/
Mogu mogu
」
「Momu
 Momu momu」
(*munching SFX)
Fran still looked in low spirits when we returned to the inn at night.
She wasn’t visibly depressed, but she didn’t look like her usual self. Her smile was somewhat weak, even though she was eating.
The menu consisted of stew with lots of meat and potatoes with red bean paste. With the addition of three kinds of bread which were, black bread, rye bread, and butter rolls. A salad with fish in oil, homemade pickled vegetables, and cheese pasta. Considering what they had the other day, the meal tasted perfect.
However, Fran’s eating speed did not increase much. It was about the same speed as when she was at the cafeteria of the academy. This was quite unusual for her to be like this. If it were the usual Fran, she would forget most of her worries if she ate a good meal.
Urushi, who was eating next to her, was not as energetic as usual because he was worried about Fran. He was eating his meal while glancing sideways at Fran from time to time.
『Fran, are you still worried about Romio?』
「Nn
」
Yikes. As soon as she heard Romio’s name, Fran’s expression became visibly clouded over. It seemed that she was still worried about hurting Romio. I think that no matter how much I said that it was unavoidable, she didn’t seem to be able to get over it.
Her spoon had stopped, but then an old lady, the innkeeper spoke out to Fran.
「Did something happen today, young miss?」
「Nn
」
「Don’t worry, I won’t ask for the details, but
 Is that something you need to worry about this late?」
「That is
」
「There is this Elven saying
 “New shoots come from the ashes of the deep forest”」
「??」
An Elven saying?
「Even if the forest you live in burns down, one day the trees will grow back and a new forest will be born. In other words, anything can happen as long as you’re alive, but it’s what happens after that that counts. Some things are irreversible. You may not be able to get back what you have lost. But we have to live with them as our strength」
Maybe it was an Elf-like outlook considering their long lifespan. They lived much longer than humans, and I’m sure their lives would be filled with many incidents and events. If they were to worry about all of them and regret them, their heart would probably be overwhelmed.
「
Hmm?」
Fran seemed to be trying to understand the words. However, she immediately crossed her arms and tilted her head. I can grasp the meaning of the words, but to be honest, I’m not sure if I understand them.
So that might be a little difficult for Fran, who has only lived for thirteen years, to understand.
「Hmm
 You don’t get it, do you, young miss? Well, it’s a phrase that has finally sunk in for us old Elves at this age」
「
I’m sorry」
「I’m sorry too. I didn’t mean to pester you. But can I tell you something?」
「Nn」
「A good meal tastes even better when you put your mind to it, right?」
「!! Certainly!」
The old lady had said many words to try to comfort her, but in the end, the last one seemed to impress her the most.
And it seemed that the two of them were on the same page. They then stared at each other for a moment and then nodded at each other.
「Eating while thinking about other things is disrespectful to the meal」
「Yup, you’re right」
「Nn」
Then Fran began to shovel in her meal steadily.
She was not fully cheered up, but she was getting back in shape. And I could see a slight smile on her face. I hope this can help her regain her usual self

However, when I thought so, Fran’s hand stopped again.
Did she just pretend that she was fine? I thought so, but the old lady had stopped moving too. And both of their eyes were locked in the same place.
「Hohou? Why have you shown up?」
「
A spirit?」
Apparently, the spirit of the ancient tree had come out near the entrance of the dining room, and both of them were looking in its direction.
When the old lady noticed that Fran was looking at the same place as her, she asked Fran in surprise.
「Can you perhaps can see it?」
「Is there, something?」
She couldn’t see it, but when Fran replied so, the old lady’s eyes widened for a moment, and then she immediately started laughing.
「Hohoho. You must have been very well-liked by Spirit-sama then」
「What do you mean?」
「Even if you have the talent, you won’t be able to feel it if the spirits don’t like you. Hmm, spirit-sama is watching you and it seems to be worried about you」
「!」
「If it doesn’t like you, it’ll just kick you out
 It’s been decades since Spirit-sama has been so attentive to someone other than an Elf」
「Spirit-sama allowed me to be here?」
The old lady’s words made Fran’s eyes widened this time. But I wonder why the spirit cared for Fran so much.
It had only been one night, right? Or maybe, the spirit was attracted by Fran’s cuteness. So, even a spirit was charmed by Fran, huh? Yeah, that must be the case.
「But, I didn’t do anything special」
「Spirit-sama likes a pure and gentle person after all」
Well, it wasn’t her cuteness but Fran’s pureness that the spirit was attracted to. Well, she can’t see it though.
Fran also tried to activate her detection skills to detect the spirit even more. However, her face soon looked pensive.
『What’s wrong?』
(Even after I used the skill, I still can’t detect it)
Apparently, she still couldn’t detect it. The old lady who saw this then gave her some advice.
「You won’t be able to detect it with the usual way」
「Is that so?」
「In order to see spirits that are not visible, you need to have Spirit Magic skills or spirit eyes. It is said that those who have either of these qualities can sense them slightly」
What was next was to get some kind of trigger and let her skills blossom. The fact that she could feel it was a sign that she was on the verge of sensing it. However, the old lady couldn’t give her more advice as Elves could see spirits before they could even remember.
「
Spirit-sama?」
「
」
Fran called out to the place where the spirit was supposed to be. But as expected, she got no response. Fran didn’t know what was going on, but the old lady was smiling while narrowing her eyes.
「Hmm, Spirit-sama was glad」
「What did Spirit-sama do?」
「It looks so happy. It has gone back to the tree though. It’s a whimsical fellow after all」
「I see」
「Well, if it looks like that, I’m sure it’ll come out again」
「I’m looking forward to it」
But at this rate, she might actually learn Spirit Magic while we stay at this inn.