Adelaide’s study in the Count of Doumer’s mansion…

“So, I’m really curious…”

　Adelaide’s eyes were alight as she asked Lou.

“What kind of magic are you going to use to get to the Hunting Forest, Lou?”

　Adelaide’s eyes sparkled and she leaned forward, looking curious.

　I knew you’d ask!

　It’s so like Mother…

　A magic geek’s curiosity at its finest.

　Fran chuckled and looked at Lou, who smiled and nodded.

“Yeah, I’ll use my Transference Magic to get us there in a jiffy.”

“Huh?!”

　Transference Magic?

　Adelaide was puzzled for a moment.

　She didn’t seem to understand what Lou had said right away.

“Er, what did you say just now, Lou?”

　As if she was too surprised, Adelaide asked again quite seriously.

“Transference Magic”

　As Lou gave Adelaide his answer, Fran’s tense voice sounded at the same time.

“Lou, quick! Silence Magic, Silence! Quickly, on Mother!”

　Immediately, Lou invoked the Silence Magic, with divine speed and no chanting.

　The Silence Magic, also known as ‘Magic Seal,’ was usually difficult to cast on a senior wizard like Adelaide.

　But when it came to Lou, it was a completely different story.

　Adelaide was so surprised that she tried to scream, but no sound came out. She only kept moving her mouth, like a goldfish lacking oxygen.

　Fran said contritely.

“How are you, Mother? Have you calmed down yet?”

　Now that she asked…

　Adelaide was stunned when she found herself suddenly in an unbelievable situation where she could not use magic.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ 

　Adelaide’s mouth twitched in sulk as Lou lifted the spell.

“Good grief…you guys are quite good. I can’t believe you cast Silence Magic on me.”

　But Fran retorted with a smile

“But Mother, your screams are so loud, and Zeimon would have come flying in a blink to see what was happening.”

“Mmm, well…I was surprised, just a little, but I wasn’t too loud…”

“Just a little? I don’t think so, not at all.”

“No, and just for a moment. Like, a little yelp?”

“Yelp? Definitely not, right?”

“Pfft!”

“If Zeimon had heard Mother screaming, he would have knocked down the door, no questions asked. You should be thanking us.”

　Adelaide had no choice but to agree with Fran’s flat denial.

“Fine…But you’re one to talk now, Fran.”

“Um…I’m starting to look a lot like someone else.”

“Hmph! I think you’ve taken after your father, Fran.”

“What?! If you say so, Father would be very, very sorry!” 

　Lou couldn’t help but smile at the mother-daughter tit for tat. 

　It was a warm conversation that he had never experienced before.

“Hey, Fran, I’d love to come with you…”

　Adelaide muttered, but Fran immediately shook her head.

“You can’t! If Zeimon asks why we’re not here, he’s going to go half-crazy if Mother isn’t present to explain things to him.”

　Fran’s words made sense.

　Adelaide hung her head in regret.

　Lou smilingly addressed Adelaide.

“Hahaha, Adelaide-san, I’ll take you out next time if I have the chance.”

“Eh? Really?”

　Lou promised he would…

　Adelaide’s spirits lifted, and she said, “The bird that cried now laughs.”

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ 

“Heh～Transference Magic with the help of the earth spirit Gnomide?”

　After briefly explaning Transference Magic, Adelaide’s curiosity remained unabated.

“I still want to go with you. Hey…Can’t I, totally?”

　Lou and Fran stifled their laughter when they saw Adelaide asking pleadingly.

“Duh! Give up already, Mother.”

　Adelaide stuck her tongue out a little when Fran scolded her.

　She had the air of a young girl.

　Speaking of which, her mother was…

　She still had a lot of ‘fans’ among the uncles.

　Fran suddenly remembered that Adelaide had been dubbed the ‘Dance Princess’.

“Alright, we better get going.”

　Lou announced their departure and Fran leaned in close to him.

“Be careful.”

　Adelaide reminded them, and Lou and Fran waved.

“Vivi!”

　As Lou called out, the female Earth Spirit, Gnomide, appeared from an empty space.

　She twirled around in the air and landed on the floor.

　The female Earth Spirit named Vivi, a Gnomide, took the form of a little girl.

　She looked at her summoner, smiled, and gave him a thumbs up.

　Adelaide and Fran gasped in astonishment at the sight of the female Earth Spirit, Gnomide, for the first time.

“A-Amazing!”

“Gasp…”

　Adelaide and Fran caught their breath and looked at her again…

　Vivi had a lovely face, clad in intricately embroidered, brown leather armor.

“Fran, close your eyes. Come on, Vivi!”

　Lou urged Fran, then gave Vivi a short command.

　Vivi responded with a snap of her fingers: “Snap!” She snapped her fingers.

　Then, the sensation underneath Lou and Fran’s feet suddenly disappeared.

　Before Adelaide could even scream, Lou and Fran instantly disappeared out of sight.

　Now that Lou, Fran and Vivi disappeared, only Adelaide was left alone…

　”Wonderful,” she muttered over and over again

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ 

　Fran got confused for a moment.

　She felt a strange sensation in her body, one that she had never experienced before.

　But when she realized that Lou was hugging her, she felt at ease.

“Fran, you can open your eyes now.”

　Eh, uhhh! There’s something strange about Lou-Lou’s voice.

　It’s echoing quietly in my mind…

　This place?!

　When Fran opened her eyes…

　She found themselves in a brightly lit cave, as if it were daytime.

　When she looked around, she discovered that the walls were glittering beautifully, reflecting the light coming in from somewhere.

　…Looking closely, she could see the colorful gems and exposed gold and silver, peeking out from the cave walls.

　And as for their appearance…

　They were floating in the air with a vague, insubstantial, shadow-like evanescence.　

　In front of them was that spirit girl, Vivi.

　She looked at the two of them, smiled, and again gave a thumbs up.

“This is the Spirit World where the Earth Spirits usually live. No one knows what kind of world it really is. The image you’re seeing now, Fran, is my conjecture of the Spirit World.”

　Lou added.

“Normally, a living person cannot exist in this Spirit World. Vivi temporarily changed our bodies so that we can adapt to this world. She will also make sure we get to our destination.”

“B-But, what is this kind of communication?”

“This is telepathy. Fran and I are having a conversation with each other through our souls.”

“What?! Soul-to-soul?

“Yes, it’s a direct mind-to-mind communication.”

　No way!

　A mind-to-mind communication?!

　My feelings…

　Will Lou find out everything?

　Fran blushed and buried her face in Lou’s chest.

　Lou gently stroked Fran’s hair, as if pampering her.

　Again, he told Fran to close her eyes, and then ordered Vivi, who was standing by his side.

“Vivi!”

　As was the case with the activation of the Transference Magic…

　Lou did not give any specific instructions to Vivi.

　He just called her name.

　If her memory served her right, the same was true of the Fire Spirit Salamander… 

　Sure enough, Lou was one and the same with the spirits that blessed him…

　That was what Fran thought at that moment!

　With breakneck speed, their bodies rose.

　The next thing Fran knew…

　They were already right around the corner of the Hunting Forest.

　The huge outer wall, which she had seen several times, towered in front of her.