Nnnー! Amatsukuni really was wonderful.
The Japanese-style atmosphere somehow brings back nostalgia and a sense of comfort.
Seeing a land with a completely different culture is genuinely enjoyable!
And as they say, the journey is not over until you return home. Even though we could return instantly with teleportation, since we passed through the checkpoint on the way, we have to go back through it as well. While I do want to get home quickly, that kind of inconvenience is also part of the charm of traveling.
We take our time and head home at a leisurely pace.
And when Mizera welcomes us back, it really puts my mind at ease.
Ah, I’ve returned to Einzheil, to my own home. Then diving straight into my long-awaited bed and falling asleep in seconds feels the absolute best!
All right! Now that I have received Mizera’s welcome-home greeting, it is time to jump into bed…… or so I thought, when Hayato suddenly rushed in.
The rest of Hayato’s group arrived shortly after.
They seemed quite flustered, so without even a moment to rest I led them to the living room. Mizera prepared the delicious green tea we had brought back from Amatsukuni, and we sat facing each other.
「So? What happened that made you rush here like that?」
「Actually――」
「Hayato. Let me explain. That is the proper way.」
Almost at the same time Hayato opened his mouth, Emily cut him off.
Then she turned toward us……
「First of all…… I am truly sorry.」
She bowed so deeply that the crown of her head was visible.
It was so sudden that I had no idea what she was apologizing for……
Ah, ehhh……? By “first of all”, is she still apologizing for what happened before?
We already settled that matter, so I think we should look toward the future from now on……
「Um, Emily-san? If that apology is about the previous incident, we are no longer bothered by it at all, you know?」
I nod firmly in agreement with Wendy.
Is that it? After everything that happened afterward with independence and aftermath processing, things got messy and busy for both sides, so maybe she started worrying whether her apology had been enough…… or perhaps not enough?
「That’s right. I even slapped Hayato once.」
「That felt greatssu! It’s not every day you get to punch a handsome guy’s facessu!」
「Renge. I do not think that is the right thing to say……」
「Eh? Ehhh? Everyone slapped Hayato-san’s face? No fair, no fair! I want to try it too!」
……Yeah. Well, Shion was not present at the time, and you were technically still on the other side back then, so let us stay quiet about that, okay?
It is obvious things would get complicated.
「Thank you very much…… I am truly happy that you have forgiven me. However…… this matter cannot be settled with just me alone……」
「Cannot be settled with just Emily alone…… meaning?」
「The truth is…… this incident has spread all the way to the elf forest…… that is, the Yggdra Great Forest…… Since I am acting as the representative leader of the elves there, and I put Wendy-sama in danger, all the elves of Yggdra wish to come together to apologize……」
Ah…… Now that I think about it, Atros-sama did say Emily was the current leader, but she is only acting as representative.
So among all the elves in the forest, Emily holds the highest position, and because she caused trouble, the entire elf race wants to show their sincerity by coming together to apologize…… Is that it?
Is that not a bit exaggerated……? Ah, wait, I remember now. Elves have deep connections with spirits and great fairies, right?
Emily has been addressing Wendy with “sama” and showing respect from the very beginning, so causing trouble for a great fairy must be an incredibly serious matter for an elf.
「I see……. Hm? You said ‘visit’…… visit where?」
「Here……」
「Here…… meaning here? This house?」
「Yes……」
「……How many people are we talking about? All the elves in the forest.」
「Around three thousand, I suppose……」
Three thousand, huh…… I see…… That is going to be really packed.
Even using the garden probably would not be enough.
Not to mention, three thousand elves all bowing their heads toward my house is not something that happens every day.
If anyone sees it from outside, they will definitely say something like 『There goes Einzheil’s troublemaker causing another incident again!』
And the neighbors will surely complain, saying 『That sort of thing is really troublesome……』
「Yeah…… This is going to be really troublesome……」
「I know…… I am sorry, Itsuki-san. But because of that…… Emily will have to take responsibility……」
Ah…… From the elves’ perspective, simply hearing “We apologized and they forgave us” is not enough to feel at ease. They want a proper, formal apology and acceptance before they can feel truly settled.
But if that cannot be done, then Emily, as the person directly involved and the acting leader, will take responsibility to preserve everyone’s peace of mind…… Is that it?
