Before our eyes stretched trees, trees, and more trees……
Just moments ago, we had been crossing a peaceful plain with a relaxed atmosphere and only scattered monsters, where trees were few and far between. Yet suddenly a vast forest had appeared.
So this is the Yggdra Great Forest……
It was large enough to deserve the name “great forest”, with deep, rich greenery filling the view as far as the eye could see.
I had wondered how we would advance through such a forest by carriage, but apparently there was a single path.
It was not paved, but wide enough for one carriage to pass. The others who had been keeping watch around us returned to the cargo area, and we continued forward.
「Elves are skilled with magic, you see. They use spirit magic and regular attribute magic to check whether anyone is inside. If there is no one, the path remains a single straight road unless you turn back. Once you enter the forest you will definitely get lost, so I asked everyone to return to the carriage.」
「Haaah…… I see.」
So while anyone can enter the Yggdra Great Forest itself, reaching the elf village requires screening.
Their defense is strong, and suspicious people are kept away.
It seems to be a somewhat closed-off place, just as I expected.
「By the way, thanks to unique elf research, each person’s magic power has individual characteristics, so they can tell exactly who has arrived. Impressive, right?」
「Magic power has characteristics?」
「Yes. Just like how attribute aptitude is decided at birth, magic power also has unchanging traits. They register it immediately after birth. Well, it is a remnant from the era when there were many wars.」
Wars…… So they fought against the neighboring kingdom as well?
Since elves are long-lived, many people who experienced those wars must still be around.
「If we keep going like this, we should reach the elf village soon. They already know I am coming…… If we are late…. they might be gathering the village elves for a welcoming celebration.」
「……I would rather they not make such a big deal out of it. Everyone has their own lives. It feels like they would drop everything and come running.」
After all, the entire elf village had been ready to move to Einzheil……
That would mean even the ones who guard the village were planning to come too.
Does that mean Wendy is more important to them than the village itself……?
「I thought you might say that, but this is a serious matter…… Besides, even without a reason like this, the elves would drop any task to gather if it is for Wendy-sama, the Great Fairy.」
「Great Fairy, huh……」
「Right now, Wendy-sama seems to be the only Great Fairy around…… For us elves, who have a close relationship with spirits, it is practically a matter of life and death…… Fortunately, there are many spirits in the elf forest. Relatively speaking, at least.」
「Ooh…… So that is why faint lights have been flying around us for a while now.」
Red, blue, yellow-green, earth tones, white, and black, six different kinds of spirits were floating around us.
They seemed full of curiosity yet cautious, keeping a certain distance and not coming any closer.
It looked like they might approach if I reached out my hand, but they did not…… Too bad.
「Come to think of it, you can see spirits, can’t you? It is not unheard of among humans, but it is quite rare. Still, you did not receive the ability from the Goddess as a skill, right? How strange……」
「Actually, I have talent for spirit magic!」
「Hmm…… Spirit magic starts with learning the pronunciation in the elf language…… Can you pronounce 『tgvhbjykl』?」
「T-Togubuhabujakeru!」
「……Seems difficult.」
「Eeh…… Wait, but when Emily used magic before, you didn’t chant anything, did you?」
「That is because I already understand the spell formula and can omit it. If you cannot understand the elf language…… it will be hard.」
I see…… So it is impossible……
By the way, there really is an elf language.
Elf language is tough……
Ah, the blue light spirit seems to be laughing, it is bobbing up and down slightly……
Could it be that my pronunciation just now amused it?
……Also, I can faintly see them, but are spirits actually humanoid in shape?
I had always thought they were just round, faint lights, but maybe I was wrong?
I feel like I can see cute four-winged figures with no visible private parts and no clothes at all……
「Hey, Emily? Are spirits actually humanoid in shape……?」
「They are, but…… you can see them?」
「Yeah. Ah, but some I cannot see clearly. That one just looks like a normal faint sphere of light.」
「If you can see them in humanoid form, it means the spirits have opened their hearts to you a little. If the faint light fades and you can see their full humanoid shape, that means you are close friends.」
「Ooh…… Will this one come closer? Here.」
I held out my palm toward the faintly humanoid blue spirit.
It hesitated for a moment, then timidly approached.
「Ooh……」
「……You are gaining their trust very quickly. Well, spirits are said to look at one’s magic power and inner nature. They rarely approach bad people, so this is proof that you are a good person.」
Is that so. Good thing I am a good person!
Spirits…… So these are spirits.
Spirits are another classic fantasy staple!
Ooh…… It is touching my finger with a strange sensation……
As expected, it feels like being touched by a very tiny hand.
It does not feel like an insect crawling at all. Instead, it is like being gently stroked with an extremely soft cotton swab, slightly ticklish.
It seemed to sense that I wanted to stroke it with my finger, because it left my hand and moved onto my head, then sat down right on top of it……
Yeah. Well, I do not feel any particular weight, so it is fine.
Ah, now it is lying down? How is the ride?
「Come to think of it, I heard you have aptitude for five attributes excluding light, right? If it is anything other than light spirits, they might warm up to you while you are in the elf village.」
「Ooh…… So attribute aptitude matters too…… Oh, one already came over. Is it using my head as a bench?」
I do not feel any weight, but I can sense its presence growing stronger.
