Chapter 55 – The Prehistoric Demon King
Alice-san slept for a full two days after that.
Apparently, her exhaustion had reached its absolute limit.
It made sense. The moment time froze for her, she had been in the middle of a battle with the Demon King. Her physical state was still connected to that point. From what she said, she’d barely gotten any sleep, had barely eaten, and had completely depleted her magic power.
Which meant that when she finally woke up, she was famished.
Apologies to the Council of Elders, but—this was my time to shine.
※※※
Of course, Miyako-san and the others also wanted to welcome Alice-san with a grand feast. But I pleaded to let me handle her first meal after waking up.
The elves already knew that Alice-san was Japanese—one of those transported to this world due to the Boundary Fusion Phenomenon. They also knew she was from the same homeland as me. I was worried they might start prying into how she turned from a human into an elf, but surprisingly, no one questioned it. Or rather, no one found it strange.
When you think about it, the people here know nothing about Earth or Japan. The idea that “Earth has no elves, beastfolk, or dragons” is simply not a part of their reality. So, to them, a ‘person from another world’ appearing in the form of an elf didn’t seem odd at all. …I really wanted to question that logic, though.
Oh well. It’s probably better that they don’t learn about Four Seasons-san and the others altering the world.
In any case, my request to give Alice-san a taste of our homeland’s food was granted. While we waited for her to wake up, I prepared diligently—and two days later, the moment finally arrived.
「Is this… real…?」
「It’s real.」
And so, here we were.
Alice-san sat at the dining table, staring in stunned disbelief at the dishes laid out before her.
We were at Emishi-san’s residence. According to Miyako-san (whose aristocratic sense of propriety was very much intact), the residence of one of the Six Founder Clans was the proper place for the Founder herself to stay. Thus, she had been moved here upon waking up.
「All of this… is real…?」
「It’s real.」
I nodded in response to Alice-san’s question. This was the expression I had been waiting to see.
On a flat plate, there was white rice.
In a soup bowl, miso soup.
Alongside that, chilled tofu and salted salmon.
A traditional Japanese breakfast.
「I had some friends do all the work for me.」
Of course, those friends were Four Seasons-san and Color-san.
They—especially Four Seasons-san—could open a 『hole』 anywhere in the world through 『Tir na Nog』, as long as there was a connection to the place. The 『door』 set up in my home garden served as a fixed coordinate.
By asking him for help, we managed to get things like pre-cooked rice, miso, and kombu from our pantry back home. Sidera provided the salmon and soybeans.
Publicly, we just said, ‘We packed these because we wanted them. Good thing we did!’ Explaining salmon or tofu wouldn’t mean much to the elves anyway. Alfheim’s markets did sell fish, even if they were freshwater varieties.
With some ingredients from the market, I prepared a simple but heartfelt meal.
Four Seasons-san and Color-san quietly watched from the side of the room. Alice-san straightened up, her face serious. Her lips trembled slightly as she pressed her hands together.
「Itadakimasu.」
She picked up her chopsticks and took a bite of rice.
Closing her eyes, she savored it, chewed, and swallowed.
「Ah…」
A smile, tinged with tears.
「I never imagined a day like this would come.」
She took a sip of miso soup.
「It’s been so long since I tasted miso… The dashi is perfect.」
A bite of the chilled tofu.
「Ah, real tofu, with soy sauce. Incredible.」
Then she tasted the salted salmon, pairing it with the rice—
「It’s delicious. Really… thank you so much.」
Wiping her tears, Alice-san exhaled and looked around sheepishly.
「Um, I’m starving and this feels so nostalgic, so I kind of want to just dig in. But it’s a little embarrassing, so… can I have some privacy?」
「Of course. There’s more if you want seconds, so just call us.」
Feeling a warmth in my heart, we all left the room together.
Except, of course, for Four Seasons-san and Color-san.
※※※
——Eventually.
Twenty minutes later, after consuming three packs of pre-cooked rice, two bowls of miso soup, and three servings of chilled tofu, Alice-san finally murmured a ‘Gochisousama’.
Completely full, she sprawled out on the guest room sofa.
「Ahh, that was the best. I’m so satisfied… This rice was part of your supplies back home, right? You transferred the whole house when you came here, didn’t you, Sui-kun?」
「Yeah. A house with a garden—and Chocola too.」
「Bark!」
「I see, I see. Having Chocola-chan with you must’ve been reassuring.」
「Absolutely.」
「Fufu. You know, your ancestors were really reliable too.」
「Bar…? Bark!」
Alice-san’s eyes softened as if remembering the Siberian husky that had once been with them when they crossed over.
「…Did you miss the taste of home?」
Miyako-san asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Alice-san gave a wry smile and shook her head.
「Miyako, I’m also really interested in the culture you’ve built here. I know it’s a bit early to talk about this, but for lunch, I’d like to go out and eat in the town. And for dinner, I’d love for you all to prepare something for me.」
「…Of course! Please feel free!」
Miyako-san’s face lit up instantly.
Karen whispered to me quietly.
「She’s good at handling people…」
「Yeah, she really is…」
The elders were gathered in Emishi-san’s mansion, their faces unified by one expression: happiness at seeing their progenitor content. Miyako-san, Moata-san, Emishi-san, Yuzuriha-san—even Meishal-san, who had attacked Alice-san two days ago, shared the sentiment. Such was her magnetic presence. After all, she was the origin of a bloodline that spanned two thousand years.
Alice-san nodded at the reverent elders, then took a deep breath and straightened herself in her chair.
「Now then. I’ve slept well, and my stomach is full.」
As those words left her lips, everyone—including me—noticed it. Her aura had shifted.
Gone was the casual, approachable demeanor. In its place was a presence both dignified and commanding—crisp, cool, and filled with authority.
This must be the face of the progenitor who had led her people for two hundred years.
Alice-san surveyed the room with a confident smile.
「Alright, tell me. The one who was trapped in that domain with me—the last Demon King. What state is he in now? And what’s the situation in the world? We’ve delayed it long enough. It’s time to settle this.」
Everyone held their breath. At that moment, we all understood.
To Alice-san, that Demon King wasn’t a figure from eighteen hundred years ago.
He was here—he was now.
Her battle wasn’t over yet.
——————————————————
Normally, they wouldn’t take things like pre-cooked rice or soy sauce outside the forest, but this time was a special exception.
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