「I am sorry for causing trouble again……」
「I see…… By the way, what exactly does ‘taking responsibility’ mean? Will she be forced to resign as leader or something?」
「If it were only that, I would gladly accept it…… But most likely it would be the death penalty. At best, having her ears cut off.」
「Haaaa…… This world really is dangerous……」
Let us stop with the immediate death penalty……
Cutting off ears means chopping off those beautiful, pointed elf ears?
That would be an insult to the world itself.
It makes even less sense than wearing sweatpants under a skirt.
「Master. As far as I am concerned, I have already forgiven her, and I would be troubled if Emily-san were to die……」
「I am sorry, Itsuki-san…… I know I am not in any position to ask this of you, but I could not help coming to consult with you……」
Hayato bows his head with a truly apologetic expression.
To be honest, I find it annoying to have this already-settled matter brought up again…… But if this will completely resolve everything, then it cannot be helped.
「Don’t make that face, Hayato. I am actually glad you relied on me instead of trying to carry it all by yourselves. Don’t worry. This much is no big deal.」
「Itsuki-san……」
「That said, the truth is it would be troublesome if they came here. Right now, every part of Einzheil is extremely busy. Having three thousand elves show up all at once would cause problems. Therefore――」
We only just got back from Amatsukuni, but it cannot be helped.
「We will go visit the Yggdra Great Forest ourselves. Is that possible, Emily?」
「Eh? Of course it is…… But are you sure? We would be causing you extra trouble……」
「It is fine. This is for Hayato’s important person and my friend, after all. Ah, right, the Yggdra Great Forest is the forest where elves live, correct? Are there any rules that prevent human races from entering?」
「There are none. The only requirement is that you need an elf companion to enter the Yggdra Great Forest.」
「Then there is no problem. Could you let them know? Also, sorry, but we only just returned from Amatsukuni. Could you tell them we will come after resting a little in Einzheil?」
「Of course! ……And once again, I am truly sorry.」
「I would be happier to hear thanks rather than apologies.」
「……Thank you. I am grateful.」
That is good to hear.
Emily also helped us during the martial arts tournament in the royal capital, after all.
Well, this should work out somehow.
All that is left is to go to the Yggdra Great Forest, have Wendy accept the elves’ apology, and that will be the end of it.
We only just returned from Amatsukuni and now we are heading out again…… but it cannot be helped.
Yeah. It really cannot be helped.
Still, the Yggdra Great Forest…… the elf forest, huh…… Nfufu.
「Hey, hey, my lord?」
「Nn? What is it, Sorte?」
「……Elves have a lot of beautiful women, don’t they?」
「Yeah…… that is true. I only really know Emily as an elf, but yes, that seems right.」
Emily is a beauty, as you can see. The other elves are probably the same. Most of them are good-looking men and women……
Wait, why is she asking this all of a sudden……?
「There are also quite a lot of girls with big breasts, aren’t there?」
「No…… I do not think that is the case…… or are there……?」
Hm? No, seriously, what kind of question is that? What is the intention behind it?
Besides, that is not true, you know?
I have seen flat-chested elves too, you know?
Yeah. I do not recall elves having particularly many girls with large breasts……
「They get really happy when you give them flowers, don’t they?」
「……Is that so……?」
……There was one time I casually bought some flowers that were being sold together with medicinal herbs in the street, and a certain elf girl wanted them, so I gave them to her as a present. But elves liking nature is only natural…… right?
「They also keep bottles for you, don’t they?」
「……」
This is…… um…… no way?
……She has noticed?
「Lately when Master goes drinking with the adventurers, you often go to places with a lot of 『Elf-e-rofu』, right?」
「……Not really?」
Oh…… She has definitely noticed……
……How does Sorte even know about that?
That was supposed to be a secret promise among us guys. We were not supposed to tell anyone.
But wait. Elf-e-rofu is a perfectly wholesome shop!
It is a shop where beautiful elf oneesans sit next to you, pour your drinks, chat with you, and let you enjoy some light paid games. It should be completely safe!
「That shop…… Wasn’t it the one with a lot of elves wearing rather revealing outfits?」
Y-Yes, there are quite a few girls with revealing clothes, but there are also girls in normal pants looks, so it is a perfectly wholesome shop!
