...』
Pixie is very particular about always staying by my side.
I don't mind because having a fairy watching over me gives me peace of mind, but right now—since Pixie is the only lead to Sophia—I need her cooperation.
『Please, Pixie. If you can find Sophia's location, I'll grant you any one wish within my power!』
『...Really, anything...?』
『Yes! Anything I can do. So please lend me your strength now!』
『...Okay...』
After a long silence following my plea, I thought it was hopeless, but Pixie agreed.
『Thank you, Pixie!』
『I hate leaving Luna's side even temporarily... but thinking about what comes next... I want to hold the right to give Luna one order... Promise you'll keep it...?』
I'm a little scared of what kind of order Pixie might give, but she's always helped me until now.
There's no doubt she's on my side, so her order won't be something to my disadvantage.
『Of course. I will absolutely keep this promise.』
『Yeah, I believe in Luna... Then, I'm going... I already have a rough idea of the location... I'll let Luna know once I find her...』
With those words, Pixie's presence flew far away.
"Fuu..."
"Luu-nee, did you find Sophia?"
Noticing my sigh of relief as the tension eased, Carol—who was right beside me—asked.
She really is perceptive about people's changes.
"No, not yet. But a fairy has agreed to help search for her, so the gamble paid off... Though I ended up making a rather strange promise."
"By fairy, do you mean Pixie—the one who's always by Luu-nee's side—is helping look for her?"
"Yes, that's right. It seems fairies can immediately locate unique skill holders, so she should find Sophia soon."
"Whoa! Getting help from a supernatural being like a fairy—Luu-nee really is amazing!"
Upon learning Pixie was cooperating, Carol started praising me with "amazing, amazing."
Her tone carries no hidden agenda, so I can accept it honestly.
This kind of thing makes me happy.
『Luna, I found her...』
Some time later, Pixie's voice echoed in my head.
I immediately checked the surroundings, but Pixie's presence wasn't there.
This was similar to telepathy through Selma-san's unique skill, so I responded in my mind.
『Really!? Thank you! So where is Sophia right now?』
『She's inside a wooden box being pulled by four-legged creatures...』
That's a very vague description, but Pixie is probably referring to a carriage.
Which means Sophia has been abducted by someone and is being taken somewhere...?
『What's the situation inside the box!? Is she in immediate danger of death!?』
『Hmm, I don't think she'll die right away... The Sophia girl is sitting inside the box... And there's one more man sitting the same way.』
Pixie describes the situation inside, but the lack of specifics is frustrating.
Well, asking more of Pixie—who originally has little interest in humans or culture—is unreasonable.
(This is troublesome, but I have no choice but to ask specific questions little by little to grasp the situation. If only I could see what Pixie sees... —Wait, huh...?)
Feeling the frustration of seeing the destination yet being unable to reach it, I noticed something odd in my own thinking.
Selma-san's [Mental Sympathy] connects people with invisible paths to enable communication without speaking.
Right now, Pixie and I are in a similar state.
In other words, Pixie and I are currently connected by something.
Could I use this situation somehow?
If I can send my voice, perhaps I can also see what the fairy sees.
Spirits and fairies are different, but fundamentally the same.
With my unique skill [Spirit Domination], I feel like I might be able to share senses with a fairy—even without basis, it seems possible.
This feels similar to the sensation when I first manifested my unique skill.
Nothing to lose by trying—it's worth a shot.
『Pixie, there's something I want to try.』
『Something to try...?』
『Yes. I want to test whether I can see what you're seeing right now using my unique skill.』
『Connect senses...? The Queen said that puts a huge burden on the human side...』
The Queen—Titania—said something like that...?
So my idea was correct.
If it lets me know Sophia's location and situation, there's no reason not to try.
『It's fine. Let's do it!』
『Okay... Then strongly focus on our connection... I'll handle the details.』
『Understood.』
Following Pixie's instructions, I strongly focused on our connection.
Suddenly, even though she was far away, it felt like Pixie was right beside me.
『Here we go, Luna...』
『Yes, please!』
『[Sensory Connection]...!』
"ぐっ...! ...う...うぅ..."
Suddenly, a torrent of information flooded my mind. The sheer volume made my head scream in pain.
I had prepared myself to some extent, but it was beyond imagination—I couldn't stay standing and sank to the floor.
Even so, I didn't stop thinking. By carefully sorting through the information Pixie sent, I gradually began to see what she was seeing.
"Luu-nee! What's wrong!? Are you okay!?"
Seeing me suddenly collapse, Carol and Log—who were right beside me—rushed over in worry.
"I'm... fine."
Somehow managing to speak to the two, I continued confirming what Pixie saw.
After a while in that state——
『Pixie, thank you. I learned everything I needed to know. You can disconnect now.』
『Okay... Luna, are you alright...?』
『I'm fine. This was something I wanted, so don't worry about it.』
After telling Pixie that, the torrent of information subsided, and I could finally breathe.
But I was quite exhausted,
"Haa... haa... haa..."
and completely out of breath.
"Luu-nee... Are you really okay...?"
"Yes... I'm fine. Sorry for worrying you. But the risk paid off. I know where Sophia is now."
"Really!?"
"Where is Sophia right now!?"
"Sophia is currently inside a carriage bearing the Claudel Count family's crest, heading east."
What I saw through Pixie was a carriage with the Claudel family crest and Sophia riding in it.
She didn't seem to be harmed badly, but her complexion was poor.
I had heard a bit about Sophia's past from Orun-san, so I understood why she looked that way.
"East...? That means toward Daruane?"
From what I told them, Log deduced the carriage's destination.
"Yes. Nine times out of ten, the carriage's destination is Daruane—Sophia's hometown."
If Sophia had decided of her own will to go to Daruane, she never would have left without telling us.
So it's natural to conclude that someone from the Claudel family suddenly took her away.
Whether she didn't resist due to past trauma or for some other reason is unclear, but we can ask her directly later.
"I'm heading to Daruane as soon as preparations are ready. What about you two?"
"Luu-nee, that's a silly question. I'm going to Daruane too! Carol's coming too, right?"
"Of course! It's hard to imagine Sophia going to Daruane of her own free will! If she was taken by force, we have to bring her back! I won't forgive anyone—noble or parent—who steals Sophia's smile!!"
To my question, Log and Carol immediately decided to head to Daruane without hesitation.
They both seem unusually angry, so I need to make sure they don't go overboard.
I won't forgive the Claudel family either if they're ignoring Sophia's will.
"Hehe, it really was a silly question. Then let's go after Sophia—the three of us!"