She was loved all her life.

Her mother never left her, and her family always supported her.

As a result, the Half-Elf got all the warmth she needed for a normal childhood.

However, it still wasn’t enough.

As she grew older, the curiosity she inherited from her father drove her in search of something deeper—beyond what she knew.

“Humans! I want to know more about humans!”

Apparently, the stories she had heard from her mother weren’t enough for her.

The books available in the Elf Kingdom were also limited.

After consuming all she could about the Race a part of her was from, the girl was filled with more curiosity.

Unfortunately, it was never sated.

To compensate, she was allowed to explore what no Elf ever could—Magic Innovations and Technology!

According to the words of the child;

“Whenever I make something, it makes me feel closer to the humans… and my father.”

No one could deny her that right.

As a result, she was able to delve into the wonders of Magic Technology and Theories.

Thanks to the long life she lived—about four centuries—she was able to develop so many things despite having almost no precedent.

Crazy as it seemed, it was clear that this was a monster on par with the Great Sage himself.

This was the second coming of Lewis Griffith.

Once they realized this, the Elves realized one simple truth.

She was more human than Elf.

***************************

“Please, Jared Leonard… can you become friends with that child?”

I shouldn’t have been surprised to hear those words, but my heart trembled in shock.

“She doesn’t have long to live, so I want her to be able to fulfill her long-held wish…”

I sensed urgency in Aurora’s tone—a genuine feeling of care that couldn’t simply be expressed with words alone.

“If she makes a human friend before her death, then… I am certain she would be able to sleep forever, with no regrets. After meeting you, Jared, I feel you will be the best candidate for that.”

Sadness. Pure sadness could be seen all over Aurora’s eyes.

“You bear an uncanny resemblance to that man, after all…”

Everything that happened thus far—in relation to the newly made Elf Alliance—was thanks to my efforts.

She must have seen my past self in the current Jared Leonard.

The fact that I had Lewis Griffith’s Memoirs was also something that would help the girl know more about her father.

In essence, I was the optimal choice for the dying girl.

“Sure… I can do that.” I smiled, looking at the Elf Queen.

Her face loosened up a little once I said this, but there was still a great amount of pain left written on her face.

“But, are you sure this is what you really want?”

“W-what do you mean?”

“You want me to befriend her in her last moments, so she can die peacefully. Is that what you truly desire…?”

“Y-yes, that’s what I—”

“Stop with the bull**!” My voice was raised at the most powerful entity in the Elf Kingdom, but why didn’t I feel any fear?

Aurora was in a vulnerable state—too overcome with emotion that she couldn’t even get angry about such a thing at this point.

“Is that what you truly want? That she spends a few years with a human, and after finally discovering her half heritage, she simply does without exploring it further?”

I knew it was difficult, but I had to get the Queen to admit what she truly desired. It was the same as what I wanted.

For her, it was going to be hard to say the words. She must have tried all she could, Al to no avail.

The long-lost hope that had been abandoned… I wanted it to reignite.

“O-of course not! I want her to live! I so badly want her to live a long, fulfilling life. But, that’s not possible. She can’t. T-that’s why I—”

“Aurora… what have I often told you about saying such words?”

“….?!” The Elf Queen looked at my face with puzzlement.

“What did I tell you concerning that concept? Tell me?”

Even if she was dead shocked by my words, the old Aurora I knew, and the new Aurora standing before me couldn’t resist the response I drilled into them.

“N-nothing is impossible with Magic. But, how did you…?”

“It’s just something else I saw in his Memoirs, and it’s a personal philosophy I stick by.”

I could see a faint light of hope showing in her eyes.

That was more than enough for me.

“Then, do not despair. Rather, ask me for what is truly hidden in your heart, Queen Aurora Vindiel. What do you truly desire?”

My smile was bright and confident, and I dared her to hope once more.

“I… want…”

‘Yes, Aurora. Tell me what you want! What we both want!’

“I want my niece to live! I want her to live a long, fulfilling life. I want to die before her, and I desire that she achieves all she has set out to do. To reach the pinnacle of Magic. To see the very depths of Magic. I want her to achieve them all!”

Emotion and desperation filled her voice. The light of hope shone brighter than ever.

“Excellent!” My lips parted, revealing my broadened sets of teeth.

“I wish the same!”

I returned my gaze to the Half-Elf girl as she diligently kept working on her project.

“What’s her name?”

“O-Oh, it’s Lemi.”

‘Gotten from both the LE in my first name and the EMI in Emilia’s, eh?’ I smiled in nostalgia.

My wife always had the best ideas when it came to such things.

“Then, let’s make both of our wishes come true.”

Drawing closer to the Elf Queen until I could reach her shoulders with my arms, I gave her the brightest look of confidence I could muster.

“I will save Lemi, no matter what!”

It was my duty as both the husband of her mother, as well as her father.

‘You did your best, Emilia… but I’m here now!’

As her father, and her potential friend, I would do everything in my power to save my daughter.

‘Failure isn’t an option!’