It feels like it is playing with my hair and rolling around on top of my head.
I cannot see it even if I look up, though……
「……You really are gaining their trust quickly. Ah, it looks like preparations are ready.」
「Nn? Oh? Oooooh?」
A fog appeared from ahead! A very thick white fog!
When Emily turned around, I did the same, and saw the trees of the forest closing in from deeper inside……
Eh, they are closing at an incredible speed? It is a little scary.
The trees stopped closing right in front of the carriage’s cargo area, and the carriage came to a halt.
「Have we arrived?」
The fog still had not cleared, but since the carriage stopped, this must be our destination, right?
For now, I will stay inside and not get off yet……
「Yes. Welcome to the elf——」
「「「「「「「「Welcome! Wendy-sama and her honorable party!!!」」」」」」」」
Emily’s words were drowned out by a loud chorus, and at the same time the fog cleared…… What a spectacular sight.
My eyes were first drawn to the massive tree deep inside, but they were immediately pulled to the beautiful elves lined up neatly in rows, all kneeling with their heads bowed.
From children to adults, every single one of them was kneeling at perfectly even intervals with their heads lowered.
Then one handsome elf stepped forward…… Well, all elves are beautiful, so calling every one “handsome” feels strange.
Anyway, one elf came forward alone.
「……We are truly sorry for the trouble we have caused you by making you come all this way. I am Ielo, currently serving as assistant to the acting chief. On behalf of our entire elf race, I humbly apologize for our blunder.」
Assistant to the acting chief…… He is probably the second most important person after Emily. When he bowed his head, all the other elves who were already kneeling lowered their heads just a little further.
「Haaaa…… Ielo……」
Emily let out a big sigh and called Ielo’s name.
He slightly raised his head as if checking our reaction……
「……!」
He immediately lowered his head again……
Wondering why, I turned around…… and saw Wendy with her cheeks puffed out, clearly displeased.
Eh? What exactly made her angry?
He had apologized very politely and properly……
「Shouldn’t it be 『Master-sama and his honorable party』 instead of 『Wendy-sama and her honorable party』? Are you trying to embarrass me by putting my master aside?」
「……! Please forgive me!」
「Haa…… I made sure to inform you properly……」
Ah…… It seems Emily had anticipated Wendy’s reaction and had already given notice, but when you consider that I am just a normal person while Wendy is a Great Spirit, and that the one they should be apologizing to most is Wendy, it is not hard to understand……
Besides, I do not mind at all.
In fact, I had not even noticed……
「I am deeply sorry!! Master-sama, the master of Wendy-sama! I have caused you great discomfort, and I am truly sorryyyy!」
「Ah, yes. No, it is perfectly fine. Really……」
The handsome elf Ielo desperately apologized with teary eyes directed straight at me.
Um, if I may ask…… Is this the same person who had such a dignified, intellectual, calm, and cool THE·ELF image just moments ago?
No, the gap is really……
When I said it was fine, he kept trembling with teary eyes and bowed his head deeply and repeatedly toward me, only changing the meaning of his apology……
「Thank you for your great kindness! I am deeply grateful…… As expected of Master-sama, the master of Wendy-sama!」
Um…… I do want to point out the whole 『Master-sama』 thing, but I actually had a different worry.
You know…… Wendy is a Great Fairy, and as you can see, the elves worship her to an incredible degree.
I thought that maybe hostile gazes would be directed at me, her master. Things like 「Why is a mere human……?」 or something like that. But it is surprising that it is not the case.
「……I properly explained everything about you in advance. If anyone were to treat you lightly, they would incur not only Wendy-sama’s anger but everyone else’s as well. Hayato would get angry too…… and if that happened, the elf forest might disappear from the map of this world.」
「There is no way——」
「It is possible. More than possible…… That is exactly why I told them.」
「……That is quite alarming.」
「That is how much they adore her. You will have to be even more careful than the important people of any nation. By the way, this is not something I should rush, but…… without a reply to the apology, everyone cannot move while keeping their heads bowed……」
Oops, that is right.
I cannot just leave everyone kneeling motionless like that.
「Wendy.」
「Yes, Master. They have corrected themselves as well…… Nn……. Regarding the previous incident, it has already been settled between us and Emily-san. We have properly received the sincerity of you elves, so please rest assured. I am not bothered by anything.」
When Wendy said she was not bothered, the tense atmosphere seemed to loosen just a little.
Yeah…… I could feel the tension and anxiety coming from the elves, so I was feeling a bit on edge myself.
「We thank you deeply for your generous hearts, Wendy-sama, Master-sama, and everyone…… Now then! Welcome to the elf forest of Yggdra Great Forest. We are truly honored that Master-sama, the master of Wendy-sama, and the Great Fairy Wendy-sama have come to visit us. We have prepared hospitality for you, so please enjoy your stay at your leisure for as long as time allows!」
It seems the matter with the previous ducal house has been safely resolved with this.
Now then! The time to enjoy the elf forest has arrived!
I will look forward to their hospitality and spend the time relaxing!
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