There are occasionally girls wearing ultra-short miniskirts where if they sit down you can see all kinds of things from the front, but it is still a super wholesome shop!
And at first, they are properly dressed. To increase the amount of skin showing, you have to win paid games and make them take clothes off. But the games are the ones the girls are good at, so they are quite high difficulty. Even I have only managed to get one or two pieces off so far——.
「…..my lord, you do not just want to go see the elf forest, do you?」
「……Yes. I just want to go see it.」
It is hopeless. I cannot escape.
It might be better to assume that she already knows everything. That way I can get a better outcome.
Why……? We swore it was a secret among the guys and went to have fun……
But they are elves, you know? Elf oneesans pour drinks for you! I want to touch their ears, but ears are as important to elves as tails are to beastkin, so they still say no, and that is unfair! Saying “still no” is unfair! I have to keep going! If I keep visiting, it feels like they might eventually let me touch them!
Damn it! There is a traitor! Someone betrayed us!
You guys, remember this! Next time I will make you eat the currently-in-development 『No Getting Up Ever The・End』 straight in its concentrated form!
「……It cannot be helped! The forest where elves live is a classic in fantasy! It is only natural for a drifter to want to see the elf forest where they live in harmony with the woods and love nature! And if things go well this time, we will probably receive very good treatment! I thought outsiders might be disliked or face restrictions in the elf forest, but I cannot miss this huge chance!」
I feel like everyone is drawing away from my passionate speech.
Hah! Fine, fine, I do not mind!
This is probably speaking for the soul of every drifter, so hold your head high, me! Lift your face and look forward, me!
「A drifter’s nature, huh…… Does Hayato also long for the elf forest?」
「Eh, no, I do not really…… mm. Y-Yeah! Just like Itsuki-san said! The elf forest is a place of longing for drifters! I was moved the first time we went to the Yggdra Great Forest too, right?」
「Now that you mention it…… I think that was the case……?」
Oh, Hayato is kindly playing along with the story!?
Hayato probably does not feel that way at all…… Damn.
As expected of Hayato. My hero……
I will give you a kiss on the cheek later!
「If Hayato says so, then it must be true……」
As expected of Hayato! That’s Hayato for you!
His usual behavior makes him easy to believe!
……Well, I guess that means my usual behavior is the problem. Yeah. I will try to improve from now on.
If I can improve, that is!
「So Emily! You really do not have to worry about it! You will be able to convince the elves of the Yggdra Great Forest! For me, I get to visit the elf forest, so it is beneficial for both sides. Do not worry about this matter anymore!」
「Y-Yes…… Of course, since we are the ones asking, I will make sure you receive proper hospitality. I will send proper notice in advance and have everything prepared to welcome you warmly. And if you are looking forward to it that much, I will arrange for guides to show you around various places.」
Thank you, Emily……
Ah, it is surely going to be a place full of nature!
I wonder if the houses are built inside trees? There will probably be lots of medicinal herbs too!
Yeah! I am excited!
「……Now then, Master? Going to the elf forest is of course perfectly fine. Naturally we will come along as well…… But before that, let us have a proper talk about that…… Elf-e-rofu shop, shall we?」
「……Yes.」
「Then please come this way……」
Ah, wait? Hayato and the others are still here. It is embarrassing to show them my pathetic side, so um, I will tell you everything, everything, but could we do it a little later…… at least after Hayato and the others leave……
-0-
A few days later, the bottle keep I had at Elf-e-rofu disappeared.
Elves…… ears…… I wanted to poke the tips……
Also, I think just going to the shop is fine, but why did everyone suddenly lower their voices together and mutter 「……A new source of danger」? And 「……It has the same aura as the tail」…… What does that even mean……?
It is true that elf ears carry similar feelings to beastkin tails, but…… uuu.
Even with good treatment, they probably will not let me touch their ears…… Haaa……
I wanted to try the ear pick I bought in the empire……
The only thing that made me happy was Mizera’s kindness. She looked at me with pity and said 「It is not as long as an elf’s, but……」 before letting me touch her ear.
AN: I have unified the naming to 『Yggdra Great Forest』 since both 『Yggdrasil’s Forest』 and 『Yggdra Great Forest』 appeared.
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